Show LETTER LEITER FROM PALESTINE Having heard yesterday that there was to be a wedding cele cele- celebrated celebrated celebrated in the J Jewish colony and seeing the same evening quite a number a-number number of persons proceeding to the place ace of of attraction I also very naturally naturally ally m-etl m with the crowd pen pen- pencil pencil cil in L watching for anything that up u p This Jewish Jewish colony is an enter enter- enterprise enterprise prise rise of recent origin It does not I was told belong to Baron Rothschild Rothschild child but is the property of the in- in inhabitants inhabitants in inhabitants habitants These consist of about fifty families all an Jews They are traders and merchants and seem to tobe tobe tobe be in a very prosperous condition Their houses are neat and clean and everything speaks well weB for the stability of the colony On my arrival at the house of the happy Hy couple I found a R large Jarge la i bla-i la- la tent illuminated hall han filled with ladies ice and gentlemen I believe every age was represented from the sucking babe to that of the very much advanced individual Outside the house there was a considerable crowd anxious to see the bride and bridegroom Sweet music wonder wonder- wonderfully wonderfully I fully enlivened the situation and fires shed their magical rays over the yard to the infinite delight of woung thoung ones particularly particularly particularly TW After a little while I was Engaged in conversation with an intelligent ent young Jew The substance of our conversation I will briefly narrate in inthis inthis inthis this letter at the same time J 7 t 4 t 1 ask the the reader not to s pass sov pass over ov tie various points too quickly Do you expect that the ewi ewa m 1 soon possess this land once e u their fathers This was my question He replied I hardly think think-sm thin 80 Everybody seems to claim land Russia wants wants- it England would probably like it it it- it and so too would France The Turks have ha v its ft and I suppose they will i je he e slow to give it up Perhaps the cow country try will in course of time be made a republic under the sanction of the conjoint powers something like Switzerland as the jealousy of the be powers will prevent any single one from controlling the Turks i let it go- go go But why do you gather here here if you do not hope to again i io possess o the be u 4 cou try Well we hope to possess 11 it but bu not yet You see th the Jews are re lot Dot lota nota a better beter very good people They are bet bet- ter in ia many py respects than tb the Christian nations still they h have been scattered on account of tH ir- ir sins sins and ba have ve not yet fully repented rep When they become good goode goodenough e enough h God will gather them but not until then Do you find tind nd any indications indication whatever that the time of gathering is fast approaching Well I do not know True True the Prophet Elijah has appeared some of our people but I can can- cannot cannot not tell w what hat his appearance pur- pur pur ports purports for he never speaks to any any- any body anybody although several of our pious men have seen him at various times I Has the Prophet Elijah Eliiah an ap- ap appeared Yes Yes indeed I know it because I have it from many trustworthy persons That was indeed Interesting news Besides my my informant contin contin- continued continued continued the stones on which M Modes engraved the law have hav been fou and are now in a synagogue synagogue In Bag Bag Bag- dad Bagdad These stones were in the midst 1 of our people as long as we were a prosperous nation At the time of 1 the Babylonian captivity Ute the I stones together with some other Im Im- Implements Implements hidden of the temple were hid j den by Jeremiah nobody knew t 1 where While these implements i ii i were hidden our people could not prosper As they are again found j prosperity will wIn return i Have you any idea idea I ask asked f 1 about the times spoken of by Danielas Daniel j as jas to the duration of the tri 1 of redemption the Jews Jew's and their final tion tion s i I cannot say I have but ac- ac act according ac according t j 1 cording to our teachers only about i eighteen years of our present condi condition i tion should remain but who who j knows I 4 This was the substance of our conversation Of course I cannot 1 ten tell how much of the statements made by my friend the Je Jew is i to be beT T credited but he seemed 19 to speak from a full conviction of the try of what he said That the Elijah EJijah should have ap some of the Jews I find no re or to tip doubt and accepting the um state sta k tas as very likely I had bad a 1 n 1 f i 1 1 P r o of relating how Elijah EJijah f i And appeared to our people and andst st end up our conversation by a solemn declaration that if the Jews i now will W-will will turn to God and acknowledge y edge se the God of Abraham Isaac Jacob He will wiH soon bring about changes We-changes changes necessary to restore His people to their former posses posses- posses f scone and fulfil all the promises given giren VeD by His prophets in former with hand hand- hand Hoftke We parted a hearty ke ake and au revoir The moon r t shining brightly over r the sandy io that led to my home The Thet t pc to from the house of festivity f a sending Bending their sweet rays in aU all allons ons as if filled with hope i the land of the people of God ST Canaan J M S JAFFA Sept 1889 |