The publication of a Yiddish Encyclopaedia to be named in honour of Professor Dunnov has been decided on (as briefly reported by cable in the J.T.A. Bulletin of the 16th. inst.), as the form of the tribute to be paid to Professor Dubnov in commemoration of his recent 70th. birthday, the decision being adopted at a big gathering of Jewish cultural workers associated with the Dubnov Fund and the Yiddish Scientific Institute.
Professor Dubnov himself was present, and in expressing gratification at the honour paid him, said that on the whole he did not hold with tributes and celebrations, but he was proud to know that the Yiddish Encyclopaedia was to be linked up with his name. He gave a historical survey of the efforts which had led to the publication of Jewish Encyclopaedias in Hebrew, English, Russian and German, and the various attempts that had been made up to the present to publish an Encyclopaedia in Yiddish. The war and the breakup of Russian Jewry in the post-war period had held up the publication of a Yiddish Encyclopaedia, he said, but now the time had come to start work, and they could proceed without fear to realise their ambition.
Dr. Leo Bramson was in the chair, and among those present were Dr. N. Gergel, Dr. E. Tscherikower, Dr. Mark Wischnitzer, Professor Boris Brutzkus, Mr. Jacob Lestchinski, Dr. M. Weinreich.
Dr. Gergel, who delivered the report on the scheme, said they more sure that there was no need for anxiety about the financial position. The Yiddish press and the Yiddish book that were being published had millions of readers. The Yiddish schools were training Yiddish readers and cultural workers and they had an organised Yiddish centre now.
The Dubnov Encyclopaedia, which the Dubnov Fund was going to publish in association with the Yiddish Scientific Institute would be devoted both to general and Jewish knowledge. It would be in Yiddish, and there would be ten volumes, with about 25 million letters, the Jewish matter constituting about a third of the whole. They intended to publish 5,000 copies, two volumes each year, completing the issue within five years.
A joint stock company was being formed to raise the required capital of 50,000 dollars, and 1,000 founders’ shares would be issued at 50 dollars. Half of these would remain in the hands of the Yiddish Scientific Institute to ensure its control in the shaping of the work. As soon as the Central Administration of the Yiddish Scientific Institute finally approved the scheme, representatives would be sent out to dispose of shares in Europe and America. The shares would be available to both institutions and individuals. A campaign to secure subscribers for the Encyclopaedia will be started only after the initial amount required for the work (about 15,000 dollars) will have been secured. The funds raised for the Encyclopaedia must not be utilised for any other purpose until all the volumes will have been issued. After the securing of not less than a fifth of the foundation capital (10,000 dollars), a general meeting of shareholders will be convened to elect the Board of the Company, which in turn will select the editorial and financial organs of the enterprise. Pending the first meeting of shareholders, the work will be carried on by the Committee of the Dubnov Fund in connection with the Yiddish Scientific Institute.
The organisational and financial centre will be situated in Berlin.
Dr. M. Weinreich, Dr. Tcherikower and Dr. L. Bramson delivered the closing addresses.
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