Bud Shorstein Center for Jewish Studies

Free Adult Online Course at The University of Florida
Five 90 Minute Sessions from January 20-February 17, 2022

Taught by Professor Brian Horowitz

Most Jews today love and support Israel, but do we understand the founding vision of the Zionist project or the great debates that shaped the emergence of the Jewish state?

In this course, we will return to some of Israel’s founding figures to explore the many meanings of Zionism:

Is Zionism meant to save the Jews from physical destruction or to renew the Jewish spirit?

What is the relationship between Zionism and Judaism?

How has the meaning of Zionism changed from the first Zionist Congress to the present day?

Through essays and speeches by figures such as Theodore Herzl, Ze’ev Jabotinsky, Ahad Ha’am, Chaim Weizmann, Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, David Ben-Gurion, and Menachem Begin, we will probe how different views of Zionism shape the past, present, and future of Israel.

1. Jan 20, 2022 6:00 PM: Political Zionism–Theodor Herzl
2. Jan 27, 2022 6:00 PM: Zionism’s Early Thinkers: Cultural Zionism, Religious Zionism, Constructive Zionism–Ahad-Ha’am, Rav Abraham Isaac Kook, A. D. Gordon
3. Feb 3, 2022 6:00 PM: Zionism and Power–Vladimir (Ze’ev) Jabotinsky
4. Feb 10, 2022 6:00 PM: Zionism and Statism—Chaim Weizmann & David Ben-Gurion
5. Feb 17, 2022 6:00 PM: Zionism and the Struggle for Liberation (1936-1948)—Abraham Stern and Menachem Begin

BRIAN HOROWITZ is the Sizeler Family Professor, Department of Jewish Studies, Tulane University. His books include Vladimir Jabotinsky: Russian Zionist, 1900-1925; Jewish Philanthropy and Enlightenment in Late-Tsarist Russia; and Empire Jews: Jewish Nationalism and Acculturation in Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Century Russia.

This program is sponsored by the Gary R. Gerson Visiting Professorship, Bud Shorstein Center for Jewish Studies, University of Florida

Registration Link