Overture for Israel
by With the Two-State Solution in the headlines, discover the enthralling history of Israel, leading to its founding in 1948.
For centuries, since the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 77AD, the Jewish people were scattered across the world. The quest for a homeland fixated Jewish scholars for years. Proposals were called for, after the fires of World War II, to finally create a home for the people of Israel. This article is a fascinating picture of the many ideas for a Jewish homeland prior to the end decision – the founding of the Jewish Homeland of Israel in the Middle East in 1948.
Remains of the Temple in Jerusalem. The Western Wall. Image Credit
1. Ararat
Located on the Niagara River on Grand Island, the founder of modern Zionism, Mordechai Noah set the idea for a Jewish home in America in 1820.
This home would:
Be named after Mount Ararat in Israel; a refuge for the scattered diaspora
Be started with a plaque, that he planted for the purpose, on the Island in September, 1825 ( Month of Tishri 5586 )
Be in line with the Utopian ideals of the likes of Joseph Smith, of the Latter Day Saints movement, calling for a “Refuge.” He published, “Discourse for the Restoration of the Jews,” to commemorate it, calling America to take the lead.
2. The Kimberlies
With the calling for ideas for Israel during the Holocaust Northern Australia’s Kimberly Region was posited.
At the time:
The region was largely uninhabited by Europeans, although the fact the place was the Homeland of Aboriginal nations, was ignored
It was the largest proposal and if adopted would have been a success due to the proximity to the Tiger Economies of Asia today
And even now, the land has an abundance of water and food.
The Vast Expanse of Northern Australia. Image Credit
3. British Guyana
A South American home for the Jewish people was suggested in 1940.
During this period:
Many survivors of the War were being helped to South America
It was a British colony and easily accessible
This proposal laid forsaken, due to lack of interest, by administrators of the day.
4. British Uganda Program
This proposal received some serious attention even before the Great Wars of the 20th Century. The idea was to donate British East Africa to the Jewish people.
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