Each of the 396 pages is insured for $1 million; curator says father of Zionism’s vision of modern Israel is ‘prophecy’ with its depiction of light rail
The original handwritten German manuscript of Theodor Herzl’s novel, “Altneuland” (Old New Land) went on public display this week for the first time at the Herzl Center in Jerusalem, as part of a new exhibition celebrating 120 years since it was published.
The utopian novel, published in 1902, outlined the founder of modern Zionism’s vision for a Jewish state.
According to the center’s website, the new exhibition features a tour of Herzl’s study, now featuring the manuscript, and an additional exhibition that ties Herzl’s vision of a Jewish State to the modern State of Israel.
“It’s like touching the handwriting of one of the writers of the Old Testament, maybe even Moses,” Herzl Center chair Uri Zaki told Channel 13 news, explaining the value of the manuscript.
“If I’m forced to, I can give you an evaluation — each page is insured at the moment for $1 million, and “Altneuland” has 396 pages,” he said.
