=College of the City of New York=
THE beginning of the academic year 1915-1916 marked the adoption of a
new policy in the history of the C. C. N. Y. Menorah Society. During
the past five years, Menorah activities have been mainly extensive,
the purpose being to interest as large a number of students as
possible. But now that the Menorah has come to exert such a wide
influence in C. C. N. Y., greater prominence is being given to work of
a more intensive nature, and emphasis is laid on the quality rather
than the quantity of the membership.
Our program of Menorah activities may be divided into extensive work
and intensive work. At the basis of the extensive work are the public
lectures which are intended not only for Menorah members but for the
entire student body. The first of these public lectures was held on
October 7 when Dr. Sidney E. Goldstein of the Free Synagogue delivered
an enthusiastic and inspiring address on "Social Service and the Jew"
before an audience of over 150 students. At the suggestion of Dr.
Goldstein a number of students present volunteered to form a group for
the study of social problems in the Jewish community of New York City
in connection with actual social service work. The second public
lecture, held on October 21, was delivered by the Hon. Marcus M.
Marks, Borough President of Manhattan. Over 200 students were present,
and about 150 more were turned away after the doors were shut.
The weekly forums constitute the second part of the extensive work of
the Society. At these Forums, talks followed by discussions are given
by members of the Faculty, Menorah alumni and others. The first Forum
meeting of the semester, with which Menorah activities were formally
opened, was held on September 21, and was led by Chancellor Henry
Hurwitz, who spoke on "The Meaning of the Menorah Movement." Other
Forum speakers have been Professor William B. Guthrie of the
Department of Political Science; Professor John P. Turner of the
Philosophy Department; Mr. George J. Horowitz, an ex-president of the
Menorah; Rabbi Aaron Robison, Director of the Y. M. H. A.; Mr. Isadore
Berkson, an alumnus and ex-president of the Menorah; Professor H. D.
Marsh of the Philosophy Department; and Mr. Julius Drachsler,
Secretary of the School of Jewish Communal Workers.
The study circles comprise the intensive work of the Menorah and
constitute its most important activity. At these study circles a group
of not more than ten students come together once a week for one hour
to study and discuss questions of Jewish interest. The work in the
study circles is done entirely by the students themselves. Up to the
present, eleven study circles have been organized and these meet
regularly every week. Some of the subjects taken up are: Modern Jewish
Movements, Current Events in Jewry, Schechter's "Essays in Judaism,"
Present Day Problems in Judaism, Jewish Biography, The Philosophy of
Ahad Ha-'am.
In addition to all these activities, "regular" meetings of the Society
are held. On the evening of October 6 the annual smoker took place at
the City College Club, with Mr. M. S. Levussove of the Faculty, Mr.
Julius Hyman, an alumnus, and Chancellor Hurwitz among the speakers.
On October 23 George J. Horowitz read an interesting paper on "Judaism
and Christianity," which was followed by a spirited discussion. On
Saturday evening, November 13, there was held a joint meeting of the
students of the day college and of the evening college for the purpose
of organizing a Menorah Society among the students of the evening
college. Professor I. Leo Sharfman of Michigan addressed the meeting
on "A Few Facts About the Menorah." The men of the night college were
very enthusiastic about the idea of the Menorah and the prospects of a
successful Menorah among them are very favorable.
The membership of the C. C. N. Y. Menorah is constantly growing,
although in every case application for membership is always
spontaneous and voluntary.