154
��NOTES BY THE WAY.
��Efficiency of Jewish schools.
��Favourable
report of
Inspectors.
��1901, Sept. 7. University College : Sir Isaac Goldsmid
acquires site
in Gower
Street.
��Act the Jews are specially favoured, as it grants them the right to work on Sunday, provided they rest on their own Sabbath.
The establishment of the " Gates of Hope " in 1664 showed how anxious the Jews were in the matter of education ; in later years their schools have rapidly increased both in size and efficiency. The passing of the Act in 1846 enabling Jewish charities to hold land was a great boon. The school in Bell Lane instructs more than three thousand five hundred children, at an annual cost considerably above 12.000Z. There are over fifty class-rooms for boys, and nearly as many for girls. A few years ago the Roth- schild wing was added (specially devoted to technical instruction) and the school generally enlarged. Free clothes, provided by the Rothschilds, are distributed to each scholar.
This school can rejoice in the honour that a Senior Wrangler is now numbered among its old boys. Selig Brodetsky, born at Olviopol in Russia, and brought by his parents to England when he was five years old, entered the school in February, 1895. After carrying off prizes and scholarships, he was finally awarded the Senior Antony Death Exhibition, tenable at one of the Universities for three years, the scholarship being worth 60Z. per annum for the purposes of education, and 30Z. per annum for outfit at Cambridge. After obtaining other honours, he this year (1908) was bracketed equal for the Senior Wranglership, in his second year. " Never before since 1869," states The Jeurish World of the 19th of June, " when Numa Hartog was the first Jew to become Senior Wrangler, has a co-religionist gained the blue ribbon of the mathematical world."
Among other important schools is the Westminster Jews' Free School, where about three hundred boys and over three hundred girls attend. The head mistress, Miss Hannah Hertzon, completed in 1901 twenty-five years of service. There are a swimming class and a good library, and in the winter the children are provided, when necessary, with dinner. There is also a clothing and a boot fund.
The Government Inspectors report most favourably of the Jewish schools, and state that of all religious denominations the Jews have proportionately the smallest number of scholars destitute of the knowledge of reading and writing.
While the Jews have shown themselves to be so thorough in the matter of elementary education, they have not been neglectful of the higher forms. When the founding of University College, on unsectarian principles, was mooted, and success was still doubtful, Sir Isaac Lyon Goldsmid at once gave the necessary impetus by acquiring the desired site in Gower Street. This he did " at his own risk and that of two colleagues, Mr. John Smith and Mr. Ben-
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