Yesterday - History of the Society

In 1953, in observance of the 300th anniversary of the arrival of Jewish settlers in America, the Milwaukee Chapter of the American Jewish Committee adopted Rabbi Joseph L. Baron's inspired concept that the best way to honor the past is to build for the future. THE WISCONSIN SOCIETY FOR JEWISH LEARNING came into being for the purpose of promoting Jewish scholarship and learning.

To insure the existence of the Department of Hebrew and Semitic Studies at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, for its first five years, THE WISCONSIN SOCIETY FOR JEWISH LEARNING presented the University with a gift of $75,000 contributed by 250 Jewish citizens in 22 Wisconsin communities. The department opened in 1955 under the chairmanship of Professor Menahem Mansoor with an enrollment of 40 students. Its growth has been remarkable.

The progress of the department on the Madison campus encouraged the SOCIETY to propose that a similar department be established on the Milwaukee campus. On June 6, 1960, Dr. J. Martin Klotsche, Provost of the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, announced that a Department of Hebrew Studies would open in September, 1961, under the chairmanship of Dr. Jacob Neusner. THE WISCONSIN SOCIETY FOR JEWISH LEARNING provided $50,000 toward support and development of the department for the first five years.

The SOCIETY also founded the Wisconsin Jewish Archives at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. This constituted the first collection of source material about the history of the Jews in the State of Wisconsin. It provided funds needed for processing, cataloguing and systematizing manuscripts and documents. Individuals as well as organizations have contributed important materials to this collection.

Reception honoring Golda Meir

WSJL Past Presidents 1959

Today - the dream has become a reality!

The University of Wisconsin provides a wide range of courses at its Madison and Milwaukee campuses, including Biblical, Post-Biblical and Modern Hebrew; Biblical Archaeology; History of Jewish Civilization; Rabbinic Literature; and Hebrew literature in the original and in translation. Students are also offered opportunities for independent study.

In addition to the original grants of $125,000 used to establish both departments, the SOCIETY has helped the University fund scholarships, research, publications, and library acquisitions.

Numerous books, publications and research papers have been published by the departments; many were made possible through SOCIETY grants.

Libraries on both the Madison and Milwaukee campuses have been enriched because of funds the SOCIETY has allocated to the Judaica and Hebraica collections. A valuable collection at the Milwaukee Campus Library, now designated "The Rabbi Joseph L. Baron Memorial Collection," has been indexed and catalogued with the help of the SOCIETY. Funds have also been given to other libraries throughout Wisconsin.

Each year the SOCIETY sponsors many public lectures and programs that relate to academic as well as current Judaic subjects.

Among the little-known books funded by the SOCIETY is a Chinese translation of the Bible.

WSJL-sponsored speakers have presented to many Wisconsin groups, including:

Wiconsin Council of Rabbis
Milwaukee Press Club
Madison Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists
UW-Madison School of Journalism
Nicolet High School Hebrew classes
WSJL Israel Trip participants
Milwaukee Jewish Day School students
Hillel Academy students
Nicolet High School choir members
Professor Tim Crain's Arab Israeli Conflict Class at UWM

UWM School of Architecture and Urban Planning

Hillel Foundation - Milwaukee

Hillel Foundation UW-Madison

Cardinal Stritch University Spanish students

Chai Point Senior Residence

Congregation B'nai Israel-Oshkosh supper/program

Congregation Emanu-El of Waukesha

Beth Israel Sinai Congregation - Racine Shabbat program

Congregation Shir Hadash Shabbat program

Lake Park Synagogue Annual Dinner

Tomorrow - looking toward the future...

The SOCIETY continues to offer scholarships and grants to students at the Madison and Milwaukee campuses of the University of Wisconsin to aid them in the pursuit of their studies. Jewish learning, one of the glories of Jewish life, is fundamental to an understanding of religion, ethics and spiritual democracy. An accurate view of the world cannot be attained without knowledge of the Jewish role within it. Jewish learning contains the record of our millennia-old war against superstition and tyranny, and our persistent struggle for liberty under law, social justice and universal peace.

People from virtually every area in the State and from all segments of the Jewish community are numbered among the members of the SOCIETY.

Student of Tomorrow...