Beitebe itibaren Passo Real de Candiota, Candiota - RS, Brazil
Definitely way better than what I expected. The ending was predictable in parts, but there were some unsuspected elements, which is always a plus.
I greatly enjoyed this book. Steinberg did an amazing job describing the characters and giving me a full picture of all these grand tannaitic sages. Although Steingberg took some liberties with the plot, it seems he really stuck to the general character descriptions as depicted in gemaras and mishnas and I really got a great picture of what it was like to live in that time. Moreover, Elisha ben Avuya's struggle was so great and so interesting and even so relevant to today's times. I am merely left wondering, would Elisa ben Avuya still have become Acher had Modern Orthodoxy existed back in his time?! Or rather would so many of us have become "acher" as well?! Lastly, my only criticism, is that at times i felt as though steinberg were trying to get across his reconstructionist judaism agenda, and while it did seem to mimic elisha's struggles, i couldnt help but wonder if Steinberg was transferring his own woes and conflicts onto this tannaitic character. Bottom line, I now understand why it's required reading in so many Jewish History courses!