The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-29

per cent. II these are in Jerusalem alone.
The Nt largest number, 10. 900, is to he
found in Jaffa and Safed, while Tiberias
has 5000 Iiaifa $500 and GAIA 100, ac-
cording To the last census taken two
years ago. Even so, these constitute
but small part of the Jewish people
tlat can in time he accommodated in
Palestine when the practical efforts to
prepare both the Jews for their work
and the lands there for their reception
have been sufficiently advanced. I'm
doubleday, this involves years of labor
but the consummation of these efforts
must of necessity rest upon not only
stable policy but upon harmonious ef-
forts and aims among the Jews them
selves.
Scattered as have been the Colon!sts
that have turned their steps toward
Palestine this has brought about lin
guistic difficulties in advancing any
work toward racial unity there. True
"A large part of these people spoke
Yiddsh, that Judeo- German dialect dat
ing back to the Middle Ages. but this
was not the holy tongue of ancient
days when Hebrew was the literary and
the religious language Of the people
The aim of Ziunism has been to revive
Hebrew an" to use this as one of the
mediums in reawakening national
sentiment among the Jews.
Now language Is one of the most
potent spurs to national development.
our modern times have seen striking
examples Of the regeneration OF lam
guages supposed to be dead or cult
waited merely for the purpose of learned
examination one recalls TO mind the
revival of Cymric in Wales, Of Gaelic
In Ireland, of Bulgarian in the Balkan
Peninsula.
THE first of these was TO all appear
ance dead and might have gone the way
Of its sister dialect in Cornwall but for
the r, solute attitude of a few energetic
Welshmen, who have made it chief
among the forces to save Welsh culture
from shipwreCk and humiliation. The
resusCitation of Gaelic, we are told by
unprecedented observers. has done more
for the betterment of conditions in Ire
land than the speeches of a thousand
agitators. And the recrudescencc OF
Bulgarian has proved powerful
| weapon in the reconstruction OF the
Bulgarian State
Hebrew, as a real living speech, had
harder battle 10 fight than any Of
these. The Jews who lived in scattered
communities had naturally little use for
common language different from the
one used by the people among whom
| they lived Even in the synagogue SER
| vice the vernacular threatened to take
! the place of the sacred tongue. II Is
agreed that common language is a
necessity for the corporate existence of
| any body Of men. Jewish tradition
| recognizes this, hut Palestine presented
| obstacles
NO, | do not count upon the general
adoption Of Hebrew by the Jews the
| world over as a common speech, but
| there il every reason why the educated
! of our people should at least learn 10
| read II and write It, drawing their in
| spirat!on for this from Palestine itself
as we understand the purpose OF Zion
ism in that direction. This brings us
., to the national and the spiritual aspects
| OF this whole movement. by national
| mean that common aim toward an
| ideal which IN mctmes called racial
but think mistakenly. because we have
| too many examples Of associated peo-
pies here of varied races hent honestly
! toward single national attainment.
palestine Is SO peculiarly and richly
| identified with the earlier life OF the
Jews that In that land alone can he
revived our nationalism In tho best
sense of the word, Hebrew being vel