The Rise of the Zionist Movement

by Steve Israel

Returning

Contemporary Questions beyond this Unit:

1. What do you understand by the term "national pride"? What does it mean to you as a Jew?

2. What are the responsibilities of a government toward the minorities living under its jurisdiction?

Background Text:

Most of the would-be immigrants who decided to go to Palestine in the late 19th century were themselves religious, motivated partly by the wish to fulfill the mitzvah [precept] of yishuv ha'aretz - settling the Land of Israel.

Among them, however, was a small group of assimilated university students from southern Russia who were so appalled by the violence of the pogroms that they had lost faith in any future for themselves in Russia.

Many of these realized for the first time that it meant something to think of themselves as Jewish. Some even went to the synagogue to ask forgiveness for having been so distant from their fellow Jews.

Read part of the proclamation they published on the pogroms and their impact:

With unimaginable power, the wild mob of Russians rushed on, destroying everything in their path that bore a Jewish mark or trace. And so the Jewish people found itself robbed, scorned, dishonored, economically destroyed, its women raped, its status shaken...

All these cruelties were carried out in broad daylight, in full view of the government's representatives whose job it is to protect their citizens from violence and to secure the property of their loyal subjects.

Because of these barbaric occurrences, the lives of the Jewish in Russian have become impossible, senseless. The Jewish poor and middle classes have begun thinking of emigration.

Because of all this, in the name of love for our people and the honor of our nation, in the name of our great belief in the strength of the Jewish people and the possibility of its economic revival, - many young, enlightened Jewish university students and people close in spirit to the student public, have decided to emigrate to Palestine. We are prepared to sacrifice careers. We give up our former affection for the Russian people and everything that was sacred to us before.

Simulation - Confrontation:

Create groups of three or four participants for this assignment. Compare the points presented by each group and analyze their nature; discuss which seem most effective.

You are one of these students. After only one year of medical studies, you have decided to leave for Palestine and become a farmer. Now you are traveling home to inform your parents of your decision.

You expect them to be extremely disappointed after working hard to provide you with an education. You know that they believe Russia is a harsh land for the Jews, but that if you become a doctor, you will enjoy a privileged position above and beyond the reach of this hatred.

You are going to be absolutely firm on your decision to leave. Rehearse in your mind the points you wish to make in response to the arguments you expect from them in the order you think they may develop. You would prefer to go with their consent, but are prepared to leave without their blessing...

        Parents' arguments                      Your responses
        ------------------                      --------------
        1.                                      1.

        2.                                      2.

        3.                                      3.

Review:

Describe and discuss your feelings about the above situation and the decisions of those involved.

Editors: Michael Toben, Dr. Dov Goldflam, 1992

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