Review :
"The book provides important research on cultural, social, and technological developments in Palestine and gives the reader a rare glance at dream and reality in Palestine mainly during the early twentieth century." (Rachel Simon, Princeton University, Religious Studies Review, Jan. 2000.)

"What a pleasant surprise then, to behold, at last, a book that documents the early years of the Zionist endeavor without trying to color the past with any current ideologies.Vivienne Silver-Brody, in her wonderfully researched study, has filled the gap and shown us the State of Israel in the making. Although she suggests avenues of further research for future historians, I think this is going to be the classic work on the subject for a long time to come."(Neil Folberg, The Jerusalem Report, 2.8.99.)

Vivienne Silver-Brody has two central achievements to her credit in her new book.She gives us a comprehensive and fascinating picture of early Jewish photography in the Land of Israel, and she does so without falling into the trap of clinging nostalgia, which has accompanied so large a number of the (very few) publications in this area in the past." (Smadar Sheffi, HaAretz, 2.4.99.)

"This is a definitive, scholarly and beautifully produced work which is a pleasure to peruse again and again." (Meir Ronnen, Jerusalem Post, 9.4.99.)

"This book is a magnificent and historically important collection of photographs, with commentary, depicting nineteenth-century photography in the Holy Land. This book also includes the history of Jewish photography in Israel. Recommended for high school and adults." (Linda R. Silver, Jewish Education Center of Cleveland, 7.4.2000.)