Dr. Magnes Opens Fifth Hebrew University Year, Says Poverty Does Not Harm Science, Arts

Avoiding any reference to the political situation in Palestine as has been his annual custom, Dr. Judah L. Magnes, chancellor of the Hebrew University, devoted most of his convocation address at the opening of the University’s fifth academic year today to dwelling on the University’s financial stringency due to the non-payment of debts owing to the institution.

Although deploring the financial status of the University, Dr. Magnes declared that financial retrenchment was a helpful process because “poverty does not harm science and the arts.” The Chancellor added that perhaps the standard

of living was too high for so small and poor a country as Palestine.

DEPLORES STUDENT POLITICAL ACTIVITIES

Professor Fraenckel, head of the University’s department of mathematics, referred to the tragic times through which the country is passing and deprecated student participation in political affairs. He pointed out in connection with the present political situation that Jewry’s connection ante-dated the Balfour Decclaration and optimistically quoted the legend of God telling Moses, when the Jews stood terror-stricken on the banks of the Red Sea on their way out of Egypt, to order the children of Israel to go forward.

At the end of the academic year which was inaugurated today students will be graduated for the first time and degrees will be granted in the faculty of humanities which was organized in 1929. According to the University’s year book, released simultaneously with the opening of the new semester, the chief work accomplished during the past year was the establishment of a University Press Association.

Plans for the University Press Association in the coming year include the publication of “The Third Wall,” by Dr. E. L. Sukenik and Dr. L. H. Mayer, embodying the results of excavations carried out by the University and the Jewish Palestine Exploration Society, in Hebrew and in an English translation. Other works to be published include “Toseth-Concordant” by Rabbi J. H. Kassovsky and the “Ancient Synagogue of Beth-Alpha” by Dr. E. L. Sukenik. The publication of these works is rendered possible by funds from the Dropsie College in Philadelphia, Congregation Emanu-El in New York, the Jewish Academy of New York and a grant from the Hebrew University budget.

EXPEDITION AT SAMARIA

Archaeological works planned by the University in the coming, year, according to the year book, will be an expedition in cooperation with Harvard University at Samaria. The report of the University’s work for the year indicates that the Malaria Research Station at Rosh Pinah continued its work almost uninterruptedly during the entire period of the disturbances. “This fact testified to the confidence of the native population in the station, and particularly to the personnel in charge,” Dr. Magnes pointed out.