Zionist library for boys and girls · 1908-01-01 · 3 · p. Seite 4

_4~ The Haskala movement succeeded in inspiring the Jevs in the love of Imowledge and in the mil to search. Un till then the Jews were taught to believe unconditionally, whereas noi they were taught to doubt and to examine before acknowl ed ging. In Poland and Russia the language of the Jews was Yiddish hui? it was not at that time a written language. The written language 'was Hebrew, and most Jevs could read and understand it, altho1 the3^ were unable to speak it. Consequently the Haskala movement had to use Hebrew as a means to teach science and general knowledge. Many scientific books -..ere translated into Hebrew, and the schools which were set up by the Haskala movemant used. Hebrew in their lessons (apart from German and Russian). Thus Hebrew became the language of science and literature - the Hebrew language was revived, and altho' the Haskala movement had no direct intention of doing so. Through these new schools and neve teachings, the Jew became more confident, "the man in the Jew was roused7', and the Jew started to fight for his right to live as a human being. He fought against the restrictions and Tjcrsecution. He fought against the Ghetto walls. Had we Jews remained in the Ghettos, we might have dragged on for generations, being satisfied to pray for the return to Zion, but doing nothing actively towards its fulfilment. In the Ghetto the Jew was supprcssed and the Jeyiish Gommunity was too much concerned with its petty affairs. There was no spirit to fight and no great issue was put forward - for which they could fight* Many pupils of the Haskala threw their Judaism aside in order to become completely equal