"After Freud and Einstein, Martin Buber (1878-1965) was one of the best-known Jews of the 20th century, an era he traversed as one of its principal actors and witnesses...The emergence of Zionism, Nazism and the creation of the state of Israel were all major concerns...He wrote extensively on the question of respect among Near Eastern peoples, at the same time warning of the risks that were to be run. His thoughts on the issue are all the more powerful...