The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-02-20
THE JEWS IN PALESTINE
CHOSEN PEOPLE ARE RAPIDLY
INCREASING.
Great Effect of Zionist Movement and
of Imperial Visit-What Montefiore
Planned Proves a Success.

In view of the impetus given the
Zionist movement by the second Zion
list congress, at Basel, in September,
and also by the Palestine journey of
Emperor Wilhelm II, the present sta
tus of Jews in Palestine becomes
matter of general interest.
Out of a total population in Pales-
tine of some 100000 souls, about 10000
are Jews, as against $4,000 twenty
years ago. In Jerusalem. there are 22.-
900 Jews, half Of whom have immigrat-
ed from Europe and America and are
called Aschkenazim, to distinguish
them from the Oriental Israelites, the
Sephardists.
Nine hundred and sixty families,
numbering about 5000 souls. inhabit
the twenty-five Jewish colonies in Pal
estine which have been founded and
subsidized by Europeans, ten by Baron
Edmond de Rothschild, representing
the Alliance Israelite Universelle; the
rest by the Jewish Colonization Asso-
citation and by the Odessa Company.
The idea of gathering in Palestine
homeless Jews scattered all over the
globe, was championed in the forties
by Moses Montefiore, but with indiffer-
ent success. In the eighties, however,
the immigration of Jews to Palestine
assumed significant proportions.
OF the twenty-five present colonies
the Jacob Memorial" is the largest
supporting more than 1000 souls. 1t
boasts a graded school Give teachers)
a synagogue, etc, and 1000 acres of
land under cultivation, on which are
raised fruit CHIEFLY grapes), honey and
mulberry leaves, the rearing of silk
worms being a leading industry.
The First to Zion" is another quite
important colony, owning 1000 acres
of land. Some forty two-stOried stone
dwelling houses greet the eye of the
approaching stranger also a school
house with a Hebrew library, a syna-
gogue and a hospital. One million five
hundred thousand vines and $4,000 OIL
i've, almond, orange and mulberry
trees belong to this colony, which also
possesses famous wine cellars.
The Hope of Israel" a mile beyond
Yafa, in the plains of Sharon, is per
haps best known for it's agricultural
school, in which one hundred or more
pupils are taught gardening. Recent
ly high school for Jewish girls was
established at Yafa.
The Head Corner Stone" amid the
hills beyond Liberals, with snow capp-
ed Hermon in the background, is an
other quite prosperous Jewish colony
in Palestine. Being near the source of
the Jordan, water is plentiful and its
situation, high up above the level of
Lake Gennesareth, iHsures fair Climat-
ic conditions.
In the Door of Hope" dairy farming
is profitaby followed and experiments
made in tea planting. This colony is
said to have 100000 vines
Entirely irrespective of whether or
not the Iionists will succeed in awak-
ening in the Jewish people a national
spirit and forming a Judean monarchy,
with it's parliament in Jerusalem and
it's representation in foreign capitals,
the present agitation makes for the de-
velopment of a country which is but
a shadow of it's former self, and which
will generously respond to modern in
fluence.
The newly founded German Oriental
Company will probably devote increas-
ed attention to the colonization of Pal
estine. 1t will be perfectly justified in
doing so, as there are few places on
the surface of the globe which offer
such rich reward for comparatively
slight labor. In those districts there
are no immense hostile aborigines, no
rapacious animals, and no malignant
diseases. 1t has a mild and, on the
whole, a healthy climate. The soil is
of inexhaustible fertility, and there is
a sufficient water supply. The natives
are peaceably disposed, and even the
Bedouins on the frontier have, through
their long contact with the settled pop
ulation, become more tractable and
and friendly.