The Jewish State [Paperback]

The further I read, the more sad I became as I considered how only something as horrible as the Holocaust could bring the Jewish population of the world back into their traditional land. However, Herzl's purpose was exactly to prevent persecution of the Jews. The only prophetic thing in this book was his speculation that some Jews would need to go through a little more suffering before they came around to the idea of a Jewish state. No one could contemplate the "Final Solution" however.

Herzl's Utopian-like ideas were interesting solutions to many problems the future nation of Israel would actually face.

You will learn something from this book if you are either a student of History or the Bible, but don't expect a short read.

**UPDATE**
I've upped the book an additional star after I've let it soak into me for a while. The pure historical importance of this document makes it a must read in today's troubled world. I've also thought about how Herzl just let his mind work through all the hoops of creating a new society from scratch, and admire him for putting it to paper.

Theodor Herzl was not originally a Zionist nor did he ponder the anti-semitic tendencies that was threatening to perpetually relegate the Jews to a proletariat class. When Herzl witnessed the Dreyfus Affair, it finally instilled in him irrefragable proof of everyday anti-semitic sentiments and how it had adversely infiltrated the lives of the Jewish people. Theodor Herzl ultimately came to realize that the ï¿homelessness of the Jewish people must come to an endï¿ (17). In fact, Herzl later declares in this quasi-manifesto that it was the Dreyfus affair that made him a Zionist (35). He comes to believe that the ï¿Jewish masses must be organized for the support of the Zionist movementï¿ (49). Additionally, he contends that the ï¿Jewish question is neither nationalistic nor religious. It is a social questionï¿ (31). The vim of this book is in how Herzl meticulously delineates a perennial solution to the Jewish problem. Itï¿s one thing to preach diplomacy, itï¿s another to execute a vision.

In brevity, here is Herzlï¿s plan: ï¿Let the sovereignty be granted us over a portion of the globe large enough to satisfy the rightful requirements of a nation; the rest we shall manage ourselvesï¿ (92). The conception of this plan was ambitious, the execution monumental in scope, laborious in labor, and I suspect the opposition was plentiful. Nevertheless, in spite of the skeptics and pessimists, a State was erected. An excellent read!

In "The Jewish State," Herzl outlines the plan for establishing his state. In a logical, step-by-step process he defines how the land would be colonized, financed, and administered. Palestine and Argentina are suggested as possible sites. However, Palestine emerges clearly as the desired locale for spiritual and emotional reasons. Anyone trying to establish a state could use this pamphlet as a guide. Yasser Arafat should be given a copy!

Emerson said that American colonists fired, "the shot heard 'round the world," at Lexington and Concord. Herzl fired a similar shot by publishing "The Jewish State." He, no less than the colonists, started a revolution by his actions. Both ultimately achieved their goals of establishing a state for their peoples. However, America did not have to endure a Holocaust to facilitate an exodus to our shores; unfortunately, Israel did.

Today, the Jewish State exists in the form of modern Israel. Born out of controversy, this state exists as a prosperous, democratic entity, in the midst of numerically superior and extremely hostile Arab states. Jews have their home, but they have to fight daily to keep them. Is this what Herzl envisioned? Did he do the world a favor by establishing his state? The verdict is still out. One thing is clear. The roots of the current controversy that has American soldiers fighting in Afghanistan can be traced back to Israel, and Israel's roots can be traced to Herzl's pamphlet. Reading, "The Jewish State," is therefore essential to understanding current events. I strongly recommend it to any serious student of Middle Eastern affairs.