New-York tribune., 1918-01-17
"A Jewish Commonwealth" ("

To the Editor of The Tribune.
sly: On January there appeared in The
tribune an article, entitled "a Jewish Com.
/ monwealth," by the Rev. N. Caster. Phi. D. in
winch Is brought forward the desirability and
the necessity Of establishing in Palestine
jewish commonwealth.
IN order 10 make the commonwealth sue
cess. DR.. Caster advises the dscousgement
Oh immigration of the poor, the uneducated
ana unskllIed Jew, and urges the encourage
ment OF immigration of "men with money,
educatlon and technical skill" He suggests,
therefore, the formation Of Jewish reser-
Volf, where the prospective citizen of the
Jewlsh commonwealth will remain until he
Is able Ito go to Palestine with money educa
tlon and technical skill" even if it might take
more than forty years of wandering in the
wilderness to create out of the mass a
nation"
furthermore, he is of the opinion that, to
quote him literally: "Poland, most impor'
tant jewish reservoir-half its population is,
IN TACT, Jewlsh-might become if properly
organized, a secure home for the Jews Bu.
.he members of the Jewish community would
nave to be Jewish subjects Of Poland and
cease to be Polish Jews, and . they
VIII become in way patriots and super
patriots; they will owe allegiance to the
countries in which they live as citizens, and
they Will owe spiritual allegiance to the new
centre of the Jewish spirit in the land o.
their fathers"
Allow me to brand this suggestion as 81
lhlqulty, both account OF the unfarnes
and injustice to the Polish people and On
account of the immoral advice to the PonsH
Jew-and that from a chief rabbi of the Span
lsh and Portuguese Jews Of Great Britain
Let US, Tor a moment, INQUIRE what the sus'
gestion means for Poland
AT the time when the Polish people are
seeing before them the fulsilment of theli
long cherished ambitions when the eneFg!
and the sacrifice of every Pole are required
to help his country 70 organize and develop
all its economic and political resources ID
order to protect its future existence, the pro,
lessor wishes Ito properly organize Polans
10 the end that its Homogeneous mass o.
roles should provide means for education,
training and enrichment of Il per cert o.
foreigners who are only waiting the prope'
opportunity Ito organize their affairs and y
10 faiestlne with money education and teep. .
meal Skill" For Poland is only IA per cep'
jewish, not half jewish" as Dr. Gastae'
asserts.
NO. roland is too poor for such sacrne.'
me roles viii 'properly organize" tae'
country to the end that Poland will Dc >
place only for citizens and not for "subjsa,s
rl roland, for people who belong to u.
oilsh nation only, and not to two nations :. !.
once. In this Poland will have the suppes'.
OF all falr-minded countries, and surely ofs'. .
american nation, which from present bIp',
experience Is aware of the value of "cltize'
who belong to two nations at once. i.
AS Tor the Polish Jews thev will reject tp'
ADVICE of the learned chief rabbi of the Spsa'
lsh and Portuguese Jews of Great Rrita's
lhey not only live in Poland, but are OF ~
iand' and will remain in large majority in ,sn'
lahd of their and their forefathers' birth, an'
snare the destiny of the Polish nation.
DIR. BOLESLAW LAPOWSkA
New York, Jan. IL, 1918. 4