The Indianapolis journal., 1897-04-11
RABBI KRAUsKOPF's FARM.
A New Agricultural settlement for
Jewish Immi rants.
New York Sun.

New York Sun.
The National Farm School for Jews is
the direction of Rabbi Krauskopf its foun-
der. The farm school is situated near
Doylestown, Pa The greater part of the
necessary funds for the project have been
raised within year by the rabbi. Some
time ago he announced that he had re-
ceived from all parts of the country sub
ScriptionS to the amount of $40, 900, and this
sum has been largely increased during the
past few months A tract OF land compris-
Ing 122 acres was bought for $4,000 and was
wholly paid for soon after its purchase
Upon IL were farmhouses. which will prove
serviceable; but IL was seen that in addi-
tion TO them. a new edifice equipped with
mechanical appliances and scientific appa-
ratuS. would be required. and the means
Tor building IL were drawn from the funds
subscribed. An annual income of $1,000 will
be required for the maintenance of the farm
school.
Rabbi Krauskopf holds that the Jewish
immigrants to this country ought TO pursue
farming rather than trading. lit is his de-
sign that the graduates of the new institu-
tion shall be trained as to be able to
take charge OF Jewish agricultural colonies
all over the country and to fit the new
comers for productive labor. He thinks that
the reason why so many Jewish farming
projects have failed i'm past time is that
their managers were ignorant OF the meth
DDS of American farming; he believes that
they might have been successful mad they
been in charge of scientifically trained and
thoroughly experienced superintendents
like those who will hereafter be supplied
colleges give mainly theoretical instruction
10 students who are left without knowi-
edge or the practical work that must be
performed on farm. The young men at
Doylestown will both labor and study Dur
ing the recent hard times many Jews have
manifested strong desire 10 take UP farm
ing lands and cultivate them. so that they
might be relieved from pecuniary anxiety.
Several Jewish organizations have ex-
pressed willingness to heiD those Russian
Jews who live in the Slums of cities to re-
move into the country. where they NAV
settle as tillers of The soil. 1t is believed
that many of these Russian immigrants are
better fitted for farming than for such 9TH
er pursuits as they have been compelled 10
engage in.
Why" asks Rabbi Krauskopf. "shall
not the jew return TO the calling which his
ancestors followed for ages with pride and
profit in the land OF Palestine? Why not
seek To make farmers OF petty traders and
peddlerS? Why shall not an effort he begun
10 turn the current OF immigration from the
cities TO the country You know how heaV-
fly we are taxed annually for the support
of the unemployed or the inSufficiently en-
ploycd Russian Jewish immigrants You
know how many of them exc out a pre-
carious existence in the sweat shops. con-
tracing the diseases that send them TO our
hospitals and make orphans of their chill
dren- You also know how their peddling and
huckStering bring diScredit upon the name
ana standing of the Jew. The object sought
for I'm the founding OF the farm school is a
noble one. / know OF none grander among
all the enterprises that now engage atten-
zion
Ing his farm Is as energetic as has been
his labors in its behalf. After time il will
be interesting to ascertain the result of his
efforts. IL is easier TO account for the fail
IRE OF other peoples projects than 10 make
a success of ones own project. The readers
OF the sun aware that there is already
a Jewish agricultural settlement at Wood
bine. n. j.. the fund for the maintenance of
which was Furnished by the late Baron
HirSch. II comprises an area exceeding five
thousand acres and an agricultural school
is part of its outfit But IL is TO be noted
that a large proportion OF the people OF the
place prefer factory work 10 farm labor
and that the storekeepers are pleased with
rhe mercantile business in which they are
engaged. Nevertheless. the experiment at
Woodbine is one of great interest for the
rfI'ssian Jews who have nnmigrated here.
~ Palestine itself there are now twenty
four villages OF Jewish agriculturists es-
tablished and upheld by people who have
gore there from Russia. Poland Roumania
and other countries. With a single excep-
tion these settlements have become self
supporting. though largely inhabited by
men who formerly were peddlers They
have adopted modern methods I'm agricuI-
turr and Industry IL is idea of the Es-
ropssn organization known as Zionist ts''
that Palestine will yet have many hundreds
or these agricultural colonies and that.
throuTh them the Holy Land will again
Blossom az the rose.