Italian Government Establishes Chair for Semitic Philology at Florence University

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

A chair for Semitic philology will be established at the University of Florence, according to the decision of the Italian Minister of Education.

Professor Eurlani was appointed to the chair of Semitic philology at the university.

URGES CANADA JEWS TO ASSERT DIGNITY IN SCHOOL QUESTION

The recent decision of the Supreme Court of Canada granting the Jews the right to their own school system, on the same basis as the Catholic and Protestant systems, is discussed editorially by the “Canadian Jewish Chronicle” of Feb. 5.

Hitherto, owing to the absence of Jewish schools and because of the legal question involved, Jewish children have been registered as Protestants and sent to Protestant schools. Now, in the face of the decision of the Supreme Court, the “Chronicle” points out, “it is high time that the Jewish community met the situation in a more intelligent and serious manner than it has displayed hitherto.”

The paper continues:

“Our so-called leaders must cease toying with the anystical conceit that we can be Jews for one purpose, and Protestants for another. They will not get any nearer to a definite solution by merely complaining that our educational system is antiquated or inequitable, and that Canada ought to have a national non-sectarian school system. They are not approaching any closer to a solution when they call for a revision of the British North America Act… that document is the outcome of a solemn pact guaranteeing certain inalienable rights to the contracting parties forming the very basis on which they agreed to enter into Confederation. No Imperial Government dare change them for the benefit of a third group such as the Jewish community of Montreal.

“At the present juncture every Jew with a spark of national and racial pride in him should insist that we cease to place our children under the uncontrolled guidance of the Protestants to be taken care of by them under any conditions, however humiliating, that they may see fit to impose.

“It is the duty then of all Jews to unite in demanding from our Government the establishment of a third non-sectarian panel, or a specifically demoninational Jewish school system.”

Comment on the decision of the Canada Supreme Court relative to the Jewish school question is made by the Lowell (Mass.) “Courier Citizen,” which observes in part:

“While the whole question of providing for three religions seems to us, with so widely different a system, rather complicated, it is possible that the provincial legislature had found a satisfactory answer to the problem. If so, it is to be hoped the Imperial act will be amended so as to allow a solution that is locally satisfactory.”

THE RENEWED “DRIVE” AGAINST ALIENS

What is the reason for the sudden renewal of the campaign against aliens? asks Jacob Fishman in his daily column in the “Jewish Morning Journal” of Feb. 18, referring to the proposal that a large sum of money be voted by the government for the deportation of aliens who entered the country illegally.

Mr. Fishman particularly criticizes Commissioner Curran for his attitude in the matter.

“Mr. Curran does not seem to realize,” declares the writer, “that by endorsing this movement he casts reflection upon his own administration and the administrations of immigration commissioners in other port cities. Why do these officials permit the ‘illegal’ entrance of immigrants? Why spend millions of dollars now in a man hunt? Why not install more efficient officials?

“There is no reason for the ‘drive’ against aliens except hatred and cruelty to them.”