The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-08-14
JEWS OF PALESTINE REJOICE.
Sacred Parchment Rolls That Had
Been Carried With Them in Exile
Are Restored to Their Synagogucs.

Jerusalem, July 20 Correspond
once OF The Associated Press Hes1o-
ration Of the Parchment Scrolls o!
the Law to the various synagogues
in Tel Aviv and Jaffa was one OF the
interesting ceremonies which follow
ed the British occupation.
These scrolls of the Law Of Moses
which are all written by hand and
are preserved in magnifcentiy orna-
mented cases, some OF them III soild
silver are the most sacred and holy
possessions Of every Jewish commua-
ity. SO when Djemal Pasha in his
hostility to the Zionists. carried out
the tyrannical evacuation CT the pulN
OF the Jewish population OF Jalia IN
April 1917, the Jews carried with
them these sacred Torah into exile,
lest they should fall into the hands OF
the Turks.
These sacred Scrolls had been care
fully guarded by the Jews at Pefach
Tihvah- {Muiebbis) and were brought
back in solemn procession 10 Jalia.
Geetriumphal arch was erected at the
northern confines Of Tel Aviv, every
house was decorated with towers ;ili,'
bunting and the whole OF the jewish
population turned out en- fete 70 meet
the return Of their sacred possessions.
Jews came not merely from J2fla but
also from Richon-le-Zion and the
other neighborirg colonies
The young men and the girls o: the
Maccabee Athletic Association dress
ed in white clothes. with blue sashes
ana ties maintained order and kept a
pathway clear for the procession
Though the crowds. The procession
was headed by the Australian Military
Raad and the ceremony at the Iriun1-
Dhal Arch was attended by officers
reSresenting the Military Governor
and by Dr.. WeizmannS and the mem
bek and e4ficers Of the Zionist Com
mission.
9he Haham Bashi (chief Eahioil
of xJaffa mounted small dais near
thGTriumphal Arch and delivered an
eldouent Hebrew address IL which he
redounted the hardships of the evacu-
atibn. He thanked and invoked bless
ings upon the British government ana
the British Army and expressed the
hoSe that success would crown the Ell
forts Of the Zionist Commissioners
The Jews desired to regenerate and
build up Palestine, not merely Tor
their own benefit. but for that OF al
it's inhabitants whose friendship ana
helm he invited. The establishment
of.the Jewish people IN their ancient
home in Palestine. he said, would be
for the good of all humanity.
Then the Shofar. or RAMS horn was
blown and the scrolls were carried
under caponies by the Chief Rabbi,
DE-. WeiZmann and others to the va
ridus synagogues. to which they be-
ioiged.
In the afternoon the town OF Tel
AVSv remained en- -fete. There were
professions of school children crown
ed and decorated with flowers, the
Y Amenities carrying small lambs and
goats on their shoulders and bearing
paams. in their hands, Children sold
flowers and confetti in the streets the
proceeds of which go to q fund start
ed recently by the Zionist teachers TO:
translating into Hebrew and publish
ing in Hebrew English books and i5t-
erature. In the evening the Macca-
bees gave an athletic demonstration
ins the Public Gardens, and the pro
cesdfngs closed at sunset with the
si1ging of s.God Save the Kins' ansi
the Zionist Nationak Anthem "Hatlk-
vah,'' the Song Of Hope.