Women's Palestine Agricultural Association Records
Scope and Content Note
The records of the Women's Palestine Agricultural Association consists of correspondence, financial records, including receipts and ledger books, certificates of appreciation, programs for donors luncheons, photographs of a trip to Kanot taken in 1955, and books with names of life members and guests for various events. Of note are correspondences with Rahel Ben Zvi and Pioneer Women president Chaya Surchin. Materials are organized alphabetically.
Dates
- undated, 1933-1968
Creator
- Women’s Palestine Agricultural Association (Organization)
Language of Materials
The collection is in English.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for researcher use. Please contact us to request access or to make an appointment to view this collection at jhcreference@nehgs.org.
Use Restrictions
There may be some restrictions on the use of this collection. For more information contact jhcreference@nehgs.org.
Historical Note
The Women's Palestine Agricultural Association, or Palagrass, was a Boston area women's organization committed to the development of agriculture and vocational causes for girls in Palestine/Israel. The group began around 1929 following a visit to Boston by Rahel Ben Zvi, which inspired several local women to take up the cause on behalf of the women of Palestine.
The group took on a number of projects to ensure the advancement of the region's agriculture, often working in cooperation with Rahel Ben Zvi and the programs and schools she personally supported, as well as Pioneer Women (now Na'amat USA), The Women's Labor Zionist Organization of America, and Moetzet Hapoalot (Working Women's Council). Their activities included raising funds for the Girls Farm School in Talipot, Jerusalem, the Hannah Chizik House in Tel Aviv, the Agricultural School in Hadera. Their donations helped allow these programs to be built and maintained, and operate independently, thus providing agricultural and vocational opportunities to girls and refugee children. The Palagrass and its sister organizations viewed the development and advancement of agriculture and women's position as key principles for the success of a Jewish state.
References
- Information used in this finding aid is from the following sources:
- Materials from the collection.
- “Proceeds of Palagrass New Year Party for Palestine”. (1929, Dec 05). Jewish Advocate (1909-1990), pp.8. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/885130513?accountid=146466>
- Kark, Ruth. "Rahel Yanait Ben-Zvi." Jewish Women: A Comprehensive Historical Encyclopedia. 1 March 2009. Jewish Women's Archive. (Viewed on November 29, 2012) http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/ben-zvi-rahel-yanait>.
Chronology
- 1955
- $500 given for a farm school in Jerusalem. $3000 given to Pioneer Women, The Women’s Labor Zionist Organization of America.
- 1957
- $2000 given to Pioneer Women for the Hanna Chizik House in Tel Aviv.
- 1958
- $3000 given to the Hanna Chizik House.
- 1959
- $3500 given to the Hanna Chizik House.Certificate given to “Palagrass” in recognition of $3000 worth of State of Israel bonds sold.
- 1964
- Rose Weinstock is elected president of Women’s Palestine Agricultural Association. $10,000 project undertaken to build two rooms at the Agricultural School in Hadera.
- 1966
- $3000 donated for the building of the two rooms in Hadera.
- 1968
- $2132 donated to the Pioneer Women for the Moetzet Hapoalot quota. $318.05 raised for the school in Hadera.
Extent
0.25 linear feet (1 half-manuscript box)
Abstract
The Women's Palestine Agricultural Association, called Palagrass, was an organization founded in Boston in the 1920s. Inspired by the work of Rahel Ben-Zvi, Palagrass was established to aid in the agricultural development of Palestine, and later, Israel. This collection contains correspondence, financial records, programs, photographs and membership information.
Physical Location
Located in in Boston, Mass.
Acquisition Information
Donated by Rose Weinstock, June 1992.
Processing Information
Processed by Kelsey Sawyer, 2013
- Agriculture
- Ben-Zvi, Raḥel Yanait, 1886-1979
- Boston (Mass.)
- Chizik, Hanna, 1889-1951
- Correspondence
- Financial statements
- Hochberg, Bertha F.
- Joress, Bessie
- Ledgers (account books)
- Leff, Clara
- Mo’etset ha-po’alot
- Photographs
- Pioneer Women (Organization : U.S.)
- Programs (documents)
- Speeches (documents)
- Speeches (documents)
- Weinstock, Rose
- Women -- Charitable organizations
- Women -- Zionism
- Women in the labor movement -- United States
- Women’s Palestine Agricultural Association
- Title
- Guide to the Women's Palestine Agricultural Association Records, I-294
- Author
- Processed by Kelsey Sawyer.
- Date
- 2013
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center at American Ancestors Repository