Fyodor Sologub

The Shield, the Jewish Question in Russia Fyodor Sologub

The refusal of the Russian people to be either bribed or deceived into hostility to the Jews is clearly enough demonstrated by the feeling of affection on the part of most intelligent Jews towards the Russian people The only exceptions are those Jews which come from the Polish cities far within the Jewish Pale and do not know the Russian people except by hearsay Unfortunately, this is a considerable portion of the total of the Jews in Russia, and it is from these cities and towns in the heart of the Pale that most of our immigrants come But all the more educated Jews?and a very large part are educated?all those who know Russia either by a travel or through Russian literature and newspapers, feel a deep affection for their country, for in spite of all, Russia belongs to them just as much as it does to other Russians One of the editors of the present volume, Fyodor Sologub, says: "Whenever I met Russian Jews abroad, I always marvelled at the strangely tenacious love for Russia which they preserve They speak of Russia with the same longing and the same tenderness as the Russian emigrants; they are equally eager to return and equally saddened, if the return is impossible Wherefore should they love Russia, who is so harsh and inhospitable toward them?"