A Restored Israel There are many hostile influences in Palestine, nevertheless Palestine now represents in miniature a restored Israel. The new political government is now in Jewish hands, hence there is a new sympathy and revival of enthusi asm. Jerusalem put on a festive as pect on a recent Sunday when the High Commissioner, Sir Herbert Samuel, at tended synagog with his staff. The portion read from the Law was Deut. 3:23 to 7:11. The prophetical' pas sage, “ Comfort ye my people, saith your God,” , as read by the commis sioner, came with wonderful propriety after the events of the past year or two. A Jew in Bethlehem Record of Christian Work says: “ Here is a little irony of history. Bethlehem has about 7000 Christians in its population, and 500 Moslems. The first Jew in modern times has just set tled there, for hitherto, neither Bethle hem or Nazareth admitted Jews to their population. Religious Difficulties Foreseen Sir Herbert Samuel recently made a speech in the Government House on the Mount of Olives, in which he-said “ that pursuant to the treaty with Turkey, the British Government would appoint a special commission to hear and determ ine all questions of conflicting religious claims and wishes. Presumably this commission will include representatives of the principal religious organizations maintaining activities in that part of the world. This will not help the schemes of. the Pope for getting control in Pales tine. Will British Mandate Last? Already there are rumblings indicat ing the time when Israel will be out from under the thumb of the Gentiles. Dr. Moses Gaster, a prominent Zionist, is quoted as saying in London: “ Are we to expect under the British mandate another British colony? Is that what we have hoped for and worked for these long years? In my view the future of Palestine must be decided and defined. Unless it is the British mandate will be useless to effect the high aspira tions of Jews throughout the world. If
everything is prepared by a committee it will create dissatisfaction. The coun try must be thrown open. There must be no exploitation, no paupers, no philanthropic assistance.” Jewish Sabbath Recognized On July 4, Sir Herbert Samuel de clared to the Zionist Commission, that neither he nor any of the administra tion would work on the Sabbath, thus recognizing the Sabbath as the official holiday for the first time since the de struction of the temple. After 1850 years the Jew’s Sabbath is recognized by the highest political authority in Palestine. Is not the roll of prophecy unfolding its secrets? Agricultural Show in Palestine The first agricultural show recently closed at Haifa. The grounds were lined with stalls in which most of the best exhibits were by Jews. All the prizes for industrial exhibits were cap tured by Jews. It is said that quijte a sensation was caused by the exhibition of a small motor cultivator. Million Farmers Wanted Palestine, the official paper of the British Palestine committee, says that over a million Jews can be maintained by agriculture on available land not now cultivated. But eight per cent of the land is now cultivated. Jews by their modern methods can make the land produce much more than the Arabs. Black Tribe of Jews The Zionist Review tells of an ad dress recently made in London by a Mr. Bagola, a member of a black Jewish tribe of West Africa, who is shortly go ing to Palestine. He said that his tribe was a happy and contented people and knew nothing of the hurry of modern Jewish life. The Judaism of the tribe was Biblical and not rabbinnical. They have a temple in which sacrifices are still carried out. The laws are written on the clay of the temple walls and the Bible is burnt on parched skin in origi nal Hebrew. They have only the five books of Moses. . Sabbath is strictly kept and a distinct Judaism has been maintained for centuries. This is re markable since the tribe is completely surrounded by idol worshipers.
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