PURELY COMMENTARY

Blemished Euphoria: Herzl Prophecy Needs Refueling

PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

Editor Emeritus

w

hen first uttered and written,
the dreams of redemption and
prophesies of their realization
by Theodor Herzl, the founder of the
world Zionist movement and its World
Congresses, provided Euphoria. They
were hope-providing and strength-
giving to people in stress, many either
victims of pogroms or threatened by
them.
The threats were often of moral
pogroms steeped in inhumanities even
in free countries that boast of prograss
and justice.
These are changing times. Now the
people Herzl addressed in "Judenstaat,"
the Jewish State, whose euphoria was
enhanced by "Altneuland" — Old-New
Land — must strive for redeeming the
idealism as well as making real the
redemption foreseen and actually at-
tained in the half-century Herzlian
prediction.
"Judenstaat" is indestructible in
world literature. It marks the affirma-
tion of prophecy that "Israel shall be
redeemed . . ." "Altneuland" portrays
the vision as a function turned into
realism. That is why it is brought to
light again by a publisher with faith
and vision in these critical times. It has
just become available in a newly
reissued edition in the translation by
the well-known author of the early
years of this century, Lotta Levensohn.
It is republished by Markus Wiener
Publishing Co. and Herzl Press.
"Altneuland," written in 1902, was
viewed by Theodor Herzl as his finest
published work. It began as fantasy
with hope for fulfillment. In the years
of the rebirth of the State of Israel it
really was fulfillment. The euphoria of

the very date of Israel's rebirth, when
Christians organized both to defame
Israel and to endorse the state's
destruction.
Formation of American Friends of
the Middle East almost on the morrow
of the "Redemption" at once became an
admonition to the Jewish state to
beware of the mounting menace of en-
mities. As always through the ages,
such hatreds also had Jewish
endorsements.
This, therefore, is a time to ask,
The compelling necessity to a com-
while judging the Herzlian utopian plete solution should therefore be view-
masterpiece, whether deeds dissolve in-
ed as challenges with preparatory
lessons. The enemies are known and
to dreams.
With all of his utopian aspirations
perpetuated. The Jewish will to carry
Theodor Herzl also foresaw the dif- on and to do battle against destruction
ficulties. Therefore, the pragmatisim of is with a knowledge that the struggle
asserting that realizable dreams, as in is a continuous one that always fights
the experience of Israel's national submission.
redemption and statehood reborn, there
The emerging problem will receive
is still a struggle. It is one of survival.
more consideration in the analyses of
Once redeemed, prophecy rejects the Voss-Rausch historical records and
destruction. Therefore, the necessity to
in the review of currently mounting pro-
reassert that an embattled Israel must blems. The Jewish obligation comes in
be admonished that there never was a the spirit of the will to carry on so as
Theodor Herzl
time without struggle. The moment
never to submit to suicide. That's why
a dream realized is emphsized in the Israel was reborn, existence was
the Herzlian warning, of "deeds dissolv-
epilogue of "Old-New Land" in which threatened. Immediately upon the
ing into dreams," must keep serving as
Herzl asserted:
declaration of her independence, Chris-
a reply to demands for suicide.
tian
groups
arose
refusing
to
accept
the
But,
if
you
do
not
wish
it,
. . .
reality of Israel.
all this that I have related to yo
An Eban Appeal
The current issue of "American
is and will remain a fable.
Jewish Archives" — an issue that
I had means to compose an
To The Arabs
demands thorough analysis to be pro-
instructive poem. Some will say,
In Their Tongue
vided in a later issue — carries an essay
it contains more poetry than in-
entitled
"American
Christians
and
bba Eban was the master dip-
struction. That it has more in-
Israel, 1948 to 1988," by Dr. Carl Her-
lomat of the State of Israel from
struction than poetry will be the
mann Voss, the prominent Christian-
the day his nation's statehood
verdict of others.
Zionist, and Dr. David A. Rausch, pro- was acclaimed by action of the United
Now, dear Book, after three
fessor of church history and Judaic Nations. For at least two years
years of labor, we must part.
studies at Ashland College, Ashland, preceding that historic event, then in
And your sufferings will begin.
Ohio, containing the admonitions and his late twenties, he was already in the
You will have to make your way
necessities to warn of serious situations. diplomatic service of the Jewish people,
through enmity and
The two authors call attention to the
misrepresentation as though a
numerous occasions, commencing with Continued on Page 38
dark forest.

When, however, you come
among friendly folk, give them
greetings from your father. Tell
them that he believes Dreams
also are a fulfillment of the days
of our sojourn on Earth. Dreams
are not so different from Deeds
as some may think. All the
Deeds of men are only Dreams
at first. And in the end, their
Deeds dissolve into Dreams.

A

Max M. Fisher: His Leadership Attains Statesmanship

A

s Max M. Fisher nears his 80th
birthday, hearty greetings span
the 6,000-mile divide between
the continents and the two nations
whence come multiple expressions of
appreciation and admiration for his ser-
vices to America and Israel on the
highest human levels.
Half of his life, his senior years,
have been marked by what is still an

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2

FRIDAY, JULY 8, 1988

July 8, 1988

uninterrupted continuity of devotion to
American idealism, his Jewish devo-
tions, his commitment to the progress
and security of Israel.
In all his identifications he has ex-
ercised judgments and loyalties that
have inspired his fellow citizens. They
keep leading to mutual devotions that
have established a high-ranking philan-
thropic society and a socially-minded
peoplehood. Therefore, he has earned
the designation of statesman.
He was and remains close in mutual
understandings to the presidents of the
United States and Israel. At every visit
to the White House during the ad-
ministrations of Richard Nixon and
Gerald Ford, Max was always there to
introduce journalists and visiting
dignitaries. When President Ronald
Reagan came here to address the
thousands at the Economic Club, Max
Fisher was chosen to preside and direct
the lengthy question-answer periods.
While this spells out Republicanism,
the fact is that he was always among
the top leaders invited for consultation
with Democratic presidents. There

with an important role as adviser and
participant.
As national chairman of the Jewish
Agency for Israel, he was the highest-
ranking Jewish leader on a global scale.
When he received the coveted Brandeis
Award of the Zionist Organization of
America, I said, among those who ex-
pressed acclaim for his many services,
that "he was wearing the mantle of
Nahum Goldmann." I did not know of
a higher tribute that could be paid to
him.
He had top leadership assignments
on the local scene and a listing of even
a limited number of them would require
a full-length volume. That is why a full-
sized biography, "The Life and Works
of Max M. Fisher," is to be encouraged.
The copy for such a text is so readily
available that the record of it should be
treated with a responsibility to help
make it a valuable chapter in
American, Jewish and Israeli history.
These are random thoughts in a
Max Fisher
birthday greeting to a dear friend. They
are symbolic of the admiration for a
hasn't been a single issue of concern to
leader
of acknowledged abilities whose
American and world Jewry and to
generation
judges him a statesman.
Israel that Max Fisher was not honored