Governor Williams Amon , Celebrities
At Israel Bond Conferene Nov. 10-_11
Seller, "Undercover." To gather
the material for his new book,
Organizations to Mobilize
Carlson travelled among the
Arabs in a score of disguises. He
photographed the Arab Legion's
For Exiensive Sales Here
capture of the Old City of Jeru-
Purely Commentary
fit)
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
`Koheleth—The Man and His World` :
Dr. Gordis' Most Scholarly Work
Jewish books have not been selling well of late and the vei
scholarly works of our outstanding thinkers have been produce Y
only as labors of love. The authors know that there can not be
monetary returns from Biblical commentaries, or works of r e-
Governor G. Mennen Williams
search. A best seller needs the distributive factors of the Book of will welcome participants to the
the Month Club which has assured for "The Wall" a circulation of history-making Community
several hundred thousand while Kenneth Bilby's "New Star in th e Planning .Conference for Israel,
Near East" sold less than 4 ,000 copies. Philosophic and litera r y this Saturday evening and Sun-
""'"'"—'mg".45$ works by men like Martin Buber se 11 day, at the Jewish Center on
even fewer copies.
Woodward.
Those who appreciate dedication t 0
The lineup of celebrities who
learning must, therefore, grant an adde d will- address the sessions include
.--/measure of appreciation and admix a Congressman Franklin D. Roose-
tion for men like Dr. Robert Gordis wh o, velt, Jr., author Maurice Samuel,
.; after 20 years of research, now present s crusading reporter John Roy
us with a very great work—his "Kohe
leth—the Man and His World"—pub
lished by the Jewish Theological Semi
nary of America. Dr. Gordis surely di d"
not stop to count an imaginatively ex
aggerated number of readers. He mus t
have known in advance that only th e
scholar, only the learned, only those wh 0
are deeply interested in Biblical litera
ture, buy books of this caliber. But h e
has hopes, which we would like to shar e
and encourage. In his preface he states
Dr. Gordis
"It is a source of profound thanks-
giving to have been able to complete this present work over a
period of years, in spite of the numberless distractions of a har-
ried communal career. The book was written in the hope that
it would prove of interest to the general cultivated reader who
wishes to understand the complex cultural and intellectual
background of ancient Palestine and the Near East, upon which
Koheleth drew and in terms of which he formulated his world
outlook."
In saying "Granted!", this reviewer wishes he could induce
tens of thousands of Jews to comply with Rabbi Gordis' hope •
Surely, the Jewish community should join with him in thanks-
giving on the completion of a great commentary on a book which
he describes thus:
"Koheleth, better known as 'Ecclesiastes,' is one of the most remarkable works
in world literature, all the more striking in its impact because of its place within
the canon of Holy Writ."
Surely, the Jewish community owes it to Jewish scholarship
to encourage it with appreciative use of their works. There is
enough inspiration in Dr. Gordis' commentary arid evaluation of
Koheleth to assure for his book a place among the classics.
The more than 400 pages in Dr. -Gordis' "Koheleth" include
the Hebrew text and a new translation of -Ecclesiastes" with ex-
planatory notes, an extensive commentary, an index of abbrevia-
tions, a bibliography and 15 chapters describing,- - analyzing and
reviewing the numerous aspects of the book, the man who wrote it,
its language and religious vocabulary, date - of its creation - stylistic
features, etc. There are notes : on. each of the chapters. This review
will concern itself. With Dr. Gordis' research and conclusions.
Who was Koheleth and what was his
in life? Why was hes boOk" canon
ized? Rabbi Gordis states: "Koheleth would have been shocked, e'fien' amused,- to
learn that his notebook was canonized as part of Holy Scripture. But the Obscure
instinct of his people was building more truly than it knew when it stamped his
work as sacred." In proof, Dr. Gordis points to the rise of , Hassidism which rem
Pealed a remarkable affinity with Koheleth: "En the deepest sense, Kdheleth is -a
religious book, because it seeks to grapple with reality," Dr. Gordis states.
Rabbi Gordis pays tribute "to the creators of the Biblical
canon, to whOse tolerance and catholicity of taste we owe the
preservation of this monument of man's striving after the good
life." Because Ecclesiastes is "imbedded in the pages of Scripture"
and it was "fortunately preserved to us." One of the chief reasons
this preservation is the tradition of Solomonic authorShip of
Koheleth"; another is traced to the controversy between. the
schools of Hillel and Shammai. "but ultimately the more - liberal
view of the Hillelites, that Koheleth 'defiles the hands ritually,'
that is, is canonical, prevailed." Yet discussions as to the book's
status continued at the Jamnia Council in 90 C. E. But doubts were:
brushed aside due to "the august authority of Solomon," Dr. Gordis
shows that if it had been believed that the book originated in the
period of the Second Temple it would have been excluded from
Scriptures, "exactly as happened with the much less objectionable
book of Ben Sira, which was declared to be uncanonical, because
it clearly indicated its date, when the period of Divine inspiration
was over."
But it must be pointed out that "the tradition of Solomonic authorship .
has been surrendered by scholars." Dr. Gordis reminds the reader time and again
that the opening sentence about "The words of Koheleth, son of David," were
inserted by the book's editor, who also added the final chapter to place emphasis
on the idea that fear of God "is man's whole duty." Delitsch is quoted, "If
Koheleth was written in Solomon's day, a history of the Hebrew language is im-
possible," and Dr. Gordis proceeds to point out that Koheleth's Hebrew style ap-
proximates Mishnaic Hebrew. There is evidence of Aramaic influence, and on this
score we are admonished by Dr. Gordis: "If we are to assume that the author
wished his book to be regarded as the work of Solomon, he would surely have
written it only in Hebrew, the language of the great king." Thus, while Solomonic
infhlence secured a place for Koheleth in Scriptures, we are told by Dr. Gordis,
whom we must regard as the outstanding living authority on Koheleth:
"The abundance of Aramaisms in Koheleth is precisely what
we -should expect in the work of a Hebrew writer of the Second
Temple period."
Dr. Gordis' work assumes great importance and becomes in-
valuable to students of Jewish history and literature because of his
extensive study of Wisdom Literature in relation to Koheleth. We
learn that "Hebrew Wisdom did not arise in a vacuum," that it was
part of the ancient Near Eastern culture-pattern, that "Biblical
Hokmah presupposes a long period of preparation and develop-
ment until it reaches its apogee in Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes." We
are introduced to the framework of Hebrew thought in inspiring
chapters which add greatly to an undertaking of the history of
the period in which these works were written, as well as of the
people, the philosophers, the Hokmah itself.
Koheleth's use of proverbial quotations, his unconventional self-expression, are
among the notable factors brilliantly analyzed by the distinguished author of the
commentary under review. Dr. Gordis emphasizes that "Koheleth's unconventional
use of a religious vocabulary and his frequent citation of proverbial lore for his
own special purposes are among the most unique elements of his style."
Each individual chapter in Dr. Gordis' book lends itself to
review. Limited space compels limited quotations and references.
The reviewer's hope is that even this brief resume will inspire
Jewish readers to secure this great work- - Koheleth—the Man
and His World"— in order that scholarship should be rewarded
and encouraged, in order that Jewish studies may be further pur-
sued. Fortunately, 15 members of Dr. Gordis' congregation (Temple
Beth EI of Rockaway Park, N. Y.) had enough vision to make the
publication of this book possible. Now, we hope, many thousands
of Jews—not alone rabbis and students but laymen as well—will
give added encouragement to a very distinguished leader and man
of research by placing the book in the hands of every lover of -the
printed word so that the wisdom of Koheleth as he interprets it
for us may enrich all of us.
SHMUEL BENDOR.
Carlson, the new Israeli Consul-
General in New York, Shmuel
Bendor, and the national cam-
paign director for Israel bonds,
Harry Seeve.
Concrete programs to marshal
Detroit's resources behind Is-
rael's development will emerge
from the Conference which is
called by - the Council of Organ-
ization and the Women's Divi-
sion of_the Detroit Israel Bond.
Committee.
Leon Kay, conference chair-
man, listed the following objec-
tives for the two-day meeting:
To obtain reports and
formed analyses of the eco-
nomic development of the
State of Israel.
To examine Israel's need frii
immediate "economic expan-
sion. To re port on the
achievements of all commun-
ity organizations on behalf of
the $500,000,000 Isr a el Inde-
,
Reading Will Outlast
Television Says Cerf
pendence Bond Issue.
To exchange ideas a al
techniques for promoting _the
sale of Israel Bonds.
To adopt a prog- rani for the
mobilization of Detroit Jewry
to speed the economic inde-
pendence of Israel.
"Jews throughout the nation
—and many Israelis as well—
will be watching Detroit to see
the spirit and the concrete re-
sults that will be manifested at
this conference," Mr. K a. y
stated.
William Hordes, will be hon-.
ored at the conference as De-
troit's leading Israel bond
salesman. Hordes, bond chair-
man of the Farband-Labor
Zionist Organization, has sold
98 bonds.
The inheritor of a great hu-
manitarian tradition, Franklin
D. Roosevelt, Jr., will keynote
the opening session, Saturday,
8:30 p.m. Maurice Samuel, the
distinguished author and lec-
turer who has helped educate a
generation of Jews and non-
Jews to an understanding of
Jewish values, will report on his
latest visit to Israel at this ses-
sion.
Harry Seeve, national cam-
paign director of Israel bonds,
will outline the productive in-
vestments Israel has made with
the first $50,000,000 made avail-
able through Bond sales.
Greetings will be extended
by Israel Davidson, hOnorary
chairman of the Detroit Israel
salem and the Egyptian hit and
run -raids against Negev settle-
ments. At the risk of his life, he
sneaked across to the Israeli
lines to thrill to their achieve-
ments in building and defend-
' ing'a new land.
Bendor Confers on U. S. Aid
One of Shmuel Bendor's first
duties on reporting to this
country as the new Israel Con-
sul-General was to confer on
economic aid to Israel with As-
, sistant Secretary of S tat e
George McGhee. For a year be-
fore his assignment to the
United States, Mr. Bendor was
Chief of the American Division
in the Israeli Office of Foreign
Affairs.
Mrs. Joseph H. Ehrlich, hon-
orary chairman of the Women's
Division of the Detroit Israel
bond committee, will preside at
one of the sessions.
Sunday mornings' session will
be devoted to_.:work panels, in
which each of the major Jewish
organizations which are spon-
soring the conference will work
out their Israel bond sales pro-
grams.
Planning Leaders
Group planning sessions will
be led by the following:
Bnai Brith, Samuel W. Leib,
discusSion leader; Labor Zion-
ists, M o r r is Liberman, chair-
man, William Hordes, discussion
leader; 'Mizrachi Religious
Groups and Congregations, Da-
vid J. Cohn, chairman; Daniel .
Temchin, discussion leader;
Zionist Organization of Detroit,
Morris Jacobs, chairman; Philip
Slomovitz, discussion leader;
Women's Division, Mrs. Ralph
Davidson, chairman; Mrs. Max
Fried and Mrs. Joseph H. Ehr-
lich, discussion leaders.
Mrs. Lillian Grahm, bond
chairman of ORT, will present .
the report of the Women's Di-
vision panel at the concluding
session.
Central High Student
Wins City Track Meet
Central High School had only
one representative in the city
cross-country track meet last
week, but he was a good one.
Louis Kwiker, who in his first
city meet last year, came in
third, won this year's competi-
tion, setting the mark of 10:02.0
for the new cross country course.
The new course is a full two
ISRAEL DAVIDSON
miles, unlike the previous course
Bond Committee, and by Max which was shy of the distance.
Osnos, chairman. Mr. Kay will
Louis was too young for cross-
preside.
country competition in his first
At the summing up luncheon year at Central, but last year
session, Sunday noon, two au- he negotiated the old cffriirse in
thorities on the promise of Is- 9:43.2 to break the city record
rael's future head the program. of 9:45 set the previous year.
John Roy Carlson will be Two other boys, including team-
heard with special interest as mate Cliff Hatcher, bettered the
the only living eyewitness of mark also.
both Arab and Jewish armies in Louis is also an active partici-.
the Israel War of Independence. pant in basketball, playing for
Carlson. exposes Arab intrigue the Bnai Moshe team in the
and terror in his new book, synagogue league, which opens
"From CairO to Damacus," as he play this week. His father, Harry
had previously - unveiled the Kwiker, was on organizer of the
Nazi fifth column in his best basketball league.
Bennett Cerf took time out
Monday between television ap-
pearances to fly to Detroit and
deliver an address before mem-
bers of the National Council of
Jewish Women, Detroit Section
on the effects of television on
literature.
Cerf, who appears Sunday on
What's My Line? and Monday
on Who Said That?, told the
enthusiastic audience which had
gathered at Temple Beth El that
as soon as the novelty of tele-
vision wears off, sets will be
used for only specific programs
and will not be kept on promis-
cuously. Even children tire of
continuous programs and soon
exercise discrimination.
Referring to television as
"summer stock in an iron lung,"
Cerf said, "There have been
By BORIS SMOLAR
many threats to the readii
(Copyright, 1951, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Ine.:
habits of the public, but each
threat has disappeared. First, United Nations Scene
It can be predicted with certainty that the Arab-Israel issue
there were movies, then came in
succession cheap automobiles, will not play a promine0, role at the United Nations General
radio and talking pictures. The Assembly which opened this week in Paris . . . With all the trouble
latest bugaboo is supposed to be spots in various pafts of the world, the UN is actually happy to
see that no real trouble has developed between Israel and the
television."
Cerf said the whole problem Arab countries since the conclusion of the armistice pacts —
of reading was a throwback to It does not, therefore, intend to precipitate at the General Assem-
our education system. If chil- bly any new situations which could complicate matters — This
dren receive proper training in is why the question of the internationalization of Jerusalem has
school they will always want to not even been included in the agenda, although there has been
read, and will continue to do so sufficient pressure on the part of Belgium and other Catholic
as adults. The fact that teach- countries to raise •the -question again . • . Leading powers in the
ers are underpaid, discourages United Nations have come to the realization that as long as Israel
and Jordan—which now share Jerusalem—maintain a position of
more competent Instructors.
The Cerf lecture was a rally "friendly enemies" without shooting at each other, it would serve
for LJWO members, who will no useful purpose to institute discussions on the fate of Jerusalem
culminate their fund-raising ac- . . . The only discussions that will be held at the General Assem-
tivities with a variety show and bly will concern the problem of Arab refugees and the return of
some of them to Israel . On this issue Israel has made its
program in early December.
position clear on more than one occasion. She cannot re-admit
them, but is, willing to contribute to their settlement in other
2 THE JEWISH NEWS
countries .. , The Arabs demand several billions of dollars in rep-
Friday, November 9, 1951
arations from Israel.
Between You and Me
—