Zionism · and the Question of Jewish Identity

Zionism, in its simplest form, was the movement for the establishment of a Jewish state in the historic land of Israel. Today it remains the movement dedicated to the ongoing existence of a Jewish state. But Zionism was a challenge to many traditional perspectives on Jewish identity. Many events including the breakdown of rabbinic authority, the rise of Shabbati Zevi, the rise of Hasidim, and the Jewish Enlightenment contributed to the Zionist movement. Today, Israeli society has transformed Zionism. This short book surveys these critical phases of Jewish history and the part they played in the evolution of Jewish identity and self-definition.