History of Zionism, 1600-1918, Vol. 1 (of 2)Sokolow, Nahum
History
History of Zionism, 1600-1918, Vol. 1 (of 2)
Sokolow, Nahum
Jews -- Restoration; Zionism -- History
5. The question of equality of rights is another problem out of which
anti-Zionists have endeavoured to make controversial capital. The
Russian Revolution, with its recognition not only of individual but
also of national equality of rights in the country where of all others
this problem was most acute for the Jews, has taken the ground from
under their feet; and we are no longer called on to treat seriously
the contention that there is any sort of incompatibility between the
Zionist claim for recognition of Jewish nationality and the claim of
the individual Jew, wherever he may be, to be allowed the privileges,
as he is ready to fulfil the duties, of citizenship. There is, in fact,
unconscious humour in the attempt to reduce the problem to a sort
of alternative formula: “Either rights or Palestine,” and therefore
choose for yourself! “_Hic Rhodus, hic salta!_” This is surely the
very height of _naivete_. Such a dilemma is a senseless invention.
Every student of Jewish history knows that if there has been and if
there is persecution of the Jews or any limitation of their rights,
this has not been, and is not because the Jews were or are Zionists or
non-Zionists, Orthodox or Reformers, and so on. One might more easily
find some connection between anti-Semitism and the assimilation
of those Jews who endeavoured to amalgamate too quickly. But even
this point is irrelevant. The Jews must not ignore themselves, and
ignoring themselves would not help them to get rights. The more
they respect themselves the more they will be respected. And what is
the self-respect of an ancient nation? Self-respect is faithfulness
to one’s own history and traditions. There is no duality and
no alternative. There is only one Jewish problem that requires
solution. There is only one Justice――to man and to nations. Justice
will consider Jewish needs; injustice will be deaf to any demand.
Weak-minded and nervous people feared that Zionism which recognizes
the Jews as a nationality will allow the anti-Semites to reproach
us triumphantly as having no native land. Weakness of mind and
nervousness are bad counsellors. The anti-Semites did not wait for
Zionism in order to brand us as having no fatherland. The Christian
peoples, however, amongst whom we may presuppose a sense of justice
to exist, will believe us when we speak thus to them: “We Jews are
true citizens of the States to which we belong. All interests of the
country are also ours. We have no single interest which is opposed
to any interest whatsoever of our country. We are strong and of deep
feeling, and are attached therefore with more than ordinary love
to that spot where our cradle stood and where the remains of our
ancestors are buried.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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