What is Modern Israel?

by Yakov M. Rabkin

Usually, we think of the state of modern Israel, as well as the late nineteenth-century Zionist movement that led to its founding, as a response to anti-Semitism which grew out of cultural and religious Judaism. In  What Is Modern Israel? , however, Yakov M. Rabkin turns this understanding on its head, arguing convincingly that Zionism, far from being a natural development of Judaism, in fact has its historical and theological roots in Protestant Christianity. While most Jewish people viewed Zionism as marginal or even heretical, Christian enthusiasm for the Restoration of the Jews to the Promised Land transformed the traditional Judaic yearning for ‘Return’—a spiritual concept with a very different meaning—into a political project.
 
Drawing on many overlooked pages of history, and using on a uniquely broad range of sources in English, French, Hebrew, and Russian, Rabkin shows that Zionism was conceived as a sharp break with Judaism and Jewish continuity. Rabkin argues that Israel’s past and present must be understood in the context of European ethnic nationalism, colonial expansion, and geopolitical interests rather than—as is all too often the case—an incarnation of Biblical prophecies or a culmination of Jewish history.

Genres: Nonfiction, Israel, History

240 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 2016

About the author

Yakov M. Rabkin is a historian, author, and public intellectual. He is Professor Emeritus of History at the Université de Montréal. His work focuses on relations between science and technology, cultural aspects of science, and studies of Jews in the scientific profession, as well as Jewish and Israel studies.

Reviews

[Doug · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible to read after “The Books of Jacob,” in terms of providing a history pretty much right where that book ends. Really clarifies a lot of things about the cleavage between Judaism and Zionism. Wish this could be given to, and read by, a ton more people. Nuance and clarity that is sorely missing in most arenas where the differences between critiquing Israel, Anti-Semitism, and support for the Palestinian people are often willfully misconstrued.

[Sam Bahour · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://medium.com/@sbahour/god-does-...

[Raskolnikov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly informative - however, if you read his previous book, you will encounter a lot of repetitive information.

[Paige Lau · Rating 5 out of 5]

A treasure trove of historical, theological, and political expositions on Jewish—especially traditional/religious Judaic—opposition to Zionism. Must-read for anyone invested in anti-Zionism and/or the history of Judaism.

[Hannah Ekin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Argues that Zionist and Jewish values and interests are fundamentally opposed, drawing mostly on histories of Jewish religious critique of and public opposition to Zionism.

[Neil H · Rating 5 out of 5]

A highly informative work. How does the world perceive of the new Israel and its shameless encroachments of Palestine lands? The nationalistic fervor of Zionists who eschew Judaism for armed honor? Who were the reveries of Zionism, what were their inspirations? Mr Yakov writes with unexpected clarity and organization, full or references. A true gem of a book. This is my second time on this work and I find it as astonishingly relevant as the first time.