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
In constituting the organization for the purpose of carrying out
this work Zionists are animated by one desire, namely, to establish a
centre in the home of their fathers, where Jews shall earn their bread,
and where the soul of the nation can be active in its own way. They
wish to combine a judicious use of Jewish energies with the forces of
Jewish capital and Jewish emigration. By means of these efforts they
will lift some of the masses out of the Jewish homelessness of the
Diaspora to a new level of material contentment and moral dignity in
Palestine.
Zionists have started this work, and it has proved to be good work.
The _Chovevé Zion_ and Zionists have created the new colonization
of Palestine. They are engaged in selecting suitable elements, in
conveying them, in helping them to establish themselves, in supplying
them with all kinds of information and encouragement. It has been said,
and is still being obstinately repeated by anti-Zionists again and
again, that Zionism aims at the creation of an independent “Jewish
State.” But this is wholly fallacious. The “Jewish State” was never
a part of the Zionist programme. The “Jewish State” was the title of
Herzl’s first pamphlet, which had the supreme merit of forcing people
to think. This pamphlet was followed by the first Zionist Congress,
which accepted the Basle Programme――the only programme in existence.
The opposition, driven from one point of vantage to another, has
made a certain confusion of ideas, arising from the term “political
Zionism,” a pretext for decrying Zionism as a “political” movement.
Zionism, it is true, is a political as well as a practical and a
cultural movement. But wherein lies the political character of the
movement? The term “political” covers two different conceptions. One
is connected with the idea of adventure, intrigue, rivalry, antagonism
or revolt; the other is that of a system which takes into account
political conditions. A political movement in the first sense aims at
carrying out its undertaking on the lines of political speculation;
but a political movement in the second sense, like Zionism, aims at
carrying on its work under all circumstances, and at the same time at
convincing those in power of the utility of the work, in order to get
the best possible conditions. The Basle Programme and the whole of
Zionist activity bear witness to the fact that Zionism has nothing in
common with political adventure. Zionists have never been influenced
by any political aggressive spirit, nor have they in any way proposed
to place themselves in antagonism to any Government or any other
nation. Zionists have always desired to be supported (§ 4 of the Basle
Programme) by all Governments on the merits of their object, and by
all nations who know that Zionist work can only advance the interests
of Justice and Freedom.
Zionism has the following objects in view:――
A home for Jews who are materially or morally suffering.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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