Blog questions for Monday, November 4 - on the Zionist movement
Reading for tomorrow:
- The Jews: A History, pp. 316-324.
- Primary Sources on Zionism in Mendes-Flohr (Jew in the Modern World)
- pp. 585-587: Introduction
- pp. 597-598: “The Revival of Hebrew” (by Eliezer Ben
Yehuda),
- pp. 599-603: “A Solution of the Jewish Question” (by Theodor Herzl),
- p. 605: The Basle
Program
- pp. 606-608: “The First Zionist Congress” (by Ahad Haam)
- pp. 616-617: “Jewry of Muscle” (by Max
Nordau)
- pp. 618-622: “The Uganda Plan” (by Herzl)
- p. 622: Anti-Uganda Proposal (7th
Zionist Congress)
- p. 623: Resolution on Palestine (7th Zionist Congress)
- pp. 483-489: Sephardic responses to Zionism
- What problem/s for Jews did the varying kinds of Zionism propose to solve?
- How did Pinsker analyze antisemitism (which he called Judeophobia) and what did he prescribe for Jews to do in response to it?
- How did Herzl describe his proposed Jewish State?
- Why did Ahad Ha'am criticize the political Zionism espoused by Herzl?
- What activities did Zionists engage in when they went to Palestine? What was the new Zionist culture being created in Palestine?
- Why did Herzl propose the Uganda Plan and why did the seventh Zionist Congress vote it down?
- What did Max Nordau mean by a "Jewry of Muscles"?
- What was the Uganda Plan and why did the Zionist Congress vote it down?
The Jewish state that Theodor Herzel was meant to encompass Jews living throughout Easter and Wester Europe. Jewish traditions had changed during the modern period and now varied from country to country. Some Jews rejected tradition and wished for changes in the synagogues while others clung to tradition. Herzel believed that all the Jews needed to come together in their own state for their own safety and prosperity. Antisemitism was present in almost all countries in some form or another and Herzl believed that he had come to an understanding as to the movements reasons. Antisemitism was the primary reason that Herzel believed a modern Jewish state was necessary. While Jews were able to bring improvements to the counties they inhabited as teachers, bankers or intellectuals they were still treated as outcasts and treated with contempt. The solution that Herzel proposed in 1896 was for the Jews to emigrate to either Argentine or Palestine and settle there. The government that Herzel proposed was an aristocratic republic with no national language, a very different idea then the promised land of the Old Testament. In 1903 however Herzel had a new objective, the settlement of Uganda. The reasons for this dramatic change of countries was twofold. First, Jewish persecution has increased with Jews facing greater threats of harm on a daily basis. Even England which Herzel had identified as the least oppressive of the Jews hosts was beginning to investigate the number of Jewish immigrants. The second reason was the fruitlessness of Herzel's meetings with the Sultan. Though the Sultan paid lip service to Herzel he made no moves to create a state that the Jews could immigrate to. Having been denied, Herzel began to search for another place that might be settled. Encouraged by England and with their recommendation Herzel began to investigate the idea of settling somewhere in Egypt. Uganda was the place that Herzel eventually decided would be best for a Jewish state. With the recommendation provided by Great Britain discussions with Egyptian officials went well and even the Russian officials seemed glad that their Jews might leave. Bolstered by these new allies Herzel proposed the creation of a Jewish state in Uganda.
ReplyDeleteThe proposal of Theodor Herzel to create a Jewish state in Uganda was rejected by the seventh zionist congress. The main reason stated was that the idea of the Jews forming their own country anywhere besides Palestine was unacceptable to Zionist ideas. Though the congress recognized that other countries that possessed a great deal of political power were supportive of the venture and that if they went forward they had a fair chance of succeeding they still rejected the proposal. Foremost in the Zionist agenda was the Basle Program and any attempt to create a Jewish state outside Palestine was unacceptable.
Excellent answer - grade is A.
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