The Golden Land and the Holy Land: American Jewry and the Yishuv in the Late Ottoman Period

by Nathan A. Efrati

Overview

The Golden Land and the Holy Land: American Jewry and the Yishuv in the Late Ottoman Period sheds new light on the relationship between these two Jewish communities in the early decades of Zionism.

In the mid-nineteenth century, Jewish immigration to the United States intensified, creating a new alternative to Erets Yisrael as the Promised Land. Yet the beginning of Zionist activity in the United States inspired an important change in American Jewish attitudes toward Erets Yisrael and activities on behalf of the community across the ocean. American Jews helped lay foundations for scientific advancements in Erets Yisrael in the fields of agriculture and health; they influenced the decision in favor of Hebrew over German in the "language war" in the Yishuv's educational institutions; and they aspired to change the nature of financial assistance from the chalukah charity system to productive philanthropy. The crowning achievement of American Jewish involvement in Erets Yisrael was its contribution to the Yishuv’s physical survival during World War I and the diplomatic processes leading up to the Balfour Declaration.

Table of Contents
Foreword by President Isaac Herzog ix
Preface xi
Introduction xv
PART I
THE PERCEPTION OF ERETS YISRAEL IN THE AMERICAN SPHERE
Chapter 1:
Erets Yisrael in the Perception of American Jewry page 3
Chapter 2:
Visits of American Jewish Leaders to Erets Yisrael, 1901–1914 page 51
Chapter 3
American Jewry and Yishuv Issues page 123
Chapter 4
From Chalukah to Philanthropy – A New Approach page 173
PART II
INVOLVEMENT AND ACTIVITIES OF AMERICAN JEWS IN ERETS YISRAEL
Chapter 5
The Jewish Agricultural Experiment Station in Atlit page 209
Chapter page 6
American Jewish Support for the Health System in
Erets Yisrael page 265
Chapter 7
American Jews and the Language War in Erets Yisrael page 301
Chapter 8
American Jewry’s View of Erets Yisrael during
World War I page 341
Epilogue page 397
Appendix
Brandeis’s Visit to Erets Yisrael, July 1919 page 415
Bibliography page 421
Index page 439

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789657023846
Publisher:	Gefen Publishing House
Publication date:	10/28/2022
Pages:	472
Product dimensions:	6.74(w) x 9.46(h) x 0.99(d)

About the Author

Dr. Nathan A. Efrati is a historian of the Yishuv who served as director of the Academy of the Hebrew Language. He has published books on the history of the Sephardic community in Jerusalem and the history of the Yishuv in Erets Yisrael during World War I. Two of his works covered the history of the revival of Hebrew as a spoken language: From Individual to National Language (2004) and Hebrew as Reflected in the State (2010). In 2018, Dr. Efrati was awarded the Eliezer Ben-Yehuda Prime Minister's Award for the fostering and preservation of the Hebrew language.

Table of Contents

Foreword President Isaac Herzog ix

Preface xi

Introduction xv

Part I The Perception of Erets Yisrael in the American Sphere

Chapter 1 Erets Yisrael in the Perception of American Jewry 3

Chapter 2 Visits of American Jewish Leaders to Erets Yisrael, 1901-1914 51

Chapter 3 American Jewry and Yishuv Issues 123

Chapter 4 From Chalukah to Philanthropy - A New Approach 173

Part II Involvement and Activities of American Jews in Erets Yisrael

Chapter 5 The Jewish Agricultural Experiment Station in Atlit 209

Chapter 6 American Jewish Support for the Health System in Erets Yisrael 265

Chapter 7 American Jews and the Language War in Erets Yisrael 301

Chapter 8 American Jewry's View of Erets Yisrael during World War I 341

Epilogue 397

Appendix: Brandeis's Visit to Erets Yisrael, July 1919 415

Bibliography 421

Index 439