simcha613:
The proof that your fantasy is incorrect is that all the gedolim were vehemently against Zionism, and many were also vehemently against even the non-Zionist Chovevei Tzion that preceded it. Rav Hirsch stated that what Rabbi Kalischer (who founded but later retracted his support for CT) considered a “great mitzvah”, he Rav Hirsch considered “no small aveirah”. And that without the Zionist kefirah and replacement theology of changing Judaism into secular godless idolatrous land-based nationalism which was the case of the Zionist “opportunity” to which you referred.
No, “we” were not all given that opportunity. That is given only with the coming of Moashiach. Until then, while some may go, it is assur for Jews to en masse go up to Eretz Yisrael, as per the gimmel shevuos which are, of course, fully in effect according to all. So, that’s obviously not what Rav Meir Simcha meant with Berlin replacing Jerusalem, of course.
Finally, look at what the Zionists have done over the past century. According to their official stats, 40% of all Jews in Israel today are completely secular, and 35% are “traditional/Conservative”. That’s 75% of the JEWISH population there. That’s after the intense teshuva movement that many have been valiantly attempting despite the ongoing immense Zionist shmad. No, it was not a very good idea to join the Zionists in being cannon fodder for building their paradise.