A merica/I Yewish Periodical Cotter
CLIFTON AVENUE - CINCINNATI 20, 01110
Friday, December 15, 1944
3
)
DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Chronicle
Page 3
Saaciia Gaon: Philosopher of Rational Judaism .. .
By SYDNEY H. ZEBEL, M.A., Ph.D.
ever, a reconciliation was effect-
EDITOR'S NOTE:—The author of this article is an instructor in ed, and Saadia was reinstated at
History at New York University and Professor of History at Sura. His noble character was
7,- ,
Fairleigh Dickinson Junior College.
revealed later when he took the
heir of his old enemy
t kirc e In past years, Adolf Hitler an ancient Cairo synagogue, orphaned
and acted as his guardian and
boasted repeatedly that the new where for over a thousand years teacher. Saadia died a few years
Nazi state he had created was Hebrew manuscripts and books later, in 942, shortly' before his
destined to endure a thousand had been piled away. From these 60th birthday.
years; but already, little more new records, we learn that Saadia
Saadia's real importance lay
than 10 years after the creation was born in the Fayyum, in less, however, in his political ac-
of the Third Reich, the "New Egypt, in 882. He was educated tivities than in his tremendous
Order" totters to its bloody in Egypt and soon won eminence contributions to varied fields of
grave. Paradoxically enough, the there as a scholar and teacher. learning. Philosopher, philologist,
Jewish people, despised scapegoats To find greater scope for his grammarian and exegete, trans-
of the Nazis and victims of their activities, however, Saadia left lator, and polemicist, he ranks
frenzy for extermination, have his native land, probably in 915, with the best Jewry has ever pro-
long surpassed his most cher- and went to Palestine where he duced. The permanent signifi-
ished dream: The New Order continued his studies and writing. cance of his philosophical works,
they created in the past three In 921, finally, he arrived in in which he made his greatest
thousand years will endure as a Bagdad, capital of Babylonia mark, is - acknowledged by the
monument to God and to them then; and, by virtue of his pow- noted American physicist-philoso-
long after Hitlerism will repre- erful intellect and dynamic per- pher Arthur H. Compton. In 933,
sent only an ugly blotch on the sonality, soon won wide acclaim Saadia wrote his most famous
pages of history. Despite periodic and even the favorable attention philosophical treatise, Beliefs and
threats of exterminations, Juda- of the Exilarch, secular head of Opinions (Emunot we-Deot), in
ism survives as a living and vital the Jewish community. Within a which he discussed the rational
force, as a immutable reminder few years, the gifted young for- bases for belief in God, free-will,
to mankind of the fatherhood of eigner was named by the Exi- the soul, and a future life; a
God and the brotherhood of Man. larch Gaon, or head of the Acad- thousand years later, in 1933,
One of the leaders of Judaism emy at Sura—the first scholar, Professor Compton himself wrote
not a native Babylonian, to at-
- who did much to assure this per- tain this eminence. For a time, a famous book discussing these
petuation of a living Jewish faith
very problems. It is of consider-
was Rab Saadia ben Joseph al- Saadia devoted his efforts to the able interest to note that the
advancement
of
learning
at
Sura
Fayyumi, or, as he is better
10th century Jewish philosopher
known to our time, Rab Saadia but also performed yeoman serv- and the 20th century Christian
ice
in
refuting
the
Karaite
heresy.
Gaon. It was ho who began the
philosopher both reached the
line of great Jewish philosophers In the 8th century, a certain same conclusion that our great
which culminated in Maimonides Anan ben David had founded a human heritage is freedom to
and Spinoza centuries later. "My heretical sect which denied the seek the best by working with
heart grieved for mankind," he authority of the. Iral Law; and, God toward making the better
explains in the preface to one of during the 9th and early' 10th world a reality.
his great works, "and my soul centuries, his rebellion became a
Saadia's greatest contribution
was moved on account of our real threat to Jewish unity. to religion was in reconciling rea-
Sandia
was
eventually
to
succeed
people, Israel, as I saw in my
son and faith, and his success is
time many people entertain im- in reestablishing the authority of manifested by the influence he
the
Talmud
against
these
rebels.
pure beliefs and confused ideas,
In 930, however, Saadia became
while those who deny the faith
boast of their unbelief and tri- embroiled in a dispute with the
umphantly deride the men of Exilarch over a judicial problem,
truth, though they are themselves and, despite his efforts to main-
in error .. . I felt that to help tain harmony, an open break oc-
them was my duty and to guide curred. The Exilarch now ex-
them to truth a moral obligation communicated Saadia and ap-
pointed a new Gaon of Sura; his
upon me."
In recent years, we have fighting spirit aroused, Sandia re-
learned a great deal more about taliated by excommunicating the
Saadia's life and works than was Exilarch, denouncing his despotic
known earlier. About 40 years rule, and appointing a counter-
ago, Jewish scholarship was great- Exilarch. For several years,
ly enriched by the discovery oil though Saadia's star seemed in
the Geniza, a forgotten room in eclipse, this schism divided Baby-
had both on his own generation
A disciple who, in the presence
and on posterity. In the spring of his teacher, sits in a court
of 1942, on the thousandth anni- of justice, and who knows some-
versary of his death, the scholar- thing of value to the case under
ly world, Jewish and Gentile trial, especially if this testimony
alike, joined together to commem- would be in favor of the poor
orate his life and works. The defendant, and against the rich
addresses delivered at the com- complainant, is in duty bound to
memorative assembly held at the speak. For though it is said a
Jewish Theological Seminary in disciple should not speak in pub-
New York and at the convoca- lic before his teacher and ven-
tion of the University of Chicago, ture an opinion, it is also said:
along with papers presented be- "You shall fear no one in the
fore certain other groups, have interest of justice."
been collected and edited by Dr.
Louis Finkelstein, president of
Let him not grieve for that
the Jewish Theological Seminary which is lost.—Attadanda-sutta.
of American, and published by
At first my sorrowing heart
the Seminary in a volume entitled was heavy; but now my sorrow
Rab Saadia Gaon—Studies in His has brought forth only profit.
Honor. Persons interested in
—Fo-sho-hing-tsan-king.
Judaism, philosophy, theology, or
intellectual history generally will
Were I not ready to suffer ad-
find this book worthy of atten- versity
with my husband as well
tion. In any event, the circum- as to enjoy
with him,
stances making its publication I should be happiness
no true wife.
possible constitute a new triumph
—Legend of Wethan-da-ya.
for peace, faith and intellect,
age-old characteristics of Juda-
ism, over the dark forces of in-
He who spits straight up into
tolerance and racial hatred un- the air feels the spittle fall into
leashed by Hitler and his cohorts his own face!
in our day.'
The proud prophet loses his
Three things are to be avoided prophecies; the proud wise man
as much as the deadliest sin: his wisdom.
Adultery, public shaming of your
neighbor, and the calling of a
man by an epithet—although he
may have become used to it.
BONDS
It were better for a man to
be thrown into a fire than that
he should shame his neighbor '
publicly.
Keep Bombs
Falling!
CHANUKAH
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