Intermountain Jewish news., 1926-04-15
tCoatinuationl
VI. S.ATlONALlSM

We now come to consider National.
ism ns force In modern Judaism. I'm.
like the other forces which we have
just discussed and shown TO be- mega
tive, Nationalism IL live, Keen, nc.
tive, pulsating force today. It IL the
active force In modern Judaism. II Is
the central star In the diadcm OF Jew.
Ish hope, faith and future. The Jews
of the old school have always been Na.
tionalistlc, They have always felt that
TO be jew meant not only n belief In
the faith, but kinship, racial con.
nectlon. u Nationalistlc cntwlncment.
with all other Jews, no matter where
they may be-. Sometime ago. there was
u group OF Jews that felt that Jew
was one that believed In the faith OF
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, as laid
down by the Law OF Moses, and that
anyone, no matter OF what race, or
subscribing TO the tcncts OF the Jew
ish faith. They believed that the Jews
did not constitute nation, race or a
people. However, this doctrine has been
practically exploded and 1t is now gen
orally conceded that jew is such, by
virtue Of II dual entity, nature, char
acter or being; first, because he is a
member Of the Jewish race or people
and secondly. by virtue Of being a be-
liever In the religion OF the Jews. A
Jew may become n proselyte, and adopt
any other religion. but he still remains
a jew racially. A jew cannot adopt the
nationality OF another country and
thereby cease being Jew.
The Nationalistic tendency has de-
volved into the Zionist Movement. In
the past this Nationalistic tendency has
been evidenced by two groups: One, the
group that desired the establishment of
the Jewish homeland anywhere, led by
Zangwill; and second, the group that
desired the establishment Of home
land only in Palestine, which was led
by the immortal Herzl, who became IA
nous upon publishing his work, the
Jewish State. Both groups primarily
had the same Nationalistic views, and
felt that the Jews could best express
themselves in the knowledge Of the eI-
istence OF a Jewish faith. One group
felt that the attainment Of Palestine as
their homeland was impossible. and
hence were willing to start anywhere
that offered proper religious and econ
omic security. That group at one time
seriously considered the proposal OF
British Government to settle Uganda in
Africa. They were compromisers; they
felt that Palestine could not be obtained
for n long time; that the Turk WAS
not one who could be dealt with safely.
The other group were non-compromis-
ing. They felt that Israel's destiny
could be worked out only according to
the Bible which meant in Palestine;
and that Israel AS force in modern
Civilization and Progress could make
itself felt only through Palestine, the
ancient homeland. They worked earn
estly. zealously and continuously, plac-
ing their claims before all OF the pow
ers of the world and getting favorable
expressions from them. These groups
were always led by Intellectual giants,
men who had given considerable study
to the Jewish problems and Of the
future OF Judaism. These men had
come to the conclusion that II Israel IL
to survive rs force In Progress and
Civilization, it must become permanent
ly established These men believed that
a political state was necessary, and
while not primarily interested in the
religious aspect OF the rpestablishment
OF the Jews in Palestine. they felt
that the natural consequence namely,
the religious problem, would take care
OF itself under such happy and con-
genial surroundings. These men worked
we'll For, at the close OF the World
War In 1918. the Powers were well IA
miiar with the aims, hopes, ambitions
and aspirations OF the Jewish People {;
and so convinced were they that the
claim OF the Jews was just. that there
was no difficulty in having Palestine
set of to the Jews under the mandatory
supervision OF Great Britain.
1t Is true that many arguments have
been advanced against Zionism, but they
were considered Of no moment by the
powers of the World. The Jews were
afforded the opportunity OF rebuilding
Palestine. Evidently the various ma
tions Of the world do not fear the
argument of the double allegience which
Jews might owe II Palestine were re-
stored. This has not worried the ma
tions of the world, as each Of the lead
ing powers, have, through their proper
legislative or executive tribunals ex-
,Nrn.an,l tbnnunIyac ac hainp In faypr