H-Judaic is saddened to learn of the passing of Prof. David Vital (1927-2023), emeritus professor of history at Tel Aviv University and a leading historian of Zionism. Born in London, Vital made aliyah in 1934 and then returned to England to pursue three degrees, including his Ph.D., at the University of Oxford. He spent a decade in government service in Israel, working for the foreign ministry and the Prime Minister's Office, and taught at Tel Aviv from 1977-1995. Prof. Vital wrote a shelf of important books, including a three-volume history of Zionism; A People Apart: A Political History of the Jews in Europe 1789–1939; The Future of the Jews; and The Inequality of States. For a more complete list of his publications at the National Library of Israel, see https://merhav.nli.org.il/primo-explore/search?query=creator,contains,%D7%93%D7%95%D7%93%20%D7%95%D7%99%D7%98%D7%9C%20-1927,NOT&query=any,contains,%D7%97%D7%99%D7%99%D7%9D,AND&tab=blended&search_scope=NLI_Blend&vid=NLI&lang=iw_IL&mode=advanced&offset=0
A festschrift entitled GLOBAL POLITICS: ESSAYS IN HONOUR OF DAVID VITAL, eds. A. Ben-Zvi and A. Klieman appeared in 2001.
We extend deepest condolences to Prof. Vital's colleagues, students, family, and legions of readers.
Jonathan D. Sarna
Chair, H-Judaic
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