Hebrew University May Be Open to Undergrad-uates, Judge Mack Says

“The Hebrew University at Jerusalem, situated on Mt, Scopus, and open to all without regard to race, religion, sex or social station, is dedicated completely to the pursuit after truth. It concerns it-self with freeing human reason and the results which come from it are bound to be of benefit to Jews wherever they are and to all manking,” declared Julian W. Mack, United States Circuit Judge, and Vice-Chairman of the American Advisory Committee of the Hebrew University in a radio address delivered last night on the United Synagogue program.

Judge Mack, in telling of the work of the Hebrew University as it is being carried on at present, said, “The following departments are now functioning: the Institute of Jewish Studies; the Institute of Oriental Studies; the Institute of Mathematice; the Institute of Chemistry; the beginings of an Institute of Natural Science and Medical Science; a Department of Public Hygiene and Bacteriology, interested in preventive work, particularly in work against diseases of the country; an Institute of Palestinian Natural History, where plants useful and harmful are studied; and a large University Library. According to the last registrar’s report, there are 211 students regularly enrolled and many auditors.

“The University will, it seems to me,” declared Judge Mack, “be able to do certain things far better than much Iarger universities. Its students are in the land of the origins of the religions that are predominant in the Western and Near Eastern World. The land itself is making history and living it.

“The University, by investigating and endeavoring to solve the problems confronting the country, is rendering important service.

“The University is providing research institutes and laboratories where individual Jewish scholars may find an academic home. There, equipped with all the requisites of modern science, they can add to the intellectual wealth of mankind that it may be transmitted from generation to generation.”

Judge Mack pointed out that while the standards of the University are and will remain very high and the emphasis be placed on research work, the University authorities fully aware of the needs especially of Jewish students, Palestinian and European, are studying the problem of extending the scope of the work to the teaching field. A special committee, he said, has been set up by the Board of Governors to investigate and make recommendations on this problem.

“The American Advisory Committee has accepted a budget of $138,000 to the Hebrew University for this year. The two greatest ways to help the University develop and expand are through endowments and pledged annual gifts, especially through membership in the “Friends of the Hebrew University” an organization of the contributors of $100. and upward annually. Only in this way can the University be placed upon a permanent basis.” He pointed out that a number of American Jews had already created endowments or gift funds, the largest of which were those of Mrs. Sol Rosenbloom, $500,000, Mr. and Mrs. Felix Warburg, jointly $500,000, the late Sol Rosenbloom, about $300,000, Mr. and Mrs. Israel Unterberg jointly, Mr. Samuel Untermeyer, Mr. Frederick Brown, Mrs. Jacob Wertheim, and Mr. Louis Bamberger, $100,000 each, Mr. Henry Dix and Mrs. Felix Fuld, $50,000 each. The American Jewish Physicians Committee has gathered over $300,000 and will collect much more for the Medical Department.

“After the first of May, the office of the American Advisory Committee of the Hebrew University, will be in the Federation Building. 71 West 47th Street,” said Judge Mack.