The sum of $800,000 for the purpose of erecting a model Orthodox Jewish theological college, to be known as “Yeshiva College” was pledged at a Chanukah celebration dinner given Sunday night at the Hotel Astor by the Yeshiva College Building Fund.
Nathan Lamport, president of the Yeshiva Fund, created an unequalled atmosphere to the fund of $100,000 and was thereupon matched with an equal amount by Harry Fischel. chairman of the Building Committee, Meyer Vesell and Samuel Levy followed with their subscriptions of $50,000, Jacob and Nathan Levy with $25,000, Joseph Polstein with $25,000, Louis Gold with $25,000, and Mr. and Mrs. P. H. Meyrowitz, $25,000.
Two hundred prominent Orthodox Jews of New York and a number of Rabbis gathered at the banquet which was given in celebration of the first Chanukah night and the handing over of the deed to the lot on Amsterdam Avenue by the Site Committee. Judge Otto A. Rosalsky, who acted as toastmaster in an eloquent address stirred his audience to a spirit of giving hitherto unrecorded in the history of Orthodox Jews in America.
He pointed out that the restrictive immigration Jaws of the United States had dealt a severe blow to Orthodox Judaism because the gates of America are now closed to the Jews from the great institutions of higher Jewish learning in Europe, who, in the past, had been the chief strength of Orthodox Judaism in this country. As a result, the fate of traditional Judaism hangs in the balance.
The only hope of revitalizing Orthodox Judaism in America, Judge Rosalsky emphasized, is in building a great institution of learning such as the Yeshiva of America proposes, which will make New York one of the world’s outstanding centers of Jewish learning and at the same time prevent Orthodox Judaism from disintegrating.
Orthodox Judaism must be taken out of the ghettos, Judge Rosalsky declared, where it is now hidden and confined. It must stand conspicuously before American Jews as a challenge and an invitation. This will be accomplished through the building of a great educational institution, grounded in the ancient faith of Israel and at the same time thoroughly American and in complete sympathy and understanding with the spirit of the day.
The sum of $5,000,000 will be required for the institution and will be raised over a period of five years, according to a statement by Samuel Levy, noted lawyer and chairman of the Campaign Committee. It is expected that the first million dollars will be raised by February 1, 1925, when building operations will commence.
Nathan Lamport, Samuel C. Lamport, Rabbi Dr. B. Revell and Harris L. Selig addressed the audience. Cantor Jasinowski kindled the Chanukah lights. Moving pictures were taken to memorialize the event.
The campaign officers are: Rabbi M. S. Margolies, chairman; Judge Otto A. Rosalsky, Mendel Gottesman, Nathan Lamport, Joseph Polstein and G. S. Roth, vice chairman; Samuel Levy, chairman of the executive committee; Joseph Durst, treasurer, and Harris L. Selig, director.
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