Britain, the Bible, and Balfour - (Bloomsbury Studies in Modern Jewish History, Historiography, and Memory) by Jonathan Immanuel (Paperback)

About the Book

This volume examines the unique historical and religious forces that led to the Balfour Declaration and argues that Britain, for more than two centuries, already possessed the ingredients for a theopolitical vision of a Jewish home state.

Book Synopsis

This volume examines the unique historical and religious forces that led to the Balfour Declaration and argues that Britain, for more than two centuries, already possessed the ingredients for a theopolitical vision of a Jewish home state.

Review Quotes

"There could not be a better or more authoritative book to emerge in this centenary year of the Balfour Declaration than Jonathan Immanuel's extraordinarily scholarly yet highly readable analysis of how it came about. Connecting the Bible and Zionism with British thinkers and statesmen stretching back over centuries, Immanuel builds a truly compelling argument about British Zionism, both Jewish and non-Jewish, that will fascinate and convince. Far from being either cynical or miraculous, the genesis of the Declaration was logical and, as Immanuel categorically proves, steeped in the best motives and instincts of Britain's long history." --Andrew Roberts, King's College, author of A History of the English-Speaking Peoples Since 1900 and Founder Member of the Friends of Israel Initiative

"This book makes the fascinating assertion that the restorationist tradition, if effaced, did continue through the 18th century and acts as a link between the earlier and later phases. In lucid writing, Immanuel traces the link between English Protestantism and Judaism back to the Reformation and Henry VIII seeking Old Testament/Jewish support for his divorce. The unfolding story of Puritanism and its links with Judaism from then on is convincingly laid out. There is much to be learnt about the main theme as it is cogently spelled out from the Reformation to Puritanism all the way through the 18th century." --Munro Price, professor of European history at Bradford University, author of The Road to Apocalypse

"[W]hat Immanuel maintains is that Restorationism was a necessary but not sufficient condition for the issuance of the declaration. The immense amount of evidence that he brings to bear in support of this proposition makes it very difficult to disagree with him. In any case, his well-written and accessible book merits the serious attention of every individual who is interested in the history behind the Balfour Declaration." --Israel Affairs Journal

[W]hat Immanuel maintains is that Restorationism was a necessary but not sufficient condition for the issuance of the declaration. The immense amount of evidence that he brings to bear in support of this proposition makes it very difficult to disagree with him. In any case, his well-written and accessible book merits the serious attention of every individual who is interested in the history behind the Balfour Declaration.

This book makes the fascinating assertion that the restorationist tradition, if effaced, did continue through the 18th century and acts as a link between the earlier and later phases. In lucid writing, Immanuel traces the link between English Protestantism and Judaism back to the Reformation and Henry VIII seeking Old Testament/Jewish support for his divorce. The unfolding story of Puritanism and its links with Judaism from then on is convincingly laid out. There is much to be learnt about the main theme as it is cogently spelled out from the Reformation to Puritanism all the way through the 18th century.

There could not be a better or more authoritative book to emerge in this centenary year of the Balfour Declaration than Jonathan Immanuel's extraordinarily scholarly yet highly readable analysis of how it came about. Connecting the Bible and Zionism with British thinkers and statesmen stretching back over centuries, Immanuel builds a truly compelling argument about British Zionism, both Jewish and non-Jewish, that will fascinate and convince. Far from being either cynical or miraculous, the genesis of the Declaration was logical and, as Immanuel categorically proves, steeped in the best motives and instincts of Britain's long history.

About the Author

Jonathan Immanuel is a fellow of the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute in Jerusalem.