Report to the ... Zionist Congress and to the Council of the Jewish Agency in ... · 1937-08-01 · 8.1937 · p. Seite 53

— 53 — IX. CULTURAL WORK. The arrangement of evening classes under the supervision of the German Immigrants' Association continued, a budget of £P.100 per month being made available for this activity. From an organisation viewpoint, this activity is now conducted by the Culture Department of the Vaad Leumi. Knowledge of the Hebrew language among German immigrants increased considerably, and the efforts exerted by the immigrants to learn Hebrew met with universal appreciation. Language classes are held in the towns and in all colonies where there is a large number of German residents. The Central Bureau also supports language classes for teachers from Germany who wish to pursue their profession in the Jewish school system in Palestine. Individuals were also assisted in learning the language so that they might apply for specific jobs. The Mizrahi Teachers College was granted assistance in view of having engaged German teachers. It was possible during the period of the report to disburse a limited amount on supporting the "transition" schools, the object of which was to facilitate the adjustment period for children of newlyarrived immigrants before entering the ordinary schools in the country. This support was given partly direct and partly through the Education Department of the Vaad Leumi. By giving fellowships to scholars, the Central Bureau was able on the one hand to stimulate important academic work and, on the other, to enable the academic immigrants to subsist in the country for a specific transition period. Assistance was also given to certain centres of employment on behalf of scholars who could remain there even after the conclusion of the payment by the Central Bureau. Such grants were made to various scientists and institutions, including the Agricultural Experimental Station at Rehovot, the Daniel Sieff Institute, the University in Jerusalem and the Haifa Technical Institute, as well as to historians, scholars in Jewish history and lore, etc. The Council for German Jewry also contributed £P.2,000 for this purpose. The Central Bureau has, since its establishment, spent a total amount of £P.7,000 on assistance to displaced German Jewish scholars.