Alexander Aaronsohn
Encyclopedia
Alexander Aaronsohn was an author
and activist who wrote about the plight of people living in Palestine
(now Israel
) in his book, With the Turks in Palestine.
Aaronsohn was part of the influential Aaronsohn family who were major figures in the Zionist movement; his brother was Aaron Aaronsohn
.
to Palestine
with other Jewish families and founded the community of Zikhron Ya'aqov
in the fertile region south of Mount Carmel
. Aaronsohn was born in this small village and grew up amongst a blooming agricultural community.
In 1910 Aaronsohn left for America
on the advice of his brother who headed the Jewish Experiment Station at Athlit. He received his naturalization papers a few days after arrival and obtained work with the Department of Agriculture.
Aaronsohn returned to Palestine in July 1913 intending to make Zionist propaganda to spread to the United States. Two months after his return Aaronsohn learned of an attack on a well-respected Jewish doctor by four Arab
s and the rape
of a young sixteen-year old Jewish girl. This event shocked Aaronsohn and he vowed to form a strong society that would protect the life and honor of villagers.
as the Ottoman Empire
controlled Palestine. Aaronsohn and twenty of his acquaintances began this passage by presenting themselves at the recruiting station in Acco. They were then marched off to Han and made to wait with hundreds of impoverished Arabs. Aaronsohn was subsequently ordered to travel to Saffed, where his garrison was located.
Aaronsohn and his troupe's four day march to Saffed was an arduous journey in the heat of the September sun. They were required to obtain their own food and the poor Arabs caused conflict by stealing from villages that they passed by. On arrival in Saffed they were informed that a dirty deserted mosque
would serve as their barracks
.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and activist who wrote about the plight of people living in 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....
(now Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
) in his book, With the Turks in Palestine.
Aaronsohn was part of the influential Aaronsohn family who were major figures in the Zionist movement; his brother was Aaron Aaronsohn
Aaron Aaronsohn
Aaron Aaronsohn was a Jewish agronomist, botanist, and Zionist activist. Aaronsohn was the discoverer of wild emmer , believed to be "the mother of wheat."-Biography:...
.
Early life
Aaronsohn's parents emigrated from RomaniaRomania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
to 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....
with other Jewish families and founded the community of Zikhron Ya'aqov
Zikhron Ya'aqov
Zikhron Ya'akov is a town in Israel, south of Haifa, and part of the Haifa District. It is located at the southern end of the Carmel mountain range overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, near the coastal highway...
in the fertile region south of Mount Carmel
Mount Carmel
Mount Carmel ; , Kármēlos; , Kurmul or جبل مار إلياس Jabal Mar Elyas 'Mount Saint Elias') is a coastal mountain range in northern Israel stretching from the Mediterranean Sea towards the southeast. Archaeologists have discovered ancient wine and oil presses at various locations on Mt. Carmel...
. Aaronsohn was born in this small village and grew up amongst a blooming agricultural community.
In 1910 Aaronsohn left for America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on the advice of his brother who headed the Jewish Experiment Station at Athlit. He received his naturalization papers a few days after arrival and obtained work with the Department of Agriculture.
Aaronsohn returned to Palestine in July 1913 intending to make Zionist propaganda to spread to the United States. Two months after his return Aaronsohn learned of an attack on a well-respected Jewish doctor by four Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
s and the rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
of a young sixteen-year old Jewish girl. This event shocked Aaronsohn and he vowed to form a strong society that would protect the life and honor of villagers.
Turkish Army
Despite Aaronsohn's ties to the United States, he was pushed into serving in the Turkish Army with the start of the first World WarWorld war
A world war is a war affecting the majority of the world's most powerful and populous nations. World wars span multiple countries on multiple continents, with battles fought in multiple theaters....
as the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
controlled Palestine. Aaronsohn and twenty of his acquaintances began this passage by presenting themselves at the recruiting station in Acco. They were then marched off to Han and made to wait with hundreds of impoverished Arabs. Aaronsohn was subsequently ordered to travel to Saffed, where his garrison was located.
Aaronsohn and his troupe's four day march to Saffed was an arduous journey in the heat of the September sun. They were required to obtain their own food and the poor Arabs caused conflict by stealing from villages that they passed by. On arrival in Saffed they were informed that a dirty deserted mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
would serve as their barracks
Barracks
Barracks are specialised buildings for permanent military accommodation; the word may apply to separate housing blocks or to complete complexes. Their main object is to separate soldiers from the civilian population and reinforce discipline, training and esprit de corps. They were sometimes called...
.