Communist Jewish Chicken Ranchers of Petaluma

Published: June 5, 2012, 7 a.m.

In the early part of the 20th century, Eastern European Jews flocked to the Northern California town of Petaluma to become chicken farmers. It was a unique community that thrived for decades. In this episode of Jewish Thought Leaders, we hear a panel discussion featuring Ken Kahn, author of Comrades and Chicken Ranchers: The Story of a California Jewish Community; Bonnie Burt and Judy Montell, co-director/producers of the documentary A Home on the Range; and three members of the original community – Lily Krulevitch, Sylvia Schwartz and Barry Nitchberg.