Porat is a well-known scholar of Holocaust studies at Tel Aviv University. As such she is eminently qualified to write on a topic that seems to be the elephant in the living room of those who study the Holocaust, that is, what is its relation to the State of Israel? The answer would seem obvious, but, as she demonstrates, it is complex and emotionally charged. She discusses the growth of Zionism in the 19th century, a movement some Jews feel helped cause the genocide. But the main thrust of these essays, written over a period of 20 years, is the relationship of the Yishuv the Jews who settled in Israel in long before World War II and the Holocaust survivors who arrived after it. The often uneasy relationship between these two groups is essential to an understanding of contemporary Israeli society and politics. She provides a timeline, glossary and charts to help the reader navigate. Distributed in the US by ISBS. Annotation 2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
