SOLDIERS’ TENTS IN SAMARIA

Nazareth, from the Northeast
   Photograph by Underwood & Underwood

House of the author’s father, Ephraim FISHL Aaronsohn,
 in Zicron-Jacob

In A native cafe, Saffed
   Photograph by Mr. Julius Rosenwald

A lemonade-Seller of Damascus
   Photograph by Mr. Julius Rosenwald

Railroad station scene between Haifa and Damascus
   Photograph by Mr. Julius Rosenwald

Camels bringing in newly cut trees, Damascus
   Photograph by Mr. Julius Rosenwald

The Christian town of ZAHLEH in the Lebanon
   Photograph by Underwood & Underwood

HAIFA
   Photograph by Underwood & Underwood

HAIFA AND THE BAY OF AKKA.  LOOKING EAST FROM
MOUNT CARMEL
   Photograph by Underwood & Underwood

THE BAZAAR OF JAFFA ON A MARKET DAY
   Photograph by Underwood & Underwood

STORMY SEA BREAKING OVER ROCKS OFF JAFFA
  Photograph by Underwood & Underwood

THE AUTHOR’S SISTER ON HER HORSE TAYAR
  Photograph by Mr. Julius Rosenwald in March, 1914

BEIRUT, FROM THE DECK OF AN OUTGOING STEAMER
   Photograph by Underwood & Underwood

INTRODUCTION

While Belgium is bleeding and hoping, while Poland suffers and dreams of liberation, while Serbia is waiting for redemption, there is a little country the soul of which is torn to pieces—­a little country that is so remote, so remote that her ardent sighs cannot be heard.

It is the country of perpetual sacrifice, the country that saw Abraham build the altar upon which he was ready to immolate his only son, the country that Moses saw from a distance, stretching in beauty and loveliness,—­a land of promise never to be attained,—­the country that gave the world its symbols of soul and spirit.  Palestine!

No war correspondents, no Red Cross or relief committees have gone to Palestine, because no actual fighting has taken place there, and yet hundreds of thousands are suffering there that worst of agonies, the agony of the spirit.

Those who have devoted their lives to show the world that Palestine can be made again a country flowing with milk and honey, those who have dreamed of reviving the spirit of the prophets and the great teachers, are hanged and persecuted and exiled, their dreams shattered, their holy places profaned, their work ruined.  Cut off from the world, with no bread to sustain the starving body, the heavy boot of a barbarian soldiery trampling their very soul, the dreamers of Palestine refuse to surrender, and amidst the clash of guns and swords they are battling for the spirit with the weapons of the spirit.