This section deals with access to information about Zionism, its development, Israeli history and the Peace Process.
We focus on available online resources, and books you may be able to find in reference libraries. It is a very large area of interest, so this will be selective.
What does the term, "Zionism" mean, and who first used it ?
A:
Modern Zionism is a movement whose goal is the return of Jews to Eretz Yisrael, or Zion, the Jewish synonym for Jerusalem and the Land of Israel. It began in the 1880s in Eastern Europe, especially Russia, as an ideal of building a home for the Jewish people and bringing about national and spiritual renewal. It became a political movement through the work of essayists and the campaigners of Eastern and Western Europe, spearheaded by the untiring efforts of Theodore Herzl.
The term was originally coined in 1890 by Dr. Nathan Birnbaum (1864-1937), philosopher, author and Yiddish-ist.
Zionism developed in different directions, and - since Israel's statehood in 1948 - it has been debated as the means to an end, rather than the goal itself. In this respect, it addresses the significance of everyday life in Israel and in the Jewish Diaspora.
Q:
What are the major streams of early Political Zionism?
A:
Cultural Zionism -
Belief that successful settlement and re-population of Eretz Yisrael was predicated on need for revitalization of Jewish culture and Hebrew language. Eretz Yisrael could then become necessary cultural and spiritual center for Diaspora Jewry. Based primarily on ideas of Ahad Ha'am.
Practical Zionism -
Early manifestation of modern Zionist movement, urging return of Jews to and settlement in Eretz Yisrael, not predicated on political agreement.
Religious Zionism -
Belief that Jewish nationalism is religious as well as political goal, to be realized as a Jewish homeland in Eretz Yisrael based on "Torah v'avodah," a synthesis of Torah with practical labor.
Synthetic Zionism -
Term coined by Chaim Weizmann which urged fusion of political goals of Jewish homeland with practical goals of Jewish settlement, labor, and culture in Eretz Yisrael.
Revisionism -
Zionist political movement, founded and led by Jabotinsky, urging accelerated realization of
Zionism in form of establishment of State. Opposed Weizmann's leadership and mainstream Zionist politics during British Mandate as too moderate.
Q:
Has Zionism Changed since the early days before the State of Israel was created?
A:
This is an enormous topic, so we are going to provide some references rather than try to sum it up in a couple of sentences!
"I believe that even when we will have achieved a land of our own, Zionism will not cease to be an ideal. For Zionism, as I perceive it, incorporates not only the aspiration to a secured plot of land for our wretched people, but also the desire for moral and spiritual fulfillment."
Theodore Herzl March 1904
Where can I find online resources about the development of Zionism, Israeli History and the Peace Process?
A:
There are a great deal of online resources available today.
WEBSITES
1. On our own departmental website, http://www.jajz-ed.org.il/100/index.html try the following sections:
Timeline, Concepts (especially Zionist Congresses; Aliyah; Israel-Diaspora Relations), Glossary, Maps. Our extensive gallery of biographies might also help you (People).
Please also try Current Issues and Hasbara on our website for the Peace Process, Maps, Web Perspectives, History and much more...
There are activities and online exhibitions available from:
- Herzl- http://www.jajz-ed.org.il/100/people
- Israel, the First Generation & Israel at 50- http://www.jajz-ed.org.il/50/....
2. The Homeward Bound exhibition of early Zionism is on the Hagshama Dept website http://www.wzo.org.il/home/index.htm
3. The Central Zionist Archive on the same website has an online guide to its in-house records on http://www.wzo.org.il/cza/ and you can email them for consultation on
4. The Zionist Library of major texts is going up on http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/6640/zion
In the words of its creators, it "is an on-line resource for students, academics and the public. We are in the process of making accessible e-texts, in English translation, of essential historical texts of the Zionist movement."
5. The Israel Foreign Ministry website also features a range of good history and analysis articles:
For a definition of Zionism (plus other links) and its historical development up to Statehood visit the pre-State history files http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/go.asp?MFAH00lh0 (see from: Ottoman Rule).
History - Statehood http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/go.asp?MFAH00li0
There are several more links as you scroll down the large file, and they are worth trawling.
Other historical documents [Foreign Relations] can be found on http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/go.asp?MFAH00yk0
MFA entrance to Centenary of Zionism website - highly recommended http://www.israel-mfa.gov.il/mfa/go.asp?MFAH00un0
Israel at 50 and Beyond http://www.israel-mfa.gov.il/mfa/go.asp?MFAH00ye0
Analysis of the Declaration of Independence - highly recommended http://www.israel-mfa.gov.il/mfa/go.asp?MFAH00hk0
There is a separate section for the Peace Process with its own key documents on http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/go.asp?MFAH000c0
6. Bet Hatefutsoth (Museum of the Diaspora) has mounted an exhibition with some of the original materials from the early Zionist Congresses and you can visit their site at http://www.bh.org.il/
Q:
What are the best kind of books to read from libraries?
A:
Compiled from Academic Libraries (* = classic anthology)
1. Goldberg, David J. To the promised land: a history of Zionist thought from its origins to the modern state of Israel. Penguin politics. London; New York, NY: Penguin, 1996.
2. Gruber, Ruth, Israel on the Seventh Day, New York, Hill and Wang, 1968
3. * Hertzberg, Arthur. The Zionist idea; a historical analysis and reader. New York, Meridian Books, Philadelphia, Jewish Publication Society of America [1960, c1959].
4. Herzog, Chaim, The Arab-Israeli Wars, London, Arms and Armour Press, 1982
[review available from Amazon.com]
5. Karger, The first Zionist Congress in 1897: causes, significance, topicality. Basel; New York: 1997.
6. * Lacqueur, Walter Ze'ev, Rubin, Barry M., Eds., The Israel-Arab Reader, Penguin, New York, 1984
7. Louvish, Misha, The Challenge of Israel, New York, Ktav, 1969
8. Narkiss, Uzi, The Liberation of Jerusalem: The Battle of 1967
[review available from Amazon.com]
9. Penkower, Monty Noam, 1942. The emergence of Zionist thought. Series in Judaic studies. Millwood, N.Y.: Associated Faculty Press, c1986.
10. Penslar, Derek Jonathan. Engineering utopia: the World Zionist Organization and a settlement of Palestine, 1897-1914. 1987.
11. Roth, Cecil, 1899-1970. History of the Jews: an outline and discussion guide for a History of the Jews, from earliest times through the Six Day War, revised edition. New York: Schocken Books: [197-?].
12. Rubinstein, Amnon. The Zionist dream revisited: from Herzl to Gush Emunim and back. New York: Schocken Books, 1984.
13. Sachar, Howard Morley, The History of Israel from the Rise of Zionism to Our Time, Alfred Knopf Co., 1996
[review available from Amazon.com]
14. Sachar, Howard Morley, A History of Israel, Alfred Knopf Co., New York, 1976
15. Safran, Nadav, From War to War, Pegasus, New York
16. Shimoni, Gideon. The Zionist ideology. Tauber Institute for the Study of European Jewry series; 21. Hanover: Published by University Press of New England [for] Brandeis University Press, c1995.
17. Soshuk, Levi and Eisenberg, Azriel, Eds., Momentous Century, Herzl Press, 1984
Q:
What books are available for online purchase?
A:
Compiled from Amazon.com
This online bookstore yields a selection of publications, most of which are available in print or in reference libraries.
1. Essential Papers on Zionism (Essential Papers on Jewish Studies) -- Jehuda Reinharz(Editor), Anita Shapira (Editor); Paperback Original Sins :
2. Reflections on the History of Zionism and Israel -- Benjamin Beit-Hallahmi; Paperback
3. A History of Israel : From the Rise of Zionism to Our Time -- Howard M. Sachar; Paperback
4. The Founding Myths of Israel : Nationalism, Socialism, and the Making of the Jewish State, Zeev Sternhell, David Maisel (Translator) / Hardcover / Published 1998
5. From Rosh Pina and Degania to Dimona: A History of Constructive Zionism Yosef Gorny / Paperback / Published 1997
6. A History of Israel : From the Rise of Zionism to Our Time Howard M. Sachar / Paperback / Published 1996
7. Messianism, Zionism, and Jewish Religious Radicalism (Chicago Studies in the History of Judaism) Aviezer Ravitzky, et al / Published 1996
8. Moses Hess: Prophet of Communism and Zionism Shlomo Avineri / Paperback / Published 1985
9. To the Promised Land : A History of Zionist Thought from Its Origins to the Modern State of Israel (Penguin Politics) David J. Goldberg / Paperback / Published 1997
10. Zionism and Religion (The Tauber Institute for the Study of European Jewry Series, 30) S. Almog(Editor), et al / Hardcover / Published 1998
11. Zionism and the Creation of a New Society (Studies in Jewish History) ~ Ben Halpern, Jehuda Reinharz / Hardcover / Published 1998
12. Zionism and the Foundations of Israeli Diplomacy Sasson Sofer, et al / Hardcover / Published 1998
13. The Zionist Ideology (The Tauber Institute for the Study of European Jewry Series : No 21) Gideon Shimoni / Hardcover / Published 1995
14. Abba Hillel Silver and American Zionism
Mark A. Raider(Editor), et al / Paperback / Published 1997
15. Albion and Ariel : British Puritanism and the Birth of Political Zionism (American University Studies. Series Vii, Theology and Religion, Vol 166) Vol 166 Douglas J. Culver / Hardcover / Published 1995
16. Elusive Prophet : Ahad Ha'Am and the Origins of Zionism Steven J. Zipperstein / Hardcover / Published 1993
17. The Emergence of Zionist Thought (American University Studies, Series Ix, History, Vol 3) Monty Noam Penkower / Hardcover / Published 1991
18. Every Individual, a King : The Social and Political Thought of Ze'Ev Vladimir Jabotinsky Raphaella Bilski Ben-Hur / Paperback / Published 1993
19. History of Zionism Laqueur, Walter Laqueur / Hardcover / Published 1997
20. Israel : Politics, Myths and Identity Crises (Pluto Middle Eastern) Akiva Orr / Hardcover / Published 1994
21. New Encyclopedia of Zionism and Israel Geoffrey Wigoder(Editor) / Hardcover / Published 1994
22. The Post-Zionism Debates : Knowledge and Power in Israeli Culture Laurence J. Silberstein / Paperback / Published 1999 (Not Yet Published)
23. The Shaping of Israeli Identity : Myth, Memory, and Trauma Robert S. Wistrich, David Ohana / Paperback / Published 1995
24. Zionism at the Close of the Twentieth Century : A Dilemma Zeev Ben-Sira / Hardcover / Published 1993
