First Zionist Congress

The First Zionist Congress was held in Basel, Switzerland, in 1897, led by Theodor Herzl. It gathered Jewish leaders and activists who believed the Jewish people needed a modern political movement to restore a national home in the Land of Israel. The Congress created the World Zionist Organization and helped turn Zionism from an idea into an organized international movement. From a Jewish perspective, this was a major step toward the eventual return of Jewish sovereignty after centuries of exile.