Back December 16, 2005
100 YEARS AGO IN THE FORWARD
It is being reported that well-known Russian antisemite Nikolski, who is advising the Russian imperialists on how to handle the current upheaval, said to the tsar, “The only way to stop the revolution is to drown it in a sea of Jewish blood.” Nikolski is known to have great influence in the Russian court and is thought to be the organizing power behind the current slaughter of Jews. He is alleged to have instructed provincial governors in the Pale of Settlement to order their police not to prevent the pogromists from attacking, robbing and murdering Jews.
75 YEARS AGO IN THE FORWARD
In an interview with the press, Albert Einstein made a number of comments relating to Jewish issues. Among them, “The unity of the Jewish people is in no way dependent on the religious traditions.” Regarding Zionism, he said: “The most important thing about Zionism is that the movement has strengthened feelings of self-esteem among Jews…. Zionism has created a renewed sense of unity among Jews, in spite of the fact that they are scattered throughout the world.” When asked what he thought of Yiddish, he replied: “Unfortunately, I don’t know Yiddish. But I believe that the Yiddish language plays an important cultural role in the life of the Jewish people.”
50 YEARS AGO IN THE FORWARD
Israeli troops attacked and pushed Syrian troops back from positions they had taken on the eastern bank of the Sea of Galilee. During the fierce battle, 55 Syrian soldiers were killed and 29 were taken prisoner. Syrian government radio announced that 100 Israeli troops had been killed, a charge that the Israelis denied. The Israelis said that the attack was a response to those that frequently occurred from the Syrian side of the border on Israeli fishermen working in the Sea of Galilee. As a result of the attack, both Egypt and Syria are now threatening Israel with full-scale war.
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