What is Zionism? | History of Israel Explained | Unpacked

This week, we’re diving into the subject of Zionism and looking at where the idea of Jewish return to the Land of Israel came from. But what does this return look like? How has it changed through the centuries and what do we mean by Zionism anyway?

Many people believe that “Zionism” originated with Theodore Herzl. That’s certainly an important piece of the puzzle.

However, the connection of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel has been an integral part of the Jewish story for at least 3,000 years.

Even when the Jews were no longer in the Land of Israel, they’ve had a longing to return.

Join us as we outline the history of Zionism - from the bible onwards - and explain how this millenia-old yearning ultimately culminated in the establishment of the modern State of Israel.

Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:21 History of the Jewish People in the Land of Israel
02:38 Maintaining the connection to Israel during Exile
03:55 Immigration to Israel (Aliyah) during Exile
05:50 Emancipation, nationalism, and persecution of Jews
06:11 Hovevei Tzion (Lovers of Zion) and Political Zionism
06:49 Religious Zionism
07:02 Cultural Zionism
07:47 Labor Zionism
08:02 Theodor Herzl and The First Zionist Congress
09:02 The Balfour Declaration and Chaim Weizmann
09:39 Zionism as self-determination for all Jews
10:38 Outro

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Photo/Video Credit:
- GPO/Zoltan Kluger
- Central Zionist Archives
- MathKnight and Zachi Evenor
- Yuval Y
- Library of Congress

THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS:

Executive Producers:
- Shevi Peters
- Adam Milstein

Platinum Level:
- Rachel & Jack ז”ל Gindi Family Foundation
- Meryl and Sam Solomon, Beit Zayit
- Lily and Kam Babaoff
- Dr. Shmuel and Evelyn Katz

Silver Level:
- Melanie & Martin Glatt

This series would not be possible without the generous support of:
- The Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation
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About History of Israel Explained: This series casts a new perspective on the history of the modern State of Israel, both pre and post 1948. We explore the inspiring highs and heartbreaking lows, and the everyday struggles of ordinary people. Understand how the Jewish State came to be by meeting prominent Zionist figures and learning about key historical events. Explore aspects of Israeli society, from its famous military to the meaning of the national anthem, and more.

About Unpacked: We provide nuanced insights by unpacking all things Jewish. People are complex and complicated — yet we’re constantly being pushed to oversimplify our world. At Unpacked we know that being complex makes us more interesting. Because of this, we break the world down with nuance and insight to drive your curiosity and challenge your thinking.

#Israel #Education #History

[loveinseattle]

Wow, this makes a lot of sense! As a second generation Chinese-Canadian I guess I will go back to my ancestral village in China and declare that it's mine. 😊

[mackfly]

This is like me wanting to take over Rome because im catholic...

[MOONfacekilla]

So people who have never lived here decide that they are owed this land from an ancient heritage and the people who have been there for generations are trespassing on ancestral land and need to be kicked out? Am I understanding this logic?

[gogovideo]

I find it baffling how much of this belief is based on an "ancient connection" that is not unique to Judaism in the slightest.
Jerusalem is not just the most important city to Judaism, it's an important holyland in Christianity and Islam too. The region has been a cultural epicentre for millennia, important to so many different groups of people for so many different reasons, the idea that Jewish people have some inherited right to it over everyone else because of a book they wrote is just mindblowing.. Like, can you actually truly believe that and sleep well at night?? Really?? I don't know how.
There's definitely no God on your side with this one.

[sealnibba]

No matter how many times i click ‘not interested’ on these propaganda ads, they still seem to be thrown in my face, curious.

[Boxofcrap]

Thank you for briefly mentioning that they were people already living there while they were planning this. Takes a certain kind of person to decide you’re just going to return somewhere you and your parents werent born in

[i.l.l.l.l.]

So ethno-nationalism is fine if you're Jewish? Can I, being an American of English ancestry, advocate to make England an ethnically pure homeland for the ethnically English?

Or would that make me a rightwing bigot and xenophobe?

🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

[mnejc]

Not every Jew is a Zionist, Not every Zionist is a Jew. This video doesn't answer on it's own question.

[bmanagement]

Erasing critical comments. For shame!!

[azizmaeeny]

Not forgetting that they believe that they are superior to

[naufalzamir]

Religious belief such as 'promised land' which according to the Jewish belief was a 'promise' by 'God' to the Jews, is not an acceptable basis of regaining geographic territory belonging to others according to the international laws. This claim of 'homeland' was invented by Herzl and similarly, a claim can be invented by Hindus or Muslims or Christians that the 'World' has been 'promised' to their religion by their 'God' or gods and therefore according to your logic only Hindus or Muslim or Christians would be allowed to 'self-determine' the status of the 'World' with the exclusion of everyone else. So the 'World' must be ruled by them and everyone else will become 2nd class citizens.

[besnikligaci]

The letter of the Foreign Office is interesting, because beside supporting, it also clearly states that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of nin Jewish communitiesin Palestine. Somewhere along the line, things went terribly wrong, and here we are.

[spunkiQT]

was hoping for more clarity and more of a dive into the role zionism has played in the massive devastating conflict

[NatsumiTakanawa]

The USS Liberty is my favourite boat and Israelis are some of the best dancers in the world.

[seebzz]

It take him 2 minutes to explain what Zionism is and then he just goes on to talk about how that land is theirs and all other random fact about Jews

[StefsFrameOfReference]

My guy really talking about Zionism like it’s a good thing

[bobking]

yesterday i gave away my home in Florida to someone who claimed they lived there 5000 years ago. they tortured and starved me after kicking me out. but when i fought back, they bombed me.

[moorishdignity]

Wow, what a fair, totally unbiased and purely factual explanation. 🙄

[tofuComputer]

9:15 In other words, a document authored by thieves that cut up your land and gave it to others. You get forcibly removed from your house (you lose your home), your family is murdered and eventually, you are held captive under apartheid rule. And btw, one can say this without being antisemitic.

[teslaandhumanity]

Jewish once resided in Middle East, Jewish isn’t a country it’s a religion.