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
“Permit me to recall to your mind the remembrance of me. At
that time you were pleased to take a truly humane interest
in the work in favour of wounded soldiers, of which I am the
founder, for which I then laboured, and which still occupies
my attention. You are no doubt aware that this work has
been as successful as such a work of philanthropy can be. It
has obtained the adhesion not only of all the Sovereigns of
Europe, and even those of the Sultan of Turkey and Emperor of
Brazil (1831‒1891),¹ but also the unanimous suffrage of all
benevolent persons in all civilized countries.
“In the whole European and American Continents――both of them
liable to the chances of war――committees and societies for
the relief of wounded soldiers have been formed, and are
in activity, and it may be said, without exaggeration, that
the service rendered by this institution during the late war
surpassed all expectation. Official reports from this society,
as well as from military authorities published more than once,
have sufficiently shown it. At present, sir, I am engaged
in another work, for which I hope you will not feel less
interest than for that to which I have just referred, the
more so as it concerns Palestine, the country made over by
God to the glorious people of which you have the honour of
being a member.
“You will find enclosed two copies of a notice which a
committee formed in Paris for the Colonisation of Palestine
――a committee of which I am a member, and which Her Majesty
the Empress of the French² has deigned to honour with her
patronage――have just published. The notice will explain
to you the object and tendency of our foundation. The
labours of your whole life, and the great merits acquired
by you in serving the cause, rights, and interests of your
co-religionists, inspire me with the lively desire to obtain
your valuable advice on the work on which we are engaged.
I hope that if you find our publication conformable to your
ideas, you will have the goodness to cause a translation
thereof inserted in the estimable journal which you edit, the
_Jewish Chronicle_.
“I also hope that you will likewise acquaint me with the
names and addresses of persons in England, whom you may
believe inclined to sympathise with the moral and economical
re-constitution of the ancient patrimony of the Hebrews; for
our work, supported by the greatest and most aristocratic
names among Christians, sympathises not the less, nay, before
all, with the Israelites, whose rights to Palestine are
superior to all others.
“I do not doubt but that the international sentiments which
animate you will call forth in old England, and among the
readers of the _Jewish Chronicle_, a sympathetic echo.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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