May the Convention do nothing to impair the standing it has already attained and do much to sustain its work.
Even our opponents must confess that the enthusiasm created by Zionism is unprecedentedin the history of the Diaspora. The Zionist maybe chasing a rainbow, but at least he sincerelythinks the rainbow will be caught if the chaseonly be continued. Enthusiasm, not a hopeless,martyrlike resignation, possesses the Zionist—
enthusiasm for the future of the Jew, a consuming desire to transform the present gloom into bright, glorious sunshine. Have our opponents done anything like it—have they vitalized the Jewish people with any idea, with any desire for life. Not at all. Jewish communal work is performed in a perfunctory way; the synagogues lack feeling and are in a comatose condition; religion seems to be losing its power, society is becoming blase; in all things those who are our most strenuous opponents exist in an apologetic and colorless state.
The Propaganda
WATCHMAN, WHAT OF THE NIGHT?
Since that memorable time thirty-three hundred and ninety-seven years ago, Liberty forced its entrance into nations of almost every country and clime. But what bearing has the commemoration of the Dawn of Liberty upon the situation of the Jews of to-day?
As we write these lines, an International anti-Semitic Congress is in session at Algiers to devise plans against the Jews. In Russia millions of our brethren live and die in anguish between the hammer above and the anvil below in that huge concentrado —the Pale. Lueger, the Pharaoh of Vienna, who has kept silence for two or three years, is again sharpening his serpent tongue against the Jewish population. In Galicia Jews are murdered almost weekly, and their daughters are kidnapped and imprisoned in Catholic monasteries, where the arm of the law gives them no protection.
From the depths of these afflictions a voice cries out: Shomer, mah mileilah?
And from Roumania comes the reply:
"We are living on a volcano, or worse still, we are in the same position as the Jews in Spain were a few months before their final expulsion. It is impossible to describe in detail all the new vexatious laws, the anti Semitic school teaching ; but one fact will explain a good deal to you. The intelligent class of Jews are so nervous that every attempt to get together the facts, to piece together what is happening in all the villages, has failed, for the writers fear the consequences and some of the recipients fear to be the medium of communication."
“The government have forced the Jews out of all trades, now they are forcing them out of all handicrafts. This last has beggared thousands of families by a stroke of the pen. This forces the Jews to emigrate. But that is not
enough: the proposed new Police law will prohibit Jews from trading in the villages, and the merchants are being similarly interdicted in trade; no one will escape.”
“It means emigration. A movement compared to which that of two years ago was of no importance. And the idea is horrible. There is only one really rich Jew in the country, and he is too rich to do anything. The rest are not rich, and the middle class and the independent class are having their foothold torn from under their feet. Selling of homes means forced sales, and then what suffering have the people to undergo in strange countries where they do not know the language and where life has to be started over again.”
“And where are they going? God knows! We only see the crisis and know not how to turn.”
In the face of such a dangerous situation Israel has a right to demand information of its leaders : “Watchman, what of the night?” But the genius of Israel answers : “Othoh boker, venos laylah !”—“The morning approaches and the night floats away before the wings of Dawn.”
HAZOPHEH.
INJURED THE PROPAGANDA
The management of Zionist meetings should be orderly and mindful of the etiquette of public gatherings. Rosalie Perles tells of this incident, which illustrates the sort of action to be avoided by chairmen: “A large Zionist meeting was held here in Koenigsberg which was well attended, even by opponents of the movement. Dr. Klee, a lawyer, an eloquent advocate of Zionism, was invited to come from Berlin. He delivered an inspiring speech, which must have warmed every heart. The Rabbi Dr. Vogelstein responded with a long calm exposition of his hostile views.