The Maccabaean (Federation of American Zionists) (October 1, 1905)
"The Voice of Truth."
THAT the Jewish publications of our German confreres fix the standard, is once more evidenced by the appearance of "Die Stimme der Wahrheit" (The Voice of Truth), a Zionist annual. In the case of books and periodicals of Jewish interest produced by the Jewish publishing houses of Germany, the motto "made in Germany," does imply supreme quality. Like other books from their presses, "Die Stimme der Wahrheit" is a specimen of typographical excellence. Considering this, together with its contents, we have in this year-book just such a volume that would gladden the heart of any cultured Zionist book-lover.
There are eleven divisions in the year-book, each devoted to one question. The first division, "The Zionist Program," opens with what might be considered the leading article in the collection, a rather lengthy but masterly presentation of "The Development of Zionism," by Alfred Nossig, of Berlin. The article consists of four parts entitled as follows: "Criticism as a Means of Development;" "The Effects of Criticism;" "The New Course of Zionism," and "Beyond the Basle Program."
Dr. Max Nordau writes on "The Problems of Zionism," and Heinrick York-Steiner on "Political Zionism and its Methods." The other contributors to this division are Dr. Ruppin, Berlin; Dr. Pasmanik, Geneva; Dr. Birnbaum, ("Mathias Ascher"), Vienna, and Lazar Schoen, Wuerzburg, the editor.
The second division contains articles on "Palestinean Problems," by M. Ussischkin, Israel Zangwill and Josef Lau.
Eulogies on Dr. Theodor Herzl constitute Division III. The principal articles are by Dr. K. Lippe, of Jassy, Roumania; Oscar Marmorek, Vienna; York-Steiner, Dr. Pasmanik, Dr. Israel Friedlaender (New York), and Rabbi Kurrein, Teplitz, Austria. There are also several poems on Herzl.
In Division IV the reader finds his first disappointment. It being a presentation of views "For and Against Zionism," one would expect to find in it the expressions of opinions from more than three writers. Dr. I. Mirkin (Wilna), presents the pro-Zionist arguments in his essay on "The Latest Cause of All Jewish Persecutions and Zionism," while the negative side is taken by Prof. Dr. Ludwig Geiger and Samuel Lublinski, of Berlin, who might contend, upon being told of the insufficiency in argumentative strength of their articles, that they would not take advantage of their one opponent. Prof. Geiger‘s article necessarily falls short of the theme under discussion, inasmuch as it is merely an analysis of what he considers the conflict between Zionism and Teutonism, if we may use the latter term as indicative of German patriotism.
"Christian Voices on Zionism" are heard in Division V. The opinions here given are those of German writers and publicists, and are for the most part sympathetic. Even where they are unfavorable they are not adverse to Zionism.
"Zionism and Culture" is discussed in Division VI. by Dr. Martin Buber, Bertold Feuchtwang, Leopold Schwartz (Bruenn), Berthold Wolf (Darmstadt), and Max Nacher (Vienna).
An excellent symposium on "Zionism and Religion" constitutes Division VII. Rabbi Aschkenaze, of Christiania, with the Bible, the Prophets, the Talmud and the great commentators on his side, answers affirmatively the triple query "Is it religiously consistent, and reasonable to be a Zionist?" That is to say, is Zionism justifiable from a religious point of view? is Zionism reconcilable with the laws of the land in which the Zionist abides? and, can Zionist activity expect success? To these questions Rabbi Aschkenaze gives an emphatic "yes."
Dr. K. Lippe, of Jassy, is equally unequivocal in his advocacy of Zionism from the view-point of Jewish orthodoxy Other articles on this question are by Dr. M. J. Berdyczewski (Breslau), Dr. Richard Huldschiner (Hamburg), Prof. Dr. Adolph Kurrein (Teplitz), Dr. H. Seligsohn (Kanitz), M. Steckelmacher (Mainz), and Dr. Dr. Jacob Thou (Berlin).
Nor is the voice of woman unheard. In Division VIII. the question of "Zionism and the Women" is given over to the delicate handling of two women writers. Rosa Pomeranz (Vienna), discusses "The Significance of the Zionist Idea in the Life of the Jewess," and Martha Baer-Issachar (Lemberg), writes on "Our Women."
Documentary history has also been inserted here, and it consists of a letter written by the. late Rabbi Ruelff to Dr. Lippe and eight letters of Dr. Herzl, of which seven were written to Dr. Daniel Pasmanik of Geneva, and one to Herr York-Steiner. The latter, written in connection with York-Steiner‘s proposed trip to Russia in matters concerning the movement and a visit to Minister Plehve, is reproduced in fac-simile
Of the seven letters to Dr Pasmanik, the first, dated July 28, 1901, is about the "Jugendkongress," that was then being planned, and in which Dr. Pasmanik was to use his efforts towards making that organization an instrument for Zionst propaganda among the younger elements. The other letters deal with the questions of a charter, concessions, Uganda and the Charkow incident.
The third letter of the series is a remarkable one, containing, besides the date, address and signature, but one word: "Patience!"
Diplomacy, as is well known, was the tool that Herzl wished to, and did, wield. In a letter dated January 4, 1903, he writes: "Those, however, who are outspokenly opposed to so-called diplomatic Zionism, talk simply stuff and nonsense. Whoever would undertake anything in a foreign country must first and above everything take the diplomatic road, no matter who he may be. Only when you have armies of millions can you begin something in a foreign country, without diplomatic transactions. But, when we look about us, we see that even the lords over armies of millions are uninterruptedly active along diplomatic lines How, then, a group of theorists, without means and unarmed, would achieve anything otherwise than diplomatically, is, to my limited understanding, incomprehensible"
"Zionist Literature" is treated in Division X. by Julius Urgiss (Berlin), and Eugen Isolani (Berlin) contributes an essay on "The Nestor of the Ghetto-story-Solomon Kohn."
The last division, XI., contains miscellaneous articles, the principal ones of which is that on "Histadruth," the organization of Palestinean Jews, by Dr. Hillel Joffe, of Jaffa, Palestine, and by M. Kleinmann (Lemberg) on "Zionism in the Light of Science."
Portarits of the leading contributors, one of Dr. Herzl, and a picture of the first congress of Jews in Palestine, embellish the year-book.e 37