Israel & Palestine 1894

Under the Heading THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES (THINGS TO COME, A Journal of Biblical Literature, Book One, Volume I, For July 1894, p.17)

A PALESTINE literature has sprung up, and books, pamphlets, and newspapers are taken up with this now all-absorbing theme.

The whole nation [The United Kingdom] is honeycombed with societies having different names, but one object, viz., The Colonization of Palestine.

1. THE CHOVEVI SION is perhaps the largest. Its name means The Lover of Sion, and is from the word [Sorry, I can’t reproduce the Hebrew script], Chavav, which occurs only once (in Deut. Xxxiii. 3, “He loved the people”). It has branches (“Tents” as they are called) all over the world, and is represented by its own organ, which is called Palestina. On its cover is borne a picture of

In the center is a tent [tabernacle]. Above it is the legend, “How goodly are thy tents, Oh Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel,” from Num. xxiv. 5; and underneath the words Chovevi Zion. Round the border are twelve devices, symbolical of the whole twelve tribes. They are arranged in the order of their encampment as described in Num. ii.

The EAST (right-hand) side. In the center is Judah (a Lion, Gen. xlix. 9); below is Issachar (an Ass, Gen. xlix. 14); above is Zebulon (a Ship, Gen. xlix. 13). The SOUTH (the bottom) side. In the center is Reuben (Water, Gen. xlix. 4); to the left is Simeon (a Sword, Gen. xlix. 5); to the right is Gad (a Banner, Gen. xlix. 18). The WEST (the left hand) side. In the center is Ephraim (an Ox, Deut. Xxxiii. 17); above is Menasseh (“a fruitful bough by a well,” Gem. xlix. 22, representing Joseph); and below is Benjamin (a Wolf, Gen. xlix. 27). The NORTH (the top) side. In the center is Dan (a Serpent, Gen. xlix. 17); to the right is Asher (a Tree, Gen. xlix. 20); to the left is Naphtali (a Hind, Gen. xlix. 21). The Tribe of LEVI is represented by a Tent in the center of the Flag.

On the first page of the first number of [periodical] Palestina there is a short poem by Sylvie d’Avigdor, called “Palestine,” which we give on page 19 [See bottom of this article]. Other similar societies are called—

2. “L’MA’AN SION” ([Hebrew script]), “For Sion’s Sake.” 3. The National Society called simply “SION.” 4. The “ADMATH ISRAEL,” i.e., “the Land of Israel,” for the purpose of supporting Jewish colonists in Palestine. 5. “The Society for assisting Jewish agriculturalists and artizans (sic) in Syria and Palestine. 6. The large Austrian Jewish Society “EZRA”—so called because the Society is to do for the nation what Ezra did in taking the Jews back to Jerusalem. This Society has its own newspaper organ, which is called Zerubbabel, because it is to help the Society Ezra, as Prince Zerubbabel helped the scribe Ezra. 7. “KADEMAH,” which means Eastward. This also has its own organ, called Selbstemancipation (self-emancipation). 8. The “BENI BERITH,” i.e. the sons of the Covenant, the Jewish Freemason order, which gives twenty percent of its income toward Palestine organization.

There are already more than forty Jewish colonies formed in the land, and distributed in the Jaffa, Galilee, Carmel, and Gilead districts. Besides these there is a large Alliance Israelite Agricultural School, near Jaffa, called the “MIKVEH ISRAEL,” i.e., the Hope of Israel, with some 60 pupils, about 929 acres of land, 60 of which are occupied with vineyards and orchards.

Most of these colonies have original Hebrew names, expressive of the hopes and designs of their founders and promoters. We cannot give the whole of the long list, a few will serve as an example.

RISHON L’ZION, i.e., the first in Zion, with over a million vines, producing over 150,000 kilos of grapes. NAHALATH REUBEN (i.e. The Possession of Reuben), producing chiefly oranges and vegetables. REHOBOTH, promoted by the Russian Society L’AMENUCHA VE’NAHALAH (Rest and Possession). PETHAK TIKVAH (Door of Hope), with 180,000 vines. YEHUD, a colony containing a synagogue, and supported partly by the Society “DEGEL THORAH” (Banner of the Law). All the above are in the Jaffa district. In the Galilee district we have such colonies as

ROSH PINA (The Head of the Corner). MISHMAR HA YARDEN (The watch by the Jordan).

In the Carmel district we find ZICHRON YAKOUV (The memorial of Jacob). This is the largest in Palestine, having three branches, cultivating some 3,693 acres, and manufacturing glass in which steam is employed. It has a synagogue, hotel, hospital, and school.

Other names are NEVI TSEDEK (The Habitation of Righteousness). NEBI SHALOM (The Habitation of Peace). CHUDDERA, cultivating 6,461 acres. The Inheritance of Levi. The Home of Israel. The Corner Gate. The Gate of Peace, &c. &c.

The grand effort of Baron Hirsch, who is called the “the modern Moses,” and his able coadjutor, Colonel Goldsmid, who is called “the Joshua of the New Exodus,” is also a sign of the times. The effort, as most of our readers know, is to convey the persecuted Jews from Europe to the Argentine.

The object avowedly “looks upon the Argentine as a nursery ground for Palestine.” Colonel Goldsmid has said, “In the revival on a large scale of the agricultural life of their early history, the Jews will see a picture of their future. The creation of a land of milk and honey in South America will bring the question of the reclamation of the Holy Land within the bounds of practical politics . . . The Jewish question will never be solved until a Jewish State, guaranteed by the Powers, is established in the Land of Israel.”

. . . already include . . . 1. From Jaffa to Jerusalem, which is already opened. 2. From Beyrout to Damascus, for which a concession has been obtained by a French company. 3. From Damascus seventy-five miles into the grain district of Hauran, already commenced by a Belgian company. 4. From Acre to the Jordan, crossing which it will traverse the plateau to the east of the Sea of Galilee, and so reach Damascus. And English company is about to construct this Railway, which will almost certainly be extended to the Euphrates Valley.

. . . in connection with these railways is remarkable. An interesting fact has come out in connection with the Jaffa-Jerusalem Railway: Turkey gave the succession. France found the capital. Belgium furnished half the rails and coal. England found the other half. Poland and Switzerland sent engineers. Italy and Austria provided engineers and labourers. Greece furnished the cooks. The United States shares with Germany the man who first surveyed the road, while Philadelphia supplied the engines! The nations may yet unite in doing much more important work in restoring the Jews to Palestine.

Since October, 1892, all restrictions have been removed by Turkey as to Jews purchasing and possessing land.

No, there was never, as far as I know, any actual formal organization around the publication of THINGS TO COME. They haven’t published since 1915. I have most of the volumes (1894 to 1915). I don’t know of anyone printing them today, but perhaps you could run a www search for

THINGS TO COME, A JOURNAL OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE.

there are several sights, however, with similar names that are not connected.

The image of the flag was shot directly from one of the pages of the volume cited, with a Kodak, and my son cropped it for me.

I want to post a lot more from these volumes if there is any interest. I have even thought about putting them little by little on my own web site, or creating a new site just for those volumes.

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