The Maccabaean

Away from the tumlt of everyday life, almose wholly unobserved by the great public, quietly, but consciously, the work of the regeneration of the Jewish people on the soil of Palestine is proceeding. Like every great undertaking, this, too, has demanded a sacrifice of life and of property. The early colonists had to defend their possessions, in the then unsettled state of the land, against the thieving Bedouins, and many a nameless hero fell in these struggles. Countless were the disappointments which these pioneers had to experience. Many died from the unaccustomed hardships, others became discouraged and emigrated. But the tremendous enthusiasm of the mapority enabled them to cope with the enormous difficulties, and ultimately to triumph over them. Thanks to their heroic efforts, a solid foundation was laid for a future autonomous Jewish state in Palestine.

At the present time, there is a sturdy, flourishing Jewish peasant class; the number of Jewish land-holders is being steadily increased by systematic activity; the general industrial condition of the Jews, fostered by the Jews, fostered by the Jewish bank, is showing a healthy upward swing. Hebrew has again become the national language and the mother tongue of the rising generation, the system of Jewish education is being constantly improved, and will soon be crowned by the erection of a technological high school. All this has been accomplished in a comparatively short time through the living force of the Zionist idea.

Naturally, much is due to the co-operation of generous philanthropists. But the emancipation of a people can be achieved, not through the activities of benevolent societies, charity associations, etc., but through the propelling power of the

creative national will, from the organized self-help of the people.

The colonizing activities of the ICA did, it is true, succeed in providing for 14,000 Jewish farmers in the Argentine; but enormous means were necessary to help these 14,000 individuals, and this work can have but little significance as regards the condition of the people as a whole. (The same holds good of the future activities of the Jewish Territorial Organization—which will colonize individual Jews, but will accomplish nothing for the mass.)

On the other hand, the work of several hundred pioneers in Palestine, who emigrated thither thirty years ago—because they were inspired with the ideal of a national rebirth, has laid the foundation for the solution of the whole Jewish question. Also those charity associations whose present work in Palestine is inspired with the national spirit, have been thus influenced only by the Zionist idea, by the preliminary work of the Zionist organization. Their co-operation is valuable and welcome; but its significance should not be overestimated. Jewish distress is the distress of an entire people, the Jewish question is a national and sociological question. The Jewish question can be solved, not by benevolent associations, no matter how worthy, but by a concentration of the national forces, directed by the national will. This concentration is represented in the Zionist organization, the only national Jewish world—organization. Its program is Zionism, the expression of the national will.

The Zionist work for and in Palestine, is being systematically carried on in accordance with the will and under the constant supervision of the entire Jewish nation.

The Zionist work for and in Palestine