Omaha daily bee., 1888-08-12
political conditions it is remote prob

political conditions it is a remote prob
ability"
Let us look at the question from the
political standpoint said the rabbi.
"Palestine is under the rule of the
Turks and the sultan is opposed to col
Onization. How can Sivartha rebuild
the Temple and restore Jerusalem,
even though he had the means. Be
fore he could take the first step he
should obtain n firmin from the sultan.
and how is he to obtain it from that un-
there was O report that the Roths-
childs intended to buy Palestine, but
there was not word of truth in it, Pal
estine cannot be bought.
THE COLONIZATION SCHEME.
Another barrier to the scheme of
cOloni zation as outlined by Sivartha.n
continued the rabbi, lis the fact that
the Jews of Europe and America have
become in ideas and tastes a western
people and are not an oriental race any
more. Their ideas have been changed
and modified, and they have prospered
so we'll in the new civilization that it is
not likely that they would want to ex-
change the certainties of life in this
land of freedom for the uncertainties of
existence in Palestine. There are
under the most favorable conditions, is
only capable of supporting about 3,O0O,-
GOO. Notwithstanding the difficulty of
COlonizing Palestine, an attempt has
been made and numbers of ROmanlan and
Russian Jews have been sent there.
The movement. however, has been only
one to afford relief. There are several
colonies also in America, notably
one in Oregon, where attention
has been turned to agriculture.
Looking from purely practical
standpoint at the project advocated by
Sivartha, it does not seem rational to
start an emigration of Jews to Jerusa-
lem, when we consider that in some of
the states of this great republic there
are counties rs large as Palestine pro-
per. |, for my part, think we should
thank God for the blessings bestowed on
us and be satisfied with our condition.
No, | do not think the Sivarthian pro-
ject will receive any encouragement
from thinking people, for, las | remarked,
the colonization OF Palestine, while
not impossible, appears at present re-
mote probability, This is not the time
nor is Sivartha the man who has the
mission, and all Jews whether of the
reform or orthodox faith, will doubtless
tell you much the same.
Every rabbi and layman of the Jewish
faith to whom the reporter spoke ech-
oed the sentiments of Rabbi Voorsanger,
the laymen being particularly emphatic
in their condemnation of Sivartha's
project as wild and impracticable.
THE REFORMED VIEW.
"The Reformed church," said one
scholarly Hebrew, docs not maintain
the doctrine that the prophecy of the
rehabilitation of Jerusalem shall be
literally fulfilled. Even if it did, no
one would hope to find in Sivartha the
agent of a divine power or the humble
mortal able to overcome the now insur-
| mountable difficulties, both political
| and financial. With the orthodox Jews
| the ultimate restoration of Jerusalem is
a matter of faith, and prayers are de-
voutly offered regularly for the fulfill
ment of the promise. The orthodox
| faith contemplates the advent of a Mes
| siah, at whose coming the chosen people
| throughout the whole world shall, as
| Pope Leo describes it:
| See lofty Lebanon his head advance;
| See budding forests on the mountain dance;
| See spicy clouds from lowly Sharon rise,
| And Carmel's fow'ry top perfume the skies.
| Hark a glad voice the lorely desert cheers,
| Prepare the way! God, a God appears.
| A God God the vocal hills reply;
| The rocks proclaim tn approaching Deity.
| Lo Earth receives him from the bending
! skies.
THE reform church. looks forward