Book Review: The Rothschilds by Harry Freedman

 

A fascinating and engaging look at the history of the Rothschilds, this book explores the family’s remarkable influence across several centuries in a way that draws the reader in.

The book is well written and easy to read. By focusing on each generation in separate chapters, the author helps the reader follow the family’s story clearly while still maintaining a strong sense of continuity.

Harry Freedman has clearly researched his subject with great care, and he brings the family’s most important episodes to life in a thoughtful and accessible way.

The book also offers a fair and balanced account of the challenges the Rothschilds faced, particularly the antisemitism that shaped so much of their experience. Their perseverance in the face of opposition is presented as part of the broader story of how they influenced European politics, including their role in opposing figures such as Napoleon and Hitler. The author also shows how their financial support helped emerging nations, especially in the nineteenth century, develop their identities and strengthen their ambitions.

I also appreciated the attention given to the Rothschilds’ support of the arts and sciences, which adds another rich dimension to this detailed family history. Overall, I found the book a pleasure to read, especially because Freedman combines careful research with compelling stories and well-chosen quotes.

I rated the book with five stars. The Book is due to be published in December 2026.

Midweek Message: Camel Capers

Mark 10:25 “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (NIV)

A couple of years ago, Evelyn and I went on a special vacation to Egypt. We visited many ancient sites, including the pyramids where Evelyn was brave enough to sit upon a camel for a photograph. It was a wonderful moment, but when the camel started to move to follow another caravan, the tour guide had to quickly stop the camel in order to let Evelyn off before she was taken away into the desert!

When Jesus mentions a camel in the Gospel of Mark, He associates it with how hard it is for greedy people to enter God’s Kingdom. Christ had just amiably conversed with a rich young man who had the potential to become one of His disciples. However, the young man’s greed and insecurity prevented him from giving up his wealth in order to become a close follower. This saddened Jesus which caused Him to remark that it would be less difficult for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to get into God’s Kingdom.

The point of this unusual image is to make all of us reflect on what it costs us to follow Jesus. It’s never an easy thing to do and our Christian faith is often hampered or even cast aside when it becomes inconvenient. This is why we should individually ponder what possesses and consumes our time – our wealth, our careers, our leisure – and how they compare to how much we devote ourselves to Christ’s ministry and mission in our world.

Point to ponder: What does it personally cost me to be a Christian in today’s society?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help us to become aware of what You require of us in order to faithfully follow You. Enable us to remove any obstacles that get in the way serving You and God’s Kingdom. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

Pastor John

Midweek Message: Divine Equity

Psalm 9:7-8 The Lord reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment.

He rules the world in righteousness and judges the peoples with equity. (NIV)

We live in troubled times and as Christians, we probably find it hard to see where God is working in the world. There are moments when I get overwhelmed with a great sadness for the amount of cruelty and injustice, inhumanity and hostility that is taking place, not just around the globe, but in our beloved and beleaguered nation.

When I read about innocent people being unjustly targeted, assaulted, imprisoned, and even killed, simply because they are immigrants, I get angry and often ask God what He is doing about it. It seems to me that cruel people, who even have the audacity to call themselves Christians, are corrupting and controlling our society in unjust and unaccountable ways. And because we are going through a time of unease and uncertainty, many good people say or do nothing, allowing evil to triumph and bullies to lead.

I guess that the ancient songwriter who wrote the ninth psalm understood some of the angst we share today. His world was also upended by cruelty and division, fear and anxiety, but despite these issues and concerns, he held on to his faith in God – a God who ultimately would judge the world with divine equity – seeing people for who they were and offering no favoritism to people in power, but rather siding with the marginalized and the oppressed, the victimized and powerless.

Perhaps we can apply our faith in a similar manner during these immoderate times. The proud and the arrogant, the brazen and the bigoted do not go unnoticed by God. They may make gains in the short term and circumvent the laws of the land, but eventually their ruin and downfall will occur because unlike them, the Lord reigns forever and rules the world with righteousness and judges the people with equity.

Point to ponder: How often do I struggle with what’s happening in today’s world? Am I willing to put my faith in God’s justice?

Prayer: Lord God, You know how unjust the world can be, for even Your Son was not spared from the cruelty and inhumanity of men. When we are perplexed, be our patience; when we are lost, lead us gently; when we are downhearted, raise our spirits. In Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.