September I I, 1942 DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Chronicle 3 PALESTINES WAR ECONOMY When in 1939 the overclouded political skies became still dark- er , a definite feeling of uneasi- ness spread in various sections of the Yishub in Palestine. Peo- ple r emembered with grave con- cern the great suffering during the first World War. At that time the Yishub was small—about 65,000 souls in all—and it was subject to starvation and pestil- ence; but for the far-reaching support of American Jewry, it w ould perhaps have been com- pletely wiped out. To many the situation in the Autumn of 1939 appeared even more grave; the Jewish commu- n ity had meanwhile grown seven- fold, and the country was in a very great measure dependent on imported foodstuffs, while already then shipping possibilities for the m ost important of Palestine's ex- ports — citrus — loomed in their proper perspective. Moreover. the disturbances were still prevalent. Actually, the first months of the war brought a severe crisis. Panic-like circumstances caused runs on banks and hoarding of foodstuffs. All financial institu- tions had temporarily to close • I,'Shono Tovo Tikosevu! Harry R. Brethren MANUFACTURERS' REPRESENTATIVE I I 341 WOODWARD AVE. TOwnsend 8.2577 HAPPY NEW YEAR TO Am.! SWISS TOOL & GAGE COMPANY JOHN M. FRAMSON BRYANT DENNIS 2723 JOY ROAD TE. 1-1535 By ERNST KAHN Editor's Note:—The re-adjustments that the Jewish community of 5CO3000 has made in Palestine since the outbreak of World War 11, particularly the contributions made by the agricultural Population toward the war effort and how Palestine has become an important center supplying food and materials for the United Nations in the Middle East, are indicated in this article written by one of Palestine's noted economists. Stressing the importance of nationally-owned land and the uninterrupted activity of the Jewish National Fund during the war, the author shows that Palestine is capable, economically, of con- taining millions of Jews after the war. their doors, some of them for good. The building and citrus indus- tries, the two foremost branches of employment in the country, were brought almost to a stand- still, resulting in an appreciable rise in unemployment. Before long, however, the coun- try emerged from its temporary paralysis, especially when the disturbances came to a sudden end. Agriculture was one of the first branches of our economy to overcome the deadlock. Now, one might say, it became possible to reap the fruits of the constant and untiring modern settlement policy pursued by the National Institutions. With the help of donations, but also by raising loans, the Jewish National Fund had with great perseverance, ac- quired, by the outbreak of the war, an area of 473,000 dunams of land. The greater part of this area was handed over to settlers, whom the Keren Hayesod and the other Jewish national and semi-national institutions pro- vided with the necessary re- sources in order that they might be able to produce in sufficient quantities such commodities as grain, milk, eggs, animals for slaughter, fish, fruit, vegetables, etc. Over a hundred collective settlements (Kibbutzim) were al- ready in being or in the course of establishment. while an appre- ciable part of the national hold- ings had been allocated to small-holders' settlements for ag- richltural development. A part from the Jewish National Fund, the PICA also had allocated cer- tain areas of its large holdings for similar purposes. The lessees now set to work at full speed in an endeavore to increase pro- duction of milk, eggs, cereals, vegetables, bananas, grapes, fish, etc.. and despite great difficulties their success had exceeded all optimistic expectations. Whereas LE SHONO TOVO TIKOSEVU ELECTRIC TOOL SERVICE F. J. CRITCHFIELD F. H. CRITCHFIELD 1556 MACK AVE. TEmple 2-4675 SEASON'S GREETINGS . . . and . . . BEST WISHES International Union United Automobile Workers of America C . I.O. R. J. THOMAS International President GEORGE F. ADDES International Secretary-Treasurer only a few years previously Jew- ish agriculture was confined al- most entirely to citrus culture which was fraught with danger owing to its dependence on the international orange market, that chapter of monoculture in Our agricultural history may now be said to be finally closed. One may say that even when exports are renewed, citrus cul- ture will no longer be a decisive factor in the country's economy, because today the value of Pal- estine's mixed farming is already as great, if not greater than that of an average citrus crop, and it is on the increase. Month by month, greater areas are being placed under mixed farming, and methods of cultivation are stead- ily improving. As regards the area under cultivation, there has been an appreciable increase of national land holdings during the first two years of the war. In the course of this difficult period. when almost the whole of the Continent of Europe was lost to us from the point of view of donations, no fewer than 113,000 dunams were acquired, so that with its present 600,000 dunams the Jewish National Fund shows an increase of 24 per cent over its holdings on September 30th, 1939. Not even in peace time could one ever point to such large acquisitions over so short a per- iod, and these new land purchases were by no means limited to the so-called "unrestricted" z o n e. They were made possible in the first instance by the great efforts of the United States of America, the British Empire and, in a pro- portionate ratio. of Palestine it- self. The increase of donations from Palestine is particularly pleasing from two points of vim. In the first place it points to the increased spending power cf the country, and secondly, it is eloquent of the great impression made by the work of the Jewish National Fund on perhaps the most critical and intelligent ob- servers of its work. Were Pales- tine Jewry not so convinced of the positive value of the Jewish National Fund's work, its dona- tion s would flow less freely. Tho leaseholders of the Jewish Na- tional Fund land have also con- tributed in increasing measure to the Fund's income. Income from ground rentals rose during the period 1940-41 from LP. 12,- 000 to LP. 16,000. That is sound proof of their better financial position. Provided normal devel- opment in the future, this income from leasehold rentals—without presenting a substantial burden to the individual settler—will play an ever increasing role. The gradual removal of the center of gravity of Jewish agri- culture from the citrus industry to mixed farming has not only improved the supply of home- grown foodstuffs, thus minimiz- ing the threat of hunger despite the unavoidable sharp rise in prices, but it has also helped to strengthen the connection of peo- ple with the soil, and safeguard- ed the existence of an increased number of Jews on the soil. In- deed the old citrus plantations did not facilitate the realization of Zionist aims, for in the place of Jews cheaper Arab labor was constantly employed. From the economic point of view that may have been comprehensible, be- cause in the few years before the war the citrus planters were only with difficulty able to eke out their bare expenses f rom their groves. But that system did not conform to our ideals. Furth- ermore, work in the orange groves is required only for a relatively short season. When the picking is over, there is always appreci- able unemployment in the coun- tryside. Entirely different is the situation in the mixed farming sector. Here there exists hardly any difference between employer and laborer, and there is no dead season. For this modern form of agriculture does not rely on any outside help; owner and work- ers are nearly always identical, • be it in the Kibbutzim, the small- holders' settlements or the fast rising, middle-class settlemnts. No fewer than 60,000 people now live in these three types of settle- ments, in addition to about 40,- 000 inhabitants living in the old type of village. It is not easy to say which of these various types of settle- ment is to be preferred. From it social standpoint the answer is dependent on personal taste. Not every one can adapt himself to the life of the Kibbutz which involves great sacrifice of per- sonal liberty. But the economic success of these communal settle- ments has been amazing during the last few years, contrary to predictions of so-called experts. One previously heard two opin- ions against this form of econ- omy. On the one hand, one was deterred by the unworldly and unpractical idealism of the set- tlers; on the other hand, it was thought that the Kibbutz offered a refuge for the lazy, in that regardless of a member's personal contributions to the Kibbutz, he reaped equal benefits, namely, free food, housing, clothing, etc. These apprehensions have proven unjustified, possibly because the Kibbutz can exclude, at least in theory, unsuitable members, but alSo because in reality the really skillful and diligent member is distinguished and taken cogniz- ance of. As for unworldliness, it has long been shown that our cooperative settlements have both feet firmly planted on the ground, and are as realistic as they are venturesome. Affairs are planned beforehand, new schemes worked out and present undertakings im- proved, and enterprises generally meet with success. In agriculture sound judgment is often much See PALESTINE—Page 6 H kl'I'Y NF:W YEAR TO ! T. JAGMIN, INC. Theatre Decorators 3998 BENITEAU AVE. LEnox 2395 New Year's Greetings and Best Wishes to All WM. H. CONRADI, INC. WE RENT CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT Air Compressors, Air and Electric Tools, Mixers, Hoists. Pumps, Etc. 5401 TIREMAN TYLER 6-9038 Rosh Hashonah Greetings Upon this important occasion we express our felicitations to the entire community. May you all be blessed with an abundance of good health, hap- piness, comfort and security VICTORY r BUY UNITED STATES WAR BONDS AND STAMPS Sears 3 Great Department Stores