Evening journal., 1922-05-26
An Old Dream Coming True
(FrOm the Philadelphia North AmeI

] the Book OF books. God promised
the children OF Israel the land of
Palestine. After long slavery in
( Egypt. that ancient people wander
ed forty years in the desert wilder
ness, and came at last TO the land Of
/ the promise.
II was a strip OF meadows and
mountains on the shore OF an in
land sea. $50 miles north and south
from 25 10 so miles wide. II might
be barren enough, as these days OF
ours testify, or II might bloom as
the rose OF Sharon-a veritable
fountain OF milk and honey-as the
Israelites made Il to bloom.
There the twelve tribes became a
great and powerful nation. Princes
and prophets among them enriched
their own and the worlds history,
and rulers and teachers. on the
two tables OF the ten laws they laid
the foundation for the moral codes
which even now guide half the
world.
In the center OF that land they
built a wonderful city. From the
heart OF that city-the Temple-the
message OF Jehovah was upheld be-
fore a wild and heather world. The
mighty empires round about them
bowed down 10 barbaric gods and
practiced grotesque rites. yet in the
midst OF witchcraft and idolatry
these shepherds and soil-tlllers kept
simple faith. They believed In
Justice, kindliness and brotherhood.
II is not easy for men OF these
times 70 sense the faith and lighting
power needed to make that expert
ment in freedom the success IL be-
came. Ceaseless labor and never
falling confidence in the reward
therefor brought power and plenty.
For more than thousand years
the fortunes OF Israel in Palestine
rose and fell through days Of glow
ing prosperity and days OF gloom.
Triumph and oppression marked
thei- way-once they were dragged
into exile in Babylonia. But they
came back TO reknit themselves into
a nation. And when an alien force
sought again 10 quench their free
dom. a mere handful OF them, led by
the Maccabeans. held at bay the
Greek kings OF Asia and kept them
selves free.
Not until the shadow OF Rome
spread over the ancient world did
their temporal sway end. They
could not Withstand that foe, who
laid low their chief city and destroy
~ l. r. - mNHsn ha ZEE
OF their youth went to the banks OF
the yellow Tiber to serve the con-
querors.
The day came when a hero, Bar
Kochba, arose to lead a revolt |
against the Caesars, and for three |
years this David OF a nation struR- |
gled against the Goliath. but IN vain. |
Bar Rochba fell-"and all that was |
left OF Jewish life In Palestine fell |
with him"
once more the Jews were driven |
into exile-this time 20 become scat |
tered wanderers. mourning the loss
OF homes and temples and the de-
nlement OF their holy places by
strange gods. Decay and desolation
crept over the fertile fields and the
hillsides where fiourished the cedars
OF Lebanon. The land OF promise
became a pitiful place.
With all but their faith over
thrown, its people were driven from |
country TO country. homeless and /
Wherever they went
they were the oppressed. Hatredsnd
bigotry pursued them, and land |
after land prosecuted them with fire
and the sword. For them was no
rest. but they refused to die.
II is one OF the most astonishing
'acts of history that this remnant
held together. Such solidarity under
he driving lash never has been
equaled. They suffered but turned /
heir faces from despair. Above all
hey clung to the faith OF their
and first among their hope
'ul dreams was that OF once again
'eturning to the soil made sacred to
them by generations OF work and
worship. As one has said:
Throughout their exile. while ma
ions were born and died. while op-
oressor succeeded oppressor, and
he face OF the world changed, they
till remem bered their ancient home.
From father to son. the undying
word has passed. Every day. for
900 years. they turned toward Pal
'stine in their prayers: every day
or 1000 years they prayed. Next
ear in Jerusaleml' Wherever a
handful of Jews congregated there
till beat the hope that some day a
emDant of the Jewish people would
eturn to its own country - that
ONE day a land that was Jewish
would be rebuilt"
A dream that can survive 1000
ears is a strange and wonderful
hing. Under such conditions It is
10 longer a dream, but a reality. al
eady possessed of solid substance.
he mere fact of its duration pro-
laims fulfillment SO II was but
atural, in the course of events. that
group of Jewish students in Russia
hould leave their studies and re- .
urn to Palestine to lay the first
tones in the refounding.
Those pioneers left comfortable q
omes and fair prospects of success !
o build a colony in a land strange J
D them. among a people whose Ian I
uage and customs were unknown. 2
hat was more than forty years ago. Z
nd OF the original band not one to- c
ay is alive. Disease and privation
iade deep inroads. Yet the colony n
ersisted-Rishon-le-Zion-the first v
l Zion. Z
Slowly the news spread. and these h
ussian Jews were Joined by band p
refugees from Rumania. In cities II