MODERN ZIONISM
Theodor Herzl――The first conception and the acceptance of
Palestine――Max Nordau――The ideas of Modern Zionism.
ZIONISM, an idea as old as the Jewish nation, preached by the
representatives of Jewish thought, accepted and supported by prominent
Christians in England and France and elsewhere, expressed and carried
into effect in the colonization work in Palestine, was still in need
of a great leader. There had been many eminent champions, thinkers and
enthusiasts, but no great leader. Theodor Herzl (1860‒1904) then came
upon the scene――a born leader of men.
There had been no one before him with his indomitable energy, his
magnificent determination and his inspired restlessness. He had at his
command all the intellectual pleasures which the combination of Vienna
and Paris could offer. He was welcome in society and in literary
and artistic circles. His outlook on life before Zionism dawned upon
him had been that of the usual type of the modern, denationalized,
assimilated Jew. But the old spirit of the Jewish nation awoke in him
and removed him from this world of illusions. At the height of his
literary popularity in the gay Austrian capital, in the prime of youth
and success, he put aside everything else to champion the cause of his
people. He created the politics of a state unborn. He began his Jewish
career with almost the whole of official Jewry in Western Europe
opposed to him and intent on silencing him, until he succeeded in
outshining his adversaries. Then the public conscience awakened,
the force of truth prevailed, and he found adherents. He imparted to
the Jews the greatest national impulse that they have had since the
_Galuth_ began.
He found the word which crystallized all the yearnings and hopes
of centuries. He spoke the truth, although four hundred and fifty
priests¹ of assimilation clamoured for falsehood. He brought freedom
to the Jewish soul and kindled Jewish enthusiasm to a flame. He
reminded the Jews that they were still unalterably attached to the old
centre of Jewish national life, that Zionism remained the ultimate aim
of their aspirations, and that the old prophecies were still a living
force. He devoted all his determination and skill to his people, and
his endurance and ability to the work of organizing the masses. It was
the influence of his personality over men that made him a great leader.
His nobility of character shone forth in his actions, found expression
in his speech, and flashed in his eyes.
¹ Then said Elijah unto the people: “I,” even I only, am left
a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred
and fifty men. 1 Kings xviii. 22.
The simplicity and modesty of the truly great man showed themselves in
all that Herzl conceived and achieved. He was a man of vast knowledge,
of irresistible logic, a brilliant writer and a great artist; but in
Jewish affairs he was a _homo novus_. He was almost ignorant of Jewish
learning, of Jewish literature, even of Zionism before his time.
During a discussion on Jewish culture at one of the Zionist Congresses,
he frankly admitted that he did not know exactly what “Jewish
culture” meant. But he was the embodiment of the old Jewish genius,
a re-incarnation of those times when there were Jewish heroes, kings
and statesmen. It was hardly necessary for him to plead for the ideal
of “Jewish culture,” because his personality supplied the argument
required. His high-minded disinterestedness, his unselfish devotion,
his unceasing self-sacrifice, his magnificent energy, his wonderful
gift of seizing opportunities for the furtherance of his great ideal,
his high sense of duty, his sincere kindness and modesty of heart,
marked him out to be the first Zionist leader in the Diaspora.
The depth, tenderness and sincerity of the love he bore his nation,
his passionate yearning for the achievement of the great object before
him――these found expression in every word he uttered and every action
he undertook. These noble sentiments, together with the magnetism of
his personality, accounted for his tremendous influence over so large
a section of modern Jewry. He sacrificed his whole being and all his
possessions in furtherance of the ideal which he faithfully upheld,
satisfied with the prospect of bringing his people gradually nearer
the sacred goal of their wanderings.
Illustration: _Elliott and Fry_
_Dr._ MAX SIMON NORDAU
Dr. Max Simon Nordau, a son of _Rabbi_ Gabriel Südfeld of Krotoschin,
already at that time a writer of international reputation, was one of
the first to respond when Herzl started the Zionist movement; and he
was practically second to Herzl in building up the organization. These
two men came to be looked upon as the natural leaders and the foremost
representatives of the new Zionism. Nordau was Herzl’s faithful
friend and assistant from the commencement. He placed his genius, his
enthusiasm and his powerful eloquence at the service of the Zionist
idea and organization. His authority and influence in the propaganda
of Zionism became the most powerful and influential force in the
movement. Nothing could surpass the overwhelming logic and the
admirable spirit of his speeches, pamphlets, essays and articles. From
the very beginning he played the part of a great leader with splendid
confidence, inspiration, and dignity. No Zionist has exercised a
stronger or a loftier influence by sheer strength of character and
sound judgment. No orator or writer in modern times has so forcibly
portrayed the great tragedy of his people as he has done in his
memorable speeches at the Zionist Congresses, and none has voiced so
eloquently the claims and hopes of his nation. He had always a message
to deliver, and delivered it always effectively. He helped to make
Zionism a world-wide movement, with an appeal not only to the Jewish
people but also to other nations. His forcible eloquence and untiring
zeal in the service of Zionism are generally known. Nor does his
public activity exhaust his services to the cause. He gave much useful
advice to Herzl, who never undertook anything of importance in Zionist
politics without consulting him. Nordau exercised enormous influence
during the whole period of Herzl’s and Wolffsohn’s presidency, and
is still doing so at the present moment. A man of great literary
and journalistic achievement, with extensive associations and wide
interests, a champion of all great causes of humanity and justice,
zealously engaged in various domains of human thought, he has always
placed his time, his pen, and his matchless eloquence at the service
of Zionism.
Herzl fathomed the causes of the sufferings of his people, and saw a
radical solution of the Jewish problem of two thousand years in the
national regeneration of the Jew. Like his great predecessor Pinsker,
he thought at first that it was immaterial where the proposed Jewish
centre was situated. He had then no opportunity of knowing the real
feeling of the Jewish people on this point. When he tested that
feeling he quickly discovered that Palestine was the only possible
country. Wishing to see a Jewish centre established, and knowing that
elsewhere it was impossible, because contrary to history and tradition,
he concentrated his efforts on Palestine, and although he realized the
difficulties more than anyone else, he remained till the day of his
death (notwithstanding the East African scheme, which he considered
only from the point of view of preparation for Palestine) a convinced
and ardent Palestinian.
To repopulate this ancient country, to make it a centre of human
civilization, was his object. He did not think that the solution of
the problem lay in emigration _per se_. He saw that, however carefully
emigration was carried out, the result in the long run must be a mere
shifting from place to place. Colonization on a large scale, in any
territory that might be found for the purpose, taking no account of
the historic national sentiment of the Jewish people, and lacking the
attractiveness necessary to make it more than a philanthropic scheme,
cannot solve the problem. And philanthropy will not solve the Jewish
question. Zionism alone――the Jewish National Movement――seeks to
grapple with the Jewish question effectually once and for all. It
proposes to establish for the Jewish people a secure and recognized
national home in Palestine――the land to which the Jew during two
thousand years of exile has never relinquished his moral claim.
While providing a refuge for oppressed Jews from other lands, a home
in Palestine would become a centre for the Jews throughout the world,
thereby raising their status everywhere, and saving them from the
degradation to which they are now constantly subjected, merely because
they are Jews. Such a plan has a spiritual appeal, and rallies to
its aid such energy, enthusiasm and driving power as no scheme of
colonization in any other country would ever command. And in spite
of the contention of the different philanthropic Jewish societies
that the immediate needs of the Jewish masses are best satisfied by
improving their condition in the countries in which they live and by
offering them opportunities of emigrating to other countries, it was
felt in all quarters where intense Jewish feeling was still alive that
the new vision of Herzl must not be allowed to fade away.
This new Zionism differs widely from all Jewish philanthropic
efforts. It was based not on charity, but on an appreciation of
history――political, economic, social and ethical. It proposed the
rebuilding of a nation and the repopulating of a country. It meant
a logical and morally satisfactory solution of the general Jewish
problem. It was not a measure for the moment, but an achievement
for the benefit of untold generations. It did not profit merely the
poverty-stricken or persecuted section of our people, but affected
the whole of Jewry by a complete change in its position. It taught
again the old lesson that no Jew, conscious of his duty towards the
unborn generations of his people, should ever lose sight of the fact
that Palestine, and Palestine alone, is the country to which he has a
historic claim for all time, that in the old country of his ancestors,
and there alone, it is possible to work out his people’s destiny, and
that nothing short of this ideal can be accepted.