Ginsburg Ingerman Overseas Students Program Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Politics and Ideology in the shaping of Zionism 13-5-243

Dr. Gilat Gofer Email: [email protected]

Course Description: The Zionist movement, as a Jewish national movement, based itself from its onset on the written word. Although it espoused action, ideological and cultural texts served as the solid foundation for the creation of the Zionist movement and paved its methods of operation. Some of those main texts and ideas, as well as the people and politics behind them, will be taught in this course while contextualizing them locally and universally.

Course Objectives:

During the course the students shall: - Become acquainted with basic texts in Zionist thought throughout history - Study selected chapters in the history of the Zionist movement - Learn to contextualize texts historically, politically and culturally

Course Structure:

Lecture: 2 Total # of Credits: 2

Teaching Method: The course will be conducted through a combination of study groups and formal lectures. The lectures will be based on weekly reading assignments of mainly primary sources.

Course Requirements

Compulsory attendance: YES

Structure of Final Course Grade

1. Final Exam 60% 2. mid-term paper 20% 3. Student presentation 20% 100%

Note: - Work handed in late, will not be graded! - students will have their final grade lowered an entire grade level if they miss more than 3 class meetings unexcused

Course Schedule Layout:

First Week The Early Texts of Jewish Nationalism Even before the advent of Zionism, during the period of Jewish enlightenment, belonging to the new group of modern Jews was expressed mainly through identifying oneself with texts written primarily in Hebrew. This lesson deals with this group and with two of the texts that defined it.

Readings: Kotso Shel Yud (“The Tip of the Yud”) Yehudah Leib Gordon, Abraham Mapu, the Love of Zion - Excerpts

Second Week Early Zionism Weekly brief description: Zionist national awakening aimed it the Land of was directed by two major political texts that called for the construction of an independent Jewish entity in the Land of Israel. The class shall deal with these texts. Readings: Leo Pinscher, Auto-emancipation – excerpts Benjamin Ze'ev Herzl, Land of the Jews – excerpts Benjamin Ze'ev Herzl, Altneuland – excerpts

Third Week Weekly subject title: Early Settlement in the Land of Israel Weekly brief description: The basis for the creation of an independent Jewish entity was agricultural settlements. This lesson shall deal with the early agricultural settlement. Readings: Codex of the Moshava Rishon l'Zion Codex of the Moshava

Third Week Weekly subject title: The Creation of the Israeli Labor Movement Weekly brief description: In the beginning of the 20th century the Zionist labor movement was created, and in a short time became the leading faction in the Zionist movement. This lesson will deal with its early stages and its unique values. Readings: Po'alei Zion (Zion's Workers) Party, Our Platform Po'alei Zion in Eretz Israel (Zion's Workers in the Land of Israel) Party, The Ramla Platform The Young Worker Platform Y.H. Brenner, Grief and Failure – excerpts Rachel, Here on Earth's Surface

Fourth Week Weekly subject title: The Conflict Weekly brief description: In 1907 an essay was published, that constituted the opening shot in the discussion that accompanies Zionism ever since – the attitude of the Jews towards those occupying the Land of Israel before the beginning of Zionist settlements. This lesson deals with the first stages of the conflict between Jews and Arabs in the Land of Israel. Readings: Yitzhak Epstein, The Concealed Question Smilansky, Chawadja Mussa

Fifth Week Weekly subject title: Early British Rule Weekly brief description: With the end of World War I, began British rule over the Land of Israel. This lesson deals with the British government and its relations with the Zionist movement and the Jewish in the Land of Israel. Readings: The Balfur Declaration Writ of mandate Churchill's White Book

Sixth Week Weekly subject title: Communal Settlements Weekly brief description: The and the Moshav are original creations of the Zionist movement. This lesson deals with these creations. Readings: David Maletz, Ma'agalot Joshua Sobol, Night of the Twenty

Seventh Week Weekly subject title: Urban Zionism Weekly brief description: Despite the heavy emphasis placed by Zionism on agricultural settlement, most Zionists lived in cities. This lesson will be dedicated to another creation of Zionism – the Hebrew City, and especially – Tel Aviv. Readings: Nachum Guttman, A Small Town and Few People In It Nathan Alterman, a couple of song Leah Goldberg, a couple of song

Eighth Week Weekly subject title: The Zionist Right-Wing Weekly brief description: The right-wing trend in the Zionist movement was fairly small up to the 1970's, but was very productive in creating a culture and worldviews. This lesson deals with the right-wing Zionist movement – the Revisionist Movement. Readings: Ze'ev Jabotinsky, The Iron Wall Ze'ev Jabotinsky, Social Redemption Abraham Stern, Anonymous Soldiers

Ninth Week Weekly subject title: The Sabra Weekly brief description: Like every national movement, Zionism also viewed the young, new generation as its focal point for action. This lesson will discuss the young generation, the attitude towards it and the centrality of education Readings: Eli'ezer Shmueli, Children of the First Rain Moshe Shamir, He Walked in the Fields Yig'al Mossinzon, In the Negev Prairies Netiva Ben-Yehuda, Through the Bonds

Tenth Week Weekly subject title: Immigrants and Immigration Weekly brief description: The main factor that formed the character of the State of Israel in its early years was the massive wave of immigration that came to it during the 1950's. This lesson will deal with this immigration, with the immigrants and the veteran Israelis. Readings: Chanoch Bartuv, Six Wings Each Shim'on Ballas, The Ma'abara Eli Amir, Scapegoat

Eleventh Week Weekly subject title: Are We Still Zionists? Weekly brief description: The lesson shall deal with the attitude towards Zionism and Zionist activism in the third, fourth, and fifth decades following the establishment of the State. Readings: Ya'akov Shabtai, Memorandum Me'ir Shalev, The Blue Mountain

Course Textbook

Additional recommended Bibliography