“As long as deep in the heart the soul of a Jew yearns, and toward HOLIDAY the East an eye looks to Zion, our hope is not yet lost.” HATIKVAH WITHOUT

CHARACTERS: Zion?Before Israel, Zionists considered Delegates convene at the Sixth Zionist establishing a Jewish state–in Uganda. Congress in 1903. ISRAEL GPO By Yaffa Klugerman

SPECIAL THANKS TO TZVI KLUGERMAN FOR HIS HELP WITH THIS PLAY and gentlemen, I give you the next HERZL: Of course in . This is great European power—for the first time Jewish colony. merely the first step. Uganda is not Zion since the destruction of the Temple—has and will never be Zion. This is nothing recognized the national demands of the (Removes cover to reveal map of East more than a relief measure. We can Jewish people. But I’m sorry that we ISRAEL GPO ISRAEL GPO SETTING: A large conference room. To the right, a podium faces numerous chairs on Africa. All gasp loudly.) Max Nordau accept Uganda, provide a haven for must refuse this offer because our needs the left. Herzl and Nordau converse next to the podium. In back of them, a map LEVIN: (jumps to his feet) A map of East oppressed throughout the world, can only be satisfied by Palestine. hangs on the wall, covered by a cloth. Weizmann, Tchlenow, Syrkin, and Levin are Africa?! What is the meaning of this?! and demonstrate that we’re able to form taking their places and looking over papers. Zangwill stands front center stage, (All freeze.) a government. We’ll be able to establish reading a newspaper and shaking his head in dismay. Motzkin enters from the left. TCHLENOW: Where’s the map of a relationship with the British, and VOICES FROM THE PAST: (from the Palestine? ultimately—persuade them to give us audience on the right) Listen to history! NORDAU: (stands) Shmarya, Yechiel, sit eretz Yisrael. It’s an opportunity to save We are the voices from the past, the MOTZKIN: Could that possibly be the the czar, did you hear? down, please. Allow Dr. Herzl to speak. lives and nurture powerful relationships blood and tears of the Jewish people famous English author, Israel Zangwill? to achieve our goal. I believe that we exiled from our Holy Land, forever ISRAEL GPO LIBRARY OF CONGRESS ZANGWILL: I heard that the czar refused HERZL: Thank you, Max. Yes, gentlemen, Leo Motzkin Israel Zangwill (Motzkin approaches Zangwill) Mr. can’t refuse this offer. yearning to return. We are the Ninth of to accept it. please allow me to explain. (Everyone Zangwill, let me introduce myself: I’m Av, the broken glass at every wedding, sits.) (All freeze.) Leo Motzkin, from Kiev. (They shake MOTZKIN: Exactly. Nobody cares. and the endless prayers that beg for hands.) I’m a big fan of yours. Your I recently had a meeting with Joseph VOICES FROM THE FUTURE: (from the return to . With the Uganda ZANGWILL: Look around you, Leo. There books make me laugh. Chamberlain, the British Secretary of audience on the left) Listen to reason! plan, our dreams are dashed. are almost 600 delegates at this Zionist State for Colonial Affairs. And he offered We are the voices from the future, the ZANGWILL: That’s good, because (points Congress. We all know the problem, and (pause) to give us a Jewish state—in Uganda. souls of millions of Jews who will perish to newspaper) there doesn’t seem to be a we all care. We will find a solution. in countless and the Holocaust. LEVIN: (stands) You’re far too polite, lot to laugh about these days. LEVIN: Preposterous! HERZL: (loudly from the podium) Ladies Without the Uganda plan, we have no Yechiel! Why, this is madness! A Jewish CENTRAL ZIONIST ARCHIVES CENTRAL ZIONIST ISRAEL GPO Chaim Weizmann Yechiel Tchlenow MOTZKIN: Yes, the in Kishinev and gentlemen, welcome to the Sixth HERZL: Let me finish. We all heard of the hope. homeland in East Africa? What is shocked us all. Forty-five Jews dead, 86 Zionist Congress. atrocities that took place in Kishinev. I Zionism without Zion? (pause) wounded, and over 1,500 homes and myself visited the area and witnessed the MOTZKIN: It looks like Theodor Herzl is SYRKIN: (stands) Calm down, Shmarya! businesses destroyed. Terrible! desperate conditions of our people there. NORDAU: If I may, Theodor… (rises) calling the meeting to order. We’d better The Uganda plan holds promise. To where can these refugees flee? And ZANGWILL: Why are you shocked? You’re take our seats. (They sit.) HERZL: Of course, Max. how many more pogroms must we LEVIN: It’s treachery! We are here from Russia. This is certainly not the HERZL: I am pleased to greet you here in endure before we put an end to Jewish NORDAU: Gentlemen, we need to because we share a goal: to return to first pogrom you’ve heard of. Basel, Switzerland, to discuss plans for a hatred once and for all? I’m convinced consider Uganda as a nachtasyl, a refuge Zion. What has become of this goal? MOTZKIN: Sadly, no, but it’s 1903 now. future Jewish state. (applause) that the only way to rid ourselves of for the night. This is temporary. CENTRAL ZIONIST ARCHIVES CENTRAL ZIONIST CENTRAL ZIONIST ARCHIVES CENTRAL ZIONIST NORDAU: Sit down, all of you! How are You’d think that the world wouldn’t is by establishing a Jewish Ultimately our goal is to establish a Nachman Syrkin Shmarya Levin But first, let me announce some very we to proceed if everyone shouts at tolerate such irrational hatred. The state. Jewish state in Palestine. And I have no exciting news. It seems that after the once? I think we would benefit from a Narrator Voices from Voices from American President Roosevelt delivered doubts that we will achieve that goal. devastating news from Kishinev, there’s a LEVIN: In Palestine! level-headed response to this plan. the Past the Future a letter of protest about the pogrom to glimmer of hope on the horizon. Ladies TCHELNOW: (stands) Allow me to voice (Zangwill raises his hand.) Yes, Israel, NORDAU: Gentlemen, order, please! my concerns. I’m filled with joy that a please speak up.

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ZANGWILL: (stands) I believe SYRKIN: (stands) That dream is ZANGWILL: I suggest we vote to that Dr. Herzl’s plan makes suicide for our people! If people investigate East Africa. Who is sense. Ideally, we prefer Zion, can murder innocent Jews in with us? but lives are at stake here. 1903, what will happen ten, 20, VOICES FROM THE FUTURE: We Frankly, I can’t believe that Mr. or 40 years from now? are with you! (enter stage left ONE BIG Tchlenow and Mr. Levin are not NORDAU: Sit down, Nachman! and remain standing) in favor of this plan. They both You are out of order! come from Russia, and they MOTZKIN: I can’t make up my understand the gravity of the SYRKIN: (faces Weizmann) You mind, Israel. I’ll have to abstain. situation. I believe that a chosen may be a brilliant chemist, Dr. TCHLENOW: I, too, must abstain. people is really a choosing Weizmann, but you’ll never be a I disagree with the plan, but I people. We can choose a politician! respect Dr. Herzl. What Is Palestine? dream—or we can choose to WEIZMANN: Here’s politics for save lives. (sits) NORDAU: All in favor of Before the State of Israel you! Why would the British—or considering the Uganda plan? was created, the region HERZL: Well said, Israel. anyone, for that matter— (Herzl, Nordau, Zangwill, of eretz Yisrael was entertain the thought of ever (All freeze.) Syrkin, and Voices from the known as Palestine. giving us Palestine if we’re all Future raise hands.) Opposed? amily VOICES FROM THE FUTURE: happily settled in East Africa? Palestine was never an (Weizmann, Levin, and Voices Look to the future! Without a Accepting this offer won’t pave exclusively Arab country, from the Past raise hands.) The and no independent Arab temporary haven, we are the way to eretz Yisrael. Quite results are 295 in favor, 178 or Palestinian state ever condemned. The Uganda plan the contrary: It will destroy our opposed, with 98 abstentions. existed there. The name can save us. chances of ever attaining it! Palestine referred to an HERZL: Gentlemen, let us VOICES FROM THE PAST: TCHLENOW: I’ve heard enough! area, in much the same conclude on a hopeful note. I Remember our heritage! By (stands up to leave) This is no way that we in the United wish to emphasize that the States refer to a region accepting Uganda, we risk place for a Zionist. I will be Uganda plan is meant to be like the Midwest. forsaking Zion. sitting on the floor in the next temporary. To those of you who room, mourning for Jerusalem. (pause) fear otherwise, may I say: Anyone who agrees with me is (raises right hand) If I forget n 8-year-old boy in a red WEIZMANN: (stands) Mr. free to join. (Levin and Jerusalem, may my right hand President, if I may? Weizmann stand up and begin shirt focuses intently on lose its cunning! to follow him out stage right.) HERZL: Of course. Gentlemen, ƒ his watercolor painting. (All freeze. Narrator enters from please give your attention to VOICES FROM THE PAST: We are left and reads from center stage.) He’s drawing a house—a Chaim Weizmann. with you! (join Tchlenow stage A right) NARRATOR: The Uganda plan large structure with beige walls, a WEIZMANN: Thank you. I was threatened to split the Zionist born in the Russian Pale, and I HERZL: (angrily) You people have welcoming green door, and clear, wide Movement, but the idea was understand how badly our a noose around your necks, and ultimately put to rest when the windows. In front, children play with people need refuge. Yet I must still you won’t listen to reason! Jewish teens spend British later withdrew their still oppose this plan. I grew up (grasps Tchlenow’s shoulder) bikes, toy trucks, and a dog. “I used to offer. Sadly, the struggle praying daily for God to return Yechiel, listen to me. Don’t allow aggravated Herzl’s heart winter vacation on live in a house,” he explains. “But now us to Zion, and I can’t easily this issue to divide us. Our unity condition and he died one year ignore these powerful is our greatest strength. You know we live here.” after the Sixth Zionist Congress traditions. Zionism cannot only me. Would I forsake Zion? Trust a solidarity mission at the age of 44. Little did he “Here” is a hotel in downtown be a response to antisemitism. me, Yechiel, please! know that his efforts on behalf It’s much deeper than that; it’s a to Israel. Jerusalem. The boy’s entire family was TCHLENOW: (after moment’s of Zionism would lead to the yearning for eretz Yisrael as the pause) Gentlemen, let us return establishment of Israel in 1948, historical homeland of our to our seats. (all sit, but Voices less than 50 years later. people. We cannot give up that from the Past remain standing By Yocheved Miriam Russo dream—not even temporarily. on stage) Photos by Debbi Cooper

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