Auto-Emancipation

Leo Pinsker is a Russian-Polish Jewish doctor and activist who wrote Auto-Emancipation (Selbstemanzipation). It is regarded as a foundational document of contemporary Jewish nationalism, particularly Zionism. Pinsker studied the origins of antisemitism and advocated for Jewish self-government and the formation of a Jewish national consciousness. He claimed that Jews would never be social equals to non-Jews until they had their own state. He urged Jewish leaders to convene and discuss the issue. He portrays anti-Jewish attacks in the leaflet as a psychosis, a pathological disease, and an illogical fear. The article itself inspired the organization, as well as Jews throughout Europe, and was a watershed moment in the history of Zionism and the Jewish State. On January 1, 1882, the pamphlet was released.