Form Association for Jewish Education and Culture at New York Conference

An Association for Jewish Culture and Education was created at a national conference on Jewish education and culture called at the initiative of the Zionist Organization of America, held last Sunday at the Astor Hotel.

Over 300 delegates from various parts of the country attended. Louis Lipsky, chairman of the Zionist Organization of America, presided.

The Association, which will have for its purpose the “cultivation and dissemination of the Hebrew language and literature, the stimulation of a better knowledge of Palestine, and the strengthening and development of the Jewish youth organizations” will be governed by an executive committee consisting of 21 members and a national council consisting of 100 members. In both bodies the Zionist Organization of America is to have one-third of the number of representatives. Membership in the Association will include individuals who will pay the annual dues of $10 and up and groups or societies paying dues of from $50 up.

Professor Nathan Isaacs of Harvard University was elected president of the Association. The vice-presidents elected are Abraham Goldberg, Rabbi Jacob Kohn and Bernard Semel; Jacob Goell was elected treasurer and Dr. Isaac Bergson, secretary.

The committee on finance, of which Joseph Barondess was the chairman, submitted an estimate which was accepted by the conference, of the expenditures of the new Association during the forthcoming year. This sum, including the expenses of the several organizations doing cultural and educational work, now affiliated with the Zionist Organization of America, such as the Young Judaea, the Histadruth Ivrith, and several publications in Hebrew and English, would amount to $290,000.

QUESTION OF THE TARBUTH SCHOOLS AROUSES DISCUSSION

Much discussion was aroused by a resolution proposed to the conference by the resolutions committee that the conference protest against alleged discrimination by European agencies and the Joint Distribution Committee against the Hebrew Tarbuth schools in Poland and Lithuania. The resolution was finally amended to read that “a committee be appointed by the chairman of the conference to confer with the Joint Distribution Committee concerning the allotment of funds for the Tarbuth and Hebrew schools in Eastern Europe.”

The conference also accepted a resolution protesting “against the restriction placed on the teaching of Hebrew by the Soviet government.” The resolution called “upon all interested in the freedom of learning to join in this protest.”

A proposal that the conference decide to take steps to create in the United Sttaes a sort of “Jewish academy” or a “conference of Jewish academicians” similar to that of the Williamstown conferences, was much debated, Dr. Israel J. Wechsler, professor of nuerology at Columbia University, and Dr. S. M. Melamed urging its adoption, while Dr. Jacob Kohn of the United Synagogue of America and Mr. Ephraim Kaplan of the United Synagogue of America, the opposition. It was finally decided to refer the matter to the incoming executive committee.

Chaim Nachman Bialik, Dr. Schmarya Levin and Louis Lipsky outlined the tasks of the Jewish educational work.

Among the organizations represented by the delegates at the conference were the United Synagogue of America, the Rabbinical Assembly of the Jewish Theological Seminary, the Hebrew Federation, the Jewish Education Association of New York, the Bureau of Jewish Education, New York, the Hadassah, the Order Sons of Zion, Young Judaea, the Avukah, College Student Zionist Organization, Hebrew Teachers Association and the Hebrew Principals Association.

In addition there were present representatives of Zionist districts from many cities, including New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Baltimore, Washington, Chicago, Rochester, Buffalo, Springfield, Mass., Butler, Pa. and Reading, Pa.

CHARACTER OF PROPOSED WORK OUTLINED IN PROGRAM

The character of the work which the new organization intends to carry on was outlined in a program adopted for the Association by the conference. The program was proposed by Dr. S. Margoshes on behalf of the program committee. The program reads:

“We, American Jews, interested in the promotion of Jewish education and Hebrew culture in America, assembled in conference called for this purpose by the Zionist Organization of America, do adopt the following program as a basis for the establishment of a permanent organization. It shall be the aim of the proposed organization to foster in American Jewish life an appreciation of Jewish cultural values; to create a better understanding of Jewish cultural values; to create a better understanding of Jewish traditions and aspirations; to promote an active interest in the upbuilding of Palestine; to spread a knowledge of the Hebrew language and literature; to develop a positive attitude towards all creative effort, for the renaissance of the Jewish culture and ideals.

“In pursuance of the above aim, the following activities should be engaged in amongst children, youth and adults.

“1. The cultivation and the dissemination of Hebrew language and literature: (a) Cooperation with existing educational organizations in order that there may be incorporated in the curriculum of all Jewish schools the study of the Hebrew language and literature. (It is understood that in cooperating with existing educational agencies, there shall not be any interfeernce with the religious or other agencies of Jewish schools or with their administration and finance.) (b) Courses and lectures in Hebrew, Jewish history and Jewish literature for adults; (c) Dissemination of Hebrew literature, through libraries and other literary agencies.

“2. Stimulation of a better knowledge of Palestine, its activities and its role in Jewish history: (a) Preparation of text books and other material, on Palestinian geography, history, activities, etc.; (b) To stimulate the introduction of courses of study on Palestine in schools and other educational agencies; (c) Lectures and forums on Zionism and Palestine for adults.

“3. Strengthening and development of the Jewish youth organizations and activities, devoted to the Jewish culture and ideals: (a) Promotion of the study of Hebrew, Jewish history, and current Jewish problems in cooperation with the existing agencies of similar aims; (b) The organization of literary, dramatic, choral, Hebrew speaking and athletic societies, etc.

“4. Cooperation with present Zionist educational agencies, such as Young Judaea, Avukah, Histradruth Ivrith, Junior Hadassah, etc.

TO PROMOTE JEWISH LITERATURE AND FINE ARTS

“5. The promotion of Jewish literature and fine arts: (a) To establish a publishing agency for the production of Hebrew periodical and book literature, as well as of books and of periodicals of Jewish interest in Yiddish and English; (b) Publication of juvenile periodical literature of Jewish interest; (c) Encouragement of Jewish music and fine arts.

“6. Educational propaganda: (a) In cooperation with existing agencies, to conduct a systematic propaganda designed to arouse an effective interest among the Jews of America in the problems of Jewish education and culture.”

Mr. Max Rhoade of Washington, representing the minority of the program committee, suggested the following amendment to the preamble, which was rejected:

“We, American Jews, assembled in conference called by the Zionist Organization of America, feeling that Zionism as the expression of the Jewish national spirit is inseparable from Jewish education and culture, and that there is great need of infusing with the Zionist spirit and strengthening and expanding basic Jewish educational and cultural activity in America, particularly with reference to the modern Jewish renaissance in Palestine, do hereby adopt the following program as the basis for the establishment of a permanent organization.”

NOTICE

The “Jewish Daily Bulletin” will not appear on Shevuoth, May 19 and 20, in accordance with its policy not to publish on Jewish holidays.