American Zion Commonwealth
Encyclopedia
The American Zion Commonwealth was a
Zionist settlement corporation that played an important part in the Jewish settlement of Palestine
before the establishment of the State of Israel.
The American Zion Commonwealth company was founded in the United States
in 1914 by American Zionists with the purpose of acquiring lands for Jewish settlement in the Land of Israel
. During World War I
, the company's activities were suspended, but with the conquest of the land by the British and the establishment of the British Mandate, the company returned to full operation. It was most active in the 1920s.
on which it established Moshav
Balfouria
in 1922. The town was named after the English Lord Arthur James Balfour, writer of the Balfour Declaration
, which embraced Zionist plans for a Jewish "national home" in Palestine.
In 1924, the company purchased the lands of the village of Afula from an absentee landowner residing in Beirut
. In 1925, the city of Afula
was established on these lands. Already before the city's founding, the company purchased lands on which a "Children's Village" was founded, which today lies within Afula's boundaries. Its inhabitants were all young, and in World War II
the village served as a training camp for the guards and as a glider
club. With the establishment of the state, the village became a military base, which was used by the Israeli army until the 1990s.
In western Jezreel, the company purchased the lands of the village of Jida, on which Ramat Ishai was established in 1925.
In the Zebulun
Valley, the company purchased the lands of the Arab village "Kofrita" as an agent for a Warsaw
religious foundation named "Avodat Israel." This organization founded Kfar Ata in 1925, which eventually came to be called Kiryat Ata.
The jewel in the crown of the group's activities was the acquisition of a barren piece of land north of Tel Aviv
on which the city of Herzliya
was founded in 1925. The city was named after Theodor Herzl
, the founder of modern Zionism, and is today one of the largest cities in Israel.
came descendants of these buyers who staked their claim to the land. American Jews
who bought land from the company considered it as something between a charitable contribution and an investment for the Messianic age. Many of their descendants are fulfilling the investment today.
The company was unique among similar organizations in that it transferred full ownership rights to its buyers - as opposed to the Jewish National Fund
which granted leasing rights only. As the years passed, the company became less active and its management was transferred to the government. In 1983, the company was dispersed. Land purchasers and their descendants who did not receive ownership of the lands by that year became creditors of the company. Since many of these buyers were considered missing, their litigation rights were transferred to the public trust. With this, the important role the company played in the history of the Zionist settlement came to an end.
and Herzliya
, there are streets bearing the name קהילת ציון (Zion Commonwealth) in commemoration of its achievements.
Zionist settlement corporation that played an important part in the Jewish settlement of Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
before the establishment of the State of Israel.
The American Zion Commonwealth company was founded in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1914 by American Zionists with the purpose of acquiring lands for Jewish settlement in the Land of Israel
Land of Israel
The Land of Israel is the Biblical name for the territory roughly corresponding to the area encompassed by the Southern Levant, also known as Canaan and Palestine, Promised Land and Holy Land. The belief that the area is a God-given homeland of the Jewish people is based on the narrative of the...
. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the company's activities were suspended, but with the conquest of the land by the British and the establishment of the British Mandate, the company returned to full operation. It was most active in the 1920s.
Activities and acquisitions
The company acquired land in the heart of the western Jezreel ValleyJezreel Valley
-Etymology:The Jezreel Valley takes its name from the ancient city of Jezreel which was located on a low hill overlooking the southern edge of the valley, though some scholars think that the name of the city originates from the name of the clan which founded it, and whose existence is mentioned in...
on which it established Moshav
Moshav
Moshav is a type of Israeli town or settlement, in particular a type of cooperative agricultural community of individual farms pioneered by the Labour Zionists during the second aliyah...
Balfouria
Balfouria
Balfouria is a moshav in northern Israel, south of Nazareth. Located near Afula, it falls under the jurisdiction of Jezreel Valley Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 312.-History:...
in 1922. The town was named after the English Lord Arthur James Balfour, writer of the Balfour Declaration
Balfour Declaration, 1917
The Balfour Declaration of 1917 was a letter from the British Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour to Baron Rothschild , a leader of the British Jewish community, for transmission to the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland.The statement was issued through the efforts of Chaim...
, which embraced Zionist plans for a Jewish "national home" in Palestine.
In 1924, the company purchased the lands of the village of Afula from an absentee landowner residing in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
. In 1925, the city of Afula
Afula
Afula is a city in the North District of Israel, often known as the "Capital of the Valley", referring to the Jezreel Valley. The city had a population of 40,500 at the end of 2009.-History:...
was established on these lands. Already before the city's founding, the company purchased lands on which a "Children's Village" was founded, which today lies within Afula's boundaries. Its inhabitants were all young, and in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the village served as a training camp for the guards and as a glider
Glider (sailplane)
A glider or sailplane is a type of glider aircraft used in the sport of gliding. Some gliders, known as motor gliders are used for gliding and soaring as well, but have engines which can, in some cases, be used for take-off or for extending a flight...
club. With the establishment of the state, the village became a military base, which was used by the Israeli army until the 1990s.
In western Jezreel, the company purchased the lands of the village of Jida, on which Ramat Ishai was established in 1925.
In the Zebulun
Zebulun
Zebulun was, according to the Books of Genesis and Numbers, the sixth son of Jacob and Leah, and the founder of the Israelite Tribe of Zebulun...
Valley, the company purchased the lands of the Arab village "Kofrita" as an agent for a Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
religious foundation named "Avodat Israel." This organization founded Kfar Ata in 1925, which eventually came to be called Kiryat Ata.
The jewel in the crown of the group's activities was the acquisition of a barren piece of land north of Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
on which the city of Herzliya
Herzliya
Herzliya is a city in the central coast of Israel, at the western part of the Tel Aviv District. It has a population of 87,000 residents. Named after Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern Zionism, Herzliya covers an area of 26 km²...
was founded in 1925. The city was named after Theodor Herzl
Theodor Herzl
Theodor Herzl , born Benjamin Ze’ev Herzl was an Ashkenazi Jew Austro-Hungarian journalist and the father of modern political Zionism and in effect the State of Israel.-Early life:...
, the founder of modern Zionism, and is today one of the largest cities in Israel.
Investors and later history
The company sold the lands it purchased to Jews in the United States and Poland. Many of the Polish buyers realized their acquisitions and settled the lands they bought, but others died in the Holocaust and their land remained unclaimed. With the wave of immigration from the former USSRPost-Soviet states
The post-Soviet states, also commonly known as the Former Soviet Union or former Soviet republics, are the 15 independent states that split off from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in its dissolution in December 1991...
came descendants of these buyers who staked their claim to the land. American Jews
American Jews
American Jews, also known as Jewish Americans, are American citizens of the Jewish faith or Jewish ethnicity. The Jewish community in the United States is composed predominantly of Ashkenazi Jews who emigrated from Central and Eastern Europe, and their U.S.-born descendants...
who bought land from the company considered it as something between a charitable contribution and an investment for the Messianic age. Many of their descendants are fulfilling the investment today.
The company was unique among similar organizations in that it transferred full ownership rights to its buyers - as opposed to the Jewish National Fund
Jewish National Fund
The Jewish National Fund was founded in 1901 to buy and develop land in Ottoman Palestine for Jewish settlement. The JNF is a quasi-governmental, non-profit organisation...
which granted leasing rights only. As the years passed, the company became less active and its management was transferred to the government. In 1983, the company was dispersed. Land purchasers and their descendants who did not receive ownership of the lands by that year became creditors of the company. Since many of these buyers were considered missing, their litigation rights were transferred to the public trust. With this, the important role the company played in the history of the Zionist settlement came to an end.
Other
In the two largest cities founded by the company, AfulaAfula
Afula is a city in the North District of Israel, often known as the "Capital of the Valley", referring to the Jezreel Valley. The city had a population of 40,500 at the end of 2009.-History:...
and Herzliya
Herzliya
Herzliya is a city in the central coast of Israel, at the western part of the Tel Aviv District. It has a population of 87,000 residents. Named after Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern Zionism, Herzliya covers an area of 26 km²...
, there are streets bearing the name קהילת ציון (Zion Commonwealth) in commemoration of its achievements.