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Israel and Jordan1980 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses
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RAMALLAH—WHERE IT BEGAN
The Watch Tower Society’s first president, Charles T. Russell, visited Palestine in 1891 as part of an extensive world tour. But apparently the first seeds of Bible truth to take root in the country were sown in 1913. In that pre-World War I year a young man who was interested in the truth moved from New York to his family’s hometown, Ramallah, located about 10 miles (16 km) north of Jerusalem. Ramallah is close to the remains of the ancient city of Bethel, one of the cities most frequently mentioned in the Bible.
Interestingly, before this young man, Hanna Hechmi, left the States he was warned that war was coming, and that he would be walking right into difficulties. True to the warning, World War I broke out the following year, and the Turkish government controlling the area immediately began drafting young men. Hanna fled back to New York, leaving by ship from the port of Haifa. However, he left a full set of the Studies in the Scriptures at the home of the Kadura family, where he had been staying in Ramallah.
After the war six young Arabic Witnesses, who were associating with the congregation in Brooklyn, New York, moved back to their hometown of Ramallah.
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Israel and Jordan1980 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses
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In time, they met the Kaduras and encouraged the father of the family to read the books that young Hanna had left with him before he returned to the United States. Mr. Kadura became a strong brother in the congregation, and, in turn, he interested a relative of his, a Mr. Saah. Four of Brother Saah’s granddaughters became full-time pioneer publishers, and others in his family also became Witnesses.
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