A donation of $1, 000, 000 to the newly established Tabuth Foundation (Foundation for Hebrew Culture) by Abraham Goodman and his brother Jacob Goodman of Brooklyn, veteran Zionists and prominent industrialists, was announced today by Dr, Emanuel Neumann, original sponsor of the Foundation.
The announcement was made at a luncheon at the Delmonico Hotel to mark the establishment of the Foundation, which was attended by a large group of prominent Zionist and civic leaders. Israel Ambassador to the United States Avraham Harman was among the guests who addressed the gathering.
Making public the establishment of the Tarbuth Foundation, recently incorporated under the laws of the State of New York, and the contribution of the first million dollars by Abraham Goodman and Jacob Goodman, Dr. Neumann, who presided, outlined some of the salient features of the program of the newly established Foundation.
He disclosed that in accordance with the wishes of the donors $750, 000 will be earmarked and applied for the specific purpose of making it possible to establish in this city an accredited degree-granting college of Hebrew studies as a national institution on a non-denominational basis. The balance, amounting to $250, 000 will be available for other purposes within the scope and program of the Foundation.
OTHER PURPOSES OF THE FOUNDATION AS SET FORTH BY DR, NEUMANN INCLUDE:
1. To alleviate the shortage of qualified teachers prepared to make Hebrew teaching their career by providing grants and scholarships for students desirous of becoming qualified teachers, and providing in-service training for Hebrew teachers to deepen their knowledge and enhance their competence.
2. The development of a program for promoting Hebrew education among children, adolescents and adults by cooperating with existing summer camps and institutes and helping to establish new ones in which a Hebrew atmosphere will prevail and Ulpanim will be conducted.
3. The Foundation will publish or encourage the publication of books and periodicals, more especially for children and youth, but also for adults possessing some knowledge of Hebrew.
4. The Foundation will cooperate with other agencies in a sustained effort to bring about a new and better climate of opinion through a campaign of education among parents and community leaders in favor of Hebrew studies generally, and more particularly in favor of assigning a more prominent place to the Hebrew language and literature in the curriculum of all Jewish schools.
HERZLIAH INSTITUTE MAY BECOME DEGREE-GRANTING COLLEGE FOR HEBREW
In connection with the earmarking of $750, 000 for the establishment in this city of an accredited degree-granting College for Hebrew Studies, Dr, Neumann pointed out that “there is in this city, the well known institution, the Herzliah Hebrew Teachers Institute, with a proud record of 40 years of notable achievement to its credit, ” He further said that “there is reason to hope that Herzliah will meet all necessary requirements and conditions, including those deemed essential by the donors, and develop into a duly accredited college under the laws of the State of New York.”
Dr. Neumann also announced that the Tarbuth Foundation will be governed by a board of directors in formation, composed of men of high standing dedicated to this cause. He revealed that in addition to Messrs. Goodman and himself, the board will include the following: Professor Abraham Halkin, New York; Professor Mordecai M, Kaplan, New York; Philip Lown, Boston; Louis E. Levinthal, Philadelphia; David Morgenstern, New York; Simon H. Rifkind, New York; William Salzman, New York and Ralph Wechsler, Newark, N. J. Abba Eban, former Israel Ambassador to the United States and now Minister of Education of the State of Israel, is honorary chairman of the Foundation.
Abraham Goodman, now treasurer of the Jewish Agency, Inc., has been active in the Zionist movement and in the furtherance of Hebrew education since boyhood. Last year he was honored at an annual testimonial dinner of the ZOA in New York commemorating the 13th anniversary of the United Nations decision to establish the State of Israel. For many years he served as treasurer and national vice-president of the ZOA and plays a leading role in the efforts for the United Jewish Appeal and Israel bonds and in the promotion of private investments in Israel, His brother, Jacob Goodman, saw service as a member of the Jewish Legion in Palestine during World War I. Now associate treasure of the ZOA, Jacob Goodman plays a leading and vital part in behalf of Israel and in the service of the Jewish people.
Addressing the gathering also in behalf of his brother Jacob, he declared that their action was “prompted by our Zionist ideals and our understanding of the broader and deeper meaning of Zionism.” He voiced the belief that the “deepening of our cultural life can be obtained by proper effort and careful guidance. We are living in a land where group culture is not only tolerated but even encouraged. This, as far as I am concerned, spells out the best assurance that we can attain here spiritual fulfillment.”
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
