Herzl: Theodor Herzl and the Foundation of the Jewish State

Herzl, the founder of modern Zionism is not generally well known. While those who know something about the history of Zionism have heard of him, I was surprised when talking to others about the book how few had really heard the name before. Avineri has a good writing style which made somewhat dry material a little more interesting. The times were hard in the latter part of the 19th century for Jews in Europe. While Jews have throughout history been seen as sc I found this a very interesting read. While Jews have throughout history been seen as scapegoats when things go wrong, Jews had been accepted reasonably well.

That is until xenophobia started. As the great empires formed, people started to identify themselves as part of countries rather than as religions. But Jews continued to want to remain as they were and not assimilate. This made them targets once again in history. The time was ripe for change. Herzl was a reporter - fairly well known in Jewish circles. He was also an aspiring novelist and playwright. It was not clearly explained his motivation, other than the terrible porgrams happening in eastern Europe, just why he began a political course. But, according to Avineri, he built alliances and networked with political leaders all over Europe.

Interestingly, the definition of Zionism defined by Herzl is very different than what we think of today. Zionism was the idea of a return of the Jews to what was known as the British colony of Palestine. At the time, it was under the weak influence of the Ottoman Empire. The concept was to build a utopian society, free and open to everyone.

And, while a Jewish state, it would openly welcome all people of all faiths as equals. They would transform the desert into gardens and farms, build great universities and become the envy of the world. The society would be so admired there would be no need for an army of any kind. Interesting how some things change. While I personally think some of this has come true, Herzl was naive to think that the world would accept a Jewish nation, when they would not accept them within their own borders.

This was a great read, and one I would recommend if you have interest in learning about the early concepts that formed the modern state of Israel. In the s, prompted by simmering anti-Semitism in Europe, Theodor Herzl elevated his vision of founding a Jewish state from dream to reality. Born into an assimilated Jewish family, he was raised and educated in Vienna. A brief spell practicing law proved sufficient impetus to change his career path to writing and journalism. The experience, along with h In the s, prompted by simmering anti-Semitism in Europe, Theodor Herzl elevated his vision of founding a Jewish state from dream to reality.

The experience, along with his own intensive deliberations, showed him the need for establishing political, economic, and legal institutions, not simply encouraging willy-nilly emigration to Palestine from Russia and Europe. Read the entire review at http: Reviewed by Jane Manaster I've read most biographies of Theodore Herzl, and this one translated from the Hebrew added a new dimension to my knowledge, as it focused on the political and historical backdrop of Herzl's visionary idea and creation. It also explored the public relations aspect of Herzl's accomplishments, and how he understood the use of media in a very effective way.

By the time he died very prematurely at age 44 , Zionism was "on the map" of the world, primarily due to his singular energy, brilliance, an I've read most biographies of Theodore Herzl, and this one translated from the Hebrew added a new dimension to my knowledge, as it focused on the political and historical backdrop of Herzl's visionary idea and creation. By the time he died very prematurely at age 44 , Zionism was "on the map" of the world, primarily due to his singular energy, brilliance, and determination.

Dec 31, John rated it it was amazing. A well-crafted, incisively-written book. It was certainly enlightening reading for me. Review by Micah D. Halpern for the Jewish Book Council.

Zachary Zamechansky rated it really liked it Jan 29, Kyle Luebke rated it it was amazing Dec 30, Danielle rated it it was amazing Apr 23, Dustin rated it really liked it Feb 10, Achikam Yogev rated it it was amazing Apr 08, Liam rated it liked it Dec 13, Natasha Gr rated it it was amazing Dec 18, Herzl therefore advocated a mass exodus from Europe to the Judenstaat. Pinkser's manifesto was a cry for help; a warning to others Mahnruf , a call for attention to their plight.

Herzl's vision was less about mental states of Jewry, and more about delivering prescriptive answers about land. Herzl visited Jerusalem for the first time in October William Hechler , public world power recognition of himself and Zionism. It was a brief but historic meeting.

His appearance brought him into close contact with members of the British government, particularly with Joseph Chamberlain , then secretary of state for the colonies, through whom he negotiated with the Egyptian government for a charter for the settlement of the Jews in Al 'Arish in the Sinai Peninsula , adjoining southern Palestine.

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Palestine could offer a safe refuge for those fleeing persecution in Russia. The delegates to the Congress backed Herzl's line of argument. A vociferous minority of opposition came from those who thought adoption of a Ugandan Plan over Palestine was a sell-out. Still later the East African Scheme failed, dying with Herzl himself.

It was taken off the agenda in After the failure of that scheme, which took him to Cairo , he received, through Leopold Greenberg , an offer August from the British government to facilitate a large Jewish settlement, with autonomous government and under British suzerainty , in British East Africa.

At the same time, the Zionist movement was threatened by the Russian government. Accordingly, Herzl visited St. Petersburg and was received by Sergei Witte , then finance minister, and Viacheslav Plehve , minister of the interior, the latter placing on record the attitude of his government toward the Zionist movement. On that occasion Herzl submitted proposals for the amelioration of the Jewish position in Russia. He published the Russian statement, and brought the British offer, commonly known as the " Uganda Project ", before the Sixth Zionist Congress Basel, August , carrying the majority Herzl did not live to see the rejection of the Uganda plan.

A day before his death, he told the Reverend William H. I gave my heart's blood for my people. His will stipulated that he should have the poorest-class funeral without speeches or flowers and he added, "I wish to be buried in the vault beside my father, and to lie there till the Jewish people shall take my remains to Israel".

Despite Herzl's request that no speeches be made, a brief eulogy was delivered by David Wolffsohn. Hans Herzl, then thirteen, read the kaddish. In , his remains were moved from Vienna to be reburied on the top of Mount Herzl in Jerusalem , named in his memory. Herzl's grandfathers, both of whom he knew, were more closely related to traditional Judaism than were his parents. In Zemun Zemlin , his grandfather Simon Loeb Herzl "had his hands on" one of the first copies of Judah Alkalai 's work prescribing the "return of the Jews to the Holy Land and renewed glory of Jerusalem".

Contemporary scholars conclude that Herzl's own implementation of modern Zionism was undoubtedly influenced by that relationship. Herzl's grandparents' graves in Semlin can still be visited. Alkalai himself witnessed the rebirth of Serbia from Ottoman rule in the early and midth century and was inspired by the Serbian uprising and subsequent re-creation of Serbia. The marriage was unhappy, although three children were born to it: Paulina, Hans and Margaritha Trude. Herzl had a strong attachment to his mother, who was unable to get along with his wife.

These difficulties were increased by the political activities of his later years, in which his wife took little interest. His daughter Paulina suffered from mental illness and drug addiction. She died in at the age of 40 of a heroin overdose. His only son Hans was given a secular upbringing and Herzl notably refused to allow him to be circumcised.

He sought a personal salvation for his own religious needs and a universal solution, as had his father, to Jewish suffering caused by antisemitism. Hanz Herzl voluntarily had himself circumcised 29 May ; [65] Hans shot himself to death on the day of his sister Paulina's funeral; he was 39 years old. I can't go on living. I have lost all trust in God. All my life I've tried to strive for the truth, and must admit today at the end of the road that there is nothing but disappointment. Tonight I have said Kaddish for my parents—and for myself, the last descendant of the family.

There is nobody who will say Kaddish for me, who went out to find peace—and who may find peace soon My instinct has latterly gone all wrong, and I have made one of those irreparable mistakes, which stamp a whole life with failure. Then it is best to scrap it. In the remains of Paulina and Hans were moved from Bordeaux , France, and reburied not far from their father on Mt. Paulina and Hans had little contact with their young sister, "Trude" Margarethe, — She married Richard Neumann, a man 17 years her elder.

Neumann lost his fortune in the Great Depression. Burdened by the steep costs of hospitalizing Trude, who suffered from severe bouts of depressive illness that required repeated hospitalization, the Neumanns' financial life was precarious. The Nazis sent Trude and Richard to the Theresienstadt concentration camp where they died. Her body was burned. Her ashes were lost by accident.

At the request of his father Richard Neumann, Trude's son Herzl's only grandchild , Stephan Theodor Neumann, — was sent for his safety to England in to the Viennese Zionists and the Zionist Executive in Israel based there. In England he read extensively about his grandfather. Zionism had not been a significant part of his background in Austria, but Stephan became an ardent Zionist, was the only descendant of Theodor Herzl to have become one.

In late and early he took the opportunity to visit the British Mandate of Palestine "to see what my grandfather had started. What most impressed him was the "look of freedom" on the faces of the children, which were not like the sallow look of those from the concentration camps of Europe. He wrote upon leaving Israel, "My visit to Israel is over It is said that to go away is to die a little. But sure, then, to return is somehow to be reborn. And I will return. Norman planned to return to Israel following his military discharge.

The Zionist Executive had worked for years through Dr. Lauterbach to get Norman to come to Israel as a symbol of Herzl's returning. Operation Agatha of 29 June , precluded that possibility: British military and police fanned out throughout Israel and arrested Jewish activists.

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About 2, individuals were arrested. On 2 July , Norman wrote to Mrs. Her father, Jacob Kahn, had been a good friend of Herzl and a well-known Dutch banker before the war. But the dreadful news of the last two days have done nothing to make this easier. Demobilized from the British army in late spring , without money or job and despondent about his future, Norman followed the advice of Dr. Weizmann deeply resented the sudden intrusion and reception of Norman when he arrived in Britain. Norman spoke to the Zionist conference in London. Haboker reported, "Something similar happened at the Zionist conference in London.

The Chairman suddenly announced to the meeting that in the hall there was Herzl's grandson who wanted to say a few words. The introduction was made in an absolutely dry and official way. It was felt that the chairman looked for—and found—some stylistic formula which would satisfy the visitor without appearing too cordial to anybody among the audience. In spite of that there was a great thrill in the hall when Norman mounted on the platform of the praesidium. At that moment, Dr. Weizmann turned his back on the speaker and remained in this bodily and mental attitude until the guest had finished his speech.

Brodetsky was Chaim Weizman's principal ally and supporter in Britain. In late August , shortly after arriving in Washington, he learned that his family had perished. Norman had re-established contact with his old nanny in Vienna, Wuth, who told him what happened. Unable to endure his suffering any further, he jumped to his death from the Massachusetts Avenue Bridge in Washington, D. Norman was buried by the Jewish Agency in Washington, D.

On 5 December , sixty-one years after his death, he was reburied with his family on Mt. Herzl, in the Plot for Zionist Leaders. The quote sums up the meaning of Zionism and Israel. Der Judenstaat proposed the structure and beliefs of what political Zionism was. Herzl's solution was the creation of a Jewish state. In the book he outlined his reasoning for the need to reestablish the historic Jewish state. It is the restoration of the Jewish State And what is that force? The plight of the Jews I am profoundly convinced that I am right, though I doubt whether I shall live to see myself proved so.

Those who today inaugurate this movement are unlikely to live to see its glorious culmination. But the very inauguration is enough to inspire in them a high pride and the joy of an inner liberation of their existence The idea depends only on the number of its adherents. Perhaps our ambitious young men, to whom every road of advancement is now closed, and for whom the Jewish state throws open a bright prospect of freedom, happiness, and honor, perhaps they will see to it that this idea is spread If this generation is too dull to understand it rightly, a future, finer, more advanced generation will arise to comprehend it.

The Jews who will try it shall achieve their State; and they will deserve it It is a national question, and to solve it we must first of all establish it as an international political problem to be discussed and settled by the civilized nations of the world in council. It is not permitted us.

In vain are we loyal patriots, sometimes superloyal; in vain do we make the same sacrifices of life and property as our fellow citizens; in vain do we strive to enhance the fame of our native lands in the arts and sciences, or her wealth by trade and commerce. In our native lands where we have lived for centuries we are still decried as aliens, often by men whose ancestors had not yet come at a time when Jewish sighs had long been heard in the country No nation on earth has endured such struggles and sufferings as we have.

Jew-baiting has merely winnowed out our weaklings; the strong among us defiantly return to their own whenever persecution breaks out I think this is not praiseworthy The Jews who will it shall achieve their State. We shall live at last as free men on our own soil, and in our own homes peacefully die. The world will be liberated by our freedom, enriched by our wealth, magnified by our greatness.

And whatever we attempt there for our own benefit will redound mightily and beneficially to the good of all mankind. His last literary work, Altneuland in English: The Old New Land , , is a novel devoted to Zionism. Herzl occupied his free time for three years in writing what he believed might be accomplished by Though the form is that of a romance, It is less a novel than a serious forecast of what could be done within one generation.

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The keynotes of the story are love of Zion and insistence upon the fact that the suggested changes in life are not utopian but to be brought about simply by grouping all the best efforts and ideals of every race and nation. Each such effort is quoted and referred to in such a manner as to show that Altneuland , though blossoming through the skill of the Jew, will in reality be the product of the benevolent efforts of all the members of the human family.

Herzl envisioned a Jewish state that combined modern Jewish culture with the best of the European heritage. Thus a "Palace of Peace" would be built in Jerusalem to arbitrate international disputes, and at the same time the Temple would be rebuilt on modern principles. Herzl did not envision the Jewish inhabitants of the state as being religious , but there was respect for religion in the public sphere. He also assumed that many languages would be spoken, and that Hebrew would not be the main tongue.

Proponents of a Jewish cultural rebirth, such as Ahad Ha'am , were critical of Altneuland. In Altneuland , Herzl did not foresee any conflict between Jews and Arabs. One of the main characters in Altneuland is a Haifa engineer, Reshid Bey, who is one of the leaders of the "New Society".

He is very grateful to his Jewish neighbors for improving the economic condition of Israel and sees no cause for conflict. All non-Jews have equal rights, and an attempt by a fanatical rabbi to disenfranchise the non-Jewish citizens of their rights fails in the election which is the center of the main political plot of the novel. Herzl also envisioned the future Jewish state to be a "third way" between capitalism and socialism, with a developed welfare program and public ownership of the main natural resources. Industry, agriculture and trade were organized on a cooperative basis. Specifically, they called for a land value tax.

Women would have equal voting rights —as they had in the Zionist movement from the Second Zionist Congress onwards. He summed up his vision of an open society:. It would be immoral if we would exclude anyone, whatever his origin, his descent, or his religion, from participating in our achievements. For we stand on the shoulders of other civilized peoples What we own we owe to the preparatory work of other peoples.

Therefore, we have to repay our debt. There is only one way to do it, the highest tolerance. Our motto must therefore be, now and ever: In his novel, Herzl wrote about an electoral campaign in the new state. He directed his wrath against the nationalist party, which wished to make the Jews a privileged class in Israel.

Herzl regarded that as a betrayal of Zion, for Zion was identical to him with humanitarianism and tolerance—and that this was true in politics as well as religion. Whether anyone sought religious devotion in the synagogue, in the church, in the mosque, in the art museum, or in a philharmonic concert, did not concern society.

That was his [own] private affair. Altneuland was written both for Jews and non-Jews: Herzl wanted to win over non-Jewish opinion for Zionism. We must expropriate gently the private property on the estates assigned to us.