The rebuilding of communities, the establishment of new colonies, the building of roads, the advancement of loans for rehabilitation purposes, the purchase of land and the care of widows and orphans were achieved as a result of funds sent to Palestine from America and other countries following the uprisings in that land last year, according to a report just received by David A Brown, chairman of the Palestine Emergency Fund, and made public yesterday, from Dr. Maurice B. Hexter, American member of the special committee in charge of the distribution of the funds in the Holy Land. These philanthropic undertakings were made possible, Dr. Hexter reported, through the $2,945,000, which was secured in America and England for the aid of the stricken population of Palestine. Of the whole sum raised, $2,038,493 was obtained in this country.
The committee in charge of the expenditure of the funds raised for the emergency, is composed of Pincus Rutenberg, Colonel Frederick K. Kish and Dr. Hexter. This committee was organized through the aid of Mr. and Mrs. Jonah J. Goldstein, of this city, who went to Palestine immediately after the riots, to arrange for this work.
In many of the projects, the cooperation of the government was had, Dr. Hexter announced, as well as that of other organizations, such as the Palestine Economic Corporation and the Labor Federation of that country.
Allocations of the funds for relief and rehabilitative work in Palesttine, amounting to $2,780,000, have already been made, Dr. Hexter reported, and of this sum, he announced, $1,669,020 was expended up to June 30 on a large program of relief and reconstruction. For general relief, during and immediately following the riots, Dr. Hexter stated $207,790 was used and in addition the sum of $140,000 was set aside to care for widows, orphans and invalids for the next twelve or fifteen years. Loans to the extent of $225,000 have already been made to families financially affected financially by the riots, he reported.
SAFED A NEW SUMMER RESORT
The town of Safed, one of the cities damaged during the riots, is now being developed with part of the funds into a commercial center and a new summer and health resort, Dr. Hexter said, An allotment of $125,000 has been made for this purpose, of which only $10,000 has thus far been spent. Dr. Hexter also reported that the British Commissioner has given his cooperation in this project by arranging for a 99-year lease on a large tract of land on the highest hill of Safed.
An appropriation of $325,000 was also made, Dr. Hexter said, for the reconstruction of the destroyed colonies and the rehabilitation of the settlers. Of the five ruined colonies, two—Kfar Uriah and Hulda—no longer exist. The reason given for this action, Dr Hexter declared, was the principle “concurred in by the American and British trustees not to re-create uneconomic centres.” However, the three remaining colonies— Motza, near Jerusalem; Har Tov, midway along the Jerusalem Lydda railroad, and Beertuvia, the southernmost colonv of Judea near Gaza—are now being rebuilt.
For housing purposes, Dr. Hexter reported an appropriation of $250,000 In Haifa, he said, a large urban plot has been obtained with a view to making the Jewish residents in that section “more secure for all time by linking up the Jewish areas and preventing the dispersion of the Jewish community in all directions in the immediate future.”
To relieve the financial strain of manufacturers and merchants who suffered from the rigorous boycott of Jewish enterprises, $75,000 was released for loans, Dr. Hexter announced, and for the aid of small shop-keepers, $25,000 was advanced to the Palestine Economic Corporation for its loan fund activity.
AIDING HOME CONSTRUCTION
In Jerusalem and environs, the committee, through mortgage facilities, Dr. Hexter reported, is aiding in the building of multiple family houses. One cooperatively-owned 20 apartment building is now going up—the first in Palestine, he added. There is also an outstanding appropriation of $250,000. Dr. Hexter stated for colonizing at strategic points, farmers on small holdings. The plans for these are now being made and work should begin in October, he stated. As a result of this appropriation, Dr. Hexter pointed out, “we called into being a credit corporation for colonizing which will raise an additional million dollars in England and Germany for this purpose. If successful, we hope, physically, to make secure, for all time, a large part of the citrus area by concentrating our people strategically.”
A sum of $80,000 had to be expended, Dr. Hexter further reported, on providing greater security for the residents of Palestine. In addition, he said, $182,500 was expended for roads, telephones and central buildings, the roads being undertaken in cooperation with the government, the latter making a grant of $25,000 towards this work. These roads, it was explained, were not main highways, and accordingly would not have been reconstructed for a good many years by the government. They link up most of the Emek colonies, Dr. Hexter pointed out, provide means of concentration and, consequently, better and more rapid self-defense in case of future disturbances. For the same reason, he said, telephones were installed in each colony. In addition to the roads and the telephones, Dr. Hexter stated, the committee has insured that every Emek colony has at least one solid structure in which, in time of danger, the women and children might be concentrated and which might comprise centres of defense until the arrival of troops.
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.
