The Washington herald., 1909-01-24
JEWISH WORK IN PALESTINE
Colonists Have Libraries, Clubs, and
Labor Organizations.
Many Professional Men Among Re-
cent Immigrants TO Holy Land.
What They Are Doing.

The large Jewish immigration TO Pales-
tine has included within recent years
many writer's, scholars. and other pro-
fessionaI men This coterie has placed
itself at the head OF the movement for
/ furthering popular education.
/ Various courses OF scientific lectures
are arranged in the larger cities on gen
eraI educational topics and on special
I subjects. as, for example. the hygienic
and economic conditions OF the country.
for the special benefit Of immigrants.
IN connection with these lectures 9TH
er courses are mapped out. There are.
for instance. classes where the languages
OF the country are taught TO the immi-
grants Much Importance Is attached
TO the teaching Of Arabic, and not for
political reasons at that, but mainly
for practical purposes
Another excellent means OF education
is the Jewish public libraries. The Jew
ish National Library. writes the cor
respondent Of the American Hebrew.
stands in the first rank. This institu-
ton. situated in the beautiful new JafTa
suburb. was intended by its founder 10
conform 10 the British Museum How
ever, this ideal has up TO the present
time been only remotely approached
In addition 10 a very large collection
Of Jewish and nOn-JeWish ancient and
modern literstUre-the library possesses
over 5000 vOlUmes-there are many rari-
ties. as. for example, various manu-
scripts, reports, and constitutions Of old
societies, old appeals and topical pamph-
lets, photographs. and portraits Of IA
nous Jews, miscellaneous carvings ne
dalliOns. coins. antiques, &c. which have
been collected during the twelve years
OF the Hbrary's existence. Il has also a
reading room, which is well supplied with
magazines and newspapers
The library ranking second IN impor-
tance. the Schear Zion OF Jaffa, has a
very large and varied collection OF books.
which includes, however only a small
percentage OF scientific works OF value
Il also IS provided with q reading room.
where Hebrew, German, Russian. and
Yiddish periodicals are always on file
The old-time resident. the immigrant, and
the colonist alike put IN their leisure time
to good purpose here In Safed. too.
there is a modern library. established a
couple Of years ago by local Jews
The Beth Am Peoples Instituted en-
joys very great popularity with the Jews
Of Jerusalem. It contains & reading room,
music room. social room, and even buf-
fet. In the reading room almost al Jew
ish journals are to be found Prominent
lecturers deliver discussions on many
topics The Beth Am is the only institu-
ton in Jerusalem which without q sub
vention Of any kind Is maintained solely
by It's income from membership dues.
There are also a number Of Yeshiba
libraries. which are mainly TO be found
in Jerusalem. There are several others
IN Hebron. Tiberias. and Safed. These
Libraries often contain valuable works.
One Of the most significant indications
Of the evolution OF & new phase n the
cultural life Of the Palestinian Jews IS
their striving fc- organizations, their
stress upon concentration and consolida-
ton. There are numerous associations
and societies now IN Palestine, and many
more are in the process OF formation.
The aims OF some are sociological. OF
others educational and social.
In Palestine there are two important
labor organizations. the Poale Zion and
Hapoel Hazoir. The former Is radical
and socialistic. while. the latter Is rather
conservative. The former works under
the banner OF class strife, organizes
strikes, and tries 70 protect the working
man against the supposed profits OF the
bread givers. The latter endeavors alto
gether 10 DO eflcecious work IN the best
interests Of the whole nation.
Especially deserving OF mentions are its
public kitchen IN Jerusalem, It's libraries
in Jerusalem and Petach Tikwah, and
the lecture courses held under its aus
pices. besides its various propagandiStic
activities and purely technical organiza-
ton work. Not long ago a league OF pro-
fessional organizations was formed in
Jana, and now steps are being taken for
the establishment Of cooperative asso-
Citations for the creation OF necessary fn-
stitutiens for Jewish laborers in PaIes-
tine.