Assimilation the Greatest Evil to Befall the Jew: A Reply to the Criticism of the Hon. Simon Wolf Upon the Zionist Movement

Julius T. Loeb, “Assimilation the Greatest Evil to Befall the Jew: A Reply to the Criticism of the Hon. Simon Wolf Upon the Zionist Movement,” Washington Times (Washington, DC), Sept. 20, 1903. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026749/1903-09-20/ed-1/seq-7/ 

Assimilation the Greatest Evil to Befall the Jew

A Reply to the Criticism of the Hon. Simon Wolf Upon the Zionist Movement—No Suggestion of Disloyalty to Country in the Agitation, Which Aims Solely and Entirely to Provide a Home and Country for Those Jews Now Mere Slaves in Their Present Lands.

By the Rev. J. T. LOEB.

    The Hon. Simon Wolf, of Washington, has recently indulged in a severe criticism of Zionism, which the newspapers have treated as the opinion of one of the representative American Jews, forgetting meanwhile that it was the opinion of an advocate of assimilation. He starts out with the “assimilation of the Jew as a matter of necessity.” He should have gone no further, and we might have been equally aware of his tendency as regards Zionism and Judaism.

    Mr. Wolf can hardly hope that his theory of the assimilation of the Jew will ever be materialized, much less than his loathed Jewish renationalization—yet, if this can be, indeed, his earnest purpose, I cannot quite comprehend the meaning of his words: “The Jew, to be of service, must be the pioneer of civilization in every land.” If, in accordance with Mr. Wolf’s decree, the Jew must either let himself be murdered, or assimilated, which is destroyed by an extinction of the race, how then shall the Jew be of service, I ask! How thus can he be a blessing to the rest of mankind, as he wishes him to be, by “aiding in an upbuilding of all the states?” We must not lose sight of the fact that the Jew can only then be a “blessing to the nations of the earth” when he exists as Jew. The entire history of past and present will bear me out in this manner.

    The best Jew of the past century doubtlessly was Sir Moses Montefiore, and he was the peculiarly loyal subject of the British Queen. With all this his heart was broad enough to comprise love for his persecuted brethren in the lands of their captivity. He was no less a Zionist than any of the professed Zionists. The truly religious Jew will ever “fear God and the chief of state,” bear a respect for existing authority, and unobtrusively follow the laws of the land wherein his lot is cast. He is, indeed, a most inoffensive creature on the face of God’s earth, and he can always be relied upon as a stanch defender of his country’s cause. 

American Zionists’ Patriotism.

    Take, for instance, all the American Zionists, and I am most positive that each and every one, individually or as a body, will be at any time first to respond to the first call for the defense of the American flag, which they revere and cherish most tenderly as perhaps no one else can do. 

    It is quite unnecessary for me to expatiate on this well-known truth, but I mention it merely as a direct refutation of Mr. Wolf’s assertion that Zionism means disloyalty to country. Did it ever occur to anyone here to accuse the Irish of disloyalty to the American flag while they made the strongest agitation in behalf of Irish home rule on the Green Island? Or were any such charges made against the Germans because they made every effort to collect funds for relatives and aid in the cause of their kindred and nativity abroad?

    Surely, the author of “The Jew as a Patriot” will never find the Jew deprived of this great characteristic which he has so justly granted to him. The patriotism of the consistent Jew and loyalty to his adopted home are unquestionable. 

    And this Zionism agitation can never reflect, even in the least degree, upon those whose duty it is to come to the rescue of their suffering brethren and sisters in barbaric lands, who are tortured and massacred without reprieve or stay.

    Mr. Wolf admits that the movement voices the endured agony of many ages, that it sounds the trumpet tones of outraged and persecuted humanity, yet he emphatically denies that Zionism is the remedy. “To secure recognition,” he says, “other remedies must be evolved.” I should be very thankful to learn what these remedies are. He continues: “Zionism means alienation from land of birth, disloyalty to country, absence of patriotism,” etc. Does Mr. Wolf really believe that “land of birth,” “country,” “fatherland,” and other such choice vocabulary will gratify the afflicted soul and lull the outraged Jew to forget his cruel oppression and martyrdom, without even doing as much as to seek a retreat of safety? Does he ignore the fact that none of these nice terms can, and should, appeal to the heart of the millions of his coreligionists who are held in actual slavery in Russia, Roumania, Galicia, Morocco, and other places? Does he actually believe that at the moment Zionism will die out in Russia, the Kishineving will cease, the cruel and barbaric laws of ostracism there will at once be revoked and the Jew be emancipated and suffer no more?

    The situation is indeed too grave, to earnest, to allow of any procrastination, and further hope for future salvation, and the mercy and hospitality of others, but immediate action and aggressive measures are needed, “practical work,” as Mr. Wolf himself suggests, and not mere words and conjectures. God certainly helps those who strive to help themselves. Hope can only be realized by the materialization of the ideal, and the Jewish practical salvation must come with Zion. They only “practical work” that I can see for the solution of the great problem is the one undertaken by the leaders of Zionism, which is to secure for the unfortunate a legally assured home—a home which they may call their own; wherein they may live and thrive as free men, and as Jews, and where they may advance in human dignity and human happiness.

Will Give Peace to Jews.

    An independent Jewish state will likewise insure the peace of the Jew in every land, and avert such persecution as heretofore was inflicted upon him. A Jewish home of this kind will wipe off the disgrace of the Jew, and will do away with every manner of cringing and crouching, to which he was trained by the constant batterings of cruel oppressors; will remove the ragged spectacle and timid posture, which he presents on his arrival from the lands of his oppressors; will uproot disorder in his midst, and train him to a more systematic and conventional life. 

    The Jew can quickly recuperate and adapt himself to all favorable conditions. All of us, whose good fortune it is to be numbered among the citizens of this free and happy land, protected under the glorious Stars and Stripes are perfectly satisfied with our lot, and we positively have no cause to seek for any other home abroad. It has been said, and written time and again, that Zionism does not purpose to create a wholesale immigration from all quarters of the globe, especially from the lands of the Anglo-Saxon race, amidst whom, we are thankful to state, Israel dwells in peace and security.

    But Zionism’s object is the creation of a home for such of the Hebrew race who slave in their so-called “Fatherland” without the slightest enjoyment or privilege of home, but it is its next avowed purpose to cultivate a nation out of the rising generations, such as might combine in itself a perfect knowledge of Jewish destiny and Jewish principle, together with all the advantages of modern culture and civilization. 

    As regards the Jew’s capability for self-government I am certain he will not be found deficient in this matter also, and let Mr. Wolf not be uneasy on that score. If we can still boast of a personage like the Hon. Simon Wolf we have nothing to fear. And then let us bear in mind that at the head of the Zionist movement there are men equally as practical. The author of “The Dreamers of the Ghetto” is by far not a dreamer himself. Such men as Dr. Theodore Hertzl, Dr. Max Nordau, Francis Montefiore, Sir Samuel Montague, Bernard Lazare, Dr. Alexander Marmorek, and Colonel Goldsmid are likewise more or less posted on sociological and political problems, and are not wanting in tact and diplomatic skill. They know just exactly what this great task demands at their hands, and are not “mystic and hysterical.” Position, fame, wisdom, and worldly possession have not blinded their sight to the needs of their people. 

    Thus it were well that none of us should shirk responsibility and keep aloof from our brethren in any practical effort for their betterment. The fact is the more cowardly and faithless in his cause the Jew will appear in the sight of the world, the more scorn and contempt will be allotted to him. But, on the other hand, a well-directed effort on the part of the ever-persecuted race to end its sufferings by a rehabilitation of Zion through legal and peaceful means and ways, without injury to others—such an effort should, and positively will, be applauded by the world at large. 

A Call to Agitation. 

    Moreover, a realization of the Zionist movement will positively redound to the interest all mankind. Political Zionism, I may justly aver, is not wholly “political,” for it does not purpose to be carried into effect at the cost or injury of any other body politic; it does not aim at the acquisition of worldly possession, so as to become a menace and a terror to other powers, but it is its purpose to establish an abode of peace, which in its neutrality may be protected by the sponsorship of the worldly powers, and thereby maintain both the peace of the powers themselves and the equanimity of religious rivals. 

    Let then every member of the Hebrew race lend his effort to the cause of Zionism, which alone can heal the bruises of the Jew’s long-standing captivity; which will give a home to the homeless Jew and give him rest from all around.

    Zionism alone can tend to cultivate a nation of free and happy men and women in Israel. Let everyone who claims to possess but on spark of feeling for dear old Jerusalem, and true sympathy for a degraded brotherhood, come forth and aid in the emergency. The practical result thereof may save him a brother, a sister, an uncle or kin, and it may, perchance, stand unto himself in good stead.

    If, however, in spite of [his] reasoning and human calculation, the Jew is still destined to suffer and die at the hands of his tormentors, let him meet his fate like a man. 

    Let but the Jew employ all his energies, all peaceful means at his command, and his efforts will surely be crowned with success. Let the Jew agitate and continue to agitate for Zion.