ZIONIST MOVEMENT. A movement which has for its objeet—to quote Dr. Theodore Herzl, the founder and leader of modern Zionism—"the creation of a home secured by public rights for those Jews who cannot or will not be assimilated by the country of their adoption." It is a direct consequence of the anti-Semitic agitation. (See ANTI-SEMIT1SM.) The misery caused by the re lentless policy of persecution adopted by Russia against a Jewish population estimated at 5.000, 000 souls presents in itself a problem for which apparently the Zionists alone have proclaimed a comprehensive solution.
Ever since their dispersion the faithful ortho dox of the Jews have found consolation in the re ligious hope that the promises of the ancient prophets will finally be realized, that the Messiah will appear to lead the children of Israel back to the Holy Land of their fathers. The religious nature of this Messianic Zionism has, in fact, been the ground for strong opposition to the present movement on the part of those who, like Chief Rabbi Dr. Adler ..of England, have de nounced it as an attempt to forestall Divine Providence.
The history of the Jews, however, shows that the Messianic faith was not incompatible with active attempts at repatriation. Thus Bar Coch ba (q.v.) (117-138)hased his all but successful re volt against the Romans on the Messianie proph ecy, and was supported his claims by the great Robin Akihah. At later periods a number of Psendo-Messiahs Were created by the restlessness or mysticism of their times reacting upon the despair of the Jewish people. See AlEssimt.
The most remarkable of all the PseuderiOes sinhis was Sabbathai Zewi, whose self-proclama tion at Smyrna (1660) threw the Jewish people into a state of hysteric excitement which long outlasted his downfall, and was not entirely al layed until the influence of Noses Meralelssohn (q.v.) a hundred years later turned Jewish hope into a new direction.
Under the influence of the Mendelssohnian school, and the growing tendency toward toleration, the old Messianic mysticism gave way before the passion with which the Jews turned toward the acquisition of Occidental culture. in the hope of being permitted to become integral parts of the nations among which they lived. The new Jew ish culture originating in this period developed, however, a new and broader race consciousness, and correspondingly an historical and sentimental interest in Palestine, which manifested itself in efforts at colonization by philanthropists such as Moses Montefiore and by associations such as the 'Alliance IsraSlite Universelle,' which efforts were encouraged by a number of British states men. After the Russian riots of 1881, and the
enactment of the barbarous May Laws, a great impetus was given to the colonization movement by the formation of the international society 'Lovers of Zion,' which, aided by the Rothschild family, and by Baron de Hirsch and his Jewish Colonial Association, succeeded to the extent that in 1898 there were in Palestine 25 Jewish colonies.
The planting of isolated colonies in Palestine failed to hold the general interest of the Jewish people. As a relief for the condition of the Eastern Jews, the colonies in Palestine and else where are insignificant. The Nendelssohnian ideals of culture, too, had apparently failed a-s solution of the vexed .Tew•ish problem. Con tinental •Judaism was in despair, when in the spring of 1896 there appeared from the pen of Dr. Theodore Herzl, a Viennese journalist and playwright, simultaneously in English, French, and German, a pamphlet entitled "The Jewish State." It was therein proposed that Palestine should he obtained from the Sultan of Turkey, the holy places made -extraterritorial, and a Jewish autonomous State, the organization and government of which were set forth in detail, es tablished under Turkish suzerainty and the guarantee of the Great Powers.
This was the beginning of the present Zionist movement.• As a result of the profound sensation created by this pamphlet, the first Zionist Con gress was held at Basel, Switzerland, in August, 1897• when 200 delegates represented Jews of all nationalities, and all political and religious con victions. The political programme adopted at this congress, the basis upon which the move ment now• rests, begins as follows: "Zionism aims at establishing for the Jewish people a pab/idy and legally assured home in Palestine." Among the means to be adopted for the attain ment of this end, the programme specifies "the promotion of the settlement of Jewish agrieul twists, artisans, and tradesmen in Palestine," and "preparatory steps for the attainment of those governmental grants which are necessary for the achievement of the Zionist purpose." Subsequent Zionist congresses were held in 1898 (when the Jewish Colonial Trust. the finan cial instrument of Zionism, was founded), in 1S99. 1900, 1901, and 1903, all in Basel except the congress of 1900, which took place in Lon don Dr. Herzl has had a number of audiences with the Sultan of Turkey, who summoned him to Constantinople twice in 1902. Though sympa thetically disposed, the Sultan has not yet offered such concessions as Dr. lierzl, standing firmly on time Basel platform. could accept.