(ISRAEL, LAND OF).

<<Dramatis-personae:>> Following the government-led pogroms in Southern Russia in 1881, <<Dr. Leon Pinsker>> (1821-91), a passionate assimilationist underwent a dramatic change in weltanschauung: ‘Judaeophobia’ would only disappear once a Jewish national center was established. Thus Pinsker became a leader of the Chibath Zion movement. <<R. Naphtali Tzvi Yehudah Berlin>> (the Netziv, 1817-93) was the Rosh Yeshiva of Volozhin, the foremost Talmudic Academy in 19th-century Russia. Due to his sterling character and radiant personality, the Chibath Zion movement elected the Netziv as a “counseling member” of its Executive Committee in 1887. Pinsker kept the Netziv informed of all major activities, developments and appointments and respectfully entitles him “Me’or HaGolah” (the Light of the Exile). The Netziv acted as a conduit to Orthodox Jewry for the movement, writing many letters on their behalf. Most of his letters usually contain the eloquent phrase “Amus Be’Avodah” (overburdened with work) before his signature. In addition to his Chovevei Zion activity, <<R. Samuel Mohilever>> (1824-98) was considered one of the great rabbis of Russia, being an outstanding student of the Volozhin Yeshiva. <<R. Yechiel Michel Pines>> (1843-1913) was an early exponent of religious Zionism and a leader of the Chovevei Zion movement. <<Background:>> Many of the new colonies established in Eretz Israel such as Petach Tikvah, Akron and Yesod HaMa’alah were inhabited by religious Jews. The small colony of Gederah however, was populated by a group of young, irreligious members of the Bilu movement from Russia. Unlike other settlements, it was not directly supported by Baron Rothschild but dependent on aid from the Chovevei Zion movement. The Netziv and Rabbi Mohilever were concerned with the irreligious behavior found in Gederah and the deleterious effect it would have for support of the movement among the religious Jews of Russia and Poland. <<The following is a summary of the contents of this historical correspondence with the Netziv of Volozhin:>> 1. Autograph Letter Signed from R. Samuel Mohilever to the Netziv. Concerns the collection of funds for the settlement of the Land of Israel and the suggestion of the Netziv to include the people of Jerusalem in the colonies. He agrees in principle but there is not enough land presently. More funds are needed to purchase new land. One page. 25th Tishrei, 1887.