A Jewish State

By: Theodor Herzl

Narrated by: Adrian Praetzellis

"Der Judenstaat" (German, literally "The Jew State", commonly translated as "The Jewish State") is a pamphlet written by Theodor Herzl and published in February 1896 in Leipzig and Vienna by M. Breitenstein's Verlags-Buchhandlung. It is subtitled with "Versuch einer modernen Lösung der Judenfrage", "Proposal of a modern solution for the Jewish question", and originally called "Address to the Rothschilds" referring to the Rothschild family banking dynasty.

It is considered one of the most important texts of early Zionism. As expressed in this book, Herzl envisioned the founding of a future independent Jewish state during the 20th century. He argued that the best way to avoid antisemitism in Europe was to create this independent Jewish state. Herzl, who had lived as a secular, largely assimilated Jew, was fluent in neither Hebrew nor Yiddish. His lack of contact with Jewish culture and intellectual currents, and his limited contact with Jews less assimilated than he was probably the reason he abandoned fundamental Jewish principles and rekindled Zionism with this text. The book was used to encourage Jews from all across Europe to purchase land in Palestine. In Der Judenstaat, Herzl noted the possibility of a Jewish state in Argentina.

Herzl popularized the term "Zionism", which was coined by Nathan Birnbaum. The nationalist movement culminated in the birth of the State of Israel in 1948, though Zionism continues to be connected with political support of the State of Israel.

Public Domain (P)2018 Paperless

The Original

Why has this book been largely forgotten? It’s well worth reading. So much has changed, yet so much remains the same.

Insight into Israel’s History. Real Zionism.

Herzl envisioned a republic that would solve the problem of antisemitism, give impoverished Jews a chance to build new lives, as well as contribute to the international community. Unfortunately, Herzl did not foresee the disaster that would be the private purchase of the land of Palestine.

Unbelievable prophecy

So so many visions of the future that materialized and so many things he did not, and could not see a fascinating book for its time and place

Wow

I recommend this pamphlet/mini book to anyone interested in Zionism, the Zionists historically, or about Palestine. This pamphlet shows how Herzl thought about the idea of a Jewish state and about things like government and politics. Herzl seems to be an idealist elitist who thought his manual for establishing the Jewish state would bring about a utopia.
I think it’s easiest for me to describe the thinking in this book through what it’s not. This is not Marxist thinking. This is not a commune. This is not government by the people or the working class. This is not a representative democracy. In fact he outright rejects the idea of democracy. This is not a call for migrants to return to the land of origin.
This is a call by Herzl to colonize a land over there, modeled after the settler colonization of America and previous colonizations, but improved upon by Herzl.
Herzl seemed to be an elitist who believed that the rule of the majority to be a terrible idea. He wanted - and I don’t blame him - to provide a safe place for the Jews to live as they seem to be mistreated and hated everywhere they go. He unfortunately did not foresee that the same idea of land acquisition through a private house organization would be one of the main reasons the natives of the land he came to colonize would continue to be mistreated for over a century.
I’m definitely going to reread it.

From the horses mouth

Great insight into the vision before execution of the their aim. Highly recommended, and nicely read.

It was a letter to the highest echelon of his people’s.

To me it’s a template for all nationalities to pursue if scattered abroad without a homeland of their own.

it was good.

hard time following along. I have adhd. but other than that good book. interesting to hear about the father of Zionism's thoughts on things back then.