piEnerRorrimisit til RON 161/3

and THE LEGAL CHRONICLE

SUNRISE IN MICHIGAN

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

We are in position here to build
an ideal life. I firmly believe
that we shall."
Another idealist pointed to the
lack of crime—there was only
one instance of petty thievery in
the entire history of the colony,
and that case was settled out of
court and the member eliminated
from the colony.
Furthermore—it Is pointed out
that in a year and a half of strug-
gle for an ideal existence there
was only one instance ofpunish-
ment for disobedience. In this
case, the punishment meted out
was that the guilty person was
barred for a period of one month
from meetings of the colony.

Inner Conflicts
The difficulties that exist in the
colony cannot be minimized, and
it is not necessary to go too deep-
ly into the psychological and • so-
cial reactions to find traces of
discontent. Since the colony was
founded, 17 families returned to
their original homes. Others
would gladly leave, but the ma-
jority refuses to establish the
precedent of permitting a section
of the settlement to declare its
intentions of breaking away by
having the investment returned.
To enforce discipline, therefore,
the group is carrying on on a two-
factional basis. The minority
must stick it through with the
majority. And the majority must
continue to "enjoy scratching

sw;

The two large pictures show a
quartet
of Sunrise
colonists hard at work in the fields, and some of the cottages where they live.
The smaller pictures at the left show,
from top
t o bottom:
a group of colonists' children on the steps of the community house;
truckload of adult workers ready to quit work after • productive day in the fields; Sapola and Aaron Goldstein giving the mess-house
a fresh coat of point. These
pictures
are
used
through
the
courtesy of the Detroit News and the cuts through the courtesy of the
B'nai B'rith Magazine.

CONCLUDED FROM EDITORIAL PAGE

nual report pleaded for a co-
operative and ideal spirit in the
colony, and we read: "We can.
not afford to continue much long-
er in, the way we were going
along till now, since many people
take advantage of the situation
and let others do all the work. We
hate to sermonize to each other
all the time and it surely is a dis-
grace that our labor manager
should have to beg people to go
to work. There is an axiom
among honest people which reads:
He who does not work should
not eat,' which is perfectly appli-
cable in our case. We do not
want to exploit anyone and have
not the slightest intention of be-
ing exploited by others. Let every-
one when he comes to the table
to eat ask himself: Have I earned
the meal that I am going to eat?
A true answer will serve him as
a guide in all his actions."
• • •
• Great Experiment on Trial
It is clear that, while there is
something wrong in the colony,
the intentions are of the best.
A great experiment is having a
serious trial. The fate of the

itsE
elvildences of discontent are to
be found in the first yearly report
of the officers of the colony:
"We have sustained consider-
able losses in members, actual
and prospective, in income and—
the main thing—in spirit. But
when we look at it all now we
say with a clear conscience that
it was not altogether our fault,
and that all those things were,
most likely, unavoidable. . . .
Our hands are clean. Our sole
motive for all our actions has
been, and always will be, the
WELFARE OF THE WHOLE
COMMUNITY. . , . Our attention
was, • under the circumstances,
riveted to the material needs only.
The intellectual, artistic and spir-
itual needs of the community
were badly neglected.. . The is-
sue is full of pessimistic, intro- •
spective, egocentric complaints,
mostly unjustified. We did not
alter a sentence, or sugar-coat a
single pill, no matter how bitter
it was and from what unclean
sources it came. . . . So, let the
past bury its own dead! Let us
all make an effort to forgive and
forget. Let us turn a new leaf
with determination to build and
improve, to keep on developing,
beautifying and enriching our
lives, for the benefit of all con-
cerned and the glory of the great
ideal that will redeem suffering
humanity. Freedom, equality and
justice shall forever be our guide
in life."
But the past has evidently not
buried "its own dead" and the
discontented element continues to
grumble. The Dec. 15 issue of
Sunrise News contains several in-
dications of a continued state of
unhappiness. In this issue, pub-
lished five months after the an-

chess clubs, a dramatic club, a cam- cooking is the cause for consider-
club, and there is a constant able grumbling. The average members, and he had a simple
community kitchen, a steam laun- era
clamming for the formation of Jewish housewife, accustomed to answer: "We enjoy scratching
dry similarly conducted on a col- Yiddish
ourselves."
classes. Arrangements are
lective plan, a bakery, and it is being made to have a Jewish teach- preparing her own meal for her
I asked Mr. Cohen: "From your
family and serving it in the any,
planned to establish a poultry plant er
spend several days of the week own
erience with the Sunse
ri Cl-
o
privacy of her home, is dissatis-
to care for the community's needs. in the colo y
do to
you sink
find his that
th e Jew i s
for the purpose of in- fled. It is natural that she should willing
individuality
The Colony's Income
• he cold n classes
in
Yiddish.
Fifteen tractors and trucks serve
grumble about it and indicate all- in en effort in which his future
Colony's Guiding Genius
the needs of the Jewish farmers,
too-frequent displeasure over the progress is intimately bound up
The guiding genius of the Sun-
whose main crops are peppermint
of food served and the man- with the progress or failure of an
rise
Community
is Joseph J. Cohen, type
nor in which it is prepared.
and sugar beets, For both these
entire group?"
products they have managed to find former editor of the Freie Arbeiter
Again, "Comrade' Cohen offers
Shtimme,
Yiddish
Anarchist
week-
Mr. Cohen was frank,
an excellent market. In the latter
an explanation. "It is hard to but Again
optimistic. "The spirit is
part of November, when the colon- ly of New York. Mr. Cohen, to- satisfy people from
18 states in
•
ists were pressed for funds in gether with Eli Greenblatt of De- the American Union and from a willing, but our members find it
meeting their obligations, they sold troit, a shrewd organizer who has dozen Europe
an countries. Each difficult to become adjusted," he
their peppermint oil, manufactured had a share in numerous farming has come t to us with different declared. But he insisted that the
in their own peppermint distillery. enterprises in the East, principally habits and a different menu. The plan is sound, that the colony is
Although the peppermint o in Connecticut, was the first to food problem may certainly be an at present in a secure financial
brought only $2.55 a pound, a su In group together the colonists from
•
or ISM IS 0C- state, that there is no social prob-
Philadelphia, New York
considerably less than was expecte( i ,,' Detroit,
lem, and that although the work
approximately $17,000 was realize and a dozen other communities in tion. But we are concerned with is hard, the stout of heart—who
l The
co ony.
e group's bigger things, and we are con& the majority of the group-
enabling the group to meet immed " forming s this
dent that
and difficulties.
into obligations and to pay the; r " initial investment was $33,000, land
we shall overcome these will emerge victorious in an ef-
the balance due on the farm '
current debts.
fort to build a new life for them-
• • •
Is $125,000. It is considered an un-
selves and their children.
It is interesting to note in thi 5 usual bargain, and the granting of
The Women in the Colony
connection that vegetables ar 0 loans to the colonists by the United
"Are the luxuries
of the city
Mr. Cohen is not content withseriously
mi"
i se
grown for farm use only, and tha t States Government in the past few disposing
this problem in this I "We are ssed?
there are enough eggs and mil k months is considered an indication manner. of
comfortable,"
was his
He points to the ad-
od f
sea use .
reply to this question. But he
hat the methods employed by the
children get butter and milk daily. S unrise management is meeting vantages--the women have no admitted that there is a social
housework, no kitchen work, un- void, that the members miss the
The colonists maintain that there with official approval
less they are selected for cook -
•
is sufficient milk for themselves , bu t
Itheater, and that they will be
.
i
o
en
s
emphatic
in
ing
and serving jobs. They share . compelled to provide their own
his
butter is served to the adults only d
every other day—as a means of a eclaration that the colony is not the duties of the men,
Y I entertainment.
conserving the limited dairy supply. z co-operative but a collective en- have a great ideal to perpetuate. , Perhaps one of the sa
ddest ele-
Each couple is required So that this serious problem be- mea
A small income is derived from t erprise.
ts
the entire scheme i s re-
o pay $500 upon joining, there comes
merely another incident in
the renting out of small parcels of
e of p t I vested in Mr. Cohen's answer to
mg
an
additional
charge
of
the
experienc
land to sharecroppers in sugar
$100 for each child or member community experiment in so far : : my question as to the manner in
beets and corn. An additional in- of
the colonists s
the family. At the end of the as the former Anarchist editor is . which
.
come was derived last year from year,
le i su re time. "We haven't t any,"
their
every colonist receives an I concerned. • • •
an agreement made with a company equal sh
1 he said. "We're too busy work-
are
of
the
income
for
his'
which drilled for oil on the grounds.
ing."
Division of Labor
Besides oil, it is believed that the personal needs. "The members ,
1 But one of the yoer mem-
natural deposits of the fare; in- live like one big family," Mr.! There is a division of labor in hers of the community was more
clude coal and salt. In fact, one Cohen explained, "sharing work, I the colony. Able mechanics are I realistic about the situation. She
of the colony's chief difficulties is leisure, sorrow and pleasure in I assigned to important mechanical i had lived in the colony from the
the water problem—the drinking a like measure. The community ' tasks. A former hardware man i day it was first organized. She
provides all the needs of the will be given the job of repairing painted a drab picture of the
water being salty.
members and expects each one, in
Among the other possessions of return, to give his wholehearted a chimney or aiding in a building, farm as it was first settled—an
the Sunrise Colony—indicating the co-operation in carrying on the repair job. The colony, in fact,' uncomfortable place, with dilapi-
in in search of good mechanics . slated buildings and outhouses.
additional activities of the Jew- work."
who desire to become members she pointed to the improvements, :
ish farmers—are approximately
Housing Accommodations
of the community. But the vast the sanitary toilets, the running I
2,000 sheep, about a hundred
horses, mostly Belgian draft hor-
In this spirit, the largest single number works on the farms. And hot and cold water, the showers :
ses, 250 heads of cattle consisting group in the colony lives under when the work is heaviest in the ! an d st eam heat, to the comfort
of Holstein cows and young calves. one roof—in the two-story, 32- fields, all hands are called to join ,' provided in the shanties which
ro om frame building which is in the tilling, plowing and irri- l have been remodeled with brick
The School System
gating
The school system and the dor- k ," own as The Hotel. Smaller ti on of the soil, or in the collet-; foundations and new floorings.
the products of the far-I But elle deplored the social side
mitory plan for the youngster is ,,"
" uses accommodate the rest of mess' labors.
the particular pride of the radi- , '" e collectivists—four or five
jof life. She was apparently u
"
Last summer the farmers were' happy and it was evident that she
cal Jewish farmers. The primary I m
, embers to a house, each couple
ing
assigned
a
room,
the
only
faced
by
the
sad
problem
of
an
found
it difficult to smile.
and high school classes are located ; "e,
• • •
in a building next to the dormi-1 8,a ditional housing space being excessive spread of weeds. All
hands were called out to pluck
tory. When a child reaches the i t" e common sitting room.
Reason for Difficultie s
age of three or four, he is removed
The writer asked Mr. Cohen the poisonous growth. Some failed Mr. Cohen ascribes the existing
from the family and placed in the wh ether the lack of privacy does to conceal their despondency as' difficulties to the fact that a thor-
children's community house. The' no t contribute to possible dia. they labored at this task under a oughly city-bred folk finds it hard
children spend their Sundays with co ntent. He admitted the possi- broiling sun. But the job had to to become easily adapted to a
their parents.
• bil ity. He also admitted that the be done—and a collective group new form of life. It involves a
The teachers are graduates of col lective form of eating is a firmly stuck to the job until the complete change of life, the trans-
was removed. I fee of a commercial element to
( New York University, Cornell Uni- , can , Sr for dissatisfaction. But enemy of the soil
• • •
• the hard life on the soil.
I versity, Hunter College and Uni- ' thi a admission, too, was a mere
Choice
of
Officers
Nevertheless, Mr. Cohen mini-
versity of Chicago. The boast of ask nowledgement of a slight flaw
A democratically elected execu. mixes the danger of what may be
the colonists is that the younger , in a great experiment: in so far
the child the more he or she as the majority of the group is five committee, farm manage- regarded as • hastily conceived
loves farm life. In a sense it is a concerned, Spokesman Cohen de- ment, industrialization and com- mass colonization project in the
tacit admission of a certain amount dared, they are searching for a munity service committees, in- plan of the Sunrise group. Ile
the officers, rule the col. i Points to several
of discontent on the part of the' solution, are seeking to provide eluding
, ny.
important
more privacy for members, and At the present time, Mor. I achievements in proof of the fees-
grown-ups..
There is a hospital and first-aid t he aim k in the future to make rim Krupnick of Chicago is preel. ibility of the project. The county
building, and the colony has its own i t possible for each member hi p dent of the community. Joe; of which Alicia is a part has bene-
and • I Swire of Albany, N. Y., is the ! fited because, for the first time in
physician—Dr. Peter G. Shifrin—, c ouple to have eat
, vice-president. Joe Dybnick of ' six years, taxes are being paid
• who spends half his time in Sagi- b athroom.
!Cleveland is treasurer. Joseph on time, Sunrise Community hay-
saw, where he conducts an office.;
• • .
!J.
Cohen, in spite of being blamed tug remitted $6,000. Further-
Dr. Boris Zela, also of Saginaw, ;
The Collectivist Practice s
;for what some of the members more, the merchants are anxious
is the colony's dentist.
Students
of
collectivist
coloni-
'
call
"dictatorial methods," and in to do business with the Jewish
I Besides the regular school sys- z
j tern classes for the colonists are ation will find much material for spite of being held directly re- group and many are deriving
tudy
in
the
Sunrise
Cooperative
sponsible
for ultra radical col- great benefits from the newly-
in in practical electricity, h '
conducted
arm Community, one of th e
methods in vogue in the. created purchasing power.
I n English and in agricultural sub- rime issues being the kitchen and lectivist
colony,
won re-election in Decem- ' Other colonists who belong to
' jests. The electrical subjects are I d I '
' taught by Robert Aronson, a young A ining room problem. Three times her, 103 votes being cast in his the majority group of idealists
engineer, graduate of the Univer- l „,, day' members of the community . favor, 49 ballots being cast are not only determined that the
ctou ca p nn i,l otse f c a u il, , ebu atnd instiba
City of Detroit, who is in charge of j "'
za eet in the dining room for against him and 13 blank ballots , t ph re oje u
st ttha
an t
the colony's power plant and heat. I ,,_ eels. At breakfast, food is accounting for the other votes.
•
•
reed
in
cafeteria
style.
There
:
I
in system. Aronson is a young! i ',7
ideal community is in the offing.
Enjoys Criticisms
American boy who has become so i „,1 table service at the lunch and
I Harry Weinstock is one of the
attached to the colony that he is I '' nner meals. Tablecloths are Joseph J. Cohen, as the spokes. group who painted a glorious pis-
sed only for the evening meal. • man for the Sunrise majority ture. "If only men would forget
today one of the group's moot sr- I rh
dent and most enthusiastic boosters. i ,, e simple food is prepared by a group, makes no apologies. Ile petty ideas and differences," he
There are also checkers and se lected membership kitchen crew, rather likes to make admissions argued. "Selfishness is at the
from products grown mainly on of mistakes and appears to enjoy root of evil. We aim to eradi-
the farm. The aspiration of the criticism. I asked him why h e cote greed, to eliminate the faults
Give the Zioailt Organieaties colony is to rise to a point of pro-, devotes so much space, as editor which condemned us to
a life of
a v voice at Ilse sent World Zionist ducing at least 90 per cent of its i of the colony's mimeographed competitive strur
ele in the city.
Cease:ea. Vote fee Ticket No. I necessities on its own soiL
I "Sunrise News," to adverse nit!.
at the election this Sunday.
But the collective eating and' cis;n of the colony by dissatis.ied T-mol•
-this Monday.
Q toSS. boom Sims Tonna.° Co.

. . . in my opinion

they are milder

and they certainly

have a pleasing

taste and aroma

I

most important Jewish co-opera-
tive farming enterprise in this
country hangs in the balance, ap-
parently because neither major-
ity nor minority will make com-
promises; and because it is so
difficult for a city-bred people to
become accustomed to the trials
and hardships of farm life.
Furthermore, there is a lack of
social life for the obvious reason
that there is no relationship with
the neighboring communities, The
Jewish farmers in Alicia, Mich.,
have nothing in common with
their non-Jewish neighbors who
look suspiciously upon them be-
cause they are Jews. And they
have nothing in common with
their Jewish neighbors in sur-
rounding cities because they have
divorced themselves from Jewish
traditions and Jewish life. The
reaction of the young in the col-
ony is the influence that comes
from strife and not from an ef-
fort to build an ideal Jewish life
—and it is difficult to visualize
the building of a Jewish coopera-
tive without in some form honor-
ing the common heritage of the
group.

The results of this experiment
may have a very lasting effect on
future farm cooperative efforts.
If only the Sunrise Colony would
share its problem with experts—
and why not the Jewish experts
from the Jewish Agricultural So-
ciety, as well as government ex-
perts—perhaps they could be
helped to success in the building
of that ideal life for which they
aspire and in which they must
arouse the admiration of all who
are watching the experiment!
American Jewry will gain from
the success of the Sunrise Com-
munity. If it fails, it will add a
very sad chapter to our back-to-
the-soil movement.

• • •

Since this article was written,
several families belonging to the
opposition element in the Sunrise
Colony (including one of its or-
ganizers, Eli Greenblatt of De-
troit) have left the group, and the
consensus of opinion is that peace
now prevails. Time will tell wheth-
er the elimination of criticism and
the group that criticizes will help
build up this very important com-
munity farming enterprise,

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