Yeshiva University - Masmid Yearbook (New York, NY)

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MAIN ENTRANCE EIGHT YE. OF YESHIVA The Idea of a college such as Yeshlva — a college of liberal arts and sciences under Jewish auspices and in a Jewish atmosphere — has existed in America since far back in the last century, but only in the decade of the twenties did this dream achieve a permanent actualization with the founding of Yeshiva College. Yeshiva ' s Theological Seminary has been preparing its students for the rab- binate since the closing years of the last century. These men, however, felt a pressing need for training in secular as well as in religious fields, and expressed this desire as early as nineteen hundred six, when they petitioned the Board of Di- rectors for the institution of English courses. It was not until almost ten years later, however, that the first step toward making such study possible was taken. The opening of the high school in nineteen hundred fifteen took care of he educational needs of the younger students, and at its first graduation Dr. Revel, president of the Rabbinical Seminary, suggested the necessity for a college of liberal arts and sciences that would enable Yeshiva men to complete their secular education simultaneously with their rabbinical studies. There was but little encouragement forthcoming from the ranks of Jewry in support of such an idea. Peter Wiernik and Rabbi M. S. Margolls were its staunchest supporters; others saw too clearly the difficulties, and were unwilling to offer positive assistance. Yet the notion refused to die: it was treasured in the minds of a few, persisted, and finally began to spread and to be seriously con- sidered by American Jewry. Twelve MASMID

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Chanukah of nineteen twenty-four marks the first practical step toward the founding of the College. At a banquet held at the hjotei Aster some one hundred twenty-five New York Jews, prominent among whom were Nathan Lamport, Harry Fischel, Samuel Levy, and Otto A. Rosalsky, pledged a total of a million dollars toward the college building fund. The initial impetus provided, events followed rapidly. In May of the following year, a second dinner was arranged — the now famous Million Dollar Dinner — on which occasion twelve h undred men and women each paid a thousand dollar cover charge for the privilege of attending. It was at this glittering and most brilliant affair that the second million was subscribed to the fund. Then the Building Committee, which included Harry Fischel, Meyer Vessell, and Harris L. Selig, went to work in earnest. It acquired the two and a half square blocks on Amsterdam Avenue where the College now stands, and on Sunday, May I, 1927, a gathering of more than ten thousand people crowded the grand- stands to witness the laying of the cornerstone for the first group of College buildings. The structures erected harmoniously combine striking features of early By- zantine, Moorish, and Gothic architecture, and include the Dormitory, Auditorium, and School buildings. The first of these includes apartments for its supervisors, social and recreation rooms, the dining hall, and the infirmary, and accomodates two hundred fifteen students. The Auditorium Building includes a most striking three story auditorium which seats nearly fifteen hundred people, a gymnasium in its basement, and art and science rooms on the fourth floor. The school building houses the Main Library, as well as several departmental libraries, the executive and administrative offices, the synagogue, study hall, the large Science Lecture Hall, biology, physics, and chemistry laboratories, and class and conference rooms. It was not until December 9, 1928, that this group of buildings was dedicated, AUDITORIUM BUILDING MASMID Thirteen