The Maccabaean

The large Jewish immigration to Palestine has included within recent years many writers, scholars and ‚other professional men. This coterie of intellectuals has placed itself at the head of the movement for furthering popular education, and puts its learning and other spiritual stores to good sevice in this cause. Various courses of scientific lectures are arranged in the larger cities. Besides lectures on geneal educational topics, discourses are held on special subjects, as, for example, the hygienic and economic conditions of the country, for the especial benefit of the immigrants. In connection with these lec- turies, other courses are mapped out. There are, for instance, classes where the languages of the country are taught to the immigrants. Much importance is attached to the teaching of Arabic, and not for political reasons at that, but mainly for practical purposes for, wthout such knowledge, even the most capable and energetic are bound to feel themselves helpless. They are in continual contact with Arab day-laborers and officials, and a constant exchange of speech is naturally essential. Plans are now being outlined for the establishment of courses in correspondence and bookkeeping. These would afford many a young man the possibility of fitting himself for a position in a bank or other large commercial house in Palestine.

Another excellent means of education are the Jewish public libraries. The Jewish National Library, which owes its existence to Dr. Chasanowich, of Bialystok, situated in the first rank. This institution, situated in the beautiful new Jaffa suburb, was intended by its founder to conform, in idea, to the British Museum of London. However, this ideal has, up to the present time, been only remotely approached. In

addition to a very large collection of Jewish and non-Jewish, ancient and modern literature—the Library possesses over 30,000 volumes—there are many rareties, as, for example, various manuscripts, reports and constitutions of old societies, old appeals and topical pamphlets, photographs and portraits of famous Jews, miscellaneous carvings, medallions, coins, antiques, etc., which have been collected during the twelve years of the Library's existence. It has also a reading room which is well supplied with magazines and newspapers.

The library ranking second in importance, the Schaar Zion of Jaffa, was established in 1891 by the Chovevi Zion of Odessa, and is largely maintained by that organization. This library, which has been housed since 1906 in the headquarters of ihe “Jewish Club,” exhibits a very gratifying state of affairs. It has a very large and varied collection of books, which includes, however, only a small percentage of scientiic works of value. It also is provided with a reading room, where Hebrew, German, Russian, and Yiddish periodicals are always on file. The old-time resident, the immigrant and the colonist alike put in their leisure time to good purpose here. In Safed, too, there is a modern library, established a couple of years ago by some of the local Jews.

A small group of cultured Jews in Tiberias recently issued an appeal to the Jews of Palestine for the founding of a library in honor of the eight hundredth anniversary of the death of Maimonides. Up to the present time, however, this plan has not materialized.

In this connection I take occasion to refer to the many smaller modern libraries which are conducted under the auspices of