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

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nine litcx tlfllil' THE EXPERIMENT by DR. PINKHOS CHURGIN HE Talmudical Academy is one of the educational achievements in this celebrated aggregate of experi- ments which is represented by our great institution. The Talmudical Academy made its advent twenty years ago without the fanfare and usual heated excitement that a new experiment evokes. There was no preparatory activity heralding its com- ing. Then the necessary equipments were lacking. It came into being by the simultaneous power of an active vision and creative personality which was actuated by the inarticulate and providential forces of the Jew's will to live. That is how the history of the Talmudical Academy began and how it advanced from one stage to another to become a signal institution and the only one of its kind in the United States. It has grown from a mere unobserved experiment into an educational organization which re- fiects credit on orthodox Jewry and which is becoming a real factor in the secondary education of this State. It is only tragic that the Talmudical Academy is still the only institution of its kind in the United States, that the Jews in America have not been yet sufficiently awakened to the ne- cessity of having many more schools of this type. There is still present among us the fear of segregation which is manifested in the actions as well as in the arguments of those who still stay away from active support of our institution. This fear of segre- gation has its seat in the assimila- tionist tendencies of a century, which we believed to have entirely passed away but which is still with us in a different garb. Those still believe that segregation is the main spring of Jew hatred. They hope, it would seem, that by eliminating segregation antisemitism will vanish with it. This is a narrow view and a very tragic one of the problem of this complex which is called antisemitism. The antisemite does not have to go far to find a motive for his philosophy against Jews. On the other hand no one can claim the complete absence of segregation. There is segregation and there will be segregation in the life of the American Jew. There is segregation of religion. There are local differences even among Chris- tians of the same denomination. No- body will become hateful of the Jews who are honestly trying to assert their own spiritual personality or for trying to preserve their religious and na- tional identity. Such an honest seg- regation will not only not arouse our Christian neighbors against us but must have the effect of instilling re- spect for us. Of course we insist that segregation, our segregation included, should be entirely a voluntary one. But under all circumstances we should not be deflected in our course for the opening of new reservoirs of power for our continuity by external con- siderations. We must preserve our existence- no matter what the reac- tion of others towards us may be. 4Conti11.u.ed on Page 173

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the elclmnite eight lute unprecedented proportion of them -9002-continue their studies in in- stitutions of higher learnings. An increasing number of the best of them proceed with their academic work in the Yeshiva College, the newest de- velopment of the Yeshiva Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, car- rying forward the work begun in the T. A. But, even before that institu- tion was opened to them, the gradu- ates of the Yeshiva High School were enrolled in many colleges and profes- sional schools pursuing post graduate sciences, or the various studies in the arts and preparing themselves for error made of the true state of affairs, is that all, or nearly professions. A common by most people, ignorant all, of our graduates become rabbis. To refute this erroneous belief, I examined our records for the profes- sions entered into by the graduates of our first seven classes'-from 1919 to 1925-and I found the following results: Lawyers-19, Rabbis-6, Business f22g Physicians-5, Public School Teachers-12g Hebrew Teachers-213 High School Teachers --8, College Teachers-3, Cantors-2, Account- antsf2, Actor-1 Maui, This gras a totem 131 out of 163 graduates for those seven years. The data for the remaining 32 was of too meagre a nature to include in this summary. However, the number in- cluded in this survey gives a fairly accurate idea of the activities which our graduates pursue upon completing their studies in our High School. V77 VV V

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the elchanite ten STATE CE NEW YORK EXECUTIVE CHAMBER ALBANY HERBERT H. LEHMAN Governor April 17, IQ37. Editor The Elchanite, Talmudical Academy, Amsterdam Avenue and l8Bth Street, New York, N. Y. Dear Sir : I am very glad indeed to have the opportunity, through the columns of the Elchanite, of sending my congratulations and good wishes to the faculty and students of the Talmudical Academy of Yeshiva College. The year IQ37 marks the twentieth anniversary of the founding of the Academy. During those years, hundreds of young Iewish men have received academic and spiritual training in its halls. It has prepared many for leadership in religious and spiritual fields. The inspiration of its teaching has extended to even a larger number who have made the professions, the arts and sciences, the work of their lives. I have had the privilege of observing the work of the Academy and the College, and greatly prize the privilege of being an honorary alumnus of the latter. I know to what an extent your institution teaches culture, thoroughness in preparation, intellectual sincerity and freedom. I know, too, the emphasis that is laid on good citizenship and the insistence that with the privileges of citizenship go responsibilities which cannot be shirked by anyone who considers himself a good American and a good Iew. I congratulate the trustees, the faculty and students on the fruition of twenty years of constructive effort. I hope that the service that the Academy and the College renders to the community and our faith will ever increase. Very sincerely yours, -S