Presiding at a public meeting in Jerusalem on the last day of May, Dr. J. L. Magnes, the well-known American preacher, who has been in Palestine for eight months, said that “at a time when no one knew what the morrow would bring forth, and the Jewish National Fund announced that it had acquired 100,000 dunams of land in Palestine.”
“That at least was a sure basis. Whatever else occurred, whatever new changes were introduced, we could say we possessed land. That land was available for immediate colonization, and it was the foundation for further redemption of the land. More land awaited us; the Jews of the world must come forward and help to secure its passing into the hands of the Jewish people, but the start for that movement must be made in Erez Israel.. Jerusalem must show the way.
“This stiring call commenced the big Drive for Geulath-Ha arez which has been organized in aid of the Jewish National Fund. The Jews of Palestine are expected to make a great rally for the redemption of the land, the most popular object of their efforts.”
Dr. Magnus was supported by Dr. J. Klausner, Dr. Mohilever, grandson of the famous Rabbi Samuel Mohilever, Rabbi Menachem Levi, representing the Persian Jews of whose sufferings in Persia he gave a heart-rending account and Mr. D. Avisar, representing the Sephardim. At the close of the meeting portions of the new Palestine film of the Jewish National Fund were exhibited for the first time.
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