feverish traces of which are still perceptible in our faces.
And not only man—the soil, too, receives the first drops of rain in its deep loving embrace. How the cisterns of Jerusalem now ripple with satisfaction at being able to bathe the unwashed faces of the school girls, a pleasure denied them so long by the summer heat (especially during this summer). How nature’s scene changes almost spontan- eousliy. The sands are hot and exhaust the strength of the passersby, the fields present a yellow aspect, and indicate their thirst for water; the brooks, streams and rivulets are completely dried up and the colonists with folded arms, idiy walk about the village or visit the town. This dormant state of the country is suddenly changed by the over- clouded skies and the roar of the Mediterranean. Soon there is not a cloudless spot in the skies, torrents of rain pour down, combined with thundering and streaks of lightning. The sand hardens, the hardened lime softens, and the rushing water through the lanes forms slums, ditches and dirty streams.
For days after the deluge one treads in mud, and in some places carriages cannot pass.
The soil is drenched, and the fields present a beautiful aspect. The fruit trees receive a good cleansing and the leaves being cleansed of the summer dust appear green and fresh. The orange groves especially although they are kept artificially watered throughout the summer, nevertheless assume a livelier garb. The oranges sweeten after the first rainfall and turn yellow. Torrents of rain fall down the slopes of Mount Tabor and fill the Kishon. The rivers flow onward receiving a stimulus irom the Carmel and the Mountains of Safed. The colonists who till now had nothing to do, again proceed to the vineyard and begin the trimming and dressing of the vines.. The Fellahin plough and sow the winter crops and the cows give plenty of milk. The fever garb of summer is removed and the general standard of health is improved. The atmosphere cleansed by the rainfall becomes transparent blue, and the air is filled with the fragrance of the orange and the winter rose.
DR. GASTER ON PRACTICAL WORK.
A meeting of the Association of East London Zionists was held at the Jewish Working Men's Club, on Saturday evening, November 2, when the Rev. Dr. Gaster delivered an address on the Eighth Zionist Congress.
Dr Gaster said that a new chapter had been opened at the last Zionist Congress. They had suffered to a certain extent from the movement by which Zionism had been diverted from its proper course, and new projects had been set before them with the idea of telling them that this was preparatory work to the realization of the Zionist ideal. One thing he was sure the Congress had settled, and that was that, as they were the chosen people, so Palestine was the chosen land. Practical work in Palestine had been one of the first items placed on their program, and this was done to save the movement from shipwreck. Political Zionism had been given up. As practical men it was their duty to do work that lay most conveniently to their hands, and the Congress had decided to tolerate no longer possible ventures, but to work for Palestine only, so as to make it an independent and legally secured home. Now that the bogey of political Zionism had been exploded, he would like to know of any body that would refuse to co-operate in practical work in Palestine. Zionism had proved that the Jews were an element of strength to the land. During his visit to the Holy Land it had been his privilege and pleasure to pay his respects to the authorities, and he expressed his gratitude for the absolute freedom which the Jews enjoyed under the sway of the Sultan. He had been told that Zionism was forbidden in Palestine. He gave that statement the lie direct. What was forbidden in Turkey was the formation of any society that had political aims. But Zionism was not a political society as it was understood in Turkey. They did not aim at any revolutionary propaganda to weaken the Government. He urged Zionists to stand by the leaders of the movement, and see that the decisions of the Congress were carried out, and that their money was used solely to establish a Jewish home in Palestine.