1..

Friday. September 20. 1946

THE JEWISH NEWS

I 'Pathways Through the Bible'

Simplified, Easy.go-lilead
Version. Now Available

By DR. ABRAHAM E. MILLGRAM

divided into many sections, each
with its proper heading and each
containing a thought unit.
Modern English Words
In organizing his material, the
author follows for the most part
the order of "The Holy Scrip-
tures," and adheres to the diction
of the accepted version except
where he occasionally substitutes
modern English words and phras-
es for obscure archaic ones. He
also takes some liberties in re-

Page Seventy-lihns

The Wise Men of Helm

Their Famous Stories Form
Splendid Running Narrative

The term "Helmer Nai•onini ' a poll of young American Je ws
(the fools of Helm) has become tahnein woul
ascertain how many t. ;
proverbial in modern Jewish folk-
d get the satisfaction'
d
lore. The village of Helm in Po- from reading
in such stories that is
EdusatiOnsa Director of the United Synagogue of Almeria/a
land has been made famous by !afforded those who hail from Old.
"To be admired by everyone and read by no one" has been the
this appellation, and some of the World environments. This review-
fate of the classics, and with equal justice it can be said that this arranging or transposing a few
most fascinating stories which er's guess is that the test will
has been the fate of the Bible too. Bible societies have made valiant verses and a few books.
have enriched Jewish humor have have unfavorable results; that the
efforts to distribute the Book of Books.
In Arthur Szyk. the publishers been ascribed to
- this village, the ;average young American Jew
Young eonfirznants carry it
commissioned a great artist who
entire population of which is be- may desire an entirely different
proudly on Confirmation day;
same time imbued lieved to
Bible by adults and young read- is at the
have been murdered type of humor which should be
brides walk with it to their wed-
thoroughly with the Jewish spirit.
ers.
during the war.
I ding canopies; witnesses swear to
more in keeping with his own
Dr. Mortimer J. Cohen. author Szyk broke with the old tradi-
the truth on it in courts-of-law_
The latest collection of stories, experiences.
of this volume, sets out to give tion of Bible illustrations and
• • •
; Even hotel rooms offer it as- read-
the American Jews a simplified portrays the Bible's characters as recorded in a runniqg narrative
I ing matter for the lonely of heart.
Nevertheless the recur ding of
human beings, as Jews. His by Solomon Simon, has ju,, t been
Annually, the newspapers report
26 illustrations are novel and re- published by Behrman House of the stories, as achieved by Solo-
I that the Bible is still a "best sell-
freshing. Touchingly. Szyk dedi- New York under the title The mon Simon, has a valued place on
er". Nevertheless, knowledge of
cates his contribution to the book Wise Men of Helm and Their the Jewish bookshelf. After 211,
its contents may be assumed, re-
it is a part of our history.
Merry Tales. -
- as an eternal kaddish" to • his
• • •
gretfully, to be as rare as ever.
mother and her faithful Polish
Lillian Fischel did an excellent
Difficult to Bead
It is a most interesting book. job with her illustrations for the
•
servant whom the Nazis burned
alive. The volume is enriched Naturally, the stories depict the Helm volume.
The reason for this ignorance.
also with eleven new maps. done naivette of the village, its lack of
of the Bible may be found in
the fact that "The Holy Scrip-
in the manner of modern carto- understanding of worldly .affairs.
New Orthodox Magazioe
graphers.
the nonsense which had earned
tures" is a difficult book to read.
The Union of Orthodox Jewish
Archaic expressions—no matter in
The publication of - Pathways for the proverbial "scapegoats - of Congregations of America has dis-
what languages, strange imagery,
continued publication of the - Or-
Through the Bible - was made Jewish humor the term "fools. -
and unfamiliar backgrounds- upon
possible through the generous
There is an apology for them thodox Union" which it has Pub-
which biblical events and
gift of Sidney Neumann, of Phil- in the author's prefatory note lished since 1933. In its place it ,
thoughts are based present ob-
will issue a bi-monthly pocket-size
adelphia, in memory of his Par- which reads:
viously too many obstacles for
ents, Abraham and Emma Neu-
"Some people say that the Wise magazine called "Jewish Life.'
the average person to hurdle.
/MUM.
Men of Helm are fools_ Don't you
DIE.
.7. COMM
Dr. Mortimer J. Cohen has been believe it. Its just that foolish
In former days, when
Bible
reading was part of the necessary version of -The Holy Scriptures" Rabbi of Congregation Beth Sho- things are always happening to
religious discipline leading to which would be readable, easy to lem of Philadelphia for the past therm"
• • •
I salvation—the Jews called this comprehend and even enjoyable." 28 years. He is a graduate of
reading a mitsvab--men and His approach is marked by a con- the Jewish Theological Seminary
Those who are acquainted with
women gladly made the strenu- sciousness of the sacred nature of America and received his Ph.D. the background of the Jewish
at the Dropsie College. In 1937.
ous effort to con its pages and, of his task.
In his introduction. Dr. Cohen be published "Jacob Emden: A communities in Poland will get a
by dint of repetition. managed to
new thrill from reading about the
states
that
the
book
"seeks
to
Man of Controversy." which is a Helmites. Gimpel's golden broth.
absorb some of its
religious
hew out pathways
through the psychological study of the life of
values.
richly luxuriant and forestlike one of the foremost figures in the science of Shloime, the phil-
Agency
Bible readers have tried to over- complexities of the
osophy of Piny a. the fires of the
Bible litera- Judaism during the eighteenth
come the difficulties of reading it
'31 7 Beaubien
ture.. so that the unskilled travel- century. Dr. Cohen is also editor! village, the Town Meetings—all
by condensing it, by rewriting it. ler may find
are representative of an age :hut
his way through it of "In Jewish Bookland."
CA. 4646
by dramatizing its stbries, and
is gone and all but forgotten.
Pathways Through the Bible.'
by providing its more perplexing with ease and with pleasure. This
It would be interesting to *,;r:.e
ambitious task the author carries by Dr. Mortimer J. Cohen. con-
passages with elaborate introduc-
out in masterly fashion. His taining 25 two-color illustrations;
tions. Numerous such books have
come from the pens of Christians. charming, simple style and his and a five-color frontispiece by
literary insight and taste are Arthur Szyk, handsomely printed
Now one has come from a Jewish
pen. published by a Jewish organ- evident on every page. Even the and bound. with a beautiful six- ,
numerous subtitles reflect depth color jacket, retails for S3.00. De -
ization.
of discernment and skill in plan- taiLs of the membership plan.1
Published by JPS
ning.
catalogues and other work of The
The Jewish Publication Society
More striking is the charting of
of America has, of course. al- the "Pathways". The selections Jewish Publication Society of Am-
1446-570 7
ways been interested in the Bible. include those classic passages of erica, the world's largest pub-
It has given the English-speak- the Bible which combine both Usher of Jewish books in English.!
can be secured by writing to the
From
ing world a translation made by literary beauty and the enduring
EXecutive Vice-President. Maurice!
Jewish scholars. It has published ethical and religious values of
Jacobs. 320 Lewis Tower Btlilding. ,
Norman and Harry Singer
a number of commentaries, on Judaism." The material is sub-
Philadelphia 2. Pa.
several biblical books. It has pro-
duced an abridgement for school
purposes. It has issued several
GREETINGS TO OUR
books of Bible tales for children.
.noplete Mechanical Auto Seri ire
Its latest book on the subject,
Tire Recapping and vnleani,ing
appropriately named "Pathways
FRIENDS AND PATRONS
Through the Bible", is in accord
WILDEMERE & DAVISON
with the general tendency of
HARPER & CONNERS
facilitating the reading of ,the

**Pathways Through the Bible". By Mortimer J. Cohen. With 25 I.-fl-
eeter illustrations( and a five-color frontispiece by Arthur Szyk. Philadel-
phia: The Jewish Publican-on Society of America, 1946. 564 pages, includ-
ing-1i new mom s3.

greetings

Goldfarb
Bonding

New Years
Greet ings

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THE TROY LAUNDRY

AND

DRY .CILEANERS

Greetings

To All Our Friends

GRAND RIVER AND 12TH.

and Patrons—

1

Mr. & Mrs. Leo Lesser

Lessor•s Ciover Lads.

GREETINGS

111

•t•

Wks W.

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GAME#

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and A. Soifer

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on the New Year

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guests—wish-

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Greetings

To Our Friends

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ing them health, happiness, cheer and

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