The Jewish State (
Der Judenstaat), that the Jews would continue to be persecuted and treated as second class citizens unless they reestablished their own nation. Although belonging to the secular, assimilated Jewish upper-class of Viennese society, Herzl had ample experience with anti-Semitism: both personally, as a law student in Vienna (a profession that placed barriers to Jews), and as a journalist employed by the prestigious Viennese newspaper
Neue Freie Presse, for which he got to cover anti-Semitic eruptions throughout Europe. Hence Herzl knew what he was talking about when he observed in 1896 his controversial political pamphlet,
The Jewish State:
“The Jewish question persists wherever Jews live in appreciable numbers. We are naturally drawn into those places where we are not persecuted, and our appearance there gives rise to persecution. This is the case, and will inevitably be so, everywhere, even in highly civilized countries see, for instance, France so long as
proposed campus map
JNF-USA is launching Envision Tomorrow s Israel, a design competition, from February 4 – April 15, which seeks concepts and ideas for elements of the campus, including classrooms, dormitories, conference centers, houses of worship, and cafés. Concepts for an iconic structure incorporating Be er Sheva s landscape and status as capital of the Negev are encouraged. This is a competition for an idea, but not just any idea, said Jeffrey E. Levin, chairperson of JNF-USA s Board and co-chair of the Be er Sheva Construction and Building and Subcommittee. Our goal is to create interest in and brand what we are creating in Be er Sheva. London has Big Ben and Hollywood its famed sign. Will a monument make Be er Sheva and the Village internationally recognizable icons? Will the design take advantage of the sun and be all solar? Will rooftop gardens adorn every structure? This international competition will draw ideas for a campus of the future and bestow Be er Shev