This biography is essential for anyone looking to understand how the foundational institutions of the State of Israel were "conjured out of the air" through sheer political will.
: While popular history often points to the Dreyfus Affair as Herzl's turning point, Avineri suggests his realization was more gradual. He argues that the broader political instability of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the rising tide of racial (rather than religious) anti-Semitism in Germany and Austria were the primary drivers. Herzl’s Vision: Theodor Herzl and the Foundatio...
: The book highlights Herzl's "phenomenal achievement" in taking an esoteric idea shared by a few marginal intellectuals and placing it on the world’s political map. Avineri details his tireless meetings with global figures, including the Ottoman Sultan, German Emperor Wilhelm II, and Pope Pius X. This biography is essential for anyone looking to