(J. T. A. Mail Service)
“The Hebrew University in Jerusalem has made much more rapid progress than was expected,” declared Dr. Joseph Klausner, well known Hebrew scholar and philosopher. “The Institute of Jewish Studies shows the greatest development. Three professors and seven instructors are teaching in that department. Professor Perles also lectured there. Next year Prof. Jacob Mann of the Hebrew Union College and Professor Harry Wolfsohn of Harvard University will be the visiting lecturers.
“There is no permanent chair for Bible, history and philosophy. The reason for the first is that the question of Bible criticism, which has been repeatedly brought up, has not yet been settled. It is difficult to find Professors for the other two chairs who would be acceptable to all members of the council which supervises the appointment of professors and the working out of the curriculum.
“While the Institute is not yet complete, whatever is being taught there is given very thoroughly and is on such a plane that any university might be envious. My department for the study of the history of literature has more than 120 students. More could be taught but the requirements for entrance to this department are very strict. The students must not only be graduates of a gymnasium but also have a thorough knowledge of Hebrew and a sufficient knowledge of Talmud. Among the students, besides the Palestinians, there are many from Poland, Lithuania, the United States and Hungary. There are a number of post graduate students.
“In the Institute of Jewish Studies, which is under the directorship of Professor Joseph Horowitz of Frankfort a Main, who lectures as guest professor from time to time, only Arabic and no other Semitic languages are being taught. The Arabic is naturally a most important subject for Palestine. Three professors who are authorities in this field are teaching in this institute. Two great works have been completed in the institute, a work on Arab poetry and the publication of a great Arab historical work, the first on Arab Mohammedan history to be edited by Jews.
“In the Institute of Chemistry, which is under the guidance of Professor Foder, there are ten assistants of whom four are teaching. Among them is a brother of Dr. Chaim Weizmann and, a novelty for the Orient, a woman teacher. Frau Riwlin. The Microbiological Institute is headed by S. Adler, formerly of Liverpool and a prominent authority who, with two assistants pays particular attention to the checking of epidemics among animals in Palestine. Professor Kluegler heads the Institute of Hygiene. This department pays particular attention to the sanitation of the country and also gives special lectures for physicians. Out of this institute the medical faculty of the University will be gradually developed. The Institute of Mathematics has so far only one teacher, Dr. Amira, a pupil of the Famous Goettingen professor, Herr Landau. Dr. Amira was reared in Palestine. He is a graduate of the Hebrew gymnasium Herzlia. Professor Landau will take over the directorship of this Institute next year.
“The Institute of Agriculture is headed by Professor Otto Warburg. This department arranges lectures for the agricultural colonies in various parts of the country. It has a herborium of 50,000 plants, the largest collection in the world of Palestinian plants. The agricultural experimental station is connected with this institute.
“The Library of the University has also developed splendidly and it is a symptom of progress that the collection which has been augmented only by donation is now being added to by systematic purchases. The erection of a building to house the library, bearing the name of David Wolfsohn, the successor of Theodore Herzl in the Zionist Organization, progresses slowly because the building corporation, Solel Boneh, which undertook the construction and for which the sum of $180,000 was allotted, is now facing difficulties. The building for the Institute of Physics to bear the name of Einstein, for which Philip Wattenburg donated $500,000, and the building for the Institute of Oriental and Jewish Studies, for which Mrs. Sol. Rosenbloom contributed $500,000 will soon be started.
The University has covered its budget which amounted last year to $185,000, raised without difficulty.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
