772-16-1926 TO THE MEMORY OF אברהם בעהר. ושרה ביילע גורדן זכרונם לברכה my beloved parents whose love for Erez Yisrael and the Hebrew language inspired in me a longing to see New Judea. "Tis singular! but when I am thus alone at this still hour, I ever fancy I gaze upon the land of Promise. And often, in my dreams, some sunny spot, the bright memorial of a roving hour, will rise upon my sight, and, when I wake, I feel as if I had been in Canaan. Why am I not? But I rest here, my miserable life running to seed in the dull misery of this wretched city, and do nothing! Why! the old captivity was empire to our inglorious bondage. We have no Esther now to share our thrones, no politic Mordecai, no purple-vested Daniel. O Jerusalem! Jerusalem! I do believe onc sight of thee would nerve me to the sticking point. And yet to gaze upon thy fallen state. . 'Tis horrible. Is there no hope?" (Beaconsfield, David Alroy.) FOREWORD The contents of this volume originally formed a series of articles, some of which appeared in print*, while others were read before literary societies soon after my return from Palestine. In compliance with the suggestion of friends, I present these here in book form. In preparing the following chapters I intended at first to draw a picture of Egypt and Palestine as they appeared to me, without going into discussions of matters relating to the history or geography of the places visited. However, as I proceeded to compile my notes, certain questions arose demanding elucidation which led me to consult the views of standard works on Egypt and Palestine. Such views as are in harmony with my observations I deemed it advisable to embody in this volume. My aim, however, was to describe the new Jewish life in Palestine as exemplified in the Jewish agricultural colonies and in the educational institutions. I have, therefore, chosen the name for this volume, "New Judea," because I saw before me wherever I turned a real New Judea transformed from an old land by the will of young pioneers. I made no effort to dwell upon the colonies of New Galilee. As it is, the volume turned out larger than anticipated. Of course, this book does not pretend to be a literary production. It professes to be only impressions of travels as seen through the spectacles of a layman deeply interested in the subject. A visit to Palestine is not an unmixed pleasure. We are, indeed, overjoyed when we see the new life sprouting in the agricultural colonies, but we are also grieved when we behold the ruins left as a monument of Israel's civilization of the times gone by. Let those who sneer at such emotions, close this volume right here, for they will find little to their taste. This work was arranged several years ago, before there were any signs of the present disturbance in Europe, and the observations made, therefore, are uncolored by any considerations of the existing state of affairs in Turkey and Palestine. "The Maccabean," New York, 1911-12-13, and the "Jewish Exponent," Philadelphia, 1912-1915-1916. |