LXVII.

הברת ישוב ארץ ישראל ודרישת ציון בלאנדאן הבירה׃ LONDON HEBREW SOCIETY FOR THE COLONIZATION OF THE HOLY LAND

PLANS

“THE London Society for the Colonization of the Holy Land intends:――

“1. To collect funds for the purchase of deserted and desolate towns, and fields and vineyards in the Holy Land, and to prepare Hebrew Persons able and willing to work, so as to fit them for agricultural labour in the Holy Land.

“2. All Israelites, expert in sacred scripture and the Hebrew language, who are members of this society for six years, and prove their ability in agriculture, honest, and of respectable behaviour, able and willing to work, will be sent out to the Holy Land by this Society.

“3. On those sent out by the Society the sacred duty devolves to fulfil faithfully the commandments of the תורה not to work――or cause to work――on Sabbath, Festivals, Schemita, and Jobal, as well as to observe לקט שכחה ופאה and all other commandments relating to the cultivation of the soil in the Holy Land.

“4. All Israelites having lived uninterruptedly for three years in the Holy Land will be considered as free members, and, after passing proper examination, can enjoy the same rights as those who have contributed.

“5. A house, with adjoining land, and cattle, implements and all other requirements for agriculture, and all necessaries for himself and his family shall be provided by the Society until the soil is fertilised and productive.

“6. In each colony the Society shall establish a Synagogue with all its requirements as ס׳ת, etc., schools for children and adults, appoint and pay Rabbis, readers and the other officials, provide books, &c.

“7. The Rabbi must not only have thorough knowledge of the Hebrew language and Theology, but must also be expert in other sciences and languages, especially the language of the country.

“8. Every colonist has the preference, after the stipulated time, to farm the land fertilised by his labour, which land remains the property of the society.

“9. The colonists will be placed under the protection of the great European powers.

“10. Co-religionists trained to the use of arms will be appointed by the society, to protect the colony from the attacks of the Bedouins; also police to enforce the laws and to maintain order.

“11. Israelitish co-religionists of all countries and of either sex will be accepted as members of the society.

“12. Those of other religions can only be accepted as honorary members.

“13. Boys and girls from 13 to 20 years of age, and persons more than 50 years of age can be members of the second class only.

“14. Children under 13 years of age are members of the third class.

“15. Communities forming societies among themselves will be accepted as branches of this society.

“16. Members, who bequeath money or property, according to their means, for the benefit of the society will be constituted perpetual members.

“17. Any member desiring to perpetuate the memory of deceased relations or friends, can do so by paying a certain sum, according to his means, to have them inscribed as perpetual members.

“18. Each member to pay an entrance fee of not less than 1s. 6d., one-third of which fee must be paid at the time of entrance.

“19. This third part will be used to meet the expenses of stationery, printing, advertising, rent of lecture hall, management, &c., and for the assistance of those persons preparing themselves for agriculture.

“20. Each member agrees to pay a certain voluntary contribution towards the funds of the society, which sum has to be paid to the committee every ראש חדש for which he will receive a receipt.

“21. A public meeting will be held every ר׳ח when the names of the members and the amount of their contributions will be published.

“22. General meetings will be held three times during the year, at such time and place as the monthly meetings shall appoint.

“23. Admission of non-members to the monthly meetings by ticket, to be had gratis.

“24. None but members will be allowed to address the meeting. Non-members can submit any question in writing, which will be communicated, and if necessary discussed at the meeting.

“25. To explain and to illustrate the principles of the society, lectures will be delivered every Sabbath in the hall of the society, to which members have free admission, non-members by ticket, sold for the benefit of the society.

“The land will be divided by ballot, for which members of the first class only are qualified. For assistance and for instruction every member of six months standing, in the first and second class, has a claim.

“Members who shall have obtained a plot of land and should not desire to emigrate, can convey the same to another person, provided he be qualified as described in Rule 2.”¹

¹ כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל The Hebrew National. A weekly Journal [Edited by Herschel Filipowski] ... London, vol. i., No. 2, Feb. 22nd, 1867, _pp._ 29‒30.

An appeal from this Society “By order of the Committee, E. I. Polak, Secretary (_pro tem._),” appeared in a specimen of a unique newspaper lent to me by Mr. James H. Lowe, entitled יידיש דייטשע צייטוננ׃ London Jews’ Weekly Times, No. 4, 31st May = 26 _Iyar_, but the year is omitted. The advertisements were printed, but the news was lithographed. The offices were situated at 4 Sun street, and the paper was published by Harris Leyserowich of No. 3 Sweedland Court, Bishopsgate Street, City.