Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-09-08
REPUBLIC IN THE
HOLY LAND NOW
SEEMS ASSURED
Movement Of Jewish People to
Ancestral Home Prom
ises to Attain
Great Force.
After 1000 wears of exile, /, Is now

ms viCtorius army, CaTEiCu Tue Union
lack into the Holy City last Decem-
her, a dream OF the twenty GEN.
turtles became possible On the hills
of Zion a Jewish civilization with
something of its old moral and in
telectual vigor may once more come
~ into icing. The Jews have seized their
opportunity, and already an Admin
istrative Commission OF Hebrews is at
work restoring the country for that
race.
This Administrative Commission
has program. Its aim is to bring
back the, life of the Jewish colonies
in Palestine to their hourishing pre-
war conditions. |, intends to furnish
the necessary educational. medical,
and economic aid to all Jews who so
back TO the Holy Land. One OF its
most important projects is the i'm
mediate founding OF Jewish univer-
sity, Along the lines of diplomacy.
the commission proposes to create
harmonious, relationships with the
Arab and Armenian states which are
to be its neighbors. 80
jews 10 BACK 10 faleStnc.
The story of the return to Pales-
tine of the Jews during the last forty
years is as amazing as that OF our
Pilgrim fathers and in many ways
remarkable parallel TO il. This mi.
grafton. too, was born OF persecution
The FIRST great series of massacres OF
Jews in Russia began in 1882. Scores
OF thousands OF them fed to America.
4 few turned toward Palestine,
Every great movement OF the Jew
ish tribes has had its prophets and
leaders.
The Joshua Of the Jews today Is
DR.. Chain Weizman, president of the
Administrative Commission. He is a
chemist. He was born in Russia, but
later became a British subject. Zeal
Gus in the cause OF the Zionist move
ment, he nevertheless has a strong
practical sense that appeals to the
British He acquired reputation and
made influential friends, Baifour was
one of them. Thus championed, the
Jewish aspirations moved into the
realm of practical politics.
Land Miraculously Developed.
The pioneers in Palestine in 1873
found a land that was arid. barren.
iuii OF miasna, and surrounded bv
hostile tribes. These first immigrants
were professional men. They knew |.
nothing OF agriculture; yet thew re.
conquered the land OF their race.
Within generation, this land of
d1esoiaiion was the home OF $4,000 ,
jewish farmers organized in co-opera-
tive societies, Towns began 20 de-
yelop' The Jewish population In
yerusalem grew from = handful TO
oo'ouu. The little colonies were on
Grated under managing boards which
were elected annually BY universal
suffrage. Banks were established
trust companies financed, and schools
built. Every village has its Hebrew
school and Hebrew kindergarten
Hebrew was the chosen LANGUAGE NJ
all the schools.
Germany Interferes.
But already the pan-Germanists
mad turned their gaze to these .strug-
cling. Jewish colonies. Here. thew
thought, was gateway to the orientil
accordingly. they began laying their
plans to get possession of it.
Among those who contributed
toward the Jewish Institute OF Tech
nology at the foot OF Mount Carmel
were two Germans, James Simon and
Or. Paul Nathan. They became mem
6ers OF the governing board. When
the board sought to pass a reso,u-
ton introducing Hebrew as the sole
language of instruction in the school.
the German members suddenly rose
(. up and opposed it. They demanded
that all scientific and technical sub-
jects be taught in German. The CON
troversy which ensued over this Ian
guage question was one OF the first
battles fought IN the great war.
ne Jews won their victory. When
the Germans pushed through their
plan IN their logged Prussian fashion.
the friends OF the Hebrew language |
resigned in a body. The fight contin-
ued, with the result that six new in
sstitutions were opened by the Zion
lists at all of which Hebrew alone
was taught. Thus the attempt to
Prussianize Palestine had already
been morally defeated before the war
broke out.
Zionist Troops in the War.
But the language war was merely
a clash Of cultures, a battle of the
principles fought to a finish without
bloodshed. Since then, the devoted
Lionists OF Palestine have taken part
in actual warfare. They are now
tlghting among entente troops for
the cause of democracy as yaliantly
as any soldiers.
One organization of Jewish soldiers
played part in the glorious, but ill.,
fated Gallipoii campaign. This force,
known as the Zion mule corps, was
organized from among those Jews
who were compelled to flee from Pal
!. estine at the outbreak OF the war be-
cause they refused to become Otto
man subjects. Unframed in the arts
OF war, yet eager to do their BIT, they
volunteered for the unmartial tasks
that are q part OF any military cam
paign.
Out of this, Zion mule corps has
grown the Jewish legion, organized
in America. England and Canada from
among Jews who for one reason or
another Except PHYSICAL are ineli-
gible, to the draft in the country of
their residence. Fifteen hundred have
already gone to Palestine from Amer
lea, and they have joined at the front
the Jewish regiment which was or
ganized in London, and which has
already received its baptism of fire
somewhere north OF Jaffa. Other
contingents are preparing to 60 from
u 4 & 4 Il-i