Yeshiva University High School For Boys - Elchanite Yearbook (New York, NY)

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THE ELCHANITE Thirteen teaching of the truth of the Torah which stand eternal in a world of changing and shifting standards and valuesg to the affirm- ations of the faith of our fathers concern- ing God, Israel and the Torah in their totality, to life in the spirit of these af- firmations, to the Jewish ideals of life and conduct and the sanctifying power of its institutions, in union with the creative cul- ture and humanizing forces of the time, with unshal-:en loyalty to our beloved coun- try. It is for this, our Torah, and for our traditions, which have made possible the very existence of Israel and which have maintained the historic and spiritual unity of eternal Israel, that the Yeshiva stands. Infinite have been the significance and the influence of the Yeshiva in the life of Israel. Throughout the ages, the Yeshivoth have been the well-springs of the word of God and of idealismg they are interwoven in the fabric of Israelis soul and the life of thought. The Yeshiva brings to American Israel this message of a living and creative Judaism, the message of the Torah which goes to the heart of life, that through the ages has been the solid rock upon which Jewish life has buildedg it is dedicated to the transformation into living expression of the ideals of the Torah. The Yeshiva movement in this country is American Israel's recognition that there is only one sure approach to the problem of the perpetuation of Judaism: the culti- vation of the extensive and intensive study of the Torah, developing a higher standard of Jewish life and a deeper understanding and appreciation of the opportunities and obligations of Judaism in this land and age. The one power which American Israel can summon in the war it is waging for self-preservation, against the forces of dis- integration in our surroundings, is that of the efficient and complete Jewish school, culminating in the Yeshiva. The Yeshiva will bring to ever increasing numbers of youth the true pe1'spective of his- toric Judaism in the complex organization of modern life, combining with the learn- ing of the world to-day those values and ideals which have been the strength and the sustaining faith of our fathers, for the en- richment of the life of the Jewish com- munity and of America. The Yeshiva will help span the widening chasm between in- tellectualism and faith in Jewish life and thought. It will embue our Jewish youth with an active and abiding interest in, and a spirit of service, to the cause of Israel.

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Twelve THE ELCHANITE ddress of Dr. Bernard Reve All Corlzcrrlonc Laying Exerciser To the g1'eat assembly of faithful sons and daughters of Israel, who on this day, sac1'ed to God and significant to the entire House of Israel, have assembled from near and far to express their unfailing allegiance and devotion to God, and to rejoice in the fulfillment of the hope and vision of a shrine for the Shekina, of a sanctuary on this continent, dedicated to the glory of God, and the spiritual enrichment of our country, to the worthy representatives of the national and local organizations, com- munities and religious congregationsg to the eminent scholars, master builders of American cultural life, presidents, oHicers, and members of faculties of our great uni- versities, the nurseries and the lighthouses of American civilization, who grace and en- hance our assembly with their presence and sympathy, I bring the greetings and the blessings of the House of God,-the Yeshiva. This day marks the dawn of a brighter glory of the Torah on this continent and sounds a note which finds an echo in the heart of every blew who loves God and is loyal to the Torah. This memorable day, this rising sanctu- ary, this representative assembly of tens of thousands who have come distances to pay homage to the Torah, mark the resolved expression by American Is1'ael of its inner urge to create a sanctuary in its heart and in the hearts of their children, to perpet- uate Israel's spirituality and steadfastness to God and his Torah, its aspiration to a true and creative Jewish life, which rises from the sustaining strength of the Torah and its historic and abiding home, the Ye- shiva. The Torah is Gods pillar of light pointing the way to truth and righteous- ness. It constitutes Israel's supreme con- tribution to the spiritual and mo1'al unfold- ing of humanity, its influence is funda- mental in the expression of the true Jewish spirit and genius, wherever and Whenever it reveals itself. With us in this solemn hour, is the spirit of Israel's countless mar- tyrs of all ages, pure and sublime souls who have given their lives to sanctify the name of God and that Israel and his Torah may live, the spirit of the unnumbered sages and scholars of the Torah, men of heroic sta- ture and steadfastness, selfless champions of their people, the spirit of the sage in Israel, Rabbi Isaac Elchanan, whose ideals will forever be a living reality in the Yeshivag they are yvith us in this solemn hour, for it is in their spirit that we are striving. Their abiding faith in Israells everlasting spirit- uality, as a kingdom of priests whose sanc- tuary is the Universe, and as a holy nation, in the unique destiny of Israel, as a servant of God and mankind, is the foundation stone of the sanctuary that we are rearing for God and his Torah, which is dedicated to the perpetuation of the ideals, aspirations, and hopes for which they lived and died. This sanctuary is consecrated to the

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Fourteen THE ELCHANITE TEN YEARS of the LM DICAL ACADEMY Dr. Shelley R. Szzfir Ten years ago, during the last week in December 1916, I first became acquainted with the Yeshiva and its new high-school, the Talmudical Academy. lily friend, Dr. Israel Kliegler who is now chief health of- ficer of Palestine and Professor of bacterio- logy in the L'niversity of Palestine, was then the instructor of biology in the Yeshi- va high-school. In order that he might be able to attend the meeting of the National Academy for the Advancement of Science then held in Philadelphia, he asked me to take his place in the Yeshiva high-school during the week of his absence. A month later. February first, 1917, Dr. Iiliegler re- signed his position as instructor of biology. The late Dr. Solomon T. H. Hurwitz, the first principal and beloved leader of the Talmudical Academy. offered me the posi- tion he had relinquished. It is often said that first impressions are lasting ones. I shall never forget the im- pression the Yeshiva made upon me the first time I entered its portals. I had expected to see a large structure situated in an en- vironment conducive to uninterrupted and concentrated study and provided with all the resources which an institution like the Rabbinical College of America might beex- pected to possess. Instead, the directions which I had received led me to a modest- looking. unimpressive, little brick building. situated in the heart of the clatter and noise of the crowded East Side. of 9-11 llont- gomery Street. It was not long before I became ac- quainted with the other instructorslin the school-there were only five others, includ- ing the principal, llessrs. Stern, Rosen- garten and Lieberman and Dr. Barcarat- and with all the thirty odd students thell attending the school. 1 must COHTCSS that the earnestness, not to mention the ease and facility with which they grasped the subject that I taught fa condition so different from that prevailing in the public high schoolj fascinated me from the start. Bly students and I were soon fast friends and a troop of them used to accompany me to the sta- tion every evening, asking questions or seek- ing advice or offering information gratis. Thus the school went on without much excitement until the fall of 1918. lily one small class had grown to two classes, and at my suggestion a laboratory for twenty- four was fitted out in the basement of the building. During the summer I had gath- ered much biologic material at the llarine Biological Laboratory at VVoods Hole, llass., where I had carried on research work, and when I came back we had a small but fairly well equipped supply room, including even a compound microscope. The year 1913 was the year of the de- vastating influenza epidemic and I soon heard that Dr. Bacarat, our French teacher, was seriously ill with pneumonia. A little later, the news reached us that our beloved saintly principal, Dr. Hurwitz, was also dangerously ill. Our ranks were increased by the coming of Dr. Steinbach from Johns Hopkins to share the teaching of English with Dr. Hurwitz, the addition of Dr. VVinkler brought us a good teacher in Latin and German, while lllr. Heller had come to take care of the artistic proclivities of our young llichael Angelos. illy surprise was deeply commingled with grief when I was summoned by the head of the institution, Dr. Bernard Revel, and with tears in his voice, he informed me that Dr, Hurwitz's illness had taken a tu1'n for the worse and that he was not expected to recover and that I was to acquaint myself with the office details, preparatory to as- suming charge of the Talmudical Academy as acting-principal. Soon after, in Alan.,