The Maccabæan
EDITORIAL PAGES
J. DE HAAS. EDITOR
FOR THE SAKE OF THE CHILDREN
A good deal is being written and said on the education problem. But nothing very striking is being done. This task of replacing words by deeds must be taken in hand by the Zionists, and even we shall have to say a good deal before anything is accomplished. Zionism knows no localization and the need is general. The Jewish education of Jewish children has been neglected on every hand. Orthodox and Reform are both preparing consciously and unconsciously the assimilators of the next generation.
So much we know; so much is evident on every hand. But all the facts must be brought out and a remedy found as large as the case requires. We do not believe in destruction, but in construction; we do not believe in a war on Chedorim or Talmud Thoras; on the contrary, these institutions have maintained the Judaism of to-day; and we believe that these classes and schools can be improved and brought up to date in matters pedagogic, so that they can fulfill their due purpose and carry forward the mission of Zionism.
We trust to see this problem, the most intense which the Jewish mind has to face in the Western World, made a leading feature in the next annual convention. Our movement has even a greater mission than the convincing of the adults, it is the teaching of the younger generation of Israel.
WARS OF WORDS
THE wordy warfare is still proceeding, a whole host of individuals claiming to be "Ruperts of debate"; whereas for the main part the real issues are avoided. Let us again make it clear, especially to our rabbinical opponents, who utilize both the pulpit and the pen against us, that neither snarls nor ill-mannered language, nor doubts cast freely on the honesty of our leaders, will affect the Zionist movement. Something greater is at stake than the bandying of words; and we
shall not stoop to answer every immature thought which is given all too ready expression.
The Zionist movement rests on facts and experience. What those have to do who wish honestly to oppose is to disprove our facts, or submit new plans for the cure of the ills and the fulfillment of the ideals of which Zionism is the legitimate offspring.
IN THE WEST
NOTHING is more remarkable than the growth of the movement in the West as testified to by the report of the convention of the Order of Knights of Zion published in this issue of the MACCABÆAN. We have only been able-to find room for the dry-as-dust facts and figures. We have neglected to describe the enthusiasm of this convention which was prepared to continue three days, though only arranged for two; nor have we referred to the march of the delegates headed by the Volunteers of Zion in military uniform, marshalled by Captain Davis, through the streets of Milwaukee from the station to the convention hall. Yet the facts and figures must be eloquent of the enthusiasm behind them. Time was not so long since but that the grave of Judaism seemed located in the West and now there are sixty Gates well knit together and the promise of an increase throughout the ten Western Middle States.
Chicago already has its Zion Hall, its Zionistic Hebrew and Sabbath School, and other cities are following along the same line of useful progress. How long will it be before the Zionist movement will have accomplished its propagandist mission in the West? We presume that not a single Western Jewish journal has given attention to this problem, and yet if the spirit and discipline are maintained the Judaism of the West will have no new face many years hence.
How difficult it is for people who are quarreling with us to understand what we are doing within a stone-throw of their homes !
GREETINGS TO SOUTH AFRICA
THE issue of the MACCABÆAN will be the first to convey its message of its greetings to at least ten thousand pairs of Jewish eyes in South Africa! Away there in the south of the African continent, torn as it has been by