New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-08-02
MODIFIED Z[ONISM
tRGid to Haze No Connection 1r1fh
International Increment

Sir: AS of the many Jews who read your
editorial, "a Modified Zionssm.' of the 1Ith INST
with great interest. beg point out slight as
crepancy between enc two Of the statements N
that article and the exact facts OF the situation IN
zionism. The proposition 70 secure tract Of LAND
outside OF Palestine for settlement OF Jews VINO
suffer from persecution though for time favored
by DR.. Herzl and other Zionist leaders as means
OF alternating immediate conditions, finally re-
jected by the seventh Zionist congress. held N
1905 which declared that the Zionist organization
stands firmly by the fundamental principle OF the
Base programme. namely, The establishment or a
legally secured and publicly recognized home for
the Jewish people in Palestine and it rejects
either as an end means. all colonizing
activity outside of Palestine and its adjacent
lands"
This programme of the Zionist movement stands
unalterably to this day. and there have not been
such changes TO justify the description OF TINS
idea as "A Modified Zionism
II is true that the Zionist organization has more
recently adopted policy of carrying practical
work OF colonization In Palestine. and that under
the impetus OF this work many Jews coming from
lands Of oppression and persecution are taking adj
vantage Of the agricultural and industrial Develop
1ent Of the country; but the political strivings OF
the movement are ever. being kept in view, and
only short while ago reports reached here. and
were then widely published. concerning negotiations
that are being carried on by the European leaders
OF the movement for the acquisition from the
Turkish government of certain rights for the Jews
in Palestine If anything. Zionism has rather been
broadened than modified. The party TO which you
refer as having risen out Of the Zionist movement
to develop the scheme Of creating large settle
u7ent for the Jews outside Palestine was, as
know, afterward organized as a distinct orsanlza-
ton bearing more or less OF philanthropic char
acter and has directly nothing to do with the large
international Zionist movement which seeks to
solve the problems confronting the millions OF our
people
fs rrvi7c m H1al
is that Of the existence of the whole Jewish people
and of preserving the spiritual integrity OF our
race; and despite your disagreement IN this mat
ter. DR.. Casters dictum must remain true OF the
Jewish people. as. indeed any similar declaration
would be true of any other people, that only IN
a country Of its own. living under its own condi-
lions and forming majority Of the population
could there be possible free display OF jewish
genius That a Russian Jewish youth, the son OF
rniseraby poor parents. had won the senior wrang-
lership at Cambridge. does not really affect the
question to whether: a people can preserve us
spiritual heritages while spending all its energy IN
either a vain attempt to ward on persecution or
an equally frutess effort to preserve Its customs
and religious forms against the sweeping tides Of
assimilation It is the life OF the whole OF Israel
that is at stake. and the fact that certain COM
paratively small parts of it live in the lands OF
freedom does not solve the problem Of how to
maintain the moral integrity and spiritual unity
of people which. by its history spiritual insight
and its contributions to thu thought and ldeaIlsm
of the world is entitled the continuance Of It's
distinct and separate existence This is why Jews
here are and for their spiritual benefit should
be- ever more interested in the fate of the whole
OF Israel
It is this interest in the source OF our higher
life that explains activities Of American Jews
in Zionfsn II is to regretted that you should
have chosen again to give publicity &c the charge
which has long since been refuted. ths ZionisH Is
/ incompatible with good American citizenship.
think that it can be safely left to the hoerailty
/ and the observation-disclosures Of the American public
as to whether representatives here OF the dinerenr
nationaties of the Old World have right TO take
an interest in the destiny of their respective peo
/ pies Perhaps the opinion of the Rev. DR. Edward
Everett Hale of Boston, is sufficiently represent
! alive of American Hberality and American SYM
pathy with the OF the peoples which are strus-
| Cling against odds and he has just written a let
ter to The American Ziclist'' to repeat the for
r1er assurances of interest in the cause OF Zion
| ism That the late secretary John Hay and other
eminent Americans have long before this given ex-
preston of their sympathy with the Jews IN Amer
! lea who are working for Zionism IS well rernern-
| bered
| Thanking you for your thoughtful discussion OF
the question. I am respectfully yours,
| DAVID SCHNEEBERG-
| New York July q, 1908.