The liquidation of the Jewish agricultural school, the only one of its kind maintained by the Ica in Eastern Galicia, has become an issue involving the philanthropic organization, the Jewish community and the agricultural department of the Polish government.
The school had been in existence for many years before the war, and was located on the farm owned by the Ica at Slobodka Lesna, Eastern Galicia. Notwithstanding the protests of Jewish organizations in the region, the Ica liquidated the school and sold the property to a private person.
A group of Jewish communities in Eastern Galicia intervented with the agricultural department of the Polish government, pointing out that the sale of the land to a private owner is apparently contrary to the intention of Baron de Hirsch, the founder of the Jewish Colonization Association, whose purpose it was to further the spread of agricultural knowledge among the Jewish population. The agricultural department of the government then refused to confirm the sale. The Ica appealed against this stand of the agricultural office to the Minister of Agriculture. It is learned that the appeal brought no result.
Jewish circles here are hopeful that the Jewish Colonization Association will abandon its original intention and will renew the activities of the agricultural school so that a greater number of Jewish youths may be given training as agriculturists who, though they may not find an opportonity to settle on the land in Poland, may find it easier to go to countries overseas where agriculturally trained immigrants are desired.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
