Letter to Rabbi Jacob Moses Karpas against Zionism

Having received your blessing, I received your letter; many thanks for your activity for the good. I also read the remainder of your words on the matter, “the Zionist movement,” who have now joined and banded together in force. I am not ashamed to say that I do not know how to express my objection to them since these men are already infamous in their locales, and they have announced and published that it is their purpose to uproot the foundations of our religion, and to this purpose also to take hold of all the places where Jewish people live in order to promote their objective. Since they have already made all this known and revealed their plans in their journals, what can we add to this account? Will someone give more credence to our testimony concerning them than to what they say and reveal on their own?

It is unbelievable that after they have revealed their malicious intentions themselves, one can still find those of the upright in heart who have joined their party—which brings about an enormous confusion within diaspora Jewry, since they give a place [i.e., legitimacy] and foothold to their project. How can they find a prop of support when it is well known that this is a sin of the community!?

But in spite of all this, I find that you are absolutely right, that God-fearing Jews should join together, speak and call out bitterly in public proclaiming those things that the Zionists themselves have proclaimed. It will at least have the advantage that these things will be proceeding from a pure heart. Perhaps this will have the effect of healing the masses of the House of Israel, whose hearts have not yet been corrupted, and they will return of their own accord and be healed. And so they will know to guard their souls, not to join a project that involves the destruction of our religion and is a stumbling block to the House of Israel.

Much blessing to you and all the dear ones together, whose heart is warm and who have awakened to the aid of the Lord. May their hands be strengthened to bring every activity in this vein to light, and may they succeed in increasing the merit of the community. May they be blessed and granted happiness, and may they be written and sealed for a good year.

Your admirer, Ḥayim ha-Levi Soloveichik.

Friday, 19 Elul 5659 [August 25, 1899], Brisk (may God guard it).