Role of Hebrew Teachers Colleges;
Analytical Review of Extensive Studies

"THE EDUCATION OF
AMERICAN JEWISH TEACHERS"
Edited by Oscar I. Janowsky
Beacon Press

the curricula of the teachers col-

leges. The Hebrew language and
literature occupy a pre-eminent

A Review by MOSHE NOBEL
"The Education of the American
Jewish Teachers," edited by Dr.
Janowsky, is a thought-provoking
volume. All the vexing problems
confronting the training of Jewish
teachers in this country are brought
into sharp focus by men of long
experience and close association
with the field. While dealing pri-
marily with the various aspects of
the accredited Hebrew teachers'
colleges, the book sheds significant
light on many other areas of Jew-
ish education.
Twenty-three noted educators
have contributed essays discussing
the history, development, accredi-
tation and present status of the
eleven Hebrew teachers colleges
affiliated with the Association of
Hebrew Teachers Colleges, organ-
ized in 1951. Most of the essays
were papers delivered at the col-
loquium on "The Education of the
American Jewish Teacher," held
at Brandeis University, May 28-30,
1966. As was to be expected in
a volume of this type, there is
some repetition; and not all the
essays are of the same quality.
They all combine, however, to give
a broad view of present conditions
and future objectives of our teach-
ers colleges; and, to some extent,
of Jewish education in general.
Louis Hurwich, the dean of
Jewish educators in America
who passed away recently, con-
tributed a brief survey of the
origin and development of Jew-
ish teacher training schools in
the United States. Of this 11
accredited Hebrew teachers col-
leges in the country only Gratz
College of Philadelphia was es-
tablished before the advent of the
20th Century. By 1948, eight of
the accredited Hebrew teachers
colleges were in existence.

position in the curricula of almost
all of the schools. Bible is first
in two of the schools and is sec-
ond only to Hebrew in the rest.
Dinin criticizes, as do other con-
tributors, the use of Hebrew as
the language of instruction for
all subjects, including history
and education, in view of the
poor Hebrew background of most
of the students entering our Jew-
ish colleggs: ("can't write, can't
spell, can't speak fluently, can-
not read without vowels, and
even read haltingly and without
comprehension"—p. 70).
Dinin makes the following rec-
ommendations: to provide greater
mastery of the Hebrew language
during the first two years; to teach
material possessing literary and
aesthetic excellence; to spend more
time on the poetry and philosophy
of the Bible, rather than on linguis-
tic analysis; to give more attention
to contemporary Jewish life; and
to provide more training in art ,
music and the use of audio-visual

the establishment of the State of
Israel, the increased enrollment
in the afternoon Hebrew Schools
and the rapid growth of the day
school movement, only three ac-
credited colleges for Hebrew teach-
ers were established in America
in the last 20 years! Hurwich's
article contains many recommend-
ations. The most important is the

ish Studies in American Liberal
Arts Colleges and Universities");

aids. These recommendations are

practical and, if implemented,
would certainly contribute to the
elimination of many of the defi-
ciencies referred to by Dinin and
others.
Alexander Dushkin, former head
of the department of education of
the Hebrew University, contributed
a significant article dealing with
education in Israel and with the
training of Hebrew teachers for
the Diaspora.
A exhaustive study of the work
of Israeli teachers in the Ameri-
can Jewish schools was also made

by Rabbi Hyman Chanover of the
American Association for Jewish
Education.

Others who contributed to this
comprehensive volume are: Dr.
Judah Goldin ("Japhet in Shem's
It is surprising that in spite of Tents"); Dr. Arnold Band ("Jew-

one proposing that a four-year full
time, tuition-free Hebrew teachers
college should be established,
which should include all Hebraic
subjects, as well as general educa-
tion and liberal arts courses.
Walter Ackerman, dean of He-
brew Teachers College of Los
Angeles, presents a 20 page "Pro-
•file of the Hebrew Teachers Col-
leges." He discusses enrollment,
ad mission requirements, tuition

f ees, graduation requirements,
teacher-output, faculties, salaries
and ideological identification. He
Points out that there is a "high
drop-out rate in all Hebrew teach-
ers colleges." He brings out "the

disheartening fact" that only 70
per cent of the 1964 graduates took

full- or part-time teaching positions
after graduation.

Samuel Dinin, chairman of the
faculty of the University of Ju-
daism in Los Angeles, analyzes

Chicago Polish Paper
Condemns Anti-Semitism

CHICAGO (JTA) — A Polish-
language daily published here con-
demned anti-Semitism as "but one
step on the ladder leading to

genocide." The Chicago Polish-
American. in an editorial con-

demning President de Gaulle's
attack on Israel and the Jewish
people, said that "perhaps the

outcry of 'public opinion has taught

de Gaulle that, in the West at
least. anti-Semitism • will no longer

serve a public leader who attempts
to use it—for whatever purpose.
Perhaps the outcry has likewise
taught him that civilized men have
not yet forgotten an important
lesson of World War. the lesson
that anti-Semitism is but one step
on the ladder leading to genocide."

Teacher-Training Schools"); and
, others.
Dr. Janowsky, in his capacity as
editor, contributed a preface and
a summary on the "Pattern and
Prospect" of the education of
American Jewish teachers.

The problem of recruitment of
students for the Ilebrew teachers
colleges, which is, in the opinion
of this reviewer, the heart of the
whole matter, should have been
dealt with more thoroughly; and
not just incidentally touched upon
here and there. It i ; regrettable
that not a single study is devoted
exclusively to what Dr. Schiff
calls "the basic weakness of the
Hebrew teaching profession—its'
unattractiveness and lack of ap-
peal to young people" (page 108).
Equally regrettable are the dis-
crepancies (referred to by the edi-
tor in his note, pp. 137-138) between
the statistical information furnish-
ed by some contributors, which
tend to cast a shadow upon the sta-
tistical data of the book.
Some errors, which a more care-
ful editing could have eliminated,
crept into the book. There is no
Hebrew poet by the name of Fish-
man, nor is Nezikin a tractate like
Baba Mezia or Sanhedrin. Some
statements are vague. For in-
stance, Dr. Ackerman in discussing
what a graduate of an accredited
college is assumed to have ac.
quired, uses such terms as: "a
knowledge of," "a familiarity
with," "an acquaintance with,"
"a general familiarity with," "an
intelligent understanding." Which
of these statements indicate a
higher, and which a lower, degree
of mastery; or are they synon-
omous?
On the whole, the book is a much
needed addition to our pedogogic
literature and should be read by
all professional and lay leaders of
Jewish education.

Yugoslav Jews Honor Nazi Resistance Group

BELGRADE, Yugoslavia (JTA) The monument was desi_ led by
— A monument was unveiled in the sculptor, Nandor Glid, who is
Subotica in memory of a group of a member of the Belgrade Jewish
Jewish youths who were hanged community.
Glid designed memorials erected
there by Fascists In 1941 for re-
sistance activities, it was reported at the sites of the Mauthausen and
in the Jewish Review, organ of Dachau concentration camps. His
' the Federation of Jewish Com- design for the latter won an inter-
mumbes of Yugoslavia. national contest.

1967 Savings Bond Sales

Combined purchases of series E
and H United States savings bonds
and the new freedom share notes
by residents of Wayne county
totaled $158,036,397 in 1967, it was
announced by Delmar V. Cote,
state director for the U. S. Sav-
ings Bonds Division. This com-
pared with $180,343,534 in 1966
and represented achievement of
78.6 per cent of the year's Treas-
ury-assigned sales goal of $201,-
156,000.

PLASTIC
SLIPCOVERS

THE HIGHEST QUALITY
AT REASONABLE PRICES

• CUT and PIN FITTED IN YOUR
HOME BY EXPERT CUTTERS
• CUSHIONS INDIVIDUALLY
COVERED With ZIPPERS & AIR
VENTS
• ALL WORK WRITTEN
GUARANTEED

Herman's Custom

PLASTICOVER
•1594•

Doubleday Issues
Anchor Psalms II

ISTANBUL (ZINS) — Unprece-
dented praise of the Hebrew Uni-
versity for research in Arab af-
fairs, was printed in the Cairo
newspaper. '"Al Aharam."
"Israel is very well informed
about the Arabs, whereas we know
nothing about Israel," writes Mo-
hammed Haykel, its editor.
As an example he cites the book
by Prof. Gabriel Beer, of the uni-
versity faculty, which deals with
Egypt's agrarian difficulties- Hay-.
kel concedes it is the best research
study in that area.

MONTH
Feb. 1 to Feb. 29

Our Torah Says: "For man is as a tree
of the field" (Deut. 20:19) ... I. man's
life Is similar to the tree that grows in
the field. Just as a tree has roots,
branches, fruits and leaves, so too does
a human being have roots, fruits —
which are deeds — leaves — which ar•
his words.

B-GAUGE GLASS CLEAR

Dr. Samuel J. Blumenfield ("In-
Service Jewish Teacher Educa-
tion"); Dr. Azriel Eisenberg
Dahood, S.J., professor
("Bridging the Gap Between the of Mitchell
Ugaritic language and literature
Elementary School and the Jewish
at
the
Pontifical
Biblical Institute
Teachers' College"); Dr. Hyman
B. Greenstein ("The Orthodox, in Rome, has completed "Psalms
the
second
volume
o: his high-
II,"
Conservative a n d Nationalistic
! ly praised and controversial trans-
' lation of the Psalter. "Psalms II"
(Volume 17 of the Anchor Bible),
Student Zionists Plan
the second 50 Psalms
Summer Culture Mission containing
in a new translation and Father
NEW YORK (JTA)—The Domes- Dahood's notes and introduction,
tic Education Corps of the Student will be published by Doubleday
Zionist Organization hopes to send on Feb. 16.
members this coming summer to ' In "Psalms II," Father Dahood
at least three small Jewish com- follows the pattern laid down so
munities in the third year of its successfully in "Psalms I" (Vol-
effort to enrich the Jewish educa- ume 16 of the Anchor Bible). New
tion and Israeli culture of such interpretations, and a new under-
communities.
standing of the social and religious
The program began in summer milieu of the Psalms, are brought
1966 when five Jewish college out as Dahood eloquently applies
students went to Fargo, ND., other ancient languages to the
Obispo in California, and five to biblical text, particularly the Ras
the twin cities of Ishpeming and Shamra discoveries of Ugaritic
Marquette in Michigan. Marquette literature, on which Father Da-
County has 175 Jewish residents.
hood is the leading authority. The
Andrew Reutlinger, SZO presi- first volume of Psalms aroused
dent, said the student groups strong interest and some criticism;
spend two weeks in each com- in his introduction to "Psalms H,"
munity, organizing a day camp Father Dahood replies to his cri-
for the smaller Jewish children, tics and expands on the first vol-
programs for teen-agers, and dis- ume's insights into the Canaanitic
cussion programs for adults. world in which the Psalms were
The SZO students are volunteers written.
and are not paid for their ser-
Without attempting to deny the
vices.
incredible literary achievement of
the King James translation, Da-
hoo'd tries to capture as closely as
Cairo Newspaper Lauds

Israel's Study of Arabs

TIE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

14—Friday, February 16, 1968

Call

Cc. 341-8192

TIVERNOIS AT PURITAN

PLANT TREES IN ISRAEL
IN THE NAME OF YOUR
LOVED ONES

Perpetuate the memory of family and
friends ... celebrate Bar Mitzvah ...
honor any happy event by planting
trees in the forests and Border Settle
ments of Israeli

22100 GREENF.IELD RD.

OAK

PARK. MICH. 48237

PHONE 399-082.0

If you haven't seen me on a new

PONTIAC, TEMPEST

or

FIREBIRD

you do not have the best price.

ASK FOR

SAUL BERCH

AT

PACKER PONTIAC
18650 LIVERNOIS
UN 3-9300
1 block S. of 7 Mile

ON WASHINGTON BOULEVARD

NOW

UP TO 1/2 OFF

LIMITED GROUPS

SUITS, SPORT COATS, COATS,
SWEATERS, SHIRTS, NECKWEAR

ALTERATIONS AT COST

149"

$195 CASHMERE AND
MINK OVERCOATS
Rare Oriental Cashmere

possible the sense, quality and

poetic form of the original Heb-
rew. His notes fill out the back-
ground of the Psalter—the types
of psalms, their purpose and his-
torical context.

IMPORTENS • CLOTHIER,

WO

1-9292

WASHINGTON BOULEVARD

Free Parking Charge Accounts

Open Monday Eves

For the Finest in
Home Remodeling

Residential and Commercial

358=2488

t_cr

(‘'
.;

BUILDERS

1

