8

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Chronicle

HEBREW UNIVERSITY AIDES THE WAR EFFORT

July 24,

:■ ,}2

ARMY WAR SHOW

By LOTTA LEVENSOHN

Editor's Note: As a fitting example of the all-out preparations
which the Jewish community of Palestine is making to the war
effort is the Hebrew University. Although instituted only 17 years
ago, the University is already able to make significant contributions
to the fight for freedom. Miss Levensohn, who describes the Uni-
versity's share in the war effort. is at present in Palestine.

Memory flashes back to an ex-
citing spring day in 1925. In the
open air theater on Mount Scopus
thousands have gathered to wit-
ness the event that is to symbol-
ize the rebirth of Hebrew culture.
Representatives of governments
and universities, Zionist leaders
and heads of great Jewish organ-
izations, rabbis and scholars, phil-
osophers and poets are ranged on
an improvised wooden platform
behind which, like a rampart,
stretch the misty-blue hills of
Moab. Slender, white-haired Lord
Balfour, in cap and gown, stands
in the center of the stage, dedi-
cating a university that still is
more of a hope than a fact. The

(except Sweden and Switzerland).
The University's endowments are
large, and it enjoys no State sub-
sidies. Nor has it any wealthy
alumni to whom it can turn in
an emergency. Tuition fees?
These yield only relatively mod-
est sums at all universities. Here
the fees are particularly low as
compared to those at American
and English universities. Most of
the students work their way
through the University. A cer-
tain percentage of the income
from tuition fees is therefore allo-
cated for exemptions for needy
students. During the first two
years of the war, the University
actually disbursed additional thou-
sands of pounds for the mainten-
ance of students who were left
stranded when their tiny allow-
ances from their families in Eur-
ope were cut off.

hope envisions a great central seat
of Jewish learning; that fact con-
sists of just three small research
institutions. Everything else that
goes to the making of a univers-
ity, except a good-sized stretch of
As matters now stand,the Uni-
land on the crest of Scopus, still versity
depends almost entirely
lies in the nebulous region of
American medium tanks, primed for battle action, rumble over heavy terrain in
hope. Plus faith. The leaders who on the United States (always the
warm-up for realistic Army War Show at the University of Detroit Stadium starting S
for years dreamed of a Hebrew largest contributor), England, the
aturday, July 25. These are just a part of the Task Force of 2,000 men and officers,
University in Jerusalem — Her- British Empire and the Latin-
jeeps, half-tracks, heavy guns, and trench mortars which will bring the stark drama of
mann Schapira and Ussischkin, American countries for the great-
er
part
of
its
maintenance.
World War II to Detroiters.
Weizmann and Schmarya Lewin,
Young as it is , the Universit y
Bialik and Ahad Ha'am and
Magnes—have communicated their is already able to make significant making of precision instrumeni. s sphere of the spirit as well.
What Missing Soldier Writes to
own faith to Jews all over the contributions to the war effort. A and other delicate apparatus for • is now being taught quietly
in
world; and these stand ready to tour of the laboratories shows
Parents: "I Have Not
Bible,
philosophy
and
history
firms
which
are
now
unable
to
scientists
engrossed
in
problems
help make the dream come true.
Died in Vain"
classes
at
the
Hebrew
University
That is why they dare to pro- brought to them by military and import them owing to restricted may well have its influence, when
claim the embryonic university a civil authorities, by farmers, shipping space. Fortunately, the victory is won, in the
NEW YORK (WNS) — Pvt.
shaping of
reality. "Nothing is but wishing man ufacturers, physicians, and manufacturers have been able to a better world. Here the
doctrine Gerald Herzfeld of this city,
others whom the war has faced turn to the University, in whose
it so."
that might makes right is chal- who enlisted last year at the
But for the first world war, with knotty new problems. In a workshops (and nowhere else in lenged by the prophetic dictum age of 18, asked Army officials
number
of
instances
some
,tery
the Middle East) such apparatu s that "Not by right nor by power, to forward this letter to his par-
the University might have been
dedicated ten years earlier. The satisfactory results have already is made.
out by my spirit" shall the world ents case he failed to return
been
derived
from
the
wartime
idea had been approved by the researches.
Recently, an announcement was be ruled. There we have a lesson from a special mission:
The scientists are the made that the War Supply Board that must be driven home within
Zionist Congress of 1913, and
"We do not know what our
when it adjourned an energetic better prepared to undertake war- has arranged for the establish- the gates of democracy if the job is to be, but rest assured
committee immediately set to time research because they have ment of a scientific advisory com- enemy is not to win in peace that no matter what it is it will
work. The outbreak of war the been concerned for years with the mittee under the chairmanship of what he will lose in war.
be clone in the American way
next year stopped action—but not concrete problems of Palestine. Dr. J. L. Magnes, president of
and
to the best of our ability.
To
promote
the
development
of
entirely. Planning went on, and
the Hebrew University. This
"I have every reason to be-
in the summer of 1918, when a the country they have studied its Committee, on which University
lieve that I will return, as I have
HADASSAH
large part of Palestine was still soil and climate, flora and fauna, scientists will serve, is to investi-
a full life to look forward to.
held by the enemy, Weizmann laid water and mineral resources, the gate the problems of applied
If I don't return, which is the
(Continued from Page 1)
the symbolic foundation-stone on diseasas of man, beast and plant. science in connection with the
The bacteriologists are concen-
reason
for writing this, I shall
the future campus.
trating on minimum wartime diets war effort. Dr. L. Farkas, head lich, Mrs. Julian K•olik, Mrs.
Today, no one has to be asked after having studied the special of the University's Physical Chem- Max Frank, Mrs. H. L. Jackson, know that the world that waits
meant for me. But in
to take the Hebrew University on nutrition problems of the country istry Department, will serve as and Mrs. Abraham Srere; pro- wasn't
that case
faith. Come up to Scopus and for many years. Various uses for the scientific secretary of the com- motion chairman, Mrs. Philip Lip- have not I shall know that I
died in vain but have
you will find a beautiful wooded the surplus wartime citrus crop mittee.
son; vice-chairmen, Mrs. Milton
The University is also making Alexander, Mrs. Harry Barnett, died to make the world safe for
campus, with groups of stately have been suggested by the chem-
buildings, the largest library in ists—for example, a cheap and a direct contribution to the war Mrs. Max Blumberg, Mrs. Perry all the Jerry Herzfelds that are
the Middle East, a series of lab- nutritious cattle fodder from dried effort in the field of health. Burnstine, Mrs. Nate Shapero, to be born in the future."

oratories with the latest thing in oranges. Local substances have
scientific equipment.
been worked up into hormones
How is the young University and vitamins that used to be im-
weathering the storms of war? ported before the war. Methods
So far, happily, it has not only have been devised by the Uni-
carried on normally, but even ex- versity's botanists for storing
panded in certain directions. The potatoes so that they will keep
opening of the School of Agricul- for the next planting season-
ture, for instance, coincided with F omething previously impossible in
the outbreak of war, the large t he Palestinian climate. Experi-
building program planned before ments with the vernalization of
the war has been carried out in s eed potatoes have given largely
its entirety, so that the build-on i ncreased yields. Only a few
area of the campus has been prac- weeks ago the Hebrew University
tically doubled. Incidentally, the g raduates' chemistry cooperative
building operations turned out to s ucceeded in producing in com-
be a boon during the unemploy- mercial qualities the chemical
ment crisis that developed out of c ailed ethylene-Hydro-chlorine
the first impact of the war upon w hich makes potatoes sprout in
the economy of Palestine. The 4 8 hours instead of several
student body includes numerous m onths.
refugees for whose admission to
The farmers are being helped
Palestine the University itself ar- w ith their poultry problems.
ranged. The collections in the C ourses in the prevention and
Jewish National and Uni versity uie of poultry diseases are given
Press published 15 books and con- f or breeders and experts by the
tinued to issue "Kirjath Sepher," u niversity's bacteriologists. A
the Library's bibliographical guar- s triking instance of preventive
terly, and "Tarbiz," the quarterly m easures devised by the Univers-
of the Faculty of Humanites. ty scientists has to do with in-
Finally, a countryside, year-round f ectious bronchitis, a new chicken
scheme of adult education super- d isease. When it was found that
ceded the sporadic pre-war efforts n ewly hatched chicks were infect-
in that field.
d from the virus on the eggshells
Such
more or less, is the pie- o n which the sick mother hens
ture. Behind it, however, one h ad sneezed, the eggs were steri-
glimpses the struggle of the Uni- ii zed in a solution of potassium
versity authorities to carry on p ermanganate before being placed
while one source of income after in the incubators. Result: All
the other vanishes with the spread c hickens are now safely hatched.
of the war, cutting off contact
An outstanding service to Pal-
with all the Continental countries e. stinian industry has been the

WASH cans thoroughly after
emptying contents. Remove paper
labels. (labels usually come off
anyway In flattening process.)

OPEN cans, bottoms as well as
tops. Tuck In tops and bottoms.

Jointly with Hadassah, courses for
physicians are given in endemic
diseases, war surgery, camp sani-
tation, etc. The efficacy of the
malaria control work, in which
the University participates, is re-
flected in the greatly reduced inci-
dence of the disease among the
troops as compared to the last
war. A special type of screened
barrack devised at the Univers-
ity's Malaria Research Station at
Rosh Pinah is described by an
authority as an important new
method of malaria control.
The University's share in the
war effort is not confined to
scientific research. Enlistments
also naturally come into the pic-
ture. Several members of the
scientific staff have joined up.
More than 200 of the students are
serving in H. M. forces and in
the special police contingents, and
several hundred others have regis-
tered for enlistment. Now that
feminine Palestine has got its wish
for army service, a number of
women members of the staff and
girl students have enrolled in the
"PATS" (Palestine Auxiliary Ter-
ritorial Service).
Less tangible than laboratory
research and military service, but
certainly no less vital, is the re-
affirmation of the great humani-
tarian ideals of Judaism and
other civilizations in the Univers-
ity's lecture halls and in its pub-
lications. Since this was is a
struggle for the souls of men no
less than for territories, the bat-
tle must be fought out in the

FLATTEN cans by stepping on
them. Leave enough space be-
tween flattened sides to see
through them. Do not hammer
them.

and Mrs. Herman Stenbuck, of
Pontiac; printing, Mrs. Jerome
Frank; prospects, Mrs. Maurice
Landau, Mrs. George Bremen,
Mrs. Sidney Stone; Youth Ali-
yah, Mrs. Henry Wineman, Mrs.
Julian Zemon, secretary; pre-
solicitation, Mrs. David Cooper,
Mrs. Abe Goldman, Mrs. David
Lichtig, Mrs. Arthur Purdy; in-
stitute, Mrs. A. H. Brodie; me-
moriams, Mrs. Milford Stern,
Mrs. Robert Marwil; arrange-
ments, Mrs. Nathan Simons,
Mrs. Meyer Rosenbaum, Mrs.
Samuel Rubiner; publicity, Mrs.
Max Dushkin, Mrs. Samuel Croll;
recording secretaries, Mrs. Al-
fred Meyers, Mrs. Joseph Bing;
corresponding secretaries, Mrs.
Morris Blumberg, Mrs. Charles
Rubiner; financial secretaries,
Mrs. Harry Z. Brown and Mrs.
E. J. Sachse; chairman of work-
ers, Mrs. M. B. Berkman; pro-
gram, Mrs. Fred Ginsburg.

Pvt. Herzfeld failed to return
from his mission. He was as-
signed as machine gunner on a
cargo ship which was torpedoed.
The young soldier's mother
told newsmen here that Jerry
wanted to join the Army "not
because he was crazy about the
Army but because he thought
it was a great service to a great
cause. He was very homesick
and lonesome, but his heart and
soul were in his job." His old er
brother, Aaron, is also a mem-
ber of the U.S. Army.

Seditious Publications Still
Flourish in U. S.

NEW YORK (WNS) — With
the United States in its eighth
month of war against the Axis
powers, scores of seditious pub-
lications are appearing regularly
throughout the land and reach-
ing tens of thousands of Amer-
icans with disruptive propaganda
aimed at undermining the morale
of the people and sabotaging the
war effort of the nation, the
well-informed anti-Fascist wech-
ly, "The Hour," charges this

week.
Taking
ing cognizance of the far
that the Government has cracked
down on a few pro-Axis publica-
tions such as "Social Justice,"
"X-Ray," "Publicity," and "Tile
Galilean," "The Hour" main-
tained, however, there are dozen!:
which continue to serve Berlin,
and Tokyo by spreadinix
treasonable and defeatist promi-
ganda.
Declaring that "Axis leader ,
have frequently expressed t1,-
opinion that propaganda is
important militar y weapon.
"The Hour" called upon Atto:
ney General Francis Biddle t. ,
take immediate steps to stn•

KEEP your "prepared cans" In a
suitable container, separate from
trash, until collection day for
your district. Basket, box, or
barrel are suitable containers.

press all publications which col.
tinue to spread pro-Axis, ant
American propaganda in tl
United States. The anti-Fasci
weekly singled out "The Crc.
and the Flag," published by eY.
Silver Shirter Gerald L. I\
Smith, as an "outstanding e`
a th m is plecou on f trt y he seditious public.:
tions currently distributed"