2025-10-30 11:30:AM <br/> Tags: #organization #EarlyZionism #Yishuv # Palestine Jewish Colonization Association (PICA) (1924-1958) - The Palestine Jewish Colonization Association or - PICA - was founded in 1924 by Barron [[Edmond de Rothschild]]. *PICA is the Yiddish acronym.* - PICA was the continuation of the [[Jewish Colonization Association (JCA)]], founded in 1891. - PICA was founded to acquire and develop land in Palestine for a future Jewish state. - [[Edmond de Rothschild]] appointed his son James de Rothschild as president for life of PICA. - Both Edmond and James were close personal friends of [[Chaim Weizmann]], the center-left Zionist leader of the first half of the 20th century. - In the 1920s and 30s PICA purchased more land in Palestine than any other Zionist organization, bypassing even the [[Jewish National Fund]]. - PICA was involved in planting forests, founding settlements, etc. - PICA worked parallel to the established institutions of the [[Yishuv]]: - [[Jewish National Fund]] - Buying and developing land - [[Jewish Agency]] - Governing body of the Yishuv (Jewish Palestine) - By 1957 James de Rothschild decided to wind down PICA activity and transfer its land holdings to the state of Israel and the [[Jewish National Fund]]. - James de Rothschild died in May of 1957. - Posthumously he contributed 6 million Israeli Pounds ($21.68m USD today) to construct a new Knesset building. - The site and funds for the new Knesset building (todays Knesset) were the final PICA contributions. - [[David Ben-Gurion]], Israel's Prime Minister at the time, lauded PICA and eulogized James de Rothschild as an "outstanding Jew." #### Funding - PICA was entirely funded by the Rothschild fortune; specifically the fortune of [[Edmond de Rothschild]]. - Edmond provided a 15 million Franc ($105m USD toady) contribution to the [[Jewish Colonization Association (JCA)]] in 1899, which remained the financial basis for the PICA. #### References - “Jewish Colonization Association (ICA).” _Jewish Virtual Library_. [https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jewish-colonization-association-ica](https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jewish-colonization-association-ica). - “Rothschild, James Armand de.” _Encyclopedia.com_. [https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/rothschild-james-armand-de](https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/rothschild-james-armand-de). - Lior, Gad. “When Baron de Rothschild Wanted to Buy the Western Wall.” _Ynet News_, October 8, 2022. [https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/hjvznbnfj](https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/hjvznbnfj) - “James Armand de Rothschild (1878–1957).” Ramat Hanadiv. [https://www.ramat-hanadiv.org.il/en/rothschilds-legacy/the-rothschild-legacy/the-house-of-rothschild/james-armand-de-rothschild1878-1957/](https://www.ramat-hanadiv.org.il/en/rothschilds-legacy/the-rothschild-legacy/the-house-of-rothschild/james-armand-de-rothschild1878-1957/) - “The Detroit Jewish News.” July 26, 1957, page 3. [https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/djnews/djn.1957.07.26.001/3](https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/djnews/djn.1957.07.26.001/3) - “BEN GURION’S LETTER TO MRS. de ROTHSCHILD.” _The Australian Jewish Herald_ (Melbourne, Vic. : 1935-1968), August 9, 1957. [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/265704572](https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/265704572)