I6

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Chronicle

CHANUKAH

(Continued from Page One)

Droock to Speak at
Bnai Moshe Service

servance. The Jews, ruled by
Aaron Droock, prominent local
Rome, thought it unwise to ad-
vertise their past rebellions. In attorney and long identified with
particular Rabbi Judah the Pat- Bnai Brith, will be guest speaker
riarch, the compiler of the Mish- at late Friday evening services,
nah, was of such a mind. He was at Congregation Bnai Moshe, Fri-
extremely anxious to veil these day, Jan. 3.
Mr. Droock selected as his
dents in the past which might
be repugnant to Rome. He even topic "The Jews' Inner Defenses"
hoped to abolish Tisha B'ov and which will deal with anti-defain-
Purim as well as Hanukkah, but
whereas he was eminently unsuc-
cessful with the first two, he did
succeed in making Hanukkah less
popular by refraining from men-
tioning it in the Mishnah,
It was only later wlisn the hat-
red for the Hasmonoans 1-, ad been
transferred to Herod and ;then
the Roman Empire had paled in•
to obscurity that Jewish writers
found it desirable and opportune
to record the events of the Has
monean uprising. In the seventh
century there appeared a very
interesting account, written by a,
Babylonian or Syrian Jew and
entitled, "The Scroll of the Has.
moneans."
This book, the exact date of
which is uncertain, was elevated
almost to the position of canon-
ical sanctity. Saadyah Gaon was
- especially pleased with it, for he
translated the Scroll into Arabic
and prepared a special introduc-
tion. And the Scroll gained uni-
versal popularity when it was lat-
AARON DROOCK
er translated into Hebrew, Per-
sian, Latin, German and Span- ation work, a subject he is well
ish.. After a while it became a qualified to discuss by virtue of
regular feature of the Hanukkah his many years of intensive study
synagogue service. Soon somo and work devoted to eradicating
scribes included it even in their the evil of anti-Semitism and dis-
copies of the Bible. In Yomen crimination against Jews.
they read the Arabic and Aram-
Droock is past-president of
aic copies, verse by verse, as they District No. 6 of Bnai Brith and
were accustomed to read all the is recognized as one of the lead-
books of the Bible.
ing Ben Briths in this part of
The account of the Scroll does the country. Among his many
not tally with the historical ac- works devoted to the growth of
count of the Maccabean uprising. the order was the organization
For the reasons already enumer- of three new Detroit lodges, in
ated the story had undergone addition in Pisgah Lodge No. 34,
much editing. Judah is almost now in existence for over 85
entirely ignored. All laurel years.
wreaths are placed on the heads
The public is invited to at-
of Mattathias and the High tend the services which begin
Priest, Johanan. Moreover, the at 8:20 and are directed by Rabbi
'name "Hanukkah" does not ap- Jacob J. Nathan. Cantor David
pear in the Scroll, thus attesting Katzman will chant the prayers.
perhaps to its early origin.
A social hour will follow the
What follows now are excerpts services.
from a translation prepared by
Moses Gastor from an eighteenth
century copy in his possession,
except for the introductory sen- 'My idol has delivered him into
tences which replace my deletions my hand.' At that time he
walked up to him three steps
from the original text.
and thrust his sword into his
I * «
Antiochus, King of Yavan and heart, and cast his corpse into
conquerer of many lands, called the hall of the sanctuary."
When Antiochus heard of Nik-
Bagras, his second in command,
and determined to march on Jeru- anor's death, he sent Bagras at
4 alem in order to abolish the the head of a new army to re-
ovenant that had been made with capture Jerusalem. Bagras was
the Jews to observe Sabbath, New successful, and as additional pun-
' Moon and circumcision. Nikanor ishment imposed even more rigor-
was placed at the head of the ous decrees.
army. The slaughter was fierce.
"Thereupon the five sons of
An idol was placed in the sanc- Mattathias, Johanan and his four
tuary, and its halls were contam- brothers, went out and arrayed
inated by the blood of a swine. battle with the heathen. They
The son of Mattathias, Johanan, made a great slaughter among
was sorely grieved at the events, them; and those that remained
and decided to take matters into escaped to the sea-provinces, for
his own hands. He concealed a they trusted in the God of heav-
sword beneath his cloak, and ap- ens. Then Bagras the wicked
peared at the Temple gate, where mounted a vessel and escaped to
he asked that his presence be King Antiochus, and with him
announced to Nikanor. The lat- those who had escaped the
sword."
ter agreed to see him.
"Then Johanan was brought be-
Bagras, fearing the five sons
fore Nikanor. Nikanor answered of Mattthias "who are stronger
and said: Thou art one of the than lions, quicker than eagles
rebels who revolt against the and more dearing than bears,"
king, and do not desire the peace advised Antiochus to muster his
of his kingdom. Johanan an- full army. Strengthened by the
swered and said : I have now new recruits, Bagras succeeded
come before thee to do what thou in recapturing Jerusalem.
But once again the five sons
wishest. Nikanor answered and
said: If thou desire to fulfill my of Mattathias — Judah, Simon,
wishes, take a swine, scarifice it Johanan, Jonathan and Eliezar
to the idol and take its blood —rallied their forces and led
into the hall of the sanctuary, them against the enemy. Judah
and I will array thee in the royal and Eliezar both fell in combat,
apparel, and I will cause thee to but Mattathias replaced them on
ride on the king's horse, and the field. The Jewish forces
thou shalt be as one of the king's gained an easy victory, and pur-
beloved. When he had heard that sued Antiochus to the sea, where
word, Johannen replied and said: he drowned himself.
"Thereupon the children of Is-
My lord, I am afraid lest the
children of Israel might hear that rael went up to the sanctuary,
I have done so, and they would and built the gates and cleansed
kill me with stones. Let there- the sanctuary from the slain and
fore all (that stand) before thee from the pollution. And they
go out, so that they should not sought after pure olive oil in
make it known to the children of order to light the lamps, and they
Israel.• Then Nikanor let every did not find anything but one
man go out who stood before bottle, sealed with the seal of
the High Priest, from the time
him.
"At that time Johanan, son of the Prophet Samuel. Therein
of Mattathias, lifted his eyes to was sufficient for the lighting of
heaven and offered his prayer to one day; but the Lord of heav-
the Master of the Universe, and ens, who caused His name to
said, 'My God, and the God of dwell there, gave a blessing
my forefathers Abraham, Isaac therein, and they lit with it the
and Jacob' (and he said) 'Do lamps for eight days. Therefore
not deliver me into the hands the Hasmoneans ordained and en-
of this uncircumcised, lest he joined upon them and the chil-
would kill me and go and offer dren of Israel to make it known
praises in the temple of Dagon, to the children of Israel, that
his false god, and he will say: they should keep these eight days

December 27, 1940

EDUCATION

BOOK WEEK

Continued from Pao I

(Continued from Page I)

tion of 150 volumes will be in
charge of a staff member from
the Detroit Public Library. It
will include representative works
of ancient Hebrew literature,
Hebrew volumes of the middle
ages and Yiddish and Hebrew
publications of the modern per-
iod.
The general public is invited
to attend the book exhibit of the
Jewish People's library. An ap-
propriate musical program has
been arranged for Sunday after-
noon at 3 o'clock in the auditor-
ium of the Workmen's Circle
Educational Center and a prom-
inent speaker will discuss the
significance of Jewish Book
Week.

the usual freight of vocabulary
Tri-Lingual Greetings
and technical information regard-
Henry Meyers, president of the
ing the Hebrew language and Center, greeted the gathering
literature. But it is also based and announced that the Book
on some principle of the Jewish Week event was sponsored by
faith or Jewish conduct. While the Center with the cooperation
some efforts in the direction of of the following collaborating or-
using the Hebrew textbooks as ganizations: Bnai Brith, Congre-
means of instruction in these gation Beth El, Congregation
fields of the wider spiritual life Shaarey Zedek, Detroit Sectien
have been made, no one has pur- of American Jewish Congress,
sued the task so consistently or Zionist Organization of Detroit.
so thoroughly as has Dr. Green-
Greetings were extended to
berg in his present series. The the gathering, in addition to the
first booklet, entitled "Ha-Sheur English address by Mr. Meyers,
Ha-Rishon" (The First Lesson);' by S. Bercovich, director of the
is largely devoted to the prin- Sholem Aleichem Folks Institute,
ciple of respect for parents. Dr. and Bernard Isaacs, superintend-
Greenberg's eminence as a teach- ent of the United Hebrew
Earlier Deadline
e• is reflected in his ability to Schools.
insinuate into each of the stories
For the Next
Mr. Bercovich's address was
an emphasis on this simple rule
an evaluation of Yiddish as a
of conduct.
On account of New Year's
force among the Jewish masses
The later pamphlets undertake and as an all-embracing way of Day occurring on Wednesday,
the instruction in more abstract life.
there will be an earlier dead-
truths of religion and more diffi-
Mr. Isaacs spoke of the im- line for next week's issue. All
cult principles of conduct. Dr.
copy for insertion in the issue
Greenberg is able to make the portance of Hebrew and told a of Jan. 3 must reach the editor
Midrashic
story
of
the
superior-
concept of "universal peace" and
before 10 a. m. on Tuesday,
the commandment "love thy ity of the book over the sword. Dec. 31.
Pointing
out
that
"now
our
men-
neighbor as thyself" concrete and
unintelligible to the growing tal ramparts are in danger of
mind. At the same time, be- falling, he appealed for three
cause he utilizes historical ma- criteria for books we read—
THE PALMETTO HOTEL
terial as the basis for many of making sure that they increase
Banquet Room
self-knowledge,
self-respect
and
his stories, the booklets become
Newly Di...mat...it and Refurnished
self-confidence.
Now Avaliable
invaluable as elementary histori-
for Private Parties, Buffet Lunches,
In an interesting address, Adam %%Wiling
cal texts.
Receptions and Minoan
Strom, Detroit Librarian, landed
Good Food and a Good Time
In a sense these texts based on the work of Jewish intellectuals
At exceptionally moderate prices
advanced concepts of modern as a contribution to all Ameri-
Columbia 3000
pedagogics really revert to the cans. Outlining the work of im- 110 E. Hancock
most ancient systems of Jewish migrant groups in this country,
pedagogics. Among the many
he said, "we are all guests in
reasons which make ancient Heb- the
Promised Land."
rew literature pre-eminent, one
Julius Chajes, music director
of the most important is its con- of the Jewish Community Center,
tinuous emphasis on basic ethical able composer and pianist, thrill-
and doctrinal values. The sig- ed the audience with his rendi-
nificance of even the Five Books tion of several piano selections.
of Moses, from this point of
Yiddish Celebration
view, has thus far not ben fully
The Yiddish groups' Book
realized by scholars. The tend- Week celebration will take place
ency of modern biblical scholar-
Sunday afternoon.
ship has been to treat the tales this
The Jewish People's Library,
about Adam and Eve, Noah, Ab- in cooperation with the foreign
raham and the other patriarchs, language department of the De-
as though they were intended to troit Public Library, is arranging
be merely entertaining or at an exhibit of Jewish books on
most instructive as to fact. Ac- Dec. 28 and 29 at the Work-
tually each of the incidents re- men's Circle Educational Center,
corded has at least one—some- 11529 Linwood Ave. A collec-
times more — important ethical
and conceptual truth which it
seeks to emphasize. Thus the
story of Abraham's treaty with series of books Dr. Greenberg
the Philistines is not simply a has shown how his principle can
piece of ancient history, which be applied.
In his introduction to the
was being taught to the children
and adults in Palestine. As the Series Rabbi Alter F. Landes-
language of the story clearly in- man, Chairman of the Joint Corn-
dicates, it was intended to dis- mission on Jewish Education of
Luxurious modern hotel.
courage the tendency of Israel The United Synagogue and The
Private Beach. Cabanas.
to make war on the Philistines. Rabbinical Assembly of America,
Superlative Cuisine.
The story of Isaac's willingness states, very modestly, that "In
presenting this series of texts,
Radio in Every Room.
to be offered as a sacrifice is the
Joint Commission on Jewish
Free Parking.
more than a touching tale. It is
Education,
under
whose
auspices
intended to show that the God
For Reservations %Vrite
they
are
being
published,
feels
of Israel rejects child-sacrifice,
or Wire
N. H. HANKOFF
which was practiced by so many that it is making a worthwhile
contribution
to
Hebrew
textbook
Managing Director
Syrian peoples.
The pedagogial method used literature and the cause of Jew-
in Scripture is persistently fol- ish teaching in America." The
lowed in the ancient Midrash, booklets are far more than "a
which amplifies the Biblical tales worthwhile contribution"; they
ROYAL PALM
and makes them applicable to are an important and timely ef-
ilifeilt ON 111i ()CUM
current issues of the day. It was fort to help raise Jewish educa-
tVittN IStti 16th SlIttilS
tion
to
the
high
level
it
attained
also used very effectively by the
translators who rendered the in the most enlightened of an-
Hebrew scriptures into Aramaic. cient centuries.
It is high time that this an-
cient form of pedagogics was
resurrected. We have made
great strides in advancing the
technique of education, but for
more than a generation we have
been neglecting its content. The
fear of indoctrinating the youth
of the country with our ideas
has permeated our public school
system, and tended to make it
a system for education in facts,
rather than in a way of life.
From the public school system,
some of our advanced educators
have carried the system into Jew-
ish education, and have tried to
APintiegi/Va4
make the Jewish school simply
a place where one masters a
A44 q04 914 Paste
few historical facts and some
basic elements of the Hebrew
*- PRIDE OF DETROIT BREWING COMPANY
language. Dr. Greenberg has for
many years insisted that the
Hebrew school system must be
a place for the improvement of
the child's character; and he
also holds that the basic energy
for the imprOvement of the
— given by —
child's character must derive
from religious tradition. In this

Issue

BEER

New Year's Eve Party

with mirth and gladness, similar
to the days of festivals pre-
scribed in the Law; to light the
lamps, so as to make it known
to those that may come after
them, that their God had wrought
salvation to them from heaven
. . . Therefore the children of
Israel keep these days in all the
Diaspora and call them days of
mirth from the 25th day of Kis-
lev."

Arlazaroff Branch 137---J. N. W. A.

LACHAR'S — 3153 CASS AVE.
Dave Diamond's Orchestra — Mel Lowe, M. C.

FINE ENTERTAINMENT

$3.50 Per Plate

Reservations Limited

Call Wm. Hordes, Ch. 6780, To. 8-1957; Lachar's, Ty. 4 9420;
Dexter-Daviso n Mkt., To. 8-9019. Ask for Cottler.

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