Not true. Jews were excluded from owning land, as were almost all gentiles. But Jews were always welcome to work the land as serfs or peasants, which is what most gentiles did. Jews just didn't want to be serfs or peasants.
Over the course of time, Jews even began to look down on farm and manual labor, a snobbishness that persists to this day. Dennis Prager has spoken about how many Jewish parents would be horrified if their son chose to become a plumber.
It's odd. During the first millennium BC, Jews were mostly agricultural and manual workers. But now most regard it as beneath them.
I know exactly what you mean by snobbery and elitism.
I dated a Jewish girl in college for a while. I came from a family with means but her dad and mom still looked down on me. They were always nice to me but gave off unwelcome clues I was not welcome to marry their daughter. She was given strict orders, marry Jewish or she would be cut off.
She was going through a divorce and mid life crises a few years back and contacted me on FB if I was available, was I happy and asked if I was open to rekindle the relationship.