February 13, 2025
The Jewish Homeland
Jewish immigration to Palestine did not stem from fear of persecution but rather from the opposite fear—assimilation. During the positivist era, religion, which had historically set Jews apart from others, lost significance. Many of the most influential Jewish figures in history were not religious at all—think of Marx, Freud, and Einstein. Mixed marriages were becoming more common, and as a result, Jews were gradually losing their distinct identity.
It was in this context (during an era of nationalism) that the idea of a Jewish homeland in Palestine emerged as a means of preserving Jewish individuality.
Jewish identity was later revived by the horrific Nazi persecutions, which led Jews to seek the creation of a state where they would no longer have to depend on the goodwill of others.