The arrival of the Eastern European Jews in the beginning of the 20 th century added new facets to the Danish Jewish discussion of national loyalty and identity. The immigrants had experienced persecution, and were in general closer to Jewish socialism and Zionism.

The Jewish socialist movement never gained a real footing in Denmark, and the members were gradually absorbed into the Danish parties, while Zionist ideas thrived in the 1930s. The establishment of Danish branches of international Zionist organisations was especially supported by the Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe. Some of these Danish organisations still exist.

Bund and Zionism

The Jewish socialist party Bund was established in 1897 and was one of the largest socialist parties in Eastern Europe. Bund had immense influence on the Jewish working classes, culturally as well as politically. According to Bund, Jews were an individual nation with their own culture and language.

Zionism has its roots in Theodor Herzl's ideal of normalising Jewish life by establishing a Jewish state. A majority of Zionists wanted the Jewish state to be established in Palestine, symbolic home of the Jews of the Diaspora. The International Zionist Federation was founded in 1897.

Yiddisch Culture
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