Theodor Herzl

Today I'm beginning a new series of cartoons. I call it "The Zionists" . . . a Series.
I'm kicking it off with the father of modern Zionism; Theodore Herzl.
The cartoon carries an amazing quote about assimilation from Herzl (a former assimilated Jew himself.)
Future cartoons in the series will feature Golda, Ben Gurion, Jabotinsky, Abba Eban, and others.
Hope you'll find them interesting.


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Mr. Herzl and Mr., Shuldig

The first Zionist Congress was called by Theodor Herzl as a first step in the creation of a Jewish State. Herzl had planned to hold the gathering in Munich, but due to local Jewish opposition he transferred the gathering to Basel, Switzerland. The three-day Congress opened 120 years ago in Basel on August 29, 1897.

Today's cartoon shows both Mr. Herzl and Mr. Shuldig (my cartoon alter-ego). Mr Shuldig's first historic appearance was 44 years ago in 1973.
Israel has always been surrounded by enemy states (and Jews who who would be more comfortable if Israel did not exist).
Dry Bones, and Mr. Shuldig, have been fighting back since I started drawing the cartoon.

Now I've put together an anthology of the best of the "Dry Bones Fights Back" cartoons. The book is on sale at Amazon http://amazon.com/author/kirschen" where, in addition to the (over sized) anthology there's a Kindle copy (and a bookshelf of other Dry Bones books). And if you buy a copy PLEASE leave a review. It would be really helpful.

Dropping a Zero (1980)

Today's Golden Oldie was done 30 years ago in February 1980.

Back then Israel had decided to switch our national currency from the distinctly non-Hebrew "Lira" (plural Lirot)to the historically and linguistically correct "Shekel".

Think that's complicated? Not for us. We implemented two simple changes. One was to change the word Lira to Shekel on the banknotes. The second thing was to chop a zero off the numbers. So a 100 Lira note became a 10 Shekel note. But it looked the same. Almost. Got it? Maybe if I show you?

100 Lira banknote:
Front and Back .

10 Shekel banknote:
Front and Back * * * Understand? So now go back and read the cartoon again. You'll see that Mr. Shuldig understands the economic impact of the currency change right up until the very last panel.

the Zionist Idea

A couple of weeks ago, the organizers of an Israeli exhibition of cartoons about Theodore Herzl asked me to submit a cartoon for the show. Today's cartoon is what I drew and sent to them.

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After the establishment of the State of Israel, Zionism faced questions like "What's left for Zionism to do?" and challenges like "If you want to be a Zionist go live in Israel."

I think that Zionists now, especially after the Olmert government's shameful decision to continue its policy of appeasement (even after the Yeshiva murders) have our answer. World Jewry needs to rediscover the Zionist dream. To understand that the State of Israel is a political entity which was set up to manage the Jewish homeland on behalf of its owners. Herzl's message seems even more revolutionary today than it was back then.

So what next? Do we need a new Zionist Congress?! Could the Jewish Agency and the Jewish National Fund rededicate themselves as representatives of World Jewry? Do we need to start a new 21st century Zionist movement?

What do you think?
Nu?