Louis D. Brandeis: Zionist Leader

by Jonathan D. Sarna M.A. '75

liThe work for , II Justice leading the American Zionist Brandeis during his only trip Louis D. Brandeis wrote to his movement, derived "great to Palestine in 1919 mother-in-law on December 20, satisfaction" from both of these 1917, "has seemed to me, on the developments. Zionism, as he whole, the most worthwhile of all I understood it, was" a movement to but from most other forms of active have attempted." The justice give the Jews ... the land of their Jewish life. He maintained a few penned these words at a moment of fathers where the Jewish life may be business associations with Jews, but great rejoicing. The British army lived normally and naturally, and did not live near other Jews, did not had just captured from where the Jews can govern belong to any synagogue, gave only the Turks and His Majesty's themselves and may in time hope to perfunctory gifts to Jewish charities government had, only a few weeks constitute a majority of the and socialized largely with non-Jews. before, issued the Balfour population and look forward As a boy growing up in Louisville, he '-"'c'-'L

22 Brandeis Review Already in a 1910 interview with headed. Jacob deHaas captured the the fe'wish Advocate, Brandeis spirit of this personality cult [a cult declared his warm sympathy for the that deHaas did much to encourage) Zionist cause] although he had yet in a sycophantic passage in which to study the subject in depth. This he described Brandeis as "a Jew who he accomplished over the next few is keen to feel and think with his years, under the tutelage of such people and who the world over, has leading Zionists as Aaron come to be known as 's Aaronsohn, Horace Kallen, Shmarya greatest spirimal guide and most Levin, Bernard Rosenblatt, Nahum practical adviser in this Sokolow, Stephen S. Wise and, generation ... whose private office in above all, Jacob deHaas. The latter, Washington is a temple to which Jewish practices, and he remained, by whose August 13, 1912 meeting men and women make pilgrimages his own admission, extraordinarily with Brandeis is so often seen as from all the ends of the earth." ignorant about Judaism's rites and pivotal in transforming his Zionist When Brandeis travelled on behalf precepts. predilections into a full-scale of Zionism, his presence alone was ideological commitment, becarne usually sufficient to attract an Why Brandeis carne to "convert" to Brandeis's personal guide to audience. His prestige was such that Zionism so late in llie has been Zionism and helped to propel him, when he appeared at the annual described, quite appropriately, as "an on August 30, 1914, to the Zionist conventions, members of enduring mystery." True conversions chairmanship of the Provisional the audience spontaneously rose to are usually somewhat inscrutable, Executive Committee for General their feet. They looked up to and in Brandeis's case all that can be Zionist Affairs. Brandeis as their prophet, compared said with absolute certainty is that him to Isaiah and pledged to him the shift resulted from a complex When he did, finally, give his heart their abiding devotion and series of remote and proximate and soul to Zionism, Brandeis's faithfulness. causes, some of them conscious, leadership brought about an historic some of them undoubtedly turning point in the movement's Brandeis's formal leadership of the unconscious. fortunes. Where before it had been Zionist movement in America restricted to a narrow circle of true extended through seven memorable Brandeis's uncle and mentor, Lewis believers, now it emerged as an years, 1914-21. During this period, Dembitz, was an early supporter of effective political force. Brandeis he barnstormed the country Zionism; his wife, Allce Goldmark helped to bring order into the speaking out on Zionism's behalf, Brandeis, at least according to some Zionist camp, and, in good won for Zionism a host of family sources, likewise influenced progressive fashion, he promoted significant new supporters, oversaw him in a Zionist direction. the virtues of organizational a dramatic if temporary rise in Burgeoning anti-Semitism in Boston efficiency, symbolized by the time Zionist movement memberships and Brandeis's own encounters with clock that he had installed in the and fund-raising, played a behind­ prejudice may also have affected his Zionist offices. He also helped the the-scenes role in formulating and worldview, but to what extent is Zionist movement raise an winning American acceptance of uncertain. Brandeis claimed in 1914 unprecedented arnount of money, the (1917-18), that his concern with Zionism including substantial sums from his helped to author what became the stemmed from his role" in the own pockets. To the cause, official program of the American adjustment of the great strike among he donated $171,538 between 1914 Zionist movement, the so-called the garment workers of New York in and 1921 and a lifetime total Pittsburgh Program (19181, 1910." This mediation, which (including half of his residual estate) undertook his first (and only) tour of resulted in the signing of a famous of more than $1.6 million. Palestine (1919) and was elected "protocol of peace," brought him into honorary president of the World contact with the East European Brandeis'S importance, however, Zionist Organization (1920). Jewish masses, Jews of a type he had extended far beyond these never encountered before. He was administrative and charitable Early in his term, in July 1916, he deeply impressed with their values contributions. What really officially stepped down from all of ("within them there was a true promoted the Zionist movement in his positions in Zionist and Jewish democratic feeling and a deep America was his persona and organizations to avoid embarrassing appreciation of the elements of social mystique, his charm, fluency, the Supreme Court, of which he had lt justice ), and gradually they began to sincerity and passion, the thrill of just become a member. He take the place in his mind of his being part of a movement that he continued, however, to serve in an former ideal, the Brahmins of Boston, honorary capacity and henceforward with whom he had become exercised overall authority from disenchanted. behind-the-scenes.

23 Winter 1992 Jonathan Sarna 75, M.A. reader; People Walk on 75 attended the Hebrew Their Heads, a volume College in Boston and dealing with Jewish Merkaz H aRav Kook in immigrant life in New Jerusalem and obtained York; Jacksonian Jew, a his doctorate in history biography of Mordecai from in Noah that was nominated 1979. From 1979-90, he for the National Jewish taught at Hebrew Union Book Award; JPS, a College-Jewish Institute history of the Jewish of Religion in Cincinnati, Publication Society; and, where he became with Nancy Klein, The professor of of Cincinnati, a Jewish history and community history. Sarna director of the Center for is cUIrently working on a the Study of the American documentary history of Jewish Experience. He has religion and state issues also taught at Yale affecting American Jews, University, the University an interpretive history of of Cincinnati and the American Judaism and an Hebrew University in illustrated history of the Jerusalem. In 1990, Sarna Jews of Boston. returned to Brandeis to assume the new Joseph H. and Belle R. Braun Professorship in American Jewish History in the Department of Near Eastern and Judaic This arrangement continued until workers in the ranks," he declared Studies. At Brandeis he 1921. In that year, a long-simmering in a subsequent letter. directs the Joint Seminar policy dispute between Brandeis and in American Jewish , the great Brandeis, of course, never did take Studies with the European Zionist leader, broke into his place as a "humble worker in American Jewish the open. On the surface, the the ranks." Instead, he and his Historical Society and dispute focused around the stalwarts promoted the economic edits the new series European proposal to create a development of Palestine, entitled Brandeis Studies central financial agency for supporting large and small projects in American Jewish Palestine development, the Keren designed to strengthen the History, Culture and Life Hayesod, on a basis that Brandeis industrial and agriculture base of with the University Press believed to be financially the country. He became particularly of New England. He has irresponsible. At a deeper level, close to young and in some cases written, edited or however, the dispute highlighted radical Labor Zionists associated coedited 12 books, far-reaching ideological and cultural with Ha-Shomer Ha-Tzair in including The American differences between American and Palestine. Whatever he thought of Jewish Experience, a European-born Zionists and the Marxism that some of them reflected both personal mistrust and espoused, he was strongly drawn to sharp disagreements over Zionism's their idealism. He also continued to mission, priorities and follow developments within the administration. It also brought to American Zionist movement, and the surface long-standing in the wake of the 1929 Hebron complaints against Brandeis's covert riots, the untimely passing of the form of leadership and lack of full­ great American Jewish leader Louis time devotion to the Zionist cause. Marshall and the almost total When delegates to the Zionist collapse of the Zionist Organization Organization of America of America under the convention. meeting in Cleveland maladministration of Louis Lipsky, in June 1921, sided with Weizmann he reemerged as a significant, on the Keren Hayesod issue, Brandeis and 37 of his chief loyalists resigned. "Our place is as humble

24 Brandeis Review behind-the-scenes player in Zionist along with the magic already While the dual loyalty issue did not affairs. While he declined the associated with the Brandeis name, disappear quite so quickly, it official responsibility of leadership, proved tremendously iriluential in certainly lost much of its pleading old age, he was generally spreading Zionism's gospel. As a credibility-the more so once consulted about major actions and result, some of the aura that already Brandeis, as a Zionist, became decisions. surrounded Br,andeis in American America's first Jewish Supreme circles now came to envelop Court justice. Brandeis interpreted Chaim Weizmann, watching from Zionism as well. his nomination to the Court as a abroad, was dismayed. lIBrandeis is vindication of his stance; he cited it old," he wrote, "and remains Before Brandeis, Zionism had faced as evidence that 11 in the opinion of enshrined in Washington like an substantial opposition from those the President there is no conflict ikon and waits for the worshippers who claimed that it was un­ between Zionism and loyalty to to come and kneel before him. He is American. The Union of American America." not in a position to do anything or Hebrew Congregations, for example, to inspire anybody in such difficult had declared in 1898 that "We are The key to Zionism's legitimacy, as times." The religious metaphor was unalterably opposed to political Brandeis understood it, lay in its apt, but the conclusion proved wide Zionism ... America is our Zion... The link to Americanism. This echoed a of the mark. In fact, Brandeis did mission of Israel is spiritual, not favorite theme of turn-of-the­ inspire American Zionists-more political." Its members and others century American Jews, who so, indeed, than any other American feared that Zionism would raise delighted in uncovering Jewish Jewish leader. Being in Washington, embarrassing questions of dual aspects of the nation's past, the so­ he was also able to carry on loyalty and undermine the gains called "Hebrew mortar" that important assignments for the that American Jewry had achieved provided the cement for the Zionist movement, while his through the 19th century. foundations of American associates kept him constantly democracy. informed of developments Brandeis did much to allay these elsewhere. As late as 1941, the last fears. The fact that a person of his For most Jews, however, these links year of his life, more than half of the stature and prestige stamped had up to then justified a sense of significant letters that he wrote (at Zionism with his seal of approval America as Zion. Brandeis least those that have been gave it instant legitimacy. His employed them instead to win published) concerned Zionist affairs. activities also set off something of a support, by Americans, for Zion. He One of these, a letter to President chain reaction, bringing to Zionism thus described Zionism in language Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a coterie of distinguished American redolent of Thanksgiving Day expressed alarm over II the danger Jews-including Julian Mack, orations, peppering his speeches threatening the Jewish community Nathan Straus, Mary Fels, Louis with references to the "Jewish in Palestine" and pleaded for" a Kirstein, Felix Frankfurter, Bernard pilgrim fathers" and to standard word ... to the British manifesting Flexner, Robert Szold and the progressive goals. He also identified your desire to be assured that the brothers Walter and Eugene Zionism with America's own Jews in Palestine will be afforded Meyer-many of whom numbered highest ideals: !lBy battling for the the necessary means for self­ themselves among Brandeis's Zionist cause," he told delegates to protection. " friends and came to Zionism at his the 1915 Zionist Convention, lithe personal urging. American ideal of democracy, of During his three decades as an social justice and of liberty will be American Zionist leader, Brandeis Non-Jews too became interested in given wider expression." helped to transform the Zionism thanks to Brandeis, most movement's image and identity. notably his friend Norman On one occasion, Brandeis candidly This may have been, in retrospect, Hapgood, the editor of Harper's admitted that Zionism represented his most important contribution to Weekly, and so for the first time, for him a natural extension of his the cause: his success in (1) the movement gained access to Americanism, which, in the spirit of legitimating, (2) Americanizing and major journals of opinion. One the times, he traced back to the (3) idealizing Zionism's message. To veteran Zionist leader recalls that, Hebrews of old. "I began gradually be sure, his ideological approach to thanks to Brandeis, "Zionism to realize," he explained, "that Zionism was not original. Such became 'fashionable' almost these 20th-century ideals of thinkers as Israel Friedlaender and overnight." America, of democracy, of social Horace Kallen had anticipated him. justice, of longing for righteousness, Instead, it was his formulation of were ancient Jewish ideals ... that American Zionism-his emphases, that which I was striving for as a allusions, nuances and, above thing essentially American, as the his memorable epigrams-that ideals for our country, were the sounded so fresh and creative. This, Jewish ideals of thousands of years."

25 Winter 1992 Em Ha Shofet. followed its meaning Spring of developmen: ;\-;th the fudge. was admlIatlOn. founded by the Shown here .:.:"' American kl/'¥1Sh the ten ts tha: community and went up for named for Louis temporary 5I:2ir2r Brandeis. He for the first supported the settlers and t:::? plOneering barricaded hO:l~es community and that follower::

The Zion that Brandeis so proudly championed and actually saw in his mind's eye was very much an idealized Zion, a utopia, a projection of America as he wished it to be, without the "curse of bigness" and the other evils that he thought America had fallen prey to. In his words, it was lIa country in which all is possible which we had pictured to ourselves as desirable." Earlier, he had set forth what was desirable-for America-in a memorable Independence Day address (1915) where he identified life, liberty and happiness with education, industrial liberty and financial independence, and then spoke out boldly on behalf of II equal opportunity" for all. Zion was simply an extension of this vision.

The 1918 Pittsburgh Program of the Zionist Organization of America, a This same equation of Judaism with himself said it. It has also been statement of Zionist principles that Americanism-an equation, observed by Jerold S. Auerbach in Horace Kallen drafted and Brandeis ironically, that anti-Zionists like his recent book, Rabbis and refined, embodies many of these Rabbi David Philipson of Cincinnati Lawyers, that Brandeis's Zionism ideals. More of a sacred agenda than might heartily have seconded­ was much more American than an ideological platfonn, it called for appears, albeit somewhat more Jewish, drawing less from the Bible "political and civil equality" in enigmatically, in Brandeis's most and rabbinic sources than from Palestine; "irtespective of race, sex famous and oft-quoted Zionist progressive idealism. Given or faith"; public ownership of land, pronouncement: "To be good Zionism's need to attract natural resources and public Americans we must be better Jews, supporters, however, these utilities; the application of lithe and to be better Jews, we must ideological weaknesses tum out to cooperative principle/' where become Zionists." have been brilliant marketing feasible, to "all agricultural, stratagems. By. associating Zionism industrial, commercial and financial Critics have pointed out that this with the glories of Americanism, undertakings"; free public education much vaunted relationship between Brandeis effectively pulled the rug embracing all grades and subjects; Americanism, Judaism and Zionism out from under the movement's instruction in Hebrew, lithe is actually something of a non opponents and placed them on the national language of the Jewish sequitur, and that the power of defensive. Suddenly, the tables were people" i and in at least one draft, Brandeis's pronouncement lies turned. Zionists, quoting Brandeis, protection "from the evils of land largely in the fact that Brandeis could hold their heads high, while speculation and from every other opponents squirmed uncomfortably, not certain quite how to respond.

26 Brandeis Review -- responded not to the realities of the his life and in the lives of many of Middle East, but to the decline of his Zionist followers, as a form of Jeffersonian liberalism and to the religion. It was, to be sure, a JeWish problems of an economically nationalist faith~we might today changing America. What the call it a form of civil Judaism-but a Pittsburgh Program sought to bring faith it was, complete with about in Zion was, mutatis transcendent goals, sacred symbols, mutandiS, what its authors also !venerated texts, holy days, hoped in time to bring about in pilgrimages, doctrinal debate and, of America. The Zion of their course, prophets and priests. God imagination reflected the America played almost no role in this faith, of their dreams. Kallen soon lost but Brandeis was His prophet, and form of financial oppression." hope; Brandeis never did. the awe in which he was held in Elsewhere, Brandeis associated the Zionist circles was a manifestly Jewish homeland with related Thanks in part to his enduring faith, religious awe; indeed, he was virtues: democracy, social justice, Brandeis came to function as honored in much the same way that agrarianism, smallness. He boasted, something of a high priest in an esteemed rabbi or a Hassidic in early speeches, that "in the Zionist circles. Activists made what rebbe might have been honored in Jewish colonies of Palestine there ~ they called "pilgrimages" to his equivalent Orthodox circles. are no Jewish criminals." Later, doorstep, seeking inspiration, advice during the Depression, he identified and sometimes money. The magic Brandeis in his day filled a spiritual Palestine as the "only land in which associated with the great man's void in the lives of those who there is no unemployment." Still name also won Zionism continuing honored him. Young Jewish later, according to his friend and legitimacy: if Zionism was good idealists felt particularly drawn to former law clerk, Professor Paul enough for Brandeis,-the argument his majestic aura for they saw in Freund, he exclaimed with obvious went, it should be good enough for him, as one put it, Ii a leader of emotion, "Palestine is the one place every American Jew. In addition, gigantic spiritual praponions and in the world today where the people Brandeis's name was invoked genuine moral qualities ... a are truly happy." whenever the question of dual prototype of the unblemished loyalty arose, for he was recognized character and an exemplar of the Thus conceived, the Jewish as the ultimate authority proving prophetic tradition." Half-a-century homeland represented American that Zionism and Americanism later, we may reasonably wonder liberal intellectuals' fondest and were thoroughly compatible. whether Brandeis was quite as most romantic visions of a better perfect as his followers professed world, a world influenced by the Indeed, next to Theodor Herzl, the him to be, and we may smile postwar dreams of Woodrow Wilson father of modem Zionism, Brandeis indulgently at some of the more and made only more attractive, in became the most revered figure in extravagant tributes paid to his Brandeis's case, by his first (and the whole American Zionist memory. But professional only) visit to the Holy Land in 1919. pantheon. This is no small irony, skepticism, in this case, mingles "It is a wonderful country, a considering how remote he was with feelings of regret, even wonderful city," he raved to his from Jewish tradition, yet it is also yearning. For would that such an wife from Jerusalem, "It is a fitting for Zionism functioned, in Isaiah stood among us today. - miniature California, but a California endowed with all the interest which the history of man Justice (center can contribute and the deepest with white cap) emotions which can stir a people. and Mrs. Brandeis The ages-long longing, the love is all hosting American explicable now. It has also the great Zionists at his advantage over California of being summer home in small." Chatham

Horace Kallen, a significant influence on Brandeis in these years, understood that this was all utopiafusm, a term, significantly, that derives from two. Greek words meaning "good place" and "no place." The blueprint that he and Brandeis drew up for Zion

27 Winter 1992