Mattis Kantor, Aronson, 1989/1992
This well-sourced book, contains timelines, short histories and a mine of other information. It covers history from creation to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1992. It provides a year-by-year account of events of world and Jewish significance. By way of example, page 111 gives a list of leading Talmudic authorities for the years 3979 to 4235 and page 228 provides a list of Torah sages living in the year 1780. Apart from being fascinating, Kantor’s book succeeds in providing a balance between general events (wars, etc.) seen from a Jewish perspective. Its Israel coverage is good, as is its view of the religious Jewish world and the lives of its major figures. It provides a useful reference guide, with a sense of the eternity of the Jewish people, useful for browsers and scholars alike.
