Zionist Federation

Theodore Herzl, a writer and a statesman, founded national Zionism and the World Zionist Organization, which elevated the Jewish problem to an international political subject of primary importance. It was the Dreyfus case that awakened in him national Jewish feeling and brought him to the conclusion that the Jewish problem could only be solved by political means. The concept of emergence from the Diaspora and return to Zion found expression in his book "Der Judenstaat" or "The Jewish State", which was written in 1896.

It was January 5, 1895 and a young journalist, Theodore Herzl, was assigned to report on the ceremony that publicly stripped French Captain Alfred Dreyfus of his military rank prior to being sent to Devil's Island to live out the sentence of his court marshal.

Anti-Semitism in Europe in the late 1800's and prior was not a new concept or reality for Jews. However, the blatant anti-Semitism that took place with the Dreyfus Affair had a profound impact on Theodore Herzl and how he viewed himself and the role of Jews in Europe at that time. Compelled by the events of the Dreyfus Affair, Herzl published The Jewish State in 1896.

The idea of The Jewish State was, as Herzl phrased it, “a very old (idea) – it is the restoration of the Jewish State…The world resounds with outcries against the Jews, and the outcries have awakened the slumbering idea.“

Jewish leaders before Herzl were numerous who had called for the return of the Jews to Palestine. But what was different about The Jewish State was that it pushed for the formation of a political movement to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine.

The Jewish State was simple in its approach. In summary, there is a Jewish Question and there needs to be a Jewish Plan. Herzl realized the “gravity of the situation of the Jews. Wherever they (Jews) lived in perceptible numbers, they are more or less persecuted.“

The solution…”we are a people – one people” that is in need of a homeland. As Herzl stated, “the creation of a new State is neither ridiculous nor impossible. We have in our day witnessed the process of connection with nations which were not largely members of the middle class, but poorer, less educated, and consequently weaker than ourselves. The Governments of all countries scourged by anti-Semitism will be keenly interested in assisting us to obtain the sovereignty we want.”

The first Zionist Congress was convened by Herzl in Basel, Switzerland in 1897. From that Congress forward, preparations were made for the long journey forward for the creation of a Jewish homeland. In a little more than 50 years after the first Zionist Congress, the movement that Herzl had put forth to the Jews of Europe would become a reality when the State of Israel declared its independence as the Jewish state in 1948.

The Zionist Federations

The Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland was established in 1899 to campaign for a permanent homeland for the Jewish people. At that time, Palestine was a distant and neglected province of the Turkish Empire with a Jewish population of approximately 50,000. Herzl was working towards obtaining permission for Jews to settle in Palestine but had reached deadlock in his negotiations with the Sultan. In the United Kingdom, the leaders of the Jewish Community had not shown support to the Zionist Movement and it was left to the few committed members of the Zionist Federation, men and women of faith and vision who were convinced that history and truth were on their side to support Herzl. It was from this narrow base that the Zionist Federation became the centre of which Chaim Weizmann and his small band of British Zionists waged their struggle for a Jewish State. In 1917, the Balfour Declaration was communicated to Lord Rothschild and the letter from the British Foreign Secretary concluded "I should be grateful if you would bring this declaration to the knowledge of the Zionist Federation".

During the next 30 years London became the centre of the World Zionist Movement. In the Zionist Federation's home at 77 Great Russell Street the Jewish Agency established its main political office and conducted government negotiations whilst the Zionist Federation secured Jewish and general support as well as financial assistance for the movement. Among others, it was the leadership of the Zionist Federation who founded WIZO, UJIA, JNF and Youth movements. After the establishment of Israel, many of the graduates of the Zionist Federation became leaders in the new State. In 1954 the Zionist Federation via the Zionist Federation Education Trust (now known as Scopus) created a network of Zionist Day Schools to educate Jewish children in the spirit of Zionism. The Zionist Federation Education Trust set up 14 schools with over 5000 pupils.
The British Zionist Federation was also the first in the world to set up its own office in Israel to assist in the integration of British Olim. The Zionist Federation today represents the UK Zionist Movement more than 120 organisations, and over 50,000 affiliated members.

The Zionist Federation of Hungary

(ZFH)is an institutional framework for Zionist organizations in Hungary. The Federation was established in 1927, and since then it has been a member of the World Zionist Organization (Histadrut Hacioni Haolamit). All member organizations of the ZHF acknowledge the objectives and tasks of the Jerusalem Program on obligatory basis.

The Federation played an outstanding role in the formation of the 20th century history of the Jews of Hungary. In the period before World War II and the German occupation of Hungary, it exerted important activity in the Zionist education of Jewish youth (among others, it meant agricultural and industrial vocational training). It organized the Aliya of numerous people, partly under legal, partly under illegal conditions. It had reached outstanding results in disseminating and progressing Jewish culture; in this process prominent personalities were in touch with the Zionist movement. In this period the ZFH was the only Jewish organization which - by grasping all and every means - would regularly warn the Jews of Hungary and their responsible leaders of the oncoming diseaster.

During the Nazi occupation it was the ZHF that organized Jewish resistance and life-saving. This included the production and distribution of false certificates and documents, supplying food to the Ghetto, occasional armed actions, and establishing shelters and children`s homes. As a result, several ten thousand people were given life-saving help. Many Zionists sacrificed their lives in these actions.

From the end of the war until the cessation of the conditions of legal activity in 1949, ZHF played a key role in the education of thousands of young Jewish people. It maintained many large homes for left-alone children and youngsters, and provided them with care and education. The Federation had established industrial and agricultural vocational schools (hachsaras). Aggregating in the ZHF, organizations issued several journals, newspapers and books, and organized important, massive programs (e.g. Jom Hanoars, etc.). Many thousand members of the Zionist movement made aliya in this years.

From 1949 on, the Zionist organizations had been restrained to illegality. In the initial period, several hundred people were helped to aliyah through illegal channels. In the four subsequent decades - with shorter or longer intermissions - Zionist organizations would continue their work. Their main aim in these years was to maintain Jewish identity, and to provide authentic information about Israel and Jewish issues. Minor meetings were held on regular basis. The members were subject to constant harassment by the police. Many of them were imprisoned for up to several years.

Since the change of the political regime, the ZHF has continued its work on legitime basis again. We can truly speak of a renaissance of Jewish life following the political changes in 1989-1990. Zionist organizations are now again exerting an influence, together with civil and cultural associations, culture, education and sports.

The Federation is composed of juvenile and adult member organizations. In 2004, the youth member organizations are: Hashomer Hatzair, Habonim Dror, Bnie Akiva (as youth movements) and Kidma, Marom (as student movements). The adult member organizations are: Oneg Shabbat Club (Merkaz), Oz ve Shalom (Avoda), Likud and WIZO.

In the last 15 years the Zionist federation became one of the most important and prestigious organizations in Hungary. However our budget was always very low, but the number of the reached and gathered people was very high. Through these years the Federation gave ideological, political, organizational background to the member organizations, organized regularly seminars, pesach seders, etc.

Historical facts

Zionists Seek, but are Denied Meeting with Hitler (June 29 & 30, 1933)

Chairman of the Zionist Federation of Germany

Berlin, 29 June 1933

To the Reich Chancellor
Mr. Adolf Hitler
Berlin.

Mr. Chancellor of the Reich,

The Zionist Federation of Germany wishes to submit a position paper regarding the Jews in Germany.

This position represents the views held by the Zionist Federation since its creation. We kindly request a meeting to discuss this position. The representatives of the Zionist Federation of Germany are at your disposal for such a meeting at any time.

With Respect,

Blumenfeld
Chairman of the Zionist Federation of Germany.

Document 2.
Berlin, 30 June 1933

To the Chairman of the Zionist Federation of Germany
Mr. Blumenfeld
Berlin

The Chancellor of the Reich has authorized me to respectfully confirm receipt of your kind letter of 29 June and its enclosure. The content has been duly noted. Due to extraordinary encumbrance with urgent business of state, the Chancellor is not in a position to receive the representatives of the Zionist Federation of Germany.

(signed)
Weinstein.

Source: German Federal Archive R43-II/524.

Glossary

glossary (from the Jewish Virtual Library-A division of the American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise)
[1]

Absentee Property Law

The law that states that land that was abandoned by Arabs in Palestine before the creation of the State of Israel, now belongs to the State of Israel.

Absorptive Capacity

Refers to how many people a particular area of land can support. If the population is too large, people will have to move because there is not enough space or cultivable land. Technology has helped increase the absorptive capacity of many territories.