Looking Back

From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History 

accessible at www.djnfoundation.org

62 | SEPTEMBER 1 • 2022 

An Important Anniversary
T

his past week marked an important 
125th anniversary. In Basel, 
Switzerland, on Aug. 29, 1897, 
Theodor Herzl called together about 200 
delegates to discuss and debate the creation 
of a Jewish state. This was the first Zionist 
Congress, now known as the World Zionist 
Congress. 
The results of the conference were 
pathbreaking for Jews around 
the world. Delegates adopted 
a plan to create a Jewish 
homeland in the historic 
land of Israel, the “Basel 
Plan.
” Those attending also 
founded the World Zionist 
Organization.
After the meeting, Herzl 
stated that: “Were I to sum up the Basel 
Congress in a word, it would be this: At Basel, 
I founded the Jewish State.
” He was taking a 
lot of credit, but it was credit well-earned. 
Theodor Herzl was a Jewish Austro-
Hungarian lawyer, journalist and writer who 
is now considered the father of the modern 
Jewish state that is Israel. Herzl became 
politicized after witnessing viral antisemitism 
in Europe, including the infamous Dreyfus 
Affair in France when Jewish military officer 
Alfred Dreyfus was scapegoated. In 1896, 
Herzl wrote his famous Der Judenstaat 
(The State of the Jews). In this book, he 
advocated for a Jewish state and encouraged 
immigration to the area now known as Israel. 
Herzl has a prescient vision, to say the least. 

As he stated: “If you will it, it is no dream.
” 

The idea of a Jewish homeland existed 
long before the Basel Zionist Congress in 
1897. The term “Zionist” and “Zionism” in 
reference to a Jewish homeland, however, was 
first coined in 1890 by Nathan Birnbaum in 
Selbstemanzipation! (Self-emancipation!), the 
Zionist newspaper he founded in Vienna in 
1883. Birnbaum was also one of the leaders at 
the first Zionism Congress.
Of course, the Congress was a most 
pleasant affair where all participants 
completely agreed on every subject … Not! 

As with 36 Zionist Congresses 
that followed — the 37th will be 
held in Jerusalem this October 
— there were spirited debates 
over a variety of opinions and 
ideologies. Regardless, the first 
Zionist Congress was a major 
stepping stone toward the 
establishment of Israel 50 years 
later. 

The pages of the William 
Davidson Digital Archive of 
Jewish Detroit History hold 
a wealth of knowledge about 
Zionism. The Congress 
is mentioned on 1,644 
pages beginning with the 
Jewish Chronicle in 1916. 
Both the Chronicle and the 
JN hold numerous stories of 
Zionists such as Herzl (2,091 
mentions) and Birnbaum 
(51) and about Zionism itself 
(12,506). Especially interesting 
is the coverage of the Zionist 
Congress and ensuing debates 
over Zionism in 1945-46, at the 
end of World War II.
A few articles stand out. For one example 
in the Dec. 25, 1964, JN: “From Basel to 
Jerusalem … Historical Survey of World 
Zionist Congress from Herzl to the Present.
” 
Although over 50 years old, it contains 
valuable information regarding the early years 
of the Congress. 
“The Passionate Rise of Zionism” by Rabbi 
David Geffen in the May 1, 1998 JN is a 
particularly inspirational piece.
It is also good to know that, since its 
founding 80 years ago, the JN has been 
steadfast in its coverage of Zionism and 
Israel. Indeed, since its first issue, part 
of the mission of the Detroit Jewish News is 
support for Israel and, therefore, Zionism 
as we know it. 

Want to learn more? Go to the DJN Foundation 
archives, available for free at www.djnfoundation.org.

Mike Smith
Alene and 
Graham Landau 
Archivist Chair

