Palestine and the Jew

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 9817, 22 February 1936, Page 17 (Supplement)

Palestine and the Jew

(Leslie F- Hooper in The Bible in the World.)

IT IS NOT OF'JEN given to a single generation to witness the birth, growth and, almost, the maturity of a nation. Yet this experience is the privilege of those who live in Palestine today. For the Jewish peoples, after centuries of exile, are re-creating a national home in what they call “Eretz Israel—the land of Israel.” To Bible lovers these pres-ent-day developments are of peculiar interest and, indeed, the attention of the whole world seems to be focussed on this narrow strip of land. Whilst in area it is not much larger than Wales, yet it is a veritable storehouse of histories and antiquities and, above all, the cradle of the Gospel. In 1917 Mr Balfour issued a declaration slating that Great Britain was in favour of encouraging in Palestine, a national home for the Jews. The League of Nations entrusted the .Mandate for Palestine to Great Britain in 1923. Thus a Strong Feeling of Nationalism \vas fostered throughout all Jewry and this, coupled with the financial resources enabling them to return to Palestine, was the incentive to the task. The situation has now assumed a form sufficiently concrete to enable a survey of the whole to be made. The largest factor in the growth of the national home has been, perhaps, the rapid rale of immigration. In 1917 there were only 56,000 Jews residing in Palestine; but bv February, 1935, the figure had risen to 314,000. During 1933-34 Palestine absorbed some 100,000 Jews, Including over 20,000 from Germany. Many of these immigrants have brought with them large sums of money which have been used to finance the development of the country; and this has resulted in the present prosperity. This prosperity is more in evidence in the large towns, where the greater number nf the immigrants settle; but the “colonies” are also receiving their due share- In 1927 there were only 104 Jewish colonies in Palestine. but the figures for 1935 give 187 for the number of settlements; covering a total land area of 300,000 acres. On a journey from Jerusalem to Haifa, colony after colony is passed, humming with activity, and the whole plain of Esdraelon is Rich With Crops and Fruits where only a few years ago It was but half cultivated- On the Jaffa-Jerusalem road the agricultural development i-s ag tin seen. The road passes by groves of oranges, lemons, and grape-fruit, and in Hie season the scent of the blossom is almost overpowering. As far south as Gaza the Maritime Plain is being extensively cultivated and plans continue for its further development. Visitors lo Palestine often ask, “What* is going to happen when this boom is over? Money is pouring into the country now; but that cannot go on for ever. Une day immi-

Birth and Maturity of a Nation.

gration will cease, and w*hat will happec then to all those employed in the building trade or to those who lend money for the purpose of land development?” Such questions seem at first sight to raise hitherto unthought of difficulties. However, alongside the rapid boom in certain trades ha* come the steady Development of Stable Industrie© fully capable of greater expansion. To-day in the shops, one can buy shoes, clothes, soap, matches, cement, etc., all manufactured in Palestine. In 1933 the number of Jewish industries for the whole of Palestine was 3388 employing 19,595 people, with & total capital of £5,371,000. It is interesting to note that of these figures, the new Jewish city of Tel Aviv maintained 1512 different industries and handicrafts. In addition to these the colonies also have experimental stations in various branches of agriculture. Several technical and manual schools have been established, and the citrus trade has made enormous progress. Grapefruit can now be obtained from November until June at reasonable prices. Oranges and lemons are also plentiful, and in 1933-r 34 over 5,150,000 cases of oranges alone were exported as against 2,860,000 in 1931-2. Not only is the prosperity of the country engrossing the attention of the Jews, but they are also devoting large sums of money to hospitals, clinics and publio worksThe Hebrew University on the Mount of Olives is rapidly becoming a centre of Jewish learning and culture. In fact the matter of education has become a large feature in the development of the country, as the Jews realise that the future of this new national home lies in the hands of the next generation. By 1935 there were in the colonies and Jewish quarters of the large towns 305 schools, with an attendance of 31,707 pupils. All the Teaching Is Done In Hebrew, with English as the second language. There are now four Teachers’ Training Colleges for supplying fully-qualified Jewish masters and mistresses to these schools. The Jewish race now forms 25 per cent, of the total population of Palestine, but 44 per cent, of the total number of Scriptures circulated from the Bible House in Jerusalem in 1934 were in Hebrew, amounting to 9857 copies. The Old Testament is now taught as part of the curriculum in all Hebrew-speaking schools, and the rising generation is being furnished with a better knowledge of the Scriptures than many of their parents were able to obtain. This re-awakening tu the consciousness of their Jehovah God is in marked contrast to the materialism prevalent several years ago. Thus we look forward to the time when their national Book will once more be the centre of their national life.