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SHOCHAT, MANYA. (1880-1961). Russian-born Zionist considered the “mother” of the collective settlement in Palestine, the forerunner of the kibbutz movement in Eretz Israel. ALS. (“Manya Shochat”). 2pp. Small 8vo. Haifa, March 14, 1945. To Dr. Eisenstadt. In Hebrew with translation. “I have received your letter of March 6th. I am well aware of this so-called victory in the newspapers after the singular success of Hofstek in Haifa since I am in touch with ‘Davar’ and ‘Mishmar’ [newspapers]. Especially the thoughts of ‘Mishmar’ irritated me, but to correct them is not within my capacity. It is strange that these people dealing in politics do not understand that to publicize such an event in the newspaper is mostly of political value. Perhaps this is not particularly influential to the Jewish people who are interested to know what and how they talk about them in Palestine. I thought I would be with you in Tel Aviv by the beginning of the week, but apparently this will have to be postponed a few days. But it looks like we will be able to wind up our activities in the near future. I had been back home and investigated the arrangement of your visit with us during the Passover holidays. To my great regret, it just won’t work out as I thought. Thus I did not ask you to bring four of your guests. Our cultural meeting is arranged from an overflowing program, with a concert and all kinds of things for the Passover days. And there will be a lot of strange people. I am anxious that your appearance with us will be in agreement with all your wishes, that our assembly should accept the wealth of information which only you are able to give. But to be an unknown guest in a Galilee village amidst the preparations for Passover is just not suitable for you. Therefore, we have decided to suggest that you come some other time better suitable for you, and to come with your entire family. And now, time has run out, My regards to your trusted and devoted Rachel. Very respectfully and faithfully yours…” Introduced to the Bilu agricultural settlement movement through her brother, Manya Wilbushewitz (later Shochat) was arrested after being linked to the revolutionary activities of Russia’s General Jewish Labor Bund. While in prison she came under the influence of the head of the Tsarist Secret Police, Sergei Zubatov, and in 1901, together with other disgruntled Bund members, they founded the Independent Jewish Workers Party, a more moderate, state sanctioned organization meant to counter the influence of the Bund. Anti-Jewish pogroms tempered the enthusiasm for a Tsarist allied party and after the Kishinev pogrom, its members were arrested 1903 and the party disbanded, after which Manya fled to Palestine. In 1905, she personally smuggled arms into Russia (after secretly securing the funding of Baron Rothschild) where Jews continued to be slaughtered in pogroms. Returning to Palestine, she established the first agricultural collective at Sejera (modern Ilaniya), near Galilee, where women worked alongside men. Shochat proved its viability as a model of farming through her “determined convictions, research, and personal charisma,” which strengthened the kibbutzim movement and inspired women’s direct involvement in agriculture, (“Rubies, Rebels and Radicals,” Bridges, Rifkin). The collective at Sejera was the birthplace of the first Jewish militia, Bar-Giora, founded by Shochat and her husband Israel Shochat, which was the precursor of Hashomer. During the decades leading up to the birth of Israel, she fearlessly continued to smuggle arms, even personally carrying a basket of grenades during the 1921 Tel Aviv, riots, and was active in radical causes. Politically well-connected, Shochat, considered one of the founders of the Jewish Labor Movement in Palestine, counted among her friends future Israeli president Yitzchak Ben Zvi. Our letter was written from Haifa three years prior to the founding of the Israeli state. Written on both sides of a single sheet of lined paper; folded with light wear and in fine condition. Rare.