Alkalai, Judah. Raglei Mevasser.

Rabbi of Sarajevo, Bosnia, Judah Alkalai (1798-1879) was one of the very earliest spiritual pioneers of modern Zionism, who stressed that human initiative is necessary in bringing about the Redemption of the Jewish People. As he writes here: “Redemption will reach us in a natural way. Had the Almighty wished to redeem His people through miracles, the exile would not have lasted so long. Moreover, in the present Jewish situation, even a naturally attained Redemption would be miraculous. Redemption will grow from within the people and not with the Messiah performing miracles, as in the days of the Exodus from Egypt.” Alkalai’s revolutionary approach represented a Judaism of action and not one of learned helplessness. This in turn aroused opposition within other Orthodox circles for promoting such daring concepts and modern interpretations.