Week 2 (Mar. 18)
The (Jewish) British Mandate narrative
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Link to slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1QOkEIqhq793c9uZIzCRKvSV57HM480DTFusQ1f3fleA/edit?usp=share_link
Timeline: Jewish/Zionist history to the British Mandate
Ca. 1400-1270 BCE: Hebrews conquer Palestine, followed by rule of judges and kings
721 BCE: Fall of Kingdom of Israel/Samaria
586 BCE: Fall of Kingdom of Judah, destruction of First Temple
516 BCE: Return to Zion under Persian Empire
141 BCE: Re-establishment of Jewish independence under Hasmoneans
70 CE: Destruction of Second Temple; Masada would fall in 73
135 CE: Romans crush Bar Kochva revolt; expel Jews from Judea and change its name to Palestina
1881: Mass Jewish immigration to Palestine begins, bringing approx. 60,000 Jews until WWI
1897: Theodor Herzl convenes First Zionist Congress in Basel, setting the goal of a Jewish home-state in Palestine
1917: British issue Balfour Declaration, supporting the establishment of a Jewish home in Palestine
1920: First violent protests in Palestine against the Balfour Declaration, ahead of the San Remo Conference, where the world powers recognize the Jews' right to a homeland in Palestine
1921: Riots break out in Jaffa over Jewish immigration; 47 Jews and 1 Arab killed in 5 days of rioting
Reading #1
"The Jewish State: Dr. Theodor Herzl at the Maccabeans", Jewish Chronicle, July 10, 1896
(Note: If you are short on time, just read the passages in bold)
Guiding questions:
a) How does Herzl make his case to the attendees?
b) What are the range of responses?
c) How would you describe the general mood in the room, as captured by the reporter?
02 JC Chronicle 1896 0710.pdfReading #2
Epstein, Yitzhak, "The Hidden Question" (1907), pp. 39-43, 47-53
Guiding questions:
a) What is Epstein's attitude toward the Arabs of Palestine?
b) What is his solution?
c) What is his long-term vision for Jewish-Arab relations in Palestine?
1907 Epstein 39-43, 47-53.pdfReading #3
Excerpts from The Jewish Chronicle on the British capture of Jerusalem, Dec. 14, 1917, p. 14
Guiding questions:
a) What is the Jewish response to the British capture of Jerusalem?
b) How is the event framed within the context of the historical narrative about the Land of Israel?
c) What sentiments are expressed regarding the non-Jewish inhabitants of Jerusalem?
Jewish Chronicle British in Jerusalem.docxReading #4
Haaretz report on response to the San Remo Conference, Apr. 27, 1920, p. 3
Guiding questions:
a) What is the Jewish response to the San Remo conference participants including the Balfour Declaration in the peace deal?
b) How is the event framed within the context of the historical narrative about the Land of Israel?
c) Where would you place the non-Jews of Palestine in this narrative?
1920 Haaretz on San Remo.docxGoogle Sites
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