“Dr. Wald puts at our disposal the benefit of the wisdom of the finest historians, beginning with Thucydides, concerning the reasons behind the rise and decline of civilizations. This notable endeavor enables us to delineate some ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ for leaders that navigate between crises and guide their people to prosperous shores. These practical insights should be an integral part of every leadership compass, especially in the Jewish-Israeli narrative, where history is still very much in the making. . . . The readers of this book can look forward to an exciting journey through the chapters of history as penned by some of its greatest historians. Dr. Wald deserves our deepest appreciation for the excellent guidance he provides us in this learning experience and on this inspiring journey.”

Rise and Decline of Civilizations: Lessons for the Jewish People is a thought experiment in which the author examines the work of 23 historians of the last 2,400 years, from Thucydides to Jared Diamond, who describe the rise and decline of nations and civilizations. None of the 23 is a historian of Judaism. The key question of the book is whether the reasons that explain the rise, decline, and fall of other civilizations could apply to the Jews as well. The answer of the author is a qualified yes. From the work of these historians he extracts 12 drivers, or factors that explain rise and decline, from religion to natural catastrophes. Reviewing the Jewish history of more than 3000 years against the background of these drivers opens fascinating new vistas for the general reader, but may be particularly useful to historians and politicians.