Tuesday, June 12 and Wednesday, June 20 – Middlesex County The American Jewish Experience Lecture Series, presented by the Jewish Historical Society of Central Jersey, continues for its 21st consecutive year with a presentation by Ms. Jean Klerman, entitled, "Back To the Land: The Story of the Jewish Farmers of Greater Monmouth." For over 50 years, from the 1920's to the 1970's, Jewish farmers made major contributions to New Jersey's agricultural industry. Their importance rested not only on the number of Jewish families working poultry farms, (over 3,000 in 1958) but also for their pioneering efforts in creating new patterns of doing business, from improving equipment and methodology, to developing credit unions and cooperatives.
The lecture will be held on Tuesday, June 12th, at 10:00 a.m. at Jewish Family Services, 52 Concordia Shopping Center, Monroe Township. Jean Klerman, a retiree of the Monmouth County Library System, is one of the founders of the Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County and co-author of "Peddler to Suburbanite: The Story of the Jews of Monmouth County". She is a past President and Director of the Museum and currently serves as co-chair of the Museum's History Committee. She played a leading role in creating the JHMOMC's popular Jewish Farming Exhibit of 2013-14.
The lecture will be repeated on Wednesday, June 20th, at 10:30 a.m. at the Highland Park Conservative Temple, 201 South 3rd Avenue, Highland Park. Both lectures are open to the public. A donation of $2.00 is requested at the door. For more information call the JHSCJ office at 732-249-4894 or email at INFO.JHSCJ@gmail.com.
The Jewish Historical Society of Central Jersey promotes and preserves all facets of the American Jewish experience, with emphasis on the Jewish community of central New Jersey. The Society’s extensive archival holdings are available to researchers. The collections include documents from religious, social, educational, and community organizations, as well as individual family records.