To the Gates of Jerusalem

"Inspiring—McDonald's prescience and energy are simply amazing. But because we know what is soon to happen to Europe's Jews, we share his frustration that no one seems to be listening." —The Wall Street Journal

"Will undoubtedly reignite the charged debate over whether Roosevelt could have done more to rescue millions . . . who died in Nazi death camps." —The New York Times

"A major resource for the research of one of the greatest humanitarian crises of the twentieth century." —Jewish Political Studies Review

"Inspiring—McDonald's prescience and energy are simply amazing. But because we know what is soon to happen to Europe's Jews, we share his frustration that no one seems to be listening." —The Wall Street Journal "Will undoubtedly reignite the charged debate over whether Roosevelt could have done more to rescue millions . . . who died in Nazi death camps." —The New York Times "A major resource for the research of one of the greatest humanitarian crises of the twentieth century." —Jewish Political Studies Review

Unusually engaging and suspenseful for a such a scholarly enterprise, To the Gates of Jerusalem is an essential volume for all university libraries and collections focused on the history of the Middle East in the twentieth century.

* Jewish Book Council *

To the Gates of Jerusalem focuses on the months between December 1945 and the Israeli declaration of independence on May 14, 1948. Although McDonald's diary ends in April 1946, the remaining years of his activities are superbly documented by the editors. Indeed, this is perhaps the best example of an edited diary that this reviewer has seen.

* H-Net Reviews H-Judaic *

The scholarship underpinning these edited diaries and papers is impeccable and meticulous, directing those wishing further details to important sources. But nonspecialists and general readers will find this volume eminently accessible, at times gripping. The skillful design and presentation include an excellent brief overview of the period, an epilogue, valuable chapter introductions, footnotes, and sidebars that together successfully overcome the sometimes truncated nature of the primary materials. Through its focus on one individual, the book provides a sophisticated and balanced account of three dramatic years.

* Middle East Journal *

The layout, featuring each paragraph of the diaries followed by meticulous explanation and annotation, makes the material accessible and easy to understand. This excellent method, so different from the usual text and turgid footnotes, results in a definitive "case study" of the history of the Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry.

* Studies in Contemporary Jew