LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
ZIONISM AND REFORM JUDAISM
A Layman’s View
To the Editor: It was quite interesting to read the replies from several reformed Rabbis to a letter asking them to state their position with regard to Zionism.
I notice frequent allusion to the absence of the religious element in the Zionist movement, some writers alleging that this fact is the reason for their indifference or hostility. Some Rabbis point to the fact that there are many Socialists among the Zionists who know little or nothing about Judaism.
With all love and reverence for the faith of our Fathers, I say that Zionism cannot incorporate religion as one of the planks in its platform for the reason that it is not a religious propaganda and also because it takes it for grand that the entire social and moral structure of the prospective Jewish state would of necessity and quite naturally rest upon a foundation in accord with the great principles of our own "book of books" insofar, of course, as possible and compatible with the spirit of the times.
On the other hand, it could not urge Judaism as a State religion since Zionism has at heart the noble ideals of a truly civilized State which consist of unconditional and perfect tolerance and freedom in matters of "faith."
The oft-repeated contention that the words "Jew" and "Judaism" are merely religious terms and that Jews have a special mission to perform among the nations of that earth is a fallacy. As a matter of fact, that mission was fulfilled a long time ago so that the underlying principles of religion embodied in the ten commandments and the ideals of the brotherhood of man, of love, of charity, of purity of soul, of immortality of soul, etc., are now expounded with equal clearness and weight and they are likewise lived up to by several Christian denominations (I am speaking of the most advanced Christian nations) as much as by the Jews.
Moreover, from the standpoint of agressiveness, initiative and leadership in matters religious Judaism can henceforth hold but a secondary or subordinate position.
There is nothing which is preached in a reformed synagogue that is new, different or better than is preached from the pulpits of the Christian churches and there is nothing in the usual service or sermon of the reformed Rabbi which an intelligent Christian cannot hear with equal or greater emphasis in his own church.
Certain reformed Rabbis are forcing matters to the point of appearing grotesque. In their efforts at being up to date and at aping and copying the ways of their
neighboring churches. The great opportunities and the duties for religious and social betterment for which the modern and highly complex industrial and economic problems offer a tremendous field do not engage the attention of the reformed Rabbis: some have not the ability, others have not the interest, some have not the courage and others prefer to take no chances with the pillars of the Temple. Perhaps the only “raison d’etre” of modern reformed synagogue is the feeling which many of us have that “you have to belong to something and you dare not belong to the other thing.”
The only claim which the reformed synagogue can lay to the name of a Jewish House of worship is the "chemically pure" and "resublimed" old Jewish ritual shorn of its wool, chilly and unattractive in its nakedness, and the observance of some "select" Holidays commemorating historical episodes and traditions of the old Jewish fatherland—Palestine, the very land for which many reformed Rabbis show such scant solicitude or interest.
To return to the subject of Zionism, I believe I am right in stating, that it is not so much a political question as it is a national—intellectual and economic question. Stated very briefly it aims at restoring to the Jews the country where their nation was born, where it lived and prospered for centuries, where it produced and gave to the world some of the greatest characters of human history—prophets, law givers, soldiers, administrators, poets and philosophers, the land where the Jewish genius can best develop on its own soil and under its own skies and continue to contribute its share to the stock of human knowledge for mankind’s common good.
Economically Zionism stands for the restoration of the Jew to his soil, to a natural and simple life which will insure him a sure and permanent measure of well being.
The political aspect of Zionism finds its sole expression in the coveted and very necessary “international” assurance that such intellectual and economic freedom, the rieht to manage their own affairs will be given the Jews by. pact or treaty.
While there are some who maintain that Palestine could not support more than a couple of million people there are many very competent and eminent authorities who have made careful and profound study of the topography, climate and soil of Palestine and who claim that it can support nearly six million souls, a far greater number than even the most ardent Zionist expects to see in Palestine.
Common sense would suggest that since that country could and did support a nation for centuries and that thousands of years ago it could be made to do so, now
it certainly could do so with the vast present day knowledge of proper irrigation, fertilization and proper exploitation of the soil, not to speak of the great facilities of our times in the way of transportation by land and sea for the benefit of international intercourse and commerce.
It is regrettable that some of our reformed Rabbis are not Zionists and that there is no hope that they will ever become such. We have no quarrel with the reformed Rabbis and we respect their right to their opinion. We wish them luck in the great work which they are doing or which they “think” they are doing for the benefit of Judaism at large.
Whether with or without the co-operation of the reformed Rabbis Zionism will neither die nor down: it has taken hold of the minds and energies of great men here and abroad, Jews and Gentiles alike, the number of its adherents is growing on every shore and in every clime and unspeakably tragic as is the condition of our brothers in the ruined countries of Europe, it may yet be the darkest hour which precedes the dawn when the star of Zion will again shine upon a restored Palestine.