Image: The "Basel Program" at the First Zionist Congress in 1897

Description: The "Basel Program" at the First Zionist Congress in 1897 The source text on the document is as follows: German: Programm Der Zionismus erstrebt für das jüdische Volk die Schaffung einer (öffentlich-)rechtlich gesicherten Heimstätte in Palästina. Zur Erreichung dieses Ziels nimmt der Congress folgende Mittel in Aussicht: I. Die zweckdienliche Förderung der Besiedlung Palästinas mit jüdischen Ackerbauern, Handwerkern und Gewerbetreibenden. II. Die Gliederung und Zusammenfassung der gesammten Judenschaft durch geeignete örtliche und allgemeine Veranstaltungen nach den Landesgesetzen. III. Die Stärkung des jüdischen Volksgefühls und Volksbewusstseins. IV. Vorbereitende Schritte zur Erlangung der Regierungszustimmung, die nötig sind, um das Ziel des Zionismus zu erreichen. One English translation follows: English: Program Zionism seeks to establish a home for the Jewish people in Palestine secured under public law. The Congress contemplates the following means to the attainment of this end: 1. The promotion by appropriate means of the settlement in Palestine of Jewish farmers, artisans, and tradesmen. 2. The organization and uniting of the whole of Jewry by means of appropriate local and overall events, in accordance with the country's laws. 3. The strengthening and fostering of Jewish national sentiment and national consciousness. 4. Preparatory steps toward obtaining the consent of the government, where necessary, in order to reach the goals of Zionism. Some English variations translate the term Palästina and Palästinas as Eretz Israel, or Eretz Yisrael (with the more traditional religious Hebraic spelling), rather than using the standard English term Palestine. This difference reflects Revisionist, Religious Zionism and Neo-Zionism dogma within broader Zionist ideology. It became official terminology following the Menachem Begin Likud government in 1977. Additionally, some translations of the second item say “by means of appropriate institutions, both local and international,” rather than the “by means of appropriate local and overall events,” as noted above. Some translations of the fourth item say “obtaining the consent of governments,” rather than the “obtaining the consent of the government,” as noted above. Other minor variations also exist.
Title: The "Basel Program" at the First Zionist Congress in 1897
Credit: JAFI:Zionist Congresses: First Congress - Basle (Basel), 1897, Jewish Virtual Library: The First Zionist Congress and the Basel Program
Author: Max Nordau (1849-1923) Epson291 (talk)
Permission: public domain
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No