The central goal of Herzl’s Zionist movement was to advocate mass migration of European Jewry to Palestine. In an attempt to achieve this, Herzl aims at instilling national pride back into the secularised and pain stricken Jewish people. Altneuland aims at promoting the idea of ‘National Self Determination.’- the creation of national governmental institutions by a group of people who view themselves as a distinct nation.
In an attempt to instill national pride back into the Jewish people, Herzl promotes nationalism as the “the desire to preserve or enhance a people’s national or cultural identity when that identity is threatened.” This idea of Nationalism is based no only on the notion of creating a physical Jewish homeland, but also of creating a new kind of Jew to build and maintain this homeland. Herzl felt that centuries of persecution had robbed the Jews of their pride and strength. Early in the document Herzl alludes to the exploited situation the Jews find themselves in; Friedrich miserably contends, “If this is our homeland…then it has been brought just as low as we are.” Herzl argues that an independent and self governing nation is a necessary step on the path to reuniting a fragmented and oppressed People. He contends that the migration of Jews to Palestine is essential in preserving and enhancing the Jewish cultural identity. “What this land wants is water and shade… It might have an undreamed of future!”
Furthermore, Herzl maintains that although Jewish tradition and the communal way of life appear to be vacant in many communities throughout Europe, “nobody can be deader than the Jewish people,” and despite the fact that Palestine appears to be a bleak and barren country a “picture of desolation and neglect,” the Jewish nation can be revived and reformed. Herzl paints a very optimistic account of Jewish traditions in Russia, and alludes to traditional Jewish customs, “If you came to us in Russia, you would see that there is still a Jewish nation…love for our past and belief in our future.”
Theodore Herzl’s call for Jewish nationalism was motivated by the modern Western Enlightenment period. The emergence of modern, secular nationalism among the general populace meant that Jewish communities of Eastern and Central Europe were to be secularized.
The enlightenment saw the liberation of all Jews from the ghettos with the opening of the ‘pale of settlement’. This meant that by the late 19th century, European Jewry who had previously been economically and physically marginalized, and locked out of any trades and professions, were now allowed and welcomed into all phases of European society. The Jews modernized and adapted quickly, leaving behind their traditional communal way of life. Herzl alludes to the secularization of the Jewish people; Freidlich encounters sudden emotions when he recollects old customs “Was it a memory of forgotten words heard in childhood?”
The new freedom granted to the Jew’s enabled them to rise to the top quickly. Their fast progress and achievements caused them to gain prominence and wealth. The document alludes to the wealth that Jew’s were experiencing, “In our days you must judge the Jewish nation neither by its papers nor by its plutocrats.”
Many Jews went along with the spirit of liberation and modernity and dropped their traditional customs. The prevailing anti Semitic atmosphere caused many Jews to assimilate; they were forced to turn to Christianity in order to pursue their career in a secularized society. An estimated quarter of a million Jews converted to Christianity during this time. The document illustrates the low religious state of many Jewish citizens and consequently their loss of self identity. “We have indeed died a thousand deaths – nobody can be deader than the Jewish people.”
The early political Zionist movement that Herzl established was rather secular. The enlightenment gave way for little yearning for a homeland rooted in tradition and custom. The need to regain the pride and productivity that they had lost throughout Europe was the essential aim. In the document, Herzl promotes the land of Israel as a place where the Jewish national potential could someday be fulfilled. He quotes a famous Jewish sentence “Leshanah habah BeYerushalyaim’- Next year in Jerusalem…”
http://www.wzo.org.il/en/resources/view.asp?id=1604
Michael Adas, Peter Stearns and Stuart Schwartz, ‘Turbulent Passage’ pp128-129
http://www.bartleby.com/59/13/nationalself.html
Eugene Kamenka, ‘Nationalism the nature and evolution of an idea’ Canberra 1973 p. 23-24
Eugene Kamenka, ‘Nationalism the nature and evolution of an idea’ Canberra 1973 p.108-109
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/html
Eugene Kamenka, ‘Nationalism the nature and evolution of an idea’ Canberra 1973 p.108-109
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=jewish+assimilation
Eugene Kamenka, ‘Nationalism the nature and evolution of an idea’ Canberra 1973 p.110