The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-12-17
BY HERMAN BERNSTEIN,
Editor of The American Hebrew
(Copyriuht. tAI-l

of millions of Jews thruout the
world last Nov. 3 when Arthur
Balfour. British foreign minis
ter, wrote to Sir Lionel Roth
schild, vice president of the
Zionist organization of England,
that the British government view
ed with favor the establishment
in Palestine of national home
for the Jews.
But these were the joys OF an
ticipation, the Jews having been
prepared for this official declar-
alton by a semi-official statement
issued by General Sir Archibald
Murray in March, just before his
army reached GAIA.
What shall we do with Pales-
tine, which is now about to be
stripped from the Turkish yoke?"
he inquired, and answering his
own question, he says.
Revive Ancient Palestine.
Beyond doubt we will revive
the Jewish Palestine of ancient
days, and give to the Jews the
possibility of realizing their an
cient hope. Not all Jews will re-
turn to Palestine, but large num-
bers will.
The new Jewish state, under
either English or French protec-
ton, will become the spiritual
and cultural center of all Jewry.
The Jews will at last have their
own homeland and their own ma
tionality. Hopes which have
them thru the centur-
les will now be realized"
Statesmen of Italy, France and
Russia have politically pledged
their countries to the support of
this plan.
The pope recently received
Zionist cmissary who ex-
planned the Jewish aspira-
tons. After listening intent
ly, his holiness calculated:
I'VE will be god neighbors
we will be god neigh
bOrs."
Whether by coincidence or de-
sign, it is noteworthy that the
American council in London, ex-
tending its greetings TO the Zion
list leaders on the official declar-
alton in their favor by the British
government, used the identical
phrase that fell from the lips of
the pope.
Since the fall of Jerusalem be-
fore the overwhelming legions of
Rome, and the Jewish dispersion
from Palestine, the liturgy of that
people has been burdened with
prayers for the restoration.
Various Early Attempts.
Thru the centuries there have
been various attempts to re-estab-
lish the Jewish people on their
ancient land. but nothing of a Sc
rious character is recorded prior
to 1860, when the Alliance
Israelite Universalle" OF Paris
began operating in Palestine.
The first thing done by the ALI
ance was to establish an agricul-
tural school, for which the Turk
ish government donated 625 acres
of land near Jaffa. A school was
opened in 1870 under the name
of ."Mikvah Israel"
In 1878 Laurence Oliphant,
an English explorer, visited Pal
estine and became an advocate of
Jewish resettlement of the coun-
try. But not until the SOS, when
the first Jewish massacres &C.
Cured in Russia, was the founda-
ton laid for the present Jewish
colinization. There were organ
lied, thruout Russia, BLU"
societies, composed of intelligent
Jewish young men, who deter
mined to become pioneers OF
Palestine colonization.
Find Desert Land.
Under this auspices colony
''Rishon lie Zion" first for Zion)
was established on the road be-
tween Jaffa and Jerusalem. They
found a land atrophied, barren,
exposed to the pitiless
glare of the tropical sun, rotting
into morass and swamp. and we're
almost entirely surrounded by
savage nomads.
In the last few years before the
war there arose a number of
large plantation societies ("Achu-
which we're founded In
Russia, the United States, Eng
land and Rumania.
Several workmen's settlements
have beenifounded during the last
few years, mostly with the help of
the Jewish national fund, in the
of the large col
onies.
A brisk influx of brave young |
aborers on the one hand, and of |
capitalists on the !
other, was particularly noticeable
IN Palestine during the last few
years before the war.
The Jewish population OF Pal
estine now bears a higher pro-
portion to the total number of in
of the country than |
ioes the Jewish population in
my other country of the world. /
The old Jewish settlers are (
hose whose religious sentiment !
irew them to Palestine, in most /
Eases after they have passed the !
prime Of life, to spend their re-
years In prayer and |
Itudy on holy grounds.
For the most mart thew haye