Changes

For many centuries there was talk but no action; Jews did not have their own country, and most were restricted to [[ghetto]]s. By 1810 the [[French Revolution]] and [[Napoleon]] liberated most of the Jews of Europe from the ghettos, allowing a new level of mobility. The [[Romanticism]] of the 19th century inspired a modern Jewish identity that led to much talk of their own nation.  The movement was inspired by the writings of Moses Hess, David Luzatto, Leo Pinsker, Zvi Kalischer, and Yehudah Alkalai; funding came from philanthropists Moses Montefiore, Edmond de Rothschild, and Maurice de Hirsch.  

For many centuries there was talk but no action; Jews did not have their own country, and most were restricted to [[ghetto]]s. By 1810 the [[French Revolution]] and [[Napoleon]] liberated most of the Jews of Europe from the ghettos, allowing a new level of mobility. The [[Romanticism]] of the 19th century inspired a modern Jewish identity that led to much talk of their own nation.  The movement was inspired by the writings of Moses Hess, David Luzatto, Leo Pinsker, Zvi Kalischer, and Yehudah Alkalai; funding came from philanthropists Moses Montefiore, Edmond de Rothschild, and Maurice de Hirsch.  

The first wave of settlement began operations in Palestine in the 1880s; Palestine was part of the [[Ottoman Empire]] until it collapsed in 1918.<ref> Britain was in control of Palestine from 1917 to 1948, and from 1922 Britain had a mandate to rule from the [[League of Nations]].</ref>

The first wave of settlement began operations in Palestine in the 1880s; Palestine was part of the [[Ottoman Empire]] until it collapsed in 1918.<ref>Britain was in control of Palestine from 1917 to 1948, and from 1922 Britain had a mandate to rule from the [[League of Nations]].</ref>

===Herzl===

===Herzl===

The first Zionist Congress met in Basel, Switzerland in August 1897, attracting 204 Jews from 15 countries. Under the leadership of [[Theodor Herzl]]  (1860-1904),  it resolved that "Zionism aims at the creation of a home for the Jewish people in Palestine to be secured by public law," and encouraged organized emigration and colonization. Herzl formed the World Zionist Congress, making it an effective worldwide political movement.  Despite opposition from assimilationist Jews and internal divisions the Zionist organization gathered strength.  After Herzl died in 1904, the leadership of the movement passed to the "practicals" notably Dr. [[Chaim Weizmann]], who argued that Zionism should concern itself with the Jewish cultural renaissance and gradual settlement efforts in Palestine as well as with diplomatic efforts to create a legal foundation for the settlements. In 1905 one faction withdrew when the majority rejected a British proposal for establishing a Jewish homeland in [[Uganda]], Africa.

The first Zionist Congress met in Basel, Switzerland in August 1897, attracting 204 Jews from 15 countries. Under the leadership of [[Theodor Herzl]]  (1860-1904),  it resolved that "Zionism aims at the creation of a home for the Jewish people in Palestine to be secured by public law," and encouraged organized emigration and colonization. Herzl formed the World Zionist Congress, making it an effective worldwide political movement.  Despite opposition from assimilationist Jews and internal divisions the Zionist organization gathered strength.  After Herzl died in 1904, the leadership of the movement passed to the "practicals" notably Dr. [[Chaim Weizmann]], who argued that Zionism should concern itself with the Jewish cultural renaissance and gradual settlement efforts in Palestine as well as with diplomatic efforts to create a legal foundation for the settlements. In 1905 one faction withdrew when the majority rejected a British proposal for establishing a Jewish homeland in [[Uganda]], Africa.

A second, much larger wave of settlement began after the revolutionary upheavals in Russia in 1905.  Most settlers supported [[socialist]] versions of Zionism, both Marxist and non-Marxist. They pioneered a new type of settlement, the '''kibbutz''' (or "kvutzah"), a cooperative in which land was owned and worked communally by the Jewish settlers. These idealistic immigrants had an influence on the development of Zionism and the state of Israel far out of proportion to their numbers. The immigrants were aided by the Jewish National Fund (Keren Kayemeth), established by the Zionist Organization to buy land in Palestine as the inalienable property of the Jewish people. By 1914, 12,000 Jews were cultivating 100,000 acres in 43 agricultural settlements. The total Jewish population was 100,000. Zionists idealized the muscular young Jews tilling the soil of the Holy Land; the heroic self image of the brave pioneer stood in stark contrast to Gentile stereotypes of the feminized Jewish weakling or the avaricious Jew-as-money changer.

A second, much larger wave of settlement began after the revolutionary upheavals in Russia in 1905.  Most settlers supported [[socialist]] versions of Zionism, both Marxist and non-Marxist. They pioneered a new type of settlement, the '''kibbutz''' (or "kvutzah"), a cooperative in which land was owned and worked communally by the Jewish settlers. These idealistic immigrants had an influence on the development of Zionism and the state of Israel far out of proportion to their numbers. The immigrants were aided by the Jewish National Fund (Keren Kayemeth), established by the Zionist Organization to buy land in Palestine as the inalienable property of the Jewish people. By 1914, 12,000 Jews were cultivating 100,000 acres in 43 agricultural settlements. The total Jewish population was 100,000. Zionists idealized the muscular young Jews tilling the soil of the Holy Land; the heroic self image of the brave pioneer stood in stark contrast to Gentile stereotypes of the feminized Jewish weakling or the avaricious Jew-as-money changer.

During World War I, the British government sought Jewish support. In 1917 Weizmann secured from the British government the [[Balfour Declaration]], which promised support for "the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people," though nothing was to be done that might "prejudice the civil and religious rights of the existing non-Jewish communities." It did not promise an independent state--in Palestine. The League of Nations created a British mandate, with full control over Palestine in 1922.   

During World War I, the British government sought Jewish support. In 1917 Weizmann secured from the British government the [[Balfour Declaration]], which promised support for "the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people," though nothing was to be done that might "prejudice the civil and religious rights of the existing non-Jewish communities." It did not promise an independent state—in Palestine. The League of Nations created a British mandate, with full control over Palestine in 1922.   

===1920-48===

===1920-48===

In a third wave of settlement, tens of thousands of Jews arrived, mostly from Europe.  They lived separately from the Arabs, though in close proximity.

In a third wave of settlement, tens of thousands of Jews arrived, mostly from Europe.  They lived separately from the Arabs, though in close proximity.

see [[Jewish communities in America|American Jews]]

see [[Jewish communities in America|American Jews]]

Zionism grew rapidly in the U.S. after 1900, based largely among Yiddish-speaking recent immigrants from Russia. The Reform Jews, of German background, largely opposed the movement with the main exception of [[Louis Brandeis]], the Supreme Court justice who became a key leader.  There were three main groups in 1918: the Zionist Organization of America had 149,000 members, the Mizrachi religious Zionists had 18,000 and the Labor Zionists ( Poalei Zion) had 7,000.  The pro-Zionist Yiddish language daily newspapers of the period--the ''Yidishes Tageblat'', ''Morgen Zhurnal'', the ''Maccabaean'', and ''Der Tog''--together had a combined circulation in 1917 of over 200,000.

Zionism grew rapidly in the U.S. after 1900, based largely among Yiddish-speaking recent immigrants from Russia. The Reform Jews, of German background, largely opposed the movement with the main exception of [[Louis Brandeis]], the Supreme Court justice who became a key leader.  There were three main groups in 1918: the Zionist Organization of America had 149,000 members, the Mizrachi religious Zionists had 18,000 and the Labor Zionists ( Poalei Zion) had 7,000.  The pro-Zionist Yiddish language daily newspapers of the period—the ''Yidishes Tageblat'', ''Morgen Zhurnal'', the ''Maccabaean'', and ''Der Tog''—together had a combined circulation in 1917 of over 200,000.

===Conflict as total war ===

===Conflict as total war ===

The fighting between the Yishuv and the Palestinians, November 1947-14 May 1948, and the war between Israel and invading Arab armies, 15 May 1948-July 1949, represented a total war, as did the [[Six Day War]] pf 1967. The life and death of Israel were at stake and required the mobilization of not only the military but also the civilian population, the economy, and the social and political institutions of the Jewish community--as well as mobilizing support from the diaspora in the United States. These crises are a central part of Zionist memories and identity, in combination with memory of the [[Holocaust]], and permanently shaped the Israeli-Arab situation as well as the evolution of the Israeli and Palestinian societies.<ref> Moshe Naor, "Israel's 1948 War of Independence as a Total War," ''Journal of Contemporary History'' 2008 43(2): 241-257</ref>

The fighting between the Yishuv and the Palestinians, November 1947-14 May 1948, and the war between Israel and invading Arab armies, 15 May 1948-July 1949, represented a total war, as did the [[Six Day War]] pf 1967. The life and death of Israel were at stake and required the mobilization of not only the military but also the civilian population, the economy, and the social and political institutions of the Jewish community—as well as mobilizing support from the diaspora in the United States. These crises are a central part of Zionist memories and identity, in combination with memory of the [[Holocaust]], and permanently shaped the Israeli-Arab situation as well as the evolution of the Israeli and Palestinian societies.<ref>Moshe Naor, "Israel's 1948 War of Independence as a Total War," ''Journal of Contemporary History'' 2008 43(2): 241-257</ref>

===Diaspora===

===Diaspora===

Zionism, and Israel, are based on the connection between the Jewish religion and 'Jewishness,' which gives Israel and Zionism 'extraterritorial' power and rights ranging outside the country. This is similar to the ideologies dominant in Ireland, Tibet, and Armenia, where nationalist movements and nation-states are closely linked to religious heritage, a culture of forced diaspora, and the 'extraterritorial' power of their cultural or ethnic identities.

Zionism, and Israel, are based on the connection between the Jewish religion and 'Jewishness,' which gives Israel and Zionism 'extraterritorial' power and rights ranging outside the country. This is similar to the ideologies dominant in Ireland, Tibet, and Armenia, where nationalist movements and nation-states are closely linked to religious heritage, a culture of forced diaspora, and the 'extraterritorial' power of their cultural or ethnic identities.

===Jewish anti-Zionism===

===Jewish anti-Zionism===

In the United States and Europe, until World War II the Reform Jews generally opposed Zionism--often denouncing it because it was the opposite of assimilation and American identity. In the U.S. opposition was centered in the American Council for Judaism. <ref> Thomas A. Kolsky, ''Jews Against Zionism: The American Council for Judaism, 1942-1948'' (1990). </ref> With the establishment of Israel in 1948 the opposition softened, and when the [[Six Day War]] in 1967 showed Israel was vulnerable to attack, most previously negative Jews became supportive.<ref>Ilan Kaisar, "Mobilizing American Jewish Liberals to Support American Zionism," ''The Journal of Israeli History'' (1994) 15:231-256; </ref>

In the United States and Europe, until World War II the Reform Jews generally opposed Zionism—often denouncing it because it was the opposite of assimilation and American identity. In the U.S. opposition was centered in the American Council for Judaism.<ref>Thomas A. Kolsky, ''Jews Against Zionism: The American Council for Judaism, 1942-1948'' (1990).</ref> With the establishment of Israel in 1948 the opposition softened, and when the [[Six Day War]] in 1967 showed Israel was vulnerable to attack, most previously negative Jews became supportive.<ref>Ilan Kaisar, "Mobilizing American Jewish Liberals to Support American Zionism," ''The Journal of Israeli History'' (1994) 15:231-256;</ref>

In the U.S., many leftist Jews such as [[Noam Chomsky]] are hostile to Israel, and are often very friendly to [[Hamas]] and the Palestinian cause.

In the U.S., many leftist Jews such as [[Noam Chomsky]] are hostile to Israel, and are often very friendly to [[Hamas]] and the Palestinian cause.

{{reflist}}

{{reflist}}

[[category:Israel]]

[[Category:Israel]]

[[Category:Church and State]]

[[Category:Church and State]]

[[Category:Judaism]]

[[Category:Judaism]]

[[Category:Zionism]]

[[Category:Zionism]]