August 23, 1903–August 28, 1903
Herzl Proposes a Jewish Settlement in East Africa
At the Sixth Zionist Congress in August 1903, Theodor Herzl proposed a British offer of land in East Africa.
Europe
Thursday, November 5, 2026
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March 28, 1900
Mordechai Bentov Is Born
On March 28, 1900, Mordechai Bentov was born in Grodzisk Mazowiecki. He later signed Israel’s Declaration of Independence.
Europe
28 August 1898
Second Zionist Congress Opens
The Second Zionist Congress opened in Basel on August 28, 1898, and sat through August 31. About 400 delegates attended. The Jewish Colonial Trust was founded.
29 August 1897
First Zionist Congress Opens
The First Zionist Congress opened in Basel on August 29, 1897, and sat through August 31. Delegates adopted the Basel Program.
February 14, 1896
Theodor Herzl Publishes Der Judenstaat
On this day, February 14, 1896, Theodor Herzl’s pamphlet Der Judenstaat was published. It argued for a sovereign Jewish state as a political answer to modern antisemitism.
Europe
February 19, 1888
Rachel Cohen-Kagan Is Born
On February 19, 1888, Rachel Cohen-Kagan was born in Odessa. She later signed Israel’s Declaration of Independence.
Europe
c. 1878
Naphtali Herz Imber Writes Hatikvah
In 1878, Naphtali Herz Imber wrote the poem that became Hatikvah, probably in Iași.
Europe
March 1865
Max Bodenheimer Is Born
Max Isidor Bodenheimer was born in Stuttgart in March 1865. A Tübingen student file records the day as 21 March.
Europe
1864
Nathan Birnbaum Is Born
Nathan Birnbaum was born in Vienna in 1864. He later turned from Zionism to religious Judaism.
Europe
May 2, 1860
Theodor Herzl Is Born
On this day, May 2, 1860, Theodor Herzl was born in Budapest. He later organized political Zionism and convened the First Zionist Congress.
Europe
1856
A. D. Gordon Is Born
Aaron David Gordon, later a Labor Zionist thinker of the Second Aliyah, was born in Troyanov in 1856. Later biographies give 9 or 10 June.
ZionismAntisemitismIsraelJews in Politics
Europe
1856