Proto-Zionism

Proto-Zionism (or Forerunner of Zionism; Hebrew: מְבַשְרֵי הציונות, pronounced: Mevasrei ha-Tzionut) is a concept in historiography describing Jewish thinkers active during the second half of the 19th century who were deeply affected by the idea of modern nationalism spreading in Europe at that time.

[4] Likewise, the medieval Jewish philosopher Judah HaLevi also espoused Proto-Zionist ideas, writing that only in the Land of Israel could Jews be truly secure.

[5] According to Ben-Zion Dinur, the aliyah of Judah HeHasid and his group in 1700 inaugurated a new era during which processes such as encouraging productivity, the revival of the Hebrew language and national aspirations developed.

According to Arie Morgenstern,[6] the Vilna Gaon of Lithuania, Elijah ben Solomon Zalman (1720–1797), promoted a teaching from the Zohar (book of Jewish mysticism) citing the prediction that "the gates of wisdom above and the founts of wisdom below will open" "after six hundred years of the sixth millennium" i.e. after the year 5600 of the Jewish calendar (1839–1840 AD).

Katz further argues that the Rabbis Alkalai and Kalisher changed their religious worldview, abandoning the "Basics of non-realistic perception of traditional Messianic views".

[8] He also explains that during their actions as forerunners of Zionism there "was not on the agenda an issue of lack of rights to Jews or social discrimination" [8] and thus the modern idea of Jewish nationalism was not a success in the years they operated.