A nation-wide effort to arouse American Jewish youth to the problems confronting the Jewish people in the United States and elsewhere, and to stimulate it to an understanding and appreciation of the historic movement to rebuild Palestine was launched last night at the celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of Young Judaea, held at the Grand Street Boys’ Club House, 106 West Fifty-fifth street. More than 250 prominent communal leaders were present to observe the Silver Jubilee of this organization.
Among the listed speakers were: Judge Julian W. Mack, honorary chairman of the dinner committee; Dr. David De Sola Pool, Dr. Israel Goldstein, president of the Jewish National Fund; Dr. Louis I. Newman, Mrs. Edward Jacobs, national president of Hadassah; David Levine, national president of Young Judaea; Mrs. A. H. Vixman, executive director; Samuel J. Borowsky, Rabbi Leon S. Lang, and M. Maldwin Fertig, chairman of the dinner committee, who presided.
INSPIRATION TO YOUTH
Asserting that too many young men and women grow up to fall prey to demagoguery, Dr. Israel Goldstein urged American Jewry to support Young Judaea as an organization dedicated to the enlightenment of Jewish youth and to its preparation for intelligent and creative effort in public life. “Young Judaea renders a service to the community because it inspires the youth with a purpose,” Dr. Goldstein said.
Surveying the achievements of Young Judaea, Dr. De Sola Pool, a former president of the organization declared that it was Young Judaea which brought to American Jewry the realization that Jewish education must take precedence over philanthropy.
“Twenty-five years ago Young Judaea was a pioneer in the perception that Jewish education, and not philanthropy was the paramount concern of the Jewish community,” Dr. De Sola Pool said. “Today, twenty-five years later, the community has generally accepted the ideology of Young Judaea.”
The history of the organization, which was founded in 1910 by the late Dr. Israel Friedlander and Dr. Judah L. Magnes, now chancellor of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, was related by M. Maldwin Fertig, who declared that Young Judaea has become one of the most vital factors in Jewish life in America.
Declaring that “without vision a people perisheth,” Mrs. A. H. Vixman urged Jewish communities throughout the United States to support Young Judaea, in order that it may prepare Jewish youth to meet the problems of the future.
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.
