=University of Wisconsin=
THE academic year 1915-16 opened very auspiciously for the Menorah at
Wisconsin. Fully 100 attended the first meeting, at Lathrop parlors,
on October 4. Twenty-four new members were added, swelling the total
membership to fifty-six. President Charles A. Lebowsky welcomed the
freshmen into the Society, and explained the broad and liberal basis
upon which the Menorah rested. Professor Dodge, Chairman of the
Menorah Prize Committee, announced the Menorah prize of $100 (the
largest individual prize in the University of Wisconsin), and urged
all members to try for it. The closing speech of the evening was given
by Dr. H. M. Kallen, mentor of the organization. Dr. Kallen spoke on
"The Menorah Movement--Its Relation to Jewish Academic Life." After
the meeting a general mixer was held, refreshments served, and the
members became acquainted with each other.
At the second meeting of the year, on October 18, Mr. Alexander
Aaronsohn of Palestine, brother of the famous agronomist, addressed an
enthusiastic audience upon the subject of "Jewish Colonization in
Palestine." The speaker had but recently arrived from that land, after
many thrilling adventures, and his talk was most inspiring. Mr.
Aaronsohn emphasized the fact that while formerly, since time
immemorial, it has been the custom, and in fact the ambition, of every
Jew to return to Palestine that he might die there, to-day, it was not
to die, but to live, that the Jew returned to the land of his fathers.
At the following meeting the Society discussed the Russian situation;
Mr. Zigmund Salit gave an interesting paper describing his own
experiences in that land of suffering. Mr. Milton Moses delivered an
oration on "The Wandering Jew."
On November 15, Rev. C. A. Greenman, of the First Unitarian Church of
Milwaukee, addressed us on a striking theme, "The Relationship Between
Judaism and Unitarianism." Other speakers to follow are Justice Hugo
Pam, of the Chicago Appellate Court, Rabbi Joseph Stolz, and Dr.
Horace J. Bridges, of the Chicago Ethical Culture Society, besides
members of our own Faculty.
In order to arouse even more enthusiasm for the Menorah idea, the
executive committee has arranged to hold a number of informal dinners.
Since these dinners are given primarily for members of the Society, no
outside speakers will be invited. Short and snappy toasts will be
given by members, the alumni will be called upon if any happen to be
present, and the Menorah Song will be rendered by the ensemble. If the
first dinner proves to be successful, and there is every reason to
believe that it will, these affairs will become an established part of
the Menorah program at Wisconsin.