The Beginnings of the Zionist Movement

Bebe's grandpa was born in 18 79 in the village of kreva in modern bellarus. At that time, there were roughly five million jewish people living in what was called the pale of settlement. The czars also opened parts of the russian frontier up to jewish habitation when they wanted to colonize those areas. But these alleviations came to a complete halt after 18 81. As part of the general reaction from russia at this period, the temporary laws of 18 81 prohibited any new settlement by Jews. This is not a situation that would seem familiar to any people living in palestine to day.