Yiddish Chair at the Hebrew University May Be Established Within a Year

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

The Yiddish chair at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, for which David Shapiro, publisher of the New York Yiddish daily “The Day” has undertaken to provide a fund of $100,000 and to which opposition was raised in Hebraist circles, may be set up and begin to function within a year, it was learned following the return here from London of Dr. Judah L. Magnes, Chancellor of the Hebrew University.

The proposal to accept the publisher’s offer for the establishment of the Yiddish chair was accepted a year ago by Dr. Magnes during his visit to New York. Hebraist opponents of the plan argued that the creation of a chair for the instruction of the Yiddish language and literature at the Hebrew University at this time, before other departments are fully etablished and equipped, would be premature.

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency learns that these objections have been overcome by the decision of the University authorities to proceed with the establishment of the Yiddish chair slowly, preceeding it by solving the problems of the chairs for Philosophy, History, Bible and Semitic Philology. Under this plan the Yiddish chair may begin to function within a year.

The Hebrew University is now in search in the United States and Europe of a suitable candidate as an incumbent of the chair. A meeting of the Board of the Institute of Jewish Studies, of which the Yiddish chair will be a part, will be held at the end of August. If a suitable candidate is found and the recommendation is accepted by the Board, the professor of Yiddish might be invited to come to Jerusalem in about a year.