The Russian-born author and philosopher Ahad Haam (1856-1927), whose real name was Asher Tsvi Ginzberg wrote essays on the Jewish nation that caused great debate within the Zionist movement.

Asher Ginzberg was born in Skwera in the Russian district of Kiev. His father, a fervent Hasid, was learned and affluent, and he educated his son in the spirit of Hasidism. Even as a youth, Asher was renowned as an expert in Talmudical and Hasidic literature. At the age of 17 he married, remaining in his father's home while continuing his studies of all aspects of Jewish learning. He later became interested in secular culture, Western languages, and science.

In 1884 Ginzberg settled in Odessa, where he remained for the next 20 years. There he actively joined in the work of the Lovers of Zion. In 1889 he published his first programmatic article, "This Is Not the Way," under the pseudonym Ahad Haam...