Page 20 - Issue 32

Jewish people. Nor do they sacrifice their own lives of
the hour, for life of the hour in the here and now which
has a purpose is, in fact, life eternal… “

Comment and Implications:

Gordon believes that for his understanding of the
Zionist ideal, individuals must take upon themselves
a life of infinite purpose (Life Eternal). However,
there can be no such life if it detaches itself from
finite reality (Life of the Hour). In the context of his
time, he rejected extreme notions of sacrificing
oneself for the sake of the Jewish people’s future.

3. Without a Change in Purpose of Life, “in
the Land of Israel there is no less Exile than
anywhere else”. (1911)

“There are two paths before us in the Land of Israel:
the path of life in Exile with Exilic wisdom, with its
Exilic feeling and rationale and with the force of Exilic

actions as distinct from the path of renaissance which
we wish to follow. Let each one choose whatever they
will choose, but let them be aware what they have
chosen, and let them know that whoever has chosen
the path of renaissance will not follow the path of Exile.
Exile is always Exile, and in the Land of Israel there is
no less Exile than anywhere else. The price for
choosing renaissance is giving up the way of life in
Exile and in truth, this is not a heavy price to pay. One