This is interesting:
Hyde spent from April 1841 to December 1842 in Jerusalem. He recorded that before dawn on October 24, 1841 he climbed up the Mount of Olives overlooking the city, then both wrote and recited a prayer, part of which reads:
Now, O Lord! Thy servant has been obedient to the heavenly vision which Thou gavest him in his native land; and under the shadow of Thine outstretched arm, he has safely arrived in this place to dedicate and consecrate this land unto Thee, for the gathering together of Judah’s scattered remnants, according to the predictions of the holy Prophets — for the building up of Jerusalem again after it has been trodden down by the Gentiles so long, and for rearing a Temple in honor of Thy name. Everlasting thanks be ascribed unto Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou hast preserved Thy servant from the dangers of the seas, and from the plague and pestilence which have caused the land to mourn. The violence of man has also been restrained, and Thy providential care by night and by day has been exercised over Thine unworthy servant. Accept, therefore, O Lord, the tribute of a grateful heart for all past favors, and be pleased to continue Thy kindness and mercy towards a needy worm of the dust.[9]
Having dedicated Jerusalem and Palestine for the ingathering of the Jews, Hyde departed the mountain after building a small altar with stones.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orson_Hyde#Mission_to_Jerusalem
You’d be hard pressed to find Jews talking about returning to Israel in 1841. The German Rabbis were criticizing Jewish thought and paving the way for communism and Jewish atheism at the time. Zionism was founded by secular Jews about 40 years after Hyde’s dedication.
Fascinating.
Not really. The 'Old Yishuv' began in the 1700s, with the famous Yehudah HeHasid and a few other preaching rabbis in Europe.