Theodor Herzl had been assigned to report on the trial and its aftermath. Soon afterward, Herzl wrote Der Judenstaat (The Jewish State, 1896) and founded the World Zionist Organization, which called for the creation of a Jewish State in Palestine.
The conviction of Alfred Dreyfus had a radicalizing effect on Herzl, correctly demonstrating to him that Jews, despite the Enlightenment and Jewish assimilation, could never hope for fair treatment in European society.
James Morton
1100 - 5255 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M2N 6P4
6 comments:
Have you even read der judenstaat or just a synopsis? You missed many key points. Firstly, Palestine was not the only option for a new state and the state was intended to be socialist. The other location was Argentina.
Actually i did read it, albeit in English translation, in Jerusalem a year or so ago. But you are right, the note is a very superficial synopsis
It may have radicalized Herzl but lets not forget that there was public protest in this case in support of Dreyfus.
Let's not forget the words from philosopher Emmanuel Lévinas father who said : "A country that tears itself apart to defend the honor of a small Jewish captain is somewhere worth going."
At the time, the Muslim Arab press defended Captain Dreyfus and criticized anti-Semites in France...
The "1905 Law on the Separation of Church and State" is a result of the Dreyfus affair - so it's an exaggeration to state that " Jews could never hope for fair treatment in European society".
Good point WTF -- in fairness France was largely changed by the Affaire!
Mr. Morton, while I have criticized Israel actions with regards to it's neighbours, I am/have been disgusted by seemingly rampant anti-Semitism in Europe and North-America pre-1945.
While most are aware of the Holocaust, too few are aware of incidents such as those presented in the book "None Is Too Many".
WTF, I know the book and, sadly, the Party in power at the time ...
Post a Comment