What is Zionism, and why is it so controversial? And how (and why) did Theodor Herzl, a secular writer, who didn’t know anything about Judaism, transform an ancient longing into a modern political movement that resulted in the establishment of the State of Israel?

Short answer - antisemitism.

Herzl was present at one of the most explosive trials of the day, which came to be known as the Dreyfus Affair. In the case, Alfred Dreyfus, a high ranking Jewish officer in the French army, was falsely accused of espionage and sentenced to life imprisonment on Devil’s Island (he was later exonerated).

It wasn’t just the trial that got Herzl started on his journey towards Zionism. The cries of “Death for the Jew” that were casually hurled around on the streets of Paris made him understand that a Jewish state was necessary to remove the problem of anti-semitism entirely.

Herzl was seen as a crazy man in his time, and he certainly had some offbeat ideas, such as the idea for a mass conversion to Christianity (which was swiftly despatched), but his vision for a Jewish state became reality.

A modern day Moses, Herzl never saw the country he envisaged, but due to his actions, and the actions of the Zionist leaders that followed, in 1948 the State of Israel came into being.

Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:47 Who was Theodor Herzl
01:32 Solution to "The Jewish Problem" - Mass conversion to Christianity
01:55 The Jewish problem as problem of race and culture
02:32 The Dreyfus Affair
03:02 Assimilation doesn't work
03:32 Solution to "The Jewish Problem" - establishment of Jewish state
04:02 Ze'ev Jabotinsky - Zionism as self-defense against anti-Semitism
04:23 Jewish denunciation of Zionism
04:58 Jewish support for Zionism
05:23 Proto-Zionism
05:57 Leon Pinsker and "Lovers of Zion"
06:05 Formalization of Zionist movement
06:26 Jews as a nation
07:17 Self-determination
07:38 First Zionist Congress
08:09 Other streams of Zionism
08:29 Why Zionism is so controversial
09:14 Outro

Subscribe and turn on your notifications so you don’t miss future uploads!
https://www.youtube.com/UNPACKED?sub_confirmation=1

Let’s connect:
Website — https://www.Unpacked.media
Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/jewishunpacked
Twitter — https://twitter.com/jewishunpacked
TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@jewishunpacked
Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/jewishunpacked

------------
Sources:
- Daniel Gordis, Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn
- Adam Kirsch, The People and the Books, Chapter 13
- Gil Troy, The Zionist Ideas, Part One: Pioneers Founding the State https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkBYF4KAir8&t=6s

-----------
Photo/Video Credit:
GPO Israel, GPO Israel/David Wolfson

Executive Producers:
- Shevi Peters
- Adam Milstein

Platinum Level:
- Rachel & Jack ז”ל Gindi Family Foundation

This series would not be possible without the generous support of:
- The Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation
-----------
About History of Israel Explained: This series casts a new perspective on the history of the modern State of Israel, both pre and post 1948. We explore the inspiring highs and heartbreaking lows, and the everyday struggles of ordinary people. Understand how the Jewish State came to be by meeting prominent Zionist figures and learning about key historical events. Explore aspects of Israeli society, from its famous military to the meaning of the national anthem, and more.

About Unpacked: We provide nuanced insights by unpacking all things Jewish. People are complex and complicated — yet we’re constantly being pushed to oversimplify our world. At Unpacked we know that being complex makes us more interesting. Because of this, we break the world down with nuance and insight to drive your curiosity and challenge your thinking.

-----------

#Israel #History #Zionism