The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-04-14

Within the last twenty years a new
word has been added TO the vocabulary
/ of the English language "Zionism."
word of recent coinage but conveying
an ideal as old as the Old Testament
Now what is Zienlsm, what does X
aim alto begin with What does it
seek TO accomplish? Is there any need
for it? Is it desirable? Is it practicable?
VIII it benefit the world and render il
mere humane, more moral. more relig-
ious. and more peaceful when accom-
plished?
Zionism is Jewish nationaiism.
ziOnism seeks to revive in the breast
of the Jew the prophetic hope for the
national restoration proclaimed from
| Moses TO Ezekiel-to create anew in the
heart of the Jew a desire, a longing for
a return TO his own land as the condition
/ precedent
Zionism seeks to secure a legally as
/ sured home for the Jewish IN Palestine
granted by all the powers Of Europe.
Asia. and America, as is Belgium OF
/ Switzerland. The Jewish nation is now.
! for the last eighteen centuries. country
! less, and Palestine peOpleless. The Jews
are the only nation without a land to
call their own. and Palestine the only
country without a people really her
own. We know that in the time OF
David and Solomon Palestine in its re-
stricted area. q country the size OF
Switzerland. sustained a population OF
about 100000 IN ease and affluence. To-
/ day. this same country can hardly sup
! port a sparse population Of 10000.
Would Restore the Land.
Now Zionism seeks to restore the
people without a country to the country
without a peOple-an excellent match |
which viii benefit both-wllI end the /
Jews migrations his wanderings on |
Gods earth. restore rest and peace to ]
him and fertility 10 that land which 1
! erstwhile was flowing with milk and /
/ honey.
Is there any need for Zionism? I'm /
quesuonably yes, and the need IS be 1
coming accentuated more and more year /
by year. The Jew is getting tired Of the 4
gallant allegation of friends as he is |
tired Of the foes
Tt is characteristic Of the Jewish 4
people that IL was never broken up into 4
sects- In this Jews differ altogether 4
from Christians. Jews have always I
maintained union They take their
opinions seriously, but they have never
insisted on them when they Were likely
TO AFFECT the common good Nor VIII
the Jewish people ever disintegrate into
parties. The day OF disqualification cen
turies Of persecution could not bring.
and IS not likely to come in our time
Now. Zionism is talked Of as a sort OF II
sectarian movement but nothing IS II
further from the mind OF the ZiOnists /
than 10 break away. There is a little /
division among modern Jews, but ii is
much more to the point TO say that
Aionism has helped TO make solidarity
Movement in Washington.
Washington is not far behind the 4
other cities in taking up this progress
slve movement As early as 1897 scout \
fifty of Washingtou's most prominent n
Jews met in Oppenheimers Hail. on \
Ninth street ard planned TO create I
society for the promotion Of this most \
interesting cause. The B'nai Zion AS
ISOLATION was formally started January. 1
1883, with seventy members enroll Il
ca. and has gradually increased and
spread in its influence until now. under
the leadership Of President J. Rosen-
field. the organization has attained about
200 members in good standing It's OBJ
Ject is 10 arouse interest among the
loyal Jews in Washington. 70 buy lands
in Palestine and establish there Jewish
So great an interest was taken not
only by the older people, but by the
younger set also, that il was deemed
necessary to split Zion!sm in Washing
ton The elamor for admission to the
3 mai Zion Association that was set UP
by the younger folks eventually started
the ball to rolling, and pursuant to a 1
call by the Ladies' Auxiliary Of the /
Adath Israel congregation, on Deem
Ter 4 1900, a number OF young men and
women met at that synagogue Tor the
purpose of forming a branch organiza-
ton 10 Bnai Zion Association IL was
decided 90 call this newly formed club +
the Young Peoples Union. A cOnsti- +
luton was formally adopted and officers
were elected The first president was 3
Dr. Mandel, the well-known rabbi.
Wave of ZiOnism.
The union struggled along until 1902
The year in which DR.. Theodore Herz.
the great Zionist leader, aroused so &
much interest throughout the world by
his famous essays on this movement, &
and what it hoped to accomplish. In
this same year Miss Henrietta Sold. Of !
Baltimore. a very ardent Zionist. came &
10 Washington, and at a mass meeting
nstigated by her influence, a Zionist
society of young people was organized.
was thought best to consolidate these
NO societies, and accordingly, on Feb
uary s, 1902. these. organizations merg-
I