The Americanization of Zionism, 1897-1948 (review)

Abstract

The Americanization of Zionism, 1897-1948, by Naomi Cohen. Hanover and London: Brandeis University Press, 2003. 261 pp. $35.00. In The Americanization of Zionism, Naomi Cohen expands on a theme that has previously been explored both by herself and by scholars such as Ben Halpern and Melvin Urofsky: from its earliest years, has been shaped by uniquely factors that set it apart from traditional ideology of European Zionism. in United States was fashioned according to the needs of Jews in America, including their desire not to differ too much from the stand of government and the demands of public opinion (p. 1), she contends. This meant jettisoning such concepts as inevitability of massive antisemitism in diaspora and personal obligation of every Zionist to settle in Palestine. Most Jews have always regarded United States as their home, never believed that substantial antisemitism will erupt here, and never seriously considered relocating to Middle East. Nor would they want what Cohen calls American public opinion to suspect that they regard United States as a country that will eventually persecute them and drive them out. Cohen explains at start that The Americanization of does not purport to be a synthetic history of Zionism (p. 2). Rather, she presents eight separate episodes, some revolving around key events, others around key individuals, that illustrate her central theme. Every chapter features same crisp writing style and high level of scholarship that made her earlier books sparkle. It is impossible to finish any single section of book without gaining some fresh insight or new information. The book begins with a study of earliest U.S. Zionist monthly, The Maccabaean, exploring how it presented Zionist ideas to fledgling Zionist movement and how, in turn, it reflected perspective of emerging movement. Subsequent chapters deal with such disparate topics as unsuccessful attempt to build a Conservative synagogue in Jerusalem in 1930s, efforts by Jewish social worker Maurice Hexter to influence British policy in Palestine, conflicts between Zionists and State Department over immigration to Palestine during 1930s, ill-fated Jewish Conference, and 1940s debates over within Conservative Judaism's Jewish Theological Seminary. Her chapter on Reform Judaism's evolution from anti-Zionism to non-Zionism (that is, support for a Jewish refuge although not a sovereign state) brings into sharp focus multiplicity of factors at work in shaping that movement's attitude towards Palestine. England's Balfour Declaration, soon endorsed by U.S. government, legitimated Zionism in eyes of Reform rabbis (p. 62). If they did not have to fear dual loyalty accusations, Reform leaders could feel comfortable with idea of Palestine as a refuge for downtrodden European Jews, even if they were slow to embrace notion of Jewish territorial sovereignty. Later, rise of Nazism cemented Reform's acceptance of idea of Palestine as a haven for European masses. Self-preservation was also a factor: Reform rabbis had to face reality that by interwar years, most Jews were nationalist-minded eastern European immigrants (p. 62) (or their offspring) to whom a strongly anti-Zionist brand of Reform Judaism would not appeal. …