The Denver Jewish news., 1919-12-10
Letter of New York
Activities
TWO CONVENTIONS: JEWISH
FARMERS IN AMERICA--IEWish
FARMERS AND THE FUTURE
UNION OF ORTHODOX JEWISH
CONGREGATIONS. - TRAGIC
DEATH OF A JEWISH EDITOR.
Especial Correspondence from Inter
national Jewish Press Bureau, Inc

Especial Correspondence from Inter
national Jewish Press Bureau, lnc.)
Two Jewish conventions were heid
simultaneously in New York during
The past week: the Eleventh Annual
Convention of the Federation of jew
ish Farmers, and the Ninth Annual
Convention of the Union of ORTHODOX
Jewish Congregations of America.
A general air of depression seemed
TO be the keynote of the Farmers Con-
vention. and this pessimistic ATTITUDE
was to be seen in the faces of all of
the delegates during the two days
thru which the Convention lasted:
The few score of delegates who were
present felt that they did not have
the people" back of them, on whose
strength they could rely to carry thru
the resolutions which they would
adopt That the Jewish farmers do
not understand or appreciate the pow
tr that lies in unity was evident-the
farmers who have enjoyed IA prosperous
Year have entirely severed their con-
nections with the Federation. and take
no interest in It. Those who remain
are the poor farmers, who need the
advisory or the practical aid or the
Federation. And it is just this that
the Federation is unable to do, simply
because it has not the means, which
only the wealthy Jewish farmers are
able to supply.
This fact occasioned heated debate
and acrimony at the Convention itsei1.
Last year. the Federation broke off
connections with the Jewish Agricul-
tural Aid society (Which is supported
with Baron de Hirsch funds) in the
hope that the Jewish farmers would
be capable of carrying the Federation
on their own shoulders without the
help and the incident dictatorship OF
the wealthy god-fathers. Their hope
however, was not realized.
The farmers did not support the
. Federation, and not all or them even
maid their dues. Instead of coming
with plans and help for the Federation,
they brought complaints and criticisms
because the Federation had broken
off with the Agricultural Aid society.
An attempt to bring about renewal
of the understanding between the two
organizations has for the present ut
least met with no success. The con-
yention closed with no better outlook
than it had opened.
During the convention, however. two
things became apparent, which nave
an important Significance: first, that
the Jewish farmers have had profit
able year. and that they have received
their full share of the general pros
perty WHICH prevailed in the coun-
irv; but what is more important still
agriculture does not appeal to the
v,unrer Jewish generation. and every
farmer has before him, the serious
oroblem: what is to be done with his
farm when he himselr is no longer
,,hle to conduct it? The children OIL
the Jewish farmers do not show any
inclination to remain on the farms
,nev are drawn toward the large cities.
Unwillingly, We are brought face to
soce with the question: Are we real
" Il people of merchants and retailers
and is it fact that We cannot ADAPT
ourselves to tilling the soil?' Or is
This merely passing phase, and VIII
the children who nre so strongly
Ao,,,,,,, .sthn nit hncOmp more
sensible and return to the farms? rms
;s A burning question. which deserves
nuch more serious consideration, ana
If should be taken up by the Fedora
lion in conjunction with the Jewish
Agricultural Aid society.
The Union of Orthodox Jewish Con-
cregation called its convention with
,he object of considering what must
he done in order to strengthen ,orth-
dox Jewry in America.
Over 200 delegates from 90 differ
cnt organizations attended the conven-
lion. which was given tone by the
New York Rabbis and prominent Jews.
The most important subject of de-
liberation was how to so organize orth-
dox Jewry in America that 1t would
present united and powerful front
instead of being series of separate
members. each Kehillan distinct land
by itself.
The problem of Jewish education
was discussed, as was also a means OF
securing representation for the orth-
odox Jews in the relief work of the
ioint Distribution committee in Eu'
rope.