THE COLLEGIATE ZIONIST LEAGUE
A Brief Historical Sketch
It is about time that it was realized that the colleges of this country have a one-sided attitude towards culture; that learning there is, to a large extent, saturated with Greek ideals; that Latin and Greek and their offspring, the Romance Languages, are given a prominent place, while Hebrew, under great stress, has been seeking recognition. The very air one breathes is strange to Judaism. Why wonder at the attitude the student bears towards everything Jewish, when the instructor's ridicule greets him, now and then, at manifestations of Jewish individuality? Hence the neglect, by the Jewish student, of the culture of his own people.
It is the task of the Collegiate Zionist League to bring the Jewish phase of the world's culture to penetrate into the soul of the Jewish student. True it is that this work has been carried on, in a small way, by the Zionist societies in Columbia University, the College of the City of New York, and the New York University. The union of forces was first made on November 25, 1906, when a tentative plan of work was drawn up by a body of delegates, and a policy outlined that has served as a precedent for very much of the educational work of the League among Jewish students. It has been one of the principal means of promoting Jewish interest among Jewish-minded young people, and of disseminating a sane view of modern conditions in Jewish life. Each year would see some of the most prominent intellects present before the public, at the League's regularly established lecture courses, their views on the Jewish question. Men of the calibre of Professor Franklin H. Giddings, of Columbia University, Professor Richard J. H. Gottheil, of Columbia University and Professor Israel Friedlaender, of the Jewish Theological Seminary, tendered their contributions to the League's programs.
Auspices were thus most favorable for the success of the organization. Yet, during the academic year 1907-1908, comparatively few students were interested enough to attend lectures. The reason for this could, perhaps, be found in the lack of proper organization which was, to say the least, very loose in character. Invitations by card "apparently did not succeed in attracting the students; nor,—something that, perhaps, indicates general lack of interest in Jewish affairs—-did the invitation through the Jewish and daily press avail. In fact, personal solicitation brought to light the students’ absolutely indifferent attitude towards things Jewish in general, and towards Zionism in particular The Jewish student’s interests seemed to be confined to his college studies, and to his social or athletic circles.
It could easily be noticed, however, at the beginning of the academic year 1908-1909 that the League was bound to succeed. Those who had regularly attended were not only informed of the progress of the Zionist movement, but were filled with a desire to serve the cause. New and larger activities were begun. Hitherto the society or circle had been the basis of organization, and the work was all done by a small body of delegates. Thenceforth, the individual became the basis of organization, and all who would offer their services were accepted into membership, provided they measured up to the regulations in the League’s Constitution. It was thought necessary, also,— considering that the Zionist movement extends equal suffrage to women—to widen the scope of collegiate activities. There was no reason to regret this change, for many young women began to apply themselves to a study of Jewish history, and of Jewish affairs in general. The organization further decided to make an annual contribution to the Central Library in Jerusalem.
Perhaps the most lasting result of the League's activities that year was the getting