Intermountain Jewish news., 1926-01-07

Nherc In previous days no jew dared
go, ther lies now a towniet consisting
Wholly of trim metal barracks built IL
military order. II is the homo Of the
vanguard Of Jewish reclamation work
In Palestine the home Of the "Gdui, {"
the pioneer Battalion OF labor.
On crisp day ia late autumn, when
the members Of this pioneer army had
Just returned from their mornings
work, l arrived at the quiet camp of
the "Gdud."
The strict military fashion In which
the barracks are placed, the clean white
paths connecting each barrrack with
the main pathway, speak Of the iron
| discipline maintained in the "Gdud"
The novelty OF this military camp con
sists of the straight and clean limbed
young women who look no less soldier
iy than the uniformed men walking
about between the huts.
Curiosity led me TO peep through half
open doors into the inside OF these bar.
racks. In their arrangement there was
no difference between them and any
other military huts. Rows OF beds
properly spaced, well kept and with as
much privacy around each bedstead as
II dormitory may permit. are the places
where the toilers rest from their weary
labOrs and sleep their dreamless sleep.
There were other barracks too, bar
racks where the gentle hand OF a
woman had softened the hardness OF
military life, little white half curtains
with an occasional rufrlc cut Oft the
view from the outside, guarding the
privacy of a family life. ColOred pa
pers struggled vainly to cover the hard
metal Of the walls photographs Of dear
ones left behind in the daspora spoke
of past life Of comparative,e ease and
OF restless longing for the land across
the blue waters of the Mediterranean.
The hoarse wailing of saw working
its way through hard wood come from
the carpenter shop on the other side
of the camp. The screechy noise OF
file in the adjoining smithy formed
duet which was augmented by the
steady beat Of shoemaker's hammer
in another workshop. 1t is sacred
little world Of labor which I entered.
Here the monks of labor spend year
after year, never receiving any pay In
diyidually, giving all Of their strength
and young Imagination unstintingly for
the service to the great ideal of re-
building Palestine
The serious hardened faces Of the
soldiers-of.labor remind one of an army
on the move intent on Wrestling the next
vitality needed position from the
enemy. 1t is a sacred duty that one
must perform, the duty of wrestling
the ancient and ever beloved father
land from its stony slumber and from
devastation. There is no room for
smiles In the grimness of war. How
ever, the blue nights Of Jerusalem with
their restful shadows bring rest and
recreation; enthusiastic songs and
dances on the broad court of the camp
afford relief for the restrained emo
tions of youth.
Twelve strokes announce the time for
the midday meal. From all sides young
men and women stream to the dining
hall to partake of the frugal repast con-
sistlng OF soup. vegetables and some
cooked fruit. Men and women with
faces and arms tanned in the various
occupations Of masonry, street paving
and stone breaking, placed themselves
around the long tables and gave free
reign to healthy appetltes. l moved
nearer to the Secretary" who looked
all of the relentless sergeant major in
| any army. and | made n timid attempt
to interview him. He was unwilling
10 speak at first, as the aims OF the
"Gdud" have so often been misinterpret.
ed by newspaper correspondents, hut he
soon softened, inviting me to dinner,
and gradually, between courses, told me
the short history Of the organization
under his charge.
The "Gdud" is strictly pioneer or
ganiZation which was formed during
the second immigration period. Its
membership numbers now eight hun
dred men and women. Here, in the
central camp one hundred and forty
of them are living. These are mostly
employed at house building in Je.
rusalem. AT the beginning the income
of the "Gdud' consisted only of wages
for labor performed by its members.
However, when the treasury had nc.
cumulated some funds, additional
money was obtained from the Keren
Hayesod, with which machinery was
bought for the purpose Of organizing
the stone quarry "Givath Shaul" out
side Jerusalem. From this quarry the
"Gdud" supplied building material for