Vladimir Jabotinsky's Russian Years, 1900-1925 (Jews in Eastern Europe)

In the early 20th century, with Russia full of intense social strife and political struggle, Vladimir Yevgenyevich (Ze'ev) Jabotinsky (1880–1940) was a Revisionist Zionist leader and Jewish Public intellectual. Although previously glossed over, these years are crucial to Jabotinsky's development as a thinker, politician, and Zionist. Brian Horowitz focuses on Jabotinsky's commitments Zionism and Palestine as he embraced radicalism and fought against antisemitism and the suffering brought upon Jews through pogroms, poverty, and victimization. Horowitz also defends Jabotinsky against accusations that he was too ambitious, a fascist, and a militarist. As Horowitz delves into the years that shaped Jabotinsky's social, political, and cultural orientation, an intriguing psychological portrait emerges. This scholarly biography focuses on the early years of the influential Russian Jewish author and pioneer of Revisionist Zionism. In the first decades of the twentieth century, Russia was a place of intense social strife and political struggle. Vladimir Yevgenyevich “Ze'ev” Jabotinsky, who would go on to become the founder of the Revisionist Zionism Alliance in 1925, was already a Zionist leader and Jewish public intellectual. Although previously glossed over, these early years were crucial to Jabotinsky's development as a thinker, politician, and Zionist. In this enlightening biography, Brian Horowitz focuses on Jabotinsky's commitments to Zionism and Palestine as he embraced radicalism and fought against the suffering brought upon Jews through pogroms, poverty, and victimization. Horowitz also defends Jabotinsky against accusations that he was too ambitious, a fascist, and a militarist. As Horowitz delves into the years that shaped Jabotinsky's social, political, and cultural orientation, an intriguing psychological portrait emerges. "In the early 20th century, with Russia full of intense social strife and political struggle, Vladimir Yevgenyevich (Ze'ev) Jabotinsky (1880-1940) was a Revisionist Zionist leader and Jewish Public intellectual. Although previously glossed over, these years are crucial to Jabotinsky's development as a thinker, politician, and Zionist. Brian Horowitz focuses on Jabotinsky's commitments Zionism and Palestine as he embraced radicalism and fought against antisemitism and the suffering brought upon Jews through pogroms, poverty, and victimization. Horowitz also defends Jabotinsky against accusations that he was too ambitious, a fascist, and a militarist. As Horowitz delves into the years that shaped Jabotinsky's social, political, and cultural orientation, an intriguing psychological portrait emerges."-- Provided by publisher Cover 1 Tittle Page 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 Acknowledgments 8 Introduction 12 1. A Zionist in Odessa, circa 1900–1903 25 2. Zionism before 1905 44 3. In Revolution and Counterrevolution, 1905–1906 63 4. The Decade between the Revolution of 1905 and World War I, 1907–1914 88 5. Political Alliances Break; Jabotinsky Goes His Own Way, 1907–1914 112 6. The Jewish Legion’s Russian Inspiration, 1915–1917 141 7. Postwar Disappointments, Palestine 1918–1922 173 8. Russian-Jewish Emigration and the Path to Zionist Revisionism, 1923–1925 204 9. Russia in the Life and Work of Jabotinsky after 1925 232 Conclusion 251 Bibliography 256 Index 276 About the Author 290