|
The
readers of the Occident will surely recollect a
plan
of Judge Noah, published in the September number of last year,
for the establishment of a Hebrew College. But it seems that up to this
moment it has not proceeded beyond the plan, and its realization is
reserved for a future period.
Now
we cannot persuade ourselves that the reason of the abandonment, or
delay only, of so holy and desirable an enterprise is to be sought for
in an entire indifference, or absolute carelessness towards our holy
religion on the part of our fellow-Israelites; for though we evidently
see that they do not live as strictly according to the Mosaic laws as
they did formerly: the Israelite still remains an Israelite, and the
desire to retain his children in the profession of his own religion,
still burns strongly in the breast of every parent.
Nor
are we inclined to believe that the reason of the failure of the above
project is to be found in the fact, that Israelites do not recognise or
mistake the meritorious object of the projector; for besides that the
Judge is known amongst us as a very excellent and deserving personage,
the enterprise speaks loudly for itself, and is
evidently such a one as is the holiest to, and most to be desired by
every one who calls himself a Jew, or who deserves this
honourable distinction in the smallest degree. It cannot be doubted
that. most parents desire to have their children educated in the
sciences, as far as their talents will permit them. This desire should
however be especially dwelling in the bosom of our fellow-Israelites in
America, where the paths of honour are open to the Jew no less than to
the other citizens, and where each parent has a right to hope to see his
son one day filling the highest offices in the gift of the people.
And
still we find in this free country few Jewish youth in the public
institutions, in proportion to the immense number of students of our
persuasion in Europe, who frequent the high schools with the most
distinguished success; and it is not to be denied, that many fathers in
this country try to repress the well-founded expectations of their
children by denying them a liberal education, whilst the European Jews
endeavour to bring forward their offspring on the road to preferment,
deceiving themselves with vain hopes of more liberality towards our
religion, whilst the the prospect becomes in truth darker with every
day.
Is
this to be accounted for on the supposition that precisely in America
Israelites have no taste for sciences? or are they afraid of them or fly
from them as from some deadly monster? or have they no ambition, which
would instigate them to send their children to colleges and
universities?
No!
an aversion to sciences can surely not exist among Israelites, not exist
among a nation from the midst of which sprung a Maimonides, an
Abarbanel, a Nachmanides, and many other lights of the world; a nation,
the youth of which, according to the testimony of all the faculties
where Jewish students are, endeavour to excel their fellows; such a
nation, I say, can never lose all taste and incentive for the pursuit of
the sciences.
We
are therefore obliged to seek the reason of the just mentioned neglect
in this country, in the fear entertained by many, that our youth may
lose their attachment to the paternal faith by frequenting Christian
institutions, which alone they can under present circumstances resort
to, and be persuaded there, through the influence of teachers and
associates, to abjure their religion for another.
And
in good truth, this fear is not without its reason; for from what source
can we expect them to be armed with a strong affection for their
paternal religion? whence is to spring a firm attachment for our faith?
Where are in this country such schools as will enable the Jewish child
to become acquainted with the principles of our heavenly religion? Where
are the teachers who make the youth acquainted with the absolute
superiority of the Mosaic law and its holiness, so as as to implant in
their yet uncorrupted hearts that love and esteem for the same which are
requisite for the formation of a religious life? Or is it supposed that
the instruction imparted in the Sunday schools, given only once a week,
and this for about one or two hours, can be sufficient to give a child a
satisfactory knowledge of the whole law? Can we in truth imagine that
this small amount of instruction will be sufficient to fortify the heart
against the allurements and charms of sin, and excite such a conviction
in our faith, that all the efforts of the proselyte-makers must recoil
without effect?
This
can never be effected by such means. Simple as the law of Moses is,
excellent as its doctrines are in comparisons with those of other
creeds: it is evidently not without good cause that
we are commanded to meditate day and night on the subject of our
faith, and to teach it diligently to our children; and it cannot have
been in vain, that in former days the men of Israel spent the greater
portion of their life in the study of the law. All this is evidently a
proof, that it is the chief obligation of the Jew to acquire a profound
knowledge of the law; since the more he becomes familiar with it, the
stronger will be his conviction of its divine origin; and the more his
love and esteem for it increases, the more will he become strengthened
in believing, and the closer will he cleave to it with body and soul all
the days of his life.
Thus
it was in ancient times, when the study of the law was pursued by our
brethren with a passionate fondness; in those times no sacrifice was too
great which the Jew would not have willingly brought for his religion;
and life, property, country, every thing dear to man, was yielded, only
to retain his hold on his faith.
And
so it will always be, so it must be, as soon as we have a profound
knowledge of our religion, as soon as our children are deeply instructed
in its tenets.
But
alas! we must confess it to our shame, that this holy pursuit even has
been too much neglected in this country; so that we find neither schools
nor teachers of religion, and that out of ten children hardly one knows
what religion is, not to mention what doctrines it comprises.
And
if we consider this fact well, we cannot blame our fellow-Israelites for
not sending their children to Christian institutions; yes, we would
praise them were this the reason why they obstruct them in the pursuit
of an elevated standing, and renounce voluntarily their future
advancement.
The realization of Judge Noah's plan would have
remedied this evil, and nothing would be more desirable than to see such
an institution flourishing among us, in which Jewish children could
obtain a classical education without paying therefor at the cost of
their religion.
Other causes may have, doubtlessly, operated to
prevent Judge Noah's project being carried into effect; but we trust
that American Israelites
are at length convinced that we are greatly in need of such
institutions, wherein our children may acquire a classical and religious
education; and they can be easily established in all the larger cities where the Jewish inhabitants are
numerous.
The object of the undersigned is, therefore, to
establish in this city an institution of this kind: and as he has
acquired a good classical and theological education in several German
universities, and has made these studies his sole occupation, he does
not hesitate to promise that nothing shall be wanting on his part to
farther the success of the institution if it be once established.
It is proposed to teach in this school, Hebrew
grammar, translating the daily prayers and the Scriptures into English.
Catechism, Latin, Greek, English Grammar, Mathematics, Geography,
History, German, and French.
In order to be able to put the charges at the
lowest possible rate, he intends himself to give instruction in most of
the above branches, and to engage competent teachers for the other
departments.
Children of poor parents shall receive their
education gratuitously.
The time of commencing the school cannot be
determined until about twenty pupils shall be offered, when a convenient
schoolroom and the necessary furniture will be at once procured.
The subscriber farther requests those who may be
willing to entrust him with their children, to call on him in person as
soon as convenient, in order to enable him to commence at the earliest
possible day.
H. Felsenheld,
South Second Street, 2d door below Federal.
|
