In 1891 the Russian Jewish Students’ Colony in Berlin submitted to the International Committee for the assistance of the Russian Jews a memorandum, in which they urged the Committee to use its endeavours to divert the stream of Jewish emigration, and, above all, of well-to-do emigrants, from America to the Holy Land. The document is of very great interest. What is called the wave of emigration, say the writers, is not so much emigration as flight. Only well-organized colonization can prove a remedy in the present calamity. A Jewish peasantry must be founded, consisting not only of the poor, but to a great extent also of the middle and intelligent classes. Palestine is the only country which affords the possibility of attaining that aim, because (1) Palestine itself, and especially Galilee and the land on the other side of the Jordan, and also Syria and Mesopotamia, contain an amount of land ready for sale and scarcely populated. The settlement of Jews there cannot meet with any objection. The Turkish Government will not only tolerate, but favour the immigration, if properly organized. An additional advantage is that in the near future no competition need be feared, because other emigrants, as a rule poor people, are not attracted by an uninhabited, uncultivated country. (2) The soil is fertile everywhere. Where no corn can be grown, wine can be produced. The Jewish wine-growers in Palestine will shortly be able to compete in the markets of Europe, and will greatly shake the monopoly of other wines. The climate of Palestine is as healthy as that of Italy, so that invalids will go there on the recommendation of their physician instead of to Italy. In the colony Rishon Le’Zion, which was founded about nine years ago, there has been up till now only one death, although there are between three hundred and four hundred people living there. (3) It is the only country able to create a peasantry, because there is no trade there. It is true that in other countries also the Jews will at first turn to agriculture; they will watch for anything offering them the means of subsistence. But a great portion will always be anxious to settle in the towns and again apply themselves to trade, whereas in Palestine the colonists will be compelled to persist in agricultural pursuits. Thus, in America, the colonists have gradually returned to the cities after millions have been wasted. But in Palestine the colonies founded by Baron Edmond de Rothschild and by the efforts of the colonists themselves are in a most thriving condition. Of course, the fact that the Jews are animated by love for Palestine and inspired by the many associations connected with the country must not be overlooked. Only in a country where every stone bears biblical reminiscences the labour is sweet to them. This idealistic motive will assist in turning traders into agriculturists. It is to this idea that some twenty larger and smaller colonies owe their existence. It is owing to this motive that the great Palestine Committee in Odessa, under the presidency of Dr. Pinsker, is able annually to give land and tools to Jewish peasants to the value of 200,000 frcs., that there is in Jaffa an Executive Committee, presided over by the engineer Vl. Temkin, that in London enormous meetings are being held in favour of the Palestine idea, that limited companies have arisen, like the Dorsche Zion in Minsk, in Kovno, in Bialystok, in Wilna, as well as in Warsaw, Riga, etc., which intend to buy land in Palestine for their members, to be repaid to them by instalments. (4) The more civilized and intelligent class of Russian Jews will also be induced to go to Palestine for the purpose of following agricultural pursuits.
The students concluded by saying that they were willing to seek for happiness and safety by readily submitting to the harvest labour in the fields of Palestine. “Then we shall be enabled to pass a happy life, for enthusiasm will make our paths straight, and provide us with a healthy courage.” The document bore sixty-four signatures.
LXXVIII.
The Jewish Colonies in Palestine
(The figures are taken mostly from the Report of the Jewish Colonisation Association for 1910.)
| Name. | Year. | Area. Hectares. | Population. | Gross Income. Francs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I. Judea. | ||||
| Mikveh-Israel[¹] | 1870 | 225 | 150 | — |
| Mozah | 1873 | 59 | 28 | — |
| Petach-Tikvah | 1878 | 2275 | 1500 | 466,971 |
| Katra | 1882 | 500 | 150 | 76,415 |
| Rishon-le-Zion | 1882 | 1180 | 1190 | 121,213 |
| Wady-el-Chanin | 1882 | 285 | 200 | — |
| Jehudie | 1883 | 12 | 15 | — |
| Ekron (Mazkeret Mathya) | 1884 | 1275 | 300 | 144,918 |
| Kastinieh | 1888 | 550 | 150 | — |
| Rehobot | 1890 | 1300 | 600 | 128,415 |
| Artuf | 1896 | 460 | 50 | — |
| Ben Shemen | 1906 | 210 | 100 | — |
| Bir Jakob | 1907 | 200 | 70 | — |
| Ain Ganim | 1908 | 65 | 100 | — |
| Hulda | 1909 | 182 | 40 | — |
| II. Samaria. | ||||
| Zichron Jacob | 1882 | 1850 | 1000 | 183,210 |
| Um-el-Dschemal | 1889 | 253 | 80 | — |
| Schweja | 1891 | 851 | 50 | — |
| Hedera | 1891 | 1750 | 200 | 121,915 |
| Kefar Saba | 1894 | 635 | 30 | — |
| Atlit | 1897 | 460 | 50 | 18,950 |
| Hefzi-bah | 1905 | 200 | 8 | — |
| Tanturah | — | 40 | 16 | — |
| III. Galilee. | ||||
| Rosh-Pinah | 1882 | 3800 | 800 | 48,096 |
| Yessod Ha-Maaleh | 1883 | 910 | 300 | 29,913 |
| Mishmar Ha-Yarden | 1890 | 230 | 100 | 27,453 |
| Ain-Seitun | 1891 | 509 | 20 | — |
| Metula | 1896 | 1350 | 310 | 69,685 |
| Sedjera | 1899 | 1850 | 200 | — |
| Mahanayim | 1899 | 100 | 100 | — |
| Milhamie | 1902 | 1350 | 100 | 74,100 |
| Mescha | 1902 | 900 | 200 | 70,122 |
| Yemma | 1902 | 2750 | 400 | 91,027 |
| Kinnereth | 1908 | 550 | 80 | 13,300 |
| Delaika | — | — | — | — |
| Mizpah | 1908 | 360 | 40 | — |
| Dagania | 1909 | 320 | 30 | — |
| Migdal | 1910 | 450 | 100 | — |
| Merchavyah | 1911 | 900 | 100 | — |
| Poriah | 1911 | 350 | 30 | — |
| IV. Trans-jordania. | ||||
| Bene Yehuda | 1888 | 315 | 83 | — |
[¹] The Mikveh Israel Colony is situated outside of Jaffa, to the south. The Alliance Israélite Universelle has here a fine and large agricultural school for Jews. At the time of our visit—in 1914—about 150 pupils were enrolled. Some of them we found in the well-kept garden, weeding and hoeing. Others were engaged in planting through a newly planted vineyard. Still another group were piling brush and rubbish; while a considerable number were in classrooms undergoing just then an examination in the theoretical branches of study. They were a fine and manly-looking lot of young men and boys, mostly Russian-Jews. The glow of health was on their cheeks. They had none of the hunted and depressed look which has been imprinted upon millions of Jews by persecution and oppression. It seemed to us that, in a minor sense, these young Jews were already lifting up their heads because of the drawing nigh of the redemption of their land and their nation. They looked as though it afforded them great satisfaction to till the soil of the land, which some day must be the happy home of their people. There was a quiet modesty, coupled with justifiable pride, in their bearing.
| Name of the colony. | Year of foun- dation. | Approxi- mate number of souls. | Area in Dounams. | Kind of work, institutions, etc. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Judea. | ||||
| Mikveh Israel | 1870 | 150 | 2,612 | Agricultural School of the “Alliance Israélite Universelle”; 100 pupils, 15 teachers and officials. Manager: M. Krause. |
| Rishon le-Zion | 1882 | — | — | Plantations. School for boys and girls. Kindergarten. Religious school “Netzah Israel.” People’s Hall (Bet Am) with library and orchestra. Great wine cellar and centre of the wine trade. |
| Nachlath Jehuda | 1913 | 850 | 11,402 | Plantations. Founded in commemoration of Dr. Leo (Jehuda) Pinsker. Dwellings for labourers. The colony is situated in the neighbourhood of Rishon. |
| Rehobot | 1890 | 800 | 14,193 | Plantations; vines, olives and almonds. School for boys and girls. Kindergarten. Religious school “Netzah Israel.” Zoological collections of Dr. Ah’roni. Place of the yearly celebration “Chagigah.” |
| Wadi el Chanin (Ness Ziona) | 1882 | 200 | 2,793 | Plantations. School for boys and girls. Vineyards and gardens planted by J.C.A. for the labourers of the neighbouring colonies. Kindergarten. Bee-keeping. |
| Ekron (Maskeret Batja) | 1884 | 350 | 12,723 | Agriculture, Plantations. School for boys and girls. Kindergarten. Religious school. Most of the colonists were engaged in agricultural work in Russia. |
| Katrah (Gederah) | 1884 | 200 | 5,632 | Plantations, Agriculture. School for boys and girls. Religious school “Netzah Israel.” This colony was founded by the Bilu pioneers. |
| Kastinie (Beer Tobia) | 1896 | 150 | 5,622 | Agriculture. Religious school “Netzah Israel.” This colony was founded by the Odessa Chovevé Zion. |
| Dschemama (Ruchama) | 1911 | 25 | 6,000 | In the early stages of colonization. The land was bought by two companies of Russian Jews, and is cultivated by a group of labourers. |
| Bir Jacob | 1907 | 25 | 2,048 | Colony of labourers. Plantations. Was founded by Dagestan Jews. |
| Hulda | 1909 | 50 | 1,890 | Jewish National Fund Domain. In this colony the so-called Herzl Forest (of olive trees) in commemoration of Herzl is planted. |
| Ben Shemen | 1906 | 120 | 2,329 | J.N.F. Domain and Farm. Second part of the Herzl Forest. Houses for Yemenite Jews. Agricultural institutions and experiments (Mr. I. Wilkanski). |
| Abu-Shushe | 1912 | — | 7,000 | In the early stages of colonization. |
| Kafruriah | 1912 | 20 | 5,000 | In the early stages of colonization. Cultivated by a group of labourers. |
| Artuf | 1896 | 70 | 4,670 | Agriculture. School for boys and girls. The first settlers were Bulgarian Jews, Sephardim. Now property of Mr. Isaac Goldberg of Wilna. |
| Mozah | 1890 | 40 | 1,100 | Agriculture, three-quarters of an hour from Jerusalem. Synagogue. Mill. Vines and vegetable-growing. |
| Dilb | 1913 | — | 1,800 | In the early stages of colonization. |
| Petah-Tikvah | 1878 | — | — | Plantations. The largest colony in the country. Schools for boys and girls. Centre of the religious schools (Dr. Auerbach). Home for orphans. Soup kitchen for labourers. Agricultural school. |
| Machne Yehouda | 1913 | 2,500 | 23,837 | Settlement for Yemenite Jews. |
| Yehoudieh | — | — | — | — |
| Ain Ganim (Fedje) | 1908 | — | 762 | Settlement for labourers. Founded by Chovevé Zion for the Petah-Tikvah labourers (a little house and orchard for every family). |
| Bir Ados | 1912 | 40 | 4,220 | In the early stages of colonization. |
| Kinnereth Colony | 1908 | 25 | 5,572 | In the early stages of cultivation. |
| Kinnereth Farm | 1909 | 60 | 3,703 | Farm of the Jewish National Fund. Farm for girls of the “Union of Women.” |
| Dagania (Um d’shuni) | 1910 | 45 | 3,072 | Farm of the Jewish National Fund. Farm for girls of the “Union of Women.” |
| Poriah | 1911 | 60 | 3,703 | Property of one of the American Achuzah Companies. |
| Mispah (En Katab) | 1908 | 50 | 3,420 | Agriculture. |
| Hattin | — | — | 2,000 | Agriculture. |
| Lubic | — | — | 7,082 | — |
| Near Tiberus | — | — | 830 | — |
| Migdal | 1910 | — | 5,000 | Farms and Plantations belonging to a Plantation Company. |
| Jessod Ha-Maaleh | 1883 | 225 | 12,228 | Agriculture. School for boys and girls. |
| Rosh Pinah | 1882 | 650 | 20,102 | Agriculture and Plantations. School for boys and girls. Centre of the Baron’s (I.C.A.’s) administration for the Colonies of Upper Galilee (M. Kalvaryjski). |
| Machanaim | — | — | 21,885 | — |
| Ain Zeitun | 1891 | — | 6,016 | — |
| Mishmar Ha-Yarden | 1884 | 125 | 7,596 | Agriculture. School for boys and girls. |
| Metulah | 1896 | 325 | 16,907 | School for boys and girls. |
| Bene Yehouda | — | 50 | — | — |
| Jaulan. | ||||
| Lands in the Jaulan | 1886 | — | 70,000 | Belong to the Jewish Colonization Association—not inhabited. |
| Samaria. | ||||
| Kafr Saba | 1892 | — | 7,321 | Plantations, mostly almonds. Occupied by a little group of labourers. |
| Chederah | — | — | — | Agriculture, Plantations. School for boys and girls. In the neighbourhood of the “Garden of Samaria” (Mohilewer) ethrogim (citrons) and oranges. Baron Rothschild’s eucalyptus wood, the greatest in the country. |
| Nachliel | — | 500 | 31,355 | Settlement for Yemenites. |
| Chederan Ann | — | — | 1,200 | In the early stages of colonization. |
| Chefzibah | — | — | 7,000 | Property of the Company “Agudath Netaim.” Olives and almonds. |
| Kerkur and Bedus | 1912 | — | 11,400 | In the early stages of colonization. |
| Zichron Jacob (Samarin) | 1882 | — | — | Plantations, Agriculture. School for boys and girls. Mostly Roumanian Jews. Centre of the Baron’s (the I.C.A.’s) administration with beautiful buildings. Library. Hospital with 20 beds. |
| Shveia | 1888 | — | — | School for boys and girls. |
| Bath Shlomo | 1888 | 1,150 | 30,668 | — |
| Marah | 1907 | — | — | — |
| Herbet Menshie | 1911 | — | — | — |
| Tantura | — | — | 300 | — |
| Atlit | 1897 | 50 | 6,800 | Experimental Station. |
| Lower and Upper Galilee. | ||||
| Merchavia (Fule) | 1911 | 100 | 9,415 | Co-operative Labourers. |
| Sedjera Farm | 1899 | 100 | — | Farm. Co-operative Labourers. |
| Sedjera Colony | 1900 | 200 | 17,717 | Agriculture. |
| Mesha | 1902 | — | — | Agriculture. |
| Melhamieh | 1902 | 200 | 16,023 | Agriculture. |
| Yemma | 1902 | 300 | 24,422 | Agriculture. |
| Bet Jen (Bet Gan) | 1904 | 100 | 4,549 | Agriculture. |