CHAUTAUQUA, Jewish, an institution founded in 1893 by Rev. Dr. Henry Berkowitz of Philadelphia, and incorporated in 1899, with a body of officers representing the chief cities in the United States for "the dissemination of a knotuledge of the Jewish religion by fostering the study of its history, literature, etc." The departments for study and entertainment are modeled on those of other Chautauqua. This society has about 3,000 members, divided into various sections. Its courses include pre paratory, two years, with readings in Jewish history and literature; Bible, four years; and special courses in post-Biblical history and literature, 'Jewish Characters in English Fic tion,' 'Beginners' and Advanced Hebrew.' Its chief work of late years has been embodied in its summer assembly, at Atlantic City, N. J., which is held annually in July and lasts three weeks. It includes a summer school, popular lectures and conferences, literary and social en tertainments, in which many prominent speakers participate. During the annual session the con
dition of religious schools, dependent and delin quent children, how to relieve congestion in large cities, the status of the Jews of Russia, the attitude of Jewish university students toward Jewish problems, are the topics dis cussed. The average attendance at the morning sessions is from 150 to 350 persons and at the evening from 300 to 800 persons. During the summer of 1903 an English organization on the plan of the Jewish Chautauqua was formed at Ramsgatc and is now known as the London Jewish Society. Until 1907 its official orgate was the Menorah Magazine (New York) and' there is also the Assembly Record (Philadel" phia) and special series of various publicatiolit Consult the Menorah Magazine (New York 1/197-1907) ; 'Annual Reports' of the Unlit(' States Commissioner of Education; and 'Special Series No. of the Jewish Publica tion Society (Philadelphia 1902).