The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-12
JEWISH DREAMS OF ZION.
OTHER HOPES CHERISHED BESIDES
DIR. HERzL,s PROJECE
The Colonization or PaicstIne-Aspects of zion-
Ism In Russia and trin-boli In the
Jewish s~Iission-Atutude OF the Orthodox.

A1NM tA - uuu US ~ INV
Jewish srission-Atutud or the Orthodox.
The idea Of rc-cstablishing n Jewish State in
Palestine by no means originated with DR..
Hcrzl, and tho Zionist Congress over which no
presided Mt Basic, Switzerland, forms only ono
chapter In tho history Of an old and interesting
movement which has spread in Russia and
Austria and has some ardent followers among
the jewish immigrants OF this country. Tho
origin Of Xionism is traccablc to the anti.Jew-
ish riots which broke out in southern Russia
In 1881 and were followed by Il policy of in.
creased discrimination against the unhappy
people Oh tho part of the Cars Government.
Young Hebrews, previously proud OF Russia
as their native country and disregardful OF the
traditions of their fathers, wero suddenly
awakened by atrocities and prosecutions TO the
fact that they were children OF Israel. The
assimilation craze was In somo instances
abruptly submerged by n wave of I~sraclitic ma
tionalism. Distress is a great unificr, md the
oppressed Russian Jews of those days found
themselves brought together by their common
misfortunes. College students and professional
men who had not attended divine service since
childhood rushed into the synagogues with Rlis.
tcning eyes to prove that the spark Of Judaism
was not extinct In their hearts, and mingling
their sobs with those OF their loss educated
brethren, spoke to them Of shaking the dust of
the "stepmother country" from their feet.
Two parties then came into existence tho
Americans" who advocated emigration TO
The United States. and the "Palestinians," who
urged the plan OF colonizing the Holy Land.
The point at issue between them became the
subject of heated discussions and the allah.
sorbing topic in every Russo.Jcwish home, and
for many months almost monopolized the edi-
toriai space In the three Russian weeklics de.
voted to Jewish interests. Then il was thai Tho
lnInN Oh Jews 10 This tnlnfry SIllIpnly =.
sumed great dimensions, and that the first jew.
ish agricultural colonies were established in The
promised land., In point of practical results. tho
"Americans' have been by far the more sue.
cesstul OF the two factions, for while shipload
carried across the Atlantic, the number of those
VINO nave responded to tho call OF the ''Pnlcs.
tinians has thus far been comparatively insis.
nihcant, And yet emigration to America as II
solution OF the Jewish question. rs mn idea, has
little 6y little fallen into oblivion, while the
ism among certain Jews, has been growing.
As TO Austria, the Zionist movement was
first set on foot in that country, some Ten years
ago, and as its chief raison di6trc then was to
serve as a counter poisc 10 the organized activity
OF the anti.semitic party. its original phase
the name OF Zion being invoked TO band Aus,
trian citizens of the Mosaic faith together into
purpose was abandoned. and the Zionists be.
came interested in the settlement of Palestine;
fopmer In Austria, as in Russia, many 9
upon his ignorance OF Hebrew stuck a shield
81 Davla IN me lapel of his coat and took up
the study OF the holy tongue.
In Russia tho Zionist movement has long
been localized by the Government. SO that the
city with a considerable Jewish population,
colicCts dues and transacts its other business
openly. 1t is also allowed to hold meetings,
ouL as each meeting requires a special police
permit, secret gatherings arc often found more
convenient; odessa has for many years been the
society's central committee and the home Of the
iSadiny spirits of the movement, although
is printed in the pure Hebrew Of the Old Tesla.
lnent and is the official organ OF the party, is
published in st: Petersburg. All the money
collected Is forwarded by the local agents 10
the chie' treasurer at Odessa. the fund being de.
voted to the gradual establishment OF new
ment of the old ones. Altogether, there are in
,ne holy Land at present twenty-five agricul.
hfH ave s so!"4iss no OF w fI5b9p" AZ }sws' al Of which
supported by, Baron Edmund de Rothschiid.
Jews, the remaining twenty.one consisting OF
russians. The Austrian Zionists. whose &C.
propaganda, have now also started a fund for
u colony of aalician Jews.
a characteristic feature of the movement is
lne tendency OF It's adherCnts to use Hebrew in
Thus the St: Paersbars HamsiitH and id'i tho
Ct,racow Homrg'd rhe Messen0erJ. the organ Of
the Galici9n branch, and most of the books
and pamphlets of the party are printed in the
noly Tongue as are also the records of the
Hebrew names, and the children of the settler.
SPEAK as their native tongue not the Yiddish
gon, while the local schools teach them The
use or good Hebrew and Of modern languages,
Of the prophets among The Jews Of RUSSIA And
naieia, which Is due to the ,Zionistic move.
Iitera,rI mas ,r IN IT. urn len; a fresh impulse to the
are in Russia and in Austria hundreds of men
ana hoHe women who write in the language OF
Isaiah with the same iiucnUy as they do in
their mother tongue. and some of these hayr
within the last decade been indefntigablc in
turning out all sorts OF Xionisfic literature.
No'els OF modern life. too, are written in what
these enthusiasts consider an immortal tongue
of an immortal people. and whatever ini1htN he h.
said OF their average merit, since IL il deemed
legitimate to write TomHnCcs OF the times III
Joshua or Isaiah in English or German. why
not repay the %ancicntS by II story or Two of tLc
life of to-day in the language Of Isaiah or AnnsI
Moreover, some OF this Hebrew iiction is really
into English. """''
There are some Zionist writer's and workers
w NY ttte or no stress upon, the gradual
migrants and the restoration OF the wander.
ing people 70 agricultural pursuits. They
sion OF the Jewish race to serve as he torch. |
bearers OF a higher civilization. TO This end.
jewish state shall be founded in PaIcsIin, 40 81,
that the children OF Israel may work out thr;r
great historical problem undisturbrd, aud
and ethical centre Of the world
This doctrine has been the source Of consid,
.h"nh hiIhpIE IIt LlDillEfs, The /
majority OF them. however. including the Odcs.
IA leaders, look upon the movement primarily
rs n phllhnthropic project. calculated to better
mo economical and political condition of M
many Russian, Austrian, or Itoumanian Jews
"a possible by rendering them sclf.surportimp
farmers ~ the promised land.
AS TO pr. Hcrzls scheme. II does not seem TO
meet WIN unanimous approval AMONG tho
OF kussin and Austria. Thus the iwo
Hebrew organs OF the movement opposc il ma
imIraGticable in itself and ms ruinoiIs 10 tho
cause by reason OF tho attention II taGr, AWAY
from inc work OF gradual rnlnnIynti,, m
the other hand, place little confidence in tho
led by nr. Ilerzl, particularly in Ina
manner in which he proposes to put his plans
into execution. ""'
They look forward to the rehabilitation of the
race as a natural outcome OF the troublesome
question.
The Iionist' are for the mot part recruited
from the educated classes. The old fashioned
jew regards the whole movement with distrust
ana SCOTS ut tho notion of people who shave
their boards and speak Russian or German
undertaking TO rebuild the temple which I;"d
alone can restore, These people patiently
await the. advent Of tho Messiah, and in thc
they, look upon Jerusalem as an IDEAL
place Tor old Jews Ia end their days in, ii Is
MOI an uncommon occurrence for ali old coupir
70 sell all they have In this world and 10 20 In
The Holy Land ia li, Th, ,,,n,,,,