The American Jewish world. [volume] (Minneapolis ;) 1915-current, 1921-08-19
A Reply to Henry Morgenthau
By SAMUEL UNTERMYER.
(In the Forum Magazine.)
(In the Forum Magazine.)

he was) but he has no claim to pose
as theologian or historian. He may
have been "the president Of the Free
Synagogue in New York City," but
he has evidently benefited little by
the ministrations of it's distinguished
Rabbi, DR.. Stephen Wise, who is one
of the most ardent Zionists in the
States. If he would only read the
pages Of Jewish history, he would
find overwhelming evidence that the
Zion Of which the Jewish people
hoped and prayed was not the nebu-
lous creation of his fancy but the
Zion whose synonym is Jerusalem
and whose geographical position is in
call Of false Messiah, the people
were so ready to grid up their loins
and take the wanderers staff for the
journey to Jerusalem. That was why
there were so many pilgrimages
thither, of Rabbis, philosophers, and
poets. That was why, at the first op-
portunity, the Jews began colonizing
Palestine from the middle of the nine
teenth century. And that is why
hundreds Of thousands of Jews are
now longing to settle in Palestine
under British administration, where
they can at last begin to realize their
dream of restored Jewish homeland.
Mr.. Morgenthau is singularly incon-
sistent. He begins by saying that
Zionism is impossible of realization"
yet only twenty lines further on he
remarks that it, eff it were to sue
coed, would cost the Jews Of America
most that they have gained of liberty,
equality and fraternity" If Zionism
which can hardly be said to be flat
tering to the patriotism or the intelli-
gence of the distinguished gentlemen
who are supporting the cause, includ-
ing the eminent Rabbi of his own
congregation, is impossible of realiza-
ton, it is surely unnecessary to con-
slider what would happen if it sue
ceeds. If he reckons with the pros
pect of it's success. how can be declare
that it is impossible of realization?
This is mental attitude that hardly
guarantees the validity Of the con-
tentions which it inspires. Mr.. Nor
penthau is probably not sure that if
Zionism succeeds it would entail the
great "cost" that he predicts, other
wise he would at least vouchsafe us
some reasoned explanation of his ora
cular utterance. But, as matter of
fact, the alarm that he expresses was
voiced by certain dissenters Che then
held his peace) even before the Brit
ish Government issued it's Declara-
ton in November, 1917, and it was
because of it that this document con-
tanned a proviso safeguarding the
"rights and political status of the
Jewish communities in countries other
than Palestine. Only prejudice and
loose thinking could suggest that the
creation of Jewish Commonwealth
in Palestine if it enjoyed State
sovereignty - would necessitate a
change of political allegiance on the
part of any single Jew who belonged
bv citizenship to another State. Mr.
Morgenthan's fear has been dealt
with by Mr.. Balfour himself. late
Foreign Secretary in the British
Cabinet. and the author of the his
toric Declaration. In his introduce
ton to Mr. Sokolow's "History of
Zionism," referring to "Jews by de-
scent, who desire wholly to identify
themselves with the life of the coun-