Synopses & Reviews
A narrative complement to Eyes Toward Zion, Volume II (Praeger, 1986), this important new volume presents a comparative analysis of the influence of the Holy Land on Western Societies. Researched and written by a distinguished team of international scholars, Eyes III illuminates both parallelisms and unique elements in the idea of the Holy Land in the United States, Canada, Iberoamerica, Great Britain, France, and Germany. The pervasive Holy Land influence in these countries and the unique elements inherent in each culture are perceived through four constructs: diplomatic policy, Christian devotion, Jewish attachments, and cultural ties. The editors and contributors provide a detailed examination of the political and economic interests of the Western societies in the Holy Land, the role of Zion in Christian denominations, the Land of Israel in Jewish tradition and communal life, and the effect of the Holy Land on Western literature, art, and pilgrimage. Part I analyzes North America's early involvement with Palestine, focusing particularly on the writings of early Christian travellers from the U.S. and the role these visitors played in forming America's concept of the Holy Land. A separate chapter compares and contrasts the U.S. and Canadian experience. Parts II and III examine the Iberoamerican and European experience. The long, wide ranging, and significant relationships between the Holy Land and France, Germany, and the Latin American Republics are fully explored. Focusing primarily on the nineteenth century, Part IV documents the sturdy Biblical-Holy Land-British bond. The chapters in this volume are replete with references to the writings of archaeologists, historians, scientists, biblical scholars, novelists, consuls, missionaries, tourists and, above all, settlers and builders of the Land - all attesting to the intrinsic place of the Holy Land in the world imagination.
Review
With Eyes Toward Zion III contains fascinating nuggets rewarding the general reader.The Sixteenth Century Journal
Synopsis
This book breaks new ground in Holy Land Studies by presenting a comparative analysis of the influence and effects of the Holy Land idea in various Western societies. The contributors examine 19th and 20th century records of American, British, French, Canadian, and Iberoamerican involvement in the Holy Land in an effort to illuminate both parallelisms and unique elements in each society's perception of the Holy Land. In addition to analyzing what the Holy Land has meant as a religious symbol to the various groups, the book also looks at issues of diplomatic policy toward the Holy Land, Christian devotion, Jewish attachment, and cultural manifestations of the Holy Land idea.
Synopsis
In addition to analyzing what the Holy Land has meant as a religious symbol to the various groups, the book also looks at issues of diplomatic policy toward the Holy Land, Christian devotion, Jewish attachment, and cultural manifestations of the Holy Land idea.
About the Author
MOSHE DAVIS is Chairman, Governing Council of the International Center for University Teaching of Jewish Civilization under the aegis of the Israeli Presidency, and Founding Head of the Institute of Contemporary Jewry at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.YEHOSHUA BEN-ARIEH is Professor of Geography at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Table of Contents
Introduction: From America-Holy Land Studies to Western Societies and the Holy Land by Moshe Davis
Holy Land Views in Nineteenth-Century Travel Literature by Yehoshua Ben-Arieh
The America-Holy Land Studies Project: A Personal Statement by Robert Handy
Studying America and the Holy Land: Prospects, Pitfalls, and Perspectives by Deborah Dash Moore
America-Holy Land and Religious Studies: On Expressing a Sacred Reality by Gershon Greenberg
American Christian Travelers to the Holy Land, 1821-1939 by David Klatzker
Canada and the Holy Land: Some North American Similarities and Differences by Michael Brown with comment by Abraham J. Karp
Iberoamerica
The Concept of the Holy Land in Iberoamerica by Leonardo Senkman
Western Europe
France-Holy Land Studies: Teaching and Research by Catherine Nicault
French Archives as a Source for the Study of France-Holy Land Relations by Ran Aaronsohn
France and the Holy Land: Introducing the Subject in French Universities by Sophie Kessler-Mesguich with comment by Andre Kaspi
The German Protestant Network in the Holy Land by Erich Geldbach
Sources for Germany-Holy Land Studies in the Late Ottoman Period: German Libraries and Archives by Haim Goren
Germany-Holy Land Studies: A Conceptual Framework by Yossi Ben-Artzi
Research into German-Christian Contributions to the Rebuilding of Eretz Israel: A Personal Record by Alex Carmel with comment by Franklin H. Littell
Great Britain
Britain and the Holy Land: 1830-1914 by Vivian D. Lipman
British-Holy Land Archaeology: Nineteenth-Century Sources by Rupert Chapman
British Opinion and the Holy Land in the Nineteenth Century: Personalities and Further Themes by Israel Finestein with comment by Aubrey Newman
Afterword
Some Reflections on the Present State of Holy Land Studies by Lloyd P. Gartner
Selected Bibliography
Index