REVIEWS AND COMMENTS
PALESTINE AND THE POWERS, BY F. G. JANNAWAY
This is a rather curious work by an orthodox Christian, who believes in the restoration of the Jewish Commonwealth, because it was foretold in the Bible. The book is written in a loose, rather ill-considered style and is lacking in method in the presentation of its contents. The writer has been in Palestine, however, and visited the colonies, and sets down a list of them, including schools and other institutions. The claim is made that his list is the most complete that has yet been compiled. Interesting, though not always convincing, is the writer's identification of ancient nations with the latter-day powers which are at war at the present time. For example, he believes that the word Tarshish is used in the Bible to designate Great Britain. The startling feature of his assertions is that he does not use the Biblical names of peoples and places as figures of speech, with which to point a moral, but regards them literally as ancient names for modern nations and localities whose advent in the great world-drama affecting Israel had been foretold long ago. Perhaps not many will be found who will agree with the writer in his singular penchant for discovering in the Bible precisely those names and occasions in modern times, which are the labels of our age. But whatever the shortcomings of the work— and they are not few—it would be a mistake to regard it as an isolated, uninstructive incident. As a matter
of fact, it furnishes one of many evidences that the Christian world is beginning more and more to regard the Jews as the inevitable possessors of Palestine. That part of the Christendom which still has faith in the basic elements of the Hebrew influence upon the world is beginning to look yearningly for a renaissance of the Jewish spirit to rejuvenate and refresh the moral consciousness of the times. It is true that, mingled with this hope, lurks an ulterior motive looking toward the conversion of the Jewish race to the religion of Paul. The Jewish people needs not fear, though it may have to combat, this ambition. Neither should it lose sight of the fact that Christianity is nothing more nor less than residuum of a Hebrew movement among the Gentiles. To convert the world to Zionism is by no means beyond the bounds of practicability, provided the Jews carry the message to their Christian neighbors with the same zeal and courage that characterized their ancestors, the apostles. To attempt to achieve the Zionist program without attempting to win the support of the world at large through the vindication of Jewish values would be more difficult, if not impossible. The style of "Palestine and the Powers" is not one to recommend the book for learning or solid thinking. On the other hand, it would be a mistake for Zionists to dismiss it as simply the work of a crank or a Christian missionary, despite the proseliting tendencies which lie at the root of it.
(Published by C. C. Walker, Birmingham, Eng. Price $1.25.)
To All Zionists
Every Zionist group—in every city in the United States—should at once begin the work of canvassing the Lodges and Chevras, and to get them to enroll in the Zionist organization.
The great Orders—the Independent Order Brith Abraham and the Independent Order Brith Sholom—have declared themselves Zionistic, and pledged themselves to give moral and financial support to the Zionist movement. This means 250.000 possible Zionists.
The rank and file of the other Orders—as we know—-are friendly to Zionism, if not, in a majority of instances, decidedly Zionistic.
We must make a complete canvass of all the Lodges and Chevras—as complete as we can possibly make it—and have each Lodge and Chevra go on record with regard to Zionism; and that record must show just how much financial and moral support they are willing to give the movement that aims to recreate Jewish national life.
Appoint your committees. Visit the Lodge rooms, and the meetings of the Chevras. Have your best men and women take up this work at once, and systematically visit the meetings, present the Zionist cause, and ask for the adoption of a resolution pledging the members to the payment of the Shekel.
Zionists: For the first time in our existence we are in a position to win for our cause the large mass of our people organized in the fraternal orders and chevras. Do not neglect this favorable opportunity!
Write at once to the Federation office for particulars.