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Zionism: An Emotional State
Emotion lies at the heart of all national movements, and Zionism is no exception. For those who identify as Zionist, the word connotes liberation and redemption, uniqueness and vulnerability. Yet for many, Zionism is a source of distaste if not disgust, and those who reject it are no less passionate than those who embrace it. The power of such emotions helps explain why a word originally associated with territorial aspiration has survived so many years after the establishment of the Israeli state.
An Emotional State expertly demonstrates how the energy propelling the Zionist project originates from bundles of feeling whose elements have varied in volume, intensity, and durability across space and time. Beginning with an original typology of Zionism and a new take on its relationship to colonialism, Penslar then examines the emotions that have shaped Zionist sensibilities and practices over the course of the movement’s history. The resulting portrait of Zionism reconfigures how we understand Jewish identity amidst continuing debates on the role of nationalism in the modern world.
An Emotional State expertly demonstrates how the energy propelling the Zionist project originates from bundles of feeling whose elements have varied in volume, intensity, and durability across space and time. Beginning with an original typology of Zionism and a new take on its relationship to colonialism, Penslar then examines the emotions that have shaped Zionist sensibilities and practices over the course of the movement’s history. The resulting portrait of Zionism reconfigures how we understand Jewish identity amidst continuing debates on the role of nationalism in the modern world.
284 pages, Paperback
Published June 16, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 23, 2023
This book wasn’t on my radar until I happened to interview the author for an article, and it totally bowled me over. A fabulous investigation into the emotional life Zionism has in the collective American Jewish consciousness. Pulls no punches, has a great analysis on the question of Zionism and colonialism, and has a likewise insightful analysis of anti-Zionism. Perfect book for this moment.
February 26, 2026
There's been a lot of heated debate lately about the relationship between antisemitism and anti-Zionism, some of it transparent dog whistling, but a lot of it due to confusion over what Zionism actually means to the people arguing about its validity. This book attempts to not only define the term (there's not a simple answer, it has meant different things to different people in different times and places), but also to examine why the word (and the concepts it represents) has continued to resonate so strongly.
The result is a somewhat dry abstract/academic discussion, revolving around the interplay between individual emotions, collective desires and aspirations, group organization, and geopolitical forces. Parts of it are very informative and interesting, but I was hoping for some clearer talking points that distilled down the message into a form that would be useful when trying to explain to Israel's many vocal critics how and why their speech all-to-often is based on invalid assumptions if not outright antisemitic propaganda. This is not that book, unless the person is likely to be persuaded by a 20-minute historiographical discourse. It's also mostly focused on American Jews and their Zionist tendencies during the 20th century, which provides good context for how we got here, but not as much about what we should do now.
The result is a somewhat dry abstract/academic discussion, revolving around the interplay between individual emotions, collective desires and aspirations, group organization, and geopolitical forces. Parts of it are very informative and interesting, but I was hoping for some clearer talking points that distilled down the message into a form that would be useful when trying to explain to Israel's many vocal critics how and why their speech all-to-often is based on invalid assumptions if not outright antisemitic propaganda. This is not that book, unless the person is likely to be persuaded by a 20-minute historiographical discourse. It's also mostly focused on American Jews and their Zionist tendencies during the 20th century, which provides good context for how we got here, but not as much about what we should do now.
January 3, 2024
i found this a tremendously informative walk-through of a million different historical jewish feelings regarding various zionisms and also how those relational positions ultimately inform perceptions and realities of israel today. i don't think his framing of israel as unique among settler-colonial states actually felt materially distinct, and it didn't serve the book's focus. similarly, the exploration of modern feelings felt frustratingly shallow and focused on survey breakdowns rather than comprehensive writing or interplay esp intergenerational analysis. especially after SO much research during the historical parts like, tell me why boomers are like that derek!! he spends most of the book refraining from summary advice which i found tremendously helpful to the clarity of the exploratory pictures but there ARE, esp as we trot to the end, a few moments he visibly cant stop himself from also making an ethical judgment on an emotional state (and one time he weighs in on which emotional states are constructive to the improvement vs destruction of israel which like, collapsed the book like a flan for me!!!!) anyway i did learn a lot though
July 10, 2024
Super informative and scholarly account of Zionism's history and the emotions associated with it. At the risk of stating the obvious: This is a book about Zionism, so you won't find much about the Palestinian side of things, though the author does present a very balanced and impartial account of historical events and emotions. The emphasis, however, is on Jewish and particularly on Zionist feelings. It draws from cornerstone Zionist and Hebrew primary sources (again, no Palestinian or Arab sources). If you want to understand Zionist emotions (not sympathize, but understand), then this is a great source. The author is very well-read and the work is full of citations.
October 7, 2025
Highly informative, lots of citations to interesting literature I want to follow up on, and a readable prose style to boot! I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking to understand diaspora (especially American) Jews' relationship to Zionism.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews