American Jewish Periodical 0

Page 16

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE

All Rabbinic Texts to Be Published
by Jewish Theological Seminary

NEW YORK—(Special)—The Jewish Theolological Seminary of America has undertaken the
major task of publishing complete, accurate texts of all the rabbinical writings in Jewish history. The
Seminary is the center of conservative Judaism in the United States. It has set up the Louis M.
Rabinowitz Institute for Research
in Rabbinics.
uscripts were stored for several be made in any book is astonish-
In announcing, the project, Dr. centuries until they were re- ingly great," he said.
The task of preparing, correct-
Louis Finkelstein, president of covered by Solomon Schechter.
The seminary's president said ing and publishing the books with
the seminary, at 122nd Street and
Broadway, noted that virtually that the two oldest manuscripts the original versions will take
all the present editions of the that will be studied were photo- about 10 years, at a cost of $250,-
rabbinic works were "simply re- graphed at the Vatican Library. 000 to $300,000. Nine books, in-
One of them dates back to the eluding the Mishnah and its kin-
prints of the first editions which
appeared in the fifteenth and six- seventh century and "still retains dred texts, are scheduled for pub-
the vocalization used in ancient lication.
teenth centuries."
Babylonia, which was written
The editing of the texts will be
He stressed that "each succes- above the line rather than be- done by a commission consisting
sive edition contained many new neath it, as is common in later of Saul Lieberman, professor of
printer's errors, in most instances Hebrew manuscripts and in mod- Palestine Literature and Institu-
the more recent the edition the ern printed Hebrew books." tions; Alexander Marx, director
worse the text."
"The publication of these of libraries, Jacob H. Schiff,
By way of illustration, Dr. texts," Dr. Finkelstein said, "will professor of history, and Dr.
Finkelstein quoted a 'prominent virtually revolutionize the study Finkelstein.
maxim of the rabbis in "Treatise of rabbinic literature and history.
The institute will include re-
Sanhedrin," Chapter Four, that
It is obvious that we cannot search assistants and clerical
read: "He who saves one life is have a clear appreciation of the workers who will aid the scholars.
to be regarded as though he saved development of rabbinic Judaism The institution was established
a whole world, while he who so long as our information is through a grant made by Louis
destroys one life is to be con- based to a large extent on mis- M. Rabinowitz, NeW York manu-
sidered as though he destroyed a quotations and copyists' errors. facturer of hooks and eyes, in
whole world."
ERRORS ARE GREAT
whose honor the institute was
"The number of corrections to named.
This same maxim, said Dr.
Finkelstein, who is 9 noted
scholar, was corrupted in the
Middle Ages to read: "Ile who
saves a Jewish life is to be re-
garded as though he saved a
whole world, while he who de-
stroys a Jewish life is to be con-
Second generation leadership been campaign section chairman
sidered as though he destroyed a
has forged to the front in the in previotis years, Wineman will
whole world."
Allied Jewish Campaign as James be general chairman for the
PRINTED TEXT WRONG
H. Wineman accepted the chair- groups representing jewelry,
Dr. Finkelstein explained that manship of the merchantile div- shoes dry goods, children's wear,
this error occurred in the printed
furniture, luggage and loans,
text, "but, of course, is not found
men's apparel, furriers, merchant
in the manuscript, which shows
tailors and millinery.
the original reading."
A native Detroiter, Wineman
received his B.A. from the Uni-
Similar corruption, he pointed
versity of Michigan. He is assist-
out. deface the present texts of
ant to the president of People's
ancient rabbinic works, including
Outfitting Co., a tenure that was
the Mishna and Tosefta, which
interrupted by a 41-month service
are codes of rabbinic law com-
in the army during the war. He
posed in the second and third
is a member of the board of the
centuries of the Christian era, as
Detroit Service Group and of the
well as in the Mekilta, Sifra, and
volunteer group of the Detroit
Sifre7 .-all of which are commen-
Community Chest.
taries in the Pentateuch and were
• • •
composed in the third century of
the Christian era.
LUCOW, COHN TO DIRECT
JUNIOR DIVISION DRIVE
Dr. Finkelstein said that these
books were memorized for gen-
Milton Lucow, president of the
Community Service Committee of
erations "but were apparently
the Jewiffh Young Adult Council,
put into writing about the fifth
moved into the junior division's
or sixth centuries of.the Christian
\
era."
top position in the 1951 Allied
JAMES WINEMAN
Jewish Campaign this week.
• •
To make scientific editions pos-
Cohn and Lucow were co-chair-
sible, Dr. Finkelstein said, photo- ision of the 1951 campaign, Abe
men of the Community Service
graphs were made of original Kasle, chairman, announced.
Committee's participation in the
manuscripts in the libraries of
Wineman is the son of the first
the British Museum, Oxford and president of the Jewish Welfare last Torch Drive, and look forw-
Cambridge Universities, and the Federation and first chairman of ard to leading the junior division
Vatican, as well as in the state the Allied Jewish Campaign— to top the $50,000 it raised in the
1950 campaign.
libraries of Berlin and Vienna.
Henry Wineman—who last year
CAIRO WORKS FOUND • was honorary chairman of the
Other manuscripts that will be campaign.
examined come from the Geniza,
In addition to the women's ap-
a room in an ancient synagogue parel and department store em-
in Cairo where lost Hebrew man- ploye's sections, on which he has

James Willman to Head
Mercantile Groups Campaign

111. 7

•

Letters to the Editor

CIVIL

RIGHTS COMMITTEE
STATES PURPOSE OF FIGHT
To the Editor:
Your editorial in the Feb. 9
Issue of the Detroit Jewish
Chronicle titled "FEPC—a Phony
or Honest Law?" hits right on
the button.
The Michigan Committee on
Civil Rights, a non-Communist
coordinating body of numerous
organizations in Michigan, in-
cluding those affiliated with the
major Jewish, Catholic and Prot-
estant agencies, as well as with
both houses of labor, forward
looking businessmen and social
organizations, of all races and
creeds, is carrying on the strug-
gle to make America in general
,o and our own state in particular,
a better place to live in for all.
In these trying times of a gi-
gantic combat between democra-
cy and totalitarianism, we in
America cannot afford to con-
tine to furnish ammunition to
our enemies. The ammunition in
this instance is racial and re-
ligious intelerance and discrim-
ination.
Our combat against discrim-
ination is not limited to the field
of employment. We are active

Leo Pfeffer
to Give Two
Talks Here

Leo Pfeffer of the American
Jewish Congress and authority in
the field of church-state relation-
and interested in every field, be ships, will address two meetings
it education, housing, public ac- in Detroit under the auspices of
commodations, resorts or in every the Jewish Community Council.
Historical background, church
field in which some narrow-
minded individuals or organiza- and dogma, religious liberty and
tions practice un-American dis- separation of church and state
crimination and mistreatment of will be discussed at Congregation
citizens because of the color of Shaarey Zedek at 9 p.m. Feb. 27.
The session is sponsored by the
their skin or because of their
religion.
Shaarey Zedek Adult Institute
As you so aptly stated no and the business and professional
"phony" or a "counterfeit" law division of the American Jewish
purporting to be an FEPC mea- Congress.
The second discussion on ten-
sure will be acceptable to all
those who Can see.
sions in church-state relations
It is our task to make legisla- will take place at 8:30 p.m. March
tors see. In this task we, as a 6 at the Young Israel Center,
nonpartisan organization, a r e 12521 Dexter boulevard. The
working with the best elements Young Israel Adult Institute for
in both the Republican and Dem- Jewish Studies is sponsoring this
ocratic party.
lecture.
In our work we are looking
Mrs. Samuel Aaron is chairman
forward to a continuance of sup- of Community Council's sub-
port from all groups in our state committee on religion in schools.
and your awareness as to the The Council's culture commission
issues is an additional demon- under the chairmanship of Rabbi
stration of the support and co- Morris Adler, with Morris Lieber-
operation which we may expect man serving as co-chairman,
from the wide circulation rep- joined the Council's community
resented by your readers.
relations committee, whose chair-
Sincerely yours,
man and co-chairman are Harry
OLIVE R. BEASLEY, Yudkoff and Mrs. Samuel Green,
Michigan Committee, in arranging for Pfeffer's kc-
al Civil Rights
M ures.

Friday, February 0, 1951

Award go Hero's Kin

At the dedication ceremonies of the, Lt. Raymond Zussman
Memorial Library at the Jewish War Veterans Home, Feb. 4,
Michael Thiede, commander of the Wayne County Council,
Military Order of the Purple Heart, presents a plaque on behalf
of his organization to Betty Zussman, sister of the Congressional
Medal of Honor winner. Shown looking on is Bernice Zussman,
another sister. Others in the photo are, from left to right, Rubin
Zissman, commander of the IA. Zussman Poet; Mrs. Ilarriet
Mellin, president of the Auxiliary; Col. Sidney R. Rothschild,
commanding officer of Fort Wayne; and Judge 0. Z. Ide, prin-
cipal speaker at the event. The portrait of Lt. Zussman, pre-
sented to the Post on this occasion, is seen in the background.

Jewish Mother Loses Custody
of Child as She Weds Negro

NEW YORK— (WNS) —Jacob
Marx, referee assigned to the
New York Supreme Court, this
week faced a family tangle un-
paralleled in the judicial history
of the state of New York.
The referee had been appoint-
ed by Supreme Court Justice
William Hecht to determine

whether the grandparents of a
white child had a right to claim
supervision of the child's educa-
tion when its mother married a
Negro following divorce f rein
her first husband.
The action was brought by
Mrs. Molly Portnoy, who told

the referee that her daughter

was a Communist and an athe-
ist. One of the divorcee's broth-
ers, William Portnoy, a war vet-
eran, testified to the same effect.
The chit's mother denied the
charges and declared her mother
The Department of Justice has would never have dragged her to
if her husband had not
postponed compliance with the court
been a Negro.
Alien Registration Act for aliens
The referee ordered that the
who failed to meet the Jan. 11
.
deadline. Under penalty of law, child be placed in the custody A
all aliens must register as quickly the grandparents, with the moth-
er having the right to visit her
as possible.
child from time to time. He re-
Aliens who have not yet, reg- jected the mother's claim that
istered should immediately do so the child would have a better
by sending a letter to the local spiritual and physical home with
office of the Immigration and her and that her present husband
Naturalization Service, 3770 East had been treating the child with
Jefferson.
the tenderness of a real father.
Information which must be in-
Judge Hecht is expected to
cluded in the letter is full name, make a decision on the referee's
present address, date of birth, findings within the next few
country of which alien is a na- days.
tional (if stateless, give name of
country of origin and then state-
ment of statelessness), alien reg- Selflielp of Detroit
istration card number (or indica- Elects New Officers
tion of nondelivery of the card),
At a general meeting Jan. 21,
full name used at the time of en- Selfhelp of Detroit elected the
try, date of registration and sig- following officers:
nature of alien.
Fred Schwab, president; Walter
Anyone who needs help in reg- Gottlieb and Walter Stark, vice-
istering may get assistance at presidents; Kurt Michel, treas-
Resettlement Service, 5737 Sec- urer; and Mrs. Margaret Stark,
ond avenue, TR. 2-4080.
secretary.

Aliens Urged
to Report Now

Shaarey Zedek Men to Hold
Services for Brotherhood

The Men's Club of Congrega-
The Rev. Edgar DeWitt Jones
tion Shaarey Zedek will present will speak upon "The Wisdom of
Washington and the Learning of
Lincoln."
Ben Davidson and Dr. Albert
Altman will act as chairmen of
the service. An Oneg Shabbat and
refreshments will follow in the
social hall.
Among the guests of the Men's
Club will be the Wolverine Bar
Association Choir, the Redford
Avenue Presbyterian Church, the
Catholic Lawyers Guild Associa-
tion, Ebenezer A M E Church, St,.
Stephen A M E Church and
Choir, the Boy Scouts and the
Lutheran and Christian Posts of
the American Legion. Members
of the Men's Club Board will act
as hosts of the evening.
The Rev. Edgar DeWitt Jones,
D.D., Litt. D., was for 26 years
minister of Central Woodward
Christian Church and is now.
minister emeritus of that church
for life.
REV. JONES
Dr. Jones was president of the
• • •
Federal Council of Churches of
its annual Brotherhood Friday
Christ in America, 1936-38, and
night service at 8 p. in., Friday, exchange preacher to Scotland in
16 in the synagogue.
1932.

