davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-20

so long as they remained sojourners
in different lands without a centre of
their own. The remedy was the crea-
ton Of Jewish national home. The
way to attain it was through propagan-
da, organization and political action.
"The distinguishing feature of Herzrs
presentment," says Professor Richard
Gottheil, in his book on "Zionism," ais
the greater stress he lays upon the
practical contamination of the plan, as
compared with that of his predecessors.
His general political outlook was larger
and wider. He envisages the question
in its totality. Notwithstanding
poetic foresight that was native in
him, he writes with the pen Of a poll
tician and speaks the language of a
statesman. The fire of the prophet,
which lights up the writings of his
German and Russian precursors, never
gains the ascendency over the cooler
judgment of the practical legislator
Palestine exercises no fascination upon
him. He shows no trace of a knowl-
edge of the Chovevi Zion movement or
of the various attempts made to re-
build the waste places in the land of
the forefathers. Palestine is but one
of various possibilities for Jewish set
Element, as is Argentina or Canada. In
the Jewish state there are no dithy-
rambics. Everywhere cool pronounce
ments that capture the mind rather
than transport the imagination. It is
for this reason perhaps that Herzl was
understood of the West, and his argu-
me1tative presentation had a greater
chance of success than the more elab-
crate disputations of previous writer's.
In one word, he is a cool and modern
man of the world, speaking to moderns
like himself"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-20

If Esther Lifshitz had wanted to
marry her Christian sutton three wears
ago and he had refused to become q
member of the synagogue, she would
have had to leave the house of her
parents and probably be disowned by
them.
We wonder what would have become
of the first Jewish settlers in the
American colonies if German perse-
cutions against the Jewish race had
not taken place. We wonder what
would have become Of the Jews in
America if Russia had not instigated
pogroms and Rumania and Austria.
Hungary had not harassed their Jewish
citizens.
Let us open folio of the past and
study the situation.
The Portuguese Jewish refugees, or
Maramos, who settled at New Am
sterdam some two hundred and sixty
years ago, were ready to die for the
religion of their forefathers. They
Were the happest of mortals when re-
lglous freedom was accorded to them
in the New World. They began dill
gently to study the Hebrew language
and Talmudic literature in the original
and practised Judaism with a love and
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-20

many prophesied that the United
States would be the future centre and
tountainhead for the religion of all
Israel.
All was we'll so long as the influx
Of immigration did not come TO stop
Then the World War broke out and
the Transformation came. 1t came sud-
denly and with gigantic strides. It
does not manifest itself exactly in con-
versions to Christianity, but the laxitv
of religious adherence on the one hand
and frequent intermarriage on the
other hand all tend to undermine the
integrity of Judaism in America.
New York City and other great jew
lsh centres in this country are indeed
criterion to judge by, but how the
melting pot is working can best be
seen in the smaller Jewish commun;.
ties. '''' o"i
The Yiddish press is in daily recent
OF communications from small Jewish
set'lements and country places report
ing not only intermarriages, but also
numerous conversions.
IN number of these places Jewish
Iamilles are gradually slipping into
christian organizations without formal
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-20
Friend Thought
Him a Mailman

But the author of "The Jewish
State" (who shall live in h story not
merely as the maker of the dream but
as the creator of the thing ITSELF him.
self tells how his book was received
by one Of his most intimate friends. I
quote from short autobiography,
which has hitherto been unavailable
to American readers:
During the last two months Of my
stay in Paris 1 wrote The Jewish
State which has afforded ME the
honor of a request for these biograph-
ical notes on my insignificant self. I
cannot recall writing anything in such
an exalted frame Of mind. Heine said
that he heard the Tapping of an eagle
above his head as he wrote certain of
his verses. /, too, believe that some
thing whirred above me when I wrote
this book. I worked at it daily until
it was entirely finished; my only recre-
alton during the evenings consisted
in listening to music by Wagner, par
ticularly 'Tannhauser,' an opera which
! heard as often as it was produced
Only in the evenings when there was
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-20
Israel's Light Was
Nearly Extinguished

1.-THE cumulative pressure Of two
thousand years OF persecution and OPP
prcssion," says Albert NJ. Hyamson, in
"Palestine; The Rebirth Of an Ancient
Nation" chad almost extinguished the
last glimmer of the brilliant light Gre
ated by Israels prophets and tended
by the Jewish poets and sages of sue
ceeding generations. So many CEN
turtles had passed since the return to
Zion was promised, the experiences of
the wandering Jew had been so bitter
throughout The long drawn agony, that
history was beginning to merge into
legend. and the reality contrasting SO
painfully with the hope, the annual cry
at the celebration Of Passover, Next
year in Jerusalem,' had become more
and more mere formula"
But if the aspirations were declining
IN faith and fervor there was no doubt
as to their universally nor as to the
firm foundations of religious belief and
national allegiance upon which thew
were resting. From the days of Jul
IDEAS last stand against the Romans.
the heroic uprising led by the wonder
full Bar Chochba, leaders had arisen in
various parts of the exile to announce
the return or to revive the lingering
hope. Manifesting itself at first in re-
ligious form, the messengers of Zion
came forward in the guisc of sages and
rabbls, zealots and revivalists. There
came also the claimants to Messianic
attributes and from Moses of Crete to
Sebathai Zevi, Of Smyrna, a long lire
OF would-be redeemers, cnraptured or
deluded by mystical and ccstatic emo
, tions reused by the magic word Of Zion
came to herald the day Of deliverance
Later secular leaders appeared schol-
ars. publicists, journalists and other
public men imbued with ideals. who
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-20
lntermarriage Daily
Occurrence Now

The entire affair went off without a
ripple in the life of Jewish orthodoxy
on the East Side. The reason is that such
things occur on the East Side. in
Brownsville, Williamsburg, Harlem an.
The Bronx, or wherever Jews in New
York have settled in large commune
ties.
Although it is almost daily occur
renee now, still, only three years ago
it would have called forth surprise,
establishment and resentment on the
part of the religious.
Three years have passed without the
usual influx Of immigrants to this
country. Jewish immigration has prac-
tically come to stop since the great
World War broke out. Parents, rea-
tives, friends and acquaintance. with
orthodox notions of the Old World
are no longer coming to criticise the
actions OF the younger generation in
America and to remind the old of its
religious duties.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-20

lex earning and Jewish religious activity.
Inc German Jewish immigrants
brought with them new Jewish life
enough to interest and awaken the
American Jews in order to put a stop
10 the then rapid initiation.
1t is maintained that very few Of
me original Portuguese Jewish descend
ants in America remained members
OF the faith of their forefathers. some
claim that they were absorbed bv the
great mass of German Jewish arrivals
However the case may be, it is q fact
that the German Jews gave new i'm
petus to the religion of the Jews in
America. But, with all due respect to
their religious ardor, it was Compare
lively short-lived. During the time of
approximately forty years, German
Jews in America lost even that en-
tthusiasm which they had originally
brought with them. They produced
rabbis who knew very little of the
Hebrew language and literature. and
their sermons were shattered with
politics. philosophy and everything but
Judaism. WV
Prominent American rabbis assoc;-
ated with Christian preachers, with
whom they discussed the relative value
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-20
Moses Prophesied
So Aforetilne

They are either tired Of the constans
struggle against young America, OF
because they are not interfered WIZ
Dy the government or by the peopss
IN their religious exercises and are ~
liberty to do as they please they grad
ually forget the past.
According to Biblical lore the great
teacher Moses once said: "Jeshurun
waxed fat, and kicked; he had wsxen
tat, ne had grown thick, he had been
covered with fairness, then he forsook
his God!"
During the awful time of the pogromss
against the Jews in Russia there liveo
RABBI by the name of Rabinoyltz, ~
the city of Poltava. He was Coo
Tearing man and very pious. On
saturday he announced that he was
gong to offer special prayer. Those
VINO were longing for religious comfon
ana heavenly solace came
The pious rabbi, rising and lifting
ms eyes to heaven, uttered the follow
ing prayer:
20 Lord, God of Israel! Thy deeds
are wise, Thy actions are adequss.
continue to send Thy plaques and ny
punlshments on the House of JACOB
and the children of Israel will then
recognize Thee as their rock of salss,,
ton; Freedom. liberty, riches ana s
worldly goods are not compatible wils
Thy chosen people. They must always
feei the iron grip of persecution ana
poverty and they will then adhere /"
Thy law and to Thy will :
II Jewish immigration does not assiu
become as it was before the wN
Judaism in America will not thrive IN,
less a miracle happen to put N sss
TO the religious GENERALIZATION. =
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-20

devotion which come usually only after
relglous persecution.
In the course of time, however. when
the children of the Portuguese Jewish
immigrants grew up in an atmosphere
where religion was not molested. thew
began to neglect the study of the
Iorah and of the Talmud They also
became lax in the performance Of their
religious exercises, and in the begin
ming of the '40s of the last century.
although the Portuguese Jews in Amer
lea had their synagogues and their
rabbls, the attendance in the syna-
gogues was very scanty, and their
riabbis knew SO very little about Juda-
ism, that if a European Jewish arrival
happened to hear sermon of such a
rabbi he would wonder whether he
was a scion of the House of Israel or
member of Unitarian Church.
lntermarriage between jew and
GENTLE was SO frequent that observers
could see the constant shrinkage Of
the various Jewish communities in
America. Then German internal M
rest and systematic anti-Semitism
drove large numbers of German Jews
to the United States. Germany was
then an important centre of Jewish
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-20

dence of what "massed psychology will
40 Tor the individual. The first word
the German baby learns is kaiser. y
then Colt" then water" and Nut
YER. In building their race of war
rlors the Germans have left out the
inner things, so that when the time
comes to advance into the face of al
most certain death there are no soften
ing influences.
The German soldier has been taught
to think along certain lines. Associ-
at,on with others of like mind has
solidified his opinions. He has been
compelled to keep his body fit for "thc
great effort The combination of rigid
training, simple diet, discipline and
"massed psychology" has given him an
lneradicabie personal psychology.
Physical rcbirth of our rejects under
cantonment discipline will bring mr.
more highly imaginative Americans SUI =
similar viewpoint quickly.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-20

This is no visionary uplift scheme
;;hough its eugenic effect and it's result
IN increase of efficiency will be nation
wage. The war is setting a new stand
ara OF supermen. and when the war is
over the weakling will be slammed % .
failure even before he has demonstrat-
Cd that his frazzled nerves, bad heart
o o. ;5;1 breathing and bad digestion
effort. oi'n e'i'cleht
But the principal questions Of to-
gay are Soldiers" and efficiency at
home. Let US see how to reclaim
eh ,, from the mass of rejects.
FIRST the slacker--i. e., coward
must be given confidence. What he
needs is perfected body and an an
p'cation of what I call "massed psy.
chology" BY this l mean association
with normal chaps, that his patriotic
urge may develop while he is being re-
fitted physically
The German war machine is an evil
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-20

propounded various forms Of Zionism
before, indeed. DR.. Nathan Birnbaum
had given the Herzlian movement this
name.
Joseph Salvador in France, Samuel
David Luzatto in Italy, Leo Pinslscr in
Russia, Abraham Benish in England,
Moses Hess in Germany, Nathan Birn-
baum in Austria, Abraham Alkalai in
/ Croatia, Mordecai NJ Noah in America
TO mention at random only few of
the precursors of Jewish restoration
these and other thinkers and idealists
in different lands arose Independently
and, in most instances. unconscious of
each other to put forth the same solu-
ton C the Jewish problem, viz, the re-
turn to Zion, thus testifying to the I'M
DERIVING truth of the idea.
Many of the advocates of national
ism endeavored to translate their plans
into action, and under the inspiration
of Leon Pinsker, author of auto
Emancipation" and other Russian lit
terateurs, and propelled by the anti
Jewish excess which broke out in 1881,
the Palestinian colonization work of
the Lovers of Zion" was launched and
carried on with considerable success.
But these, as the other pioneers of the
work before them, met with the same
opposition and untoward circumstances,
encountered the same conditions under
which the author of "The Jewish State"
was declared insane by his dearest
friend, and the strongest influence in
Jcwry was, by lack of policy or politi-
cal obsequiousness, exercised to de-
prlve Jewry of influence.
Then came the man who gave new
direction to Jewish history-The odore
Herzl. 1t would be extravagant eulogy
to say that he combined within himself
the wisdom of the sage, the magma
ton of the poet, the judgment of the
man of affairs, the tirmnUss of will of
the stern communal leader, the enthusi-
asm of the religious zealot, the personal
charm of the most fascinating of the
aspirants for Messianc powers, that he
possessed within his person all of the
qualities attributed to his predecessors;
but there is the record before us show
ing that he achieved what none Of them
did and what all of them together could
not accomplish, that within the short
space of eight years he re-made the
history of centuries. Undoubtedly.
much of his wonderful leadership was
! due to the ripeness of the time and to
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-20

standards. This can be ACCOMPLISHED
within period of from one to six
months and the individual made ready
Tor military service or efficient civic
life.
Fail to accomplish this, and there will
be new heartaches for mothers. sisters
swcethearts and friends, for the enlist
ment age must be lowered to include
the great body of young men between
the ages of nineteen and twenty-one
years, as we'll as extended to FORTY
years. Such is the alternative plan
already being discussed in the War De-
partment
In the first draft but small percent
age of 100000 first called men proved
available for military service, and the
places Of the rejects were filled bv
others probably vastly more needed in
the economic world. for many of those
who failed physically are of the para
site class-men without occupation who
live ON the product of others. and many
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-20
By D. M. Hermalin
\ CURIOUS marriage ceremony took
n1oco Loot uoo1, oo A.. 1.,.

4 CURIOUS marriage ceremony took
~ place last week on the lower
East Side of Manhattan.
Esther Lifshitz, the nineteen-year-
old daughter of Samuel Lifshitz, an
orthodox Jew, was married to John D.
Sylvester, full-fedged American Cen
tile.
The strangest thing about it was that
the marriage ceremony was performed
in the brides home. Father. mother,
uncles and aunts and numerous other
relatives were present. An orthodox
rabbi performed the ceremony and
made the bridegroom repeat in pure
Hebrew:
Hare ath m'kudesheth Ii b'tabaath
zu k'dath Mosheh VIsrael."
In the translation it would mean:
Thou art sanctified unto me with
this ring according to the law of Moses
and Israeli
1t was no secret. Everybody present
knew that the young bridegroom was a
Christian. and he had refused to en-
brace Judaism at the solicitation OF
Esther and her relatives.
He agreed, however, to Jewish mar.
rlaCe caremnnY
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-20
Hardened to Call
Of His People

Yet, as it was previously conjectured
and as it is now conclusively proven by
his own words, Herzl never intended to
organize nor to lead movement for
the practical realization Of the aims he
outlined. AS a literary man, he thought
he had done his part in writing the
book and presenting his views, leaving
it to others to respond in such manner
as they thought best. But the great
truth which he had made his own, the
manner of its statement, the forceful-
ness of the personality reflected
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-20

Of the rest suffered from minor COM
plants.
Yet but one to six months under
proper. medical, surgical, dietetic and
disciplinary instruction in reclamation
environments will make nine tenths Of
these rejects fit-and in most cases
cager-for military service.
Such is brief summary of the plan I
have laid before President Wilson, Sec
rotary of War Baker, Surgeon General
Gorgas of the army, and the plan Sena-
tor Pomerenc has incorporated in his
bill for reclamation of man power in
the United States to be discussed by
Congress.
1t is the one burning question of the
country to-day. Shall the Stacker
l. e., the unfit physically or mentally
escape his share of wars burden, while
the very flower of American manhood
is called on to bear the load for him?
"No!' q nation of soldier-mothers
shrleks in protest. and "No!" must be
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-20

no opera did doubt the soundness Of
my thoughts.
"At first / had intended to circulate
my little book on the solution Of the
Jewish problem only among my closest
friends. The idea of publishing these
views came to me later; it was not my
purpose to begin personal propaganda
for the Jewish cause. Most of my
readers will be astonished to hear of
this apparent change Of attitude.
considered the entire matter as one
which might be discussed, but not dis
puted. Public agitation would be my
last resort in case my private advice
was not needed
Lamented tor
Author Sanity
when l finished the book | asked
my oldest and best friend to read the
manuscript. While reading he sudden
~ burst out crying This outburst
seemed quite natural, because he was
Jew; I, too, had wept many times
when I was writing it. But to my sur
prise he gave an entirely different rca-
son for his tears. He thought that I
had gone out Of my mind, and, being
my friend, my misfortune caused him
much anxiety. He ran away without
saying another word. After a sleep
less night he returned, and urged me
to drop the matter, lest everybody con-
slider me demented. He was so excited
that l promised him everything to
calm him. Then he advised me to see
Max Nordau and to inquire whether
my plan was worthy of the thoughts
Of sane man. 4 will ask no one,' was
my reply. If my ideas make such an
impression on faithful and we'll in
formed friend, will give up the entire
matter
ut was then that l experienced
very serious crisis. 1t can only be
compared to the throwing of red hot
body into water. If, indeed, the body
happens to be iron, it changes to steel.
my friend of whom l spoke above
was to compute my expenses for tele-
grams. When he gave me the account.
which consisted of long column of
entries, I saw at the first glance that
he had erred in his calculations. 1 d.
rected his attention to the error and
he totalled the figures again, but only
after three or four trials did his sum
agree with mire. This little incident
gave me renewed confidence Surely
my reason had not left me entirely.
"on that lay began my uneasiness
for the Jewish state. During the two
succeeding years lived through MANY.
many mournful days, and l fear that
many more mournful days are to fol-
low. In 1895 I began to keep a diary;
now four thick volumes are complete.
We're l to publish them, the world
would be astounded to learn what
have had to keep secret; who we're the
enemies of my idea, and, on the other
hand, who stood by me.
"But one thing is certain and be-
yond the possibility of contradiction.
The movement will continue. do not
know when will die, but Zionism shall
never die. Since the days of Basic the
Jewish nation again has a national
representative body; the future will
bring the Jewish state in the Jewish
land"
IF you so will, it is no fairy tale!"
But centuries of Opnression had oil
but broken he Jewish spirit; endlessly
long waiting and futile yearning had
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-20

conversions. They simply begin by a.
tending church socials, then church
service and ultimately they become
identified with Christianity.
The rabbi of the old country who IS
either ignorant of the American YER
nacular or whose pronunciation is
faulty commands no respect from the
younger generation. The American
made rabbi seems not to possess the
power or the magnetism over the &c.
scendants of the immigrants. And
what about the older generation wh'
came here because they wanted to haw
relipious Freedom
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-20
The Nation Had
Expressed Its Will

The stir that was created throughout
Jewry consisted of denunciation as we'll
as exultation; but the Jews had ex-
pressed their will to live as people in
such terms of reality as were in keep
ing with the march of modern events
and so the doubters and deniers were
bound to be left behind, even as those
who affirmed and testified to the truth
were destined to come out triumphant
With but very few exceptions the
Jews of wealth in the great capitals of
Europe were not among the 2O4 dele
gates; but, as Herzl himself had said
First comes the idea. If the idea is
true, then all else will follow in its
train afterward.' The idea that was
to revivify and recreate the Jewish
people was that of their national res
toration; the motive that was to raise
them to the height Of achievement was
the ancient love for Zion.
Herzl, however, in his book ex-
pressed no preference for Palestine
indicating that any available territory
might be made the desired homeland
But when he tapped the spring of jew