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An indispensable primary source in the history of Zionism.
Finalist for the 2019 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award in the History category
The First Zionist Congress, held in Basel, Switzerland, in August 1897, was arguably the most significant Jewish assembly since antiquity. Its delegates surveyed the situation of Jews at the end of the nineteenth century, analyzed cultural and economic issues facing them, defined the program of Zionism, created an organization for planning and decision-making, and coalesced in camaraderie and shared aspiration. Though Zionism experienced multiple conflicts and reversals, the Congress's goal was ultimately realized in the establishment of Jewish sovereignty in Palestine-the State of Israel-in 1948. As Theodor Herzl, the Congress's principal organizer, declared: "At Basel I founded the Jewish state."
This volume presents, for the first time, a complete translation of the German proceedings into English. Michael J. Reimer's accessible translation includes explanatory annotations and a glossary of key terms, events, and personalities. A detailed introduction situates the First Zionist Congress in historical context and provides a summary of each day's events. The Congress's debates supply a case study in the history of nationalism: they feature imagery and tropes used by nationalists all over Europe, while appealing to the distinctive heritage of Judaism. The proceedings are also important for what they say-and omit-about the Ottoman state that ruled Palestine as well as the Palestinian Arab people living there. This is a foundational primary source in modern Jewish history.
"This translation of the protocols of the First Zionist Congress will be of immense benefit to students and scholars of Jewish and Middle Eastern history, nationalism studies, and colonial and postcolonial studies. Reimer's long introduction is thoughtful and provocative, the translation is faithful, and the notes and biographical dictionary are enormously helpful." — Derek J. Penslar, Harvard University
"This is an important and even fantastic piece of work. Reimer makes an excellent and perhaps understated case for the need for such a complete and annotated translation." — Michael Berkowitz, author of Zionist Culture and West European Jewry before the First World War
List of Figures and Tables
Acknowledgments
Introduction
The First Zionist Congress and Jewish History
A Critical Summary of the Proceedings
The Need for an English Translation of the Proceedings
The Proceedings
Day One of the Proceedings, August 29, 1897
Morning Session
Afternoon Session
Day Two of the Proceedings, August 30, 1897
Morning Session
Afternoon Session
Day Three of the Proceedings, August 31, 1897
Morning Session
Afternoon Session
Evening Session
Appendix
Notes
Glossary
Bibliography
Index