Interesting details of the personality of Herzl are contained in the following article, printed here in commemoration of the thirtieth anniversary of his death.
Herzl seems to have gone to Constantinople five times in connection with his negotiations with Sultan Abdul Hamid II. about Zionism and Jewish immigration into Palestine. On one of those visits the Sultan conferred the cordon of the Order of the Mejidie upon Herzl. Dr. David Wolffsohn, mentioned in the text, accompanied Herzl to the Sultan’s palace on May 15, 1901. The charter spoken of may be either the one Herzl was negotiating for with English notables or the one he hoped to get from Turkey.
The article consists of excerpts from the memoirs of Dr. D. Marcus, chief Rabbi of Turkey, who was rabbi at the Austrian Synagogue in Constantinople when Herzl was in that city.
HERZL IN CONSTANTINOPLE
Constantinople is a miniature world. Wherever one goes in the streets of that city one meets various people in their national costumes. One’s eye becomes so accustomed to this, that no one pays any attention to any one else. Each goes his own way. But when Herzl walked in the streets of Constantinople, his tall figure and entrancing eyes attracted the attention of everyone. Young and old stopped to look at him, and military men saluted him as though he were an ambassador or foreign nobleman.
All sorts of people—doctors, lawyers, learned men—appealed to me to get them an introduction to Herzl. But Herzl received no one except a certain doctor who was a member of the “Young Turks” and was sympathetic to our idea.
Our leader had a special weakness for all sorts of poor people. He never passed one by without giving him something, and often one could see him standing and talking with one of them.
The day that Herzl was received by the Sultan was a holiday for the needy. On that occasion he distributed a great deal of money.
He showed me the distinguished cordon of honor which had been conferred upon him by the Sultan, and his face beamed with the great pleasure of it.
“Our idea has found its way to rulers, and this is the first symbol of honor which our nation has received.”
He showed me the cigar he had gotten from the Sultan. Herzl had lighted it, smoked a bit of it and then extinguished it, that he might keep it for a souvenir.
Herzl told me:
Today when I laid our plan and ideology before the Sultan, I suddenly cut my words short. I realized that it might be much better for me to talk with him from my notes. But I was afraid to take the book from my pocket, for the Sultan might suspect that I was reaching for a revolver. And then I turned to him and said:
ASKS PERMISSION
” ‘Your Majesty, I am speaking to you as a messenger of a people. Therefore please permit me to take out some notes and acquaint you with my written words just exactly as they are.’ “
On Saturday Herzl visited the Austrian synagogue, where I was rabbi and preacher. A great crowd had gathered about him to get a look at him. On that Saturday Herzl was called to breakfast with the Sultan. The King had sent him greetings in a small envelope bearing the initials A. H. (Abdul HamidII). In the envelope there was a stickpin studded with precious stones. Herzl, sitting among the viziers, rose and drank to the Sultan’s health.
After the interview with the Sultan Herzl was busy receiving journalists and diplomats, who influence the government’s affairs. All admired Herzl’s majestic stature and his wisdom.
Herzl went away very favorably impressed and with great expectations of getting his charter very shortly. Soon thereafter Herzl was called back to Constantinople to be the guest of the Sultan. He lived there at the expense of the court. That visit was only eight days long, although he was invited to lengthen his stay.
CALLED A THIRD TIME
Herzl was called to Constantinople a third time, and stayed fifteen days. I remember that during that time Dr. David Wolffsohn came to me and asked me to go to the Verray palace where Herzl was waiting for me. As I approached the palace I saw Herzl standing at the window. In his eyes there was a look of quiet sadness.
I shall never forget his look when I asked him how things stood. He answered in a strained voice:
“Heretofore everything went well. But at this instant, it seems to me, matters have taken a new turn—whether for better or for worse I do not know.”
He asked me what he wanted to know, and I answered all his questions as best I could. But I shall never forget the look in his eyes at that time.
After his death I recalled that in those moments Herzl must have become aware for the first time, of the illness which was to bring him death.
Keep up with Jewish news by reading the Jewish Daily Bulletin, only English-language Jewish daily newspaper.
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.
