“The Jewish State: On February 14, 1896, a book was published in Vienna and Leipzig that changed not the tone of discussions, but the direction of history

Herzl wrote a plan that became a state half a century later

On February 14, 1896, a book was published in Vienna and Leipzig that changed not the tone of discussions, but the direction of history. It was the work of Theodor Herzl “The Jewish State“. The author spoke to the reader not in the language of prophecies, but in the language of a lawyer and editor: there is a problem, it has a structure, therefore a solution is possible.

At the end of the 19th century, Europe repeatedly reminded Jews of the limits of integration. Assimilation did not protect. On the contrary, the more noticeable the success became, the stronger the irritation.

Herzl started from an unpleasant but sober conclusion: anti-Semitism is not an accident or misunderstanding. It is a reaction of societies to a people without sovereign space, to a “nation within a nation”.

That is why, he argued, what is needed is not charity or cultural circles, but an internationally recognized political framework.

Politics instead of dreams

Herzl proposed what today would be called project documentation. Not a slogan of “someday”, but a sequence of steps.

First — diplomacy. Obtaining a charter from the great powers. Legitimacy. Only after this — organized resettlement.

In the middle of this logic, the thought is especially clear, which many years later was often repeated by the editorial board of NANews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency: Zionism survived precisely because it spoke to the world in a language it understood — interests, agreements, and institutions, not just emotions.

Why Herzl argued with settlers

In his time, there were already groups ready to move immediately. Small colonies, farming initiatives, local land purchases.

Herzl considered this a dead end. Without recognition by the powers, any efforts would be fragile, dependent on political circumstances.

First rights. Then mass.

Economy as the engine of resettlement

A separate section of the book is devoted to the mechanics of money. The author understood: millions of people cannot just get up and leave — markets will collapse, families will be ruined, chaos will begin.

Therefore, he proposed creating a “Jewish Company” based in London. In fact — a giant operator for selling property in Europe and building a new life on site.

The poorest, according to his plan, were to go first. Their task — roads, bridges, housing, infrastructure. The rest would follow.

Sounds harsh. But this is the language of the industrial era.

Seven hours as a symbol

One of the most discussed ideas was the seven-hour workday. Herzl believed in technology and the rational organization of labor.

Less time in the factory — more education, more civic activity, more modernization. The new society was to become a showcase of social progress.

What he saw as the future country

Herzl called the model of governance an “aristocratic republic”. He feared both dictatorship and chaotic democracy.

Elites, in his opinion, were obliged to work in the interests of the entire people, maintaining a balance between efficiency and representation.

Religion was given an honorable place, but without control over state decisions. The army — a guarantor of security, not a political player.

Mistake about language

He envisioned the future as multilingual, like Switzerland. He did not believe in the possibility of reviving Hebrew as everyday speech.

History decided otherwise.

Why this book is still quoted

Many details did not match reality. The flag turned out differently. The political system — more complex. The role of religion — a subject of constant debate.

But the main thing happened: the vague longing for Zion turned into a program of action, understandable to cabinets of ministers and banks.

The book gave a sense of manageability of the future. The ability to influence it through diplomacy, finance, organization.

Jews believed.

And built.