Chanukah Finds 6,500 ‘modern Maccabees’ Serving British Forces; J.N.F. Gets Tract Near Modiin

This Chanukah, 2,100 years after the Maccabees drove the Greco-Syrian invaders from Palestine, 6,500 Jews are enrolled in the British forces in Palestine, prepared to assist in repelling any onslaught of the Axis powers.

The “modern Maccabees,” as the Jewish recruits are widely known, are enrolled in the army and other fighting units, according to an announcement by Moshe Shertok, head of the Jewish Agency’s political department, at a conference here. There is a Jewish officer staff of ten, including a captain.

Meanwhile, the Jewish National Fund announced receipt of a Chanukah gift of 3,400 dunams (about 700 acres) at Gezer, near Modiin, birthplace of the Maccabee family which led the fight of the Judaeans against the invading forces of Antiochus Epiphanes. The site is located east of Lydda in central Palestine.

The gift was made by the Maccabaean Land Company of London, in whose behalf the land was purchased by the late Herbert Bentwich, commander of the Order of Ancient Maccabaeans. The J.N.F. plans to enlarge the tract, which is suitable for the growing of wheat.

As Palestine Jews celebrated Chanukah, divers were penetrating deeper into the hull of the refugee ship Patria, sunk in Haifa harbor on Nov. 25 by an explosion whose causes are still under investigation. Twenty more bodies were recovered, raising the known death toll to 94. Two of the corpses were identified as Oscar Meisel and Leo Klein.

A group of 40 Jewish youths arrived in Palestine from Sweden, traveling by way of Russia, Turkey and Sweden. They are the first of 270 in Baltic countries whose immigration is being sponsored by the Youth Aliyah.

Chanukah is being combined with continued celebrations of the 80th birthday of Miss Henrietta Szold, which occurred on Dec, 21. A plan to plant a forest in honor of Miss Szold was launched by several Jewish colonies neighboring Tel Aviv. The settlements also decided to name a number of their streets for Miss Szold.

The Habima theatrical troupe last night gave a special performance of the late Karl Capek’s play “Mother ” in honor of Miss Szold. The performance was under the patronage of Jewish national institutions and was attended by members of the Jewish Agency and Jewish National Council executives and other prominent Palestinians. Habima’s greetings to Miss Szold were read by Hannah Rovina, a member of the troupe.

Miss Szold, addressing Jewish leaders from all over the country at a celebration of her birthday in the Jewish Agency building, appealed for abandonment of party differences and uniting of all Jewish forces to withstand the hostile powers attacking the Jews.

The noted social worker, who was cheered by an audience which stood to listen when she rose to speak, told how she came to Zionism and recalled the teaching of her father, a rabbi, that Judaism was not a religion alone but a way of life. She said she could not imagine a Jewish life other than a life of work.

Shertok, reviewing 80 years of Jewish revival movements, said: “We in Palestine are divided into groups and parties, but all are united here in appreciation of Miss Szold.” Other speakers were Isaac Ben-Zvi, chairman of the Vaad Leumi, and Dr. Judah L. Magnes, president of the Hebrew University.