“Ah! You....only....of all....”
Ah! You...only...of all.... There was another tense pause whilst the old woman continued praying. The stertuous breathing stopped once more.
“You....only.... Mendel.... loved me....” each word was uttered in a broken lingering accent.
“Rest my child.”
She wandered in thought, then wistfully she asked again, “You—will—take—me—back.”
“Yes.”
“You—forgive—all.”
[THE END]
“Everything.”
“Let her say the prayers of the dying,” whispered Mrs. Ruebensohn, peering close to the unclosed glazed eyes.
Rebecca clutched Mendel’s hand. “I see,” she screamed hoarsely.
“Hear oh Israel,” began Mrs. Ruebensohn, lighting a taper.
“I see—Mendel—take me....take me. I am—so tired,” and the dead hands fell in an embrace on Mendel’s arms.
The Forum
TWO VIEWS ON ZIONISM.
MANY of our enthusiastic Zionists who hope to see in the near future the establishment of an independent Jewish state in Palestine, would consider him extremely non-Zionistic who would venture to say that the absolute transfer of Palestine to the Jews at the present time for the purpose of establishing an independent state, would be in many respects very disastrous to the true purposes of Zionism. And yet, after some reflection we cannot but admit, though it be much to our dislike, that such would be the case.
Zionism in its broadest sense, we must remember, does not mean that the climax of our ambition will be attained with the establishment of an independent Jewish commonwealth in Palestine. Much as we may hope and long for it, we must have always in view those grander and nobler purposes for which we have been selected, and never for a moment should we yield to circumstances and be carried away so far by the desire to free ourselves from our sufferings as to overlook those duties, which Providence had seen fit to entrust us with. It is true that for the mere purpose of helping ourselves out of our present condition, it might be sufficient to regain Palestine and establish ourselves there as an independent people. It may be true that the Jews are fully capable of organizing themselves into a political body, and discharge their political obligations in as efficient a manner as any of the existing nations. But as long as the Jew can
show no better example of civil government, as long as he cannot create something that should serve as a model form of government to the entire world, he has no right, in justice to himself and to his mission, to assume the responsibilities of an independent nation.
This assertion may, at the first instance, appear somewhat strange. The reader will undoubtediy ask, as did Dr. Max Nordau at the last congress, why should we be expected to be better than other people? Why should the Jew assume the ungrateful task of being a teacher and serving as a model of the world?’ Why should we not be justified to exist, like other nations, to better our own conditions, without regard to the question whether we are of advantage to others! Why should only the Jew be required to account for his existence to the world? But strong as the questions are, a more thorough examination into the long history of our people will show us that we cannot help ourselves. We cannot escape the fate alloted to us. Providence has once destined us to be * a kingdom of priests and a holy people,” and as much as it be to our annoyance and disadvantage, we have no means to free ourselves. We must be better than all other nations in spite of ourselves. We must be useful to others, even though we suffer thereby. And even Zionism is merely another and more effective way of serving the world by actually demonstrating the principles of morality and justice which we maintain and preach.