NightShul: History of Zionism

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When:
Wednesday, December 14, 2016,
7:00 pm

Location:
East Midwood Jewish Center


NightShul, EMJC’s innovative adult learnng program will begin the 2016-2017 season on Wednesday, November 2 at 8 pm with a series of six lectures on the History of Zionism taught by Rabbi Daniel Bronstein.

An Intellectual History of Zionism: From its European Origins to the Dawn of the State of Israel

Whether discussing the Israeli-Arab conflict, questions of religious pluralism, or Israel-Diaspora relations as a whole, the welfare of the state of Israel is indisputably a central concern for contemporary Jews.  Passions run high both in Israel and the Diaspora over differing visions of what a “modern,” democratic,” and “Jewish” State should “look like.”   This course is not intended to adjudicate the ongoing disputes between Jews and Arabs let alone among Jews themselves.  But this class will offer a framework, via intellectual history, for understanding the origins of Zionism and how some of these ideas came to be actualized through the establishment of the State of Israel, while other intellectual streams of Zionism have since been set aside.   Using primary sources we will undertake close readings of the various – –  and often conflicting – – Zionist schools of thought whether “political,” “cultural,”  Socialist, “Religious” and Revisionist Zionist philosophies. Our reading will be explored by interactive discussion on the writings of foundational Zionist thinkers including Theodor Herzl, Leon Pinsker, Max Nordau, Ber Borochov, Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook and Ze’ev Jabotinsky.Rabbi Bronstein will explain the ideas of 6 foundational Zionist thinkers whose ideas played a vital part in the establishment of the State of Israel:  Theodor Herzl, Leon Pinsker, Max Nordau, Ber Brochovo, Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, Ze’ev Jabotinsky.

Rabbi Bronstein was ordained at the Hebrew Union College, received a doctorate in Jewish history from the Jewish Theological Seminary, and was a legislative assistant at the Religious Action Center in Washington, DC, the resident historian at the Congregation Beth Elohim and Director of its award winning high school and adult learning program.  He is the author of Torah in the Trenches: The Rabbi Chaplains of World War II, 1940-1046, Our Journey: Congregation Beth Elohim at 150 Years,

and a contributor to many publications. He lives in Prospect Heights and currently teaches at Hunter College.  

Classes will take place from 8 to 9:15 pm at the East Midwood Jewish Center, 1625 Ocean Avenue, November 2, 9,16, and 30, and on December 7, 14, and 21. All classes are preceded by a wine and cheese social hour at 7 pm.

The price of this 6 week course is $70, and the price of the full 7 months of NightShul programs (a total of 21 classes) if $180, payable by check or credit card in advance or at the door on November 2.