Israel Rising is a photography-style coffee table book that focuses on the drastic change in the nation of Israel over the past one hundred years and presents the change as the fulfillment of prophecy. Up until a few generations ago, the land of Israel was fairly desolate. It had been emptied of its people and much of the land had not been farmed or taken care of. But starting with the formation of modern Israel in 1948, all of that began to change.

Documentarian Doug Hershey and photojournalist Elise Theriault take readers through the nation of Israel, juxtaposing historical accounts from the 1800s and photographs from the late 1800s to mid-1900s with their own modern accounts and photographs. Where possible, the Hershey and Theriault attempt to recreate the old photos as closely as possible for easily comparison.

Much, but not all, of the historical accounts come from Mark Twain’s The Innocents Abroad. In 1867, Twain visited the Holy Land and left with rather unfavorable impressions.

• There is not a solitary village throughout its whole extent—not for thirty miles in either direction.
• The further we went the hotter the sun got, and the more rocky and bare, repulsive and dreary the landscape became.
• It [The Dead Sea] is a scorching, arid, repulsive solitude.

Hershey would have benefitted from drawing on more sources and ones more academic at that. Twain was a notorious curmudgeon and comic. Part of his book seems to be a lampoon of the overly-thrilling and sensational travelogues of his day. The rest of his book reads like someone ill-informed of the area he would be touring. Twain is certainly the most popular source to quote, but hardly the best.

Hershey’s narration and storytelling could also use some work. Rather than telling us stories about the people of the land or its history, Hershey seems to enjoy telling us about how they got the shot. It’s self-centered focus really takes away from the nation of Israel and its people. I don’t need to know how the authors spent their summer vacation. I want to know about the people the land; I want context for the beautifully-shot photos.

Israel Rising’s saving grace is its photography. Elise Theriault provides stunning landscapes that truly capture the heart of modern Israel while still revealing the ancient city beneath. While she is a bit hamstrung in her technique by only seeking to recreate older shots, Theriault manages to make the photos her own. For those who may never get to see the sights in person, Theriault provides a suitable substitute.

The biblical connection with Ezekiel is a bit tenuous. Ezekiel 36 prophecies about the re-creation of Israel that coincides with the regathering of its people. However, those blessings are contingent on the people becoming once again a people of the Covenant. The restoration of the land is tied to the restoration of the nation’s soul. And that latter thing is something we have not yet seen. At best, we can say that the regathering of national Israel is a start toward the prophecy’s fulfillment, but simply because Israel has entered the 21st century along with the rest of the world doesn’t make it prophetic fulfillment.

Indeed, I would guess that if you took old, battered, low quality, black-and-white photos of landscapes from the late 1800s and compared them the same landscape photographed with modern technology in vibrant color, there’s bound to be a difference. Part of the reason Israel of the 1890s looks drab is because the colorless, blurry photos make it so.

Not all of 1800s Israel was barren wasteland. For example, Eliezer Mordechai Altschuler writes in his 1881 memoir:

“Tears of joy poured from my eyes, and fantasies were swirling deep within me, when suddenly the carter drew my attention to the fact that we had arrived at Mikveh Yisrael. I was overcome anew with astonishment. Facing us was a comely building of three sections with a charming courtyard set before it. It was surrounded by a pleasure garden planted with fruit trees, the whole area was a veritable paradise.”

Hershey’s narrative simply doesn’t hold up to the extent he claims and the book suffers as a result. With a weak biblical background, poor historical background, and shoddy storytelling, the only redeeming feature of Israel Rising is the visual aspect. Since that’s the primary use of this type of book, that gets weighted a bit heavier in my overall critique, but the written aspect leaves those photos without sufficient or sturdy context, making the book ultimately a disappointment.

"Israel Rising" compares black and white photographs of Israel taken between 1880 and the 1940s with full color photographs taken now from the same locations. The author started by talking about the prophecy in Ezekiel about Israel blooming again and then provided quotes from travelers from around 70 AD until the mid-1900s describing how desert-like and desolate the land had become. The modern pictures show a land full of green and people, the fulfillment of Ezekiel's prophesy. The author also included some accounts about the people they encountered as they took the pictures throughout Israel. If you like then-and-now photography books, then you'll enjoy this interesting book.

This is a different type of coffee table book about the changes to the land of Israel since independence.
There is some minor narrative between the photos, but it is the pictures themselves that tell the real story.

The premise is to show the same places (and shot from the same place), some over one hundred years apart. The most impressive ones to me are where the first pictures only show scrubland or marshes and now an area of green and agriculture. Of course the pictures of Tel Aviv show sand dunes and nothing else and then the modern metropolis are really striking.

It a book for people who like comparative history, but they will be happy to see this.

What would your home look like if you compared it to what it was one hundred years ago? What would your street look like? Your city? Your country? Would it be more beautiful? Doug Hershey has set out to show us through pictures what Israel’s home look like after a century of Jewish resettlement.
It starts out with a brief Bible lesson about the foretold rebirth of the land in Ezekiel 36. Most of the book though is pictures of the land with a few personal anecdotes of the author’s time in Israel. I wasn’t prepared for the stunning difference a hundred years has made. It’s amazing. The beauty of the new forests, lush fields, broad roads, and modern cities is a powerful contrast to the barrenness of the wastes of only a hundred years ago. It’s a more powerfully moving contrast than I thought it would be. A few things are as they have been for centuries, but this leaves no doubt that the land is coming back to life.
I would strongly recommend it to everyone I know. It is an amazingly hopeful book.
I received this as a free Arc through NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishers. No favorable review was required. It was my pleasure to provide my honest opinions.

I'm not a huge fan of glorified travelogues where people travel, muse and take photos. It's their journey not mine.

But Israel rising is a book that should encourage every Jew, and then Christian. Not so much the Muslim because the book's premise is that Israel belongs to its people - which does not include them. To be fair, it does not imply this but the prophecy of Israel arising is from Ezekiel vwho was not talking to the followers of Mohammed.

The efforts taken to show old photos and then the same place from 200 years later is admirable and shows that prophecy is being fulfilled. The personal stories of how they got the pictures is interesting, and not intrusive.

I do wish there were more photos of houses and things personal to everyday Israelites - there is one house - but the point is to show the land.

I cannot help but think that any believers heart would be gladdened to read this book and be reminded that God's Word is being fulfilled. I felt emotional and glad after reading it.

I am not a religious person, but I am fascinated with the history of Isreal and this country made a very big impression during my visit there some years ago, so it was a great pleasure to see these beautiful photographs. The effect of "before/after" pictures is immense. However, it was a little disconcerting that there is no mention of the Palestine conflict and you wouldn't guess from this book that between Jerusalem and Bethlehem stands an enormous wall, dividing this country and its people.

Thanks to the publisher, Tyndale House Publishers, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

One of the most striking and powerful books I've read in 2020 (at least 300), Israel Rising beautifully documents Biblical prophecy in words and astounding photography. Re-reading Ezekiel's prophecy in the book combined with photographs from the 1880s to 1940s and then comparing those taken in 2016 gave me chills! Meaningful chills.

The author, along with a photographer, traveled throughout Israel in 2016 to capture the exact photograph vantage points from the older photography to compellingly illustrate how prophecy is being fulfilled. Communities have sprung up and what was inhospitable land is now fertile and green, more people and more animals.

Nazareth's population was 400 in the late 19th century but is now 75,000! Jezreel Valley then looks bleak and rocky but now is verdant and productive! Aphek then and now couldn't look more different. So much has changed yet many photographs show the same historic buildings in both eras such as Hebron's Tomb of the Patriarchs. How fascinating to see that with modern surrounding changes...time also seems to stand still.

Personal anecdotes of acquiring access to take photographs are brilliant as are descriptions of the people. I really like that many obscure places are highlighted in addition to a few you may expect. Prophecy conclusions at the back are listed. It's true. People ARE returning. And it's exciting!

The reference information has been so helpful for me today. Those interested in the history of Israel and/or Biblical prophecy will love this.

My sincere thank you to Tyndale House Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this enthralling book in exchange for an honest review. I will buy the hard copy for my mom for Christmas. And borrow it!