Leaders in Jewish cultural life in America attended yesterday a special convocation held at the Theodor Herzl Institute, marking the publication of the book, “The Zionist Idea, ” edited by Rabbi Arthur Hertzberg. This anthology, spanning the development of Zionist thought for more than a century and preceded by an introductory analysis of Zionist theory, is published jointly by the Herzl Press and Doubleday.
Dr. Emanuel Neumann, chairman of the Theodor Herzl Foundation, presided over the convocation, highlighted by the participation of the prominent American, historian, Professor Henry Steele Commager, and Israel Ambassador Abba Eban. Commenting on both the revolutionary trends and evolutionary forces of Zionism, as traced in the book, Prof.Commager drew a number of striking parallels in the rise of the American Republic and the State of Israel, and declared: “Israel is destined to become the leader and the guide for the whole of Asia and Africa in the ways of a new, benevolent nationalism. Zionism which vas originally conceived as a solution of the Jewish problem, will become a significant factor in world history.”
Hailing the appearance of the new volume. Ambassador Eban referred to Israel as “a nation born of the Zionist idea,” and stressed the indispensable continuity that everlastingly must link the destinies of the State of Israel with the thoughts and efforts of the Founding Fathers of Zionism.
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