Baltimore Hebrew University

An incorrect photo caption appeared Sunday in the Way Back When feature of the Sun Magazine. The woman identified as Jeanette Meyers is actually Mollie Myers.The Sun regrets the errors.Tonight at 7:30 a diamond celebration will take place at thBeth El Congregation in Baltimore County. The honoree? The Baltimore Hebrew University. The school was founded in 1919 by Dr. Israel Efros, a poet-philosopher. It was originally called the Baltimore Hebrew College and Teachers Training School, and its curriculum was, and still is, devoted entirely to Jewish studies.

The movers are taking Baltimore Hebrew University apart, clearing faculty offices, piling high the boxes and unplugged computers, rolling up the lobby's Oriental carpet and marking leather chairs with stickers identifying their next stop: "TU." That's Towson University, now officially the new home of BHU's graduate courses and community programs. The Maryland Board of Regents voted unanimously Friday to approve the new partnership, closing one chapter in the life of the 90-year-old institution of Jewish learning and opening another.

Baltimore Hebrew University announced yesterday its president will step down after a major donor decided to cut nearly in half its financial support over the next five years. Rela Mintz Geffen, a sociologist, had led the predominantly graduate institution for seven years. Geffen's planned departure comes just weeks after The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore stated it will cut its annual contribution to the university from $1.1 million to $600,000 over the next five years.

The provost of Towson University, James P. Clements, was named the president of West Virginia University yesterday. Clements, 44, has been the chief academic officer at Towson since 2007 and a faculty member since 1989. The grandson of a coal-miner, he was selected unanimously by West Virginia's board of governors yesterday afternoon. He was introduced as the new president at a news conference at the university's Morgantown campus. "He is an accomplished and bright educational leader, and besides that, he's just a good guy," said Carolyn Long, chairwoman of the university's board of governors.

A tug of war is going on at Baltimore Hebrew University between the people who run it and the people who pay for it. The dispute: Should the Upper Park Heights school continue focusing on academic research or turn to more practical pursuits, such as training teachers and other professionals to serve the Jewish community? On one side is The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, the fund-raising umbrella that is BHU's biggest contributor. "It has been an academic institution, we wish it to remain an academic institution," said Shoshana S. Cardin, chairman of The Associated's task force on postsecondary Jewish education.

Over its 90-year history, the Baltimore Hebrew University has educated thousands of professionals to serve in Jewish schools, service groups and charitable organizations. And its distinguished scholars, such as Harry Orlinsky, a leading biblical translator and authenticator of the Dead Sea Scrolls, have made important contributions to the world's store of knowledge. But in recent years, BHU has struggled with declining enrollments and an uncertain future. Last year, it registered only 118 students, most of whom were enrolled in its graduate program.

Rabbi Leivy Smolar, former president of Baltimore Hebrew University and founder of the school's Master of Arts and doctoral degree programs, died Monday of cancer at his home in Richmond, Va. He was 69. "He was really the critical player in professionalizing the staff of the Jewish communal agencies in Baltimore. If one looks around, they are staffed with graduates of Baltimore Hebrew University," said Robert O. Freedman, a past president of the school. Dr. Smolar was born in Ra'anana, Israel.

Baltimore Hebrew University, grappling with a long-term decline in enrollment, is in negotiations to become a part of Towson University, officials said. The state Board of Regents has informally indicated its approval of the talks. The plans are not complete, but the heads of both institutions said they believe negotiations will succeed. As part of Towson, Baltimore Hebrew would maintain its identity, said Jonathan Lowenberg, chairman of the board of the 90-year-old college. "Baltimore Hebrew University, as with any number of small universities around the country, faces financial issues and the ability to grow our programs as we think is appropriate," he said.

The movers are taking Baltimore Hebrew University apart, clearing faculty offices, piling high the boxes and unplugged computers, rolling up the lobby's Oriental carpet and marking leather chairs with stickers identifying their next stop: "TU." That's Towson University, now officially the new home of BHU's graduate courses and community programs. The Maryland Board of Regents voted unanimously Friday to approve the new partnership, closing one chapter in the life of the 90-year-old institution of Jewish learning and opening another.

HANA BOR asks her students to line up in the front of the classroom, right to left, forming a "continuum" on the question of whether Israel should withdraw from the cities it has occupied in the latest Mideast crisis. Most students congregate to the right, taking a stand with Israeli authorities. It is not a surprising result. This graduate course at Baltimore Hebrew University is designed for teachers in Jewish schools. All 16 students are Jewish, and three hold Israeli citizenship. With emotions crackling like a live wire on a wet street, it's hard enough to teach "current events" of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in public schools.

Over its 90-year history, the Baltimore Hebrew University has educated thousands of professionals to serve in Jewish schools, service groups and charitable organizations. And its distinguished scholars, such as Harry Orlinsky, a leading biblical translator and authenticator of the Dead Sea Scrolls, have made important contributions to the world's store of knowledge. But in recent years, BHU has struggled with declining enrollments and an uncertain future. Last year, it registered only 118 students, most of whom were enrolled in its graduate program.

Baltimore Hebrew University, grappling with a long-term decline in enrollment, is in negotiations to become a part of Towson University, officials said. The state Board of Regents has informally indicated its approval of the talks. The plans are not complete, but the heads of both institutions said they believe negotiations will succeed. As part of Towson, Baltimore Hebrew would maintain its identity, said Jonathan Lowenberg, chairman of the board of the 90-year-old college. "Baltimore Hebrew University, as with any number of small universities around the country, faces financial issues and the ability to grow our programs as we think is appropriate," he said.

Herbert I. Scher, an innovator in the plastic laminate industry who was active in Baltimore's arts community, died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease May 20 in Boca Raton, Fla. The Pikesville resident was 79. Mr. Scher was born in Cincinnati and attended schools in Rochester, N.Y. He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1951 with a degree in chemical engineering and began working as an engineer at National Plastics Products Co....

Rabbi Leivy Smolar, former president of Baltimore Hebrew University and founder of the school's Master of Arts and doctoral degree programs, died Monday of cancer at his home in Richmond, Va. He was 69. "He was really the critical player in professionalizing the staff of the Jewish communal agencies in Baltimore. If one looks around, they are staffed with graduates of Baltimore Hebrew University," said Robert O. Freedman, a past president of the school. Dr. Smolar was born in Ra'anana, Israel.

Baltimore Hebrew University announced yesterday its president will step down after a major donor decided to cut nearly in half its financial support over the next five years. Rela Mintz Geffen, a sociologist, had led the predominantly graduate institution for seven years. Geffen's planned departure comes just weeks after The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore stated it will cut its annual contribution to the university from $1.1 million to $600,000 over the next five years.

With escalating conflicts in the Middle East and a recent attack at a Jewish organization in Seattle, Jewish congregations in the Baltimore area are increasing security measures at synagogues and other buildings. The precautions are being taken as Baltimore police and federal authorities investigate a homemade firebomb made from a beer bottle that ignited after being thrown at a door of a library building at Baltimore Hebrew University on Wednesday. That occurred less than a week after a Muslim gunman burst into the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle and opened fire, killing one person and wounding five others.

Awakened from his Sabbath nap last month by a telephone call, Robert O. Freedman was told to switch on his television. He turned to CNN to see reports of the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.The next day, CNN turned to him. And once again tiny Baltimore Hebrew University played a role far beyond the scope indicated by its size.Dr. Freedman, acting president of Baltimore Hebrew University and a political scientist who concentrates on the Middle East, had been planning a conference on the Israel-PLO peace process for more than a year for that day. CNN television cameras and reporters from other media outlets joined more than 200 people who packed a BHU auditorium for the event.

On February 27, 2005, RUTH L. GITTLEN, 85, beloved wife of the late J. Leon Gittlen, dear mother of Barry (Elaine) Gittlen of Baltimore, MD and the late Joshua Gittlen. Grandmother of Lisa Gittlen, sister of Pearl Kristol. Contributions may be directed to the Gittlen Library Fund, C/O Baltimore Hebrew University, 5800 Park Hgts Ave., Baltimore, MD 21215. Services and Interment were held Sunday. Arrangements with the Ira Kaufman Chapel, 248-569-0020. www.irakaufman.com

Baltimore's federation of Jewish charities will launch a campaign today seeking to raise $100 million over the next two years for a package of new building construction and renovations. The campaign is the most ambitious in the history of The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore and marks its first attempt to raise money for only capital construction projects at such places as Baltimore Hebrew University and a social services complex along Park Heights Avenue. "This is a community that has always responded to our needs, and we anticipate a positive result," said Benjamin Greenwald, co-chairman of the campaign and chairman of The Associated's board.