Kibbutz Utopia and Politics The Life and Times of Meir Yaari, 18971987 [Paperback]

Meir Yaari (1897-1987) was the leader of Hashomer Hatzair, a movement which took an active part in shaping the history of the Jewish people in the crucial decades of the twentieth century. Its Kibbutzim had a leading role in matters of aliyah, settlement, and defense in mandatory Palestine and then independent Israel, and its members were among the organizers of Jewish resistance and revolt during the Holocaust. This biography discusses pivotal issues in the history of the Jewish people and the State of Israel, such as the friction between Zionism and socialism, the Arab question, the absorption of new immigrants, and generation gaps and conflicts. The book blends individual and collective perspectives and never loses sight of the tension between ideology and reality.Aviva Halamish wrote a comprehensive biography of one of the most fascinating figures in the Zionist history, skillfully tracing his inner contradictions, conflicts with colleagues and opponents. What was the source of his magic impact on his adherents, who followed him to the dividing line between Zionism and communism? Whoever wishes to understand the social and cultural making of one of the most important kibbutz movements, Hashomer Hatzair, should read Halamishs book.This biography of Meir Yaari, the leader of Hashomer Hatzair and its Kibbutz movement, discusses pivotal issues in the history of the Jewish people and the State of Israel, such as the friction between Zionism and socialism, the Arab question, Jewish resistance during the Holocaust, the absorption of new immigrants, and generation gaps.Aviva Halamish has produced a splendid biography of Meir Yaari, one of the Zionist movements most colorful and intriguing figures. Writing with profound erudition and empathy, Halamish reveals the mysteries of Yaaris charisma, his intellectual and organizational strengths, and his all-too-human flaws. Halamish throws light on not only Yaari as an individual but also on the kibbutz movement that hl3‰