Evening star., 1902-01-06
HOME FOR THE HEBREWS
MOVEMENT TO RE-ESTABLISH THE
RACE IN PALESTINE.
Rabbi Hirsch Approves the PIan-Says
1t is Time for ActiOn-Meet-
ing in Chicago.

Impetus to the movement to establish the
Hebrew race once more in Palestine was
gwen at mass meeting of Zionists, at the
Medinah Temple Theater, in Chicago. Two
thousand Hebrews for the most part sup
porters of the plan to again open the prom
ised land for the chosen people, crowded
the hail. The meeting was in connection
with the annual convention. of western
Zionists, whose organization embraces ten
states.
The plan determined upon at the Basel,
Switzerland, conference was outlined by
Leon Zolotkoff grand master of the knights
of Zion, who said that the idea was to
create legally assured home for the Jews
and a refuge for Jews who cannot be as
simulated by the people among whom they
now live.
We do not mean to take the Jews by
the neck and throw them into Palestine, "
he said, nor do we intend to transform
the Jews over night into an agricultural
people. We want to resume the broken
thread of our nation; we want to show to
the world the moral strength, the intellec-
tual power of the Jewish people. We want
a place where the race can again be CEN
tralized.'
Rabbi Emil G. Hirsch gave his views on
the proposed movement. In view of the
fact that the Zionists consider DIR. Hirschs S
attitude on the question hostile to their
plans, great interest was manifested in his
remarks. He said:
Il agree with you that the condition of
100000 Jews in Russia. Roumania and
Galicia is a blot on civilization, and cries
out to heaven for redress. The world is
stirred by accounts Of the suffering of
the women in the concentration camps in
South Africa. No doubt their condition is
bitter, but the condition of the Jew in
Russia is worse. Yet. while voices are
raised in protest to England against her
treatment of the South African women,
no voice is raised in behalf of the Jew.
Why? Because they are Jews. What
matters it that they suffer. They are Jews.
Behind them stand no guns nor armored
ships. They are Jews They have suffered
eighteen centuries; let them suffer more.
That is the condition which calls out to
heaven for justice, and not for charity.
Il also agree with you that if these Jews
say that they have no country, they are
justified. What flag is theirs? They must
pay blood taxes to the czar. yet they are
not treated as subjects. In Roumana they
are declared to be aliens. The fault lies
with the governments of Russia Rounania
and Galicia.
1t is for these Jews that the name of
their country spells Hope. 1 should not
be man if l did not realize that for these
prosecuted Jews Jerusalem spells reason.
justice, manhood end liberty. Shall we call
them to America? l would gladly do so if
their coming would be solution of the
problem.
Russia to the sweatshops of America does
not spell redemption.
III your plan will offer n solution, take
them to Palestine and l will be with you
and we will all work together.
Il further agree to the proposition that
in case the majority of the population in
Palestine is Jewish, they shall have the
right to determine their own form of gov
ernment. l agree further, that govern
ment established by them would be in ac-
coTdance with the principles Of Judaism and
it would give model state.
'All you have to do to convince us that
your scheme is practicable is to proceed
from agitation to action by colonizing in
Palestine.
Il have a nation. / will not exchange ii
for nation in Jerusalem. l have my fiag
and / will not exchange it. l have le-
gally assured home, for, after all, what we
suffer here is inconsequential. Let the Jew
learn to strike back when he is struck, and
they will learn to leave him alone. His
condition would be bettered if he would
keep the rest in wholesome fear of Jewish
fist q Jewish kiplr