The Denver Jewish news., 1923-09-06

nt1Onb
members OF the faculty have taken IL
leading part in great literary enter
prises such as the translation of the
Bible and in editing the Jewish Classics
Series.''
Rabbis as Communal Center Heads.
There's another phase of the work
Of the Seminary worth mentioning" DIR.
Adler informed me. Something
touched on when we discussed the
Teachers Institute which as l pointed
out. has an extension course enabling
young men and women to qualify as d.
rectors of social activities in Jewish
institutions. We encourage graduates
of the Seminary TO go into communal
work. believe that it Is quite proper
to include within the scope of religious
work. the headship Of institutions deal
ing with the rising generation. 1 mean
y. NJ. and y. w. Fl. AS and other jew
sh centers. I believe that the idea of
trimming communal workers merely as
such is bound In ttie long run to
solution of the problem of finding ade-
quite leadership. Jewish leadership for
our communal institutions is to place
ut their head Rabbis who have lean
ing toward sociul service. Indeed,
believe that great Jewish service can
he rendered in social and recreational
center like the Y. NJ. II. A. than in
some of our feminized synagogs. A
Young Rabbi who might have his spirit
crushed in an unresponsive pulpit may
become real leader of men and women
great. wholesome force for good in
the community If he is given the lend
ership of an institution where he can
mold the lives Of hundreds, yes. thou
sands of boys and girls md through
them exert also powerful influence on
their parents. At any rate. the head
of Jewish institution ought to be n
devoted Jew. He ought to have the
training that he can get Mt an institu-
ton like the Seminary which includes
courses in communal work in its cur
riculum.''
Curious how Mr.. SclIiff's name looms
up so largely In connection with the
Seminary" l interjected.
DIR. Adler smiled. ''he was real
prince In 1srael." he said. Because he
realized that the Seminary had n tre-
mcndous bearing on the future of Amer
lean Judaism. II was close TO his
heart. He not only gave generously
himself. hut he persuaded others tc
give. His son. Mortimer l.. Schiff. is
following worthiIy in his larnented faith
er's footsteps, especially in hts many
gave the Seminary Its present building.
was generous in developing its library
and gnve Mt various times. $i7J,OOo to
ward the Seminary's endowment fund
70 the S11O,OOO for the Teachers Insti-
tute.
But others have also been generous
not many. it Is true, but they are
entitled to mention.
Leonard Lewisohn gave SJO.OO.
Daniel Guggenheim has given SjO.OOO.
Louis Marshall and Felix NJ. Warburg
have been generous contributors to our
funds. still the number of Jews
throughout the country who are max
ing real contribution toward the sup
port of the Seminary is small. especial
ly when you take into consideration
that without tho Seminary there can
he no real hope for traditional Juda-
ism in this country. ] am hoping that
fore the Jews of America they will rise
to their great responsibility-nOt so
much to the Seminary. but to their
children who without the kind of
Rabbis whom it is preparing for Jew
ish service are in danger of falling
away from their faith and their pco-
pie
The time. it seemed to me. had come
FOR putting the main question to him:
"Dr. Adler. here is what want to
know: The Seminary is said to he in
financial straits. In fact. / have been
Informed that it is having hard time
10 raise enough money to pay the sal
aries of the faculty. Yet. in the face
Of these things. you encouraged the
purchase of the Elkan Adler Library,
and now the president of the institu-
ton is confronted with the problem of
adequately housing this library besides
meeting the running expenses of the
institution. to say nothing of needed eX-
pansions."
DR. Adler sat silent for a moment,
and then replied: Il am convinced
that the Jews of America appreciate
our success in making the Seminary the
center of the Jewish learned world.