How Theodor Herzl's Vision Created The Modern Jewish State: A Fireside Chat With David Matlow, Owner Of World's Largest Collection Of Herzl Memorabilia

On May 14, 1948, David Ben Gurion, Israel's first prime minister, proclaimed the Jewish State's independence. Across Israel, euphoria erupted as crowds celebrated the country's rebirth after two thousand years of exile. While today, Israel’s rebirth and subsequent successes seem ordinary, it was not too long ago that the concept was far-fetched; But thanks to Theodor Herzl, an Austrian lawyer, and journalist, who penned the book Der Judenstaat (The State of the Jews), the Jewish nation-state became a reality. Herzl, who died in 1904, never got to see his vision come to fruition, but his memory is being kept alive today by people like David Matlow. Matlow, a Toronto lawyer, is also the world's largest collector of Theodor Herzl memorabilia, and whose recent book, 75 Treasures: Celebrating Israel at Seventy-Five, offers readers a collection of Herzl memorabilia. It is available free at herzlcollection.com. In this week's podcast, we sit down with David Matlow to discuss Theodor Herzl, his collection, and Herzl's legacy as Israel turns 75. Welcome to The Honest Report.