The Denver Jewish news., 1924-06-26
Turns the
Corner
by GERsHoN AGRoNsKY

Editors Note; Mr. AgrOnsky, the we'll.
known American Jewish journalist, recent
~ returned to Palestine after an absence
OF four years, to take up his permanent
residence In the jewish Homeland. He
Is serving as ralcrtlnnn correspondent for
several important American newspapers
news services aud magazines; This article,
the Palestine of four years ago
with the Palestine he saw upon his ar
rival is the first OF a series. which we are
glad to announce. Mr.. Agronsky Will write
for this publication.
Jerusalem-Look where one will he
finds that Palestine has turned the
corner. Progress is evident to all who
have only heard of the recent develo-
ments. However, without "A standard
of comparison, one cannot appreciate
what this progress indicates. 1t is to
those who have seen the country three
or four years ago, when 1t had just
evolved from the military rule, and
passed under Sir Herbert Samuel's ad-
ministration, that the indications of
progress are apparent and significant,
1t is not easy for Palestine to pro-
gress. The three hardships which the
leader of Zlonism Dr. Weizmann, has
enumerated, are still with us. Pal
estine is still hard" country, the
Jews hard people, and the present
hard time. If in spite Of these hard
ships, Palestine in the opinion of every
competent observer. has turned n new
leaf In the space of four years, 1t is
due to Jewish effort. To be more ac-
curate ii is due TO the Zionists' effort,
and to be exact, to the central fund
the Zionists created just three years
ago-The Keren Hayesod.
1t is difficult to imagine what Pal
estine would have been like without
the Keren Hayesod, but it is perhaps
not entirely futile to try and imagine
it. The fund was created to meet a
twofold objective: to meet the needs
and possibilities growing out of the
political conditions, permitting Jewish
immigration into the country: and to
translate International undertakings
and provisions into Jewish national
facts.
Within the limits OF the Keren
Hayesod's income, the Zionist Organi-
zation has been able to achieve these
objects. Within the limits of the
fund, the country has become less
difficult of industrial adjustment, more
amenable to economic stability.
Within the limits of the approx.
mately five million dollars spent by the
Keren Hayesod in Palestine since the
funds inception, brief three years
ago, steady, albeit still small. i'm
migration of Jews has been promoted
by the Zionist Organization.
Within the limits of this amount
employment has been provided for the
immigrant and Chaluz In the immi-
grant, the employment has not always
been so direct that the employed knew
whece it came. 1t may have come
through credit facilities extended to
struggling enterprise by financial
institution organized or stimulated by
the Zionist Organization with the
money Of the Keren Haycsod. 1t may
have come through building opera
tion encouraged by the Zionist Or
ganization administering the money of
the Keren Hayesod. In the case of
the Chaluz, however. the employment
mediate. The responsibility of the
Keern Hayesod towards the Chaluz be.
gins when he is passed as such at any
Of the offices of the Zionist Organiza-
tion in Eastern and Central Europe.
The responsibility does not end be.
fore the Chaluz becomes a self-support.
ing rural or urban settler. Since but
comparatively, few of the Chaluzim OF
the last three or four years may be
said 10 have reached the stage OF
thoroughly independent and selfsup.
porting settlers, the responsibility If
the Keren Hayesod towards them con
tinues
Progress in Palestine has now be
come matter of mere multiplication.
The auspices for Jewish progress are
favorable. If the resources of the
Zionist Organization were increased the
progress would he greater. If the
Keren Hayesod's income were trebed.
present day immigration and the nun.
her Of Chaluzim colonized would then
he three-fold. And the opportunities
for employment would be greater If
the Kercn HaycsCd were in Il position
to release larger amounts for rural and
urban credits, if it could buy more
debontures of the Zionist Mortgage
Bank, if it could stimulate more enter
prises. The opportunities for employ
ment might be almost limitlcss if the
keren Hayesod were free, in addition,
10 meeting the vigorously prescribed