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
¹ “Leave Israel alone!――If they are not Prophets, they are
the sons of Prophets.”――_Pesachim_, 66_a_.
Twenty years ago 220 Jews from all the countries of the world met at
the First Zionist Congress at Basle. They possessed, though everything
else was wanting, that wonderful power of improvising things. And such
was the power of right these 220 men, having nothing to support them
but the goodness of their cause, made headway against millions of
opponents among their people. During the long duration of the struggle,
a struggle without truce, where all the strength and rage was on one
side and all the right on the other, not a single section of those 220
men failed to respond to the call of duty, and, although divided in
their views, not one section drew back from the fundamental national
idea, not one gave way. They increased in numbers and they increased
in activity. Let me, at this solemn hour, render honour to those men,
to that insulted, calumniated and misunderstood Zionist Organization
which always stepped gallantly into the breach, which never took rest
for a single day, and which defended Zionism even when abandoned and
momentarily hopeless, and that not only with tongue and brains, but
also with heavy sacrifices. Thanks to them we exist, and thanks to
the progress we made here new life and new energy will enter not only
into our Zionist Organization, but into the whole Jewish people. Mr.
Balfour has sent the Declaration to Lord Rothschild for the Zionist
Organization. We received and accepted it joyfully; but, I am afraid
――or I am rather glad――that we shall have to re-address it to the
Jewish people, and I hope they will receive and accept it as joyfully
as ourselves, the Zionists. This is perhaps the greatest achievement
of the British Government that before having given us Palestine they
already gave us something which is very precious and very necessary
――Jewish unity. History will record that Mr. Balfour was the greatest
peace-maker among the Jewish people, greater than many Rabbis and
Conjoint Committees.
We were divided, distracted; and now we are indissolubly united, all
one band of brothers in arms for Liberty! I welcome the representatives
of the Jewish Territorial Organization, with their famous leader,
Israel Zangwill. I welcome the oldest Jewish organization of this
country, the Board of Deputies, and all other organizations which are
represented at this meeting. The opponents of yesterday are our allies
of to-day, and the opponents of to-day will be our allies of to-morrow,
if they will read the signs of the time. Much is still to be done
in this direction, but much has already been done. Yes; this is the
miracle which has brought about our spiritual rebirth.
What does this mean if not that wrong has always feet of clay: that
right, truth and liberty are from this time forward the true paths of
the earth, the only ways which no physical force will ever dishonour?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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