Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-01
SCHIFF REPLIES TO CRITICS.
Defends Stand Against Zionism in
Letter to Prof. Schlechter.

NEW YORK, October Jacob H. SchifY.
whose anti-Zionistic utterances recently
nave caused much comment among the
Jews of this city, has written a second
letter to Prof. Solomon Schlechter of the
Jewish Theological Seminary of America in
defense of his position. The letter which Is
published In the American Hebrew. replies
TO certain criticisms made upon his first
letter.
Mr. Schif says he does not feel happy
over the present controversy with Zionist
friends of Prof. Schlechter, who have
hurled their anathema' against him. and
continues:
When the Zionists, as they assumed to
do at their recent meeting, speak for the
Jewish race they forget that a very large
percentage Of our co-religionists are not
Zionists, and that considerable number
even of orthodox Jews are thoroughly OPP
posed to Zionism The political doctrine
brought forth and advocated by Zonism
has nothing In common with the Jewish
Messianic hope, which finds expression in
the orthodox form of prayer. and which we
all can accept, for, like other parts of the
beautiful ancient Hebrew Liturgy. this is
solely a supplication for the Fastening OF
the coming of the millennium
Nowhere is there anything in Jewish
Holy Scriptures which tustifes agitation
to re-establsh a Jewish nation and state by
human endeavor and l therefore do not
hesitate to insist that Zionism in its polit-
ical aspirations has neither warrant from
the religious point of view.
Neither as American nor as a Jew
have l any quarrel with Zionism in so far
as 1t seeks to arouse a return to Jewish
ideals. Never have / averred Zionism to be
Incompatible with patriotism. The Jew of
whatever composte-be he native-born or
naturaliZed-will never fail to respond to
the need of his country with his ALL even
with his life; but / reiterate that political
Zionism places lien upon citizenship, the
enforcement of which the Zionist. If he is
honest, must seek to accomplish by every
legitimate means.
Are Zionists indeed in earnest when they
as they continuously do, advance the propo-
merely refuge-or. they term il, a
legalls assured home for the Russian, Rou-
manian, and perhaps Moroccan Jew? Is
the proposition that the Jewish state shall
embrace principally the prosecuted Jew not
a deep offense to the Russian and Rou-
Inanian Jew, If not to entire Jewry?
Il have held for years. and events have
only strengthened this opinion, that the
RuSsian-Jewish question in its entirety,
can only be solved in Russia, and to a
limited extent only can 1t be helped through
emigration, even on the largest practicable
scale, for six million people cannot emf
CRATE. The Zionstic agitation for the crea-
ton of a Jewish state in Palestine cannot
solve this momentous problem in any prac-
ticable manner.
I'm our own country the agitation is apt
to retard the perfect characterization Of
thousands who in recent years, have come
among us, and whose success and happiness
in this and coming generations. no less
than the veal of the state, must, to a con-
siderable extent. depend upon the readiness
with which the newcomers shall be able in
their civic condition-as separate from their
faith-to become absorbed into the Ameri-
can people