Americans and the Birth of Israel

By (author) Lawrence J. Epstein

Publication date:

01 April 2017

Length of book:

192 pages

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

ISBN-13: 9781442271227

Americans and the Birth of Israel tells the dramatic story of how a ragtag group of Americans of all religions worked, often in secret and facing the possibility of arrest and imprisonment, to make sure that after the Holocaust a refuge for Jews would be born. It is a story that is not well-known but deserves to be. The book tells the story of how Americans raised money, gathered munitions, ships, and planes, rescued Holocaust survivors and sneaked them past the British patrols, helped Israel prepare militarily, engaged in dramatic political efforts in Washington and the United Nations to secure Israeli statehood, participated in cultural activities to support the Zionist cause, and in other ways made a decisive difference in allowing Israel to be born. From well-known figures like Golda Meir to little-known individuals, Americans and the Birth of Israel brings these compelling stories to light and explores the complex relationship between the United States and Israel historically and today.

Acknowledgments
Major Characters
Introduction
Chapter One: The Secret Meeting
Chapter Two: The United Nations and the White House: The Vote for Partition
Chapter Three: Organizing for Action
Chapter Four: Planes and Ships and Weapons
Chapter Five: The Irgun’s Way
Chapter Six: From Survivors to Immigrants
Conclusion: The Lessons for America and Israel
Chronology
References
Index

At a moment when many young American Jews are questioning their connection to the state of Israel, Lawrence Epstein has given us a compelling reminder of the depths of that relationship for both Israel and American Jewry. A fascinating story about courage, commitment, and above all love.