9 Books on Jewish History You Need to Read

📚 A special crossover issue featuring recommendations by 18Forty’s best and brightest guests.

It’s my pleasure to welcome Rivka Bennun Kay from 18forty and the wonderful I Read This Over Shabbos newsletter for a guest post here on Stories from Jewish History, kicking off the new Book Notes section. To say I am a fan of 18forty’s mission and the community it has built is a drastic understatement, so I couldn’t be more thrilled for this collaboration—especially with the all-star line-up of respondents (it’s like Rivka read my mind to figure out who I’d want to ask for book recommendations!).

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The Jewish People love to talk about their own history—and for good reason. From the Biblical era to the modern day, our story has moments of glory and inspiration, of tragedy and heartbreak. Generations of scholarship and tradition are lifelines that ensure our continuity.

In that spirit, here are nine books on Jewish history that you should read, recommended by some of the greatest scholars on Jewish history.

My name is Rivka Bennun Kay, and I’m an editor at 18Forty, a media company with millions of downloads and a community of tens of thousands that empowers Jews from all backgrounds to engage in honest and open-ended exploration of faith, identity, and community. And like many other Jews, we love to talk about Jewish history.

Because we encourage curiosity and learning new things, 18Forty started the I Read This Over Shabbos initiative, where book-lovers can unite to cultivate a thriving Jewish book culture. You may also recognize people posting on X what they read over Shabbos. We started that.

I write our main I Read This Over Shabbos newsletter with essays, recommendations, and book reviews to enhance your reading journey with new ideas and perspectives.

Our book recommendations today come from our 18Forty guests who spoke with us about the origins of Judiasm, denominations, censorship, and so much more.

What about you—what do you recommend?

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1. Dr. Malka Simkovich, editor-in-chief of the Jewish Publication Society, recommends:

Outside the Bible, ed. Louis H. Feldman, James L. Kugel, Lawrence H. Schiffman

A groundbreaking three-volume collection of ancient Jewish writings contextualizes their shared background, offering insights into Judaism and early Christianity.

If you are looking for a comprehensive collection of ancient Jewish literature beyond the Hebrew Bible, this set is for you.

2. Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter, noted rabbi and historian, recommends:

Changing the Immutable by Marc Shapiro

An exploration of how segments of Orthodox society selectively rewrite Jewish history and texts, often through self-censorship, examining the motivations and implications of this practice for Jewish intellectual history.

If you are looking for an analysis of how historical narratives are shaped, add this to your reading list.

3. Prof. Yonatan Adler, archaeology professor at Ariel University, recommends:

Flavius Josephus: Translation and Commentary, ed. Steve Mason

Edited by Steve Mason, this is the first comprehensive literary-historical commentary in English on the works of Flavius Josephus, whose writings are indispensable for understanding ancient Judaism, Classics, and Christian origins.

This classic work is a must-read for all who are curious by the experience of Jewish life in the first century.

4. Dr. Tamara Morsel-Eisenberg, scholar of early Modern Jewish intellectual and cultural history, recommends:

Halakhic Man by Joseph B. Soloveitchik

A foundational work of modern Jewish thought, Rav Soloveitchik offers a deep exploration into religious psychology, a philosophy of Jewish law, and a critique of mysticism.

If you are interested in the history and philosophy of halacha, start here.

5. Prof. Pawel Paciejko, history professor at Johns Hopkins University, recommends:

Sabbatean Songs of Faith by Hadar Feldman Samet (Hebrew)

A fascinating work that examines the secretive world of the Ma'aminim, followers of Sabbatai Tzvi who converted to Islam. It analyzes their mystical manuscripts to reveal their unique blend of Sabbatian, Jewish, and Islamic traditions and rituals in the late Ottoman Empire.

If you are curious about the history of religious transformation, this book is for you.

6. Rabbi Dr. Yosef Bronstein, writer and scholar of Jewish thought, recommends:

When God Becomes History by Abraham Isaac HaKohen Kook, ed. Bezalel Naor

A compilation of the historical writings of Rabbi Abraham Isaac Hakohen Kook (1865-1935), whose unique approach to Jewish history blends legal, philosophical, and mystical insights.

If you are looking for a profound interpretation of Jewish history and the spiritual evolution of humanity, this book is for you.

7. Michelle Chesner, Columbia University’s librarian for Jewish Studies, recommends:

“The Hebraic Book” by Emile Schrijver

An essay about the history of the Hebrew handwritten book, from the scholarly focus on medieval manuscript decoration to the significant shift in production and trade brought about by the invention of printing.

If you are fascinated by the impact of printing on the Jewish world, this piece is for you.

8. Dr. Marc Shapiro, Judaic Studies chair at the University of Scranton, recommends:

American Jewish Orthodoxy in Historical Perspective by Jeffrey Gurock

This collection of essays explores how American Jewish Orthodoxy navigated the challenges of American freedom, thereby reshaping the understanding of Orthodox identity and practice.

If you are interested in the history of American Orthodoxy, this work is for you.

9. Prof. Lawrence Schiffman, scholar of Hebrew and Judaic studies at NYU, recommends:

From Text to Tradition: A History of Second Temple and Rabbinic Judaism by Lawrence H. Schiffman

This historical examination traces Judaism's evolution from the religion of Biblical Israel to the Judaism of the Talmudic Sages, analyzing each stage from historical, literary, and religious perspectives.

If you’re looking for a sweeping overview of ancient Jewish history, make this your next read.

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Look out for further book notes mini-newsletters coming out around mid-month! These will highlight books I’m reading on Jewish topics, writing updates, and other bookish things. If you’d prefer only to receive the main newsletter (or only the book notes), you can toggle your preferences in your Substack settings.