Synopses & Reviews
An odyssey to discover exotic Jewish communities around the globe
Jewish travelers have long combed far-off lands in search of the last fragments of the scattered tribe. Among these travelers is Ben G. Frank. Ben is a native New Yorker, a travel writer, and a journalist who, for more than half a century, has been traveling to far-flung Jewish communities, recording his observations and experiences and making them available for less-adventurous brethren to read. In The Scattered Tribe, he surveys the present, ponders the past, and even dares to predict the future of these diverse and mystic lands.
The Scattered Tribe is an odyssey--a road map of travel and adventure set in many exotic locales, such as Russia (including Siberia), Tahiti, Vietnam, Myanmar, India, Cuba, Morocco, Algeria, and Israel. Both active travelers and armchair travelers who are interested not only in exotic Jewish communities, but also in history, politics, and government will find this book fascinating.
Review
"Ben Frank provides a fascinating, varied account of modern Jewish life across the globe. I learned something new on every page, and enjoyed the book immensely."
--Martin Fletcher, former NBC News Middle East correspondent and Tel Aviv Bureau chief, is the author of Walking Israel: A Personal Search for the Soul of a Nation, Breaking News, and The List.
“Whenever Ben Frank writes a new book on the pulsating and multi-dimensional Jewish world, its cause for celebration. The Scattered Tribe proves the point yet again. Bravo!”
--David Harris, Executive Director of the American Jewish Committee
"A fascinating ode to a resilient people. Ben Frank reveals the road less traveled, following members of "the tribe" who have made lives for themselves in some of the most surprising and far-flung places around the globe."
--Pat Farnack, WCBS Radio
“Ben Franks guides transcend the genre of travel books that crowd bookcases with facts and figures…his books have emerged as deep insights into places, cultures, histories through the voices of those who live there--stewards of tradition, caretakers of the present and the future. His interviews weave Jewish communities--who share concerns and joys common to many of us into the global community thus shrinking the distance among all travelers…”
--Maria Lisella, author of Amore on Hope Street and Two Naked Feet, contributor to FOXNews.com and other travel outlets
"Once again we are in Ben Frank's debt, as he takes us with him on his travels around today's changing and challenging Jewish world. The Scattered Tribe is filled with wonderful tales of past, present, and future, together with fascinating research and practical information, we are swept along on the trip of a lifetime through Russia, Siberia and the Far East, Tahiti, Ho Chi Minh City and Myanmar, India and North Africa, Cuba, and finally, a nostalgic return to Israel. Ben finds Jews and Jewish history everywhere. Ultimately, it is a grand essay about worldwide Jewish identity today, and leaves one ready to depart with him on his next journey--to wherever! Whether you like to travel or stay-at-home, it is not to be missed."
--Rabbi Jonathan Porath, Jerusalem, former member of the JDC Russian Department Senior Staff
Synopsis
This book is an odyssey to discover exotic Jewish communities around the world--a road map of travel and adventure set in such locals as Russia (including Siberia), Tahiti, Vietnam, Myanmar, India, Cuba, Morocco, Algeria, and Israel.
Synopsis
Jewish travelers have long combed far-off lands in search of fragments of the scattered tribe. Among these is Ben G. Frank, a travel writer and a journalist who for half a century has traveled to far-flung Jewish communities recording his observations and experiences. The Scattered Tribe is Bens gift to
those who journey to diverse and mystic lands.
The Scattered Tribe is an odyssey—a road map of travel and adventure set in many exotic locales. Both active and armchair travelers and lovers of history, politics, and government will find this book fascinating.
About the Author
Ben G. Frank is the author of A Travel Guide to Jewish Europe, A Travel Guide to Jewish Russia and Ukraine, and A Travel Guide to the Jewish Caribbean and South America. He has published articles in National Jewish Monthly of Bnai Brith, American Zionist, the Jewish Digest, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Jewish Week, the Jewish Press, the Jewish Exponent, and the Jewish Frontier.