The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-09-17
PALESTINE THEIR GOAL
Jewish People Look Toward
Fulhllment of Prophecy.
EXPECT TO RAISE S2O,OOO,OO0

Residents of Chicago Ghetto Con-
tribute From Their Little stores TO
Aid the ZIOnIstic MOvement-Plans
of Leaders to RenatIOnaliEe jews
In the Holy Land.
Poverty, prlvatlon, persecution and
hardship cannot weaken or shatter the
belief of the Jewish people In the old
prophecy that they will be reunited In
a land Of their own, says the Chicago
Post. When this idea took tangible
shape I'm the Zionistic congress which
convened at Basel, Switzerland, In
1897, the men interested were scoffed
M aud called Missionaries. Max Nor
deau and Theodore Herzl were the
prime movers and organizers, although
the idea dates back to the time the
Jews az nation became scattered.
Today there are Zion organizations
throughout the world 10 the number OF
about 1000, and the very comfortable
sum Of $l,750,OO0 has not only been
subscribed to the cause, but paid.
When Il Is said that this money has
been paid in more often than not In
amounts OF 81 from one individual, the
progress Of the work speaks for itself.
Over In the ghetto district there are
tcncments housing dozen families OF
this nationality In almost as many
rooms. Yet In the midst OF this penury
and often suffering the desire for re-
united nation burns strong. Families
making barely enough TO keep body
frame which surrounds a certificate
showing that money has been paid for
a share In the great work. They are
not too poor to support the movement,
though too poor to indulge In the com
monest pleasures. II Is this spirit which
has fed the flame first started in Swift
zcrland and which the leaders assert
will In another ten years accomplish
what was first thought TO be the idea
OF dreamers.
Next October delegates from all over
the world will gather at the lnterna-
tlOnal convention OF Zionists In Lon.
don. II will be the fifth congress. Al
ready the Jews IN Chicago are plan
ming on who will be sent to represent
them. BY that time II IL hoped the
fund will have reached the 100000
mark. Last June the American FEEDER
alton OF Zlonlsts met In Philadelphia.
Plans have now been completed TO hold
the next gathering in Boston. Word
from eastern headquarters has been
sent to the societies In the United
States that a monthly paper will be
started In the fall In the interest OF
American Zionsts.
Knights Of Zion is the sobrlquet Of
the society which is represented In the
middle western states. Headquarters
are in Chicago, and Leon Zolotkoff, ed.
ltor OF The Jewish Call, Is grand mas.
ter. This district has lodges in Wis
consin. Illinois, Minnesota. Iowa and
Michigan, and organizers are working
as far west as Colorado. Through Mr..
Zolotkoff 1900 shares have been sent to
headquarters in London.
Many more have been purchased in
this district [Chlcagol, but not through
Mr.. Zolotkoff. Two years ago the Co
lonal Trust bank was Incorporated In
London, with a capital stock Of $lO.-
100000. The bank will not be operated
until the entire sum Is raised. Then 1t
IS the plan Of the leaders to purchase
from the sultan Of Turkey the rights
to renatonalize the Jews In Palestine.
The total cost Of the venture Is esti-
mated as high as $4,000, 900, but the
work is so huge that nothing nearer
than approximate figures can be made.
With the rapid growth Of the Zion
istic movement I'm the last year 1t is be-
lieyed by many Of the Jews that the
Of the prophecy that they
will again occupy Palestine, the home
Of their forefathers, will be brought
about In another five years.
For twenty years colonies Of Israer-
ties have been settling In Palestine I'M
til today there are about thirty such
settlements. The children are taught
Hebrew and converse I'm this tongue.
The Mosaic laws have been changed
to meet present conditions, and these
bodies Of Jews are looked upon by the
as the nucleus Of the new Pal
estne. They engage in agriculture
and manufacturing, and already their
wares are beginning to have a reputa-
ton In the commercial world.
In speaking Of the movement Mr..
said: "When first started.
many people looked upon the whole
Idea as visionary and an attempt to es
tablsh a tribal clannishness. Those
who thought Of the scheme In all its
lights pronounced 1t the only rational
for the preservation Of the
Jews. In countries like Russia, where
the race is subject to persecution, their
Is fast killed off, as 1t
were. In other countries, like the
United States, for example, where they
IRE treated literally, the tendency Is
also to do away with individuality, but
through assimilation. 1t would be Inn
possible to keep the identity Of the
Jews as a race much longer under
present conditions unless some such
scheme were worked out.
ut Is not the idea to transport all
Jews to Palestine. There would not
be room enough for them. Only those
who desire to go will be asked, and
even these Will be given strict exam
nation to see that they are desirable. |
By uniting modern ideas and improve
nents with the stable laws Of the |
Jews, which are even recognized by |
he gentiles, 1t is the hope Of every |
me interested In the movement to re-
iationalize the race, making 1t a power
or good in commercial and religious
circles Of the world"