Jewish Students’ House at University of Pennsylvania May Close for Lack of Funds

The Jewish Students’ House maintained on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania here by the Philadelphia branch of the United Synagogue of America is in danger of closing, it became known here today after the season’s first meeting of the United Synagogue’s council. A report submitted by Herman Rosenberger, chairman of the students’ house committee, showed that a mortgage amounting to $17,000 has been called in with no funds available to meet it.

At the same meeting, Dr. Julius H. Greenstone, a founder of the Jewish Students’ House, stressed the importance of opening a similar house in the neighborhood of Temple University where the student body is thirty percent Jewish. Rabbi Simon Greenberg, chairman of the Philadelphia branch of the United Synagogue, reported that extensive alterations and improvements had been made in the Jewish Students’ House during the Summer. He also pointed out that in the last year the Jewish Students’ House had been a real rallying place for Jewish students, hundreds of kosher meals being served daily, daily religious services being held, and classes in various Jewish subjects being well-attended.

Following a general discussion it was unanimously decided to ask Mrs. Cyrus Adler, one of the most ardent supporters of the Jewish Students’ House, upon her return from abroad next Monday, to accept the chairmanship of a special committee to utilize the coming High Holidays to raise the necessary sums and also to make provision for Jewish cultural and religious needs of the Jewish students at Temple University.