John Adams, Zionist Before Zionism

In an era long before the modern Zionist movement was born, one of America's founding fathers expressed a profound wish: that the Jewish people would once again be restored to their ancestral homeland. That man was John Adams, the second President of the United States.

In a letter dated March 15, 1819, addressed to the prominent Jewish intellectual and diplomat Mordecai Manuel Noah, Adams wrote words that today read like a striking endorsement of Zionism, nearly 80 years before Theodor Herzl began to organize the modern Zionist cause.

“I really wish the Jews again in Judea an independent nation,” Adams wrote.

His letter, preserved in the U.S. National Archives, offers a remarkable glimpse into the thinking of a man deeply influenced by Enlightenment ideals, biblical history, and a sense of justice for Zion.

A Vision of Restoration

Responding to Noah’s published travels in Europe and Africa, Adams praised his intellect and imagination, and then offered a startling vision: he imagined Noah at the head of a modern Jewish army, marching back into Judea to reclaim the land of their forefathers.

“I could find it in my heart to wish that you had been at the head of a hundred thousand Israelites...marching with them into Judea & making a conquest of that country & restoring your nation to the dominion of it.”

In this passage, Adams revealed more than admiration. He shared a belief that the Jewish people had both the historical right and the moral cause to return and rebuild their homeland.

Shared Faith and Heritage

Adams closed the letter with words that echoed the Judeo-Christian values that continue to influence American political culture:

“Your Jehovah is our Jehovah & your God of Abraham Isaac & Jacob is our God.”

This statement reflects a deep respect for the Jewish faith and acknowledges a shared spiritual lineage. It’s not just theological, it’s foundational, suggesting that the destinies of the Jewish and American peoples were intertwined by belief, heritage, and the struggle for liberty.

Why It Matters

In today’s political climate, where Zionism is often debated and Israel’s legitimacy questioned, this 200-year-old letter reminds us that the dream of Jewish national rebirth has long found allies beyond the Jewish world.

John Adams was not merely offering kind words. He was articulating a vision rooted in history, morality, and the universal right of a people to govern themselves in their ancestral land.

Long before political Zionism had a name, John Adams gave it a voice.