Like Dreamers: The Story of the Israeli Paratroopers Who Reunited Jerusalem and Divided a Nation

<I>Like Dreamers</I> is not a definitive history of the Six Day War, of Israel, or the Arab-Israeli conflicts, but instead is a deeply personal exploration of the lives of individuals connected by this history. It is a wonderful book, worth reading by anyone interested in Israel and connected topics.This is one of the several things I liked about how Halevi tells this story. While the major, famous names: Ben-Gurion, Rabin, Sharon, Begin, etc., are part of it, they are never the focus, never the movers of the story. The focus is always on the lives of the paratroopers. This gives it the feel of bottom-up history, rather than a history of ‘great men.’ And that provides a more authentic and personal connection to the events and lives of those affected by the events.The narrative is at once exhilarating, aspirational, sad, poignant, funny, and thought-provoking. The first half tracks the lives of several of the individuals of the paratrooper brigade that helped to capture Jerusalem during the Six Day War. From their childhood to the 67 war, the narrative builds towards the capture and reunification of Jerusalem. This is presented as the apex of Israeli unity. The jubilation, the exhilaration, the joy of the moment: the overnight shift from facing annihilation to redeeming the 2,000-year-old dream of Jewish history.The second half of the book, though, walks through how this vision of unity quickly fades—both between these individuals and within the nation. In this way, the author captures the diverse and divergent visions of the Israeli left and right, the Peace Now-ers and Greater Israel-ers, the kibbtuzniks and the settlers, the secular and the religious. And by focusing on particular individuals, Halevi shows how these divisions and categories break down and intertwine. Individuals—and their nations—are far more complex and complicated then a set of abstract ideological views. By showing us, through the lives of individuals, how their ideas and views developed, changed, and morphed in the face of a changing world, it gives a depth and humanity to the competing narratives of Israel (within Israel). It shows an abounding respect for these different ways to be Israeli, to be Zionist, to be Jewish.

Wow. I learned far, far more about Israel in these 500+ pages than in my many years of slaving over the NY Times and accounts of Resolution 242 or 338 or all the other news stories that have pored forth on the 'problems' there. I have read several books on the the military campaigns of the Israel but little that provided any real insight into the soul of the nation, even a biography of Moshe Dayan recently. But this was a truly fascinating, educational and moving account even (maybe especially) for a goyim (or is it a goy?). The depth and complexity of Israel and the Jews is incredibly well elucidated. I think it is a tribute to the author that I was not really able to discern his 'agenda'. Left, right middle? I think he attempted to be fair. And it wound up being just a brilliantly humanistic work on a people struggling with their incredibly long and convoluted history and now interesting place in the world. I wondered who among the men profiled I would actually want to meet in person and I think Yoel Bin Nun would be my choice, which is fairly shocking to me because as one of the founders of Gush Emunim I would not have expected that. One does come away with some serious questions about any people who insist they are the 'chosen' ones. It simply does not allow much of a place for the ones who are not chosen.

This book is really interesting! Yossi Klein HaLevi is an amazing author with a great ability to tell a story. I really enjoyed and would recommend to everyone who cares about Israel

With Israel much in the news this past year, many people find themselves in discussions about Israel’s founding and the evolution of Israeli politics since independence in 1948. One way to approach that history and to acquire a deeper understanding of today’s Israel is to read Yossi Klein Halevi’s Like Dreamers.Like Dreamers is an example of what is called social history. Instead of reporting on the main players in the main events, Like Dreamers tells the personal stories over forty plus years of seven men who were part of the liberation and unification of Jerusalem in 1967, and in so doing exposes the reader to the divisions that emerged in Israeli society between secular versus religious Zionists, between settlers in Judea and Samaria (the so-called West Bank) versus the residents of pre-1967 Israel, between Kibbutzniks versus metropolitans.The March 2015 election results testify to the fact that Israel is a divided society. While the subtitle “The story of the Israeli paratroopers who reunited Jerusalem and divided a nation” suggests the paratroopers are to blame for the subsequent divisions, most of the seven men Halevi writes about did everything in their power to bridge the divide. The problem is that complex and deep-seated problems are not easily resolved despite the good-faith efforts of the best of men.If nothing else, readers of Like Dreamers will come away with a greater appreciation of how great the divide is for example between those who see the world through the lens of Torah versus those who no longer believe in a god nor practice the Jewish religion. Each has a claim to how Israel should be governed and how problems such as Arab terrorism should be addressed.Halevi brings his seven men to life by following their personal lives, their careers, their wishes and their fears. Occasionally one might wish he’d have left out some small personal item, but on the whole he gives very complete pictures of each man’s life treating even the most extreme with empathy. His smooth writing style is ideal for a book of this length and it doesn’t require any specialized knowledge or background.

Amazing! Is it a thriller or a tale of History! But, all real heroes who really wrote " the next chapter of the Bible" as told by Hanan Porat. The untold story of the bravery and determination of a few daredevil Israeli Paratroopers who reshaped the destiny of Israel in the Six Day War of 1967 by uniting the holy city of Jerusalem and defeating the more powerful hostile neighbours Jordan and Egypt. They reversed the utter annihilation of the young Jewish state into a story of redemption and might. The narrative is beguiling. One of the few greatest books about Israel I've read.

Just finished the book. I must say,a Great read!!!! Not your typical war/military book. You follow a group of young Israeli paratroopers of the 55th,who as situations worked out was the unit that fought and re-captured Jerusalem in 1967 and then in 1973 was the unit in the west who helped the western front of the Yom Kippur War flip to Israels side when they crossed the Suez Canal,taking Israel on the offense instead of the defense. The book follows these men as they directly and indirectly changed Israel from 1967 to 2004. Everything that could have happened in that short history of Israel these men were connected to from 1967 to even now.The Singing Paratrooper,Ariel; the hard charger Arik,.

Israelis can be divided along so many lines that when outsiders are confronted with the challenge of understanding its plurality, interpretations are often reduced to oversimplifying labels and stereotypes. This book shatters all easy answers, as it sheds light on the internal complexities of Israel in the most personal, direct, and honest way possible. Seven lives of seven men converge in one historical milestone, only to diverge from there on embodying the full spectrum of choices for the present and future of Israel. The author closely follows each one of these men as they grow and evolve shaping their lives and that of the nation. The result is a profoundly human story that illustrates, like no socio-political treatise could, the multi-coloured and multi-layered tapestry of this unique society. Like Dreamers is a fascinating and enlightening book.

Wonderful behind the scenes story of the Israeli Paratroopers and their heroic deeds which contributed to modern day Israel. The highs and lows of seven paratroopers. Yossi Klein Halevi relates the successes and failures, the stumbling, errors and unbelievable achievements of the IDF (Israeli Defence Force) against outnumbered enemies. He follows the deeds of Arik Achmon, a hero of numerous victories.

This book told the story of modern Israel through the prism of a few of the paratroopers from the 6 Day War. These characters from varied backgrounds and different political and religious backgrounds were joined in being comrades in arms and they all came to life in this wonderful narrative.