Hastening Redemption: Messianism and the Resettlement of the Land of Israel


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Accounts of the history of Zionism usually trace its origins to the late nineteenth century. In this groundbreaking book, Arie Morgenstern argues that its roots go back even further.Morgenstern argues compellingly that the Jewish community in Israel may be traced back to a large-scale wave of immigration during the first half of the nineteenth century. Inspired by an expectation for the coming of the Messiah in the year 1840, thousands of Jews from throughout the Ottoman Empire, North Africa, and Eastern Europe relocated to Jerusalem. Morgenstern describes the messianic awakening in all these lands but focuses primarily on the concept of redemption through messianic activism that prevailed among the disciples of Rabbi Elijah, the Ga'on of Vilna. These immigrants believed that the Messiah's arrival would bring about the redemption of the Jews, but also that, in order for this redemption to come about, they needed to prepare the way for the Messiah by fulfilling the commandment to dwell in the land of Israel. Morgenstern offers a dramatic account of their relocation, their efforts to renew rabbinic ordination, their reestablishment of the Ashkenazi community, and the building of Jerusalem. He also explores the crisis of faith that followed the Messiah's failure to appear as expected, and its effects on the community.
Drawing on a wealth of previously untapped sources, Morgenstern sheds important new light on the history of messianic Judaism and on the ideological trends that preceded, and eventually gave birth to, modern political Zionism.
Hastening Redemption: Messianism and the Resettlement of the Land of Israel Review
The material contained here fills in some much needed details concerning Jewish interest in the "footsteps of the Messiah". Most of the primary source material sited in this book is only available in Hebrew and in special archives not easily found. I hope that more of the authors books are translated into English for those of us not fluent in Hebrew.The events describe the Perushim, a group following the Ga'on of Vilna Rabbi Elijah. The narrative is fascinating and shows an angle of Jewish belief and actions and the intensity of their love-desire-anticipation concerning the exiled Jewish nation and the land of Israel. Do you know what the 3 oaths are? Get the book.
As has been common in prophetically oriented movements through history they made mistakes, they had disappointments when Messiah didn't appear in 1840. But the core of their beliefs and zeal for HaShem is something to appreciate, not criticize. It shows early stirrings of Zionist like activities in Palestine. The later history of Zionism found in other books illustrate the twists, turns and the conflicting motivations of Jews wanting to return to Zion. This book shows one step along this way.
This is excellent material for comparison and contrast to studies of Christian prophetic movements in the same period. The Christian missionaries from England provide as interesting backdrop as they tag along with the Jewish immigrants to Palestine.
May Messiah appear in our day.
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