::: readings

Theodor Herzl. Old New Land (Altneuland). Filiquarian Publishing (2007).

Orthodoxy

Herzl’s work is very fascinating, and caught me at a very particular moment as I imagine it did society in Europe and elsewhere when it was published just over 100 years ago. Herzl’s ideals and visions are most definitely dreamlike and border on fairy-tale-like representations of an ideal, but that is exactly what has the power to move a people to action. As he himself puts it in the book’s epilogue: “… But, if you do no wish it, all this that I have related to you is and will remain a fable” (329). And perhaps what is most power in something of this nature is the ability that it has to inspire dreams and aspirations in an otherwise downtrodden and depressed (economically as well as socially and emotionally) people.

Presenting images of how things can be and what improvements are possible with hard work and a fortitious break is a powerful way to inspire individuals to act now. The power of an idea and a belief in that idea are not to be underestimated. They can truly “move mountains”. Interestingly enough, this novel has had an undeniable impact on the movement of Zionism, as can be attested by (among other things) the name of Israel’s second largest city, Tel Aviv (which is the Hebrew translation of Altneuland, and is noted as meaning, literalry, “Hill of Spring”, or, new out of the old).

I found it particularly interesting in its discussion on the assimilation of Jews into society, or lack thereof. This point is perhaps made all the more interesting by the fact that Herzl himself was an avowed atheist. He obviously has no issues with the practice of religion and the cultural benefits of so doing, and is rather sympathetic if not encouraging in his treatment of Judaism, Christianity, and (albeit less prominent) Islam.

The discussion of multi-culturism, and the sharing of one’s culture, is a great counter-balance to the prevelent debate of assimilation verses orthodoxy. Herzl is particularly critical of those who, for the sake of society “sold out” and became ashamed of their Jewishness, using it a point of self-depreciating humor and nothing more. Passages about assimilation and/or orthodoxy can be found on the following pages: 7, 8, 9, 40, 54,  57, 79, 82, 90, 95, 213, 223, 278-279, and 320. There is also a very interesting discussion on woman’s roles and rights, found on page 115.