Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-12-03
q
Jewish Colonies in Palestine.

When the prosecutions of the Jews be-
came severe in Roumania, in 1879, they
naturally turned TO the Holy Land, and in
the following year two agricultural villages,
Zchron-Ja 'akob and ROsh- PInah, were es-
tablished. These cOlunists suffered many
prlvations and hardships at first, for few
of them knew anything about agriculture,
as they had been merchants and mechanics
in their former home; but gradually they
adapted themselves to the new life, and at
present these villages are most prosperous.
There are 1000 persons living on the 1000
acres Of land belonging to Ichron-Ja' akOb.
The chief products are WINE, sesame aud
barley, fruits, honey, and silk. The latest
improvements In agricultural methods have
been adopted. The wi age has bought
and used in common a steam-plough and
steam-mll. II has its own water works;
the streets Of the town are paved; ii has a
nursery for raising young plants, and large
cellars tor the storage Of wine Near IL,
and almost part Of the larger settlement,
in Tanlura, where 80 families live, sup
porting themselves chiefly by labOring in a
large glass factory, but also culuvatlng the
soil to some extent The 400 culonists Of
Rosh-P inah cultivate over 1000 acres of
land. Besides the universal vine and null
berry-tree, they pay special attention to
acacia-trees. the blossoms of which are
used in the large perfumery factory here.
Here, too, is the centre of silk manufac-
ture, the silk-worms from the other colo
MES being brought to the steam-rnll of
Rosh-Pinah for spinning and weaving.
Doubtless colonization in Palestine
would have advanced very slowly had 1t
not been for anti Semitic prosecutions.
The year ISL saw Russia in the thrors Of
Jewish oppression. and some Of the eXles
turned hopefully towards Palestine The
abandoned land of Prthach- Thikvah was
rroccupl-d, and a new colony, RishOn
lZlon, founded in 1882. Both OF these
colonies are now thriving, making more
than half a million gallons of vine every
year, besides having 10000 mulberry-trees
for the silk-worms. and thousands OF trees
bearing figs. apples, pomegranates. al
munds, and oranges. Organizations were
now started in Russia itself to aid in open
ing more settlements. A society of the
students of the universities OF Odessa,
Moscow, 81 Petersburg, aud Iarkov was
formed, which resulted, in 1854, in the
colony Gadarah, or Katra, where some
hundred students cultivate the vine and
fruits and manufacture cognac. 1t has be-
come an intel,ec u4l centre. producing
more than one valuable contribution TO
letters and science, written in classical
Hebrew. An international Russian society
was also formed, OhavG Zion Friends Of
Zion), whose chief purpose is the support
Of the Palestinian colonies.
Hardly year passes without the found
alton of one or more colonies, until now
there are % of these agricultural settle
ments. There are about 5000 colonsts,
who have 100000 acres of land under cul-
tivation. While the chief products are
wine, silk, and fruits, each colony has
some specially. Jessud- Hama allah, for in
stance, cultivates roses for the manufacture
of perfumery; Merom has 1900 olive
trees; another deyotes special attention to
cattle-raising, and those colonies east OF the
river Jordan raise large quantities of
wheat.-Hdrper' Weekly.