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PARTISAN REVIEW
munity that they'd do better to set up a Jewish study circle or build
a school or cemetery first.... What?" He turned to one of the com–
mittee who had opened his mouth to speak.
"Oh, nothing," that one chuckled, "I just remembered some–
thing. I had an uncle, he was a clever fellow. The Bolsheviks killed
him. For nothing, just killed him. He used to say: 'Ahad Ha'am is
the Habad school of Zionism.' "
The committee heard him and enjoyed it, but the chairman
felt it his duty to reprove him.
"Don't interrupt!" he turned and told him.
Yudka may not have heard, or may not have understood, so
he stood bemused and smiling.
"I'll finish soon," he said with a deprecating smile.
For a while he waited, collected his thoughts, and sought a new
beginning.
"Yes... .'' He coughed two or three times. "Right away....
What was it I wanted to say? That is ... about Zionism. Yes! In
a word, no one has yet said the right . . . the . . . the hidden, the
deepest . . . no one has revealed, or explained, fully . . . just talk,
elementary things, banalities, you know, empty, meaningless
phrases...."
"Oh, they've explained," one of the committee broke in, jesting.
"The Brith Shalom, the wise men of the University, and all the
other little professors...."
"You can't prove anything by idiots," another spoke up off–
handedly.
"Ernest Fig .. .'' went on the first, referring to a public figure
who was regarded as something of a fool and an exhibitionist.
"Ernst is' nicht fiihig, und Fiiig is' nicht ernst
..."
rejoined the
other with a witticism.
"I will ask you not to interrupt and not to talk across the table!"
The chairman straightened up and took over control. "Please
continue.''
"All right.'' Yudka began again, struggling with the words. "Of
course I'm not the one to say what Zionism is. I'm not the man
for it. Even though I've wracked my brain over it, and thought many,
many thoughts. But that's not important.... One thing is clear.
Zionism is not continuity, it is no medicine for ari ailment. That's
