After Thirty Years

Thirty years ago today Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern Zionism, passed away, disillusioned and heart-broken because of conflicts within Zionist ranks and because of the indifference of the wealthy and influential Jews toward the Zionist ideal. But Herzl was firmly convinced that nothing could stand much longer in the way of the realization of Israel’s centuries-old dream—the restoration of Palestine as the Jewish national home. Brilliant feuilletonist and literary critic, playwright and novelist, Theodor Herzl revolutionized Jewish life throughout the world by the publication of his book, “The Jewish State,” in 1895. His magnetic personality and his skillful statesmanship won the Jewish masses over to the practicability of the Zionist ideal and overcame numerous obstacles in the political spheres that had been antagonistic or indifferent toward his proposed solution of the Jewish question through the restoration of Zion. With superhuman zeal and energy, with boundless sympathy for the Jewish masses, he struggled and worked and sacrificed his life for his ideal—the ideal of the Jewish people.

Visionary and dreamer though Theodor Herzl was, notwithstanding his genius for practical organization, he never imagined thatwithin thirty years Palestine could become the greatest factor in Jewish life, not only as a spiritual center and a reservoir of Jewish culture, but as a living homeland for the homeless Jews.

Within the thirty years since Herzl’s death, autocracies have crumbled and imperial dynasties have been swept away. New dictatorships have sprung up in their stead. New sorrows and new tragedies have befallen Israel through some of these dictatorships. But the dream of Herzl has become a bright historic reality. Little Palestine, Israel’s ancient homeland, is flourishing again by virtue of Jewish labor and Jewish culture, Jewish resourcefulness and Jewish idealistic self – sacrifice. Herzl’s dreamland is now becoming the most practical haven for Jewish refugees from the inferno of Nazified Germany and other backward countries.

The idealism of Herzl made possible the restoration of Palestine. The inspiration of Herzl lives on. The complete fulfillment of the Zionist ideal needs another Herzl now—a great and daring leader, a man of character and vision, imbued with the ideals of Herzl, endowed with the genius of Herzl.