Jewish Theological Seminary of America Will Soon Seek $5,000,000 Endowment Fund

The Jewish Theological Seminary of America will shortly launch a $5,000,000 endowment fund campaign, declared Sol. M. Stroock, newly elected chairman of the Seminary’s Board of Directors, in an address at the annual meeting of the Seminary’s Philadelphia branch. Mr. Stroock also stressed the need for trained Jewish leadership in the United States.

He also reviewed the history of the Seminary, pointing to the fact that the Jews were in America for 250 years before any thought was given to the establishment of a Seminary for training rabbis. Mr. Stroock told of the now historic letter written by the late Louis Marshall to Julius Rosenwald which led to the latter’s contribution of $500,000 to the Marshall Memorial Fund which would form the nucleus of the five million dollars which the Seminary must have in order to carry on its work without having to resort to constant appeals for funds. Mr. Stroock said that the dedication of the new buildings would take place in the Fall.

Supplementing Mr. Stroock’s remarks, Dr. Cyrus Adler, president of the Seminary, pointed to the fact that the Jews throughout the world are in as unhappy a position as ever in the history of man. This, he said. placed heavy obligations on Jews in this country, not only in the matter of financial relief but also in the field of learning. While he was hopeful that conditions would change for the better it was his opinion that unless the Jews of America carry on until then there is little hope for Judaism and Jewish scholarship.

Dr. Jacob Solis Cohen, president of the Philadelphia branch, presented the annual report and the following officers were elected: Jacob Solis Cohen, Jr., president; Rabbi Samuel Freedman and Dr. Aaron Brav, vice-presidents; Henry Oraude, secretary; Joseph Caplan, treasurer; Dr. Cyrus Adler, Max Behrend, Abraham Burd, Joseph Caplan, Nathaniel Goldman, Rabbi Max Klein, Dr. A. A. Newman, Heinrich Rosenbaum and David Weber, directors.