More than five hundred persons came from all parts of Palestine this week to participate in ceremonies commemorating the tenth anniversary of the founding of the Children’s Village of Meir Shfeyah. The institution, situated in a nearby suburb, is the principal project of the Junior Hadassah society in America, from which it receives its chief financial support.
The celebration of the first decade in the history of this agricultural village was typically Palestinian. Lasting for several days the program was both dignified and gay. Representatives of leading organizations of Palestine and of other schools spoke at length regarding the value and achievements of the children’s village. Speeches were punctuated with dancing and songs which rang out through the pine grove at all hours of the day and night. Telegrams of congratulations were received from all parts of the country.
Speakers emphasized that Meir Shfeyah is comprised of a population of self-sufficient, self-reliant children. To prove this point the guests were constantly confronted with evidence of the children’s abilities in various fields. During one evening of the celebration a splendid pageant depicting the history of the settlement revealed the fact that the children’s education is not restricted to utilitarian channels.
On the last day of the extended celebration twenty young men and women received their certificates of graduation, making the total number of graduates from the institution 199. Miss Marion Eisenberg of the National Board of Junior Hadassah, who came this week from America with three other members of the executive board of Junior Hadassah in America to attend the celebration, presented each graduate with a watch, the annual gift of the organization.
In the principal address of the ceremonies Dr. Berkson, chairman of the Board, described the history, aims and achievements of the school. He explained that the project had started as part of the orphan’s work of the Joint Distribution committee and was later taken over by Junior Hadassah, which now contributes £5,000 of the annual budget of £7,000. He explained that the school is nonpartisan although a majority of the members, because of the nature of their training, later become affiliated with the Histadruth.
Mr. Capula, who represented Mikveh Israel, in his speech declared that “the graduates of Meir Shfeyah makes the best possible material for agricultural workers.”
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.
