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
We Jews have become again children of Nature. There exist species
in Nature. The eagle does not toil for the pike nor the lion for the
cat; neither can the light of the stars replace that of the sun. Each
fulfils its own purpose, and thence results the sum total. Behold the
trees and the standing corn――would they be so splendidly developed,
so rich and so fresh in their growth, if they were forcibly mixed and
mingled together so that one drew its sap from the other? They are
flourishing and rich and beautiful, because each keeps its own natural
form and each draws its nourishment from the breast of mother earth.
“Give us our country,” said the Zionists. “Give it to us for our exiled
and wandering ones, who unwillingly find themselves mingled in the
great seething pot of assimilation, who drag themselves from place to
place. Give it to us for those who long and thirst for another kind of
life; our garments, our bread, and our freedom we do not wish to have
as alms. We wish to work and to obtain the fruits of our honest labour.
We love that little country; waters cannot quench and streams cannot
drown our love for it. Our love has the power to move mountains, it is
stronger than all material obstacles. We demand a peaceful spot for our
future and for our children who are becoming lost to us. Beholding this
misery, we are willing to sacrifice ourselves. Even a she-wolf throws
herself against danger to protect her young ones. Shall our love be
weaker then than that of a wolf? And shall those whom we love be worse
off than the offspring of animals? We want to rend asunder our chains,
to blot out the mark of serfdom upon us, and win for ourselves true
human rights, and the privilege of living equal to others, by honest
toil.”
This was the Jewish claim――the demand put by Zionists to the world. And
then the world turned against us, especially the little Jewish world.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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