History of Zionism, 1600-1918, Vol. 2 (of 2)Sokolow, Nahum
History
History of Zionism, 1600-1918, Vol. 2 (of 2)
Sokolow, Nahum
Jews -- Restoration; Zionism -- History
Our object in establishing the Jewish National Home on the sacred soil
of our fathers is to carry on the noblest traditions of our race in all
their beauty and plenitude. Judea it was which revealed to humanity the
path of progress, it was Judea which taught the greatest and noblest
lessons in the life of nations――the lessons of Freedom and Right――and
it is Judea which will become a centre of liberty and a blessing for
the nations. Palestine is not to be weighed down by military powers.
She is a home for a small and free nation, and not for a troop of
subjects. The glory of invaders is to be conquered by humanity. The
glory of tyrants is to yield to civilization. The glory of the land of
shadows is to receive the lamp of light. The cloud passed and the star
reappeared. And this star is not one of wrath. Nor is it one of hatred,
or fanaticism. Christendom has its great sanctuaries in Palestine.
Islam has there some of its important sanctuaries. All our glorious
holy places are there. They will be respected and safeguarded with
reverence and devotion, in peace and mutual love. But around the
places of worship life will spring――honest, simple, pure life. We are
a peaceful people. We are going to cultivate the soil; we are going to
cultivate our ideas. Our future is the ploughshare, and not the sword;
the book, and not the bullet. The beneficent spiritual influence of
a regenerated Palestine is undoubted; its future, which is boundless,
belongs to you; each of you already possesses a portion within himself.
Let us but work together so that our people may preserve and improve
its title to be considered the conscience of the human race.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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