ODESSA AND THE POGROM 17 



fession, the ability to assist and ease life for his aged 

 mother, to help his brothers, who had sacrificed so 

 much to see him get his education prospects most 

 alluring. But sincerity in thought and purpose and 

 great idealism were his outstanding characteristics. 

 With his rigid uprightness and vivid sense of truth and 

 justice, he felt that, as the leader of the "Am-Ohlom," 

 it was not for him to choose a safe and free profession 

 in Russia while others were, despite their enthusiastic 

 letters, undoubtedly enduring hardships in America. 

 Of all the student organizers of the Self-Defence 

 League and later of the "Am-Ohlom" he was the only 

 one to give up a sure career to take up the dark un- 

 known ; for, in June, 1882, he decided to live up to the 

 idea he was preaching "Back to the Land" "Farm- 

 ing for the Jews in the New Land." He would actually 

 be their teacher and leader, and, to equip himself, he 

 would take up agriculture as a profession. 



