Fragile Branches: Travels Through the Jewish Diaspora

Rating:
Summary: Unusual and interesting communities
Review: This is a well-written, easy-to-read investigation of some unusual Jewish and Jewish wannabe communities in Uganda, Peru, Brazil, India, and even Israel. There are chapters on the ever-increasing discovery of Marranos and their descendents and an interesting one on the Karaite community, who are officially acknowledged as Jews by the rabbinic authorities in Israel though their rabbis are not. Ross focuses on several individuals in each chapter, which brings the research down to a personal and more readable level. He is also careful not to take any one `expert's' advice on the theories of some of the communitites who claim `Lost Tribe' status but brings objective reporting into the argument. Each chapter can be read independent of each other, with an introduction and conclusion linking them. On the whole, interesting and very readable of some unusual communities!

Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: Well written. Well researched. Reads like classic novel.