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The condition of European Jews troubled all Jewish communities. Nevertheless, their leaders continued to advocate their integration into society and believed that progress would prevail over antisemitism. On the other hand, there were ultra-Orthodox rabbis and communities that strongly resisted the growing secularization which accompanied modernity. They entrenched their self-imposed isolation and came to be called “haredim”
At the same time, an ever-increasing number of Jews who advocated Jewish nationalism were dissatisfied or became disillusioned with emancipation and integration. At the helm were the Zionists, who founded a movement that called for auto-emancipation, return to Zion and the attainment of political sovereignty in the Land of Israel.
