American Interests in the Holy Land Revealed in Early Photographs [Hardcover]

Jewish life in the holy land reawakened during the 19th century, but photographs from the period are scarce. Collecting images from the archives of the Library of Congress, the Ottoman Imperial Archives, the NY Public Library, university and church libraries worldwide, and family albums, Lenny Ben-David provides a unique visual history of the American fascination and dedication to a Jewish national home in the Holy Land. Short photo essays include details such as why Lincoln wanted to visit Jerusalem, how the U.S. Navy saved the Jews of Palestine in 1915, why the Chief Rabbi of Palestine visited the White House in 1924, where Mark Twain stayed in Jerusalem, and much more.

"I congratulate Lenny Ben-David on the publication of this major work illustrating two centuries of American support for the Jews of the Holy Land. For over 30 years, Lenny and I have cooperated on projects in our respective professional lives. His knowledge and experience dealing with U.S. – Israel relations, Middle East affairs, and Jewish history in Eretz Yisrael is rich and vast." —Amb. Dr. Dore Gold

"From the beginning to the end – U.S. Senators visiting the Western Wall in the 1930's on the cover, to young Bobby Kennedy reporting on the 1948 Israeli Independence war in the last chapter – Lenny Ben-David’s essays and collection of 100 photographs portray the special relationship between the United States and the Jewish population of the Holy Land from a unique and memorable perspective.American Interests in the Holy Land Revealed in Early Photographsexposes the secrets that would otherwise have been hidden away by history: Chief Rabbi Abraham Kook visiting President Coolidge in the White House, the U.S. Navy’s evacuation of 6,000 Jews from Jaffa in 1915 before the Turks could expel them, the visit to a synagogue in the Old City of Jerusalem by Lincoln’s Secretary of State William Seward in 1872, and molÃo