In the mid-1970s, Saul Bellow visited Israel, and "To Jerusalem and Back" is his account of his time there. Immersing himself in the landscape and culture, he records the views, passions, and dreams of Israelis with a variety of perspectives – from Prime Minister Rabin, novelist Amos Oz, and the editor-in-chief of an Arabic-language newspaper to a kibbutz member from the Warsaw Ghetto camp and the hairdresser at Bellow's hotel. Through reflections full of history and literature, he adds his own thoughts on being Jewish in the twentieth century. Bellow's exploration of a beautiful and troubled city is a powerful testimony to the unique spirit and challenges of Israel, its history, and its future.