Jabotinsky: a life by Hillel Halkin

Although this biography is brief, the information and insights contained are well worthwhile. One is introduced to a very complex character, a man of contradictions, yet Ze'ev Jabotinsky proves to be a visionary of the Jewish future and shows great power of observation.  He sees the future before Ben Gurion or Weizmann.

He was a controversial figure, called a fascist but believed in democracy. He saw the need for a Jewish fighting force early on before anyone else because he understood the Arab/Zionist conflict as irreconcilable.  He was not religious in any way but saw the natural alliance with Religious Zionists who needed autonomy, freedom from socialism. He understood the failure of socialism, never understanding the appeal of a way of life that lacks freedom and autonomy.

His controversy and mercurial nature prevented him for staying in the land of Israel which actually benefited him. His political adversaries and the British effectively banned his entry to the land and thus operated from Europe, mostly from Paris and London. He was a very cultured personality and saw life in Israel as very crude and did not fit into the agricultural milieu.  He was eloquent in so many languages and seemed to be partial to Italian! His power came from his writings and oratory.

He was utterly unimpressed with American Jewry.  He thought that the Jewish community there was afraid of its shadow! That American Jewry would not sacrifice for European Jewry was all too evident to Jabotinsky. (Only about 400 powerless rabbis from the orthodox rabbinate in America were courageous enough to march on Washington and confront the Roosevelt administration. The mainstream Jewish community,nevertheless, effectively blocked any real dialogue with them)

According to Mr. Halkin, Jabotinsky was not an effective politician, but rather a literary giant. Ben Gurion and Weizmann were much more effective politicians.  He was, nevertheless, the lightning rod for the Right that directly inspired Menachem Begin and the current Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.