means for a thorough popular education are wanting, viz., money. Naturally, if we could dispose of communal funds and the capital of foundations that are now being frittered away or are being employed contrary to the interests of the Jewish masses, we would be in a position to establish splendid schools, which would not cause Jews to regret that in their capitals they are excluded from state and municipal schools. But I will not waste time on dreams about "when" and "if." As things are, we cannot do much. Toynbee Halls and free lectures are very useful, certainly, but they are only a form of philanthropy, of spiritual alms, and, therefore, not an entirely harmless gift. Excellent popular works and well-edited newspapers and periodicals also undoubtedly have their value. But to speak of them is mere rhetoric so long as we have no money to produce such literature and the people have no money to buy it.
Certain daily bread for the Jewish masses and the possibility of saving, education towards Zionism, and the conquest thereby of communi-
ties—this is the necessity. When once this program is accomplished then it will be easy to make the Jewish people the most cultured on earth. For our spiritual capabilities are recognized even by our enemies. If we were rich enough to create an extensive school system of our own, we would, it is hoped, be able to show the world that it is impossible to proletarize us spiritually as we have been proletarized economically. But before we praise our schools we must possess them, and to have them we must be economically powerful.
Long as this report is, it is still far from having exhausted its subject. A single brain cannot conceive the plan of the complete regeneration of an old, unfortunate, fallen people in allits details. I had to confine myself to scatteringthe germs of ideas. May they sprout forth inthe Jewish people. You all must co-operate in theexposition and accomplishment of these ideas.The regeneration of the Jewish people must andshall be the common work of the Jewishpeople.
The Zionist Movement and the Jewish Colonization Association *
TO YOUR great Congress—now in its fifth summer, for even when you meet in winter Heaven sends you summer—I have the honor to come as a delegate from that great centre which you have selected for the seat of the Jewish Colonial Trust. In spite of this, the Jews in that country are still crying for solidities. “We English are practical,” they say. They forget, perhaps, that to the world England means not only commerce but Shakespeare, and that it was an Englishwoman, George Eliot, who first preached Zionism in that country. Still, let me be English in the lowest sense, let me be practical as becomes the true born Briton, for, unlike so many English Jews, I was born in England. I will leave the Luftmenschen ; I will move a resolution, and it shall be about money.
As you know, Dr. Herzl has also spoken about money, so much so that he has been called a
* Address delivered by Mr. Zangwill at the Basle Congress, 1901.
materialist. Of course, if he had not spoken about money he would have been called an idealist. What the wolf said to the lamb in Æsop is well known, and it is wonderful how the conversation of the ape, the ass and the fox resembles the remarks of that wolf. Dr. Herzl said to the Jews : " Give me two millions and I will do a great piece of work." He did not get even a quarter of those two millions, and then all those Jews who had kept their money in their pockets cried " Dreamer, where is the work?"
It reminds me of what happened in the village of Weissnichtwo. The Elders of the congregation decided to present the Rabbi with a cask of wine. Each was to contribute a pint. The cask was wheeled round to the house of each in turn. Some few poured in good wine, but the majority poured in water, each thinking it could not matter if there was just one pint of water among all