THE JEWISH CHRONICLE
18
Palestine Not a Solution of Jew-
ish Problem.
(Continued from Page 3)
Spiritual Satisfaction in Problems of
Human Freedom.
M illions of Jews satisfy their souls
by contributing their Jewish idealism
to the world problems of human free-
dom. They are conscious while par-
ticipating in these non-racial move-
ments that they are contributing the
native idealism of their people and
'their traditions. The subjective sat-
isfaction of the latter may be more
enriching to the world than the for-
mer, and at the same time it is none
the less enriching to the Jews.
But the Zionist may answer, "Do
you wish the Jews and Judaism to be
preserved," and with freedom will not
the process of assimilation so go on
that the Jews as a people will finally
disappear unless a Jewish State ex-
ists? This question is, and for genera-
tions will be, an academic one. First,
because the racial idiosyncrasies of
the Jews will prevent, for a long time,
if ever, their blood assimilation. Sec-
ondly, the Jews have no more right to
historic race persistence than any
other nation unless they justify it.
The only right that a people has to
persist in history is that right which
is based upon the fulfillment of their
mission. As long as they contribute
to civilization they ought to exist. If
the Jews fail to make their distinctive
contribution to the world, they have
no right to exist. They should exist
upon a qualitative basis only if Ju-
daism prevails as a spiritual force.
Does his distinctive contribution de-
pend upon a spiritual inbreeding which
is apt to be the result of a Jewish
State? Creative spirituality is a prod-
uct of struggle and of suffering. The
history of the Jews will show that
their most fruitful religious contribu-
tions have come at the point of con-
tact with othgr ,races. Spiritual cre-
ativeness needs the battleground of
contacts to produce its full fruitage.
The world needs at the present time
more than ever a spiritual revival. In
the friction of cultural contacts and in
the revolutionary melting pot of
ideals which is now taking place, the
-freat religious message must be born,
and the Jew has a wonderful oppor-
tunity to develop and amplify that
Hebraic spirit which has been his most
precious contribution to the civiliza-
tion of the world. It does not need
and has never needed a political state
for its existence or its development.
On the contrary, political considera-
tions, national hatreds, and other com-
plications resulting from the establish-
ment of the Jewish State may coarsen
the quality of Hebrew spirituality and
result not in a pure but in an alloyed
idealism. .
There can be no objection to the
existence of a cultural center where
Jews who are willing to go there can
preserve and develop their race tradi-
tions; but there are strong objections
to a philosophy of Jewish nationalism
as a condition for the preservation of
the Hebraic spirit, and there are many
dangers in that philosophy.. Reference
has been made to the tendency of such
a philosophy to develop race egotism.
Another objection is that it narrows
their horizon and tends to the ac-
ceptance of forms which the con-
science and intellect of a great many
Jews have discarded.
Practical Aspect of Home in Palestine.
From a practical point of view the
existence of Palestine as a home land
will not solve the problem as a refuge
for .those Jewish dreamers who will
consecrate themselves to make their
Jewish dreams come true. But they
are not the (My dreamers. The dream-
ers of Israel have lived and suffered
and have made their Jewish dreams
come true for the world without a
Jewish State, and they will still exist
and their dreams will have a spiritual
quality as distinguished from a mere
romantic one to contribute to the pro-
foundest problems of life, which arc,
in the final analysis, spiritual and re-
ligious. They will meet the problems
of the newer day with an open mind
and with their native vision will be
perfectly willing to cast away the old
elms for the new wine, and will be
perfectly frank to accept the new
forms, if need be, to contain the new
waters of life as they well up from
deepest springs.
the new Russia; one cannot antici-
The most constructive work that
pate what will be the outcome of the
the Zionists have accomplished is the
loose federation of national groups,
encouragement and financial support
but even there the majority of the
that they have given to the Jewish
Jews arc seeking recognition in the
colonies in Palestine. They have af-
lands of their birth and their adop-
forded some of the pioneers from
tion, rather than the establishment of
Roumania and Russia an opportunity
a Jewish state in Palestine, as a solu-
to work out their practical and spir-
tion of their problems. .
itual problems. This limited experi-
They are properly attempting to
ment in Jewish colonization is encour-
work out their destinies on the basis
aging, and has received the approval
of free and equal rights in these lands.
not only of Zionists, but of non-Zion-
Responsible, organized English Jews
ists who arc interested in any practical
scheme which will help solve the prob- are fearing the establishment of a free
republic in Palestine upon the basis of
lems of those Jews who have sought a
special Jewish rights. What they
refuge from persecution.
want is equal rights for their people
But interest in practical coloniza-
wherever they live. This is a much
tion is quite a different matter from
sounder position for the Jews to pike
risking the prestige and impairing the
influence of Judaism as a religious than the dangerous political experi-
mentation of Zionism. But to the
force by the failure of a Jewish State.
Jews in America Zionism has no posi-
A practical colonist is not burdened
tive message.
nor is the success of his experiment
My conclusion, finally, is that Jew-
threatened by the diplomatic, political,
ish nationalism as a philosophy of life
nationalistic, and racial difficulties in-
is not satisfactory; that it is reaction-
volved in the attempt to establish a
ary; that it leads to a racial egotism
Jewish State. He need not concern
himself with such questions as the rep- and that it does not conduce to pro-
found moral and spiritual but rather
resentation in the state of the many
to romantic emotions. However, this
varying shades of Jewish religious, po-
litical, social, and economic opinion, is not inconsistent with approval of
the rocks upon which states have been
the Jewish cultural centers where
those Jews who yearn to preserve and
wrecked.
Wherever Jews can be brought back
develop their Jewishness can live if
to the land they should be encouraged. they wish to. If they feel the neces-
A constructive program for meeting
sity of such a center, they should ob-
the newer Jewish immigration to
tain the right to have it, just as other
America, whereby American citizens,
peoples have. But the existence of
both of Jewish and non-Jewish ex-
such a center is not essential to the
traction, would make possible the es-
development and even preservation of
tablishment of colonies where Jews
the best in the Jew—which is the
can be brought back to the land, would
Hebrew.
have powerful value. Interesting and
What - the Jews need is that He-
encouraging beginning has been made
braic spirit which the prophet ex-
in various Jewish agricultural experi-
pressed in the insight that "without
ments in America. Therefore the vision a nation perisheth"; which
Ziottists' attempt to aid Jewish coloni-
made Micah say, "He bath spewed
zation is practical. But these colonies thee, 0 man, what is good; and what
should not be restricted to Palestine
cloth the Lord require of thee but to
alone, although the latter colonies
do justly and to love mercy and to
should receive every support possible. walk humbly with thy God?" Jews
need to be bathed in a revival of that
To the Jews of American, Zionism
has no positive message. The Ameri- Hebraic spirit which gave birth to
Isaiah's visions, to David's psalms, to
can Jew is nationally an American
only. He is thrilled by one flag, which Spinoza's God—intoxication—to that
rich literature of distinctive Jewish
symbolizes the ideals of a democracy
worth which is theirs and the world's
in which men and women of all races
heritage.
have joined together to make govern-
ment of the people, for the people, andt'f:' No romantic movement can effect
by the people a success. The very this miracle — no message of racial
first tenet of American democracy i s s elf-assertion will bring it about.
Only by a return to the source of
the separation of Church and State. It
Jewish power—Hebrew idealism—can
has demonstrated that citizens can
the goal be approached. Not through
have one common political allegiance
the easy and roseate-hued path of ro-
and as many religious allegiances as
manticism and emotion, but through
their consciences may dictate.
The American Jew will not tolerate the difficult road of spiritual and
moral effort can the subjective phase
any other national political loyalty.
of the Jewish problem be solved,
Any movement which emphasizes
wherever may be their habitat.
racial groups in America is inconsis-
tent with the spirit of this democracy.
BOY OF 17 WINS ORATORY
Jewish Nationalism a Romantic
CONTEST
Movement.
Chicago.—Twelve clubs of high
Fortunate, indeed, for the Jews of
school boys had a most interesting
America that they are participating in
and spirited oratory contest at the
a political experiment which does not
Chicago Hebrew Institute last Wed-
encourage national groups and which
nesday. Judge Hugo Pam presided
prevents the race hatreds resulting
and Judge Joseph B. David, Leon Zo-
from such a recognition. The United lotkoff and Nathan D. Kaplan acted as
States, through the wisdom of its
judges. The first prize was carried off
founders, has been free of those na-
by a boy of 17, Herman Feldman, who
tional and race wars which have char-
spoke on the subject of "The man
acterized the history of Austria, where without a country"—applying the term
racial groups have been organized and
to the Jew. It was a passionate and
recognized as a part of the larger
rare piece of oratory in which an ex-
state. It may be natural to recognize ceptionally brilliant delivery played
racial groups in Austria, and even in
the principal part ,
9
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