THE- PRESIDENT OF THE HEBREW UNlON...

FOURTEENTH ANSUAL REPORT*

TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

- O F THE-

PRESIDENT OF THE HEBREW UNlON COLLEGE

HEBREW UNION COLLEGE, CINCINNATI, July 1, 1887. f.

To the President and Members of the. Bourd qf Governors, Hebrew Union College :

"He who learned the Thorah and teaches i t not, is like to the myrtle in the wilderness, whose odor none enjoys."

- Talmud, Bosh H ashannah.

MR. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN OF THE BOARD :-In pursuance of the laws governing the Hebrew Union College, I have the honor of presenting to your honorable body this twelfth annual report of the work done and the result3 achieved by the united labors of your ever active and zealous body the Faculty and students of this Col- lege. Academical training is the efficient cause of the development and progress of science and arb, the mental and moral culture of anv

1887.1 FOURTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 2093

and every community, so that without i t the teachers and soientist; deteriorate to mechanical performers, superstitious believers and imitators, or unscrupulous impostors, propagating ignorance, narrovv- mindedness, self-delusion and intolerance. A nation's place in the scale of civilization and enlightenment is commensurate to the standard of academical training upheld in its colleges and universities. This consideration gives to the Hebrew Union College that value and importance which all seats of learning possess, in which a high standard of academical training is maintained, as always was and is now the case in your College. I t is a factor of the higher and highest education distinguishing our country, and contributes its share to the progress of our people to that higher state of culture which is the ideal of the benefactors of humanity to be realized, and frater- nizes the banner-bearers of humanity in the republic of letters under the benign scepter of higher intelligence. There all men are equal.

Most important, however, is the Hebrew Union College to the Is- raelites, especially to the American Israelites. The literary treasures and monuments of the Hebrew people, beginning with the Bible and representing a most interesting chapter in the history of actualized intelligence in three thousand years of history, are made accessible and intelligible to the American student in this College, and are nat- uralized under scientific and academical methods and disciplines acceptable to the scientific student. Every Israelite of adequate information looks with pride and veneration upon those accumulated treasures of Israel's prominent intelligence, and must feel the importance of the work done in this College in preserving and promulga'ting the learning of Israel in this country of progressive enlightenment. The voice of Israel is to be heard again in the council of the- wise who, from the fountains of the past, draw information and inspiration to shape and direct the mental and moral elements of the future. This must be interesting and important to every IB- raelite. But, aside of this, the Hebrew Union College educates the rabbis, the future teachers of the American Israel, ths pillars of His altar, t'3e custodians of His holy treasures and the guardians of His glory ; i t educates them as academic citizens, enlightened and hu- manitarian men. It gives tone, character, representative force to His ministry, adds to the pulpit the grace: of eloquence ant1 literary

2094 FOURTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. [JULY,

attainment, and makes his house of woi-ship a temple of humanity, piety and enlightenment, becoming the glory of the eternal Israel and in the very spirit of our age and country. The consequences of this work upon the rising and future generations are as yet incalcula- ble ; and every fair minded Israelite must feel the importance of the work done and being done by this College to the generality of Is- raelites in this country.

Also to the non Israelite, of whatever faith or race he may be, the work of this College must appear of paramount importance, not only as an institute of education and enlightenment, but chiefly as the promulgator of mankind's oldest and most venerable monuments of ethical culture and intellectual force. The divine wisdom dis- seminated among the nations rises from this source; the pride of humanity, its ethical and religious sentiments and doctrines has its roots in and draws its nourishment from the literature of Israel. With these treasures unfolding to the light the Israelite remains the priest of nations, the safeguard against superstition,.i~~tolerance and injustice ; as the Hebrew liberalizes and disseminates light and truth, so does society, of which he is a member; the law somes from Zion and the word of God from Jerusalem. Every right minded man, whatever be his faith or race, welcomes with hope and joy the truth. the light, the moral freedom, the divine knowledge, and the spirit of progress, which slowly but surely emanate from the humble halls of the Hebrew Union College, to illuminate the path which leads on, ward and upward.

Therefore, I beg leave to suppose, that a report of the work done in this College is of suffieient importance not only to the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and to you gentlemen especially, whose souls are in this work, but to all good men, to make i t as clear ,and comprehensive as I am able to do, and call attention to all de- tails*

Learning in Jewish lore, and the zeal to preserve and to promul- gate it, are usually connected ; the one appears not without the other. Among the native American Jews the Hebrew was almoet entirely forgotten, tradition replaced the written sources. The immigrants

FOURTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. + 2095

coming from England, Germany, France and IIolland, ehcept the few coming from large cities, arrived with but litt!e more knowledge

'

of Hebrew lore and Jewish matters than the natives whom they found. The necessity of establishing themselves in this country scattered them all over the land, where new ideas and new wants, new problems of self-preservation caused thousands to neglect and even forget their allegiance to Israel, and Jewish learning became obsolete, except among the Polish immigrants, some of whom did preserve i t for themselves, but on account of the lack of cu'lture ar d language could not communicate it to others- 111 the next generation Jewish learning was still more neglected, partly on account of the parents, who did not encourage or appreciate i t ; partly on account of illiterate ministers, who, besides their other shortcomings, could not speak the English language and the rising generation did ; and partly on account of incessant attempts of some zealous men to extinguish the Hebrew from the family and the synagogue., eubsti tute the German in its place, and denouncing Jewish learning as being obiolete and useless. Outside of a few large congregations a ,

state of ignorance and indifference obscured the American Judaism to an alarming extent; the congregations lost their influence and importance and became secondary to benevolent societies and eecret lodges. The grave of Juzaism and its grand literature was slowly but surely prepared.

In the midst of this general decadence, however, there were left a considerable number of earnest men, who felt the approach of the calamity, and proposed measures to counteract it. Those intelligent workers in the House of Israel began the reconstruction and renovation with the improvement of congregational schools, with but varied success, as in most instances they could find no teachers competent to perform the task well, being themselves .gno- rant or ~ ~ ~ o s e d to Jewish lore. Still this endeavor was not without success in some localities, especially in the large cities. The most active among those workers were early convinced that a - general success could be achieved only by a general reformation an reor- ganization of the ministry. to consist of Americans in full sympa- thv with the rising generation, and conversant with its wants, aspi- rations and capacities ; a ministry well. versed in Jewish lore, and


insplred with love for the treasures of Israel ; a ministry with a full and complete academic training, enabling it to expound and advo . cate well the claims and hopes of Israel, in order to arouse the masses from the prevailing lethargy, and to impress the community with the importance of Israel's faith, literature and miasion to our fellow- men.

Several attempts to establish such a seat of learning and education failed for want of support. They were the work of some rabbis ; the community was not interested in them Prom and after 1870, fresh attempts were made to interest the large community for such an enterprise, and by constant agitation the consent of the public was gained, although the confidence was yet lacking; very few be- lieved in th? practicability of the project, and, least of all, did the learned rabbis believe in it-that American-born boys would study Jewish literature with success, for which all enthusiasm seemed ex tinct, and the taste lost. I n 1872, Henry Adler, then of Lawrence- burg, Ind., now of Cincinnati, came forward with the sum of $10 000, which, under certain conditions of usufruct, he donated to the first rabbinical college t o be established. This generous dona tion gave immediate impulse to the realization of the plan to estab lish a Union of American Hebrew Congregations, to establish, support and govern the required seat of learning.

In the winter of 1872-3, the commi~tees of five congregations, of Cincinnati, prepared a plan and issued a call for a meeting of congregations, by their representatives, to establish a union of congre - :ations to establish. support and govern such institutions which are necessary for the preservation and promulgation of Judaism in America, and especially a seat of learning for the literature of the Hebrews.

July 8, 1873, the delegates of thirty-four congregations met in convention in the city of Cincinnati, and established the Union of American Hebrew Congregations on strictly democratic principles, with the primary object '' to establish a Hebrew Theological Tnsti- tute."

July 14-16 1874, the first session of the Council of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations took place in the city of Cleveland. On the last day of the meeting the laws were established to govern

FOURTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 2097

that theological institute, which was named there the Hebrew Union College. The laws were adopted unanimously by the votes of the delegates of fifty-five congregations.

The college was located permanently in the city of Cincinnati, to be governed by a Board of Goverhors, consisting of twelve mem bers, to be appointed by the Council of the Union, accountable to the said Council ; and i ~ s Executive Board to be the trustees of all property and funds belonging to the college. Two rules established at the very incipiency of the Hebrew Union College, gave i t special character, viz. : The college was made entirely free, no fees of any kind were to be paid by students. no test except scholastic qualifi- cation, no test of sex, race, creed or age was stipulated; i t was lert entirely free to all. Any student or graduate of the High School, having the adequate knowledge of Hebrew, could enter the Prepar- atory Department, and any student or graduate of the university, academical course, could enter the Collegiate Department, and graduate from the college with such degree, or degrees, which it con- fere 'The object of these particular rules was to open the college doors to all who may be desirous and competent to study the Jew- ish literature and the Shemitic languages connected with it, scien- tifically and objectively. And secondly, to protect the congrega. tions against a class of rabbis, who have no academical training, and whose theology ia necessarily one-sided and inadequate in our progressive and enlightened country. These rules were intended to open a new era in American Judaism, in the revival and promulgation of Jewish literature, the purifi4ation and elevation of the pulpit, the advancement of the standard of intelligence, and the use- fulness and respectability of the rabbinical fraternity.

July 13-15,1875, the second annual session of the Council,in the city of Buffalo, completed the code of laws for the government of the Hebrew Union College, ordered the early opening of the college, and empowered the Board of Governors to expend annually a certain sum from the funds of the Union for the support of indigent students, in order not to exclude the poor from its benefits. This sum was afterward augmented by the donations of Ladies' Soci- eties, individual donors, and some lodges contributing to this fund ;


so that the purely charitable work of the college became as e-fficient and important as its scholastic work.

The history of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations is one of the most important and most interesting chapters in the records of Judaism in America. Still I can not review i t here, as I must call attention to the progress of the Hebrew Union College exclusively.

October 3, 1875, the Hebrew Union College was formally opened, and October 4th the first class was organized in the vestry-rooms of the Bene Israel Temple, in Cincinnati. Two teachers had been elected, and seventeen students registered in the lowest grade of the Preparatory Department, only five of whom went through the whole course, the others withdrew at various times. A call to the public to provide the college with Hebrew and rabbinical books resulted, in the first year, in a fair collection of literature. The literary society. 7WV' 932 *7'YN, was formed among the young students. The first year's instruction convinced the teachers that Arnerican-born youths are quite capable and willing to study and to master Jewish literature.

The first Monday in September, 1876, the college was re-opened i n two Grades, Grade D under Preceptor Eppinger, and Grade C under Isaac M. Wise. The. Rev. Dr. M. Lilienthal volunteered to teach history. Fifteen pupils from the preceding year formed Grade C (one had left), and eight new-comers formed Grade D. During the year the library increased to two hundred and forty-seven volumes. At the end 01 the year a Board of Examiners, consisting of the Doctors Sonneschein, of St. Louis; Mayer, of Pittsburg, and Lewis N. Dambitz Esq , of Louisville, appointed by the Council of the Union, examined the classes, and reported to the Council that the college digwell perform its task.

The first Monday in September, 1877, the college was opened in three Grades, B, C and D. ; B had nine stud3nts, C , five, and D, nine. The Rev. Abraham Harris (now of Richmond) was added to the staff of teachers, after one, Emanuel Loewenthal, who had been teaching Hebrew for pome months, had suddenly left us. Iluring this year the college was moved from the Bene Israel to the Bene Yeshurun Temple's vestry-rooms. The library was increased, by

1887.1 ' FOURTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 2099

donation of books and purchase, the Council having appropriated $500 for the purpose, to five hundred and twelve volumes. The seal of the College to bear the inscriptions, "IIDXl il'lln D m and 1 1 ~ lpjan was adopted this year At the end of the year the Board of Exam- iners appointed by the Council, vie., the Rev. Doctors Morais Wolfenstein and Zirndorf, examined the classes, and reported very favorably of the work done and the results achieved in the institute.

The first Monday in September, 1878, the Preparatory Department of the Hebrew Union College was completed. I t was opened in four Grades : Grade A with seven, Grade B with six, Grade C with six, and Grade D with nine students. The first and most difficult department was established. During the year Preceptor Lewis Aufrecht took the place of the Rev. A. Harris. Hard work was done that year i n the College. The library increased to 1,396 volumes. At the end of the year the official examiners, the Rev. Doctorg Adolph Huebsch, Bernhard Felsenthal and Aaron Hahn, unanimously tes- tified to the success of the College and the special devotedness of all connected with it.

In September, 1879, the collegiate department was opened with the Faculty, Wise, Lilienthal, Mielziner, Eppinger and Aufrecht, and the student8 from the last year's A Grade. Four years of hard and conscientious work followed, during which time the elegant College building was purchased. Every year the official board of examiners reported most flattering accounts of the work done in the College. In July, 1883, the first class of four rabbis graduated, and every one was elected in a respectable congregation to fill the pulpit.

The College graduated five more rabbis in 1884, three in 1886, and one in 1887, those graduates now occupying the most prominent places in the American temples.

THE GRADUATES. And now the Hebrew Union College requireg no more recom-

mendations It points with pride and satisfaction to the positions. occupied by its graduates in the hearts of our people, in the pulpits of our aongregations, and in the esteem of our countrymen. Those graduate8 are :

1

,2100 FOURTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. [JULY,

Rabbi lsrael Aaron, D. D., of the Temple Congregation, of Buffalo, N. Y.

Rabbi Henry Berkowitz, of the Temple Congregation, of Mobile, Ala. Rabbi Edward N. Ctrlisch, of the Temple Congregation, of Peoria, Ill. Rabbi Samuel Freuder, of the Temple Congregation, of St. Paul,

Minn. Rabbi Louis Grossman, of the Temple Congregation, of Detroit, Mich. Rabbi Max Heller, of the Temple Congregation, of New Orleans, La. Ra.bbi Moses Perez Jacobson, of the Temple Congregation, of Macon,

Ga. Rabbi Joseph Kvauskopf, D. D., ( ~ a n s e s City.) of the Keneseth Israel

Temple Congregation, of Philadelphia., Pa. Rabbi Dazid Philipson, D. D., of the Har Sinai Temple Congregation,

of Baltimore, Md. Rabbi Joseph Xilverman, of the Temple Congregation, of Galveston,

Texas. Rabbi Tobias Schanfarber, (Toledo, 0.) of the Temple Congregation,

of Fort Wayne, Ind. Rabbi Joseph Stolz (Little Rock, Ark.) of the Zion Temple Congre-

gation, of Chicago, Ill. Emily Bloch, B EI. and B. A., licensed teacher of religion in

Talmid Yeladim Institube, Cincinnati. Rabbi Isaac Rubenstein, retired, in Chicago Ill.

Gentlemen of the Board of Governors, the records of Jewish history show no more rapid and no more brilliant success of a class of young student8 than the career made by the graduates of your Col- lege in the short space of four years. A more effective recommenda- tion of.the college can hardly be found. Tt is an old Jewish adage : :(nm hmp) YD3 xn s n m m 3.5 pb:o p ;i*m7~ YY 7-!Y x y - r ~ n , xn> -n - * Whatever the weaver puts upon his apparatus, that he will take from it." The success of an artisan proves the goodness of his material and implements." Thus it is evident that no opposition can do harm to your College ; i t is an established fact.

REFERENCES. Still the College can furnish other references among those who

know its work by personal observation, having been examiners officia.1l-y. It refers in-

1887.1 FOC'RTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT.

chicago-To Rev. Drs. Adler, Felsenthal and Hirsch. - st. Louis-To Rev. Drs. Sonneschein, Sale and Spitz. . ~o~isville-To Rev. Dr. Moses and Louis Dembitz, Esq.

~ ~ m ~ h i s - T o Rev. Dr. Samfield. . New Orleans-To Rev. Dr. Leucht. St. Joseph, Mo.-To Rev. Dr. Schwab. ~altimore-To Rev. Dr. Szold, philadelphia-To Rev. Dr. Hirsch. Montgomery, Ala -To Rev. Dr. Hecht. Nezu York-To Rev. Dr. Kaufman Icohler and Rev. Dr. Abram

i. Isaacs. -To Rev. Dr. Schlessinger.

~ochester, N. Y-To Rev. Dr. ~ a n d s b e r ~ . ttsburg, Pa.-To Rev. Dr. Mayer. eveland, 0.-To Rev. Dr. Hahn.

Wilmington, N. C.-To Rev Dr Mendelssohn. The most renowned and most scholarly rabbis in our country

have examined the classes of the Hebrew Union College at various times and their testimony is on record in your proceedings ; also .:

he te~t~imonials of the late lamented Rev. Drs. Lilienthal, Huebsch d Gutheim ; all of which is highly favorable to the College.

THE PRESENT CONDITION.

; '!he Hebrew Union College is a fixed fact in the hearts of our peo- ; ple? and the conviction of the most intelligent among us. I t fulfills kits destiny, i t solves its difficult problem, i t is the glory of the

Union of American Hebrew Congregations. I t changes entirely the external aspect of Judaism in this country. There is nothing to pre-'

Lvent its graduates, past and future, in less than twenty-five years, from occupying the highest positions in the American synagogues. Then peace and unanimity will prevail also among rabbis.

The College has now the following

FACULTY.

, ISAAC M. WISE, President and Professor of Theology and Philoso-

2 102 FOURTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. [ J ULY,

Rabbi ,noses Mielziner, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor of Tal- mud, the Rabbinical Disciplines and Hebrew Stylistics.

Rabbi Henry Zirndorf, Dr. Ph. Secretary of the E'aculty, Professol: of History and Literature, Instructor in Homiletics and the Bible.

Rabbi David Davidson, Preceptor of Talmud, Rabbinical Commen- taries and Targurnim, Instructor in Syriac.

Rev. 8. Mannheimer, B. A., Librarian, Preceptor of the Bible, He- brew and Aramaic Grammars.

Ephraim Feldman, Instructor in Hebrew in Grades D and C. Rev. M. Goldstein, Preceptor of Liturgy and Music. Rabbi Aaron Hahn, D. D., Ph. Dr , of Cleveland, O., delivered a

course of five lectures on the Responses (nl2iwn) of Rabbis of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, concerning their literary and cul- tural value.

The members of the Faculty are the most punctual and the most conscientious teachers of any institute in the country. There is enthusiasm and zeal in the work which they do. ~ a c h - o n e is eminent in the branches which he. teaches.

1 propose, therefore, the re election of the whole Faculty as it is, and an addition to the salary of Rabbi David Davidson, who does as much work as any other member of the Faculty.

The Moses Montefiore Professorship of Sacred Literature not be- ingfilled yet, the members of the Faculty have divided this work among themselves, and are doing so much extra work.

The Faculty has held, during the past year, ten monthly meetings ; kept a full record of the teachers' work and the students' progress, attendance, application and conduct ; and attended the Sabbath afternoon meetings in the chapel of the college, where the students preach alternately and hold memorial services in memory of deceased benefactors and patrons of the college, whose names are engaved on the memorial tablet.

The degree of Doctor of Divinity, by unanimous vote of the Fac- ulty, has been conferred upon :

Rabbi Solomon Eppinger. Rabbi Aaron Hahn, Dr. Ph, Rabbi Joseph Krauskopf. Rabbi David Philipson. Rabbi Israel A a r o ~

1887.1 FOURTEENTH ANNUAT, REPORT. 2103

At the meeting of the Faculty, June ISth, i t was unanimouslyre- solved that the degree of Doctor of Divinity be conferred upon the author of the new Hebrew commentary and introduction to the ~ ~ o k of Job, Rabbi Benjamin Szold, of Baltimore, whose eminent

in sacred literature is evident from that book; whose rabbinical learning, research and originality are demonstrated by his official career of a quarter of a century in one ofthe largest congregations in this Union.

Also, at the: meeting of June 25th, i t was unanimously resolved to confer the degree of Doctor of Divinity upon Rabbi Joseph Silver- man, of Galveston, Texas. An original dissertation on the Sabbath, by Silverman, laid before the Facu'ty, proves research, diligent work and originality; his three years' work as a rabbi p rov~s his worthiness to be thus honored b r his Alma mater.

These two resolutions of the Faculty are subject to your decision ,and onicial approval.

The Faculty also resolved to distribute the Wm. Rayner prizes according to Mr. Rayner's stipulation, among the most deserving atudents, taking as a etandard the concurrence of good conduct, g.unctua1 attendance and earnest application, and voted the prizes to

Rudolph Grossman, 11. Collegiate Class. F kid Adolph Gutmacher, I. Collegiate Class. k Leo M. Franklin, B Grade.

Isaac Pichel, C Grade. Djalma Houseman, D Grade.

t d

THE STUDENTS.

There are now in the college thirty-five students, no specials, ex- 6cept Miss Jennie Mannheimer, who takes the Hebrew and history courses only. Their standing at the close of the term is as follows :

1. Edward N. Calisch, B. A., Rabbi elect of the Peoria (111.) Con-' .@;regation, graduated with the degree of Rabbi.

6

9 k" SENIOR CLASS.

2104 FOURTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT.

JUNIOR CLASS. 4. Hyman J. Elkin. 5. William Friedman (Conditioned). 6. Moses Gries (Conditioned). 7. Rudolph Grossman. 8. Charles Levy. 9. Wm. Roswau.

10. Max Wertheimer.

11. COLLEGIATE CLASS.

11. Alexander Geismar. 12. Samuel Greenfield. 13. Adolph Gutmacher (With prospect of further advance).. 14. Israel Joseph. 15. Clifton Levy.

I. COLLEGIATE CLASS.

16. Philip Elkin (Conditioned). 17. Samuel Hirschberg 18. Alexander Lyons (Conditioned). 19 Charles Rubenatein.

A GRADE.

20. Charles Fleischer, 23. Isaac Rosenthal. 21. Leo M. Franklin. 24. Jennie Mannheimer. 22. Meyer Levi.

B GRADE.

25. Abraham Bondy. 28. Abraham Simon. 26. David Marx. 29. Jacob Simon. 27, Isaac Pichel. 30. Moses Strauss.

C GRADE.

31. Jacob Cohen. 34. Simon Rosenfeld. 32. Djalma Houseman, 35. Felix Satler. 33. Itaac Marcuson.

The D Grade for the next scholastic year is to be formed of new- comers which, for the first time, will complete- the eight classes of the college. There were always one or two classes between, which. were unoccupied.


There ia no marked difference among these cjtudents in talent and ability; they are all of them of a high grade of intellectual

or else they could not frequent simulta~eously the two institutes, college and university, or college and high school, and succeed in both. The difference between them is only in appli. cation, attendance and deportment, in which some excel and others fall short of the standard; still not to such a degree that any par ticular report to your honorable body is deemed necessary.

THE SUBJECTS TAUGHT LAST YEAR.

PROFESSOR WISE, LECTURES I N THE SENIOR AND SECOND COLLEGI- ATE CLASSES.-The Elements of Rational. Theology; The Form and Contents of Theology as a Science ; The Scriptural Foundation of Ethics ; The Signification of Covenant ; Introduction to the Penta- teuch.

READINGS IN SENIOR C ~ ~ s s . - f i r e h Nebzcchim, with Introduction and survey of the whole.

IN SECOND COLLEGIATE C~~ss,-&foreh Nebuchim, Part III., from Chapter 11 to the end.

IN FIRST COLLEGIATE CLASS -Moreh Nebzcchirn, Part II., from Chapter 32 to the end, with some corresponding chapters on (*jsD 73 '~DYIS'I nlN-2;) in Joseph Albo's Ikkarim.

IN GRADES A AND B-From Maimonides' Sepbr Ram-Madda, Biz. : Yesod hat-Thorah Chapters 1, 2, 7,8,9 and 10; in Deoth, Chap- tera .! 2, 6, 7 ; in Theshubah Chapters 5 to 10.

PROFESSOR MIELZINER, READINGS IN $HE FIRST COLLEGIATE CLASS. -Talmud with Rashi in Sanhedrin, third and fourth Perakim, 23a to 39a, and Chelek, 90a to 943-40 pages ; Luzzatto's Grammal of Talmudical Idiom, Chapters 1-7.

Shulchan Amch Orach Chayim, selections on Rosh Hashannah, Y o ~ n Kippur. Chanuka, Purim and Pesach

Psalms translated, expounded and partly committed to memory, 1, 2, 3, 6,8, 15, 16, 19, 20, 24,27,29, 34,90, 91,92,93,94,95,96, 97,98, 39,100,101,102, 103, 104.

Weekly exercises in Hebrew stylistics. Lectures on Hermeneu- : tics of the Halachah and. Legal Maxims of the Talmud. 1

i2106 FOURTEENTEI ANNUAL REPORT. [JULY,

IN THE SENIOR AND SECOND COLLEGIATE CLASSES COMBINED ,- Readings in Talmud, with Rashi and select Tosaphoth Kiddwhin,

from the beginning to 8a, 29a-44a, 5%-62b, 66b-693-55 pages. IN SENIOR CLASS SEPARATE.-M~CGO~~, from the beginning to 13b

22a to the end-28 pages. IN BOTR CLASSES COM BTNED.- Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim

selected chapters on the Holy Days ; and in Senior Class separate, the most important chapters from Eben ha-Ezer.

Midravh Rabbah, Genesis Parshoth, 1-12. Lectures on introduction to the Talmud, on the Law of Heredi

tary Succession, and on the principles of nptn, u9n and 3?7. PROFESSOR ZIRNDORF, IN SENIOR C~~ss.--Hi~tory from Moses

Mendelssohn to the present time. IN THE SECOND COLLEGIATE C~~ss,--History, from the disaster at

Sevilla to the end of the 17th century-1391 to 1680 A. C. IN THE FIRST COLLGIATE CLASS.-B~S~O~Y, from the completion of

the Mishnah to Moses Maimonides-210 to 1135 A. C. IN A AND B GRADES.- History, from the death of Herod I. to 64

A C and Proverbs expounded and translated, Chapters 1-17 ; some +committe& to memory.

Tv C AND D G ~ ~ ~ ~ s . - M i s t o r y , from Mattathia, the Asmonean, to -the death of Herod I.-167 to 3 B. C.

XN LECTURES AND DICTATIONS I N FIRST COLLEGIATE C~~ss.--History of Literatwe from the completion of the Mishnah to Ibn Gabirol- 200 to 1100 A. C.

*

IN THE SENIOR AND SECOND COLLEGIATE C~~ss~s . - -His to ry of Lit- erature from Moses Mendelssohn to the present time.

Historicai sources were copiously read in the classes, notes and addenda were dictated, and historical essays were written.

I n the Homiletic Class twelve sermons written by students were criticized

PRECEPTOR D A ~ D S O N , READINGS IN C G ~ ~ ~ ~ . - T a l r n u d Pesachim, 99b-104a- 10 pages.

Thorah with Rashi in Exodus, Chapters 1-3 IN A AND B GRADES.-Talmud, Rosh Hashonah, 2a-lla-18 pages. Mishna, with Bartinuro in Szcccah Perek I.

FOURTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 2107

Thorah. with Rashi in Numbers, Chapters 13-16. IN FIRST COLLEGIATE CLASS -Thorah, with Rashi in Exodus,

Chapters 15-21. IN SECOND COLLEGIATE CLASS,-Thorah, with Raahi, Ibn Ezra

and Targumim i n Leviticus, Chapters 19-22. Syriac in Second Collegiate Class, exercises in reading and ety-

mology; in the Senior Class, reading from the Peshitq, Songs of Solomon completed

PRECEPTOR MANNHEIMER IN C GRADE.-Exodus ; the two Books of Samuel ; Psalms, 1-41, committing to memory 1, 2, 3, 8,11, 14, 15, 16, 19, 23, 24, 29; Hebrew Grammar : the regular and irregular Verbs, with written. exercises from Deutsch'e Grammar ; Mishnah, Bosh Hashonah and Taanith.

IN A AND GRADES.--Deuteronomy ; Daniel ; Ezrah and Nehe- miah ; the Elements of C haldaic Grammar, with written transla- tions from Chaldaic into Hebrew.

IN THE FIRST COLLEGIATE CLASS.-Isaiah, Chapters 40-66 ; 1-12. IN THE SECOND COLLEGIATE CLASS.--Isaiah, Chapters 1-39. IN TJXE S~NIOR CLASS. -The five Megilloth.

Instructor Peldmun taught in Grade D. Deuteronomy complete, except chapter 28. Pirke Aboth complete. The Psalms contained in the Prayer-book, some of which were committed to memory. Etg- mology of the Hebrew language, as much as necessary to a proper understanding of the grammatical forms in the Bible and Mishna portions read in the class.

THE METHOD.

The objects to be attained in this College being peculiar, and different from the objects taught in secular colleges and universities, the method of teaching must naturally correspond to that pecu- liarity. The student, in order to be admitted to graduation and to receive the degree of Rabbi, which leads to the degree of Doctor of Divinity by an established post-graduate course, must have acquired the ability to read understandingly the original sources of the Bible, its ancient versions, such as the Targzcmim, Peshito, and, if possible, also the Septuagint, the Rabbinical commentaries, the Talmud,

2 108 FOURTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. , [JULY,

Codes, Midrash, and the theologic-philosophical literature of the Hebrews, The candidate for the Rabbillical degree is expected to possess fully the ability of reading and expounding correctly any given passage in the Hebrew, New Hebrew or Aramaic, and where no particular difficulties are interposed, he must read prima v sta, or at least, after a short preparation, without the aid of the lexicon.

This requires a systematical study of the respective languages, history and literary history, together with archsology and geography, and close attention to terminology in the different branches of those literatures, to be continually practically applied to every passage which is read in the class The student begins not with learning grammar or any of those auxiliary sciences ; he begins a t once to read the original texts of Bible and Mishnah, and the teacher

C

calls his attention to them as the occasion offers, so that he must know the language and the material read before he knows the scientific grammar, history or archtzology, all of which are taken u p when the student is far advanced in his knowledge of the original Bible and the Rabbinical books. So much about the literary method followed. I

The candidate for the Rabbinical degree is also expected to know in the main the contents of the Talmud, and no student can read the whole or even the largest part of it. Therefore, while in this branch the same literary method is applied, there must be added thereto the method of generalization. The teacher acquaints the student with a systematical abstract of the whole, or at least the main contents of the material which the Talmud and Codes contain, while the student ia continually held to read the original sources before his teacher and to become independent of him.

The candidate for the Rabbinical degree is also expected to have a fair knowledge and understanding of the theology, philosophy and history of Judaism, not in their ritual and liturgic aspects, but also in their rationa1it.y and essen iality. This can not be quired by the mere reading of the original sources, the cri icisms and commentaries by different authors. In this branch of learning two different dangers are to be counteracted, *he petrified dogmatism and unreasoning conservatism on the one hand, the frivolous and - shallow agnosticism on the other hand, neither of which is Jewish,

1887.1 FOURTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 2 109

ae~irable or even practicable in our age and country. Therefore, in these disciplines there must be added to the usual literary and generalization me hods that which we call the emancipasion mathod. The mind of the student must be made free and untrammeled, to reflect and reason independently, so that he may form his own con- ceptions of the theology, philo~ophy and history which he studies. The liberated reason, supported by that literature and learning with which i t is enriched, will always find the straight path to truth and rectitude and the proper way to their practical application. This emancipation method makes i t necessary that the student, from the beginning to the end of his career, be urged and trained to think for himself and to express freely his thoughts ; th3t he be continually practiced in rational criticism and comparative studies in every branch of the curriculum, and especially in the speculative disciplines thereof. What any Jewish reasoner laid down, philosophic- ally or traditionally, must be fairly compared with the teachings, opinions and arguments of others ; the teachings of the past must always, and conscientiously, be compared with the modern products of thought and experience ; the substance must be liberated from its incrustation, and the real v+lue of both demonstrated without prejudice or frivolity. This is the method to make free men, honest leachers and enthusiastic apostles of truth, humanity and enlightenment, which, in their unison, are the soul of Judaism.

These methods are faithfully applied in this College ; therefore, it pays more attention to the substance than to its accidents ; it lays more stress on reason than on word learning; and attaches more importance to individuality and independence than to books and apparatuses. The training and natural development of the mind is the object of education. I n the name and in behalf of our people and our religion we claim freedom of thought and speech.

THE NEXT SCHOLASTIC YEAR.

The next scholastic year begins Monday, September 5th, for all classes, A vacation from the 17th to the end of the month will be given to such students who are called to officiate in congregatioqs during the holy days.


CANDIDATES' QUALIFICATIONS.

Candidates for the Preparatory Department must be able to read the Hebrew fluently, know some Hebrew grammar be able to trans- late from Hebrew into English from the book of Genesis, and know the history contained in the Bib'e up to Zerubabel. Furthermore, such candidates must be able to stand examination for the High School in English grammar, arithmetic, geography and American history. as no one can be a student of this department unless he be a graduate or student of the High School, or an institute of equal grade.

Candidates for the Collegiate Department must be able to pass an examination in the studies of the Preparatory Department, viz.- Hebrew and Aramaic grammar ; reading at sight the Hebrew in Pen- tateuch, Former Prophets, Psalms, Proverbs, Daniel, Ezra and Nehe- miah; reading Rashi to Pentateuch. five books of Mishnah, fifty pages of Talmud, and knowing the history of the Hebrews' Second Commonwealth. Furthermore, such candidates must be able to stand examination for the University as follows :

Latin : Caesar, first four books ; Cicero, six orations, including the four against Catiline ; Virgil, first six books of the a n e i d ; Allen's Introduction to Latin Prose Composition, First Part (or an equivad lent) ; Prosody ; Translation at sight.

Greek : Xenophon's Anabasis, four books ; Homer's Iliad, three books, with the Prosody ; Greek Grammar ; Jones' Greek Prose Composition (or an equivalent) ; Translation at sight of any of the less difficult passages in the Anabasis

Mathematics : Arithmetic, dlgebra, through Permutations and Combinations ; Geometry, Plane and Solid (complete) ; Plane and Analytical Trigonometry.

English Language and Composition : (1) Writing from dictation a paragraph of average length and difficulty from De Quincy, Ma- caulay or Carlyle ; (2) A composition-time allowed, one hour- upon the Merchant of Venice, Bacon's Essays, Milton's Comus, as treated in Smith's Studies in English Literature. The candidate is expec ed to have some familiarity with these subjects, to express himself with clearness and accuracy ; to punctuate and paragraph.


None can be a student of this College unless he be at the same time also a regular student of the university in an academic course, or he be a graduate of an institute off qua1 grade.

STUDIES FOR NEXT YEAR.

The curriculum of the college not being changed, the subjects taught last year, as reported, reflect the course of the coming scholastic year with the following variations :

Prof. Wise will teach next year in Senior and Junior Classes, in lectures, the Essence and Evidence of Theology ; Introduction to the Historical Books of the Bible ; the Massorah ; History of the Philoso. phy of Judaism. Readings : Moreh Nebuchim, selections from Part I. and Part II., to chapter 32, with an introduction to the Morch Nebuchim.

I n the Second Collegiate Class, readings, Moreh Nebzlchim, Part III., from chapter 11 to the end, and introduction to the Sacred Scriptures.

In the First Collegiate Class, readings, Morch Ncbzcchim, from Part 11, chapter 32 to the end, with correbponding chapters from Joseph Albo's Sepher Ikkarim.

Prof. Mielziner will teach next year in the Senior and Junior Classes, Talmud, with Rashi and Tosephoth in Guittin, 60 pagea, and in Yoma, the eighth Perek., 40 page! ; Shulchan Aruch, Eben Hnezer, the msin I aws ; Midrash Shemoth Rabba ; Lectures on the Methodology of the Talmud.

In Second Collegiate Class, Talmud, with Rashi in Cholin, the third Perek., 50 pages ; and Taanith, the first Perek., 20 pages ; k7ad Hachasakah, Hilchot h Maacholoth Issurot h ; Lectures on the Talmud- ical Law.

Preceptor Davidson will teach next year, in the B Grade, '17almud Berachoth, select pasaanes ; in A Grade and First Collegiate Class, selections from Perakim I. and 11,, in Baba Mezia; Thorah, with Rashi, in B Grade, from Genesis I, ; in A Grade and First Collegi- ate Class, from Leviticus 19 ; in Second Collegiate Class, Exodus, with Rashi and Targumin, from 21, and in the Junior Class, Thorsh, with Targumin, Rashi and Ibn Ezra, from Numbers 4 ; Mishnah with Bartesurah; in A Grade and First Collegiate Cla s, Tuanith, from

21 12 FOURTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. [JULY,

Perek. 11. ; Syriae, in Second Colleaate Class, exercises i* reading, and in Junior Class, reading the Psalms from the Peshito.

Prof. Zirndorf will teach next ye ~r Histosy, in all classes from and above the B Grade, and History of Jewish Literature, Exegetic Exposition and reading any one Rabbinical Commentary to at least one Book of the Bible ; and continue the criticism of sermons in the Homiletic Class.

Preceptor Mannheimer will continue to read Thorah in all classes above B, Isaiah completed (from chapter 12 to 40), and part of Jeremiah in Second Collegiate Class ; 1sa;ah to chapter 40 in First Collegiate Class ; Job in Junior Class ; Hebrew and Aramaic Gram- mar, Mishnah and Rashi readings, as last year, and Kings, in R Grade.

C and D Grades will be placed under the tuition of special in . structors. Their programme is unchanged.

THE OFFICIAL EXAMINATION.

By the official annual examination under the commission appointed by Council - you, gentlemen, and the Council will be officially informed of the progress of the College during the past year. I do not claim that more or better work has been done this than in any previous years ; but I feel convinced that the Col- lege does not retrograde in i ts methods and exertions to impart knowledge, to excite independent reflection .and original thought and to arouse enthusiasm in its students for the cause of Judaism and the literary treasures of Israel. Not much more could be done for the students, even with a larger force of teachers, because the time, two to three hours daily for five days a week, and one hour on Sabbath, affords no more scope for teaching than is done at present. These students, in their eight years' course. have to be initiated in the English, German, French, Greek, Latin, Hebrew, Aramaic, Syristc and Arabic languages, besides all their scientific, historic, philosophic and theological studies. It is impossible to do more within that time. The success of the graduates among the people proves that enough is done for our practical purposes, more even than similar institutions in Europe do. Our College does less arc+heo- logical, paleographic and hypercritical work and cares less for forms, formulas, antique or fashionable performances ; i t educates practical


guides and teachers for American communities, in which i t is sue- cessful beyond all expectations of its warmeat friends and patrons of ten and twelve years ago.

THANKS.

The thanks of this institute are due to the University and High School of Cincinnati, where its students receive the highest academical training which this country affords. Thanks to the Union of American Hebrew Congregations ; thanks to the Ladies' Assistant Societies, to the generous lodges, which care for the talented son of the poor man; thanks to the patrons and supporters of the College, whose names are engraved on the Tablet as benefactors of humanity ; thanks also to your assiduous and zealous labors in behalf of it, we can close this twelfth year of our labors with the consciousness that we have done our duty to God and Israel, and that God's blessing is visibly revealed over this holy enterprise, which cheers us onward to watch, work and wait, and K>> 'In33 filD success is insured. For the confidence reposed in me and all the generous assistance af- forded me, gentlemen of the Board of Governors, please accept my thanks and acknowledgement, the assurance of my highest esteerr and best affections. Your most obedient servant,

ISAAC? M. WISE, h s i d e n t Hebrew Union College.

Date post:	31-Dec-2020
Category:	Documents
Upload:	others
View:	0 times
Download:	0 times

THE- PRESIDENT OF THE HEBREW UNlON...

Documents