If the Jews the world over are interested in the near Orient as a place for future Jewish immigration and if they desire to aid the Turkish Jews in general, it is absolutely necessary to assist the young and effective elements of Turkish Jewry with word and deed, with men and money. Healthy conditions for a future immigration movement must be established now, when it can be done comparatively cheaply. The Alliance and the Hilfsverein have
understood this, and some American Jews have also understood it, as those for example who have contributed to the Jewish Technical Institute at Haifa. Besides, all the other nationalities of the Orient are developing, and unless we rouse ourselves, the Jews will remain the pariahs. With the proper sort of education and training, however, these same Jews can be made to play a dominant political and cultural role.
A New Song
I will lift up my voice and sing a New Song. All the trees in the forest and the birds in the air, All the waves of the waters and the rocks of the mountains, All the stars in the sky and the sun and the moon, Will exult and rejoice, will rejoice and exult with my life-breathing Song, O, sing my New Song!
Now the Dawn and the Light I will Weave into silk, And spin out a flag for my people to own; It will wave and flutter and flutter and wave From the hill-tops of Zion, from the heights of Lebanon, O'er the homes of the blessed, o'er the Land of the Free; And when the song of Judah shall refill all the Earth, New life, new joys will spring up again; And the soul of Time will rush on with the wind, And bathe the world in eternal Song, O, Sing my New Song!
I heard in the night the watchman cry out, "The Dawn is breaking in the East. O'er the heights and the hollows the Light is pouring Like cascades of gold that were molten in Heaven; And sprays of fresh dew are refreshing the Earth ... After its long, sad slumber and dream." Then my heart awoke, and I was glad too, And I offered up my voice on the Altar of Song, O, sing my New Song!