Doug Einfeld's IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOST HIGH: Uncovering My Jewish Ancestors' Perilous Journey Through History explores his family's genetic line from Abram’s choice to follow a new God through the Greek and Roman occupations of Palestine, the birth of Jesus, the continual assaults on Jewish culture and its people, and the eventual migration of Jews into Europe. From here the author maps the Crusades, antisemitism, and evictions to trace the name Juden to his family's cultural history.
IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOST HIGH is a fascinating read. It shares insights into festivals of the Canaanites and the worship of Baal (a ceremony meant to bring rain), the sociopolitical challenges of living as Jewish people under Greek and Roman rule, culture and belonging, and the politics that existed during the teachings of Jesus. This social and political history includes the refugee status of Jesus’ parents and pilgrimages to Jerusalem, the teachings of John the Baptist as a rebel priest influencing Jesus' preachings, and the conflict with the faith (and the priests) of the time.
Einfeld's prose is alive, engaging, contextual, and analytical. When describing the priests' anger at Christ, for example, it's explained that while Jesus was a religious threat, the priests used the threat of him being "King of the Jews and therefore a threat to Caesar" to have him arrested. Pilot “saw their political charge of sedition as merely a front for their underlying religious reasons for getting rid of Jesus. So, he scornfully refused their request," but as he didn’t want to be seen as challenging his empire, he eventually gave in. Among other things, we also learn that Rabbinic Judaism started in Europe, with boys learning Hebrew and the Talmud. A young boy “began with the book of Leviticus, which contained the all-important Jewish legal code," establishing Jewish culture and tradition in Europe before the Middle Ages.
With so much knowledge to impart, IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOST HIGH proves a concise history that conveys the challenges that Jewish culture has faced in the history of persecution. Einfeld's work is profoundly relevant in a time when, once again, Jewish identity faces scrutiny. For anyone seeking to understand the complex evolution of Jewish culture and the historical roots of its diaspora, this is an essential text.
Doug Einfeld's IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOST HIGH: Uncovering My Jewish Ancestors' Perilous Journey Through History is a clear, erudite, and very relevant work that masterfully bridges the gap between ancient history and modern identity.
~ Nicci Attfield for IndieReader