Affair at Astor Fetes Yeshiva’s First Ten Years (Vol. 4, Issue 6)

A dinner celebrating the tenth anniversary of the founding of Yeshiva College, was held last Sunday night at the Hotel Astor. A subscription of $50.00 per couple was charged for the affair, the proceeds of which will go towards the scholarship fund of the college.

Leaders in the field of intellectual and political endeavor, among whom were Senator William H. King of Utah and Professor Cassius Jackson Keyser, of Columbia University, addressed the distinguished assembly of over 500 people. After the Hebrew invocation delivered by Rabbi B. L. Levinthal of Philadelphia, Mr. Arthur Price, as chairman of the evening in place of J. David Stern who was unable to attend, introduced successively Dr. Keyser and Professor Nelson P. Mead, Acting President of the College of the City of New York and former head of the History Department at Yeshiva College. Both speakers discussed the importance and contributions of Yeshiva College to the realm of liberal arts and sciences.

Dr. Bernard Revel, president of the college, spoke of the tragic condition of the Jews throughout the world and praised the policy which the United States has adopted towards Fascist nations. Continuing in the same vein as Dr. Revel, Senator King, as the principal speaker of the evening, condemned the actions of Italy and Germany as having a destructive influence on the foundations of culture and civilization. 

“I would favor severing diplomatic relations with such nations as cowardly as the Nazi regime,” the senator declared.

Obviously impressed by the occasion, he concluded his address by proclaiming that only through the spirit of the Torah and the Talmud can the world reach a higher culture. On the program were also several artists from Radio City Music Hall, including Viola Philo, soprano, Jan Peerce, tenor, and the Music Hall Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Mischa Violin. Raymond Massey and Maurice Schwartz performed as representatives of the theatre.