The Life and Times of Theodor Herzl Quiz

Answer: Budapest

Theodor Herzl was born in 1860 in Budapest, which was a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at that time. In 1878 he moved with his family to Vienna.

Answer: Journalist.

Herzl studied law at the University of Vienna and in 1864 was awarded a doctorate in law. He never really practiced law, however, due to anti-Semitism that was present in that profession. He took up journalism and wrote for the prestigious newspaper, the "Neue Freie Presse", a position that allowed him to travel widely through Europe. In addition, he wrote plays and essays.

Answer: The trial of Alfred Dreyfus.

Alfred Dreyfus, a French-Jewish army officer, was falsely accused of spying against France. Herzl was in Paris to cover the trial and witnessed the extent of anti-Semitism, even in enlightened France.

Answer: Baron De Hirsch.

Baron de Hirsch listened with amazement to Herzl's plans for a Jewish homeland, came to the conclusion that he was a "madman", and had him shown out. Herzl met with little success in his attempts to woo the wealthy Jewish banking famlies. When he began meeting with the poor Jewish masses, first in London, he was received with cries of "Melech Yisrael" (King of Israel).(This incident is described in Herzl's diary, published in English by Schocken Books.)

Answer: He was a secular, assimilated Jew, and they were surprised he was interested in Jewish affairs.

Herzl was a product of the European Enlightenment and religious tradition and practice were not part of his daily life, though he clearly thought of himself as Jewish. His friends and family were thus taken aback by his sudden and ferverent interest in the Jewish cause.

Herzl was anything but shy and retiring - he had a considerable ego and probably would not have accomplished what he did without it!

Answer: The Ottoman Empire.

The Ottoman Empire suceeded the Byzantime Empire in the Holy Land in 1453. The Ottoman Turks ruled the area until the end of the First World War, when the Ottoman Empire was defeated and fell apart. The British controlled Palestine from 1918 until 1948, when the United Nations voted to divide it and thus finally establish Herzl's dream - a Jewish state.

Answer: Tzar Nicholas II.

Herzl did not hold any official position or represent any recognized state or body. Nevertheless, relying on his own charisma, he obtained interviews with some of the most influential people in Europe, including several heads of state. Although he did not have an audience with the Tzar himself, he did meet two of his most important ministers, Plehve and Witte.

Answer: The creation of a Jewish homeland in Uganda.

In 1903, following the Kishniev Pogrom, Herzl felt a growing sense of urgency to find a safe haven for his beleagured people. When the British offered territory near present-day Uganda, Herzl was ready to consider the offer. The delegates to the convention were outraged at the idea of settling anywhere but the Promised Land, and the idea was shelved.

Answer: False

In 1898 Herzl visited the Holy Land where he visited some of the early Jewish agricultural settlements. While conditions in the Holy Land were difficult and Herzl himself became ill on the journey, he was favorably impressed by some young farmers he met in Rehovot.

The main purpose of his visit, however, was to meet Kaiser William II, who was on a state visit. He met him briefly in Jerusalem. No real support from the Kaiser ensued from this visit. (This event is described in Herzl's diary, which is published in English by Schocken books.)

Answer: All of these

Herzl died at the age of 44, just eight years after his publication of "The Jewish State", and was buried in Vienna. In 1949, one year after the founding of the State of Israel, his remains were brought to Israel. The hill where his grave is found is now known as Mt.

Herzl, and is home to a military cemetery as well as cemetery for important national figures, including Yitzhak Rabin. In addition, a town on the coast just north of Tel Aviv is called "Herzilya", and almost every Israeli town or city has a street named after him. Thank you for playing this quiz.

Some of the information for it comes from Herzl's diary, as well the Herzl Museum in Jerusalem.