Zionism and Jewish Identity: A Historical Perspective

This chapter examines the founding of the Bnei Moishe league in 1889 by Ahad Ham, which aimed to foster national rebirth among Jews while critiquing the disorganization within political Zionism. It explores Theodore Herzl's evolution from a liberal stance to advocating for a sovereign Jewish state in response to rising antisemitism, along with the mixed reactions within the Jewish community. Additionally, the chapter scrutinizes the dynamic tensions between spiritual and political aspirations in the Zionist movement, contextualizing them within broader societal implications leading up to World War I.