August 29 1897 – 1 Elul 5657
The First Zionist Congress opened in Basel, Switzerland, after which Theodor Herzl proudly noted in his diary, “In Basel I Founded the Jewish State.” Herzl was convinced that Swiss neutrality would reflect favorably on the congress. Yet Switzerland also harbored Russian Nihilists (Lenin soon joined them), and Russian Zionists feared that their movement would be associated with revolution. Munich was suggested as an alternative, but the local Jewish community objected – Zionist aspirations contradicted the hard-won emancipation in which German Jews took such pride. Herzl shifted everything back to Basel.
The congress took place in the concert hall of the Basel Municipal Casino. Herzl had worked feverishly to organize it in time. He was determined that it be dignified and well-run. The staff spoke all the languages of the prospective delegates, and the program was printed in advance, which was complex and costly. The tags given to all participants were striking – beneath a blue Star of David surrounded by a red border, they declared that a Jewish state was the only solution to the Jewish question. Herzl insisted on formal dress for all delegates, as if they were visiting the theater. There was even a pre-congress PR campaign: a special card was designed, press releases were issued, and Herzl invited the president of the canton of the city of Basel to one session. His attendance added to the congress’ impact in the press.
Some two hundred delegates from twenty-four European countries and even from America turned up, although only sixty-nine represented Zionist organizations. Hundreds more (including some delegates’ families) watched from the gallery. Most participants were middle-class, emancipated Jews, including students, a cantor, a farmer, and a sculptor. From a Jewish perspective it was an impressive achievement, though Herzl had not managed to enlist many famous names or European intellectual icons. His friend Max Nordau, an influential writer and theater critic, and British author Israel Zangwill were the only internationally renowned figures to attend.
The first Zionist Congress lasted three days. It consisted mainly of speeches and delegates’ reports on the state of Jewish communities in various countries, but practical suggestions were also made. The Jewish National Fund was founded, a literary committee set up to promote Hebrew literature, and arrangements made to collect official statistics regarding the size of the Jewish people. To vigorous applause and waving handkerchiefs, Herzl summed up the closing session, saying that the Zionist movement could be proud of its first congress. Many eyes filled with tears. In his diary, Herzl wrote,“It was magnificent!”