Dorothy Thompson

Little Rock Daily News/August 17, 1920

London, Aug. 17. –A million trees have already been planted by the Jews in Palestine, and Jews from all over the world who cannot return to Palestine to live, now that it has officially become the national homeland, are asked to contribute to the “tree fund.”

In celebrating a marriage or other function it has become a Jewish custom to offer in gratitude a tree to Palestine. Trees have become memorials for the dead. When the great Zionist leader, Theador Herzl, died a whole forest of olives was planted in his memory in Judea, between Jaffa and Jerusalem.

Olives were planted because in the Holy Iaind they are called “the eternal trees.” They measure their life not in years, but in centuries. The proceeds from the fruit of these olive trees will be used to support the University of Jerusalem.

Thousands of eucalyptus trees have been planted. They are valuable for three purposes: First, they absorb the water from the soil and enough of them will wipe out malaria; secondly, they grow rapidly, attaining a full stature in ten years and furnish shade, which is greatly needed in Palestine; third, they provide box wood for crates for oranges and olives and other Palestine products. Their medical values have not yet been exploited.

The rapid forestation of Palestine is interestingly in harmony with the prophesy of Ezekiel that upon the return of the Jews to Palestine trees should be their shade on the slopes of the hills.