Contested Utopia

Jewish Dreams and Israeli Realities

Marc J. Rosenstein

• Publisher: The Jewish Publication Society
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9780827614727
• eBook ISBN: 9780827618633
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Middle Eastern History
• Index: History

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."

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• How to Use This Book for Discussion
• Part 1
• 1. The Eternal Quest for Utopia
• 2. Paradise Lost, Remembered, and Promised
• 3. Utopia, Apocalypse, Messiah
• Part 2
• 4. A Torah Society
• 5. Holy Community
• 6. A National Home
• 7. Statehood and Power
• 8. Enlightenment and Normalization
• 9. Promised Borders
• 10. A Model of Social Justice
• Part 3
• 11. Visions in Collision
• 12. A Utopian Travel Blog
• Notes
• Bibliography
• Index
• About Marc J. Rosenstein