To the Editors:
I would like to call to the attention of our colleagues the following news items about the Sigmund Freud Chair in Psychoanalysis at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem:
Anna Freud has accepted to be the Honorary Chairman of the Drive for the creation of the Chair.
The American Psychiatric Association has followed the example of the American Psychoanalytic Association and has donated its mailing labels, free of charge, to the Drive for the Chair. Mailings about the creation of the Chair will go out to all members of the American Psychiatric Association soon.
Many of the component Psychoanalytic Societies and Institutes of the American Psychoanalytic Association have passed enthusiastic supporting resolutions and are encouraging their members to contribute to the Chair. Up to May 1st we have obtained contributions of approximately $175,000, two-thirds of the minimum goal for the Chair. This was communicated through the American Friends of Hebrew University to President Harman of the University who has sent us the following telegram of congratulations, and the assurance that the Chair will be established:
PLEASED ADVISE SEARCH COMMITTEE FOR FREUD CHAIR APPOINTED STOP WE PREPARED HOLD SPECIAL CEREMONY WEDNESDAY AUGUST TWENTY-FOURTH DURING BUSINESS MEETING IPA TO ANNOUNCE ESTABLISHMENT OF CHAIR AND IN EVENT APPOINTMENT MADE BEFORE THEN TO HOLD INAUGURAL LECTURE STOP CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES FOR INITIATING CONCEPT MEMORIALIZING PIONEER OF UNIVERSITY AND FOR UNDERTAKING PROGRAM OF FUNDING STOP UNDERSTAND YOU ANTICIPATE FULL FUNDING OF TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS SOON.
Now it is up to all of us to make the effort to complete the minimum goal as soon as possible. There are still some lithographs and prints left which Chaim Gross, Karl Schrag and Raphael Soyer produced in limited edition especially for our Drive. They are available to anyone who contributes a minimum of $500, on a first-come, first-served basis.
At the meeting in Quebec, Dr. Myron Eichler, the representative of the Israel Psychoanalytic Society, expressed the enthusiasm of our Israeli colleagues for this Project. They are also hoping that a great many American colleagues will come to the Congress and be present at the great moment when, in the words of President Harman, “the wrong will be righted” by the establishment of the Chair and when Freud's wish to have psychoanalysis taught in the halls of Hebrew University will be fulfilled.
Once more: let us make it come true! Who else should do so but we? Greetings, and thanks.
Martin Wangh