Jewish Trend to Farms Not Abating, Jewish Women’s Council Hears

(Jewish Daily Bulletin)

In contrast to the cityward trend of rural peoples all over the world, the Jew is turning more and more to the soil as a means of livelihood, Mrs. Elmer Eckhouse, of Newark, N. J., stated to the delegates of the triennial convention of the National Council of Jewish Women in session here.

There are now 20,000 Jewish farmers in the United States and they till more than 1,000,000 acres of land, declared Mrs. Eckhouse in her report on the activities of the Department for Farm and Rural Work. With the members of their families, the Jewish farm population in the United States numbers 65,000. Their farms are mainly located near the large cities, she said.

Pointing to the rapid increase in the number of Jewish farmers since 1900, when their number was only 1,100 Mrs. Eckhouse asked: “Was it the yearning that for so many centuries has been stifled in the narrow ghettos of the world? Was it the hope that was crushed beneath the prejudice and persecution of Eastern Europe? Was it the longing of an ancient people to once again tend the flock and harvest the grain, or that desire of an exiled race constantly denied the right to race constantly denied the right to engage in agriculture, to once again live in the open and to own and till a bit of land that it might call its own?” Whatever the cause, she stated, the growth of the Jewish farm movement proceded and the movement shows no signs of abating.

Senator Borah, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was the principal speaker at the banquet held last night. It had been announced that the Senator would speak on the subject of peace and he confined his remarks almost entirely to the ill treatment of China as a cause of war. Referring to the growth of the nationalist movement in China, Borah declared: “Self determination and the right of all peoples to have their own form of government and live their own lives, is accepted by peoples all over the world. They have been striving in one way or another to come into the enjoyment of this uplifting and healing power. This messages has seemed to go out from the great nations to all humanity, regardless of faith or race, creed or color and so it was received. It will not down, it ought not to down. Some say nationalism is a great evil, an obstacle to peace. The fact is it is here and must be reckoned with and respected,” he declared.

COMMUNICATION TO THE EDITOR

Sir:

Only a week has elapsed since I received the Index, and I have already had occasion to refer to it frequently in the preparation of occasional addresses, with most gratifying results. It is the most useful and convenient ready-reference book on modern Jewish life and current history that I know of.

You are to be congratulated on this splendid, enterprising publication.

RABBI IRVING F. REICHERT.

New York, Nov. 1, 1926.