Theodor Herzl is a writer, journalist, founder of political Zionism. His name is the main symbol of modern Israel, as well as the entire Jewish history. Theodore created the World Zionist Organization. Many boulevards and streets in Israeli cities are named after him. This article will describe a brief biography of the writer.
Childhood
Theodor Herzl was born in Budapest in 1860. The boy grew up in an assimilated family, which was not alien to Jewish traditions. Moreover, Theodore's grandfather was a Jew and studied with Rabbi Alkalay Yehuda. The boy's mother and father did not especially observe Jewish customs. Although the young Herzl underwent bar mitzvahs and circumcisions, his commitment to Judaism was rather superficial. He knew neither the language nor the elementary customs of Israel.
Study
Theodor Herzl from a young age loved to read literature and compose poetry. While studying at the gymnasium, the boy published his reviews of performances and books in a Budapest newspaper. Soon Theodore left the gymnasium, offendedteacher's anti-Semitic explanations.
In 1878, the Herzley family moved to Vienna, where the young man entered the university at the law department. Six years later, Theodor received his doctorate and worked for some time in the courts of Salzburg and in the Austrian capital. But soon the future writer gave up jurisprudence.
Literary and journalistic activities
Since 1885, Theodor Herzl, whose quotes are still used by many Israelis, has been exclusively writing. He composed a number of philosophical stories and plays. In the early 1890s, the young man earned a reputation in Europe as a brilliant journalist. Theodore's strengths were short essays and feuilletons. At that time, the only Jewish topic he de alt with was anti-Semitism. Nevertheless, he defended in Europe a number of famous people of this nationality who converted to Catholicism. Herzl hoped that this would encourage other Jews to convert en masse and lead to an end to anti-Semitism. But then he came to the conclusion: such "euthanasia" makes no moral or practical sense.
Dreyfus Case
Soon, Herzl, whose life story is known to any Jew, became an adherent of Zionism. This was due to the case of Alfred Dreyfus. The latter was publicly subjected to the rite of "civil execution": they tore the orders from his uniform and broke his sword. Theodore was present at this ceremony and was amazed by the cries of the French crowd. She called for Dreyfus to be killed.
Jewish state
The re-establishment of the Jewish state - this is exactly the thought Herzl caught fire. The writer's ideas needed support. And he went to look for her from Baron de Hirsch and the Rothschilds - the richest Jews on the planet. However, it turned out to be a useless undertaking. But Theodore did not give up his idea and wrote a pamphlet "The Jewish State" containing 63 pages. There he explained in detail why it is possible to create it, and told how to do it.
Development of Zionism
Between the humiliation of Dreyfus and the death of the writer, about ten years passed. During this period, Theodore managed to establish all the main structures of the Zionist movement. In 1897, the first congress of this community took place in Basel. Every year the number of its members increased exponentially. The Jews saw Zionism as a real political movement that could solve their problems.
During the first year of his activity, Theodore tried to enlist the support of the Turkish Sultan (Eretz Israel was under his rule). But long negotiations were unsuccessful. After that, Herzl decided to turn his attention towards a more far-sighted England. In 1917, when Theodore had been gone for 13 years, this country literally wrested control of Eretz Israel from the hands of Turkey. And then England issued the Balfour Declaration, which supported the idea of establishing a Jewish state on this Israeli land.
Theodor Herzl about Russia
The hero of this article visited our country in 1903. In all Jewish places Theodore was hailed like a messiah. Also Herzlmet with Russian officials and tried to convince them to put pressure on the Sultan so that the writer's contractual company in Palestine would be successful. Herzl made the greatest impression on Plehve (Minister of Foreign Affairs). Perhaps Theodore's most famous statement about our country is: "To conquer the world, you need to conquer Russia." Here are some more popular quotes: “Money is a good and pleasant thing, only people spoil it”, “The rich can make you famous; but only the poor can make you a hero”, “A nation is a historical community of people, which is united by the presence of a common enemy.”
Private life
Herzl and his family had to pay a very high price for their passion for Zionism. In 1889 Theodor married Julia Naschauer. But, being a man possessed, he paid very little attention to her. In the family of the wife were people with mental illness. This affected the fate of Theodore's children. Paulina (eldest daughter) died due to drug use. Son Hans committed suicide on the day of his sister's funeral. The youngest daughter of Truda spent almost her entire life in hospitals, and ended up in one of the Nazi concentration camps. But she managed to give birth to a son. In 1946, Herzl's only grandson committed suicide. Thus, the writer had no heirs.
Disease
In addition to the intense struggle for Zionism, Theodor Herzl, whose biography was presented above, participated in fierce verbal battles with opponents. This led to an aggravation of his heart disease. The situation was exacerbated by inflammation.lungs. Soon the writer's condition worsened, and he died in July 1904 in Edlach (Austria).
Funeral
In his will, Theodor Herzl asked to be buried next to his father in Vienna. And as soon as the Jewish people have the opportunity, let them transfer his body to Israeli soil. Theodor's remains were transported only in August 1949. Now the ashes of the writer rest in Jerusalem on Mount Herzl. The death of the founder of Zionism is celebrated on the 20th day of the month of Tammuz.
