The Denver Jewish news., 1925-01-01
B A l. + o u II DECLARATION
BASED ON PAST ACHIEVE
MENTS, NOT ON FUTURE
= X o NJ ISES, SAYS MRS.
FEIS.
Believes Old Coicnisis IN Palestine
Have Been Ignored by IioniIs.

up ana are rooted IN the Palestine en-
viruumcut are such splendid. capable
aud Intelligent types that one can ex-
pcet almost anything from them" This
wns the way Mrs, Mary Fels expressed
hcr admiration for the Jews Of Pal
c.tinc iu an Interview with rcprcscn-
tntivc of the Jewish Telegraph Agency.
Mrs. Fels Is an annual visitor to Pal.
cstinc and is one of the few American
lows who has a thorough flrsthand
knowledge Of conditions there
you cannot appreciate the full sig
nincancc Of my statement unless you
hive been there and seen things with
your own eyes" she said. These are
the types Of Jews who have laid the
foundation modern Palestine; they
are the pioneers who have overcome
the greatest difficulties, who have suf-
fcrcd hardships and depriyations, who
have met the problems of life and
f0ced them fearlessly."
Mrs Fels believes that great in
Justice has been done the old cOloniSts
Of Palestine those who are not new
c1mers, hut are well rooted and firmly
established in the soil Of the land.
"Thc old colonists of Palestine have
been persistently ignored for many
years. IN spite Of the fact that without
the achievements of these colonists all
other achievements in Palestine and for
Palestine would have been impossible
The Balfuur declaration is not. based
on promises for the future, hut on the
work Of the past: ON the accomplish
mcntS of the coloniSts."
"Thosc who have conducted the Zion
ist activities in Palestine have never
taken the pains to consult the colonists
who are the only solid, permanent elc-
ment IN The country, on any Of the i'm
pcrtaut problems which are connected
with the reconstruction Of the land and
which touch primarily the vital inter
csts of those very colonists. Thus for
Instance, not one agrarian credit bank
has been established TO help the colon
lists, who are laboring under consider
able difficulties owing to the fact that
they are still paying fftheir debts 10
Baron Edmund de Rothschild (who es-
tnhlishcd the Jewish colonies), !, and also
the new debts incurred by them during
the war"
At this point Mrs. Fels was asked
about the agrarian bank established by
the Brandeis group after the split in
the Zionist Organization of America.
which occurred in 1920
Il was one Of those who helped 10
found the Palestine Development Coun-
cil Bant and other enterprises" Mrs.
Fcls replied. and | had great hopes
for it; but. when ! visited Palestine in
1922, | found that the bank was not
doing what had expected it to do. In
stead Of giving Jewish farmers credit
for long periods it specialized in loans
to town dwellerS.
But the colonists are beginning to
help themselves in this respect. | want
TO tell you of a interesting new devel-
opment among them. -Four years ago
the young men Of the Jewish colonies
were organized by Alexander Aronson
of Zichron Jacob, brother Of the fam
Gus Aaron AronS0n in an organization
called Bnai Benjamin. Only sons OF
colOnists. tillcrs Of the soil, are ac-
ccpted in this organization. which today
counts 500 members, and which has for
its purpose mutual cooperation, an
assistance TO members in the event of
sickness or financial distress. The
Bnai Benjamin bends its efforts to-
ward keeping mp the courage of the
young Palcstinians who are faced with
difficulties, and prevents them from
cmigrnting or leaving the soil by offer
ing them a helping hand in case of
emergency.
This splendid organization Of young
jewish colonists established bank of
its own early in 1924 and is doing very
good work in the way Of helping the
colonists with credit loans. This is the
first bank that really cndeavored to
look after the interests Of the older
coloniStS," Mrs Fels said.
Mrs. Fels has been elected vice,pres-
ident of the B'nai Benjumn', in recog-
milton Of the interest and cooperation
She has shown in that organization as
well as in other constructive economic
enterprises in Palestine.
Mrs. Fel- feels thut American Jews
interested in Palestine reconstruction
should found un agraran bank for the
Palestine c0Ionists in order to helm
them clear away the obstacles which
stand in the way Of their wonderful
work. Although she has decided TO
conduct her Palestine work individu.
ally rather than through an organiza-
tiou she has consented TO serve on the
,.,pp.T ~ tI, rrg.ptI,. ,v,,t,J paTa..