Grants totaling almost $16000 have been made by the Federation of Jewish Agencies Commission on Campus Affairs to three separate Greater Philadelphia Jewish student activities. Saul J. Freedman, Commission chairman who made the announcement today, said grants involved the Jewish free University, the Makom cultural center and coffee-house and a Jewish Studies program at Bryn Mawr College. The Jewish Free University received $7,250 from Federation to expand its programs started last year. Makom will receive $5,000 to support its program and will relate to Federation’s Jewish Ys and Centers for program consultation. guidance and for office clerical services. Bryn Mawr College will receive $3500 as “seed” money for – accelerating a program of courses in Jewish Thought and Hebrew to be taught by Dr. Samuel T. Lachs. Students at Haverford and Swarthmore colleges also will be attending these courses. The Jewish Free University was formed to help reawaken Jewish identity in today’s college generation. The program proved extremely successful and wound up with a registration of 230 students in 18 courses. The monies will be used to expand the participation of students at Temple University and at nearby suburban colleges.
Makom, established by Jewish students and other young adults as a Jewish cultural center and coffee-house in center city, conducts regular activities that include experimental and creative services, folk and Israeli music, and other Jewish cultural programs. The program taught by Dr. Lachs offers courses in Jewish studies with Hebrew as the indispensable tool. The Jewish Agencies Commission, which established objectives to help create, develop and support activities sponsored by Jewish student and faculty to strengthen Jewish life, commitment, identity and survival, includes students, faculty, FJA members, Hillel representatives and members from the Jewish community at large. The Federation has allocated $50,000 to the Commission from which grants are to be made during the next year for innovative Jewish student and faculty programs on campuses.
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