Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-09
PLAN GREAT UNIVERSITY
WITH JERUSALEM SEAT
Russian Millionaire and Jewish
Professor Take Steps for
Jewish Culture.
'oreign Correspondence Of The Star.

y
LONDON. October 3. 1911.
A scheme for the establishment Of a
university at Jerusalem has been put
forward by Israel Abrahams of Cam
bridge, and Mr.. Rabinerson. the well
known Kieff millionaire The idea of the
establishment of such an Institution first
came to the mind of Mr.. Abrahams, who
thus puts forward the reason why such
an institution should be established in
Jerusalem:
Jewish learning today is in state of
disorganizatiOn. There are many men
engaged in the work, IL is true, but there
is no definite goal, and there is no CO.
ordination. On the other hand. there is
a complete dearth Of colleges for Jewish
knowledge. What we have are simply
professional seminaries, IN which rabbs
and teachers are trained. In England, at
any rate. there is no single Jewish insti-
wishes to study Jewish history or Jewish
literature Systematically on modern lines
can find admission.
University Only Solution.
II see the only solution in the estab-
lishment of a Jewish university Our
great scholars are scattered: a great
university would bring them together
A university would admit it's students
who enter out of love of study as well
as those who wish to receive a training
for a profession. A university would
therefore be Of twofold advantage 1t
would be a gathering center for our
scholars. and 1t would provide an open
door to Jewish culture for all those who
wish to enter.
If a Jewish university is at all de-
for it than Jerusalem. The law shall
go forth from Zion'-this ideal cannot be
realized in any other part of the world.
What Jew would not be proud to spend
a few terms at the University of Jeru-
salem? He may. as hitherto, 60 to Cam
bridge. Berlin or Vienna. But il it were
possible for him to attend a POSTCARD
uate course In Jerusalem, would he not
gladly seize the opportunity? can con.
ceive of Jewish philantnropist founding
hundreds Of Jerusalem scholarships SIM
liar to those founded by Cecil Rhodes for
Oxford. In my minds eye 1 see hosts OF
Jewish pilgrims vending their way
thither. There will be once more q crowd
of happy men ascending to the city amid
the Judean hills ardent to share i'm the
joys of the festival
If, however Mr.. Abrahams can claim
the honor of being the first Jew to con-
ceive of such an object, the honor OF hav-
ing taken the first step toward the reali-
zat1on of such project belongs to Mr..
Rabinerson of Kieff This famous mil
lionaire is not only a philanthropist who
distributes education. as it were to the
Jewish masses in the Diaspora. He has
already spent vast sums Of money in the
encouragement of literature, and par
ticularly of higher academic studies.
Jewish culture has always been the spe-
cial object of his attention, and to re-
vive this he has assisted in the erection
of schools and libraries.
The scheme under consideration to es-
tablish a university in Jerusalem is par
ticularly the object of his munificence.
Already an International committee has
been formed. composed of Jewish profess
sors and university teachers, among
which may be mentioned Profs. Gottheil.
Berliner, Bacher. Israel Levi and Israel
sohn Mr.. Claude Montefore, Mr.. Israel
Abrahams and Dr. Poznanski. The work
&C .tie committee will be to elect scholars
and supervise their research. Each
scholar will receive a splendid student
ship, which will enable him to carry out
archaeological or literary Investigation.
most preferably in Jerusalem itself.