Page Fifty-Five
THE JEWISH NEWS
Friday, September 12, 1947
Medical Center in Denver
150th Anniversary
Wilnts Gaon Helped
Modernize Judaism
By HARRY CUSHING
Crum's Book Sold Out
TEL AVIV, (ZOA)—The first
printing of a Hebrew edition of
Bartley Crum's "Behind the
Silken Curtain" was practically
sold out within a week.
The English language -version
of "Behind the Silken Curtain,"
which ran serially in the Pales-
tine Post, was subjected to strict
censorship, and the printing of
several chapters was forbidden.
However, the censors completely
ignored the Hebrew edition.
The 150th anniversary of the death of a remarkable personality
will be observed by the Jewish people on Oct. 17. On that date in
1797, Israel lost its great scholar, Rabbi Elijah ben Solomon, of Vilna,
popularly known as the Gaon of Vilna.
Born on the first day of Pass-
over, 1720, the future Gaon was offered the post of rabbi as well
named Elijah after his great- !
grandfather, Rabbi Elijah, the as a number of other honorary
Saint. Even if one should dis- positions, he declined all such
count the many tales related honors. No reason could be giv-
on the
about his childhood, there is no en for his many refusals, although
doubt that he was a child pro- . a circumstance in the Vilna corn-
digy, for at the age of six he was
so advanced in his Biblical and munity may have influenced him.
THE N4TIONAL JEWISH HOSPITAL at Denver plans
Talmudic studies that he could During his time, there arose a
to
erect
a new $2,500,000 medical center under its moderniza-
progress without the guidance of controversy between the rabbi
and the wardens of the Jewish tion program. The buildings will double the present bed 1
a teacher.
- At the age .of seven, Moses Mar- community which was sob itter capacity of the free inter faith institution. The hospital will
galith, the rabbi of Kaidan, and that it ended ii the temporary contain new surgical, research and diagnostic facilities.
the author of a commentary to abolition of the rabbinical office
the Palestine Talmud, became his in the town.
teacher. When he was twelve As a voluminous writer, there communities urging them to deal
h dl an ancient Hebrew with the Chassidim in the same
years Id
o h
e is said to have ac- is hardly
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quired the seven liberal arts, and book of any importance to which manner as the communtiy of Vil-
to have puzzled the scholars of he did not write a commentary, na did.
FOR A HAPPY
Vilna by his knowledge of as- or at least provide marginal notes
In 1781, when under the lead-
tronomy. Tradition has it that which were dictated to his dis- ership of their rabbi Shneiur
NEW YEAR TO
by the time he was thirteen, he ciples. There are his commen- Zalman of Lodi, the Chassidim
THE JEWISH COMMUNITY
was already recognized by those taries on various parts of the began again to seek proselytes
about him as a "gaon"—a "great Bible, on the Mishnah, on the to their movement, Elijah issued
Palestinian Talmud and the a decree of excommunication
one."
When he reached a more ma- Babylonian Talmud as well as against them in which he de-
ture age he began to travel in commentaries on the Shulchan clared that the Chassidim are
Poland and Germany. Upon re- Aruch and the Haggadic litera- heretics and that no pious Jew
turning to Vilna in 1748, he had ture. His "Ayil Meshulash," is should intermarry with them.
won considerable fame; for by a treatise on trigonometry, geo- The decree also accused the ,
12641 Woodrow Wilson
the time he was twenty, many metry and some principles of as- Chassidim of having accepted a
rabbis had brought their legal- tronomy and algebra, containing pantheistic system in their reli-
TO. 8-2330
istic dfificulties to him for de- more than 400 rules. Then there gious philosophy.
were a large number of minor
BERNARD MILLNSKY
A short time later, Elijah went '
cis i on.
Prop.
writings in varied subjects.
into retirement. The Chassidim ;
9419 Dexter
Concentration on Talmud
Elijah Gaon, as far as is known,
The main scholastic efforts of never presided over any great grasped this opportunity to spread
the rumor that the Gaon of Vilna
the Gaon of Vilna were concen- school in Vilna. He was satisfied had
re p ended for his attitude to ■
trated on the Talmud, but his with lecturing to a few select dis-
genius took him into many di- ciples, whom he initiated into ward them. Under these circum-
verse fields of study. At an 'us scientific methods. He taught stances, the Gaon could not con-
early age he acquired a know- them Hebrew grammar, Bible tinue to maintain his silence. He
BEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY NEW YEAR
ledge of mathematics, astronomy and Mishnah — subjects which sent two of his disciples on a tour
Polish
communities,
bear-
of
the
and anatomy. He considered were largely neglected by the ng epistles which declared that
taking up medicine, but his father Talmudists of the period. He ing
would not consent to such plan emphasized the study of the Pal- he had not changed his attitude
because he would be obliged to estinian Talmud, which had been and that he felt as strongly
about the maker as before. He
curtail his Jewish studies. The
neglected for centuries. The issued another decree of ex-
* Gaon was also interested in Gaon was convinced that the
communication on the night fol-
a
botany. study of
the Torah was the very lowing the Day of Atonement,
It was his contention that in life of Judaism, and that this 1796. A year later, October 17,
7710 W. McNICHOLS
order to properly comprehend study must be carried out in a 1797, he died.
the Torah, one must be well ac- scientific method. He, therefore,
( Copyright, 1947.
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
quainted with the various fields encouraged his pupil, Rabbi
of secular study. Chaim ben Solomon, to establish
The principal idea of the then- a college in which rabbinic liter-
logy, taught by the Gaon, •wa.4 ature would be taught in a scien-
BEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY NEW YEAR
New Year's
that the perfection of character tific manner. It was thus, through
is the essence of religion, and the inspiration of Elijah Gaon,
Greetings —
that the Torah is the only med- that the famous Talmudic aca-
ium through which this objective demy was established at Voloz-
can be attained. Although there hin, and opened its doors in 1803,
was a strong current of asceticism some years after his death.
DAVIDSON'S
There was one incident which,
in the Gaon's theological teach-
Women's Apparel
ings, he did not see in the ma- more than anything else, cata-
terial world the seat of evil. In pulted the name of the Gaon
Woodward Ave.
fact, he did not ask that one des- of Vilna before the Jewish peo-
4230 GRAND RIVER
pise the enjoyment of this world. ple, not only in his own country,
Birmingham,
Mich.
TE. 2-4700
He did maintain that asceticism but in other lands as well. This
is a necessary procedure to self- was his battle against the Chas-
perfection but man's desires need sidic movement. This was the
not be done away with; they only occasion when he threw off
should be purified and idealized. his reserve and made his author-
His biographers describe him ity felt.
Fight Against Chassidism
as always being in a joyful mood
When the Chassidim began to
and in high spirits, although he
seek
followers in Vilna, which
had many trials and tribulations.
These were largely due to the had always been a stronghold
dishonesty of an official who re- against innovations, Elijah join-
tained for himself the weekly ed the rabbis and leaders of the
stipend which had been granted Polish communities, in an effort
to the Gaon from a legacy ad- to halt the influence of the Chas-
ministered by the Jewish corn- sidim. The Cherem or excom-
munity. Rather than report the munication was utilized against
For all the many kind-
matter to the proper authorities, the Chassidim for the first time
in
1777
in
Vilna.
Messages
were
the Gaon preferred to suffer in
nesses you have shown
dispatched to all the large Jewish
, silence.
*********H
Indeed, Elijah lived up to the ************************************** * *
us in the past year .. .
principles he -taught. He was
revered by his countrymen as a
for the many oppor-
saint and was referred to by his
contemporaries as "The Chassid."
tunities you have given
The synagogue in which he wor-
4
shipped in Vilna came to be *
us to serve . . . We ex-
4-
QUALITY DAIRY PRODUCTS
known as the Synagogue of the *
-It
Saint or "The Chassid's Klaus." *
tend our thanks and the
In accordance with the ambi-
Golden Crest — Homo-Dee — Standard tv1ilk
4
tion of every pious Jew, Elijah *
4-
Season's Greetings.
once began to make a trip to *
Deluxe Salad Cream — Coffee Cream
4
Palestine, but he got only as far *
4-
Creamed and Dry Cottage Cheese.
as Germany and turned back. *
Various reasons are put forward
to explain his change of mind,
4-
IF iris BORDEN'S — IT'S GOT TO BE GOOD 1
the most probable being that it *
4-
might have been impossible for *
4-
him to have observed the dietary *
BORDEN'S FARM PRODUCTS CO. OF MICHIGAN
*
laws while on board ship.
*
*
Greetings
New Year
-
WAYNE LAUNDRY
& Dry Cleaning Co.
Ira Kaufman
Funeral Director
FOSTER BROS. MARKET
METROPOLITAN CLEANERS
AND DYERS
New Year
Greetings - - -
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Wordatk
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Plaza 9000
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irit*********-Srig
-40E-ix-K
***********
*
-1E
4E4(-0(*
4(40(
-1(
private citizen. Although he was 4(4E-1[ 40 ( 40 (40E-0-1(
Never Held Official Post
The position which Elijah held
in Vilna was always that of a