Herzl

Written for an assignment for David Mendelsson's class. A summary of his position.

Herzl, known as the founder of political Zionism, saw the creation of a Jewish state as a solution to the problem of Antisemitism in 19th century Europe. Modern Antisemitism, in Herzl’s view, was not merely the “Jew-baiting of the past.” It was the political result of nationalism. Thus emancipation of Jews in certain countries, rather than quieting anti-Jewish sentiment, only increased it. In spite of the fact that individual Jews strove to integrate into other national societies, were fierce patriots, and took on many different occupations, still those individual Jews have faced social discrimination, still they were seen as strangers.
The Jewish Question, in Herzl’s view, was not one of religion or society. It was a national question. The Jews were one people, and seen as a nation by their associates. For Herzl, the solution to the problem of Antisemitism was simple – a Jewish state. If Europeans, through Antisemitism, insisted that the Jews were One People, then one people they should be. The Jewish nation needed to gain sovereignty.
In a Jewish state, Jews could finally escape Antisemitism. To do this, Herzl sought an area of land large enough for a nation. Argentina seemed a likely possibility; Palestine was preferred because it would heighten the desire of other Jews to join the scheme. On whichever piece of land, Herzl called for an ingathering of Jews, to be supported by the Jewish clergy (though Herzl himself was a secular man). The poorest Jews and those that had been most affected by Antisemitism would, naturally, come first. To manage the details of this project, Herzl called for the creation of “the Society of Jews.” In a nod to the history of the Jewish people as a nation, Herzl speaks against again wandering “primitively” out of Egypt. The Society of Jews would be scientific and political in their actions and plans. With this Society, and the motivation of the many Jews who faced Antisemitism in their current situations, would come the creation of a Jewish state. An ingathering of Jews, One People, in truth and autonomy.