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Unlike his previous subject about the Irish, this book covers a subject on which almost everyone has an opinion, so Cahill's interpretations on the Hebrew Scriptures and history (Old Testament times) will undoubtedly not satisfy everyone. He does a very good job, though, of steering clear of interpretive controversies.

He presents this history as a history of what is important in its legacy for us -- no sense in asking questions such as 'Were these really the first monotheists?' &c., because it is a fact that our cultural tendency toward monotheism in the West derives from this band of people. This is the people from whom much of our Western sensibility is derived.

'This gift of the Commandments allows us to live in the present, in the here and now. What I have done in the past is past mending; what I will do in the future is a worry not worth a candle, for there is no way I can know what will happen next. But in this moment--and only in htis moment--I am in control.'

The very idea of regulations, justice, and communal living (beyond the whims of the powerful), and of self-discipline exerted from within, rather than from without, derives largely in our society from these writings. Again, it is not worth haggling over who had the earliest codification of regulations and civil laws--those did not get handed down to us as a living, working text. These texts were, in many respects, the informing texts behind much of Western civilisation.

He covers the history well, neither discounting the Biblical authority nor assuming that seeming contradictions in archaeological evidence is either right or wrong.

Cahill begins with the pre-history of the Jews, talking about the societal, political and geographic realities that would have influenced the ancient Sumerian named Avram, who set out for the land of Canaan. Cahill examines the period in Egypt as being pivotal for societal development, the era of the judges and kings as experimentations with polity, and the diasporic period as one of deepening identity in the face of massive external pressure and, in the end, threat of extermination.

This book is a good sequel, and an important work for the non-historian and non-theologian into some aspects of the history of the Jews that are otherwise often overlooked.

'The Jews gave us the Outlook and the Inside--our outlook and our inner life. We can hardly get up in the morning or cross the street without being Jewish. We dream Jewish dreams and hope Jewish hopes. Most of our best words, in fact--new, adventure, surprise; unique, individual, person, vocation; time, history, future; freedom, progress, spirit; faith, hope, justice--are the gifts of the Jews.'


An intriguing read   August 27, 2005
 0 out of 1 found this review helpful

This is the first Cahill book I have ever read, however his insights and many of his conlcusions are very thought provoking. This is an excellent read for students of Christianity and a fantastic one for those studying the history of religion.


well-written, enjoyable read, even if you disagree...   July 11, 2004
 2 out of 3 found this review helpful

PERSPECTIVE: theologically interested reader, unfamiliar with Cahill's work

The Gifts of the Jews is a wonderfully written exploration of the pivotal role the Jewish people have played in the shaping of our modern perceptions and life, irregardless of faith. Cahill brings extensive theological and historical training to bear, and goes to great lengths, including travelling the world, to do research for his chosen topic. His thesis, as he calls it, is that the Jewish people were the first to break out of the "cyclic boredom" of ancient world views. Through their culture, beliefs, and history, they have given the entire modern world crucial "gifts" of individuality, prospective thinking, freedom, justice, and many more. To illustrate this, he uses a wide variety of historical documents, texts, and commentaries, including several translations of the Hebrew Bible, and weaves them together with a style that is remarkably eloquent, delightfully funny, and impressively accessible.

Whatever your religious or political beliefs, this thought- (and spirit-, if you are so inclined) provoking novel worth a read. Although it is, at its heart, an academic treatise, and as such is eminently open for debate, as exemplified by the many editorial discussions - with much heated agreement and dissention - it is important to note that it is easily enjoyable on a different level.

FINAL WORD: Read this book! Buy it, check it out from the library, or buy it and donate it to your local library.


Cahill: Exaggertation and distortion, not elucidation   June 5, 2004
 0 out of 4 found this review helpful

I found this book to be an insult to one's intelligence, completely undeserving of the book jacket claim to having been written with the "rigor of a scholar." Had I, as a freshman at Wellesley College, attempted to make vast and unsubstantiated claims such as Cahill makes on nearly every page of this book, I would have flunked every course I took. The Jews were the only ones to value education and records of geneology? These claims are offensive to put it mildly. The Jews changed the way everybody thinks and feels? Where are Cahill's sources? Where is his bibliography? We get a note in the back that Cahill had permission to excerpt from a song by Bob Dylan, but no reference to books about ancient Sumeria or the cultures he dismisses so breezily. What about China, with the greatly advanced civilization they developed? What about every explorer from the time of the cave man who ventured out and away from his or her immediate tribal group? During the same week that I was reading Cahill, PBS rebroadcast a remarkable and thoroughly researched scientific program about "The Journey of Man" and the earliest journeys taken from Africa which eventually peopled the world with homo sapiens. What a difference between the approach of this brilliant and convincing presentation of the genetic history of mankind and that of Cahill and his foolish oversimplifications.
Cahill, do you ever look beyond your own convenient theory which you want to turn into a best-selling book which panders to a certain audience? Count me out. If this work is "scholarly" and you are depicted as having the skills of a "gifted teacher" then I fear for the present generation and its ability to look at and think deeply about history or any other subject. This book is to good scholarship as MacDonald's is to nutritious food.


Their History Is Our History   May 10, 2004
Thomas Cahill's "The Gifts of the Jews" provides an insight into a thousands-year-old civilization that has markedly shaped modern-day Western society. The thought that thousands of years ago a small clan of believers in a mere Voice could have affected the West to the extent that it did is extraordinary.

The Jews separated themselves from their contemporary civilizations such as the Assyrians, Egyptians, and Sumerians in their concept of time: the latter three did not really grasp the idea of time, believing that life was cyclical in nature, while the Jews believed time was linear and that the future was dependent on actions of the present.

The Jews also emphasized the importance of the individual. Other civilizations believed that only the gods could accomplish great feats, emphasizing deference to the gods and a devalued belief in individualism. Jews, while they revered their God (not gods), believed in the inherent worth of each and every human being inasmuch as each is said to have been created in the image of God. Thus Jews believed that every human being should be treated with dignity and that the rich and well-off had an obligation to assist the poor and marginalized. This view of universal equality among humans can be found in our legal system, where the ideal exists that all men are created equal and that no one is above the law.

Regarding law, the foundations of our legal system also trace back to the Jews and the Ten Commandments; although many laws come straight from Rome and Greece, the idea that one should not steal, kill another, or commit adultery came from Mt. Sinai.

Cahill writes about the lives of three famous Hebrews: Abraham (Avram), Moses (Moshe), and David. The personalities of each are quite different (Avram a well-to-do Sumerian who was ready for whatever he encountered, Moshe a humble mediator between God and His people, and David a blithe, likeable politician), yet all of them never lose faith in God, regardless of the misfortunes they are faced with.

Although the Jews saw time as linear, there is indeed a cyclical nature found in their relationship with God. Throughout their history there have been periods where they have deeply placed faith in God and subsequent periods where they have lost faith in God. Such an ebb and flow is an exemplary allegory to life: everyone goes through highs and lows, but one can always be certain of one thing, and this thought comes straight from the Jews: tomorrow the sun will rise.