On the anniversary of the 6^th Zionist Congress, on the 30^th of Av 5663 (1903), we want to take the opportunity to examine different factions of Zionism, and the paths they took, based on their ideology. Herzl proposed the British Uganda Program to the 6^th Zionist Congress, as a temporary refuge for Jews in Russia, who were in immediate danger. Clement Hill, from the British Foreign Office, wrote to Leopold J. Greenberg, Herzl's representative in London, on August 14, 1903, informing the Zionist Organization of its agreement in principle to Jewish settlement in East Africa "on conditions which will enable members to observe their national customs." While Herzl made it clear that this program would not affect the ultimate aim of Zionism, a Jewish entity in the Land of Israel, the proposal aroused a storm at the Congress and nearly led to a split in the Zionist movement. In a vote on the proposal, it was decided to send an expedition ("investigatory commission") to examine the territory proposed. This decision, passed by a majority of 295 in favor and 178 against (with about 100 abstentions), led to one of the fiercest controversies in the history of the Zionist Movement.

Political Zionism, led by Herzl, believed that Jews would gain acceptance in the world if they had their own state, like any other people, and that they would then be secure. The Zionist movement should work in the political arena, to convince the world powers to give them a homeland in Israel, for historical reasons.

With the rejection of the Uganda Plan at the 7^th Zionist Congress, Nahum Syrkin and Israel Zangwill established the Jewish Territorialists Organization whose object was to acquire a Jewish homeland wherever possible, including schemes to settle in Canada, Australia, Libya, Iraq, and in Galveston, Texas (where a few thousand did go).

Cultural Zionism, led by Ahad Ha’Am, stressed that Zionism was about saving Judaism as much as it was about saving Jews. To this end, he stressed the importance of a Jewish cultural reconstruction to the success of Zionism, and the ethical character of a future Jewish homeland. In this group can be included Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, who put an emphasis on the renaissance of the Hebrew language.

Socialist Zionism saw the settlement in Israel as an experiment in communal living, and ranged from Marxist to Socialist ideology. In most cases, this included a rejection of Judaism as a religion, and replacing it with kibbutz ideology.

Religious Zionism looked at the Zionist movement as a means of fulfilling the prayers of religious Jews throughout the generations, of returning to the Land of Israel. The Religious Zionists joined the Zionist movement, even though their basis for wishing to establish a Jewish State was different than that of the others. Obviously, Uganda was not an option for them.

We see that almost all these groups have more in common than that which divides, and that is, and will remain, the strength of the Jewish people and the State of Israel.