Rom und Jerusalem, die letzte Nationalitätsfrage, Briefe und Noten, von M. [Moses] Hess. Leipzig: Eduard Wengler, 1862. German and some Hebrew. 1st edition.
"Rome and Jerusalem, the last National Question, missives and notes".
Moshe (Moses) Hess (1812-1875), author, philosopher and socialist, one of the founding fathers of the socialist movement in Europe, of the first Zionists, and generator of the Zionist socialism. Hess published essays, founded and edited social periodicals with a socialistic agenda. Collaborated with Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. After alienating himself for many years from Judaism he went through a radical transformation in view of the 1848 revolutions and the movements to unite Germany and Italy which made it clear to him that the national aspect is central in modern existence. In 1861 he completed his book "Rome and Jerusalem". At first he could not find a publisher but in 1862 he managed to publish the book in Leipzig. In this book, Hess introduces a Zionist theory, opposes assimilation and calls the Jews to settle in Eretz Israel and to resume a life of labor. The return of Jews to their land was in his eyes a universal ideal, not only Jewish. He expressed his aspiration to establish a Jewish Socialist state in Eretz Israel and proved that Jews are capable of creating a modern culture.
While believing in secular socialism, Hess recognized the historic value of religion in preserving the national identity of the people of Israel.
Hess died in Paris in 1875 and was buried, according to his request, in the Jewish cemetery of Cologne. In 1961 Hess was re-interred in the cemetery of Kinneret.
[1] cover; XVI, 239, [1] pp; [1] cover, 19.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Ex-Libris label of Prof. Dr. Philip Baruch, historian and reform rabbi in Posen.Stains. Ex-library copy. Tears and damages, some of which are professionally restored. Some of the sheets are not cut.
From the collection of Arnie Druck.