Zionism Precursors

Precursors of Zionism

Introduction to Zionism Precursors

In the mid-19th century, two European Orthodox rabbis, Jehuda Alkalai and Zevi Hirsch Kalischer, adapted the traditional belief in a Messiah to modern conditions by teaching that Jews themselves must lay the groundwork for his coming. In 1862 the German Jewish socialist Moses Hess, inspired by the Italian nationalist movement, published Rome and Jerusalem (trans. 1918), a book in which he rejected the idea of assimilation into European society, insisting that the essence of the Jews’ problem was their lack of a national home.” (1)

Resources

Notes and References

• Information about Zionism Precursors in the Encarta Online Encyclopedia

Guide to Zionism Precursors