East Meet West

Along comes Kalisher.

Alkalai was thinking and interpreting messianism, traditionally and religiously, with some early nationalistic elements. He also was in touch with the Montefiore and Rothschild families, as well as Karl Netter, Adolph Cremieux, and the ‘All Israel Friends’ alliance - these were already working practically in the land. Finally, he was in touch with the 2 additional highest level early precursors of Zionism - Kalisher and Hess.

Kalisher was also a rabbi and a messianic thinker like Alkalai, but took the mix of nationalism a bit further, so it was part religious messianism, part new Jewish nationalism, more or less an equal mix. [Hess on the other hand, takes it another step in the direction of secular nationalism, preaching a Jewish nationalism primarily, with but elements of traditional religious messianism.]

Born in Lissa in Western Poland governed by Germany (Prussia) back then, and lived and served and died in Thorn (today Torun) as their rabbi. He published many articles, was in contact with Alkalai and Hess, approached the Rothschild family, Montefiori, and the Alliance - Kol Yisrael cHaverim. 

In 1860 he organized a conference in Thorn called ‘Convention for Settling the Land of Israel’, and from that forum he started the ‘Company for Settling of the Land of Israel’ in Frankfurt, the same year Kol Yisrael cHaverim began. [He was actually in touch with Napoleon III (!) through a Jewish secretary Ernest Lehren, attempting to pitch the idea of a Jewish nation in Israel, as a French protectorate.]

Seek, Read - and Find

In 1862 his greatest piece of writing was published under the title ‘Derishat Tsiyon’, meaning Seeking Zion (but could also mean - interpreting or preaching Zion, like the word midrash - homily). The phrase is from Jeremiah chapter 30 verse 17 “this is Zion, no one seeks her”. The sages interpreted the verse as the manifestation of redemption - to seek Zion itself.

The book is made up of different parts - letters, articles, introduction, conclusion - as Kalisher makes reference to the Zohar and other sources and commentators.

Most of the content is actually intense halachic discussions.

The ‘itaruta deltata’ principle is there, which means awakening or arousal from below - a kabbalistic principle that was prominent in the 1840 messianic expectation, the practical aspect of which, is that: actions of mankind, activism, will cause the heavenlies to flow abundantly upon this world, i.e. redemption. 

Like Alkalai, Kalisher emphasized the need to approach wealthy Jews from Europe to support economic development in Israel. Unlike Alkalai, Kalisher discusses the Temple, and the need for a police force of sorts.

Finally, Kalisher directly and blatantly addresses nationalism in Europe - this is the textual moment where messianism meets nationalism as such. Here are some bits from Drishat Tsiyon, Seeking Zion:

It is my prayer, that He who shines light upon the land and those living in it, He will enlighten the eyes of wisemen and righteous in our days, awakening their great spirit by a strengthening giving spirit, for now is the time for grace, from the charity of the people the path will be made, by those of great wealth and capital, who are greater noblemen of Israel than we have ever had...

one will say what God has done for His people Israel, giving them a staff of governance, princes, rulers, lords for the LORD by His mercy in this generation desired that the holy people would succeed, unlike none since exiled from the land of our inheritance, and who knows whether you have come close to the kingdom for such a time as this (Esther 4:4). 

The redemption of Israel that we wait for: do not think that the Holy One suddenly will descend from heaven to earth, to say His people His flock, or that He will send His Messiah in a moment from the heavens to blow a great shofar over the scattered of Israel and gather them in Jerusalem and will make a wall of fire, and a divine temple will descend from above, as He promised by His servants the prophets.

It will not be so, according to the scholarly reader - surely all the expectations of the prophets will take place in the end of days, but we will not walk in flight, for little by little, gradually the redemption of Israel will come, and slowly will the horn of salvation grow forth, until Israel will be mighty and very prosperous… 

First Article

…Why do the people of Italy and other countries sacrifice their lives for the land of their fathers, while we, like men bereft of strength and courage, do nothing? Are we inferior to all other peoples, who have no regard for life and fortune as compared with love of their land and nation? 

Let us take to heart the examples of the Italians, Poles, and Hungarians, who laid down their lives and possessions in the struggle for national independence, while we, the children of Israel, who have the most glorious and holiest of lands as our inheritance, are spiritless and silent. 

We should be ashamed of ourselves! All the other peoples have striven only for the sake of their own national honor; how much more should we exert ourselves, for our duty is to labor not only for the glory of our ancestors but for the glory of God who chose Zion!

Conclusion

It is stating the obvious that the Jewish nationalists of modern Zionism took influence from the new wave of European nationalism.

It is also stating the obvious that traditional messianists were messianic Zionists, over the ages. The precursors mix them and cook it up anew together.