This Timeline draws together the different trends and critical
events in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, demonstrating
how several courageous religious leaders and communities before
the modern, Zionist aliyot formed the basis for modern Zionism
around their yearning to settle in Eretz Yisrael.
Religious |
Date
|
Forerunners |
| Rabbi
Yehuda Hehasid moves to Eretz Yisrael accompanied by hundreds
of his followers. In preparation for their arrival, the residents
of Jerusalem build dwellings and a synagogue. A few days after his
arrival, Rabbi Yehuda dies suddenly, to the dismay of his followers.
|
1700 |
Rahel's Tomb
|
|
Arab residents of Jerusalem break into the synagogue built for Rabbi
Yehuda Hehasid, destroying it and expelling all Ashkenazy Jews from
the city. The attack results from a debt the Ashkenazi community
owed the Arab residents from the time of Rabbi Yehuda Hehasid. |
1720 |
1740-1750
- Thousands immigrate to Eretz Yisrael under the influence of Messianic
predictions. Among the immigrants is Rabbi Moses Haim Luzzatto
(1707-1746), the renowned author of Messilat Yesharim, and
Kabbalist Rabbi Haim ben Attar, author of the landmark Or
Hahayim commentary. The large immigration greatly increases
the size and strength of the Jewish Settlement in Eretz Yisrael.
(Morgenstern, Arie. “Dispersion
and Longing for Zion, 1240-1840”. Azure.) |
1740 |
Ottoman authorities invite Rabbi Haim Abulafia (1660-1744),
renowned Kabbalist and Rabbi of Izmir, to come to the Holy Land.
Rabbi Abulafia is to rebuild the city of Tiberias, which has lain
desolate for some 70 years. The city’s revival is seen by
many as a sign of the coming of the Messiah. (Morgenstern, Arie.
“Dispersion and
Longing for Zion, 1240-1840”. Azure.) |
1740 |
|
|
Rabbi Abraham Gershon of Kitob (d. 1760) is the first immigrant
of the Hassidic Aliyah. He is a respected Talmudic scholar, mystic,
and brother-in-law of Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov (founder of the
Hassidic movement). Rabbi Abraham first settles in Hebron. Later,
he relocates to Jerusalem at the behest of its residents. (Encyclopedia
Judaica, vol. 9, pp. 514. Gershon of Kitov) |
1742 |
|
|
Aliyah of Hassidim to Tiberias, led by Rabbi Menahem Mendel of
Peremyshlyny (b. 1728). This is the first organized Hassidic
Aliyah, and begins a period marked by a number of Hassidic Aliyot.
(Encyclopedia Judaica vol. 11 pp. 1309) |
1764 |
|
|
Aliyah of Hassidic leaders. Rabbi Menahem Mendel of Vitebsk
(1730-1788) and Avraham Kalisk lead a group of 300 immigrants.
The immigrants settle in Tiberias, where Rabbi Menahem Mendel oversees
the building of a Hassidic synagogue. (Encyclopedia Judaica,
vol. 9, pp. 514) |
1777 |
|
| |
1799 |
|
Napoleon Bonaparte publishes a proclamation:
“Rightful heirs of Palestine ... Take over that which
has been conquered and…remain its master, to maintain it
against all comers.” Many Jews in Israel and Europe
receive the proclamation with joy. (
- 36 –35, Napoleon)
|
|
|
1799 |
Rabbi Moshe Sofer (known
as Hatam Sofer, 1762-1839) admonishes the Jews of the Diaspora,
“Go and travel now”. This occurs on the seventh day of
the Jewish month of Av, four months after Napoleon’s proclamation.
With great passion, he discusses his high hopes for a nearing Redemption,
and hints at the importance of taking practical measures to hasten
its coming. ( - 43) |
| |
1800 |
|
The population of Eretz Yisrael
is 300,000, of which 5,000 are Jews. Most of the Jews are concentrated
in Jerusalem, Safed, Tiberias and Hebron.
(Encyclopedia Judaica, vol. 9, pp. 293)
|
| |
1806 |
|
Napoleon I revokes his support of a Jewish
homeland and equal rights for Jews. After coming under a strong
antisemitic influence in Pressburg, he gathers Jewish leaders
from across his empire in order to amend Jewish law and to abolish
Jewish nationalism. (
- 44)
|
|
First wave of disciples of Rabbi Eliyahu of Vilna (known
as the Vilna Gaon, 1720-1797) arrives in the Holy Land, led by Rabbi
Menachem Mendel of Sheklov (d. 1827). The new immigrants journey
to Tiberias; seeing the strong Hassidic community there, they relocate
to Safed, where they foster a warm relationship with the Sephardi
community. (Ya’ari, Avraham. “Talmidei Hagra Vehishtarshutam
Ba’aretz”. Encyclopedia Judaica, vol. 11, pp.
1310) |
1808
|
Hebron
|
|
Second wave of the Vilna Gaon’s students comes to Eretz Yisrael,
led by his chief disciple, Rabbi Saadya Ben Rabbi Natan Neta
of Vilna. |
1809 |
|
Third wave of the Vilna Gaon’s disciples immigrates to Safed,
among them Rabbi Israel Sheklov (d. 1839). A community of
150 Jews of Lithuanian origin (known as Perushim) greets them. (Encyclopedia
Judaica, vol. 9, pp. 1059. Ya’ari, Avraham. “Talmidei
Hagra Vehishtarshutam Ba’aretz”.) |
1809 |
Agricultural land is bought by students of the Vilna Gaon in the
spirit of the “Natural Redemption”. Flourishing agriculture
is seen as a sign of Redemption, and enables the Jews to fulfill
the Biblical commandments pertaining to agricultural work in the
Land of Israel. (Morgenstern, Arie. “Dispersion
and Longing for Zion, 1240-1840, 1240-1840”. Azure.)
|
1810 |
|
|
|
1811 |
Eighty Hungarian families set out
for Eretz Yisrael intending to work in agriculture, with strong encouragement
from Rabbi Moshe Sofer (known as the Chatam Sofer 1762-1839).
On their journey, the Jews are repeatedly attacked and most return
home. ( - 63) |
|
Plague breaks out in Safed, forcing many Jews to flee to Jerusalem,
among them Rabbi Menahem Mendel of Sheklov (d. 1827). The
refugees succeed in renewing the Ashkenazi presence in Jerusalem,
after nearly a hundred years of banishment by the local Arabs. |
1812
|
|
|
First Ashkenazi community established in Hebron by Chabbad Hassidim.
Hebron is one of the four holy cities, and their leader, Rabbi
Dov Ber, strongly encourages its settlement. He has a room designated
for him in the city. The move strengthens and brings stability to
the Hebron community as a whole. (Encyclopedia Judaica, vol.
9, pp. 297. Hebron.) |
1820 |
|
|
|
1825 |
An influential American Jew,
Mordecai Noah (1785-1851), issues an appeal to European Jewry
to establish a Jewish state named “Ararat” on the Grand
Island of the Niagara River, the project is a failure. (Encyclopedia
Judaica, vol. 16, pp. 1036) |
| Rabbi
Israel Sheklov (d. 1839), one of the disciples of the Vilna
Gaon, begins a campaign for the renewal of the Semicha, the ancient
Rabbinic ordination. He views it as the first step in bringing the
Messiah and the Redemption. This initiative, strongly opposed by
other Rabbis, ultimately fails. (Sheklov) |
1830 |
First Aliyah from Germany led by
Moshe Sacks (Zacks), a student of Rabbi Moshe Sofer,
who is greatly influenced by his emphasis on the importance of immigrating
to Israel. Sacks works toward the establishment of an agricultural
settlement in Eretz Yisrael. (Encyclopedia Judaica, vol. 9,
pp. 514) |
|
First Hebrew printing press in 246 years opened in Safed, by
Israel Bak (1797-1874). The first book published is a Sephardi
prayer book, followed by the Book of Leviticus. (Encyclopedia
Judaica, vol. 9, pp. 298. Hebrew Press) |
1831 |
|
|
Israel Bak relocates to Mount Yarmuk (Meron) outside Safed.
He begins working the land and establishes a farm. It is the first
Jewish farm established in Eretz Yisrael in modern times. |
1834 |
|
| |
1835 |
First mission of Moshe
Sacks. |
|
Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Kalisher |
1836 |
Moshe Sacks proposes to the
Emperor Ferdinand of Austria, that it support the establishment of
a large Jewish agricultural settlement in the Land of Israel. He enlists
the support of Baron Solomon Mayer Rothschild (1774-1855) of
Vienna for financial support. Sacks is the first to advocate large-scale
productivity of the Jewish settlement in the Holy Land. (
- 97) |
| 1836 |
Rabbi
Zvi Hirsch Kalisher (1795-1874) appeals to Anschel Rothschild
(1773-1855) to purchase the Land of Israel, or at the very least the
Temple Mount. Rabbi Kalisher sees these practical acts as necessary
for bringing the Redemption. (Encyclopedia Judaica, vol. 16, pp. 1035.
Morgenstern, Arie. “Dispersion
and Longing for Zion, 1240-1840”. Azure.) |
| 1837 |
|
Earthquake in Safed destroys
much of the city. Some 5,000 people are killed, of which 4,000
are Jewish. Many of the surviving Rabbinic scholars relocate to
Hebron, leaving the Jewish community in Safed numbering only 1,500.
|
|
Sir Moses Montefiore |
1838 |
Rabbi Yohanan Zvi Shank
(d. 1884), disciple of the Hatam Sofer, immigrates to the Holy
Land. He soon becomes a major figure in the building and financial
support of Jerusalem. He is one of the first to settle outside of
the Old City walls, in the Nahalat Shiva neighborhood. (
121) |
| 1838 |
Dr. Eliezer Levi (1809- )
becomes Moses Montefiore’s
(1784-1885) secretary. He is the driving force behind Montefiore’s
efforts in developing and assisting the Yishuv in Eretz Yisrael. (
- 103) |
| 1839 |
During
his first visit to Eretz Israel Moses Montefiore comes to
an agreement with Muhammad Ali, ruler of Egypt and Palestine, for
the acquisition of land and the establishment of agricultural settlements
in Eretz Yisrael. A blood libel in Damascus ruins his plan and as
a precaution, Montefiore begins disguising his Zionist activities
as philanthropy. ( 107) |
| |
1840 |
|
A widespread Messianic prediction sparks a
renewed interest in immigration to Eretz Yisrael (Kol Hator).
This prediction is circulated in the Balkans and in Eastern Europe.
(Encyclopedia Judaica, vol. 16, pp. 1034; Morgenstern, Arie. “Dispersion
and Longing for Zion, 1240-1840”. Azure.)
|
Rabbi Yehuda Alkalai
|
1840 |
Rabbi
Yehuda Alkalai (1798-1878) begins spreading his belief that
this is the time of the Messiah. He believes that settling the land
of Israel will hasten the coming of the Redemption. (Encyclopedia
Judaica, vol. 16, pp. 1034) |
| 1843 |
Rabbi Yehuda Alkalai publishes
Minchat Yehuda (Yehuda’s Offering). In the book he elaborates
on the need for human initiatives, which will hurry the coming of
the Redemption. |
| 1844 |
The Christadelphians, a Christian
Zionist group, is founded in England. It supports the Jews’
return to Zion. The group supports the Hibbat
Zion movement, which assists the Jews in their efforts to
resettle the Holy Land. (Encyclopedia Judaica, vol. 16, pp.
1153) |
| 1852 |
The Association for Promoting
Jewish Settlement in Palestine is established by British Christian,
Colonel George Gawler (1796-1869). Its activities include training
Jews in Eretz Yisrael for agricultural work, as well as publishing
literature on the benefits of a large Jewish settlement for Britain.
(Encyclopedia Judaica, vol. 16, pp. 1154) |
|
The Western Wall
|
1855 |
Moses
Montefiore (1784-1885) buys land for agricultural purposes,
under the guise of philanthropic activity. Among his acquisitions
are Mishkenot Sha’ananim,
a settlement outside of the old city walls in Jerusalem, land outside
of Safed and Tiberias, and a large orchard outside of Jaffa. This
is the first Jewish orchard in Eretz Yisrael in modern times. (
114) |
| 1857 |
Rabbi Moshe Hamburger (1801-1888),
a disciple of the Hatam Sofer, immigrates to Eretz Yisrael. He is
seen off by thousands of Hungarian Jews. Hamburger becomes secretary
of the Hungarian Kollel, an organization supporting the Hungarian
Jews of Jerusalem. ( -
133) |
| 1859 |
Rabbi David Friedlander (b.
1826) immigrates to the Holy Land under the influence of the Hatam
Sofer. He works as a brick-maker, and encourages Jews to work in agriculture.
( - 139) |
| 1860 |
Moses
Hess (1812-1875) becomes the first secular Jew to support
Zionism. (Encyclopedia Judaica, vol. 16, pp. 1035) |
| 1860 |
The Jewish Company for the Settlement
of the Holy Land is founded. This decision is made jointly by a
number of Zionist Rabbis, among them Rabbi Zvi Kalisher, Rabbi
Yehuda Alkalai and Rabbi Eliyahu Guttmacher (d. 1874). This
is the first practical act of the Hibbat Zion movement. (Encyclopedia
Judaica, vol. 16, pp. 1037) |
| 1860 |
Ernest Laharanne publishes
“La nouvelle Question d'Orient: empires d'Egypte et d'Arabie:
reconstitution de la nationalité juive (The New East Question)”
in French, proposing the acquisition of the Land of Israel from the
Turkish Sultan and the establishment of a Jewish state. (
- 203) |
 Mishkenot Sha'ananim
|
1860 |
Second mission of Moshe Sachs. |
| 1861 |
Mishkenot
Sha’ananim, the first neighborhood outside of the old
city walls of Jerusalem, is dedicated, consisting of a building housing
16 apartments and a windmill. The project is funded by Sir Moses
Montefiore of England together with Judah Touro (1775-1854)
and Gershom Kursheedt (1817-????) of America. |
| 1862 |
Rabbi Kalisher publishes
Drishat Zion (Seeking Zion), the first Hebrew book to be published
in Eastern Europe promoting agricultural settlement in the Holy Land,
as a way of bringing the Redemption. |
| 1862 |
Hess
publishes “Rome and Jerusalem”. It is a thesis
supporting the recreation of Jewish national life in the ancient Jewish
homeland. His thesis is influenced by strong nationalistic trends
in Europe and, specifically, the unification of Italy in 1859. |
|
The Hurva (also known as Rabbi Yehuda Hehasid) Synagogue
is rebuilt after 140 years of lying in ruins. The synagogue is a
spiritual center for all of Israel. In addition, it houses the Etz
Haim Yeshiva, the largest yeshiva in Jerusalem. |
1864 |
|
|
|
1865 |
The Palestine Exploration Fund is
established in England. It is established by a group of energetic
Gentile supporters of Jewish settlement in the Holy Land. Among them
is archeologist Charles Warren, who conducted major excavations
in Jerusalem and predicted Jewish self-rule in their homeland. (Encyclopedia
Judaica, vol. 16, pp. 1155) |
|
|
1866 |
The Doresh Zion (Seeker
of Zion) Orphanage is established by strong supporters of
the Hibbat Zion movement. Its name implies that the verse, “Zion
has no seeker” (Jeremiah 30:17) describing the destruction,
is no longer true. (- 123) |
|
|
1867 |
Rabbi Eliyahu Guttmacher
joins Rabbi Kalisher in publishing Shalom Yerushalayim (Peace
of Jerusalem), an adition to Rabbi Kalisher’s Drishat Zion. |
| |
1867 |
|
The Reform movement removes any
reference of Zion from its prayer services. The movement views
Judaism as a religious, not a national, entity. (Encyclopedia
Judaica, vol. 16, pp. 1037)
|
|
Yeshivat Suf Dvash
|
1868 |
Rabbi Kalisher gives Napoleon
III a detailed proposal for the “settlement of Jerusalem and
the preservation of the nation” in the Holy Land. |
| |
Foundation by North African Jews
of the "Mahane Israel" quarter outside
the Jerusalem walls. |
| 1870 |
Mikveh Israel, the
first agricultural school in Eretz Yisrael is established by the non-Zionist
Kia”ch organization (Hebrew acronym for - Alliance Israelite
Universelle). The move is strongly encouraged by the Zionist Jewish
Company for the Settlement of the Holy Land. (Encyclopedia Judaica) |
| 1870 |
Rabbi
Yaakov Reines (1839-1915), an esteemed Tora scholar also knowledgable
in secular studies, corresponds with Rabbi Kalisher, affirming his
support of Zionism and the need for a national solution to the Jewish
problem. |
| 1872 |
Rabbi Joseph Natunek (b.
1813) creates the first Zionist newspaper “Das Einige Israel,”
in German. Among the issues he discusses is the need for a Jewish
homeland in light of the persecution of Jews in Romania. (
- 214) |
|
Petah Tikva |
1873 |
Rabbi Akiva Schlesinger (1838-1922)
publishes a plan for the organization of the Jewish people based on
democratic principles. It is based on an orderly, military model.
Eretz Yisrael is to be the Jewish homeland, with Hebrew as the national
language. ( 242) |
| 1873 |
Rabbi Yehoshua Stomper
establishes the Restorers of Old Association, with
the goal of procuring land for agricultural purposes. Ultimately,
the initiative fails for lack of funds. (
222) |
| 1874 |
Rabbi Alkalai immigrates
to the Holy Land and settles in Jaffa. |
| 1876 |
David Meir Guttman (1827-1894)
of Hungary establishes The Society for the Redemption and Working
of the Land, unique in its adherence to traditional Orthodoxy
and in its demand for Jewish labor. (
- 230) |
| 1878 |
Petah
Tikvah (“Gateway of Hope” Hosea 2:17) is established.
It is the first new agricultural Jewish settlement. The founders,
all of whom are Orthodox Jews, are Yehoshua Stampfer (1852-1908)
and David Meir Guttmann (1827-1894) and Rabbi Yoel Moshe
Solomon (1838-1912) of Jerusalem. |
| |
1880 |
|
| Total
population in the Land of Israel is 450,000, of which 24,000 are
Jewish. The population of Jerusalem is 25,000, of which more than
half are Jewish. (Encyclopedia Judaica, vol. 9, pp. 297)
|
| One
hundred and fifty Yemenite Jews arrive in Jerusalem, following
a difficult, nine-month journey. |
1882 |
|