In December 1920, Keren Hayesod published its first Manifesto. “The purpose of the Keren Hayesod is to bring about the settlement of Palestine by Jews on a well-ordered plan and in steadily increasing numbers, to enable immigration to begin without delay, and to provide for the economic development of the country to the advantage of its Jewish and its non[1]Jewish inhabitants alike… No casual charity will suffice. The exceptional effort which is called for today must take the form of self-taxation – steady, persistent, systematic, inspired by the noble Jewish tradition of the Tithe”. It concludes with the following words: “The gates of Palestine are no longer barred from within. The key is in the hands of the Jewish people”.
The Manifesto was translated into 18 languages and disseminated in tens of thousands of copies throughout the world in Jewish newspapers and journals. It aroused great excitement and its impact was immense. All Jews were called upon to join the Zionist effort. This was the first time in the history of the World Zionist Organization that a direct appeal was made to the entire Jewish people to work together. And indeed, the direct appeal and the powerful words penetrated deeply, motivating Jews from around the world to work to support settlement in the Land of Israel, to promote it and fund it. Keren Hayesod’s work had begun!
Photo: Keren Hayesod’s first Manifesto, published in the HaOlam newspaper, December 23, 1920