Zionism: Hovevei Zion

The first Hovevei Zion (Lovers of Zion) organizations were established in 1881­-1882 with the aim of furthering Jewish settlement, particularly agricultural settlement in Eretz-Israel. The groups varied not only in size but in their activity. Some were interested in philanthropic work while others were intent on immigration to Eretz-Israel.

From its inception, the Hovevei Zion groups in Russia sought to erect a country­wide legally recognized framework. After arduous negotiations, in which the authorities demanded that the society be set up as a charitable body, its establishment was approved, early in 1890, as The Society for the Support of Jewish Farmers and Artisans in Syria and Eretz-Israel, which came to be known as The Odessa Committee.

In 1892, the organization had approximately 14,000 sympathizers in Russia. Among its leaders were Rabbi Samuel Mohilever (1824­1898), Moshe Leib Lilienblum (1843­-1910) and Leon Pinsker (1821­-1891).

Following the publication of Herzl's Der Judenstaat in 1896, and the establishment of the World Zionist Organization, most of the branches of Hovevei Zion aligned themselves with the new movement.