The First Jewish Environmentalist

"""This deeply learned and clearly written volume situates the Zionist laborer-philosopher A.D. Gordon in general and Jewish intellectual history, expertly outlines his entire philosophy, paints a picture of his life in early twentieth-century Palestine, and challengingly explores the meaning and contemporary relevance of his call to 'live with and within nature'."" -- Allan Arkush, Professor of Judaic Studies, Binghamton University, author of Moses Mendelssohn and the Enlightenment""Aharon David Gordon occupies a unique place in the pantheon of Zionist history as a prophet of the Jews' return to nature and agricultural labor. Yuval Jobani demonstrates that Gordon belongs even more to the universal philosophy of environmentalism and his Man and Nature has much to teach us more than a hundred years since its publication as we face the global climate crisis. With philosophical rigor and sensitivity, Jobani has rescued Gordon's work for a new generation of readers."" -- David Biale, Emanuel Ringelblum Distinguished Professor Emeritus, UC Davis""Jobani's exploration of A.D. Gordon's philosophy of Jewish renewal within the context of his distinct interpretation of Man and Nature interweaves the ideological, religious, and philosophical strings that shaped his life and writing. It presents a fascinating discussion of Gordon's transformed trajectory as an Israeli cultural icon whose meaning has been transformed over time, placing him at the heart of today's environmental discourse. This book will be of major interest to students of Jewish thought, sociologists, and cultural historians, as well as environmental scholars."" -- Yael Zerubavel, Professor of Jewish Studies & History, Rutgers University, author of Desert in the Promised Land"