Contested Utopia: Jewish Dreams and Israeli Realities - Softcover

Inhaltsangabe

This first book to examine the Jewish state through the lens of Jewish utopian thought, from its biblical beginnings to modernity, offers a fresh perspective on the political, religious, and geopolitical life of Israel. As Marc J. Rosenstein argues, the Jewish people&;s collective memories, desires, hopes, and faith have converged to envision an ideal life in the Land of Israel&;but, critically, the legacy is a kaleidoscope of conflicting (and sometimes overlapping) visions. And after three millennia of imagining utopia, it is almost impossible for Jews to respond to Israel&;s realities without being influenced&;even unconsciously&;by these images.

Charting the place of utopian thought in Judaism, Rosenstein then illustrates, with original texts, diverse utopian visions of the Jewish state: Torah state (Yavetz), holy community (based on nostalgic memories of the medieval community), national-cultural home (Lewinsky), &;normal&; state (Herzl), socialist paradise (Syrkin), anarchy (Jabotinsky), and a polity defined by Israel&;s historic or divinely ordained borders. Analyzing how these disparate utopian visions collide in Israel&;s attempts to chart policy and practice regarding the Sabbath, social welfare, immigration, developing versus conserving the land, and the Israel-Diaspora relationship yields novel perspectives on contemporary flashpoints. His own utopian vision offers a further entryway for both Israelis and Diaspora Jews into more informed and nuanced conversations about the &;Jewish state.&;
 

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