Herzl’s Vision: Theodor Herzl and the Foundation of the Jewish State

Jul 3, 2026

A scholarly work by Shlomo Avineri examining Theodor Herzl’s vision and the political foundations of the Jewish State. The book traces key stages of the Zionist project through major settings and turning points, from Jeruscholajim to emancipation debates, and from Herzl’s diplomatic efforts to the Basel Congress. It analyzes the shift from ideas to organized public action, including proposals such as Altneuland and the El-Arish–Kishinev–Uganda episode, concluding with themes of Rome and Jerusalem.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryReligion & Spirituality

FormatPDF

Pages305

Reading Time12 h 49 min

Contents

Chapter One: Jeruscholajim

Chapter Two: Emancipation and its Discontents

Chapter Three: Budapest – Vienna – Paris

Chapter Four: Between Political Fiction and Political Action

Chapter Five: From the Jewish Question to The Jewish State: The Revival of Jewish Public Space

Chapter Six: The Constituent Assembly: The Basel Congress

Chapter Seven: Altneuland – a Plan, not a Fantasy

Chapter Eight: El-Arish – Kishinev – Uganda: From Desert Mirage to Harsh Realities

Chapter Nine: Toward the End: Rome and Jerusalem

Bibliographical Note

Index

HERZL’S VISION By the same author The Social and Political Thought of Karl Marx Karl Marx on Colonialism and Modernization Israel and the Palestinians Hegel’s Theory of the Modern State Marx’s Socialism Varieties of Marxism The Making of Modern Zionism Moses Hess: Prophet of Communism and Zionism Arlosoroff: A Political Biography Communitarianism and Individualism (with Avner de-Shalit) Europe’s Century of Discontent (with Zeev Sternhell) Moses Hess: The Holy History of Mankind & Other Writings HERZL’S VISION Theodor Herzl and the Foundation of the Jewish State Shlomo Avineri Original text © Shlomo Avineri 2008 English translation © Haim Watzman 2013 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Publisher. First published in Israel in 2008 by Zalman Shazar Center First published in Great Britain in 2013 by Weidenfeld & Nicolson / Orion Publishing Group Ltd Published in North America in 2014 by B l u e B r i d g e An imprint of United Tribes Media Inc. Katonah, New York [www.bluebridgebooks.com](www.bluebridgebooks.com) ISBN: 9781933346984 Library of Congress Control Number: 2014948524 Jacket design by Stefan Killen Design Cover image: Mary Evans Picture Library/Imagno Printed in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 CONTENTS List of Illustrations vii Preface xix Chapter One: Jeruscholajim 1 Chapter Two: Emancipation and its Discontents 27 Chapter Three: Budapest – Vienna – Paris 52 Chapter Four: Between Political Fiction and Political Action 83 Chapter Five: From the Jewish Question to The Jewish State: The Revival of Jewish Public Space 114 Chapter Six: The Constituent Assembly: The Basel Congress 141 Chapter Seven: Altneuland – a Plan, not a Fantasy 165 Chapter Eight: El-Arish – Kishinev – Uganda: From Desert Mirage to Harsh Realities 201 Chapter Nine: Toward the End: Rome and Jerusalem 248 Bibliographical Note 263 Index 265 ILLUSTRATIONS Plaque on the site of the house in Budapest where Herzl was born (Ian Pitchford) Herzl as a young man (Central Zionist Archives) The title pages of eight different translations of The Jewish State (Reproduced with permission from Inyan ha-Yehudim (The Jewish Cause): Diaries 1895–1904, published by The Bialik Institute and the World Zionist Organization, 1997) Herzl and Zionist delegation en route to Palestine, 1898 (Central Zionist Archives) Herzl and Zionist delegation in Jerusalem, 1898 (Central Zionist Archives) Kaiser Wilhelm II in Jerusalem, 1898 (akg-images/Imagno) Herzl at the Second Zionist Congress in Basel, 1898 (Central Zionist Archives) Joseph Chamberlain (Illustrated London News/Mary Evans) Vyacheslav von Plehve (Topfoto) Pope Pius X (akg-images) King Victor Emmanuel III (Alinari/Topfoto) Herzl’s funeral in Vienna, 1904 (Central Zionist Archives) Herzl Street, Tel Aviv, c.1914 (Courtesy of Kedem Auctions, Jerusalem) The Haganah ship Theodor Herzl in Haifa harbour, 1947 (Associated Press) ILLUSTRATIONS Herzl’s coffin arriving at Lod airport, Israel, 1949 (National Photo Collection, Government Press Office, State of Israel) Coat of arms of the city of Herzliya (Coyote sprit/Wikimedia Commons) Herzl’s tomb at Mount Herzl, Jerusalem (Djampa/Wikimedia Commons) Plaque on the site of the house in Budapest where Herzl was born. Herzl as a young man.

FAQs

What central subject does the book address?

The book focuses on Theodor Herzl’s vision and how it helped establish the foundation of the Jewish State.

Which events and locations structure the narrative?

The chapters move through key phases such as Jeruscholajim, Budapest–Vienna–Paris, and culminate with themes of Rome and Jerusalem.

How does the book describe the relationship between ideas and political action?

It contrasts political fiction with political action and follows the emergence of Jewish public space from the Jewish Question to The Jewish State.

Jul 3, 2026

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