Finally, please read Amos Elon’s biography of Herzl to find out what disease he had and how it affected his brain. That is probably how he came up with all the mishegoss in Altneuland, some of which is beyond fantasy and full of megalomania.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
I really have no interest in participating in a discussion on the Jewish validity of Zionism. Those who appreciaite it, can derive the satisfaction of that appreciation. Those who don’t can do likewise. But I do want to point out that syphilis is a highly communicable disease. Not long before Herzl’s birth, the only mohel in Vienna was diagnosed with the disease, which led to the Chatham Sofer’s controversial psak that metzitza b’peh can be fulfilled with a pipette as it is not a necessary component of milah. If one wants to assume that Herzl contracted this disease via illicit actions, in the absence of evidence, then why not assume the same about the hapless mohel?