The Denver Jewish news., 1923-09-20
MOBILIZE AMERICAN JEW
ISH FORCES FOR AMERI-
CAN JEWISH PURPOSES"
BY JACOB BILLIKoPF


named. are put before American Jewry
in comprehensive and consecutive man
ner by an agency such as is contem-
plated in the rehabilitation of the re-
| lief forces. it should be relatively
simple matter to raise ut least several
times AS much as the total of the pres
ent joint budgets of these and other
tmcri;orious institutions. Indeed, with
the experience of every Federation in
America Ms a criterion. it is safe to
sufficient to permit each and every one
of the included institutions to make
every Legitimate expansion it deserves
| for more effective work. The minds
and energies of their manag ging boards
now devoted largely to the dreary task
of raising funds, would be liberated
almost entirely for constructive efforts
| on behalf of their particular institl-
tion. CAS- everyone at all familiar with
the operation of Federation knows. this
has been the case with their constituent
and organizations. Hardly a FEEDER
alton in this country that does not raise
at least twice as much money as was
raised by the organization soliciting in
diyidually and ofttimes competitively,
and at infinitely less cost.) Indeed,
the sum that would be raised by the
method proposed would be large enough
to create generous special funds for
fostering Jewish scholarship. stimulat-
ing original research work in many I'M
pOrtant fields. including history, archae-
ology. pedagogy. Jewish community life
and the like. And what is even more
important, II tremendous impetus would
be given the various communities in
the country to reach n larger number
of boys and girls in need of n Jewish
education. The TalmudN Torahs and
Sunday Schools would be placed on
higher level Of efficiency, pedagogic-
ally and administratively, and that
which the Jewish Welfare Board is
doing so splendidly in the field of
creating Jewish centers. the proposed
organization may accomplish in the di-
rection of promoting more up-to-date
Hebrew schools.
Today there is no fund available for
this purpose. save such contributions
as are made by interested individuals
for specific purposes. just as there is no
fund for the establishment Of fellow
ships and scholarships mt American col
Ia. Il ,,Yix fin hrtplrnIs nf
nrrtorious Jewish students. With
funds for the furthcring of Jewish cdu-
cation that would ultimately become
available by the means proposed. the
whole world of Jewish scholarship
would be- tremendously stimulated. en-
couraged and developed This would
constitute one of the finer by products
of II play which, though financial in
form. would be fruitful of social. moral
and spiritual consequences.
Lest some question should arise. 1t
shculd he reiterated that the funds so
raised and for the purpose mentioned
would he administered by representa-
tivcs of the various institutions and
organizations for which they would be
raised together with such other per-
sons in whom all Jewry, regardless of
their private points of view, have the
utmost confidence. Thus all shades of
Jewish opinion would he represented
and the interests of every phase pro-
tccted. The autonomy of each insti-
tuition would be thoroughly conserved.
After all, the setting up of proper
board of distribution is matter Of
detail which need not concern us for
the moment, as we need not be con-
ccrned. under This plan. with an exact
definition of the term Jewish Educa-
ton
) The gifted Yiddish writer. Peter
Wiernick, claims, 1T is hardly cOnceiv-
able that n body can unite upon plan
of Jewish education in America. The
Ieshiba, where the Talmud with com
mcntarics is taught the Hebrew Union
college. in which Bible criticism is
taught, cannot he united under one and
the same administration. They mu-
tually exclude one another The one
considers as harmful what is taught in
the other and cooperation between
persons who represent these diverging
tendencies in education is an impossi-
| biiity." Apart from the fact that each
| institution will he autonomous. there is
no reason why Mr.. Felix Wurburg's
wise suggestion cannot meet this dill
Guilty, namely. designation of contribu-
tions to preferred institutions.
What should concern us is that in
every city only II small fraction of our
boys and girls are getting II Jewish
education of any sort that every one
Of our institutions of higher learning