Yehuda Yosef Leib Alkalai

Rabbi Yehuda Yosef Leib Alkalai was born in 1798 in Sarajevo and is often considered one of the precursors to modern Zionism. His religious and philosophical writings argued for the return of Jews to the land of Israel, a central Zionist tenet. Alkalai was influenced by contemporary nationalist movements in Europe and believed that the redemption of the Jews could be achieved through natural means, such as the settlement of Israel and the revival of Hebrew. He served as a rabbi in Semlin, Zemun, today part of Belgrade, where he wrote extensively on religious and political matters concerning the Jewish people and their future.

Books

Dawn of a Nation | Ben Ish Hai Anthology