|
The
concept of "Jewish adult education" might have been
understood even a short time ago to mean "elements of
education" or "cultural values" that were to be
passed on to those growing up and to the grown-up for
instance, giving an idea of "higher education" to
those who were not privileged to obtain it, or to initiate
those not familiar with Jewish subjects into some general
knowledge of this community. When we gave this name to our
newly founded experiment we obviously meant something else.
The issue is no longer equipment with knowledge, but
mobilization for existence. Persons, Jewish persons, are to be
formed, persons who will not only "hold out" but
will uphold some substance in life; who will have not only
morale, but moral strength, and so will be able to pass on
moral strength to others; persons who live in such a way that
the spark will not die. Because our concern is for the spark,
we work for "education." What we seek to do through
the educating of individuals is the building of a community
that will stand firm, that will prevail, that will preserve
the spark....
1.
Rundbrief der Mittelstelle fuer juedische Erwachsenenbildung ("First
Circular Letter of the Center for Jewish Adult
Education"), May 1934.
*
Mittelstelle fuer juedische Erwachsenenbildung. |
