Ahad Ha'am ALS to Rafelovich

Book Description

“Ahad Ha-am deserves a special chapter in the history of Zionism. He was the most prominent literary figure in the Hovevei Zion movement, and he is the most respected and influential representative of modern Hebrew literature.” – Nahum SokolowGINZBERG, U. [Asher]. [Ahad Ha’am]. Autograph Letter Signed to Rafelovich. London, 23 June 1916. 1 page on Ginzberg’s personal stationery. Some minor spotting, otherwise Very Good condition.AHAD HA’AM (1856-1927), who renamed himself as “One of the People”, felt that without the traditional Jewish values, the Zionist dream would turn into a secular state devoid of inherent Jewish values. A great lover of the Jewish people, it was he who encouraged Chaim Weizmann in 1917, (a year after this letter was written), to persevere in his destiny as a leader of the Jewish people in their quest for a Jewish state – the impact, the Balfour Declaration was passed later that year. Ahad Ha’am became Weizmann’s mentor and (no doubt this letter which references a meeting with Weizmann) was supportive of Weizmann taking the initiative of Zionist advocacy in British government circles in 1916.The letter in part:To: Mr. Y. Rafelovich, Liverpool. / Dear Sir, / I received your letter this morning (it certainly got delayed, since you sent it to an old address of Dr. Weizmann). I am informing you that Weizmann is not in town and that he will return only on Monday. I would have also liked to go to Weizmann’s place in the suburbs on Sunday, as promised. Therefore it would be better to delay our conversations until Monday evening (8:30 – 9:00). Then, Weizmann would also be able to join us. However, if you can’t remain here until then, please inform me by telegram, and I will wait for you from noon to 4:30. I will also ask Sokolow to arrive at that time, since you will no longer be able to write him…”“Zionism was a response to acculturation and assimilation on the one hand, and to modern anti-Semitism on the other. Ahad Ha’am addressed himself to the plight of Judaism, whereas Pinsker, Herzl and Nordau highlighted the plight of the Jews.” – Isaiah Friedman, “Essential Papers on Zionism”

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