Zionism

Nathan Rotenstreich

Description

In Zionism, the late Nathan Rotenstreich traces the dialectical connections between Zionism's past and present based on his contention that the Jewish nation comprises both the State of Israel and the Diaspora. He also addresses relations between both Israel and the Diaspora, on the one hand, and Israel and the Arab world, on the other. Written a short time before Rotenstreich's death, Zionism can be regarded as his spiritual and ideological legacy.
Foreword

An "Inside Intellectual": Remarks on the Public Thought of Nathan Rotenstreich
Avi Bareli and Yossef Gorny

1. Return and Modernity

2. Activity and the Present

3. Aspects of Renaissance

4. The Negation of the Diaspora

5. The Values of Israeli Society

6. Toward a Reformulation of Zionist Ideology

Afterword
Shlomo Avineri

Nathan Rotenstreich on Issues Related to the Holocaust

Appendix
Ephrat Balberg-Rotenstreich

The Individual and Personal Responsibility

The Holocaust as a Unique Historical Event

Index

Sujets

• Philosophie
• Philosophie politique
• Judaism
• History of religions

Informations

• Publié par: State University of New York Press
• Date de parution: 01 février 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780791479759
• Langue: English

Extrait

ZIONISM P A S T A N D P R E S E N T

NATHAN ROTENSTREICH

Zionism

SUNY series in Jewish Philosophy Kenneth Seeskin, editor

Zionism Past and Present

Nathan Rotenstreich

Foreword by Ephrat BalbergRotenstreich

With an additional essay by Avi Bareli and Yossef Gorny

Afterword by Shlomo Avineri

State University of New York Press

Published by State University of New York Press, Albany

© 2007 State University of New York

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.

For information, contact State University of New York Press, Albany, NY www.sunypress.edu

Production by Diane Ganeles Marketing by Michael Campochiaro

Library of Congress CataloginginPublication Data

Rotenstreich, Nathan, 1914–1993 Zionism : past and present / Nathan Rotenstreich. p. cm. — (SUNY series in Jewish philosophy) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN13: 9780791471753 (hardcover : alk. paper) 1. Zionism. 2. Israel. I. Title.

DS149.R643 2007 320.54095694—dc22

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

2006032532

Foreword

Contents

An “Inside Intellectual”: Remarks on the Public Thought of Nathan Rotenstreich Avi Bareli and Yossef Gorny

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Return and Modernity

Activity and the Present

Chapter Three Aspects of Renaissance

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

The Negation of the Diaspora

The Values of Israeli Society

Toward a Reformulation of Zionist Ideology

Afterword Shlomo Avineri

Nathan Rotenstreich on Issues Relating to the Holocaust

Appendix Ephrat BalbergRotenstreich

The Individual and Personal Responsibility

The Holocaust as a Unique Historical Event

Index

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Foreword

The present book was written by my father, Nathan Rotenstreich, in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The manuscript was left in his literary estate, and the Rotenstreich Foundation, established for taking care of the vast literary estate he left behind, was engaged in the effort of bringing it to press. Most of this literary estate has been published in his lifetime, from the early 1930s and during the many years of his academic and public career. This manuscript, titled by himZionism: Past and Present, can be regarded as a kind of spiritual and intellectual legacy regarding a subject about which he wrote extensively. The pub lication of the book is an opportunity to thank all those who made it possible: Eli Eyal, chairman of the Rotenstreich Founda tion, for his continuous dedication, support and friendship; Shlomo Avineri for writing the afterword, and together with Berel Lang for paving the way and supporting the publication of the book; Kenneth Seeskin for his patience and support as an editor; Avi Bareli and Yossef Gorny for writing the introductory essay; David Heyd and Dan Laor for their efforts at the Rotenstreich Foun dation. And last but not least—the production team at SUNY Press—James Peltz, Diane Ganeles, and all those who took part in this endeavor and brought it to completion. Publishing a book without the author to consult with and see to all the finest details is almost impossible. Without the help of all these people it could never have happened.

Ephrat BalbergRotenstreich

vii

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An “Inside Intellectual”: Remarks on the Public Thought of Nathan Rotenstreich

A VI B ARELI AND Y OSSEF G ORNY

he essence of Nathan Rotenstreich’s career may be ad T duced from an incident that took place in his early adult hood. In 1932, at the age of eighteen, he moved to Palestine. Rotenstreich was a member of the SocialistZionist youth move ment Gordonia—a member of one of the first groups in the movement—and a faithful adherent of the halutsic (Zionist pio neering) ideology that the movement encouraged. In the natu ral course of events, he would have become ahaluts (pioneer) along with the rest of the group.However, according to retellings by friends and family members, the leaders of the movement decided to treat him as an exception and have him enroll at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. This, they thought, would allow him to make a more meaningful contribution to the nation. Thus, Rotenstreich’s endeavors in scholarship and research were from their outset pregnant with social and national significance and set within a political context. Rotenstreich was committed to the Jewish settler society in Palestine and the Jew ish people and was their selfstyled emissary. Furthermore, there was a public that did consider him its emissary and designate him to serve the causes of the collective. For decades, he was a mem 1 ber of the leading party in the Zionist Labor Movement, Mapai,

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