The standard histories of Zionism have depicted it almost exclusively as a Jewish political movement, one in which Christians do not appear except as antagonists. In the highly original Zeal for Zion, Shalom Goldman makes the case for a wider and more inclusive history, one that brings the substantial Christian involvement with Zionism--most recently by American evangelical Protestants--into the light.
Goldman offers a fresh perspective on the history of Zionism, deftly weaving together the stories of poets and diplomats, Christian scholars and Jewish leaders, the Vatican and the State of Israel, and modern literary masters such as Jorge Luis Borges, Robert Graves, and Vladimir Nabokov. Goldman argues that Jewish Zionism was influenced by--and cannot be understood in isolation from--Christian culture generally and Christian Zionist culture specifically. Shedding light on the deep and interrelated roots of Christian-Jewish relations, fraught with tension and ambivalence, he finds that Christian support for the Jewish Zionist cause has been essential to the success of the movement.
Christian Zionism has a long history and has been embraced at various times by Catholics and Protestants, liberals and conservatives, reformers and traditionalists. Zeal for Zion places this vital movement within the larger history of Zionism, making the story of Zionism all the more rich and complex.
The standard histories of Zionism have depicted it almost exclusively as a Jewish political movement, one in which Christians do not appear except as antagonists. In the highly original Zeal for Zion, Shalom Goldman makes the case for a wider and more inclusive history, one that brings the substantial Christian involvement with Zionism--most recently by American evangelical Protestants--into the light.
Goldman offers a fresh perspective on the history of Zionism, deftly weaving together the stories of poets and diplomats, Christian scholars and Jewish leaders, the Vatican and the State of Israel, and modern literary masters such as Jorge Luis Borges, Robert Graves, and Vladimir Nabokov. Goldman argues that Jewish Zionism was influenced by--and cannot be understood in isolation from--Christian culture generally and Christian Zionist culture specifically. Shedding light on the deep and interrelated roots of Christian-Jewish relations, fraught with tension and ambivalence, he finds that Christian support for the Jewish Zionist cause has been essential to the success of the movement.
Christian Zionism has a long history and has been embraced at various times by Catholics and Protestants, liberals and conservatives, reformers and traditionalists. Zeal for Zion places this vital movement within the larger history of Zionism, making the story of Zionism all the more rich and complex.
Shalom Goldman is professor of Hebrew and Middle Eastern studies at Emory University. He is author or editor of four books, including God's Sacred Tongue: Hebrew and the American Imagination (UNC Press).
"A fascinating story. . . . Highly recommended to Jewish as well as
Christian readers, and especially to Israelis."--Israel Studies
Review
"A fresh look at the movement that spawned the Jewish
homeland."--Jewish Book World
"A smartly conceived and original approach to the history of
Zionism. . . . Concludes with a fascinating examination of the
relationships between evangelicals, the Bush presidency and
Israel."--Christian Century
"All told, the value of Zeal for Zion lies in bringing together the
overlooked Christian Zionists into a single volume."--Haaretz
"Compelling. . . . A welcome addition to the growing body of
literature on the very important subject of 'Israel in the eyes of
the Gentiles.'"--American Jewish History
"Engaging. . . . There is much in this book that is new and
important. Zeal for Zion will undoubtedly stand as an important
source of information and insight."--American Historical Review
"For those who think Christians are either far right,
pro-Israel/anti-Arab Evangelicals or far left, pro-Arab/anti-Israel
'mainline' Protestants and Catholics . . . Zeal for Zion should
come as good news."--Jerusalem Post
"Important if sometimes unsettling readings of history that could
point to a reshaping of the traditional Zionist story. . . . A very
useful and comprehensive review of the Protestant role in the
establishment of Israel. . . . [A] necessary piece of historical
housecleaning."--Jewish Review of Books
"Shalom Goldman has succeeded in dealing with [Zionism] in a
remarkably fair, clear, and informative way."--Times Literary
Supplement
"The material that has been drawn on and the way in which new light
has been shed on a diverse group of Christian supporters of Zionism
is a most welcome and important addition to the
literature."--Church History
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