The Maccabaean

“(b) The number of votes which each shareholder or subscriber shall be entitled to shall be equal to the number of shares which he shall have held on the books of the Association for at least sixty days prior to the election, and all subscribers or shareholders shall vote at the election either personally or by proxy, to be made in such form as the trustees may appoint. Provided, however, that no shareholder shall be entitled at any election to cast more than twenty-five votes, and no shareholder shall be eligible for the office of trustee unless he is a member in good standing of the Zionist Organization of America.

“3. The trustees are authorized generally to establish a printing works in Palestine and to do all things necessary and proper to conduct and manage the same in accordance with the purpose of this trust agreement and they are hereby given full power and authority to act in the premises as it may in their judgment seem fit.

“4. This declaration of trust and any and all amendments hereafter made, shall be executed in triplicate, one copy of which shall be filed in the office of the Zionist Organization of America, in New York, one copy with the Anglo-Palestinian Bank in Jerusalem and one copy at the office of the depository of the Association in the City of Chicago, State of Illinois.”

From the subscriptions to the first two hundred shares in the Jerusalem Printing Works obtained from those present at the meeting, it became evident that it will require about one thousand subscribers to raise the required capital of $200,000, for the subscriptions run at the average of four shares each. Since no individual subscriber can vote more than twenty-five shares no matter how many he may own, the probability of the Jerusalem Printing Works ever falling under the control of one man or a small group of men is eliminated. The further provision that no person can be elected Trustee who is not a member in good standing of the Zionist Organization is to guarantee the nationalistic character of the enterprise.

The Zionist District of Chicago has undertaken the general supervision over the financial end of the Jerusalem Printing Works, while the practical carrying out of the plan will be attended to by expert builders and printers.

Now, with the war 'ended, educational and religious books and Hebrew literature will be in greater demand than ever, chiefly: because of the exhaustion of the supply; for it has

even come to such a pass that Jewish communities of Eastern Europe have had to appeal to America for a supply of prayer-books! The logical location for such a printing and publishing center is in the spiritual center of the world-Jewry, Jerusalem. The task of supplying religious books to the Jews the world over would in itself form a vast industry and the imprint “Jerusalem” on Hebrew books would make a stronger appeal to the sentiment of the people than similar books produced elsewhere.

So much for the business side of the venture. The advantages which would accrue to Eretz Israel from such an enterprise, however, cannot be appraised in terms of pecuniary profit. One of the stated aims of the Association is “to carry the industry of printing on a large scale into Palestine and make it a Jewish national industry”; another object is “to further the economic development of the country by creating a book-producing industry for export.” Thus work would be furnished to a constantly increasing army of printers, linotype operators, type-setters, pressmen, stereotypers, photo-engravers, lithographers, bookbinders and booksellers and support them and their families, adding materially to the economic resources of Palestine. Even at the start a considerable number of Jewish craftsmen who have been thrown out of work because of the ruin of the printing establishments in Palestine, Russia and Poland, would find employment and rehabilitate themselves as useful toilers in the land of their Fathers.

The printer’s press, since its discovery, has ever followed the Jews on their wanderings. As soon as there appeared anywhere signs of Hebrew culture, the Hebrew press inevitably had to appear. For the reconstruction of Palestine a perfect modern and well-equipped printing establishment is an essential requirement. Such printing houses as have heretofore existed there are neither equal to the needs nor compatible with the dignity of the new Zion.

There can hardly be found another industry so essential to the general plan of reconstruction of Palestine as the industry of the printed Hebrew word.

But more than any material advantages would be the spiritual influence radiating from such a center, giving impetus and encouragement to Jewish thought, energizing Jewish consciousness, and turning the attention of the scattered people to the renascence of Zion, its new hope and its new needs.

I am the little nation, saith Israel,I am the little one that was slain by the sword.

Two thousand years ago I was defeated, destroyed,By Rome the victorious giant.

I was broken and scattered,Persecuted and despised.

But I said: I am God’s people.The sword cannot destroy and the sword cannot create,But the word of the Lord shall destroy and create.

The glory of Rome is past,And the empire of Rome is shattered,But still I live.

I am greater today, I am younger today, I am stronger todayThan those who were born when I was old.

And the land whence I was driven calls to me,And the nations call to me: Return.

What is gained by knowledge and justice is from everlasting to everlasting; But what is gained by the sword shall be lost by the sword.