1871, no. 44; in English in Jewish Chronicle,London, March 21st, 1873; see also HebræischeBibliographie, vol. XII, 1872, p. 67.
The above list is the first attempt to collect under one rubric the names of Jewish scholars
born in Glogau. It is by no means exhaustive, but it is interesting to record, as one of the curiosities of biography, just why a native of that Silesian town should exclaim with a glow of pride, Auch ich bin in GLOGAU geboren !
GEORGE ALEXANDER KOHUT.
A Few Objections Dissipated
A COPYRIGHTED article in which Mr. C. H. Levy has given expression to his views on the Jewish movement toward Palestine, answering the proposition in the negative, has recently been reprinted in several newspapers in the West. According to his deductions the Zionist movement, which has grown to such great proportions among the Jews all over the world within the last few years, is only "a dream that will never come true," and the leaders of the movement are visionaries and impractical schemers.
"It is asserted"—says Mr. Levy,—"that the European powers would oppose such a move (the re-establishment of the Jews on the soil of Palestine) most vigorously."
"It is asserted" sounds too impersonal and too airy as an argument, and I feel safe in assuming that Mr. Levy has no authority for this assertion. It is, on the contrary, a well known fact that the German Kaiser evinces great benevolent interest in the movement. Twice he received Dr. Theodor Herzl in audience, at Berlin and at Jerusalem, and the opening of the gates of the sublime Porte to Dr. Herzl was largely due to the good offices of the German Embassy at Constantinople, whose influence could not have been secured without a word from Berlin. Another well known fact is that the Russian government is favoring the Zionist movement among its Jewish subjects. Under the prevailing laws of Russia, Russian subjects are not permitted to assemble in meetings, to raise funds from the public for any purpose whatever, or participate in any political movement of whatever nature without the sanction of the Russian government. Imprisonment or even exile to Siberia would be visited upon the transgressor of said laws. But the Zionists within the dominions of the Czar hold their Conventions openly, raise funds, buy shares of the Jewish Colonial Trust and are not interfered with. Russian government officials in high positions have repeatedly and publicly expressed their approval of the movement. A Russian official publication some
time ago informed its readers that a memorial on the Zion movement, written by Dr. Herzl, had been submitted to the Czar. All these facts tend to show that the Russian government is well informed on the subject of Zionistic aspirations and its attitude in the matter is encouraging to Zionists.
Mr. Levy believes that Christians would object to the scheme. This objection is as imaginary as the alleged opposition of the European powers. Mr. Levy will not be able to produce a single Christian authoritative opinion in opposition to the Zion movement, while the Zionists, on the other hand, can point to the most influential publications voicing Christian opinion in favor of the movement.
A few other objections have been raised by Mr. Levy, viz :
Palestine is small Fanaticism of the Moslems Palestine is sterile.
To these objections a brief reply may suffice : To a people without a home and without a span of soil it may call its own, a home of 6040 square miles to begin with is a boon not to be despised. And if in the course of time that space should be so settled as not to leave room for more willing settlers, nothing will prevent the Jews from continuing their work of acquisition by purchase of adjacent Syrian lands. There was never a time in Jewish history when the Jewish people were confined to the boundaries of Palestine proper.
As to the alleged fanaticism of the Moslems, which Mr. Levy believes, to be the way of the settlement of Palestine by the Jews, I will say that the Sultan of Turkey, who is discussing the subject with Dr. Herzl, is a safer authority on the religious feelings of his Moslem subjects than is Mr. Levy.
The objection of sterility of the Palestinean soil has long since been removed by those brave pioneers in the work of the regeneration of their ancient land and people, who are now tilling the holy soil and shipping its products in the shape