The honorary degree of Doctor of Hebrew Literature will be conferred upon Chaim Nachman Bialik, Hebrew poet, by Dr. Cyrus Adler, president of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, on behalf of the Seminary, it was learned yesterday.
The following exchange of letters took place between Dr. Adler and Mr. Bialik:
On March 15, 1926, the following communication was addressed to Chaim Nachman Bialik by Dr. Adler: “It is my very pleasant privilege to inform you that upon the unanimous recommendation of the Faculty of the Seminary, approved by the unanimous vote of the Directors, I have been authorized to tender to you the Degree of Doctor of Hebrew Literature, honoris causa. If this proposal be acceptable to you will you be good enough to notify me how long you are expecting to stay in America, so that if you should be intending to depart prior to June 6, which is the regular occasion upon which Degrees are conferred, I will make an arrangement for a special convocation of the Seminary. If the latter be the case, will you please advise me as to the dates of your presence in New York City.
“I am, Sir, with great respect,
“Very sincerely yours,
“Cyrus Adler, President.”
Mr. Bialik accepted in a Hebrew letter, which, translated, reads: “Your proposition in your letter of the 15/III, to tender me in the name of the New York Seminary of which you are the head the honorary degree of Doctor of Hebrew Literature appears to me not merely as a recognition of my work in the field of our literature which is in truth not so very great. I rather see in it a sign of renewal of the covenant between the representatives of Jewish learning in your institution and the builders and upholders of the Hebrew literature in our time wherever they be, and among which there are greater and better men than I compared with whom I have by no means any superior merit.
“Believing that with this pure and high thought in mind you, honored Sir, and your esteemed colleagues decided to present me your precious gift I am ready to accept it gratefully, gladly and respectfully. I shall stay in America till the middle of June.
“O that the covenant come true to strengthen the tie between the Jewish science and the living Jewish literature so that henceforth ‘the tent be one.’
“With wishes of peace and blessing to you and the esteemed teachers of the Seminary,
“Ch. N. Bialik.”
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.
