Books The Israeli Century: How the Zionist Revolution Changed History and Reinvented Judaism  by Yossi Shain (Author)

"The Israeli Century: How the Zionist Revolution Changed History and Reinvented Judaism" by Yossi Shain offers a comprehensive and sweeping history of the Jewish people from the destruction of the First Temple in the 6th century BCE to the modern era of the State of Israel.

The book's core thesis argues that Jewish history has oscillated between exile and sovereignty, with the current era representing a profound shift where sovereignty now shapes Jewish identity more than the Diaspora experience. Shain shows how the rebirth of the Jewish state has transformed Jews globally, creating a new "Israeli Century" in which Israel becomes the center of Jewish life and culture, influencing Jews worldwide.

Shain analyzes the historical phases of Jewish life, emphasizing how periods of sovereignty brought new possibilities but also challenges for Jewish identity and continuity. He highlights how the modern Israeli state redefines Jewishness politically, socially, and religiously, giving Israelis a new role as influential global actors and bearers of Jewish continuity.