Myers focuses on the interpretations of Rabbi Tsevi Hirsch Kalischer, one of the first impeccably orthodox rabbis to argue that the Jewish people must engage in diplomatic and economic initiatives to return to Palestine. Kalischer, who lived from 1795 to 1874, used his command of Rabbinic literature to create his modernistic views.

The book also deals with aspects of religious law and with the political history of Poland and Prussia in the 19th century.

"Kalischer was not interested in creating a state like other nation-states," Myers said. "He wanted Jewish sovereignty over Palestine to mean that Jewish religious law would be instated and all the institutions of the ancient Jewish commonwealth would be reestablished. He believed that this would lead to a utopian golden age as depicted in biblical prophesies."

Myers worked on the book for more than a decade. She has taught at CSUN since 1986 and currently lives in the Los Angeles area.

California State University, Northridge has more than 32,000 full- and part-time students and offers 59 bachelor's and 41 master's degrees. Founded in 1958, it is the only four-year university in the San Fernando Valley and the third largest in the 23-campus CSU system. The Western Association of schools and Colleges recently said CSUN "stands as a model to other public urban institutions of higher learning."