A report to the effect that Dr. Albert Einstein has informed the Board of Governors of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem that he is resigning from the Board is published by “The Day” of Friday, January 28.
The Palestine correspondent of the newspaper states that the news of Dr. Einstein’s resignation has been a matter of common discussion in Palestine, where it has auricle wide attention. The resignation is said to be due to Dr. Einstein’s difference of opinion will. Dr. Judah L Magnes and was caused, it was stated, by a dispute over the question of how the Bible is to be presented in the Institute of Jewish Studies.
The immediate cause for Dr. Einstein’s resignation is said to be that Dr. Z. H. Chajes, chief rabbi of Vienna, who was considered the most probable candidate for the chair of the Bible in the lasuaute of Jewish Studies, was nor appointed to this post because of pressure exercised on the University authorities by Orthodox elements. The authorities consider Professor Chajes too liberal in his article views of the Bible. The question of the instruction of the Bible in the Institute has been a source of difficulty to the University authorities and those circles in Jewry at large who are interested in the University.
The instruction of the Bible in the traditional manner would not be in keeping with the purposes of a scientific institution, it is declared, while the scientific interpretation of the Bible based on modern methods of Bible criticizer, caused the strong opposition of the Orthodox elements. Until now this matter has been disposed of by the Hebrew University authorities by admitting the Bthle course iron the Unifier sit curriculum.
Dr. Einstein is said to be in favor of adopting the critical method in the instruction of the Bithe Several weeks ago, the correspondent reports, Dr. Einstein sent in his resignation from the University board, declaring that he will not withdraw his resignation unless Dr. Magnes resigns and the University changes its policy.
Attempts at bringing about a reconciliation made by several Palestinian leaders, including Chaim Machman Bialik. Hebrew poet, have been of no avail. Processor Einstein insists on his resignation from the Board.
SPIRITUAL SITUATION OF JEW IN AMERICA CONSIDERED AT CONFERENCE OF MENORAH
The Menorah Conference on “The Spiritual Situation of the Jew in America,” was opened Saturday night at Steinway Hall, New York City. The conference is being held under the auspices of the Intercollegiate Menorah Association.
Lewis Mumford, author of “The Golden Day.” presented a paper on “The American Scene.” Dr. Irwin Edman, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Columbia University discussed “The Thoughtful Jew’s Problem.” The subject of Dr. Mordecai M. Kaplan’s address was “Toward a Reconstruction of Judaism.”
The Present State of Jewish Self-Knowleldge, was the subject of the second session on Sunday held at the Hotel Commodore. Among theose who addressed this session were: Professor Harry A. Wolfson of Harvard University, Professor Edward Sapir of the University of Chicago, Professor Max L. Margolis of Dropsie College, Philadelphia, Dr. Paul Radian of the Institute of Psychology and Anthropology of Yale University, Professor I. L. Kandel of Teadchers College, Columbia University, Professor Julian Obermann of the Jewish Institute of Religion, Professor Nathan Isaacs of Harvard University, Professor Selling Perlman of the University of Wisconsin. Adolph S. Oko of the Hebrew Union College Library, Professor J. Salwyn Schapiro of the College of the City of New York, Morimer J. Adler of Columbia University. Dr. I. M. Rubinow of Philadelphia, Samuel A. Goldsmiht of the Bureau of Jewish Research of New York, Rabbi Lois Finkelstein, Dr. Benjamin Ginzburg. Louis Lozowich and Dr. Abram L. Sachar of the University of Illinois.
Papers presented by Rabbi Samuel Schuhnan of Temple Beth-El. New York, and Professor Israel S. Wechsler of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Columbia University opened the Sunday afternoon discussion on the “Rabbis and the Intellectuals.”
The discussion was led by Rabbi James G. Healer of Cincinnati and participated in by Professor Louis L. Silverman of Dartmouth Collegle, Rabbi Louis A. Mischkind of Wilminigton, Processor Isador Lubin of the Brookings Institute of Economics. Washington. D. C., Rabbi Joseph L. Fink of Buffalo, lrgving Fireman of the University of Illinois, Rabbi Noses Hyamson, Jacob de Daas, Rabbi Maurice H. Harris, Dr. Benjamin Harrow of Conlumbia. Rabbi Moses Jung. Maurice Samuel, Rabbi Israel Goldstein, Johan J. Smertenko and Henry M. Rosenthal.
The Conference will conclude its sessions at a banquet at the Hotel Commodore tonight.
Among the address will be “The Living Spirit of Spinoza: After a Quarter-Millenium,” by S. Baruch, American Officer of the Societies Spinozana; “The Significance of the Hebrew University for the Spiritual Life of the Jew in America,” by Dr. Chaim Weizmann; “The Jew in American Civilization,” by Carl Van Dorenl; “The Man of Letters in Judaism,” by Philip Guedalla; “Jewish Culture: A Common Ground for All Israel,” by Rabbi Jonah B. Wise.
“The Conference serves as a clearing house of ideas, ideas that spring from a genuine and passionate desire to see a finer and more creative Judais, prevail in America,” Henry Hurwitz, Chancellor of the Menorah Association and editor of “The Menorah Journal,” stated.
“Concretely, in this Conference, we hope to evolve ideas and plans, that will help to a reconstruction of Judaism in America. We hope to develop a program for recapturing and disseminating the historical, religious and philosophic wisdom of the Jewish race for the enrichment of our modern life,” he declared.
The results of the recent prize play contest of the B’nai B’rith Hillel Foundation at Ohio State University, Columbus, were announced. The winners were: “The Big Idea” by Goeffrey H. Levy and “Herring” by Harry I. Losip. Both authors are undergraduates of the university.
The new building of the Home of the Duaghters of Israel was opened yesterday at City, and about two hundred aged men and women were moved from their present quarters to the new building. It has a capacity of about 400.
The building was erected at a cost of $1,000,000.
Jacob Siege is president of the Home.
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.
