The Maccabaean

Jewish education is real, although it is maladjusted, misguided and chaotic. The creation of such bodies as the Board of Jewish School Aid in New York, the Associated Hebrew Schools in Boston, the Associated Talmud Torahs in Philadelphia, the Jewish Educational Society of San Francisco, are the first steps indicating the growing movement among American Jewish communities to take hold of Jewish education in a large communal manner and to place it at the center of communal activity.

What can the Zionist Organization do for the problem of Jewish education in America? The Zionist Organization has, of course, the specific task of Zionist education in its more restricted meaning, that of spreading the ideas of Zionism and the love for Palestine among all ages and classes of Jewry. Upon it devolves also the allied responsibility of training Zionist workers. Besides these it has taken upon itself the duty of providing some extensive education, through Young Judaea, for the thousands of Jewish children and adolescents whom the Jewish schools do not now reach.

Can the Zionist Organization also extend its influence so as to help in the more significant and more fundamental problem of creating a Jewish school system in this country? At present it would seem impossible and unwise for it to involve itself in the problem of providing adequate Jewish school facilities. The funds required even to co-ordinate and standardize the existing Jewish schools are very large. One million dollars yearly would be needed to exert any appreciable effect in improving the American Jewish school system. Such an attempt would be impractical also because to carry on the work of co-ordinating and supervising the Jewish schools of America would require a large staff of specialists in education, far beyond the present possibilities of the Zionist Organization. Then, too, the differences of

program and of attitude in Jewish education among the various Jewish parties are intense and fundamental, and any attempt on the part of the Zionist Organization to "interfere" with them in their educational work would be resented.

And yet the Zionist Organization must interest itself actively in the problem of Jewish education. Zionists understand that a homeland in Palestine, both in point of successful establishment and in point of influence upon world Jewry, will depend greatly upon the sympathy, the understanding and the co-operation of the rising generation of Jews. The Zionist Organization, for the sake of carrying out its own program, cannot look idly upon the spiritual drifting away of our children because of the neglect of American Jews. Zionists throughout the country expect the Zionist Organization to do something for them and for their children in Jewish education, for it is the only national organization with which most of the Zionists are in touch, and the only one having nation-wide, permanent, democratic machinery for reaching the Jewish people throughout the country.

It is not within the scope of this article to outline the educational possibilities of the Zionist Organization. The Organization has grown with marvellous rapidity within the past few years, and what may seem impossible today may prove possible and feasible tomorrow. The work of Jewish education is a great opportunity and a great duty. The revival of Jewish life has proceeded in two great waves: the establishment of a national center in Palestine, and education for Jewish life in the Diaspora. The same forces are working in both, and the energetic enthusiasm so wonderfully generated in the first of these waves must not be lost, but must be utilized for the consummation also of the second.

Who shall inherit the world? Shall force reign? Armies and banners unfurled, A tumult of pain? Shall the King reign? Shall the chariot conquer? Shall the bomb be first, And the guilty submarine vie? Shall the air be accurst Because man can fly?

Who shall inherit the world ? Shall wealth reign ? Shall a thousand little wheels be whirled In an ecstasy of brain? Shall the plutocrat reign And the factory conquer, And all men be one In a tyranny of steel and oil? Shall generations see the sun For the sake of toil?

Who shall inherit the world? — Rise, O Abashed! Kings to their death shall be hurled, And factories smashed; Gold shall be trash.

And nations shall totter,—But one shall arise,And a nation of teachers shall liftThe salvation of law to the eyesOf a world adrift.

Others inherit success:Smugness reigns.What profit these years of distress,These studies and pains?You inherit jeers,You are called failures,You eat bread with tears,You sleep when you can,Yet in your busy hand appearsThe destiny of Man.

You shall inherit the world:A nation shall riseWhose banners for peace are unfurledAnd whose workmen are wise.Justice shall reign.Teach this, O teachers!This is your task.Forgotten, you shall rule the land.In that day what men shall ask,Lies now in your hand.