Appeal for the Bezalel Damascus Furniture Fund
One of the greatest and most important cultural institutions which have been organized during the past few years in Palestine, the land of the Jewish hope, is the Arts and Crafts School, “Bezalel” in Jerusalem. In this school, under the supervision of the founder and head, Prof. Boris Shatz, and with the aid of competent instructors, a large number of Jewish boys and girls receive instruction in various kinds of artist-crafts from ordinary wood-carving and carpet-weaving up to painting and sculpturing. At the same time the work of.the school gives employment to scores of Jewish families in Jerusalem, who are, thus able to earn their livelihood in a useful and honorable manner. It is only four years since “Bezalel” has been founded, and yet it has acquired such popularity among the Jewish masses that the mere mention of the word “Beza lel” sounds like a beautiful song of hope for the Jewish future in the land of the Fathers. And ntionally-inclined Jews, it matters not what their party may be, are giving their support to the institution with such liberality that there is ground for the hope that Bezalel will become in the near future ‘the most important, the most useful, “and the most beautiful cultural institution in the land of Israel.
One of the new department which will be opened in the near future is the Damascus Furniture Industry. Prof. Shatz assures us that this branch of industry in Palestine has the prospects of a great success and will furnish honorable and profitable employment to hundreds of young people.
There is required a sum of $2,000; and a number of American Jews of nationalist convictions have taken it upon themselves to gather the sum as quickly as possible. They desire to see the new department of Bezalel an American one, i.e., created and supported by American Jews. Up to the present the work of a handful of devoted friends of the
institution has brought in the sum of $600, and now they have determined to commence an active and energetic movement to complete the entire necessary fund. For the great mass of Nationalist Jews, the sum is surely not a large one—only fourteen hundred dollars—and if each one will contribute his mite the fund will quick- I\v he rnlierted "
We are sending out lists to be used in the collection of donations. Write us, and we will send you some. Donations should be sent to the Treasurer, L. Kehlmann, 204 Centre street, New York.