New-York tribune., 1918-01-08
4 Jewish Commonwealth
By the Reu. Professor NJ Caster, Ph. D.
lnbbiof the Spanish Portuguese
SLpomca and Byzantine Literature

The fall of Jerusalem may, of course, be-
come farreaching event, on which Jews all
over the world will, in any case, look with
the llveilest interest. If liberal republic
were to be established in Russia, for ex-
ample. not 80 many Russian Jews would be
attracted to Palestine, perhaps, as would
have been the case under the old regime
That is to say, if settled conditions were to
prevail in whatever country they happened
to be in residence, Jews would probably only
leave it to go to Palestine after considering
their position, their prospects and the like.
Men would then organize their affairs and
60 with money, education and technical skill:
their arrival, therefore, would signal GER
tain promise Of success. II, on the other
hand, Jews, because Of the difficulties sur
rounding their residence in a foreign land,
were to leave it hastily to seek asylum in
Palestine, the outlook for them would be
quite different. The difference would be that
which exists between a settler and refugee.
Poland, most important Jewish reservoir
half its population is, in fact jewish
might become, if properly organized, q secure
home for the Jews. But the members of the
Jewish community would have to be Jewish
subjects Of Poland and cease TO be Polish
Jews, or-in Russia-Russian Jews.
Polish Emigration
II, however, Poles continue their enmty
toward the Jews, that certainly will be the
cause of large Jewish immigration to Pales-
tine. My own impression is that if Germany
remained in control Of Poland she would
favor the emf igraton en- masse of Jews from
Poland to Palestine always on the assump-
tion that Turkey continued to be the sover-
egn power in Palestine. Even without that
contingency, assuming that England consd-
cred Palestine as falling within its own
sphere of influence, she would also from the
point of view of humanity and policv favor
such an emigration. Palestine must not remain
the land that is desoate--a barren Palestine
ls useless and burdensome waste as we'll. It
must be peopled Where are the people TO
come from? No European nation can or will
settle there This is obvious, for any ore
who emigrates from Europe and goes to an
undeveoped country-which, however be-
longs to the native home land-s a colonist
sent out to develop hitherto untouch ed
riches Of soil.
NO Gentle in his senses would 20 to a
land like Palestine. Not so the Jew since
he would come from practically foreign
country to his own He would simply re-
vive old associations and the faith that re-
moves mountains would remove all difficult
ties from his path Moreover, the Jewi sh
mgrant would feel that the whole Of Jewry
was standing behind him to help him and
keep him on his feet, to assist him to make
his return a success The honor and pride
Of Jewry would demand it.
The physical condition of European settlers
in Asia dwindes away in two three gener-
ations. Take German colonists in Palestine
who came there stalwart men-to breed
puny children. The jew on the contrary.
like the dried up rose Of Jericho as soon as
he drinks the waters Of the Jordan expands
and grows powerful and strong. He has
been replanted in his native soil and the
Ghetto type disappears as if by magic. The
Jewish colonists in Palestine are themselves
the best example They come there apparent
weaklings, wrinklcd and bent double, and
now they are fighting their enemies in the
gate" This is the only element that can
people Palestine, and it is to this clement
alone that any government can look that has
the future Of Palestine at heart. 1t is no
good looking to the Arabic element or to any
Mosem in general. Moslems have held Pal