highest blessing any nation can convey to the world
worldZionism to-day, must, I contend, convey justthis happiness, just this blessing to the world.Therefore Zionism must mean idealism of life.
Therefore Zionism must mean idealism of life.It is well to labor for restitution of Palestine,Yea, we must ! “ For Zion’s sake, never will I besilent ” But it must be as I have said,—with theview of exercising a spiritualising influence overthe world, and over Jewish communities throughout the world, even the seed of Abraham which“ shall be known among the Gentiles ” Forwe “shall be named the Priests of the Lord;men shall call you the ministers of our God.”A high ideal. I grant you. But it is our ideal.
It is well to foster and promote Colonization in Palestine. We must. 1st. For if ever a plebescite should be taken for the Government of Palestine when the moment arrives for its erection into a state, we will wish to be a majority of the inhabitants. 2ndly. Because the moment "Palestine for the Jews" is realized, thousands of Hebrews will flock there and will need to be helped, settled and absorbed. 3rdly. Because every Jew whom we can rescue from a Russia or a Roumania will be a deed well done, and never must effort be relaxed to turn the pallid, narrow-chested victim of persecution into the stalwart son of the soil.
But in all colonization efforts. with political or economic or humanitarian intents, must be conjoined religious effort, that shall keep colonists faithful to our religion and shall make them know that though sons of toil, sons of the soil, they are also sons of God. A high ideal for them, for us, I grant you. Still, it is our ideal.
The creation of a Trust or Bank is wise.It gives a force, a practical force, to the movement. But it must be made known, repeatedly,a thousand times, always, that Zionism is notonly to promote what is of benefit to Jewry, it
is to help to achieve what will be a blessing, aye, countless blessings for humanity at large.
No need for me here to recite any of them. Isaiah is the model Zionist. His pictures of nations unting to serve God, of war abolished through Zion's tribunal, of earth filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea, of aliens joined to Israel, of all flesh worshipping the One God. every knee to Him bending, every tongue to Him declaring loyalty, idols cast to the moles and bats, all nations flowing to the Lord's house — these his pictures delight us, entrance us, inspire us.
us, entrance us, inspire us.The beauty of God in human life is depictedin them all. As we gaze on them we seem toinhale the fragrance of spiritualized life, life of"sweet savor to the Lord."
These are God's blessings for humanity at large. High ideals, I grant you. But they are our ideals. They are the ideals of Zionism !
What can we do in the meanwhile for this spiritual Zionism?
If permitted, I will write on this for some future number of this estimable journal. For the present, let me say, we — all Zionists and Zionist societies, must work to make synagogues powers for good; to institute Jewish schools for boys and girls in connection with every synagogue; to inspire young men and young women with respect for our religion and love for congregational work; to act as models in private and social life; to hold up ideals of good citizenship irrespective of party; to gain the respect of the Christian world we live in by respecting ourselves and our religion—in short, to be “Priests of the Lord, ministers of our God.”
This is what I mean by spiritual Zionism.
It is my Zionism.
Is it not yours?
H. PEREIRA MENDES.
The Jewish Sabbath in America
I BELIEVE that the present agitation of the question of Sunday observance offers us a splendid opportunity to assertourselves, and do something not only for the protection of our brethren, but for the strengthening of Judaism in this country. We have, in this country, an opportunity as is given us in no other. The
Republic rests entirely upon the idea of the modern state. This idea implies the complete divorce of the Church and State, and guarantees perfect religious freedom and the rights of conscience to all its citizens. The State, as such, has no interest in the selection and enforcing of any day as a Sabbath. The only legislation which it is