Theodor Herzl
Theodor Herzl was born on May 2, 1860, in Budapest, Hungary, and later became a prominent journalist and playwright. He is most famous for his role as the father of modern political Zionism, a movement advocating for the establishment of a Jewish state. Herzl was deeply affected by the Dreyfus Affair in France, where a Jewish military officer was wrongfully convicted of treason, which highlighted the pervasive anti-Semitism in Europe at the time.
In response to the anti-Semitic events he witnessed, Herzl wrote 'Der Judenstaat' (The Jewish State) in 1896, which argued that the best way to avoid anti-Semitism in Europe was to create a separate state for Jewish people. This work laid the groundwork for the Zionist movement, which aimed to establish a national homeland for Jews in Palestine. Herzl convened the First Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland, in 1897, where the movement gained significant momentum and formally declared the aim of establishing a home for the Jewish people in Palestine secured under public law.
Herzl died on July 3, 1904, but his vision lived on and greatly influenced the Jewish world. His efforts culminated in the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, long after his death. Herzl is often remembered and revered as the visionary who played a pivotal role in the creation of the Jewish state. His leadership and writings continue to be a source of inspiration for Zionists around the globe.