Lot 228
Collection of Paper Items from the Estate of Aharon Amir - "The Canaanites" and the Journal "Aleph"
About 230 letters, forms, receipts and paper items, in handwriting and in print, that belonged to Aharon Amir in the period when he edited the journal Aleph. Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and New York, late 1940s / early 1950s. Hebrew and some English.
Items include:
* Eighteen long letters sent by historian and cultural critic Adaya Gurevitch Horon to Amir and to the Aleph editorial board. The letters were sent when Horon was staying in New York, and they mention, among other things, relations with the movement's members (Yonatan Ratosh, Ari Jabotinsky, Hillel Kook and others), protocols of conventions of the movement's members in New York, a critique of the movement's ideological platform, the possibility of turning the movement into a political party, the publication of materials in Aleph and other matters.
* The Hebrew Land by the Euphrates, A View of the Semitic Orient, Past, Present & Future, detailed outline for a book on the history of the Near East and the revival of Hebrew culture in the spirit of the "Young Hebrews". 7 typewritten pages. Two copies. Possibly composed by Adaya Gurevich Horon.
* Fourteen printed invitation forms (blank) to meetings of the "Young Hebrew Center", with the emblem of the journal Aleph at the head of the form.
* Handwritten draft of a public apology presented to Dr. Baruch Kurtzweil, following an item published about him in the journal Aleph.
* Summons from the Israeli police for Uzi Ornan to arrive at the police station and deliver details regarding the "Young Hebrews Center". Sent on 22 June 1952.
* Announcement, typewritten on official stationery of the journal Aleph, regarding expulsion from the movement following a public appearance and the expression of political positions. Addressed to "Weiser". Dated 12 December 1952.
* About 170 receipts issued for the journal Aleph and its members, including receipts from printing services, advertising companies, translation services and more.
* Handwritten notes, envelopes, telegrams, letters, notebook of financial expenses, name lists and other items.
The journal Aleph of the "Young Hebrews" movement (previously "The Council for Solidarity of Hebrew Youth") was published and edited by Aharon Amir and Yonatan Ratosh, together with the movement's members and associates, such as Adaya Horon (A.G. Horon), Uzi Ornan [Ratosh's brother], Amos Keinan, Binyamin Tammuz and others. The movement, founded in 1939, reached its peak in Palestine in the 1940s, influencing political thought, art, literature and intellectual life in Palestine and the State of Israel. Its members attempted to draw a direct line between the peoples living in Palestine in the 2nd millennium B.C. and the Jewish people in Palestine in the 20th century, in an attempt to create a new-old culture and reject Jewish tradition. The name "Canaanites" was given to the movement, somewhat ironically, by the poet Avraham Shlonsky.
Size and condition vary. Good-fair overall condition.
