In 1897 Mr. Herbert Bentwich, LL.B., organized in London the “_Maccabean_” tour to Palestine, in which twenty-one persons took part. Under his guidance this party of Jewish travellers proceeded to Palestine, and got into close touch with the Jewish population of the country, especially with the colonists. On _Sabbath Hachodesh_ (3 April, 5657), the late Chief _Rabbi_, the Very Rev. Dr. Hermann Adler (1839‒1911), delivered an eloquent sermon¹ at the Hampstead synagogue, in which he said:―― ¹ “God-speed to the Pilgrims.” “... But one of the most attractive portions of your tour will, I think, be your visits to some of the colonies. And in this connection I may give an illustration of the vivid interest taken in your journey by the residents in the Holy Land. A well-informed correspondent writes to the _Jüdische Presse_ expressing his regret that the only Jewish colony you contemplate inspecting is _Rosh Pinah_, certainly the most romantically situated, and that you will not see the prosperous settlement ‘_Rishon-le-Zion_,’ nor the agricultural school ‘_Mikveh Israel_,’ and he advises a route which would enable you to see a number of new settlements, and some thirteen Jewish villages that have sprung up within the last ten years. Now undoubtedly great things have already been accomplished in training the hapless immigrants from Russia and Roumania to become hardy tillers of the soil ... well-trained Jewish horticulturists are at the head of each settlement, that Jewish farmers, peasants and labourers toil with splendid diligence ... 50, 000 eucalyptus trees planted in _Gadra_ to counteract malarial influences; 2,000,000 of vines that have been grafted by Jews in _Rishon-le-Zion_, _Petach Tikvah_ and _Zichron Jacob_, and of the excellent wine that is produced there. In _Rishon-le-Zion_ there are numbers of smiths and coopers.... But yet I feel confident that this pilgrimage will exercise an abiding effect on your spiritual life. It is a well-authenticated fact that _de_ Saulcy [L. F. J. Cagnart] (1807‒1880), the great Oriental traveller, confessed that he went to Palestine as an unbeliever, and that he returned from there with a profound faith in the truth of the Bible. You, I hope, do not need to have your faith thus strengthened. But I ardently trust that by this pilgrimage there will be engendered in your hearts ... a stronger sentiment of brotherhood, ... a more enthusiastic devotion to ... _Zion_ and _Jerusalem_,...”¹ ¹ _Jewish Chronicle_, 9th April, 1897, _p._ 21. Illustration: 5657 * THE MACCABÆAN PILGRIMAGE * 1897 The visit of this party was a new feature in the Jewish history of Palestine. It was looked upon with satisfaction, as indicating the growing interest of English Jews in Palestine. It took place at the very moment when modern Zionism entered upon the scene, on the eve of the first Congress, and, so far as English Jews were concerned, it had a good moral influence. CHAPTER XLIV.