Intermountain Jewish news., 1926-01-21

What * n jew: Despite mlicnia of a refining and
deinive process the question remains indefinite and
vague The given such
various factions in Jewish life orthodox conservative
and reform aicate that there dceprootc differences
of oidnio The question Is again provoked by the
who established the Ciar of Jewish and Phil
csophy at Harvard University.
The didereniia appcrtaihng to the usual jew are
absent from the person of Lucls y. Iittnuer Upon
reading that he has endowed the professorsp Jewish
Literature NJ Harvard would visualize Ittaucr as
man Intensely continually. and whole souey Interested
in Jewish life and letters carIy trimming and
later associations had led him gradually but inevitably
the benefaction which has made him the discussed
individual in Jewish life for months Mr.. Ittauer
is probably the exact nntithcsis of ones expectations
Mr. Liitaucr believes that his gift is the outgrowh
of long thought the subject, but but
desire To promote goodwill and understanding. Not
ME- Lttancr is Interested in the dissemination Of Jewish
knowledge means of propaganda. That Is furthcst
from his mind To him Jewish literature and philosophy
are as vital interesting, necessary for complete
understanding of the humanitics Greek philosophy,
Roman history, Chinese theology That foregoing
Is the attitude in Mr. dauers mind Is evident from tho
letter in which he offered the Chair the Harvard
poration Il am enthusiastically confident that the estab
lislmen of this Chair will be force of reaching
service in the IF higher education scholarly
search of enlightenment and of the appreciation of Jew
sh ideals
In celebrating upon his purpose cndowing the pro-
Censorship, Mr.. Laacr says
While universities have given courses in the Hebrew
angiase and the Bible, none far l am Informed,
has established Chair for and in
Jewish literature and philosophy. My purpose in estab
listing the prccssorShip to supply long felt in
field of far reaching importance
The attention of scholnrs teachers long
lrcccd 10 study Of the litcraturcs PHILOSOPHERS
past cpochs in their relation to cultural and
moral development From broadly human instruction
understanding which hnve helped wipe out Ignorance
and its consequences.
such spirit of search for truth in all its
spects has characterized The teaching Harvard for the
hrcc centuries of its existence. The Pilgrim Fathers
founded it sought their inspiration in the study of the
Bibc-instruction in Hebrew basic part of the
rcuum for the founders of the College filled with
profound respect for IIcbraic learning considered il
an essential part of educated mans equipment The
tinucS tradition
My conclusions have led establish this Chair
hat it stimulate research and study of Jcwi>/though
and philosophy in the of higher education from
sccarau but from academic standpoint THAT the
contribution throughout the the the hu
manitieS force in the intellectual development aud i'm
provcnent of mankind may he fully and clearly
lcrstood that n evauaon Jewish ideals
md ideas may rcsuand he widely disseminated through
instruction"
Mr. Littauer has established this Chair for jew and
1on-Iew. believing that both equally in need of
lirute knowledge of jewish pasi and contemporary life
Spcking of the wealth Jewish literature being
even at The present day, he says:
'rhc impression gathered by the casual student is
HAT the genius exhausted ended by
thc compilation of the Bible The Jewish philosophy aud