Hanina My Son: A Novel of the First Century

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Summary: A Jewish first Century Healer during the Roman Occupatio
Review: Does anyone think that times have changed much in over two thousand years? Hanina My Son, by Andrew Sanders, weaves a charming story of romance, mysticism and healing power. Told by Hanina's fictional son-in-law Archinas, now aged, he reflects back on the fascinating life of his father -in-law Rabbi Hanina Ben Dosa. This is a novel of the First Century, and many will delight in meeting another healer of the Galilee, a contemporary of Jesus of Nazareth. For students of the Bible, both Christian and Jewish as well as those history buffs interested in this period of time - Andrew Sanders gives us insight into the historical background at the time of the Roman Ocupation of the Jewish Nation and thereafter. By the end of the book, we have a much clearer understanding of the various religious and political factions that existed at that time, as well as greater insight into the operation of the Sanhedrin ( the Jewish religious court). Famous leaders and sages are described throughout, like Rabbi Akiva, Rabbi Joshua ben Hananiya and Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrkanus - all the while interacting with the simple man of God from the Galilee - Rabbi Hanina Ben Dosa - loved by the poor butmistrusted by some of the more established and powerful men of the Sanhedrin. For those who like history, Bible and Romance, this is a book for you to read. Sanders takes us right into the First Century so that we feel we are there. Told with wit, sensitivity and an historian's eye for details, we are enlightened with factual knowledge of what went on then ; as well, our souls are elevated by having met another simple but powerful man of God who works his 'mysterious magic' in the Jewish world. A love story of Hanina and his wife and of their daughter and son-in-law is woven throughout the novel, holding our interest and bringing lightness to the greater depth of the historical goings on of the times. A great read which I do highly recommed.

Rating:
Summary: Hanina my Son
Review: I would like to bring a new historical novel to the Reader's attention: "Hanina my Son" by Andrew Sanders (Publisher: Gefen, Israel. A friend acquainted me with this book and I would like to do the same service to others.

It is refreshing in the current fast-paced times to find a quiet, pleasant, slow-moving, but very interesting book about past times.

Hanina ben Dosa lived in the first century Israel. He was a modest, simple man who spent his life as a healer among the poor in the Galilee, just like another well-known personality of those times, Jesus. It was an exciting period in general, as well as in Jewish history, with the rebellion against the Romans, the destruction of the Temple, the birth of Christianity and modern Judaism as well. The book brings this era alive from a Jewish viewpoint, and with a very broad knowledge of the subject. I appreciated it, as I had very scant ideas of those times. I also liked that the writer made his protagonists very much like living people, not like saints, although most of them were great sages.

I recommend this book to all those who like to learn and are interested in our heritage from the distance of 2000 years.