The first convention since the World War of the National Conference of Jewish Farmers, held at the Educational Alliance under the auspices of the Jewish Agricultural Society, closed Monday after a two-day session, during which many problems of Jewish farmers were discussed and resolutions adopted.
In the resolutions it is pointed out that the condition of Jewish farming has changed considerably since organized efforts to help the Jewish farmers began 30 years ago; that the Jewish farm movement has grown so widely and rapidly that there are now throughout the country a large number of successful Jewish farm communities and individual farmers; that the tendency under present economic conditions is such that the number of Jews who are settling on land is greatly increasing; and that on account of the changing conditions the present state of financial resources to promote Jewish farming is not adequate to meet the new situation.
CONSIDER FINANCIAL PROBLEMS
Taking into consideration these various problems, the Conference elected a committee of nine to consider ways and means by which financial resources can be increased to meet these problems. The resolution further stated that “we Jewish practical farmers see the necessity of being organized in a federated body whereby to lead and exchange educational ideas as well as information for the benefit of Jewish organizations and groups,” and decided that the conventions be held annually from now on without interruption.
The projected organization is tentatively known as the “Federation of Jewish Farmers of the United States.” It is to “co-ordinate the various Jewish cooperatives and other farm associations and develop a larger and more satisfying rural life, to get the organizations to work together to improve the material, social and economic conditions of the Jewish farmers in this country.”
The committee consists of the following members who will work in conjunction with the Jewish Agricultural Society: Joseph H. Cohen, West Hempstead, L. I.; Benj. Davis, Taunton, Mass.; Mrs. Rachel Katz, Highstown, N. J.; David Cohen, Guilford, Conn.; Max Axelrod, Westfield, Mass.; Nathan Tenney, Parksville, N. J.; Sol Bruck, Monsey, N. J.; Meyer Allman, Hatfield, Pa.; and M. Shapiro, Farmingdale, N. J.
The newly formed Jewish cooperative known as the Nearby Farmers’ Association, which was incorporated on October 4, to sell farm products under a copyrighted label and name, was endorsed by the conference. “Ba-Be-Best” is the label used by these farmers, who can deliver products to the markets in less than a day.
AGRICULTURAL EXPOSITION
There were about 200 farmers from eastern sections of the United States at the Convention. An important feature of the convention was an agricultural exposition showing the high qualities of products of Jewish farmers in the United States, their number having surpassed the 100,000 mark.
The Sunday sessions of the convention were addressed by Benjamin C. Stone, editor of the Jewish Farmer; Gabriel Davidson; manager of the Jewish Agricultural Society; Mrs. A. H. Aarons, president of the National Council of Jewish Women; A. R. Mann, dean of Cornell College of Agriculture; David A. Brown, well-known philanthropist; B. Vladeck, manager of the Jewish Daily Forward; Percy S. Straus, former president of the Jewish Agricultural Society; Dr. Samuel Joseph, professor of Economics and Sociology at the College of the City of New York, and Dr. J. G. Lipman, dean of the New Jersey State College of Agriculture.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
