Lawrence Freiman, son of the Canadian Zionist Organization leader, Archibald Freiman, returned from Palestine aboard the Italian liner Roma yesterday, bringing with him the information that “everything we heard about the country is true.” He was accompanied by his sister Queene.
“For years I had been hearing and reading about the young idealists who are working on the soil in Palestine’s colonies,” said Freiman, a tall young man with an air of certainty. “I found that conditions come entirely up to expectations.
“The country of the Jews is green and fertile. You notice in contrast the wasteland of the Arabs, uncultivated stretches of sand.
SUPERSTITIONS VANISH
“A striking commentary on the country is that ignorant superstition is disappearing, and in its place are hope and life. The young people, especially the pioneers (chalutzim) are inspired with idealism. They love their work, they love Hebrew.”
Young Freiman was met at the pier by his parents and friends.
In an interview on board the Roma, Freiman said that he dined with Sir Arthur Grenfell Wauchope, High Commissioner of Palestine. The High Commissioner is “deeply interested in the development of the Holy Land,” said Freiman. “He visits every corner of the country, talking with workers, inspecting colonies and studying conditions.
DEBT TO ZIONISM
“Sir Arthur told me he believes that there is not enough diversification in agriculture,” said Freiman. “He believes it would be a good thing for the further development of small self-sufficient farms.”
The young man pointed out that he himself believes that independent enterprise “has shot the work of Zionist and the Pica out of bounds,” but added that “private farm owners owe their success to Zionism.”
With considerable enthusiasm he spoke of the construction work going on in Haifa and Tel Aviv where, he said, there is a great labor shortage.
Freiman said that “the most unusual thing we found in Palestinian Jewish communities was the almost overwhelming importance of the individual.” He repeated that educational methods used in Palestine indicate “their superiority over educational methods in other countries where the individual is machine taught.”
FREEDOM IN SCHOOLS
“I admire the fact that the schools are conducted along lines of almost complete freedom,” he continued. “They decide what they want to study, in many cases choose their own teachers and decide upon their own futures. I saw one school where the students rewarded the deserving and attended to the punishment of their delinquent classmates.”
Freiman said that pressing personal affairs made it necessary that he return to his home in Canada quickly, but said he will visit Palestine again. He admitted a secret ambition to remain there permanently.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
