Yeshiva University - Masmid Yearbook (New York, NY)

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It was another dream; the scope of Yeshiva Etz Chaim was not broad enough. A single class, which was being held in a private house, was developed into a yeshiva to satisfy the needs of the high school and college age student. They called it Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. A t the new school there were ney dreamers, dreamers who wanted tp combine secular and religious education. To many this new idea was too radical a departure from tradition; while to others, including the students, the idea was seen as a necessity. In 1908 a committee was established to develop a curriculum of secular studies in order to produce devout and observant rabbis . . . equipped with the knowledge of the times. Yeshiva Etz Chaim and the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, both founded in the same synagogue by the same rabbi, shared administration, faculty, and facilities. In fact they were suffering from a dearth of duplication. In 1915 the two schools merged, and Dr. Bernard Revel became president.

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Dr. Revel was the greatest dreamer ever to come to the yeshiva. Under his guidance the dream began to take form as a concrete reality. He wanted to synthesize, to make the study of Jewish culture equally as important as that of classical and modern cultures. In 1928 his efforts bore fruit: Yeshiva College opened its doors. Dr. Revel brought the greatest rabbis and scholars to Yeshiva. He drove himself compulsively to strengthen the fledgling college he had formed. His great guiding work for Yeshiva came to an end with his death in December of 1940 at the age of forty-five. In 1943 Dr. Revel ' s successor, Dr. Samuel Belkin, assumed the presidency. Two years later the college became a university. New colleges— Einstein, Stern. Harry Fischel, Bernard Revel, Ferkauf Cantorial Training Institute, and the Jewish Studies Program— were founded. In addition, preparatory high schools were established. As the University grew. Teachers ' Institute, which had been absorbed in 1920, became Erna Michael College, and the Jewish Studies Pro- gram became the James Striar School of General Jewish Studies. As the University expanded over four campuses, science centers, hospitals, dormitories, libraries, and classroom buildings were constructed for student use.