Zionist Culture and West European Jewry Before the First World War

by Michael Berkowitz

Overview

Focusing on the cultural invention of Zionism, Michael Berkowitz explores how and why the Jewish nationalist movement was embraced by assimilated Jews of Western Europe before World War I. He pays special attention to the symbolism, artistic representations, and mythology that attracted European Jews to Zionism, which coexisted equally with the nationalisms of their home countries. The book was originally published in 1993.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807846056
Publisher:	The University of North Carolina Press
Publication date:	09/16/1996
Edition description:	1
Pages:	280
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.61(d)

About the Author

Michael Berkowitz is Reader in Modern Jewish History at University College London.

Table of Contents

Introduction;

1. Congress-zionism in motion;
2. The emergence of Hebrew and dissent;
3. Carrying out the cultural programme;
4. Zionist heroes and new men;
5. Art and zionist polular culture;
6. Realistic projections of palestine;
7. Culture and charity: the Jewish National Fund; Conclusion.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

[An] enriching exploration of the rhetoric and imagery of Zionist Culture and West European Jewry Before the First World War.—Nation

Michael Berkowitz's superb new book provides a novel approach to the early history of the Zionist movement in Europe by focusing on Zionist survival in western Europe. . . . Berkowitz is emphatic that Zionism was a success because the culture it spawned both affirmed Jewish distinctiveness while at the same time incorporating the most desirable aspects of the civilizations in which the Jews had been living, particularly the idea of secular nationalism.—Francis R. Nicosia, History of European Ideas

By having complemented his study of Zionist rhetoric with an exploration of visual imagery, Berkowitz has greatly enriched our understanding of the formation of Zionist culture prior to World War I.—Vicki Caron, American Historical Review

[A] highly original and informative book. . . . No history is ever dead and Professor Berkowitz is to be congratulated on his contribution to our understanding of this aspect of the matter.—Max Beloff, Jewish Journal of Sociology

Berkowitz's vivid account of the symbolism of early Zionism is eye-opening. He persuasively shows how Zionism, like any nationalist movement, was the invention of a particular time and place.—David Sorkin, Central European History

An interesting and brilliant analysis of the responses of the middle-class Jews of western Europe to the Zionist ideology.—Noah Lucas, Journal of Jewish Studies

Editorial Reviews

[A] highly original and informative book.

Max Beloff, "Jewish Journal of Sociology"

ÝAn¨ enriching exploration of the rhetoric and imagery.

"Nation"

ÝA¨ highly original and informative book.

Max Beloff, "Jewish Journal of Sociology"

Berkowitz has greatly enriched our understanding of the formation of Zionist culture prior to World War I.

Vicki Caron, "American Historical Review"

Berkowitz's vivid account of the symbolism of early Zionism is eye-opening.

David Sorkin, "Central European History"

Michael Berkowitz's superb new book provides a novel approach to the early history of the Zionist movement in Europe.

Francis R. Nicosia, "History of European Ideas"

"[A] highly original and informative book.

Max Beloff, "Jewish Journal of Sociology""

"Berkowitz has greatly enriched our understanding of the formation of Zionist culture prior to World War I.

Vicki Caron, "American Historical Review""

"Berkowitz's vivid account of the symbolism of early Zionism is eye-opening.

David Sorkin, "Central European History""

"Michael Berkowitz's superb new book provides a novel approach to the early history of the Zionist movement in Europe.

Francis R. Nicosia, "History of European Ideas""

[An] enriching exploration of the rhetoric and imagery.

"Nation"

From the Publisher