A large crowd, the biggest in number since the enthusiastic Zionist meetings held in the British capital following the issuance of the Balfour Declaration, attended the memorial meeting held here last night to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the death of Dr. Theodor Herzl, founder of political Zionism and of the Zionist World Organization. Lord Melchett, Sir Herbert Samuel, Dr. Stephen S. Wise and Nahum Sokolow paid tribute to the memory of the late Zionist leader, who was described by Dr. Wise as a “modern Messiah.” Messages were read from Dr. Chaim Weizmann, who expressed his regret at his inability to be present to join in the homage “to Herzl’s immortal memory,” and from Nathan Straus.
Lord Melchett, who presided at the memorial meeting, paid tribute to Dr. Herzl’s statesmanship and leadership. “How close is the wording of the Mandate to the program outlined at the Basle Congress!” he pointed out. “It is a sad reflection that Herzl died at the premature age of forty-four.”
A tremendous ovation was accorded Sir Herbert Samuel, former High Commissioner of Palestine, when he rose to speak. “There is nothing in modern history, Sir Herbert declared, that is more enthralling, more moving, more inspiring, than Herzl’s life and the course of Palestine events in the past few years which represent the triumph of a great idea.” He lauded Herzl’s vigor and sound instinct which enabled him to foresee developments. He pointed out, as a matter of interest, that Herzl’s scheme for Palestine rehabilitation was first published in London. What would Herzl have said, twenty-five years ago, if he could have foreseen that within a generation, Palestine would be secured to the Jews by public law, and the foundation laid for an all-Jewish city, great industries created, the Jordan harnessed, twelve million pounds invested in the country, and the Hebrew language and culture revived? Would that Herzl had lived to witness the magic realization of these dreams,” he declared.
SAMUEL CALLS UPON ALL TO AID AGENCY
What has already developed in Palestine, Sir Herbert stated, is only a beginning, with the future requiring tremendous efforts and sacrifice. Financial contributions, he said, are the most facile of the gifts to Palestine, compared with the peril faced by fellow Jews against armed attacks in the earlier days of the Palestine rehabilitation efforts. It was fitting, he stated, on this occasion to recall the memory of Joseph Trumpeldor and his companions. He lauded the devotion, idealism and the sacrifices of the Jewish laborers, farmers and factory workers who are the roots of the tree from which the blossom of the revived civilization in Palestine has sprung.
Sir Herbert touched upon the Seventh Dominion idea, calling upon the adherents of this plan to work hand in hand with those who are forming the Jewish Agency. Without arguing the merit or demerit of the Seventh Dominion idea, which, he said, for Jewish, British and international reasons has its opponents, “those who do agree to this idea can still agree with the rest of us in creating a strong Jewish Agency.”
He described Dr. Weizmann’s invitation to all parties in Jewish life to join the Jewish Agency for Palestine work as a far-sighted and self-sacrificing renunciation, since it meant the voluntary renunciation of one-half of the seats on the Agency to representatives of a majority which has done little for the Palestine cause.
HERZL ONE OF THE FEW EPOCHAL MEN, WISE SAYS
Theodor Herzl was hailed by Dr. Stephen Wise as “a modern Messiah, who achieved the most wondrous miracle of helping Israel to work out its own salvation.
“Theodor Herzl was one of the few men truly epochal,” he declared. “He was epochal because he had dared to bid the Jew to be what, for nearly two millenia he had not dared to be to be himself-a Jew. And as a result, his entire life was given to this cause and he succeeded, though he never lived to see the rebuilding of the national home in Palestine.
“Before Herzl came the Jews had been so hurt by the world’s ill will that many had denied their own Semitism. Such a denial is infinitely more provocative than a courageous admission. But since Herzl’s day, there are fewer Jews concealing their Semitism. I was the last comrade that Herzl talked with. He was a worn and spent man. I asked him whether we could not free him from the necessity of pot boiling for his Vienna newspaper so that he might devote himself altogether to the Zionist cause.
“‘I dare not,’ he answered, ‘lest it be said that I live on Zionism rather than for it. Yet I should be in London, for it is from England that the salvation of the Jewish people will come.’
“Herzl was the most vital figure in Jewish history for centuries and his banner must be borne aloft by all of the people of Israel, no matter what their differences,” Dr. Wise said.
Dr. Wise recalled that together with Justice Louis D. Brandeis, he received the Balfour Declaration from President Wilson, on the eve of its issuance. “Then I rejoiced, even as I now rejoice that the British Government would not affix its signature to a scrap of paper.” Nevertheless, he continued, he believes that despite faith in England, it needs vigilant safeguarding. Jewish interest in Palestine, he said, is vis a vis, with that of the Mandatory.
Nahum Sokolow, head of the World Zionist Executive, delivering an intimate address on Herzl, declared: “Herzl was not a religious man. He did not know the Talmud-he was re-
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ligion and a living chapter of the Talmud. He always dreamed of going to America for he felt the great possibilities of Jewish salvation there. But he never had the opportunity.”
Nathan Straus in his message extended greetings, “on this solemn occasion in memory of the great modern prophet in Israel who saw clearly the vital need of Israel’s regeneration in the land of Israel’s rehabilitation. Herzl had the genius, the courage and the inspiration to see the problem and to open the eyes of the Jewish people to the solution of the problem, a solution for which Jews have prayed for centuries. Herzl’s vision is being gloriously vindicated now that Palestine is being rebuilt by our own people with Great Britain as the Mandatory Power, and practically the whole of Jewry united in the formation of the Jewish Agency. He declared he was happy that Rabbi Wise was present to address the conference, who, he stated, expresses also his views and sentiments for unity harmony, and peace in Israel, as well as among other nations.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
