JEWISH UNIVERSITY

Hokitika Guardian, 3 April 1925, Page 3

JEWISH UNIVERSITY

OPENED J!Y WAHL BALLOUH

AN EPOCHAL EVENT.

AUKTItALIAN AND N.Z. CAIII.E ASSOCIATION

(Received this day at 10.25 a.m.) JERUSALEM. April 2. The Hebrew University was inaugurated in the presence of seven thousands in its great ampi-thentre, cut in Creek style on the side of .Mount Scopus Horn whose three thousand feet summit the copper domed building dominates eastward, the wilderness of Judaea, with glimpses of the Jordan, the Dead Sea, and the -Mountain of Gilead and -Mont, while it (ommand.s on its western side a panorama of the Holy City.

p’jlty of the leading institutions o

learning and academic bodies of tm whole world were represented at the inauguration. Hours before the ceremony the narrow dusty road to -Mount Scopus was black with vehicles. Jews, old and young, were everywhere visible climb-

ing the slopes. Only three of the five sections of the ampin-theatre aic so far completed. These were built in five weeks by three thous-qul Jews, many whereof arc' students.

Thousands wore turned away, although many trainpcd long distances. A tremendous ovation was accorded Earl Balfour on rising to make the inaugural speech wherefore in returning thanks lie gracefully apologised for his inability to speak in Hebrew. Karl Balfour referred If) the worldwide composition of the gathering assembled to mark a great epoch in Jewish history and a great milestone in future career of Judaism. He recalled that the very spot where the Israelites entered the Promised Land was visible from where they were sitting and they l were on the very lull whore the Itornan destructors conducted the seigo of Jerusalem .which ended that great chapter for the Jewish people. He asked if there could lie a more historic spot for the Jewish culture which had hcen uninterrupted since then, but which had been scattered.

Earl Balfour was convinced that the unparalleled experiment of adopt in .Western incthods and the Western form of University to an Eastern site and the use of an Eastern language was pro-destined to be an inevitable success despite, the difficulties which it would meet. He described Hebrew as a great language, because all Englishspeaking people were brought up on an English translation of the Hebrew scriptures. That translation was one of their great literary treasures, irrespective of the creeds and beliefs argued therefrom. The original language mu-sE even be superior to the translation. Nevertheless there was a great difference between I.iaali and microbiology. He had been assured that the difficulty of adopting it in the realm •of knowledge would he adequately surmounted and he believed this difficulty would he overcome; a Hid the fear that teachers would be inadequately competent. lie quoted in support of this belief three theories relating to different branches of science which weio attracting world-wide attention, ah ol which were propounded by Jews, name ]y, creating evolution and the new psychology, both by friends of bis. while the third, which was the most original and important, was of relativity by Professor Einstein. Earl Balfour recalled the past cooperation between the Jews and Aiubs and eloquently appealed for the same spirit now and for the Arabs to support the University. Ho said that while he could not hope that the Arab and Jewish differences would not he lasting, the fate of the University .should not I/O jiflcctcM.

After piiyinf? a. irilmto to the l>i"igressive policy decided on l>y I lie University leaders, and declaring Ids <onlidenee in the success of the venture, (Karl Balfour declared the University

1 |’he ceremony opened with the British Anthem, after which the Jewish choir entertained the.gathering with beautiful singing. The ampin-theatre presented a remarkable spectacle, tier upon tier being closely packed with hunuuuty. After the opening speech by Uei/.mann, Mr A. M. Somul (Parliamentary Secretary of Overseas Trade) conveyed the British Government's good wishes and read a telegram from the Foreign Secretary (Mr Austen Chamberlain) hoping the project would >o successful in spreading culture and enlightenment on the historic soil of 1 l 'nm'Troceedin,gs terminated with a recital of a poem by the Hebrew poet Bialik, after which Chief Babbi Hertz pronounced tlie Blessing. It is estimated that fourteen H m-g-md were present around the amphitheatre whereof ten thousand witnessed the ceremony. -

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