At the Crossroads: Ahad Ha'am and Post 1967 American Judaism

• In Event: Graduate Student Lightning Session: Modern Jewish History

Abstract

While most histories of Ahad Ha'am's ideology of Spiritual Zionism definite its greatest impacts in affecting a relatively small group of early 20th century intellectuals, my paper challenges this claim, instead offering that Spiritual Zionism had a dramatic impact on post 1967 Jewish American Institutions. The unprecedented outcome of the June 1967 War forced many American Jews to reconsider their relationship with Israel and the very nature of American Zionism. In this lacuna, Ahad Ha'am's writings served as an ideological blueprint for several American Zionist institutions as to the value of Israel for contemporary American Jews. Specifically, I will be examining how the individuals developing Hebrew Union College's year in Israel program, and Birthright Israel were intimately familiar with Ahad Ha'am's writings and drew inspiration from them regarding the value of Israel as a center for strengthening and reinforcing American Jewish identity.

Author

• Jacob Beckert, Indiana University