Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-27
OF ZIONIST
MOVEMENT SPEAK HERE
Express Jewish Ideals Of the Past
and Races Hopes for
Future.
SEVERELY ARRA1GNs GERMANY
Has Failed to Grasp Real Spirit of
Progress and federation or to Tn.
derstand the jew, Says DIR. Speicr.
DR.. Goldberg Addresses Meeting.

To a small but intensely interested
audience the Zionist movement, the
Zionist hope, and Jewish ideals of the
length by DR.. NJ Speier. of Newport
News. and DR.. l.. I. Goldberg. of Nor
folk. at a Zionist mass IN Getting held in
the auditorium OF the John Marshall
High School Building last night at S:45.
Strong hopes and a vigorous ideal of n
brilliant Jewish future characterized
the speeches of these two impressive
speakers. and the spirit Of an earnest
audience.
Circling the stage were Zionist pa
triotic colors. in the middle of which
was n large national flag. Jacob Cohen
presided over the ceremonies He in
troduced DR.. Speier. saying that no
more ardent advocate Of Zionism could
be found
Dr. Speier began his speech with a
severe arraignment Of Germany. He
said Germany not only failed to grasp
the real spirit of progress and tolera-
ton. and get glimpse at the spirit
that motivated the spirit of the peo-
pies of the world. but that Germany
has never understood the Jew; that she
has no sympathy whatsoever with Zion
ism. He exhorted his audience to a
more intense study Of the past OF the
Jewish race. Religion. he said, may
sometimes fall. but a study of the past
is an influence that never fails
CONDEMNS THE THOUGHT OF
RACIAL ASSIMILATION
Continuing. he condemned the thought
OF assimilation. Remember tho past"
he said. when you assimilated in
Spain, you were driven out without
compromise. When you assimilated In
France, the Dreyfus case was the Gull
mination Of persecution. Assimilat ton
~ cn1N fha
1t greater and worse. History proves
that the Jew must solve the Jewish
problem"
He quoted Darwin. showing that
people. as rule, were the objects of
their environment. Judaism is in the
minority. Judaism will die out unless
1t finds suitable environment.
Judaism cannot live without tho proper
inspiration" He concluded his speech
with an exhortation that the Zionist
workers in Richmond keep the fires
burning and lot lose courage.
In introducing DR.. Goldberg. MT.
Cohen said that it is only the towards
that strive to assimilate, for they
have not the courage to keep up the
battle and fight against odds, But no
said that the Jewish nation can never
be assimilated.
At the outset, DR.. Goldberg said that
the Zionist movement does not fear
He argued that the moving principles
Of Zionism demand the inallenable
rights OF the jewish people and the
inherent rights Of the Jew-his right
to develop in accordance to his reli-
gious and natural genius. He said that
the movement desires Palestine. SO that
the Jew will be able to take the thread
| of his national history.
Continuing in a. vehement manner
DR.. Goldberg said: 1.-The Zionist move
ment was conceived about twenty years
ago. 1t has given rise to a new type
of Jew, not the slavish cringinG
Ghetto type. who was the product Of q
thousand years of persecution. Since
| it's inception 1t has given rise to some
extent to the rugged. old mountaineer
Jewish type. The Zionist movement
has sought to awaken the Jewish con-
seriousness to its own condition in the
world. Zionism does not beg for mercy
I'm this day when war. pestilence
and famine are ravaginE the world
| the pioneers In Palestine are clinginG
to their promised land, which is dearer
| to them than life. 1t Is movement OF
life and death. of men and women-a
movement of the Jewish people,"
A banquet was held in honor OF the
speakers yesterday afternoon, presided
over by Miss Selma Sonnenberg. of this
city. An interesting business session
followed tho banquet.