"The Nathan Littauer professorship of Jewish literature and philosophy has been established, thanks to a gift from Lucius N. Littauer, Harvard '78, of New York, in honor of his father, who died in 1891. The gift of Mr. Littauer will be completed in 1928, on the fiftieth anniversary of his graduation from Harvard University. It is the confident hope of the donor that the establishment of this chair will be a force of far-reaching service in the cause of higher education, of scholarly research, of enlightenment, appreciation of Jewish ideals, and a contribution throughout the ages by the Jews to the humanities."
In these few words, the Information Secretary of Harvard University announced to the reading public the establishment of the first chair for Jewish literature, history and philosophy at Harvard, the oldest institution of higher learning in America. This announcement, although properly regarded by the American press, is more than a record of the establishment of a chair. It is, one might say, an epic of Jewish life in general, American Jewish life in particular, and the culmination of a long and deeply rooted desire which found expression in so modest a fashion. Those who are familiar with the growth of the university as an institution for disseminating knowledge, and more so for scientific theory, know that it originated with the study of Jewish theses. The first university, established in Prague, included in its program, outside of the study of the astrology and astronomy, the humanities, which meant the study of the historical Bible records. The university has grown, and has outgrown its original basis. It is still growing and will continue to grow, every student hopes, toward the unbiased search for the truth.
Hebrew and the Bible
However, the Bible has fared well in comparison with post-Biblical literature, medieval Jewish history and poetry. How much of the Midrashic beauty, Mishanic precision, is known to Jews and non-Jews? How many of the gems of thought contained in the Jewish philosophic literature, in both its antitheses, the philosophy and Kabbala, are accessible to the student and the public at large?
Hebrew and the Bible are being studied at every university, but as a small part of the humanities. The modern languages have in recent years acquired a vast literature and Bible criticism. Most of these publications were carried on with a purpose. Their appearance coincided with the coming forth of the racial theories in France and Germany, culminating in the Nordicism of America. The study of Jewish literature, both antique and post-Biblical, remained a pending problem, a hoped-for accomplishment.
Harvard is to make the start, through the generosity, vision and idealism of Lucius N. Littauer.
* * *
The simplicity of Amos, the mysteries of Daniel, the chronology of Nehemiah, the vision of Isaiah II, are to be unraveled and presented again to the young mind in their proper historic light; the lyricism of Jehudah Halvey, the speculative sarcasm of Ibn Ezra, the poetic thoughts of Ibn Gabirul, the moralizing of Bachya, the guiding principles of the "Moreh Nebuchim" (the Guide for the Perplexed) and the winning argumentation of the "Kuzari," are to be opened to Harvard students, though the vision and generosity of Lucius N. Littauer.
How did it come to pass?
Littauer is Temple-Goer
Lucius N. Littauer -- in his youth a friend of Theodore Roosevelt -- industrialist, banker, and member of Congress for ten years, is a man of iron principles and steadfast habits who, in his early youth, formed the habit of going to temple. Born in Gloversville, N.Y., in the period of Jewish immigration to America, he received no special Hebrew education except what he was offered in the religious Sunday school. However, the lessons which were impressed upon his youthful mind in those early days remained vividly alive. In the busy life of the Harvard student of 1878, in the hustle of industry and the bustle of politics during fifty years, he went to temple.
On a Saturday last May, he listened to a discourse by Dr. H. G. Enelow, Rabbi of Temple Emanu-El, New York, on the needs of higher Jewish education. The discourse of the learned minister impressed the man of affairs sufficiently for him to give the matter his earnest attention. This was in May. In October, A. Laurence Lowell, President of Harvard University, had accepted the offer for the founding of a chair for Jewish literature and philosophy. With the beginning of the new academic year, Profess Harry A. Wolfson was appointed to fill the chair.
The name of Lucius N. Littauer, although he has been active for many years, has not been mentioned frequently in the annals of specific Jewish affairs. Those who studied the recent past know the role that Mr. Littauer, when [a] Congressman, played in the dispatch of John Hay’s note to Romania protesting against the persecution of Jews in that country, an act which stands alone in the history of the protection of the minorities. Mr. Littauer, regent of New York University, deeply interested in the humanities, caused no little surprise to his wide circle of friends by his establishment of a special chair for Jewish history, literature and philosophy.
Study of Humanities Essential
“The study of the humanities has no doubt been the prime force in the broadening of the human mind, the removing of prejudices and the creation of social conditions which are in truth humane. I observe that the Jewish part in the humanities has been undeveloped. It is my contention that inasmuch as intelligence can remove prejudices, the establishment of a chair for Jewish studies will accomplish something in that direction. The span of a man’s active life ranges from thirty to fifty years. If one student gains this knowledge, it can be multiplied by that number and also by the number of those who are under his influence or his instruction,” Mr. Littauer modestly explains.
The foundation is to carry the name of Nathan Littauer. He was one of the early Jewish immigrants from Germany, and was born in Breslau in 1829. Lucius’ mother came from a family which moved to Breslau from Lithuania, a family which had a lineage of rabbis in its tradition. One of the pioneers of the glove industry, Nathan Littauer left a name that is held in memory by his fellow citizens. A hospital in Gloversville was dedicated to him.
The grandson of the family of Lithuanian rabbis, when leaving the House of Congress and insisting upon retiring from public life, was given the following testimonial by the House.
“Your service has been notable for untiring industry, for conspicuous ability, for integrity of purpose, for accuracy of judgment, for wondrous quickness of perception and for volume of accomplishment. That you possess in large measure the most admirable traits of mind and heart, each day’s intercourse with you has made more apparent. Your service has been of great value to your country. The going out of no man from our ‘inner circle’ could produce a more poignant pant of regret. We admire you, we respect you, we have for you a strong affection and we wish you to take with you to private life this assurance of our esteem and our regret that you have voluntarily severed the ties of an association which will ever abide with us as among the most pleasurable memories of Congressional life.”
A year before the lapse of 50 years since he graduated from Harvard, Lucius N. Littauer establishes a chair for Jewish history, philosophy and literature in the perpetual memory of his father.
The epic does not end. It begins.
On a Saturday last May, he listened to a discourse by Dr. H. G. Enelow, Rabbi of Temple Emanu-El, New York, on the needs of higher Jewish education. The discourse of the learned minister impressed the man of affairs sufficiently for him to give the matter his earnest attention. This was in May. In October, A. Laurence Lowell, President of Harvard University, had accepted the offer for the founding of a chair for Jewish literature and philosophy. With the beginning of the new academic year, Profess Harry A. Wolfson was appointed to fill the chair.
The name of Lucius N. Littauer, although he has been active for many years, has not been mentioned frequently in the annals of specific Jewish affairs. Those who studied the recent past know the role that Mr. Littauer, when [a] Congressman, played in the dispatch of John Hay’s note to Romania protesting against the persecution of Jews in that country, an act which stands alone in the history of the protection of the minorities. Mr. Littauer, regent of New York University, deeply interested in the humanities, caused no little surprise to his wide circle of friends by his establishment of a special chair for Jewish history, literature and philosophy.
Study of Humanities Essential
“The study of the humanities has no doubt been the prime force in the broadening of the human mind, the removing of prejudices and the creation of social conditions which are in truth humane. I observe that the Jewish part in the humanities has been undeveloped. It is my contention that inasmuch as intelligence can remove prejudices, the establishment of a chair for Jewish studies will accomplish something in that direction. The span of a man’s active life ranges from thirty to fifty years. If one student gains this knowledge, it can be multiplied by that number and also by the number of those who are under his influence or his instruction,” Mr. Littauer modestly explains.
The foundation is to carry the name of Nathan Littauer. He was one of the early Jewish immigrants from Germany, and was born in Breslau in 1829. Lucius’ mother came from a family which moved to Breslau from Lithuania, a family which had a lineage of rabbis in its tradition. One of the pioneers of the glove industry, Nathan Littauer left a name that is held in memory by his fellow citizens. A hospital in Gloversville was dedicated to him.
The grandson of the family of Lithuanian rabbis, when leaving the House of Congress and insisting upon retiring from public life, was given the following testimonial by the House.
“Your service has been notable for untiring industry, for conspicuous ability, for integrity of purpose, for accuracy of judgment, for wondrous quickness of perception and for volume of accomplishment. That you possess in large measure the most admirable traits of mind and heart, each day’s intercourse with you has made more apparent. Your service has been of great value to your country. The going out of no man from our ‘inner circle’ could produce a more poignant pant of regret. We admire you, we respect you, we have for you a strong affection and we wish you to take with you to private life this assurance of our esteem and our regret that you have voluntarily severed the ties of an association which will ever abide with us as among the most pleasurable memories of Congressional life.”
A year before the lapse of 50 years since he graduated from Harvard, Lucius N. Littauer establishes a chair for Jewish history, philosophy and literature in the perpetual memory of his father.
The epic does not end. It begins.
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