<DIV>From Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to contemporary Israel with its problems and conflicts, this lavish volume takes a fascinating journey through Jewish history. It chronicles the religion's principles and beliefs; key figures and events; and the diversity of Jewish culture that arose as, exiled from their homeland, they dispersed both east and west. Fifteen breathtaking rare facsimile documents include pages from the <I>Vienna Genesis</I>, the oldest illustrated Biblical codex; a letter describing one of the Russian pogroms in 1881; and a copy of David Ben Gurion's speech declaring Israel's independence in 1948.</div>