The Maccabaean

selves in our humane plan without paying for it with their own distress. The way should be the way of poetry, of art,—of beauty, in a word. It were well and it were effective if our secluded women could be made to see that Zionism contains an element of great beauty, that it means an old vein of gold embedded in the Jewish poetry of all ages, whenever Zion songs gushed forth from the souls of our poets. Our women should be shown that this Zionism, which arises as a new fashion of the day, yet contains beauty imperishable and young.

0 ו ו SIAL GSS מו עור ,ווה 2+ 1+ * *- 0 This work, I believe, will partly be done for us by the art of poetry, which has been following in the footsteps of Zionism since many a day, Stimulated by the beauties of Zionism, more evident to outsiders than to us, Christian poets have arisen who are celebrating Zionism. One of the first was the French writer, de Boutelier, a poem by whom appeared in Die Welt some time ago. It contained a passage in which the poet speaks of the white walls mirrored in the Mediterranean Sea, and he beholds a vision of a culture that is to be. Again, the rustle of Zionism is heard passing through a novel by Prince Wrede. Recently a book of songs appeared 7ל 8 Freiherr von Munchhausen. It is illustrated by a Jew by the name of Moshe Lillien, and is called Judah, and it. too, glorifies the grace of the Jewish renaissance.

ee) Be eee Ne EE NEE ED Now, I think that as in the years of our decay, which curiously enough are called the years of emancipation and elevation, we have fallen into the habit of heeding what others say, such artistic events may produce an effect. If the outside circles of society with which we come in contact should find Zionism beautiful and good and great, I do not consider it impossible for a Zionistic propaganda to establish itself even among us, by the road of snobbery.

.-- Gh Every woman is the centre of a circle, small or large. In her limited circle she can do much. She can educate disciples, agitators who, according to such a snowball system, will in turn become the centres of circles in society. They will develop new circles and educate new disciples, the disciples becoming mistresses of the Zionist idea. It is for these to tell how beautiful Zionism was even in the days when the idea was poor and young, and depended only on the poor and the young, and they can demonstrate that further development, under more fa- worable conditions, will contribute still more to the em-

bellishment of the idea. The forms of life that assert themselves with Zionism as their centre, stimulated by it and stimulating those that come in contact with it, would enable them to show that it would be a much finer occupation for leisure hours and even for occupied hours to become acquainted with the Jewish idea and to act for it than to tattle at afternoon teas or lose one’s household allowance at cards or kill time in all sorts of useless ways. This would be a form of self-education and self-development which, widely different from empty pleasures, would be of use to the children, for a woman who is a good Zionist must also be an attentive and farsighted mother. I do not say a good mother, for there are no bad mothers. A mother must understand that Zionism, if it is a great and important movement, is so particularly for the children, because they are the citizens of the future, at all events of this future, however soon or however late it may come. We have experienced this education in ourselves as we devoted ourselves more and more to the thought. A mother who understands Zionism will cherish the idea not only for herself but also for her children. It is thus a way of passing the time that is both beautiful and useful, even if one uses only the hours that are devoted to recreation.

As a matter of fact, all signs indicate that the Zionist movement is finding more and more endorsement, and that those who are constantly taking their cue from other people are becoming less and less ashamed to acknowledge their adherence to this movement, hitherto misunderstood or looked upon as injurious. I can imagine vividly how it will suddenly become an honor to belong to Zionism and to have worked for it, when once we shall have practical, feasible, tangible results to show. Then so and so many people will attach themselves to the movement in order to advance themselves. I wish this consummation with all my heart because we do not want to wander up and down forever on the fields of fancy. An engagement should some time or other be followed by marriage. Nevertheless I am of the opinion that a long long way is not harmful and you know how I entered the Promised Land. You know how long the wisest of all Jews led it hither and thither through the desert in order to purify it and cleanse it.

Awake the ruddy life within thy veins!—The life whose vigor like a stream flowed freeAnd wrought a tropic harvest for the world.In the sun's birthplace, is it night with thee?

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me!

Forgive me! For I ne'er have known thy face,O mother! And thy beauty is no moreUnto my yearning, than the prayed-for sight,Across a weary sea, of the sweet shore.

Our hopes are anchored on the drifting wind, Our hearts the prey of every wandering fire. While thou behind thy web of memories Art trancèd, seeming dead to our desire.