Intermountain Jewish news., 1926-07-15
HEBREW EDUCATION
METHODS IN LAND
OF OUR ANCESTORS
BY DIR. NJ. ROBINSON

| absorbing sketches on pioneering life In
| Palestine, written by the eminent European
Jewish Journalist, Dr. NJ Robinson, now
living the life of the Jewish pioneer In
| Palestine.
The modern educational system In
Palestine Is one of the pleasantcst sides
of the Jewish national revival.
While the general rebuilding OF the
country proceeds but slowly, and can
be compared to number OF separate
links which win take some time to form
chain, the spiritual revival Of the
people has already attained a high
stage of progress. The present edu-
cation In Palestine has made syn
thesis ont of the varied civilizations
assimilated by Jews throughout gen
erations. Freed from or never having
known. contradictory Influences con-
testing for possession of 1t. this new
generation Is surprise even to its
teachers. who pause with wonder be
fore these creatures OF their own fash.
ioning. Not even In their dreams had
| tntN lIiuEiHtu II fIiSut NpHlt ubbut.
Vigorous Hebrew Language
Visitors to Palestine are also unable
to believe their own ears when they
hear little children speaking in He
brew young and fresh enough to be
still strange to their masters. In their
| fights schooiboys use Hebrew which
is vigorous with the vigour of youth.
From whence springs this old.new
wealth? In what way has this Ian
guage been formed? How Is 1t that
students of philology have to'come and
learn from these children? Is 1t the
resurrection of the dead?
The achievement has not been
brought about in day. This resur-
rection Of the people-tO us like n res
direction of the dead-which refutes
all assimilation theories, took some
time to evolve. Decades have been de-
voted by the HEBREW teacher to work
he pored over with the perseverance Of
the researcher. Like the alchemst of
old he labored on until the salamander
issued suddenly from the flame. What
we see are the fruits of the super
human energy and devotion of two gen.
erations. to which posterity alone will
award their true importance. Yet,
though the educational system is al
ready all but complete. the Hebrew
teacher is only at the beginning of his
task. Every day he sets about IL anew,
for he has to greet new faces. And the
ships anchoring by Palestine bear n
dozen different languages. He stands
undaunted before this infiux-but it
taxes his strength to the utmost.
14O Institutions
About six hundred teachers, man and
women. are giving themselves up to
this work, which centres round 14O
institutions, ranging from kindergarten
to university. and produces one type of
Jew, an amalgamatlon of East and
West. Nor is this much more than
the. beginning of the spiritual rebirth.
In addition to the fifteen thousand
children who are taught in the schools,
which the Keren Hayesod has establish
ed and supports, there are some thou
sands more who for economic and other
reasons receive their education in semi.
national institutions supported by the
Alliance Israelite and the. Anglo Jewish
Association. The Cheder, too, is TO be
found. and some Jewish children are
even pupils of missionary schools. Lack
of funds prevents the development of
national education from proceeding
rapidly enough to cope with the in
crease of the new Jewish settlement.
There is thus danger of some mem
bers of the Jewish community becom.
ing engulfed by foreign influences.
Spiritual development begins with the
school. The child introduces the He
brew language into its home; after
their daily work thousands of adults de-
vote their evening to study of the He
bltN ht Is Vllt VI
the principal factors, II not the prin-
cipal one. in the reconstruction of Pal.
estine. He 1t is who forms the char
actor of the child and of the public too
He inculcates the lesson of national
unity and the desire for self-sacriiice
for the common veal. The fact that he
does this in spite of his inadequate
compensation is to his greater credit
To see the Hebrew teachers taking part
with their pupils in Jewish festivals, or
setting out gaily on tour through Pal
estine to gain acquaintance with the
geographical and historical features OF
the country. Is TO see nearer to fulfil
ment the secret hope of every true jew
Correct not n man in company, fol