- 4 Friday, September DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Chronicle 15 1 944 , We Hitch-Hiked Through Eretz Israel and Saw a Sturdy People Reclaiming Its Homeland What Two British Soldiers on Leave Saw and Experienced in Palestine's Agricultural Settlements By N. POWER and M. RIVLIN EDITOR'S NOTE:—The following article was written jointly by two British soldiers who utilized their leave to hitch-hike through the agricultural settlements on the land of the Jewish National Fund in Palestine. One of the authors is a Christian and the other a British Jew who, prior to their visit to Eretz Israel, had no contact with or knowledge of the Zionist move- ment and the realities of Palestine. It was the former who is mainly responsible for the contents of the article, who sub- mitted the manuscript to the Jewish National Fund and sug- gested its publication for the enlightenment of Jews and Chris- tians alike. We decided to "hitch-hike" our way through Palestine—two Eng- lish soldiers on leave. Much has been written and spoken about this country by those whose lives and interests are bound with its destiny. Our attitude was en- tirely objective. Something new was occurring in Palestine, the revitalization of an old nation. We came to see this, not know- ' 1 Le Shono Tovo Tikosevu! Greetings of the Season! • McLean Motor Sales, Inc. PONTIAC SALES & SERVICE Complete Collision Service 2340 W. GRAND BLVD. TYLER 4.5400 HOLIDAY GREETINGS RYAN COAL COMPANY COAL and COKE 17400 RYAN ROAD TW. 2-3530 NEW YEAR GREETING MIKE FALK ORCHESTRAS , 637 BOOK BLDG. RA. 2604 The following day we began stables, cowshed, fields and orch- efficiency necessary; a zeal and our explorations. Our guide, a ards. Farming is a science here. love for the earth itself was w ow- sturdy pioneer, formerly of Rus- We were laymen and town lay- en with their ability. Every far m sia, introduced us to the life of men at that. But we could see the settlement. We anticipated in the many acres of growing worker would talk to us with in these remote parts a certain crops, the orchards and the dairy- enthusiasm of his horse, or new. absence of the modern amenities found in the outside world. We work, that not only was skill and See ERETZ ISRAEL—Pag e 13 were show n chromium-fitted shower baths, electric plant in- stallations, refrigerators, swim- ming pools, which quickly dis- illusioned us on that point. It was striking evidence of indus- triousness and of a determination to keep abreast of the times, despite, or perhaps because of, the obstacles that existed. "Much was yet to be done" our guide remarked, "but the spade work in all directions had prepared a lasting foundation for the com- ing generation." To All Our Friends Everywhere and to All With this thought in our minds, Mankind, We Extend Our Sincerest Wishes we arrived at the children's quar- ters. Any nation's continuity as for a Happy New Year, Victory and Peace a healthy, active race depends upon the physique of its young Throughout the World children. Here, that fact is clear- ly understood. Every device that can be applied to assist and en- sure the health of the children is adopted. By experience they have chosen the creche system, with variations in different col- onies, as being most suitable to the communal mode of living. It .7±.. is an experiment with which we are not generally familiar, and F_-- - is, of course, open to criticism. It was in the final analysis, how- 2=2 ever, • that proof of its success could be found. In their teens, these children, perhaps born when their colony was born, reared and tended even as the soil of their gm- - homeland, come to a perfection of physical development unsur- passed by any average chill "Not all will be able to pay for cruisers or reared outside the creche. It was M..- very interesting to see the two p_ battleships, but all can buy implements of and four-year-old infants seated war according to their abilities, from the great around their communal dining- table. Gaily colored clothes, cups battleship down to the humble but mightily and saucers with floral designs, useful jeep. All of these are tools of freedom. all to catch their eyes. Each group of ages in a different So are dollars tools of freedom. The dollars room. At an early age they arc you save and turn over to the use of your introduced to farm life, and in tending their stripling tree, chic- government today are fighting dollars . . . We ken, or little garden plot, their have a job to do and we are all called for -ZS joy is manifest. In every settlement we visited, service to our country. Our dollars are called we inquired as to the culutral to service, too. Let us ask ourselves, 'Shall we facilities available. One of the LA first items shown us was the be more tender with our dollars than with the open-air stage and cinema. Here lives of our sons?' "—Secretary Morgenthau. the Palestine Symphony Orches- tra and the Habimah players come to entertain the people. Do your part, buy more War Bonds. Re- Each colony has a library, one indeed, with 12,000 books. Folk- member our fighting men. They give their lives dancing, concerts, poetry read- —you lend your money. ing, studying music, all had their place in the life of these work- ff- ers. It was evident that the tempo of living was adjusted to harmonize work and leisure, but — work was the first concern. So we moved amongst these people, during their toil and play. Many pertinent questions were asked and answered. Introduc- tions produced information. Hos- pitality was a marked trait n3 much between the people them • —_ selves as toward visitors. On other days we explored the FREEDOM— JUSTICE PEACE—SECURITY 7705-1944 ing in the wider sense what was to be seen. We realized that a country, so evolving, depends largely for its progress upon a special agar- um policy. Such a policy, we were told, was implemented through a system of colonization on the land of the Jewish Na- tional Fund. The Land of Israel, with all its potentialities, was being harnessed and developed by a chain of communal settle- ments. We clearly remember the first of such colonies we visited. Ap- proaching it in the final "hitch" of a very hot day, up, over and down a chain of wild hills. With sharp suddenness the country underwent a metamorphosis; for- est land appeared, patches of vegetation became more prolific, shaped and geometrical. We both felt and knew we were entering land settled by the Jewish pio- neers. The contrast was amaz- ing. The barren hillsides and plains were here transformed into forest land, into acres of golden corn and plantations of orchards. Eagerly we contem- plated this changed vista of quiet beauty; the oranges and grape- fruits relieving the vivid green with spheres of Van Gough yel- low. Turning to our new-found friends we saw them smile, as one remarked, "I remember when this was all swamp-land." A phrase we were to hear many times! The land was being re-born. What was once an ideal or a fantastic prayer through many ages was now spread before us tri achievement. The distant red- roofed cottages, housing those who held fast to this idea, dotted the horizon. Men and women, motivated not by personal inter- ests but by a spiritual ideology that has preserved the Jewish people as a race since the dawn of time, were at work. For years this land had been despoiled; even the rain exacted its toll in sweeping away any remaining sub-soil. The ardors of pioneer work were easily con- ceived. How imaginative and brave in spirit must Theodor Herzl have been: An agricultural home visualized for his people amidst barrenness and desola- tion! Very soon we were entering the gates of the colony itself, our home for the next few days. Driving straight to the dairy, one of the hands greeted us with a "Shalom" and glasses of ice- I cold foaming milk; we looked Le Shono Tovo Tikosevu very dusty and were very thirsty. HOLLAND HAS GONE TO WAR! WAYNE COUNTY TREASURER Joins the Jewish members of his staff in wishing all their friends A Happy New Year Frank Bosley Jacob Cohn David Gordon Morris Hersh Coleman Kovan Sidney Mayer Ethel Rubiner Leo Schwartz SCIENTIFIC SWEDISH MASSAGE TREATMENTS SUCCESSFULLY GIVEN FOR SCIATIcA, SINUS AND RHEUMATISM TGERAPEUTIC LIGHTS and ELECTRIC CABINETS BOULEVARD HEALTH CLUB TRinity 2-8525 2690 W. GRAND BLVD. 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