Tarbuth Foundation Allocates $100,000 for Four Educational Projects

The launching of the first four educational and cultural projects by the Tarbuth Foundation (Foundation for the Advancement of Hebrew Culture and Education), together with initial allocations totalling more than $100,000 for their implementation, was announced today following the first annual meeting held in its headquarters here.

The Tarbuth Foundation was incorporated earlier in the year under the laws of the State of New York for the promotion of Hebrew education and culture in all its aspects. Its formal establishment was announced with initial gifts by Abraham and Jacob Goodman of New York, including a large allocation for an accredited college for Hebrew studies and teachers’ training in New York.

Dr. Emanuel Neumann, world Zionist leader, who was the original sponsor of the Foundation, was elected as its president, Abba Eban, Israel Minister of Education and former Israel Ambassador to the United States, was elected honorary chairman, and Abraham Goodman, chairman of its Board of Directors. Other officers elected at the annual meeting include David Morgenstern, secretary; and Jacob Goodman, treasurer.

At the same time, the Board of Directors of the Foundation was enlarged by the addition of four prominent Jewish leaders: Dr. Abba Hillel Silver of Cleveland; Benjamin Harris of Chicago; Samuel Daroff of Philadelphia; Professor Shalom Spiegel of New York. The four educational and cultural projects launched in furtherance of the Foundation’s comprehensive program encompass:

1) The publication of a series of modern Hebrew classics designed to meet the needs of students of Hebrew in high schools, colleges and teachers’ seminaries, for which an initial allocation of $50, 000 has been made.

2) To facilitate the introduction of Hebrew language courses in public high-schools and colleges in the United States, in cooperation with the National Hebrew Culture Council, for which an initial amount of $25,000. has been allocated.

3) The initiation of a program of Hebrew instruction in summer camps and institutes, for which a similar allocation of $25,000. has been voted.

4) The providing of in-service training for teachers of Hebrew in communities lacking teachers’ seminaries.

Making public further details of these projects, Dr. Neumann announced that the projected publication of the series of modern Hebrew classics will consist of ten books in the first series, each containing the original Hebrew text, vocalized, with introduction, notes and vocabulary.

The program of Hebrew instruction in summer camps and institutes will include the publication of pedagogic material designed for this purpose.

In the field of Hebrew teachers’ training. Dr. Neumann said that it was planned to develop such a practical program for in-service training in cooperation with the American Association for Jewish Education.”