160 Jewish youth from across Europe attended earlier this week a ceremony marking 120 years since the First World Zionist Congress convened in Basel, Switzerland, in 1897.

The event, commemorated on Dohany Street in Budapest in close proximity to the birthplace of State visionary and initiator of the Congress, Binyamin Zev (Theodor) Herzl, featured a public reading of Herzl’s opening speech to the Congress.

Herzl’s childhood home on Dohany Street has been converted into a Jewish Museum not far from the city square named for Herzl. The ceremony itself was held against the backdrop of the famed Weeping Willow Monument erected in memory of Hungarian Jews who were murdered in the Holocaust and whose names are engraved upon its leaves.

Participants included counselors and delegates from World Bnei Agiva youth movement groups across Europe who gathered in Hungary for the annual WBA convention and leadership seminar. Student representatives arrived from Germany, Sweden, Finland, Holland, Italy, Austria, Belgium, and others.

Roi Abecassis, Secretary General of World Bnei Akiva. states: “For over 60 years, World Bnei Akiva has actively endeavored to fulfill Herzl’s vision, but even today, the dream has not yet been realized in full. It was important for us to return to the place where it all began in order to reaffirm and strengthen our commitment and the commitment of our counselors to continue striving for this dream.”

In her response to Herzl’s legendary speech, Ella Hersh, a WBA counselor declared, “Yes, Judaism is a ‘nation,’ Theodor Herzl. Today, it is a very great nation, but Judaism is still greater and more powerful than that. Judaism is a nation that dwells in its Land, in its own country, in an independent State responsible for its fate…”

She described in her speech the situation of the Jewish nation in Israel and in the world. The situation for Jews worldwide is positive but still far from the ideal. “Theodor Herzl, it’s not perfect, not yet. Even after 120 years, there are many Jews who have yet to return to the State of Israel, their true homeland. But we at World Bnei Akvia, with representatives in over 25 countries, endeavor to reinforce the Jewish bond to the State of Israel and strengthen the spiritual connection of Jews who have distanced themselves from their heritage throughout many a year. We are inspiring them and encouraging them to return to their roots.”

The First Zionist Congress was the inaugural congress of the Zionist Organization and first significant step in transforming the Zionist movement into an organized establishment with active political institutions.