ON the night of my arrival in England to be present at the Bi-centenary of the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue, Bevis Marks, I learned that the foremost Zionists were in consultation. An interview was arranged next day by telegraph. So many of the best brains and best hearts among us Hebrews hold aloof from the present Zionist movement, there are so many misconceptions of its aims, that I embraced this opportunity to confer with its most prominent leaders. I thought a frank statement of the causes of opposition or apathy would help to put Zionism in a better light and lead to winning those brains and hearts. For the movement has gone very far and should be utilized for the betterment of true Jewish interests, while its abandonment would mean despair for countless Jews writhing under persecution and hoping for help.
The gist of our interview was as follows : In reply to my questions as to a compact with the Sultan, I was told that “any contract with Turkey would be in the direction of a legally assured home for the Hebrews. It must be assured, and it must be legally assured, before the Zionist leaders would entertain it, much less propose it.” “We are not so foolish,” exclaimed one.
To my statement that it is alleged that Zionism proposes to purchase Palestine, the gentlemen declared "It never was, and is not the intention to purchase the country. Frequently they had emphasized this and they regretted any necessity to iterate it." To which I replied that all great movements need many more than five years to educate the popular mind,—witness the abolition of slavery and, indeed, the revolution in America.
"But," I asked, "could they not give the Jewish public some idea of concessions desired from the Porte?" Their answer was, "Hardly, without embarrassing negotiations and exciting opposition which otherwise could be avoided. We have brought the movement to a point which we could not have dared to dream possible when we began five years ago. We were in actual touch with political powers and only desired to be in a position to act promptly when the moment of do ut des was reached with the
Sultan. Contributors need not send until that moment was reached. We only ask that they will pledge themselves to send when that moment is reached."
I then stated that wealthy American Hebrews were not only liberal, but were liberal-hearted, and that, therefore, even if they were Reform Jews. they would gladly contribute to any cause dear to Orthodox Jews, provided they were shown its practical and its useful side. If they were shown that Russian or Roumanian Jews could be safely turned into self-supporting and self-respecting colonists in Palestine instead of their coming to America, I believed American Hebrews would support the movement.
I reiterated the necessity of correcting the idea that it was desired to purchase Palestine, quoting the “Not by silver shall ye be redeemed” of the prophet, and I declared myself opposed to it. Our rehabilitation as a nation must be brought about as indicated by biblical lines.
I finally urged the more important side of Zionism, which I declared to be altruistic and spiritual, rather than mere installation in Palestine or possession thereof. True Zionism, first defined in the first command to the first of our Patriarchs, the first Hebrew, was summed up in two words, “Heyé beracha” (Be a blessing). It aims at the betterment of mankind, and means not that all Hebrews shall return to Palestine, but that Hebrews may reside in all parts of the world as exemplars of citizenship, morality, religion, even if they derive their own inspiration and spiritual strength from Hebrews in the fatherland. I asked that this side of Judaism be emphasized and that they correct unceasingly the impression shared by prominent Hebrews and by such eminent Christians as Bishop Potter, that Zionism meant no Hebrews outside Palestine, all Hebrews to be within it. This impression they deplored, and they assured me that they had unceasingly insisted upon the importance of the spiritual side also, and asked me to present the matter to the American public.
I do so by thus recounting the interview. Of the earnestness and caution of the leaders there can be no doubt. The wisdom of a gradual and cautious settlement of Hebrews in Palestine, with a legal and an assured home, cannot be ques-