Poale Zion

Poale Zion (or Poalei Tziyon meaning "Workers of Zion") was a Movement of Marxist Zionist Jewish workers circles founded in various Russian cities about the turn of the century after the Bund rejected Zionism in 1901. Poalei Tziyon came into existence in the USA in 1903. In 1906 a formal Poalei Tziyon party was formed under the leadership of Ber Borochov. David Ben-Gurion had joined a local Poalei Tziyon group in 1904. The key features of its ideology were acceptance of the Marxist view of history with the addition of the role of nationalism, which Borochov believed could not be ignored as a factor in historical development. A Jewish proletariat would come into being in the land of Israel, according to Poalei Tziyon, and would then take part in the class struggle.

Related Topics:
Ber Borochov - Ben-Gurion

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In 1906, party branches were formed in Austria, Palestine and other countries. In Ottoman Palestine, Poalei Tziyon founded the Hashomer guard organization that guarded settlements, and took up the ideology of conquest of labor (Kibbush Ha'avoda) and Avoda Ivrit (Hebrew work). Poalei Tziyon set up employment offices, kitchens and health services for members. These eventually evolved into the institutions of labor Zionism in Israel. During World War I, Poalei Tziyon was instrumental in recruiting members to the Jewish Legion. After the war, Poalei Tziyon in Palestine was merged by David Ben-Gurion into the Achdut Ha'avoda party, which eventually became Mapai and Achdut Avoda - Poalei Tziyon. In Russia Poalei Tziyon participated in the Social Democratic and Bolshevik revolutions and a faction of Poalei Tziyon remained legal until 1928 when it was liquidated by the NKVD, though most other Zionist organizations were closed down in 1919. In Poland and other central and eastern European countries, Poalei Tziyon functioned until World War II, when most members who did not migrate to Palestine perished in the Holocaust. In the USA, Poalei Tzion founded the Hechalutz movement and the Yiddisher Arbeiters Farband

Related Topics:
Hashomer - Jewish Legion - Mapai

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Source - Zionism and Israel Information Center by permission.

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