The History of the Freeland League and Territorialist Thought (2 vols.)
מיכאל אַסטור, 1967
The Freeland League for Jewish Territorialist Colonization, founded in 1935 in response to growing anti-semitism in Europe, sought a homeland for Jews in a democratic country in which Yiddish would be an official language. The most notable attempts were in Australia and Surinam, however consideration was given to other places such as the Dominican Republic, the Hebrides and Alaska. (Yes, Michael Chabon’s idea was actually based in historical fact.)
This meticulously researched book tells the story of Jewish territorialism beginning with the first wave in 1903 but focusing on the the ideology and projects of the Freeland League in their historical and cultural context. A fascinating study, all in Yiddish, of a little-known chapter of Jewish history.
