During the last few years there has been a large influx of Jews from Eastern Europe into Southern France. Most of these, through the activities of the Hias-Ica-Emigdirect, have become farmers and have been settled in the Southern and Southwestern parts of France. They have either become farm laborers or crop-sharing farmers, that is, leasing land from the local peasantry and tilling it upon a partnership basis.
These laborers and farmers are spread over a large area and are to some extent isolated. With a view to bringing them together, the officials of the Hias-Ica-Emigdirect are utilizing the Jewish holidays for periodical gatherings. Recently such a gathering took place in the city of Avignon, a city which in mediaeval times was preeminent in Jewish life and played a very important part in Jewish history. The synagogue at Avignon was the meeting place, Rabbi M. Scialtiel conducting a religious service which was addressed by M. Valabregue, the president of the local community, and others.
Quite a number of the farmers expressed a desire to bring their families to France, and some of the young men were anxious to have their fiancees with them. In this connection there are certain legal technicalities which the Paris branch of the Hias-Ica Emig-direct is endeavoring to straighten out.
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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.
