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In the Shadow of Zion: Promised Lands Before Israel
From the late nineteenth century through the post-Holocaust era, the world was divided between countries that tried to expel their Jewish populations and those that refused to let them in. The plight of these traumatized refugees inspired numerous proposals for Jewish states. Jews and Christians, authors and adventurers, politicians and playwrights, and rabbis and revolutionaries all worked to carve out autonomous Jewish territories in remote and often hostile locations across the globe. The would-be founding fathers of these imaginary Zions dispatched scientific expeditions to far-flung regions and filed reports on the dream states they planned to create. But only Israel emerged from dream to reality. Israel's successful foundation has long obscured the fact that eminent Jewish figures, including Zionism's prophet, Theodor Herzl, seriously considered establishing enclaves beyond the Middle East.
In the Shadow of Zion brings to life the amazing true stories of six exotic visions of a Jewish national home outside of the biblical land of Israel. It is the only book to detail the connections between these schemes, which in turn explain the trajectory of modern Zionism. A gripping narrative drawn from archives the world over, In the Shadow of Zion recovers the mostly forgotten history of the Jewish territorialist movement, and the stories of the fascinating but now obscure figures who championed it. Provocative, thoroughly researched, and written to appeal to a broad audience, In the Shadow of Zion offers a timely perspective on Jewish power and powerlessness.
In the Shadow of Zion brings to life the amazing true stories of six exotic visions of a Jewish national home outside of the biblical land of Israel. It is the only book to detail the connections between these schemes, which in turn explain the trajectory of modern Zionism. A gripping narrative drawn from archives the world over, In the Shadow of Zion recovers the mostly forgotten history of the Jewish territorialist movement, and the stories of the fascinating but now obscure figures who championed it. Provocative, thoroughly researched, and written to appeal to a broad audience, In the Shadow of Zion offers a timely perspective on Jewish power and powerlessness.
322 pages, Hardcover
First published November 21, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 21, 2015
This is a meticulously researched and fascinating account of all the alternative Jewish homelands that have ever been proposed, and how some of them so nearly came to fruition. Israel was not the only, or indeed the inevitable, site for the Promised Land. From Angola to Madagascar, history could have turned out very differently. And these weren’t crackpot schemes thought up by some maverick entrepreneurs, but seriously considered ideas that were extensively looked into. The book is also an exploration of the very concept of Zionism, and the people who dedicated their lives to it. Highly recommended and a really riveting read.
September 11, 2014
Israel was not the only land that was proposed by Jewish groups during the years before it became a reality. Nineteenth century Jews also looks at places such as Grand Isle, NY; Uganda, Angola, Madagascar, Australia and Suriname among others to relocate the mass of Jews in the Pale of Russia.
The first attempt was to settle Jews on Grand Isle just down the river from Niagara Falls. This was at the time when the Erie Canal was just being finished. But many of the people in the area were afraid that the Jews would try to become a separate country and the possibility fell through.
Prior to the Great War, it was suggested that there should be some “empty” place in the British Empire that could be set aside for Jewish emigration. Not all the people who were behind this were Judeo-philes, Poles and Russians felt it was the perfect way to get rid of the Jews. The plateau in central Uganda was thought to be perfect place for the immigrants. It had a fertile soil, mild climate, and a newly built railroad. Of course no one asked the indigenous people how they felt. But it didn’t work out.
In the early twentieth century, the Zionist movement split over whether they should only concentrate on emigration to Israel/Palestine or for a ‘Freeland’ for the Jews. The second group became known as ‘territorialists’ because they were willing to accept any land as a ‘homeland’ for the Jews. These groups were to be at odds during the rest of the first half of the century until Israel was founded.
With the ‘pogroms’, life in Russia for those in the Pale of Russia became more and more dangerous as the century went on. After 1929, the depression caused more and more economic pressure being put on Eastern Europe’s Jews to emigrate. The Polish government was willing to help their Jews to emigrate, if a place could be found for them. Unfortunately, areas in Angola, Australia and Suriname (Dutch Guiana) would not satisfy the Zionists, who did everything they could to dissuade the colonial countries not to approve emigration.
Except for Palestine, no other “Jewish” state ever became more than an idea whose time never came. Interesting pieces of Jewish history that are seldomly mentioned.
Zeb Kantrowitz zworstblog.blogspot.com
The first attempt was to settle Jews on Grand Isle just down the river from Niagara Falls. This was at the time when the Erie Canal was just being finished. But many of the people in the area were afraid that the Jews would try to become a separate country and the possibility fell through.
Prior to the Great War, it was suggested that there should be some “empty” place in the British Empire that could be set aside for Jewish emigration. Not all the people who were behind this were Judeo-philes, Poles and Russians felt it was the perfect way to get rid of the Jews. The plateau in central Uganda was thought to be perfect place for the immigrants. It had a fertile soil, mild climate, and a newly built railroad. Of course no one asked the indigenous people how they felt. But it didn’t work out.
In the early twentieth century, the Zionist movement split over whether they should only concentrate on emigration to Israel/Palestine or for a ‘Freeland’ for the Jews. The second group became known as ‘territorialists’ because they were willing to accept any land as a ‘homeland’ for the Jews. These groups were to be at odds during the rest of the first half of the century until Israel was founded.
With the ‘pogroms’, life in Russia for those in the Pale of Russia became more and more dangerous as the century went on. After 1929, the depression caused more and more economic pressure being put on Eastern Europe’s Jews to emigrate. The Polish government was willing to help their Jews to emigrate, if a place could be found for them. Unfortunately, areas in Angola, Australia and Suriname (Dutch Guiana) would not satisfy the Zionists, who did everything they could to dissuade the colonial countries not to approve emigration.
Except for Palestine, no other “Jewish” state ever became more than an idea whose time never came. Interesting pieces of Jewish history that are seldomly mentioned.
Zeb Kantrowitz zworstblog.blogspot.com
November 28, 2015
As a student of Herzl's life and work, I was particularly fascinated by this book from which I learned about alternative territorialist proposals (beyond "Uganda") and individuals about which and whom I knew very little. Particularly fascinating sections about Tasmania and Suriname. Historical, literary, non-ideological (although raising interesting "what if" questions), I recommend it highly to anyone interested in the history of Zionism and the establishment of the State of Israel. Professor Rovner has resurrected many serious and committed individuals who have been lost to history.
October 9, 2018
Exceptional book - great bit of lost history, and thanks to the author for putting in all his hard work, trekking around the world, to put this story on paper.
April 10, 2024
An absolutely fascinating book about what the author brilliantly describes as the 'shadow history,' of Israel. He lists nearly every project involving a settling of Jews in their own lands floated throughout the Zionist period. He also explains how many prominent Zionists supported these projects even if it meant accepting that they could not have Israel. It is a very powerful what if, or what almost was. Israel was not inevitable and at many junctions it seemed the Jews would take different paths, so it's informative to examine these shadows.
August 12, 2015
See my review at http://www.thereportergroup.org/Artic...
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews