Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-14
SORRY ENDING IN ZIONISM
Rabbi Cohu Dsories Movement for Nation
Of Jewish People
JUDAISM RELIGIOUS, NOT NATIONAL
Holds withdrawal OF Scattered Jews
TO Palestine would he Anti
Climax to Years of
Heroism.

Speaking IN Temple Israel Friday night
on the subject Of the Zionistic movement to
re-establisli the Jewish nation in Palestine,
Rabbi Frederick Cohn held that while the
scheme had many theoretical features to
commend H. yet II had many practical
difficulties which would make II antago-
nistlc to the idea that every country Is
Gods country and that every country in
which men live holy lives such country is
as Palestine to the Jews The fact Of
these difficulties. however. the rabbi con-
tended, would not make the plan impossi-
BILE. but II would be a sorry ending to
centuries Of Jewish heroism. In part he
said:
THE radical mistake Of Zionism. as It
seems to me- is that II rests upon a mis-
conception OF Judaism. Judaism is moro
than nationalism, infinitely more Judaism
does not mean merely that there shall he
a nation OF Jews. A Jewish nation at first
was probably a necessity for the develop
ment Of Judaism, although Abraham and
the first Jews belonged 70 no Jewish nation,
but lived centuries before the Jews had
obtained a nationality. Judaism Is a re-
ligion, not a political system. As such It
Is not dependent upon nationality, nor upon
any particular land or territory. 1t stands
for certain truths that are true In all
lands, applicable to all people and which
some day are to be realized among all
nations. Judaism is a mission of religion
and Of righteousness to all humanity. 1t
is to teach all mankinD the idea Of the
one true living God. Tine aim of Judaism
is and has always been the moralization
Of humanity and the sanctifcation Of hui
man life whether as individuals or nations
Its passion is to establish justice among
men, to bring in the day of universal
peace to increase love in all the earth and
to make all people righteous
Zionists Oppose Real Mission.
THE Zionists make light of this mission,
for they are not filled with the true re-
ligous spirit. Religion is only secondary
to them and it is not mere accident that
so many Of them are outspoken atheists
and boldly confess that they care nothing
for religion. They are race-Jews, whereas
Judaism has long outgrown mere matters
OF race and has cast OFF the swaddling
| clothes Of nationality. The Jew today is
Jew only IN matters Of religion, holding a
particular faith which he believes is the
truest in the world and destined to be-
| come the faith OF all the world.
This mission Is not to be realized by a
return to Palestine. 1t would be thwarted
thus: Political Zionism means in effect,
surrender. It is a yielding TO the desires
| as 1t is a confession to the charges Of the
| Jews enemies 1t would be a poor ending.
an anu-climaX, TO the centuries Of suffer
ing and martyrdom to be shut up in a
! corner of Asia, any part of the world,
| in a nationality, even a voluntary ghetto,
and be exposed to the same fate that over
/ took 1t twice before, and aggrayate and
centralize the evils it sought to cure. A
| Jewish nation in Palestine would not do
away with ant-semitism-it might intensity
| It hundredfold.
THE Jews problem is TO be solved in
every land where the Jew lives, The
| hearts of the nations will turn to him az
| the one from whom they received every
noblest gift through whom came blessing
| and salvation"