The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-22
BY RABBI JULIUS 7. LOEB.

Austria, Vallian of France and Henrice
Peril of italy, does not propose to de-
stroy the individualism of nations, any
more than 1t is to wipe off the lines
OF demarcation Of the individual home,
or the peculiar attributes of the indf-
Vidual person. On the contrary, the
broader the plane of humanity-the more
distinctly recognized the individual worth
of each person; the more widespread the
rule of equality-the more of a self
consciousness must be evoked in the in
dividual being, and the better the chance
Tor each and everyone to thrive and
develop in his peculiar and personal quail
if1cations And such widely recognized
individualism must necessarily rebound
to the common good Of humanity.
Now, therefore, on beholding an In
dlvidual being, be It person, people or
nationality, that asserts It's rights and
its, claims as a special and separate
entity, and for which privilege 1t is
ready to strive and struggle continually
help 1t up; give 1t a fair chance for
self-help and an independent existence.
All these nationalties that recently come
into being are doubtless entitled to their
Independent living by virtue of the CO.
hesive bond of mutual interest that char
actertzes each of them.
To lift a people out of distress is no
less a virtue than to help UP an In
dividual person. To free a nation from
the shackles of tyranny. as the United
States has done IN the case of Cuba
libre," Porto Rico, etc, is as much of
an altruism, as much Of an act of brav-
cry as 1t Is to save an individual life
from murderous attack, which every
good citizen is ready to do under all
Circumstance Both are to be classed
in the category of stand not ddleo
by the blood of thy neighbor' Gev.
xix 16) and both are included in the
injunction Deliver not to his master
the servant that may escape" etc.
(Deut. xiii, 49,
Civilized mankind today can do no
better act than redeem itself by aiding
in the plan of Jewish standardization,
which is the only peaceful solution to
an ever-agitating and tormenting prob
lem. To atone for the blood-stained his
tory of many generations, which this
ever-martyred race has left behind by
persisting to call itself a people, the
whole world must now see the justice of
the Zionist demand to procure for this
homeless people "fatherland,' legally
assured home In the land of ancient
Israel. And that to be accomplished by
no force of arms. but through the sym
pathy and moral support of all peace-lov-
ing humanity.
whole world the Jews are still a people,
united by one common tie of interest,
held together by an endless chain of suf-
fering and recognized by the popularity
of racial and religious distinction.
Throughout the many centuries OF Jewish
dispersion there was one star of hope
which linked Israel together in every land
and cline; which illumined the path of
the exiled and led them safely through
the avenues OF darkness and cruel perse-
cution. This is the hope of Zion; the con-
tinuous longing of the Jewish people for
the historic land of their forefathers; the
land that is connected with so many sa-
cred associations, with so many sweet and
precious memories of their glorious past;
the land which like themselves went on
shifting and drifting from under the rule
of one master into that of another; and
yet even to this day it remains without
mastering hand to upbuild and develop 1t
along the lines of human progression.
We might safely venture the supposition
that while devoid of Jewish activity and
Jewish personal interest this holy land
cannot but remain an eyesore to the
world, as it has been during all the CEN
turtles Of the past.
However, the recent Transformation in
the political aspect of the holy land.
with the friendly call extended to the
Jewish people that they may come to
settle in the land and trade therein. is an
unmistakable sign for the opening of a
new era of peace and prograss, both for
the land hitherto barren and deserted, as
we'll as for the homeless and downtrod-