What the National Fund Means to Us
AT the beginning of the modern Zionist era the political idea was of far-reaching significance. On this idea could be reared the assurance that the Jewish people would regain its national dignity through the attainment of political power. It was this idea that gave to the appearance of Theodor Herzl such epoch-making significance. In the course of the development of the the movement, however, the idea has forced its way through, that, even in the most favorable case, the political power of the Jewish nation could be only of subordinate importance and that, therefore, it can not be the imperative condition, at any rate not the sine qua non of the national dignity and future of the Jewish people.
On the other hand, the idea has penetrated into the Jewish masses to replant the Jewish people on its homeland, to lead it back to the soil, and to create for this movement such preliminary conditions that the preservation of the national individuality and the freedom of cultural development for these Jewish masses will be guaranteed. Hence the ever-growing land-hunger of the Jewish people, the longing to realize this new development of a Jewish peasantry on the soil of Palestine.
Because the Jewish National Fund meets this want,—and it becomes more and more manifest that the fund constitutes the most important institution of our movement which is capable of realizing this idea—the national fund has become increasingly popular.
Now, it is evident that the fund with its still limited means is not able to acquire large tracts of land for colonizing purposes; therefore it has conceived its proper task to be the utilization of its means to further the establishment of model colonies, ideal co-operative societies and other peasant economies. In this very way does the national fund plant a seed in the ground out of which, through the natural germinating-power under favorable development, can grow up healthy and fruit-bearing trees.
Furthermore, the idea of garden-town settlements, which are to enable the city population to cultivate a connection with nature and mother-earth, has experienced a wholesome advance through the creation of the quarter, "Tel Aviv" in Jaffa. This idea must be further improved and developed. The most modern conclusions of social science must find their application in the settlement of the land. Without prejudice against legitimate social tendencies and without obstinate clinging to antiquated European traditions, everything must be undertaken carefully that can serve the attainment of the aim of the National Fund: the creation of a free Jewish peasantry on the home-soil of Palestine.
When the leaders of the Jewish people will comprehend the importance of the task, they will rear for themselves an eternal monument of loyalty, and will plant a tree whose shade and fruit later generations will enjoy.
(Translated for THE MACCABAEAN from the German PALESTINA).