The Writing on the Wall: Herzl’s Legacy and the Execution of Arvin Ghahremani

Theodor Herzl once foresaw a time when Jews would face such rejection and hostility that a Jewish homeland would become not just a dream but an urgent necessity. His warnings, issued in a time of entrenched European antisemitism, echo hauntingly today as we witness a modern rise in anti-Jewish sentiment across the globe. From today’s tragic execution of Arvin Nathaniel Ghahremani  in Iran to the current conflict in Israel, a troubling pattern emerges—one that feels all too familiar and yet uniquely pressing in a world that now has a Jewish state.

Herzl’s vision became a reality with the establishment of the modern state of Israel, a place of refuge and resilience for Jews worldwide. However, today’s world— marked by rising Holocaust denial, distortions of Jewish history, and increasing hostility— demands that we remember why that state was born. As we confront modern-day manifestations of the same hatred Herzl faced, we are once again called to heed the writing on the wall.

Remarkably, Theodor Herzl proposed this seemingly impossible idea of creating a Jewish state even before World War I. His magnum opus, “The Jewish State,” was first published in February of 1896. At the outset of his writings in The Jewish State, Herzl hauntingly warns the Diasporic Jewish nation of the writing on the wall, and that if Jews did not voluntarily leave their countries of residence, they would eventually be forced out. To Herzl, the idea of a Jewish nation-state was not merely an aspiration but an urgent necessity. He believed that Jews would never be fully integrated into the societies in which they lived and that a large-scale expulsion was inevitable.

In Herzl’s view, Israel would serve as a refuge for Jews worldwide, and he even argued that it was in the best interest of other nations to support this initiative, so they could, in their perspective, resolve the “Jewish problem.” His writings foreshadowed the coming Holocaust, though even he could never have envisioned the full scale of the horrors that would unfold. In retrospect, Herzl might even seem almost naive for underestimating the impending threat; nonetheless, he was often seen as a “madman” for even suggesting such a radical concept, even by his closest friends.

The pivotal moment that solidified Herzl’s vision was the Dreyfus Affair. The Dreyfus Affair was a major political scandal in late 19th-century France, involving the unjust conviction of Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish officer in the French military, on charges of treason in 1894. Dreyfus was accused of leaking military secrets to Germany, though there was little solid evidence against him. This case exposed widespread anti-Semitism in French society and deeply divided public opinion. After a lengthy series of trials and intense debate, Dreyfus was finally cleared of all charges in 1906. The scandal had lasting repercussions in France, underscoring the precarious position of Jews in European society at the time.

The Dreyfus Affair had a significant impact on Herzl, an Austrian journalist who reported on the case and observed the severe anti-Semitism it exposed. Herzl concluded that Jewish assimilation would not shield Jews from discrimination and that establishing a Jewish homeland was necessary for their security and autonomy.

This conviction compelled Herzl to dedicate himself fully to the cause. His determination led him to become the father of modern Zionism, though tragically, he did not live to see his vision realized. Today, his legacy endures, honored on Mount Herzl, Israel’s most prominent military cemetery. And in these current times of shattering turmoil and pain, I often find myself wondering: what would Herzl say today?

Well, today, it is clear.

Just ten days ago, on November 4, 2024, Arvin Nathaniel Ghahremani —a Jewish Iranian— was executed by hanging in Iran’s Kermanshah Central Prison. This tragic incident raises questions eerily reminiscent of the infamous Dreyfus Affair. Ghahremani’s case involved an alleged unintentional killing in self- defense, an act that, by local laws, should have allowed for financial restitution. However, under reported pressure from Iran’s Supreme Leader, the Ayatollah, the victim’s family refused to accept the payment, instead pushing for execution. This horrific event is believed by many to be influenced by Ghahremani’s Jewish identity, making it emblematic of the anti-Semitic injustices of our time.

This modern wave of anti-Semitism differs from that of Herzl’s era. Back then, Jews had no state to turn to, no recognized homeland where they could seek refuge. Today, we have Israel—a place Jews have historically continuously inhabited for about 3,000 years. Since its establishment 76 years ago, Israel has rapidly evolved from a fledgling nation of Holocaust survivors and refugees to a resilient state, forged from struggle and scarcity. In many ways, Israel has fulfilled the dreams of its founding fathers, creating innovations it has shared with the world.

However, with the passing of time, we have gotten used to Israel’s existence and have begun to take it for granted. Millennials, my generation, are the first generation in two thousand years to grow up hearing firsthand accounts from grandparents who witnessed Israel’s founding and its early “glory days.” We are the link to a generation that lived through the establishment of the Jewish state. Yet the younger generations, including many from Gen Z, are growing up in a world where Holocaust denial and ignorance about Jewish history are alarmingly common. This indifference extends to the reality of modern-day Israel and its context, as many overlook the actual cause of the Israel-Hamas war, which began on October 7, when the terrorist organization Hamas launched a brutal attack, breaching the Gaza-Israel border, massacring 1,200 civilians, and taking more than 250 innocent hostages into Gaza, and of those an estimated 50 or so are still alive more than 400 days later.

The world’s response, with accusations of genocide directed at Israel, is profoundly troubling. It is a form of collective amnesia, ignoring that Israel exists today precisely because of the Holocaust and the near-total destruction of European Jewry. It is the gaslighting of all gaslighting. The unjust execution of Arvin Nathaniel Ghahremani serves as a profound, microcosmic insight into the world’s stance on Israel: if you try to defend yourself, you risk losing all legitimacy. Today, the stakes are high. Israel faces looming threats to its existence, both internally and externally. Unlike the antisemitism of Herzl’s era, which sought “merely” to exclude Jews from European society, today’s extremism— particularly from factions like the Iranian regime— openly calls for the eradication of the Jewish people and the complete obliteration of the state of Israel.

In an environment where history is increasingly ignored or distorted, it becomes ever more crucial to remember and recognize these patterns. The resurgence of anti-Semitism is not just an echo of the past but a pressing danger in our present world. And while Israel may seem an obvious target, it also remains the safest place for Jews to be—a testament to its enduring resilience amid relentless challenges.

Will we read the writing on the wall this time? Let not the name of Arvin Nathaniel Ghahremani be forgotten. Let not his blood be shed in vain. Jews of the world, we are urging you, with all the love in the world: Come Home.

Yes, the world is in turmoil, but that can be exciting because it signals change. Old conventions are crumbling, giving us a unique chance to shape what comes next.

There will be a revival. There always is. Come and be a part of it. Don’t be afraid—be excited.

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