New book probes origins of American Jewish-Israeli relationship
Was the relationship between American Jewry and Israel a case of love at first sight? In what ways are present challenges in this special relationship rooted in events and efforts that unfolded before Israel's establishment in 1948? What lessons are to be learned from the example of a group of American Jewish idealists who defied the prosperity of the Roaring Twenties and settled as would-be pioneers, "halutzim" in pre-state Israel? Can their trials and tribulations be taken as an inspiring tribute to long-standing norms of Jewish solidarity? These questions are examined in a newly published study: Halutzim from America: American Zionism in Mandatory Palestine, by Dr. Matthew Silver. Basing his findings on extensive research of organizational and personal archives, Silver argues that the "pioneering" impact of key American Zionist organizations and individuals on Israel was paradoxical, and significant. The new study draws from a Hebrew dissertation completed at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. "These were creative, unusual and determined people who came from an affluent, individualistic society, and who dealt with deep internal conflicts about their place in a communal, pioneering frontier like Mandatory Palestine," notes Silver. "Their contributions were dramatic - they brought new standards of medicine, journalism, even political liberalism, to the country. Yet they felt like they weren't the real Zionist pioneers, the halutzim." As a result of disputes about Israeli policies in the post 1967 territories, and "who is a Jew," a growing body of scholarship and popular books have depicted American Jews and Israelis as living in "two worlds," or as part of a "waning love affair." Silver says his findings reveal this perception to be "unduly pessimistic about the current situation, and unduly unrealistic about the state of affairs before 1948." He sums up his philosophy: "The tensions were there from the start - and so were the ties. These are two Jewish sub-cultures with obvious external differences, and a deep internal sense of unity. Ultimately, the challenges in the relationship are continuing and cultural, and not a result of any passing political controversy." Dr. Matthew Silver is the head of the General Studies department at the Max Stern College of Emek Yezreel. American-born, he has lived as an Israeli for over two decades, and lives with his family in the Galilee. As a visiting professor in the U.S., he has lectured widely, and appeared frequently in American media, on the PBS Newshour and other outlets. His Ph.D. in Modern Jewish History was awarded by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Halutzim from America: American Zionism in Mandatory Palestine can be ordered from: The Graduate Group c/o Bob Whitman 25 Norwood Road West Hartford, CT. 06117 Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the AJL =========================================================== Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
