First Zionist Congress - Origins

Origins

The first Zionist Congress was convened by Theodor Herzl as a symbolic parliament. "Alongside the dynamic development of the Zionist movement, which generated waves of enthusiasm throughout the Jewish public, sharp criticism began to appear about Zionism, claiming that Zionism could not hope to resolve the Jewish problem and would only serve to harm the status of Jewish laborers and sabotage its own recognition as an independent class." Typical of this, the Congress, which was originally planned in Munich, Germany, was transferred to Basel by Herzl, because of vocal opposition by both the Orthodox and Reform community leadership. The Congress took place in the concert hall of the Basel Municipal Casino on August 29, 1897.

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