AIMS OF THE JEWS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 114, 18 May 1925, Page 4

AIMS OF THE JEWS

THE UNIVERSITY OF

JERUSALEM

OPENING CEREMONY

LORD BALFOUR'S SPEECH.

(FROM ODU OIYN CORRESPONDENT.)

LONDON, 7th April.

All that the Hebrew University which Lord Balfour opened has to show is a site on Mount Scopus (the northern extension of the Mount of Olives), with some buildings, formerly a private house built by Sir John Gray-Hill, in process of enlargement and adaptation, the beginnings of a micro-biological and a biochemical laboratory, and some lecturerooms. According to a Jewish writer, the university embodies an idea that is very much older than the promise of the "national home," or even than the war. Herzl used strongly to advocate it, and the project was taken up and discussed by successive Zionist Conferences, and carried so far by them that in 1913, in the year before the war, the site was purchased and the necessary license obtained from the Turkish Government. _ The university will be supported entirely by British, money and no contribution to it will be made from State revenue. No Arab, therefore, will be taxed for its support. Nor, again, will there be any sectarian or religious tests, and the university will be open to Moslems on exactly the same terms as to Jews. Indeed, for.a time there will be no matriculation to either, for, except for a few lectures in the faculty of Semitic studies (Arabic will be one of the subjects), there will be no teaching at all. It will be a research, university, and the two main directions of the research will be in chemistry and in medicine, with particular reference to. Oriental diseases. On the day' of the ceremony crowds began to throng the road at noon, and by 1 o'clock the whole route from Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives was a continuous line of motor-car, horse, and foot traffic. The amphitheatre was. threequarters full, and the surrounding banks were crowded an hour before the time fixed for the commencement of the ceremony. The famous view was somewhat obscured by haze, but the Dead Sea and the Mountains of Moab presented a magnificent spectacle in the distance. The amphitheatre and all points of vantage were crowded to overflowing by fully 5000 persons from all parts of the world when the representatives of universities and learned institutions, the Earl of Balfour, and the High Commissioner arrived punctually at 3 o'clock. A hearty welcome was accorded them, and there was an outburst of applause as Lord Balfour reached the platform. The scene was rendered lively by the presence of a mixed band, and the red and gold uniforms of the High Commissioner's two kavasses seemed to imply the State and dignity of the British Empire, combined with the rejoicings natural at a national festival. Lord Ullswater and Field-Marshal Lord Allenby were among the distinguished audience on the platform, and the name of the latter was invariably greeted with applause. A DISTINCTIVE "SYMBOL. 'After music and a lengthy address by the Rabbi Kook, Dr. Weizmann, as chairman, opened the proceedings with an address of welcome to the guests and an explanation of the objects of the university, delivered slowly, and in an unostentatious manner, which carried conviction. He greeted Lord Balfour as a statesman whose name was associated with the generous act which had changed the face of the Jewish world, and said the university was the distinctive symbol and crowning glory of the establishment of the national home. The High Commissioner, whose speech stood out far above the others, both in respect of its excellent contents and its magnificent delivery, received a warm welcome, and obviously greatly moved by the occasion, conveyed the good wishes of the British' and Palestinian Governments, and stated that the university will be one' of the noblest parts of the Jewish home. His speech was translated into Hebrew and Arabic. LORD BALFOUR'S SPEECH. Lord Balfour received an ovation. The audience rose, clapped, waved, and yelled their* delight. 'He spoke for forty minutes. What was it that brought them together? he asked. "It is the consciousness that this marks a great epoch • iit the history of a people who made 'this little land of Palestine the centre of great religions, whose intellectnal and moral destiny is from the national point of view reviving, and who will look back to this day we are celebrating as one of the great milestones in their future career. A few minutes ago I was reminded by friends that from where you are sitting you can see .the very spot where the Children of Israel first entered the Promised Land, and that it was from this very hill that the Roman destructors of Jerusalem conducted their siege which brought to an end that great chapter of tho Jewish people. Could there be a more historic spot? From this hill you can see tho end, or what then appeared to be the end, of the Jewish community, of the land they made illustrious. ' "Unless I utterly misunderstand the signs of the limes, unless I have profoundly mistaken ■ the genius of the Jewish people, the experiment* is predestined to inevitable success, on which not only men of Jewish birth, but others sharing the common civilisation of the world, will have reason to congratulate themselves." AH the English-speaking peoples had been brought up on the translation into English of the Hebrew Scriptures, and that translation was one of the great lit; erary treasures of all who spoke the English tongue. "Clearly, therefore, the Jewish people have a great instrument of literary instruction capable of dealing with _ all the _ higher aspects of literary and imaginative literature. But does it follow from that that Hebrew is fitted for modern uses? There is a great difference between Isaiah and micro-biology. Is the language of Isaiah fitted to deal with the laboratory work which is going to render this spot illustrious ? All . competent authorities assure me that By. the genius of man—l am told, of one man— Hebrew has been developed and placed upon lines of development which make it as effectual, as rich, and as capable of adaptation' to every new use, to every growth in the realm of knowledge. APPEAL TO THE ARABS. "I hope the Arabs will remember that in the darkest days of the dark ages, when Western civilisation appeared almost extinct and smothered under barbaric influences, that it was the Jews and Arabs together who gave the first sparks of light which illuminated that gloomy period. If in die lentfi ceiitury, for example, Jews and Arabs could work together for tho illumination of Europe, cannot Jews and Arabs work now in cooperation with Europe and iri3kc this not merely a- Palestinian University but. a Palestinian University, from which all iscetiouc ul the population oi Palestine

may draw intellectual and Epiritual'advantage.

"To Icok at the spires and domes and endless ecclesiastical monuments of Jerusalem is an almost startling reminder now far religious differences can divide mankind. If people would look sufficiently deep, they should find .there fundamental principles and aspirations in which all agree. These differences I know well are inevitable. We have to accept-them. We ought to'-'minimise them, but we cannot deny that they exist, and we cannot hope they will not be lasting. But the great happiness of the endeavour on /.which we all are engaged to found a new university u n worthy lines should not be affected by these differences. Science, at least is outside these sectarian differences. Learning is a bond of union. Those who ara settling the policy of the university have done most wisely in determining, first, that its growth must be from a relatively small beginning, but, secondly, ' that whatever the university is, whatever it tries to do, should be done upon the highest level that shall - ironic out tho University of Jerusalem as being on the very loftiest plane of human intellectual endeavour. With supreme confidence in its future I now declare the University of Jerusalem opened." THE JEWISH OUTLOOK. In his address the Very Rev. the Chief Rabbi (Dr.. J. H. Hertz), spoke of the distinctive purpose of.the University of Jerusalem. "It is not to be a mere imitation or translation of a British or American, a German or Russian higher seat of learning," he said. "Over and above the work of this university for the arts and sciences, it is the Jewish contribution to the spiritual values of life tho interpretation, application, and continuation of that contribution—that must remain the raison d'etre of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Here the student in search of knowledge of the best that has . been said and thought, and lived in Israel will be under the guidance of teachers to whom nojjung Jewish is alien, and who will givo him the Jewish outlook. This is the Jew's, greatest need to-day, and is of absolutely vital importance to us and our children after us. We cannot hope to reopen the sacTed fountains of Israel's creative energy, even on our own soil, and in ..our own Hebrew language, unless we once more learn to look at life—its tasks, duties, and problems—in Jewish perspective. New Judea must be the spiritual descendant of Old Judea; and tne Mission of Jndea, old "or new, is, first of all, to be Jndea. Wo look to the men who will here consecrate their lives to the study of the revelation of the Divine Spirit in the history and literary monuments, in the. beliefs and customs, in the laws and institutions of Israel to make the Hebrew University a sanctuary of the Jewish, genius, a focus of the soul of Israel,' a centre of Jewish thought aglow with, that Jewish passion for. righteousness that shall make Zion once again the mother city of a regenerated humanity." CEREMONIAL BANQUET: The great day for the Zionists came to aji end with the ceremonial banquet, given by the Board of Governors of the Hebrew University at the Russian buildings. Mr. Nahum Sokaloff presided, and there were over 100 guests, including tho High Commissioner and Lady Samuel, Lord Balfour, Lord and Lady Allenby, Lord and Lady Ullswater, the Chief Secretary and Lady Clayton, the Governor of Jerusalem, and Lady Storrs, the Consular Corps, and representatives of universities and the Government. Lord Allenby, in replying to a toast, paid a warm tribute to Dr. Chaim. Weizmann the president of the Zionist organisation' to whose supreme confidence and indomitable spirit the foundation and buildin" of the university was due. Then followed messages of greeting and promises of' support delivered in their own language' by representatives of foreign Powers, the list of which covered nearly the whole of the members of the Lague of Nations, to which the League's own good wishes were added. JEALOUSY OF THE SHEIKS. It is suggested that in opposing the university the Arabs are sinning against their higher traditions in the past, and their proposed strike during the visit of Lord Balfonr suggested that the whole agitation was either fomented from without by those jealous of the prospects of Palestine or was inspired by the jealousy of the sheiks, who feel that in the new progressive Palestine their old ascendancy . must pass, as the semifeudal squirearchy of England passed at the industrial revolution.