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”We Wish to Lay the Foundation Stone of the House in Which the Jewish People Will One Day Dwell” – Theodor Herzl's Address at the First Zionist Congress, in the First Complete Contemporary Coverage Published in HaTzefirah - Two issues of HaTzefirah containing the first complete published transcript of Theodor Herzl's address delivered at the opening of the First Zionist Congress in Basel, before an audience whose enthusiastic applause repeatedly interrupted his speech. The issue of September 3, 1897 (Issue No. 192), containing the first part of the address, and the issue of September 7, 1897 (Issue No. 195), containing its conclusion. Rare. Under the heading ”The Address Delivered by Dr. Herzl at the Opening of the Assembly in Basel, ” the newspaper publishes the complete text of Herzl's speech, in which he opened the historic Congress with the visionary declaration: ”We have assembled here to lay the foundation stone of the house in which the People of Israel shall one day find refuge and shelter.” After reviewing the plight of the Jewish people among the nations of the world, Herzl proclaimed: ”We Zionists seek to bring salvation, ” and outlined the foundations of his Zionist program - a policy of negotiations with the Ottoman government that would lead to a great wave of Jewish immigration to the Land of Israel. The following issue contains the continuation of the address, in which Herzl explained his concept of ”Political Zionism.” He declared that the Jewish people should not return to their homeland ”like a thief in the night, ” but rather with the consent and approval of the Ottoman Empire, once it had become convinced that the return of the Jewish people would also benefit the Empire and that the Jews would be loyal subjects: ”The entry of the Jews will bring strength and great prosperity to a state that is now exceedingly poor, and indeed to the whole Ottoman Empire... It has the power to assist that state and rescue it from many difficulties.” He also criticized what he termed ”the infiltration of Jews into the Land of Israel.” Herzl called for the immediate commencement of the Jewish return from the Diaspora to the Land of Israel, declaring: ”If, after an agreement and a covenant with those in whose hands lies the destiny of the state, the departure of the Jews begins, then that departure will continue for as long as the causes that give rise to it continue to exist...” He also addressed the nations of the world with the appeal: ”Let all the inhabitants of the earth know what Zionism truly is... It is, in truth, a lawful and orderly movement, founded upon noble principles, the vision and deepest aspiration of our people since ancient times.” Among the historic declarations contained in Herzl's address are: ”We wish to lay the foundation stone of the house in which the Jewish people will one day dwell, ” and ”Zionism is our return to Judaism even before our return to the Land of the Jews.” Herzl concluded with these stirring words: ”At this assembly we are giving the People of Israel an instrument of blessing such as it has never before possessed, yet one that it desperately needs for its life and survival. The enterprise before us is a great one... This undertaking must rise above the individual if it is to succeed. And this assembly shall live forever, not only to lead us out of our ancient distress, but with even greater purpose thereafter...”. As reported in the contemporary press coverage of the event, an atmosphere of extraordinary excitement filled the hall in Basel as Herzl delivered his address. The Congress was opened by its honorary chairman, Karpel Lippe of Romania, the eldest delegate and one of the veteran leaders of the Hovevei Zion movement. Lippe spoke for thirty minutes instead of the ten minutes allotted to him by Herzl, ignoring four requests from Herzl to conclude his remarks. A profound sense of emotion swept through the audience when Lippe recited the blessing, ”Blessed are You... who has kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this day.” Lippe then handed the chairman's gavel to Herzl, declaring, ”The only thing we need is a homeland, ” prompting a thunderous ovation from the delegates. Herzl found it difficult to begin his address, as each attempt to speak was interrupted by renewed applause. The ovation continued for approximately fifteen minutes. The writer Mordechai Ben-Ami called out, ”Long live the King!” Many in the audience echoed the cry. At the conclusion of Herzl's speech, another prolonged burst of applause erupted. Order in the hall broke down as numerous delegates rushed forward to congratulate him, overturning tables and chairs in the process. Herzl was then unanimously elected President of the Congress. Max Nordau followed as the next speaker, delivering an address on the suffering of the Jewish people throughout the world. At the close of the Congress, Herzl declared, ”The First Zionist Congress has come to an end.