JEWISH PROBLEMS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20125, 20 December 1939, Page 10

JEWISH PROBLEMS

ZIONIST SOLUTION

VALUE TO BRITISH EMPIRE

UNIVERSITY IN JERUSALEM

A convinced Zionist, Dr. Chaim Wardi, of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said in an interview in Auckland there could be no solution of the Jewish problem except through the concentration c.f the majority of Jews in Palestine.

“The establishment of a strong Jewish population in Palestine would prove of considerable value to the .British Empire,” he added. “It would dispense with the necessity of sending troops to Cairo and Suez.” With credentials from the Government of Palestine, Dr. Wardi is visiting New Zealand at the instance of the board of governors of the University of Jerusalem, to establish relations with scientific institutions here, and to interest Jewish circles in the'development of the university.

Tragedy of European Jews

The persecution of Jews in Germany, Dr. Wardi said, meant the first step on the path of the spiritual enslavement of the German people, and the beginning of a crusade against the best traditions of 'European civilisation— Christianity, liberalism and freedom of thought in all its manifestations. The tragedy of the European Jews, however, was not only social and economic. It was primarily a spiritual tragedy. To help to solve this tragic spiritual crisis of modern Judaism was the task of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

In the past few months about 250 students who had 'been cut off from their parents in Poland had been admitted to the university in Jerusalem, Dr. Wardi continued, and they were entirely supported from the university funds. The university itself was inaugurated in 0924 by Lord Balfour, and had since developed very rapidly, particularly in recent years,'when a great number of refugee professors from various parts of Europe had been brought to Palestine. All told, there were 125 professors, lecturers and research fellows on the staff, and students numbered 900.

University’s Large Library

There were faculties in the arts, sciences, agriculture and pre-faculties of medjcine, and they included some of the most distinguished men from Berlin, Leipsig, Prague and Rome, many of whornjtad since learned to lecture in Hebrew. Recently the university had placed its services at the disposition of the Government.

Attached to the university was the largest library in the Near East, Dr. Wardi concluded. It held about 500,000 books. One of the most interesting features of the university was a museum of plants and flowers mentioned in the Bible and the Talmud, and conserved in their natural condition through a special secret process.

Dr. Wardi is lecturer in Italian and the history of Italian civilisation. During his stay of several weeks in New Zealand he will study conditions here and collect information for the furtherance of studies in the university at Jerusalem.