RETURN OF THE JEWS

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2262, 12 April 1921, Page 1

RETURN OF THE JEWS

PALESTINE THE OBJECTIVE,

GOOD CLASS OF “PIONEERS.”

Representatives of all the Jewish Emigration Bureaus in Central Europe met recently on the border between Poland and Czeeho-Slova-kia, and adopted a programme to provide for the rush of Jews to Palestine. A statement was issued which pointed out the fact that Jews from remote portions of the globe are now arriving in Palestine. The statement reads: — The movement of Jews to Palestine is no new phenomenon. For centuries, in fact ever since the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D., there have been individuals who felt the call, and on several occasions whole groups have taken the wanderer’s staff in hand and made the pilgrimage to Palestine. But it has been reserved for our own time to see the beginning of a national return, of the re-birth of a people after so many centuries of wailing and hoping. The class of these pioneer- is very good. They are almost exclusively young men and women—about 10 per cent, are women —between the ages of 17 and 25. i hey are called by the Hebrew name “Chalulzin,” meaning “pioneer,-." They have been preparing lor their future life’s work in various ways. Many have left their schools and colleges and goiiQ to till the soil with their own hands in order to be prepared to do agricultural works in Palestine, lor t-lvtfy are all intellectuals and idealist.-, and they have come to the coiiclu-ioii that the only sound foundation on which to build up a new Jewish nation is the agricultural life.

Apart from these purely agricultural pioneers, there are otherwho are being trained as bricklayer-, masons, tinsmiths, plumbers, and in all other branehe- of the building trades. The crying need of Palestine is for house- and shelter for all the new arrivals. In addition to the knowledge of a handicraft, Hebrew -peaking is an indispensable part of the curriculum. Between 70 and 80 peT edit, of all who leave for Palestine can speak Hebrew. I was myself in Palestine two months ago, and visited the settlements of some of the newly-arrived “Chaluzim,” and was greatly impressed with them —the men as well as the women. Many came from well-to-do families, and had not been aceii-tomed to hard manual work. Vet they cheerfully cleared the stones from the soil in the broiling sun, and planted seedlings for (lie future fruits of: Palestine and. well satisfied with their labours, sat down with me in the cool of the evening to ’a modest—very mode-t —meal prepared hv the women, who take turns in cooking and agricultural work. These were the students, who have thrown aside everything in order to be among the builders of Zi<>n, And when, after tlie meal, there came the spirited Hebrew marching and folk songs, it was delightful to see the devotion with which they sang, their love for their people and their land. MANY IN NEED OF FUNDS.

There are hundreds of thousands like them yet in Central and Eastern Europe, and the great problem is (o transfer them to Palestine. There are two main difficulties to overcome. The first is due to the economic ruin of Central and Eastern Europe. The other difficulty is due to the condition of Palestine. The land has been desolate for so many years that it cannot be rendered fit for habitation without the expenditure of millions. The prospects are excellent. We have the men, and the political conditions in Palestine, since the arrival of Sir Herbert Samuel —who is now universally beloved by Jew and Arab alike —are most favourable. The enthusiasm of the Jews all over the world is growing, and J am confident that in a very few years we shall see a strong and thriving Jewish population in Palestine. The well-to-do will establish factories when once the foundations are laid. Jews from the most remote corners of the globe are arriving in Palestine. Each has certain relations in the country he lias let’l. What a splendid foundation for a world-wide commerce! P>ut apart from commence, Palestine is to he the educational centre for Jews, who will send their children to study.