Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-22

students in an institution at which q
Bacher, Schecter. Friedman. Buck
Ter, a Harkaway. a Hoffman. Israel
Levi. a Barth-to name but few OF those
who first occur to ones mind-were 81
simultaneously at work giving of their best
to large classes of students gathered from
every corner of the Jewish world. This.
then. would be the first advantage. We
should have a real concentration OF
power: we should possess a magnet
whose irresistible influence would draw to
itself from all parts those eager for learn
ing. Our intellectual line of battle Is now
weak because it is diffused over too large
a field. The line is too thin for the shock
of the fight.
Then comes another consideration.
Jerusalem is an ideal place for a Jewish
university. Whatever may be the Sultan
of Turkeys political character, he is by
tradition a friend of education. Moham-
mechanism has always encouraged learn
ing. Thus. under a Mohammedan regime.
a Jewish university would enjoy every
encouragement. or. at all events. would
suffer no disbursement. And though
the Jew is not I'm any real sense All
oriental still in religion he is Semitic. and
il would probably be found that Jewish
learning thrives best in . Semitic environ
ment.'
x.
Prof. G. Margoliouth writes as follows
concerning the plan: II am. of course. in
full sympathy with the proposal to found
a jewish university in Jerusalem, and I
may say that in my not infrequent re-
Elections about Jerusalem and Palestine
generally, the idea of such a university
has occurred to me Sc veral times. The diff
ficulties, both financial and quasi-politi-
cal. would probably he found to be very
great but il seems to me that IL thor
oughly well-organizad attempt were made
foi- of n
wanting. | think that in the event or
university being established In Jerusa-
lem. students from Jewish seminaries In
all parts Of the world might. with advan-
tage to themselves and their respective
communities. be sent to spend a year or
so of their training in the holy city. It
is also very probable that Gentle mem
bers of our European universities would
occa sionally be glad to avail themselves
of the same privilege.
Following is the statement of Sir Fran
els Montefore: II beg to acknowledge
the receipt of the article concerning the
question of university for Jerusalem.
which you have so kindly sent to me. and
can assure you that / have read it with
the deepest interest. The project is ono
which does. indeed. strongly appeal to
me- for I have ever been of the opinion
that Jerusalem ought to be the center OF
all Jewish culture. both sacred and secu-
lar and / am perfectly convinced that
were such a project brought forward in
practical form it would receive not mere
ly the sympathy but also the support OF
large and representative portion of our
people.
Prof Schecter's cable from New York
is as follows: Il do not think that the
establishment of a Jewish university in
Jerusalem is practicable at the present
moment We must first obtain settled
conditions In Palestine, have in the coun-
try the right sort of population and build
farms and factories. When this has been
done it will be time to talk Of founding
a university"