•
iluVentorr EWISRORONICII5
,t
I
.4 .•
'a
'66b
PE ha ROITAWISB efRONICLE
Publiahed Weekly by The Jewish Chreloklo Pubilehlog
JOSEPH .1. CUMMINS
JACOB H. SCHAKNE ..........
PHILIP
MAURICE M. SAFIR
SLOMOVITZ
Ion.
President
...... Secretary and Treasurer
Managi og Editor
Advertising Manager
Entered as second-stare matter March 8, 19t8, at the Fosto1lIce at Detroit,
Mich., under the Act of March 8, 1879.
General Offices and Publication Buildin g
525 Woodward Avenue
Chronicle
London Office:
14 Stratford Place, London, W. 1, England.
Subscription, in Advance
13.00 Per Year
To Insure publication, all earrnpondence and news matter must reach this
office by Tuesdey evening of each week. When mailing not tea,
kindly use one side of the paper only,
The Detroit Jewish Chronicle invites correspondence on subjects of interest to
the Jewish people, but disclaims responsibility for an indorsement of the view.
expressed by the writers,
•
•
Sabbath Readings of the Torah.
Pentateuchal portion—Ex. 13:17-17:16.
Prophetical portion--Judges 4:4.5:31.
t January 25, 1929
7,3
•
bt V , W6 ' '0'%'
•,f;r&nitnERAMERiVgggiNIVigg...
7.4M
ag•
MifilaggariSiZZAZOVEMMUMMEMIIIMMEC
b•db•
'
•db•n• b• b•6
•
b• b•
-to
Shvat 14, 5689
Three Great Losses.
The deaths of Sophie Irene Loeb, Felix F uld and
Dr. Joseph Goldberger rob Jewry and the v world at
large of three noble figures. In their passing t here are
taken from us great leaders in different field s. Miss
Loeb in social work, Mr. Fuld in philanthropy and Dr.
Goldberger in science, have been giants and geniuses
in their contributions to mankind's welfare, a nd their
loss creates a great void in their respective fiel ds,
Not only has Dr. Goldberger found the ca use and
cure for the disease of pellagra, but he has al so made
great contributions in shedding light on the wh tole sub-
ject of the' human diet. It is the irony of fate that he
should have died by having contracted three sc !vere ill-
nesses of diseases he was studying—typhus fe ver, yel-
low fever and dengue. In every sense of the w ord, Dr.
Goldberger died a martyr to science.
Mr, Fuld's name is now to be found among t he lead-
era in philanthropy. In his own city of Newer k, N. J.,
he has long ago begun his liberal practice of g giving to
worthy Jewish and non-Jewish causes, for h ospitals,
Y. M. H. A.'s, and other institutions. Since the war,
he has distinguished himself with his large rifts for
the war relief funds, and more recently he jo fined the
ranks of America's outstanding philanthropic Is when
he and Mrs. Fuld gave $200,000 towards the $ 10,000,-
000 fund for Russian colonization. It is not so easy,
therefore, to become reconciled to the loss of a man of
his type.
It is not so easy to write a eulogy of a fc !NY brief
words in honor of the memory of Miss Loeb. 2 N only
her people, her state and her nation, but the k vorld at
large has benefited by her efforts in behalf of children.
The League of Nations has honored her by invi ting her
to be an adviser in its child welfare work. It w as a sig-
nal recognition of a life's work which has beco me a re-
ligion to Miss Loeb. As Jews we must also re member
Miss Loeb's efforts on behalf of Palestine. U pon her
return from a visit to the Jewish Homeland, s he pub-
lished, in the New York World, a series of articles
which helped in great measure to pacify the enemies
of Zionism to the movement's virtues. As a f riend of
the children, the fatherless and the widowed, Ind as a
sympathizer with worthy causes of her own, the Jew-
ish, people, Miss Loeb has become great. Truly , a great
soul has departed with her death.
Mighty ones in Israel and noble contributo rs to the
welfare of all mankind are lost in the deaths of Miss
Loeb, Mr. Fuld and Dr. Goldberger.
Rosh Hashonah Le'llonoth.
The celebration this Saturday of Chamis ho Osor
b'Shvat, which literally means the fifteenth (l c ty in the
month of Shvat, and is the Jewish Arbor Day, is some-
what contradictory with the present zero weather
of the clime we live in. But the spirit which has ani-
mated the Jew's existence during many centu ries does
not reject the traditional Palestinian festival of Rosh
Hashonah Le'ilonoth, the New Year of the Tr ees. On
the contrary, it becomes symbolic of the Jew's survival.
New trees are being planted in Palestine on t his festi-
val,--trees which spell life to the rejuvenated national
existence of the Jew. Therefore the rejoicin ; in Pal-
estine; and therefore the transplanted joy on cur own
shores. The planting of trees brings new Iii 'e to the
and of Israel; and the celebration of a festiv al rejoic-
ing over such new national vigor and strengt h brings
courage to all Israel. The festival of Chami sho Osor
b'Shvat has meant much to the Jewish people as an in-
spirer of joy in its darkest hours. Its import ance be-
comes magnified with the approach of a hap! tier exis-
tence.
-
Lucius N. Littauer's Gift.
Former Representative Lucius N. Littauer' s $1,000,-
000 gift, which is to be administered in the ' 'cause of
better understanding among all mankind," s impor-
tant and is to be commended not only for the humani-
tarian good it will bring, but as well for the ? encour-
agement of sane spending of funds by our wea Ithy.
The Jewish people boasts of a number of truly
great men when it comes to giving for hum anitarian
purposes. Julius Rosenwald, Nathan Straus, Felix M.
Warburg, in this country, Bernard Baron in England,
and numerous others who are not as wealthy, n ever quit
sharing their riches with the less fortunate of man-
kind. Mr. Llttauer's name is a glorious additi on to the
list, and should help teach others the greatne ss of giv-
ing for the sake of making mankind happier,
Mr. Rosenwald, speaking over the Fox 'A rovietone
last week, described this sentiment beautifu Ily when
he stated:
•
It was Ingersoll who said: "I hate stingy man." If
you have only a dollar in the world and you have to
spend it, spend it like a king. I'd rather be a beggar and
spend my money like a king than be a king and spend my
money like a beggar. Most people believe that because a
man has made a fortune his views on any subject are valu-
able. For my part, I have always believed that most large
fortunes are made by men of mediocre ability who tumb-
bled into a lucky opportunity and could not help but
get rich and in most cases others given the name chance
would have done far better with it. Hard work and atten-
tion to business are necessary, but they rarely result in
achieving a large fortune. Do not be fooled into believ-
ing that because a man is rich he is necessarily smart.
There is ample proof to the contrary.
There are far too many who have yet to learn this
lesson. Mr. Littauer has evidently learned it and is
practicing it. Therefore his gift is being broadcast as
that of a great and noble man.
")C
,Q. 9.
.49.4.91s.
.6„
"6 "6 "6'6"
. 1.
.f.
...
vagyizmutzti
51
51
14,44Y4=4.41V.
t
vu
Is There an Influx of "Schnorrera?"
We are quoting two correspondents in this title
question. During the past few weeks a number of
inquiries have come to our office from a number of
Detroit Jews who are known to support every worthy
cause and who have of late been so besieged by rabbis
and "Meshulachim" that they are beginning to doubt
the honesty of some of the men who invade this coun-
try in constant demands for funds for all sorts of insti-
tutions.
This is not the first time the question has been
raised. Nor are we the first to urge that a clearing
house be created by the Jewish Welfare Federation, or
by a Kehillah of Detroit Jews, to supervise the constant
demands upon the community for funds. Unless some-
thing is done very soon to stop the present practice of
unlimited demands upon the community, two elements
will suffer:
1. The Jewish business and professional man who
is at the mercy of these collectors and who, to make
sure that the worthy cause does not suffer at the hands
of the unworthy one, must give to all, unless a clearing
house advises him as to the genuineness of the causes
appealed for.
2. The honest rabbi and collector who is inevitably
labelled "schnorrer" because there are some in the
group who are dishonest and cause the entire force of
visiting emissaries from European and Palestinian insti-
tutions to be labeled as "schnorrers."
Leaders in the community should not underestimate
the importance of establishing a clearing house which
should either approve or reject the constant appeals
that are made for funds, or which should even, if that
is at all possible, create a fund with which to dismiss
these people without making it necessary for them to
visit individuals. If a cause is worthy, let it be helped;
if false claims are made for a false cause, let it be
shown up and rejected. Furthermore, if a cause is
worthy, there is no reason why great efforts should be
expended in its behalf by visiting collectors and propa-
gandists. The expense involved can be easily elimi-
nated if the community will create a fund which should
care for their needs.
The Palestine correspondent of the Jewish Daily
Day (Der Tag), writing on the status of the Hebrew
theater in Palestine, last week interestingly described
a magician's sketch at one of Tel Aviv's vaudeville
houses, illustrating the popular idea of expenses in-
volved in the collection of funds. The magician had a
person representing Louis Marshall to the right of him
and a person representing a Chalutz to the left of him.
"Mr. Marshall" was seen holding a dollar bill. The
magician's task was to transfer the dollar bill from Mr.
Marshall's hand to that of the Chalutz. The wand was
waved, the Chalutz opened his fist, and then a row
started. The Chalutz claimed he was defrauded! In-
stead of a dollar bill he found a penny! Then the ma-
gician explained that it was not he who defrauded the
Chalutz, but the conditions whereby a dollar sent from
America to Palestine melts into a penny by the time it
reaches Palestine.
Let such sentiments be circulated widely, and it
will be impossible to get even the pennies for worthy
causes. On the other hand, let the various American
communities take this question seriously and make an
effort to eliminate waste where waste exists, and the
worthy causes will be helped rather than hurt.
The possibility of danger to worthy causes is fur-
ther illustrated by the following brief cable received
through the Jewish Telegraphic Agency from Jeru-
salem:
A Jew who died in the Iladassah Hospital, declaring he
had no relatives or friends, left properties valued at
$30,000, it is now disclosed. The old man had been a
beggar before being taken to the hospital.
This, of course, is not peculiar to Palestine, similar
instances being reported from time to. time in practi-
cally every land on earth. But we are concerned with
Jewish causes and problems, and the community is
obligated not to create excuses for not giving for those
who are inclined not to give.
The Jewish Welfare Federation here is expected
soon to announce plans for a drive for a very large sum
to fill the demands made by certain needs in the com-
munity. Why not acid $100,000 to the sum to be asked
for, that all visiting rabbis, "Meshulachim" and others
may be referred to this fund, thus relieving individuals
from investigating and doubting?
Let the Jewish Welfare Federation of Detroit seri-
ously consider this question.
The Leopard's Spots.
The hopelessness of Jewish conditions in Russia
first became apparent in the case of the old man Kauf-
man, who was tormented by a group of young Russian
hooligans, and more recently in the case of the humi-
liated Jewish girl, Barshay, whose life in a Russian fac-
tory was made miserable and who was subjected to
unheard-of sufferings. '
And yet, insofar as human nature is concerned, the
situation is not at all anomalous. The government, re-
alizing the stupidity of Czarist anti-Jewish policies, has
naturally adopted the principle of opposing violent acts
against Jews. But the adoption of such a principle by
the government is not sufficient to make the people
abide by it. You can't change the leopard's spots, and
you can't make an anti-Semite love the Jew by passing
laws.
Here is an instance: The Russian correspondent of
the Manchester (England) Guardian cites the case of
the Chief Military Guard at the Briansk mines who, in
spite of his membership in the Communist party, said:
"I hate the Jews and think it wrong of the party not to
permit pogroms." With the mass of the membership
in the Communist party holding such views, it is silly to
expect that even the severest punishments for Jew-bait-
ing will help to remedy the condition. It is equally as
silly to believe, as J. Larin. a Riga Jewish journalist,
would like us to, that "the present anti-Semitism is
based on class differences and will disappear with the
disappearance of the bourgeoisie."
The Jew's plight is all the more bitter because if the
truth of Mr. Larin's statement were to be taken for
granted, that the disappearance of the Jewish bour-
geoisie would put an end to anti-Semitism, it would only
open an avenue for hatred of the Jew elsewhere—in
capitalist lands. Therein lies the difference: that a Jew,
no matter what he does, is blamed as a Jew ; the non-
Jew, on the other hand, is granted the inalienable right
of a human being to choose his party and his economic
theory.
....
A Debunker of Superstition
About the Teeth
li C JOCO
GAS. i÷. JOSEPH-.=
Dr. Leo Kanner, Author of "Folklore of the Teeth,"
Knows the Talmudic References on the Subject.
In rensponse to inquiries that have come to me, par-
ticularly from residents in small communities, Random
Thoughts are to be found each week in the following
Jewish journals:
Bronx (N. Y.) Jewish Herald, Newark Jewish
Chronicle, Boston Jewish Advocate, Washington
Jewish Times, Baltimore Jewish Times, Philadel-
phia Jewish Times, Pittsburgh Jewish Criterion,
Rochester (N. Y.) Jewish I.edger; Cleveland Jew-
ish Times and Observer, Detroit Jewish Chron-
icle, Chicago Jewish Sentinel, Memphis Hebrew
Watchman, Miami Jewish Unity, St. Louis Mod-
ern View, Seattle Jewish Transcript, Los Angeles
Jewish Review, San Antonio (Texas) Jewish Rec-
ord, Houston (Texas) Jewish Herald, Minneapolis
American Jewish World.
A man with the zeal of the ancient prophet in Israel
came to see me the other day. Ile said that he started
to walk from Baltimore to Pittsburgh to call on me. Ile
did over half of the distance on foot and the remainder
he covered by friendly auto-lifts and train. Well, I
thought that a man who braved zero weather under those
conditions to pay me a friendly visit deserves some con-
sideration. His mission in life is to regenerate the Jew-
ish youth. He wants to bring Judaism to them, since
most of them don't seem in a hurry to go to Judaism.
That is in a real spiritual sense. Ile represents the Zorah
Avrohom, at 63 East 106th street, New York City. One
could see that he was possessed of religious ardor. And
I could easily imagine him as a revivalist. I recall once
spending an evening with Joseph Elkinton, of the famous
Quaker family of Pennsylvania, and one was carried
away in spite of oneself by the fervor of his religious
exaltation. These men possess the true missionary spirit.
They are servants of God and of their people. They live
for nothing but their religion, and not selfishly, but to
bring their religion to others. The Jew 1 refer to is S.
C. Orgler. If he ever visits your community, give him
a kindly reception.
Might just as well spread the news. It may give you
a thrill. Eighteen men sat down to a dinner in Pitts-
burgh the other night and pledged over a million dollars
if the remainder of the community would raise a second
million to pay off every debt hanging over the Jewish
institutions of the city. As Mr. Hoover might say, that
was a "noble experiment." That sort of thing calls for
giving with the heart as well as the mind. When we give
with the mind only we usually employ a per centage
machine. But when men give generously—that's a differ-
ent story. I do hope that those pledges which are con-
tingent upon the thousands of others duplicating them in
total will be redeemed. Everything seems to be done on
a big scale these days, and big business men think in a big
way even when it comes to philanthropy. When the whole
chapter has been written I'll tell you about it,
I want to publicly acknowledge the courtesy of Mr.
Jacob Landau, managing director of the Jewish Tele-
graphic Agency in transmitting my protest against the
form employed by the Fidelity and Casualty Company
of New York, in the matter of applications for bonds.
And also the consideration the company has given to my
protest, in agreeing to abandon the offending clause.
I think that I ought to call Rabbi Abram Simon, who
was honored by his congregation in Washington, D. C.,
with a dinner the other evening, on the occasion of his
twenty-fifth year of service in the congregation, a "Good-
I use this
will Ambassador to Jews and Christians."
term advisedly, for he has been just that to Jew and
Gentile. He was the founder and chairman of the Syna-
gogue Council of America, which was the first organiza-
tion in which Orthodox, Conservative and Reform Jew-
ish rabbis and laymen united to promote Judaism. Then
Rabbi Simon is a director of the Joint Commission on
Good-will between Jews and Christians. All of which
proves my point.
•
If I were to list all the appointments and offices Dr.
Simon has enjoyed, I would have to use the American
Jewish Year Book, because this column doesn't afford the
space. But I do like to know that our rabbi at the na-
tion's capital was head of the Washington public school
system, that he was president of the Columbia Hospital
for Women, a director of the United States Flag Associa-
tion, Washington Social Hygiene Society; that he served
overseas as a Red Cross officer, and that he was given a
medal by Germany for Red Cross humanitarian services
and cited by the American Red Cross for his work. And
all Jewish national causes have his interest. For several
years he was president of the Central Conference of
American Rabbis.
•
So I am not surprised Protestant, Catholic and Jew
united to honor such a worthy citizen and a worthy Jew.
Outstanding religious leaders, civic leaders, representa-
tives from all walks of life gathered to do him honor.
It's been a good many years since I met Dr. Simon, but I
still retain a vivid impression of his democracy, and above
all, of his common sense—an all too uncommon thing
among our leaders. I join not alone with the citizenship
and the Jewry of the nation, in congratulating Dr. Simon
upon a quarter of a century of such valuable service to
our people and to the nation. And I want to thank Leo
Sack, the valued Washington correspondent of the United
Pres,v for his kind invitation to join the distinguished
Washingtonians in honoring their leader.
-----
The mention of Sack reminds me that he has ac-
quired a most distinguished position among the corps of
newspaper men in Washington. I once heard Gus Kamer.
another famous Washington correspondent, and one of
our Jewish newspaper men, praised by no less an author.
ity than Chief Justice Taft for his integrity and for the
high ethical attitude he adopted toward his work. And it
was not many months ago when one of the high officials in
one of the important papers of the United Press service
said to me that Leo Sack was "one of the best men we've
got in Washington." It is always a source of satisfaction
to hear of members of our own group discharging public
service so efficiently The Sack boys, by the way, are
all journalists. Down in San Antonio, Texas, there are
three more of them, all wedded to the Fourth Estate,
and all doing a good job.
This promises to be the most optimistic column I've
written in several years. It seems to be a season of
good-will and good cheer, for here I have another splen-
did example, expressed in a most practical way of the
good-will relations between the Jews and Gentiles of
Elkins, W. Va. Recently a dinner was tendered Dr. W.
W. Golden by one hundred of the foremost citizens of
Elkins, including some of the most distinguished in the
entire state of West Virginia, on the occasion of his
twenty-fifth year of service as superintendent of the
Davis Memorial Ilospital. But it was even more than
that. It was really a spontaneous tribute to a physician
who had served a people honorably and faithfully for a
great many years, and who had enjoyed the highest hon.
Ora within the gift of the State Medical Association and
the State Board of Health. The president of Davis and
Elkins college, Dr. Allen, was the toastmaster. And
there came Senator Scott, of the older generation, and
the mayor of the city of the younger generation, to pay
him tribute. I don't know Dr. Golden, but I assure him
that men who achieve such a position in their chosen pro-
fession honor it as well as the people they serve, and if
perchance they be members of the house of Israel they
honor Jewry as well.
Now let's cut cross country to Oregon. Quite a jump
from West Virginia, but it's worth the trip. For I find
that Ben Selling has been voted Portland's first citizen
because of his record of "gifts to charitable and social
organizations, his service in public movements, and his
long sustained record as an ethical merchant.' Mr. Sell-
ing's is not a new name to me. I have heard of him for
many years identified with worth-while movements in
and out of Jewry. Then there is Nathan Eckstein, voted
the first citizen of Seattle, because of his fine contribu-
tions to civic life. That is the best good-will propaganda
that we Jews can disseminate. Not much prejudice in
face of a situation like that. But I am not done with
the northwest. For here comes news of the Shemanski
brothers, Albert of Seattle and Joseph of Portland The
former has established a Jewish Students' University
Loan Fund at the University of Washington, that will
afford many worthy young men and women an oppor-
tunity to obtain an education without the stigma of
charity, through a loan that can be repaid.
srtrrr r rrrrty.
MYY
v., ,rnr r5r—rr,r,
FOLKLORE OF THE TEETH. By Leo Kanner, M. D. Pub-
lished by the Macmillan Co., New York and Chicago ($4).
A Review by Philip Slomovits.
"It is probably little known. ex-
cept among anthropologists and
students in special fields, that the
teeth have been the source of
much mystery among peoples of
all races and creeds. Special sig-
nificance in the minds of savage
and semi-civilized peoples is at-
tached to the number and ar-
rangement of the teeth. Incanta-
tions directed against toothache
abound among ancient peoples,
and even, as the author demon-
strates, figures prominently in the
traditions of Christian civilized
peoples...."
Thus the publishers in a very
mild way describe Dr. Kanner's at-
tempt at debunking the supersti-
tious about the teeth. As a mat-
ter of fact, however, the Mac-
millan Co. could very safely have
been much bolder in urging the
purchase of this unusual volume
by the Jewish physician who writes
from Yankton State Ilospital,
Yankton, S. I).
For the Jewish reader there is a
special appeal in this volume be-
cause of the wealth of Jewish
stories and references to the Tal-
mud and the Mishna. The aver-
age reader, for example, may
never have heard of the Talmudic
references to toothpicks and tooth-
brushes. Dr. Kanner tells us that
"the Talmud on several occasions
speaks of qesem, that is, chip or
splinter, which was divided on one
end by chewing and biting and then
used like a toothbrush." Dr. Kan-
ner continues to explain that
"reed, too, was employed in the
cleaning of teeth, but the Talmud
warns against its use, for it may
break off very easily and injure
the gums." The author tells RA
that Rashi(Rabbi Solomon ben
Israel), the great commentator,
declared the aversion to reed origi-
nated in the assumption that "an
evil spirit rested upon it."
A Fine Talmudic Story.
At the very opening of his book
Dr. Kanner relates the following
beautiful little anecdote:
"The Talmud tells of one pseudo-
scientist who, although counting
diligently the planets of the sky,
did not know how many teeth there
were in his oral cavity This man,
a sectarian, bragged one day about
his profound knowledge of astron-
omy in the presence of the noted
Rabbi Gamaliel and went on to
say: 'The number of the stars is
well known to me.' To which the
sage replied smilingly: 'Tell me
how many teeth you have.' The
boaster, confused, put his hand in
his mouth and began to count
them. Then Rabbi Gamaliel ex-
claimed: 'You do not know what
you have in your mouth, how do
you expect to know what there is
in the sky!'"
Dr. Kanner also quotes the story
in the Midrash about King Og of
Bashan, who pulled a mountain
with which to kill the camp of
Israel. But the Lord sent ants to
eat a big hole into this mountain,
that it might sink down King Og's
neck and make hint harmless to the
Israelites.
We also read the Midrachic com-
ment on Gen. 33:4, commenting on
Esau's kiss for this brother Jacob.
Esau, the story relates, is supposed
to have aimed to bite his brother
and thus to kill him, but the Lord
turned his teeth into wax, or, ac-
cording to another version, the
endangered neck became hard as
ivory and Esau's teeth harmless.
Some Jewish Superstitions.
Among the Jewish superstitions,
Dr. Kanner quotes the practice
among Jewish children in Buko-
wina who throw cast teeth on the
floor and ask the mice for steel
teeth in the place of bone. Jew-
ish children in South Russia throw
their cast teeth on the roof with
the same request.
In a chapter on "General Ap-
preciation of Healthy Teeth," Dr.
Kanner points out that the ancient
Hebrews had much to say about
the teeth and their beauties. Ile
quotes Solomon's "thy teeth are
like a flock of sheep," and makes
reference to Jacob's promise to
Judah that his teeth be "whiter
than milk." There are other in-
teresting quotations in this chap-
ter from Ezekiel and Jeremiah
Rabbi Jochanan and other sources.
The author also tells us here that
"the Talmud advocates that tar-
tar should be removed from the
e n t ehos.
' C
Describing
different plant treat-
re
m e nts of toothache among vari-
ms peoples, Dr. Kanner states that
"the Polish Jews, in the case of
toothache, mat an apple which
fixed on the point of a lulab, was
roasted over an open fire." Ht
also tells us that "I'olish Jews try
to rid themselves of toothache by
smoking cigarettes in which the
tobacco was mixed with poppy
seeds "
Referring to charms as meth-
ods of healing the teeth, Dr. Kan-
ner refers to Leviticus 20:27 and
Deuteronomy 12:10 in proof that
"the Bible warns against them as
being ungodly."
"Adar Gar Velar Gar."
In a chapter on "The Trans-
ference of Toothache," Dr. Kan-
ner qquoks the following:
"In Jewish folk-medicine, one
prescribes the driving of a nail
into the wall, the formula, 'Adar
Gar Vedar Gar,' being uttered,
and then followed by these words:
'Even as this nail is firm in the
wall and is not felt, so let the
teeth of So-and-So, a son of So.
and-So, be firm in his mouth, and
give him no pain. "
Artificial dentures in a man are
never mentioned in the Talmud,
the author tells us, and he ex-
plains that these are treated as a
part of women's jewelry. Also,
the Hebrew of the Talmudic time
are supposed to have been well
acquainted with dental prosthetic
work.
Dr. Kanner also tells us that
"Maimonides, the great Jewish
rabbi, philosopher and physician,
who lived in the twelfth century,
understands under the gold tooth
of the Talmud a golden husk with
which the women used to encom-
pass their decayed teeth to make
them look better."
Jewish folklore forms, of course,
a very minute part of the book.
Which should give the reader of
this review an idea of the mass of
interesting material on the subject
to be found in Dr. Kanner's vol-
ume, and which should also be an
added reason in encouraging the
purchase of the volume.
ty
A NORDIC MOSES
A Review of Jenten's "The Light
of Egypt."
By DR. NOAH E. ARONSTAM
THE LIGHT OF EGYPT. By Wer-
ner Jansen. Published by Bren-
tano, 1 West 47th Street, New
York ($2.50).
The Story Itself.
In this story, a translation from
the German, Moses turns out to be
the illegitimate child of Amram
and Bithja—the Bathia of the
Exodus—a daughter of the Pha-
raoh Rameses, a princess of t! e
blood His Egyptian and Hebrew
traits are in continuous conflict
with each other, but finally the
Hebrew in him emerges victorious
and he determines to free a people
steeped in "servility, ignorance,
usury and cunning," and lead
them into the promises! land. Am-
ram is described as a crafty states-
man, councillor to Rameses and
Menophtah, who desires to see his
son, Moses, ascend the throne of
the Pharaohs. Moses, on crossing
the Red Sea, discovers that the
coffins or sarcophagi which the
Hebrews carried with them from
Egypt bearing the remains of Ja-
cob, Joseph and other ancestors,
are laden with jewels, gems and
gold. It appears that the "greedy
and shrewd" Bezalel is responsible
for this, for in his capacity of
goldsmith he appropriated all the
gold of Egypt in order to cast a
statue of Rameses; but instead of
using pure gold, he uses plaster
coated with a thin layer of the
metal. Moses on discovering it is
highly incensed over such dishon-
esty and severely upbraids Am-
ram, Bezalel and the rest of the
elders. Here the story abruptly
ends and the reader is left to his
imagination. So much for the
story.
A Critical View.
The author, Werner Jansen,
drank deep from the fount of
Aryan wisdom. He must have
read Schiller's "Die Sendung,
Moses" (Moses' Mission), and
without paying heed to Biblical
and historical data and tradition,
he delves in a sea of speculation
that reveals the Nordic viewpoint.
There is a very meager Egypt°.
logical background; the Biblical
narrative is entirely ignored or but
very superficially scanned. Miriam
plays a very subordinate role while
(Turn to Next Page).
C
Gems From Jewish Literature
Selected by Rabbi Leon Fram.
"ON VISITING PALESTINE"
There is something a little shock-
ing to the western traveler in Pal-
estine that he must link up by au-
tomobile the shrines of his pil-
grimage in that country. It is
true that there is no compulsion
exerted upon him not to use his
own legs or the four legs of a
mule. But it is, after all, hardly
decent to expect a man to turn
down petrol when it is there. Ile
feels a vague sort of chagrin that
petrol should be there at all.
But if the western traveler he a
Jew, he does not find the smell pe-
trol and the noise of self-starters
distressing. Palestine to him is a
living proposition, a continuous
and organic entity, whose heart-
beets, it is true, were suspended
frequently by violence or the more
insidious and protracted violence
of imposed inertia. But the cham-
bers of the heart were not disin-
tegrated. And now the valves do
not function again because of the
infection of any mere financial or
political strychnine. The blood is
flowing back into the heart again
and out of the heart again with the
rhythm of a creature awakening
out of a long trance.
—LOUIS GOLDING in
"Those Ancient Lands."
"FL HA-ZIFOR"
(To the 111rd)
filed on my window perching
Returned from the land of the sun,
Messed be this thy cookie.
For now is the winter done.
Sweet Is the pound of the singlne.
For I. abonded. in vain
Longed through the weary winter
To hear thee min.
Sine, hied, for full is the singlne
of marvelous tidings •nd dear.
And tell IT 15 if there In the sun-land
Life is as bitter as lore.
Greeting thou brineest from Zion
From loved ones who wait for me
there:
Ah. happy ones! Surely they know not
How hee•y the burden I bear.
Though time that ends all has not ended
Th• an
hal / of my wrong.
Yet bleated art Dina in the cools,.
And happy .ha be thy son,
•WI:445Y,,,I,'4
NACHstAN MALIK
•
5 4 ;