The Maccabaean
of the reorganization problems can only come through the deliberations of a small working committee who will consider all the proposals that may be submitted and draft a maturely considered plan for action by the Executive Committee. However, the character of the reorganization will, of course, seek to meet the new problems confronting the organization. Inevitably, the form of reorganization to be involved must be such as to enable us effectively to meet the practical problems confronting the Zionists in the concrete and pressing re-establishment of Palestine. The form of the organization must translate into actualities the phrase used
by all of us that "we have reached the parting of the ways"; that we are no longer a propaganda movement except the propaganda that comes from undertaking and achieving concrete enterprises.
K. Co-operation: Furthermore, we must never lose sight of the fact that our plans should be such as to elicit the full co-operation of all Jews, those who do not want to build up the Zionist Organization, but who do want to share with the Zionist Organization in the upbuilding of Palestine.
Two Poems
The following two poems by Elias Ginsburg, an American Jewish Legionaire in Palestine, were written in Fort Acca, where he was imprisoned together with Jabotinsky and his 19 comrades for participating in the formation of the Jewish Self-Defense during the Jerusalem riots last April. He was released from prison when Sir Herbert Samuel, upon assuming the position of High Commissioner for Palestine, declared general amnesty for political prisoners. The poem entitled "Fort Acca" was written on the day of his imprisonment, the other on the day of his release.—THE EDITOR.
ACCA PRISON
Dark, quivering shadows like huge, monstrous ghosts; Two sentries like statues nailed down to their posts; Two bayonets gleaming in dim, pallid light; And hatred and yearning and stifling long night.
My soul is a tempest . . . Sleep heeds not my call.I rise and in agony silently stroll. . .My world like a graveyard looks hopelessly gray,I wish I could trust, I could love, I could pray.
O God! Give me solace, a beautiful lie,A semblance of stars or a fragment of sky;An echo of laughter, a radiant smile,A fragrant, sweet Something that heals for awhile.
Save bayonets, phantoms and sentries' dull stare,All's withered and dead and relentlessly bare . . .A girl sent me lilacs . . . How huddled they lie! . . .They've waned like my hopes, they are dry, they are dry.
THE BURNING BUSH
Deep groans of cruelly beaten slaves, Diseases, plagues, untimely graves, Young mothers’ wails for newborn babes Cast ruthlessly into the Nile; Proud Pharoah’s wantonness and guile Kindled Moses’ heart with holy wrath And sent him searching for a path To some miraeulous Salvation, To some celestial Revelation ° Of how to liberate the slaves And to create a great, noble nation. In his long quest a Bush ablaze He found. That was Jehovah’s gaze, In yonder glowing, scorching eyes He read the following command: “"Yea, free them from the Demon’s Land But let them die "midst parching sand And ne’er behold' their Holy StrandI For slaves inborn are slaves forever . And nothing in the world can sever Them from their low, degrading past . . . Almighty’s chosen children ne’er
Shall be men-reptiles lashed and strainedWithout a protest or complaint . . .Their offsprings reared by desert windsShall tread and till the Soil DivineAnd shall erect my Holy Shrine!"The Man fulfilled his Lord's demand . . .O God! Do now behold Thy LandAnd see how hordes of tiny creaturesDance, flatter, lie and change their features,And Sing, and hail . . . and kiss the handThat smote but yesterday . . . these creatures! . . .Are they the builders mighty, freeWho'll thrill the world with ecstasy?Who'll make the weak and faithless chantNew songs of Hope, grand, proud, sublime? . . .O Lord! These gnomes have had their day.Do hush them! Stop their loathsome playAnd give us men of different clay! . . .Send us a wondrous Revelation,A flaring, dazzling Inspiration,A Burning Bush that leads, directs,Illuminates the mazy pathsTo glorious Emancipation.