11. Year 1912: Benito F. Alonso

The Zionist question in the Orient

Note: The original article was published in the Ottoman Empire in the Ladino language. Benito F. Alonso the translator ¹ explains on a short introductory statement of Almanaque Gallego:

This direct transcription from the Hebrew, faithfully preserving the Judeo-Spanish text, is intended to show how a Jewish press typeset with a Hebrew font continues publishing in Spanish, albeit a degenerate version.

We have demonstrated already with facts and proofs in one of our recent numbers how support for the Zionist propaganda circulating in our country may bring extremely grave consequences for Ottoman Judaism. It is irrefutably certain that the ruling circles of our country see this movement as baleful and that they throw all possible monkey wrenches into the realization of even the smallest project. To encourage or indeed to brook the spread of Zionism among us is to risk losing the government's sympathy together with that of the Turkish people.

We could append the words of Mr. Oscar Strauss the Ambassador of the United States in Constantinople to all the proofs we have hereto submitted. This eminent coreligionist who is apt to know the opinion of the leading Ottoman circles in the capital precisely because of his high rank has declared in a most categorical fashion that Zionism may bring immense harm to the Jews of Turkey for making them suspect elements in the eyes of the authorities and of the Turkish people.

The words of Mr. Oscar Strauss caused a profound impression in the entire Jewish world and particularly in the Zionist sphere. But the leaders of that movement tried to erase it with misleading and childish arguments, endeavouring to make everyone believe that Mr. Oscar Strauss was ill-informed and that they alone apprehend the real state of affairs. These arguments could only purpose deceiving the readers, for it is absurd to pretend that Mr. Strauss the Ambassador of a great power—an ardent Jew who always showed interest in the fate of his brothers; who defended them energetically with the pen or with the spoken word many times—was ill-informed about a movement which he desires to comprehend. The Zionist cause must be in a bad way when they pretend to discredit the words of an eminent man of state with such arguments.

Therefore we were convinced that Zionism can only be detrimental to the interests of Ottoman Judaism.

Then something happened this week which bolstered our conviction even more; we did not procure it, it came of its own.

Yesterday the honourable "Qiesós Nami Bie" the Public Education inspector of the "Bilect" (?), an influential member of the Ottoman Union and Progress Committee and a good friend of our press, dropped by our Editorial Department for a visit. We had a friendly chat on various subjects.

Qiesós Nami who is an influential member of the Committee, we repeat, perfectly acquainted with the opinion of the ruling circles on all political matters, shifted the conversation to the subject of Zionism.

Qiesós Nami, fully conversant with this movement, asked us good-naturedly to expound its scope. Let the Zionists rest assured that we described the movement in a most favourable light.

After listening attentively the honourable Inspector of Public Education said,

Young Turkey will never allow the fulfillment of the Zionist projects whether they have a political object or not. Young Turkey will never allow the concentration of a large mass of Jews in Palestine because she must think about her future and forestall the possibility of posterior snares. We open wide the doors of our country to Jews persecuted in other countries on condition that they will settle down in the province the empire assigns; but we will vigorously rebuff Zionist projects as long as Young Turkey exists.

It is superfluous to assert that Turks ergo can not sanction Ottoman Jews taking part in this movement and working on its behalf. To date Israelites have enjoyed the full trust of the authorities and of the Turkish government. But if they take it upon themselves to disseminate a questionable movement it is only natural that they too will become notorious and when suspicion enters the soul it's hard to root it out. Therefore the expansion of Zionism in Turkey can only compromise Ottoman Judaism.

"Pardon, Nami Bie, one last question. Do all the ruling circles hold the same unfavourable opinion of Zionism?"

"The ruling circles watch this movement generally with suspicion, I can attest to this. If some bureaucrat expresses a different opinion, in contradiction with that of the ruling circles, he is simply expressing his own personal opinion, nothing more. Hence it will be good to advise your coreligionists to drop all support for Zionism and to spurn it completely since this movement can only harm Ottoman Judaism."

Such are the words of Qiesós Nami, an influential member of the Union and Progress Committee who is at the same time a sincere friend of the Jews. Despite its diplomatic reserve this language speaks clearly enough: Zionism constitutes a grave peril to Ottoman Israelites because it may excite a powerful antisemitic reaction.

We wish to express our hope that in light of this looming menace the few enthusiastic young men and the reporters of that enthusiasm will act prudently and drop all references to the propaganda of a movement which is under suspicion and which may bring a catastrophe upon all the Israelites of this country who until now have dwelled in complete tranquility and security.

Original translation from Hebrew to Ladino done by:

Benito F. ALONSO ¹

Orense, 1911

He is a son of the province of Ourense and hails from a town on the borderland with Portugal.

He is straightforward and festive.

Deeply religious by nature, upright and clean-shaven because of his studies in the diocesan seminary, he wrote a tome on the bishops of Ourense but chose wedlock over priesthood, and that twice.

He also wrote The Jews in Ourense, his latest book, which garnered a good reception from Hebrew intellectuals.

Incapable of hurting a mosquito, lover of peace, invariably smiling at and forbearing the pranks of his friends, he withal wrote The Wars against Portugal.

The owner of one of the better houses embellishing Feijóo Square, well-heeled, he does not balk at standing behind a counter to turn the supposed bankruptcy of a retailer into a perfect liquidation with profit margin to boot.

Jewish audacity

Under the category of curio we copy the following paragraphs from La Bourse Egyptienne ¹ apropos of Zionism and of the scheme to rule the world proposed by a Rabbi in his speech before the tribune of the Lemberg Congress.²

Our readers will realize through said paragraphs the amazing degree to which the Jews flaunt their brash audacity; and they will notice at a cursory glance the coincidence between Israel's hankerings and Masonry's plans, proving the very strong bond that exists between them.

My brothers—says the Grand Rabbi.

Lo, for nineteen centuries the Jews have striven to take hold of the world's Government, a pledge that God Himself delivered to Abraham the patriarch. However the Cross obtained the victory and humiliated the Jews. These, scattered the world over, were for a lengthy spell the object of horrible persecution. Nevertheless our hope stuck.

The very fact that the Jews were dispersed across all the continents proves that all those lands belong to him.³

Presently we are witnessing the impressive spectacle of Israel growing stronger by the day!

Gold—the metal before which all Humanity bows—gold the revered is almost entirely in the hands of the Jews; and that gold buttresses Israel's future.

The epoch of persecution is over. The progress and culture of the Christian countries are the best haven sheltering the Jews and smoothing the realization of their plans. We Jews have at length seized control of the global stock markets: Paris, London, Berlin, Vienna, Hamburg and Amsterdam are ours. Wherever the Jews dwell they possess immense fortunes.

Currently all States are deep in debt. Debt compels them to hand over, with guarantees, state-owned mines, railways and factories to the Jews.

But more than this is required. It's incumbent upon Jews to own all the land, especially the landed estates! If the big landed states were under Jewish proprietorship the Christian labourers toiling in them would yield enormous revenue for the Jews.

We have stooped beneath the yoke placed on us nineteen centuries ago, but today we have become greater and more powerful than our oppressors. It's true that certain Jews consent to getting baptized, but this deed of theirs ends up strengthening us further because a baptized Jew will never cease being a Jew. The days are coming when Christians will want to become Jews and in that day the people of Judah will accept them spitefully.

The enemy of the Jews par excellence is the Roman Catholic Church. This is why we come to graft on this accursed tree a spirit of disbelief, lasciviousness and complacency. We must kindle and fan strife and disunity among the various Christian denominations.

In the first place we must wage an implaccable struggle against the Catholic clergy in every sphere. We must confront priests with the parodies, curses and scandals of their private life and consign them to disdain and derision in the world.

We must halter the education system, and the Christian religion must vanish from the school curriculum. The Church will lose its influence, descend into poverty, and its wealth will be Israel's booty.

Above all, the Jews must take hold of power and of the key professions. The legal, judiciary and medical professions must be in the hands of Jews. A Jewish doctor has the best chance of entering into an intimate relationship with a Christian family.

The Jews must annul the indissolubility of the Christian marriage and institute civil marriage all over the world. France has already been subdued by us and Austria will be next.

Lastly we must exercise absolute control over the press; and that will be the moment when our kingdom will be solidified and fulfilled.⁴