Freud, Sigmund, Einstein, Albert, Jones, Ernest (1936-052/1936): Memorial to Dr. David Eder

Memorial to Dr. David Eder

Sir,—The desire has been expressed in many quarters
to establish a memorial to the late Dr. M. D. Eder, to
commemorate his selfless services to medicine, to social
science, and to the cause of Zionism. It is felt that not
only psycho-analysts and Zionists would like to be asso-
ciated with this memorial, but also many working in
the spheres of medicine and social science who knew of
Dr. Eder and of his work. After mutual discussions and
consultation with Mrs. Eder, it has been decided to offer to
the Hebrew University in Jerusalem a psychological library
that will bear Dr. Eder’s name. Mrs. Eder is presenting
Dr. Eder’s own library as a nucleus, and it is intended to
mark this act by a simple ceremony, to take place later.
 

It appears to us unnecessary to labour this appeal to
those who cherish the memory of our late friend. This
memorial is one that he himself would have appreciated,
since it is designed to promote the cause of scientific
research in the branch of learning in which he was pre-
eminently interested and in the institution to the estab-
lishment and development of which his strenuous labours
had been devoted during the past two decades. In the
midst of the war, while the guns were still roaring, Dr.
Eder was one of that small band of idealists who laid
the foundation stone of the Hebrew University on Mount
Scopus. When, after five years in Palestine, he returned
to England he devoted every spare moment of his busy
life to the promotion of the interests of the university.
He was the chairman of the advisory committee which
prepared the schemes for the first science departments;
he subsequently became one of the governors of the
university; and, finally, he was the moving spirit in the
establishment of the organization of the "Friends of the
Hebrew University" in this country. Few men have
played so significant a part in the shaping of the early
destinies, the schemes of studies, and the constitution of
the university.
 

Dr. Eder’s place in the history of Zionism is too familiar
to need emphasis. As chairman of the Palestine Zionist
Executive and as president of the English Zionist Federa-
tion, he rendered unforgotten service to the cause of
Jewish reconstruction in Palestine at decisive moments in
the history of Zionism. His work in the sphere of psycho-
analysis is well known to members of the International
Psycho-Analytical Association and his place in the history
of psycho-analysis was appraised in the International
Journal of Psycho-Analysis in the April issue for 1936.
The many tributes to his memory which have appeared
in the Press, both of this and of foreign countries during
 

the past few months, bear witness to the loss which the
causes of social effort and scientific inquiry have suffered
by his passing. We who were privileged to know and
collaborate with him mourn the loss of an untiring worker
and a courageous pioneer, one whose ever-helpful person-
ality will always live in our memory. We are sure that
many will wish to perpetuate his memory by assisting
to further an object he would have had so much at heart.
All subscriptions should be sent to the honorary secretary
and treasurer, Mr. Maurice Sorsby, 86, Harley Street, W.1.
—We are, etc.,
 

Albert Einstein Melchett
Sigmund Freud Redcliffe N. Salaman
Phillip J. Hartog Arnold Sorsby
Ernest Jones Chaim Weitzman
J. L. Magnus H. G. Wells.