Crypto Jews and Early Zionism Were the Crypto Jews of the early 20 Century exposed to Zionist thought? The answer is yes. Samuel Shwartz, the “father” of Crypto Judaism attended the 11th Zionist Conference in 1913 (Vienna), and it appears that he imported early Zionism to the Beira region. In 1930 we also see Barros Basto, in the Porto based Jewish Publication “Ha-Lapid” referring to Weitzmann and Sokolov (early Zionist leaders), the Balfore Declaration and the establishment in Palestine of a Jewish National home.Barros Basto outlines:“We must not forget that glory of Palestine is Hebrew and that is why this race has a special interest in development return and restore the prosperity of a land where milk and honey once flowed” (Ha-Lapid, No. 35, P.2/3, 1930)