From Hebrew University Society; Meeting Marks 3d Anniversary of Opening

The American Advisory Committee of the Hebrew University in Palestine held a meeting last evening at the Plaza Hotel where Leopold Pilichowski and James N. Rosenberg were the speakers.

Dr. S. Benderly, member of the American Advisory Committee of the University, introduced the speakers. “A seat of learning in Jerusalem deserves the support of lovers of truth of all faiths, for the three great religions to which Palestine has given birth are today an integral part of the spiritual life of all modern nations,” declared Dr. Benderly.

The University as a cultural center was emphasized by Mr. Rosenberg, who in a plea for support of this institution, said: “We Jews are the people of the Book. If we have any basis for claiming that, as a group in the world, we have contributed to the world’s ethics, art, religion, and to the enrichment of the life of the spirit, it is as people of the Book. And the Book springs from Palestine.

“Here in this University, which is no longer a mere dream but an existing institution with real students, real professors and a real curriculum, whose doors are open to all peoples irrespective of faith, we, the people of the Book, can and surely will open and write many glorions books.

“A Society has been formed, called ‘The Friends of the University.’ Members are joining. The conditions of membership are that members shall pledge at least $100 a year for at least five years. An annual endowment fund of $500,000 must be provided. I hope that my words spoken to this gathering may be able to reach the Jews, not only of this country, ## of many lands,” Mr. Resenberg declared.

Mr. Pilichowski whose canvas of the Opening of the Hebrew University was ex## at the meeting mid the story of the opening of the University, the third anniversary of which is being celebrated this week.

The meeting was arranged by the American Advisory Committee of the Hebrew University, of which Felix M. Warburg is Chairman. The patrons were; Mr. and Mrs. Felix M. Warburg, Hom, and Mrs. Irving Leiman Hon. and Mrs. Juliam W. Mack, Prof, and Mrs. Richard Gochel Mr. and Mrs. Roger W. Strans.

James Marshall Jesterday made public Jemens from New York Supreme G########### the opening of the Hebrew University.”I do not know whether the plan of a Jewish homeland in Palestine is destined to succeed or fail,” declared Justice Cardoza. “It has its sponsors and its critics. The fate that awaits it may be more than they expect or less. Whatever the fate shall be, the University will be lifted above those temporal mutations. If the home is maintained, an institute of learning will be more than useful; it will then be indispensable. If the home is disolved, the institute will not be wasted; it will be, like institutes of learning anywhere, a boon to all mankind.

“What a mockery of the Jewish past it would be to found a dwelling place for Jewish life without providing at the same time a dwelling place for the spirit which has identified that life and made it luminous and significant for all these centuries of time-“

Dr. Cyrus Adler stated in his letter: “Ever since the eleventh century, when Bologna. inaugurated the university movement, whatever secular or professional learning Jews acquired was gotten in these foundations — Paris, Oxford, Cambridge and their successors. As you know, most of these early foundations came out of the church. For nearly a century and a half, hundreds of thousands of Jews have profited by the universities of the world. In what way can this debt be more fittingly repaid than by the Jews giving one University back to the world and where could this University more appropriately be located than at Jerusalem?

“I hope that the Jewish people will take this view and accord to the University a steady and increasing support and that you and your colleagues will feel that you are engaged in a noble and enduring task.”