November 1926
660
T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
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The Chosen People, the Land and the Book Jewish News Notes Compiled from Various Sources by David L. Cooper
by capitalists abroad can acquire Un interest in an orchard by going into partnership with a farmer in Palestine. The latter works on the. plantation, and when it is in fruit-bearing, profits are divided between the two parties. This has an advantage over the hiring of workmen by an absent owner, since the farmhands in this case have a direct interest in the prosperity of the fruit trees. In Zionist 1settlements, however, plantations will not be con centrated upon to the exclusion of other branches, because that might open the door to hired, and thus to cheap, viz., non-Jewish labor. It is the mixed farm which labors for Jew ish family farmers to be employed all the year round and to be independent of extra laborers, whereas plantations call for numerous hands at particular periods in the year.”— B’nai B’rith. — o— TYPES OF PALESTINE IMMIGRANTS From a paragraph appearing in the “ New Palestine” one sees the complex situation with which the present Palestine Government is confronted. “ We have created in Palestine a liv ing organism, which enfolds every diffi culty that confronts Jews, wherever they are. How shall religion survive? The elements we deal with are a. cross- section of all Jewries. There "are the atheistic, the agnostic, the orthodox, the liberal. In the galuth, these vari ous representatives of Jewish life have no Influence upon one another. They are free to roam where they will. But in Palestine, the differences are being fought out in a common struggle in order to establish live relations in a normal, social organism. What is to be the economic system prevailing in Palestine? We are dealing with the rejected middle class of Poland. Into our life are intruding elements coming out of the caldron of the Russian revo lution. We will battle with the revo lution the BolshevikI has unloosed upon the world. All kinds of Jews are coming into Palestine— Polish, Russian, Roumanian, English, Ger man and American. It is a migration, on a small scale, of a whole disjointed people, dispersed, existing with mutual prejudices and out of these differences is to be created an ethical personality expressive of the best in Jewish* life.”. — New Palestine. People from every different condi tion in life' are now mingling freely together in the Newt Palestine. The writer of this note is hopeful that out of the blending of these various ele ments there will emerge a special type of Jewish life which will be the em bodiment of the highest elements of Jewish culture. While It is true that each will exert an Influence, to a cer-
moment springs forth with all of its hate in one form or another. Thus a writer in B’nai B’rith interprets the act of courtesy of Marshal Pllsudskl: At a patriotic celebration in Kielce, Poland, recently, Joseph Pllsudskl, the ruler of Poland, publicly kissed a Jew ish legionnaire who had lost both legs in battle. He conferred the kiss in the name of grateful Poland. The' Jewish legion naire might have responded: “ Your Excellency! I accept this token of the gratitude of Poland, but rather than a kiss of Poland I would ask for my people the right to live, the decent regard that is due to all humankind, a measure of friendliness.” But such things are far more easily written in America than said in Po land. The disabled soldier hobbled away on his crutches with the imprint of Poland’s kiss on his forehead, while his brethren continue to walk with the breath of Poland’s hate that pro claims to all men, “ Here is a Jew. To him no work must be given. With him no trading must be done. He is a Jew.”— B’nai B’rith. PLANTATIONS IN PALESTINE Palestine bids fair at the present time to contribute its part in supply ing the world’s table with fruits, nuts and the tike. It is indeed interesting to see the reclaiming and building up of the soil which are being carried on at the present time and which re minds one of the predictions of the fertility of the land in the latter times. From an article in the B’nai B’rith quoted below one can see how the labor problem on the farm has been successfully solved: “ The success attending plantations in Palestine (oranges, almonds and table grapes), has directed attention to the bright prospects which this branch of agriculture opens up.. It calls for an initial capital investment on which returns can only be expected after some years, and it depends upon the skill and care of the planter. This has led to the revival of a plan where"We are ambassadors for Christ;
HAS THIS SIGNIFICANCE? Religious observance is on the In crease, according to statistics compiled by the Jewish Welfare Board. During the past year, 687 holiday celebrations were conducted throughout the coun try by the boards affiliated with Y. N. H. A.’s and Y. W .’H. A.’s. The total attendance was about 260,000 persons. The figure represents an increase of nearly 100 services and 50^000 per sons over the preceding year’s totals. A MEETING OF JEWS AND CHRISTIANS The encouragement and co-opera tion of B’nai B’rith brought striking results to a good-will conference of Rabbis and Christian ministers at Olivet, Michigan, last month. It seems that they did not pass their time with preliminary remarks and pledges of affection, but discussed how Jews and-, Christians may work to gether to build a just and beautiful world. They talked of social justice, peace, liberty and democracy. They have come to the road. The basis for better understanding is in a common service, not in the exchange of affectionate phrases. The B’nai B’rith sowed the seed and rejoices to see the fruit.— B’nai B’rith. 1 JEWS EXPECT MESSIAH It is indeed quite relreshihg to turn from the agnostic and theistic utter ances coming from various sources in Jewry to a statement made by Dr. Sokolow, Zionist leader, concerning the return of the Messiah. We copy the following from an ex change: “ Dr. Sokolow, Zionist leader, recently told his people that the Mes siah whom the Jews have been await ing for hundreds of generations may be expected presently. He reminded them that the Hebraic prophecies fore cast centuries ago that the Messiah will come when the Jews have been restored to their homeland. This restoration has been accomplished, he pointed out, since the Jews of all na tions are represented today in Pales tine.” — o— THE KISS OF MARSHAL PILSUDSKI ' The saying, “ What you do speaks so loudly that -I cannot hear what you say,” is certainly true with reference to the Jewish people in Poland. All the courtesies that might be extended to the Jewish people by the officials of Poland will be interpreted by the great mass of Jewry as grandstand play so long as that feeling of anti- Semitism surges in the hearts of the Polish people and at every opportune
we are here to offer to men a crown, a Kingdom that never fades away. We offer you this, that you shall be believers in God’s dear Son, which means co workers with Him down here, and co-heirs with Him in the eternal splendor of the great hereafter.” —J ohn M c N eill .
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