Helon's Pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Volume 1 (of 2) A picture of Judaism, in the century which preceded the advent of our Savior.

"Helon's Pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Volume 1 (of 2)" by Friedrich Strauss is a story set in a time of big change, focusing on a young Jewish man named Helon as he travels from Alexandria to Jerusalem looking for deeper meaning in his life and a stronger connection to his Jewish background. The story happens before Jesus Christ was born, in a world full of interesting cultures and also a lot of unrest, dealing with ideas about who we are, what we believe, and the complex rules of Jewish life. When the book starts, we find Helon getting ready for his trip, feeling sad about leaving his mother. The story shares emotional moments of his goodbye, and how his family feels as they hope for him and worry about his journey. We also see Helon's relationship with his former servant, Sallu, as he decides about joining him. Besides Helon’s personal story, the book shows in great detail the traditions and ceremonies of the time, giving us a good look at Jewish society back then.