Proto-Zionists

Proto-Zionists - This term describes all those who advocated a restoration of the Jews before the foundation of political Zionism in the late 19th century. It includes such figures as Rabbi Yehudah Alkalai and Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh Kalischer. Moses Hess, Leon Pinsker, the BILU organization, Chovevei Tzion and others who advocated the return of the Jews to Israel and carried it out. Inasmuch as some Jews had been settling in the land of Israel almost continuously since the exile, the term could be applied to medieval figures like Yehuda Halevi and the false Messiah Shabettai Tzvi, as well as to early Christian Zionists, but it is usually restricted to nineteenth century figures. Mordecai Manual Noah was a noted American proto-Zionist.

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