Museum Curator Solves Mystery
Britain Angered
Of 200-Year-Old Renaissance Painting At U.S. Exclusion
Of Labor MP
A 200-year-old riddle in art has been clarified, with the
changing of the above Renaissance painting from the title "Tar-
quin and the Cumaean Sibyl" to "Esher and Mordecai."
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CINCINNATI—One of the the Persian Jews, as recorded in
Cincinnati Art. Museum's most the Bible.
According to the Bible story,
prized paintings, wrongly la-
belled for more than 200 years, Esther and Mordecai communi-
has been identified by Dr. Franz cate through messengers, a se-
Landsberger, curator of the Jew- quence that could not be repro-
ish Museum at the Hebrew duced through a single picture.
Union College here, as actually Hence, Dr. Landsberger rea-
soned, Mantegna portrayed in-
centered on a Jewish theme.
The painting, the work of stead the meeting of the two
Andrea Mantenga (1431 - 1506), principals.
Once this assumption is made,
one of the greatest masters of
the shabby garments of the
the Italian renaissance, had long man, the royal raiment of the
been known as "Tarquin and the woman, the scroll and the set-
Cumaean Sibyl." As a result of ting at the portal find their
Dr. Landsberger's investigations, explanation.
the museum has now renamed it
The shoes and trousers worn
"Esther and Mordecai."
by the man, Dr. Landsberger
According to legend, Dr. adds, points to him as a Parisian
Landsberger noted, the Sybil Jew, and the turban suggests the
sold three scrolls to the king. hat worn by the Jews of Europe
The painting shows only one. during the Middle Ages.
The prophetess wears royal
Even the decree in the paint-
robes and crown; the supposed ing is not an ordinary scroll but
king, shabby garments. The of the kind with which the Jews
transaction takes place not in a of that time and • of later times
palace but in a doorway.
were familiar. Many of his
Examining the painting in the paintings prove that Mantegna
light of history and mindful of is a stickler for historical ex-
the fact that Mantegna often actness. Just as he made the
portrayed Jewish heroines, Dr. appearance of Mordecai follow
Landsberger concluded that the historical custom, Dr. Lands-
painting represents Queen Es- berger found, so he sought to
ther and her cousin and guard- give the scroll an authentic look
ian Mordecai discussing the de- and chose the Jewish scroll of
cree ordering the destruction of Esther as a pattern.
Purely Commentary
The late Mr. Justice Louis D. Brandeis once ex-
pressed this very interesting opinion on the future
that faces American Jewry:
"I have not given much thought to the future
of the American Jewish' community. Perhaps be-
cause I was sure that it will always be there. As-
similation will undoubtedly make inroads. But
what of it? Have not persecution, conversion, and
indifference claimed their victim? The character
and fortitude of those who will survive will more
than make up for the losses the American Jewish
community will suffer."
This quotation is recalled by Rabbi Solomon Gold-
man and is incorporated in his new book,. "The Words
of Justice Brandeis (published by Henry Schuman, 20
E. 70th, NY 21). This opinion and some of the other
thoughts related to it, as they are linked in Dr. Gold-
man's interesting book, have a great bearing upon the
Passover of 5713.
In his dealings with Mr. Justice Brandeis, which
dated back to 1913, Rabbi Goldman became a hero
worshipper. He was struck by the contagion of the
jurist's optimism. He learned to love the man and
in a sense he became his Boswell: memorizing his
wise words, marking them down after every meeting,
collecting them— with the result that we now can
share the Brandeisian wisdom with him..
Supreme Court Justice William 0. Douglas, who
was chosen - to succeed Brandeis and who wrote the
foreword to Dr. Goldman's book, shares the com-
piler's love for the late jurist and declares that "no
one could have improved on the power of his logic."
About the book itself and its importance at this
time as we search for a Passover. message of freedom:
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Noblesse Oblige and the Jewish Renaissance
In a footnote to the above quotation, Dr. Gold-
man refers his readers to "Noblesse Oblige"—Mr.
justice Brandeis' call for a demonstration of Jewry's
self-respect, expressed in these words:
"We have an immediate and pressing duty in
Entire Country to Greet Senator
Lehman on 75th Birthday March 28
Americans of all shades of service. At Governor Smith's
opinion, of all religious views behest, he arbitrated a num-
WASHINGTON, (JTA) — The and political affiliations. will ber of vexing labor-manage-
refusal of the State Department
ment disputes and managed
to grant a visa to Sidney Silver-
Smith's gubernatorial and
man, member of the British
presidential campaigns.
In
Parliament and official of the
1928, Mr. Lehman ran for lieu-
World Jewish Congress, has
tenant-governor of New York
been referred for action to An-
on the Franklin D. Roosevelt
thony Eden, British Foreign
ticket. After two terms in
Minister.
this office, he was elected gov-
Silverman, denied a visa un-
ernor in 1932, and re-elected
der McCarran-Walter Act reg-
in 1934, 1936 and 1938.
ulaions, sought to enter the
airing Mr. Lehman's 14 years
country to address a clemency
as lieutenant-governor and gov-
dinner in New York for convict-
ernor, New York State assumed
ed atomic spies Julius and Ethel
national leadership in social ante
Rosenberg.
labor legislation.
Toward the end of Lehi
British sources here said their
third term, he resigned
government felt that Silverman
rect the Office , of Fore'
had a right to enter the U. S.
and Rehabilitation
and that his exclusion was in-
forerunner of UNRRA, oi
sulting to a friendly nation.
he became director-general
A protest is expected from
In a special 1949 election, Mr.
London Foreign office officials
Lehman was elected to the
to the American Ambassador
United States Senate. A year
there. Sources described Silver-
SENATOR LEHMAN
later he was re-elected to a full
man as a liberal and member of
the Labor Party, "but definitely join tomorrow in greeting Sen- term. In the Senate his name
not a Communist."
ator Herbert H. Lehman of New has become synonymous with
espousal of liberalism and en-
Edward Maney, chief of the York on his 75th birthday.
State Department Visa Division,
In the past 100 years only one mity toward communism. He
rejected an appeal by the Amer- man has served the State of has waged dramatic battles for
ican Jewish Congress for re- New York in its three highest equal opportunity for Ameri-
consideration of the case.
offices. Herbert H. Lehman has cans of all races, creeds and
* * *
demonstrated his remarkable national origins, and has been
No Promise of Revision
gifts as executive, administrator in the forefront of the fight to
In Washington, t h e White and legislator in the capacities improve our outmoded immigra-
House denied a press report that of lieutenant-governor, governor tion policies.
President Eisenhower has in- and United States senator. At
structed Secretary of State John a time of life when most men Educational Program
Foster Dulles to talk with Con- are satisfied to rest on their
gressional leaders about the pos- laurels, Senator Lehman has at- Implemented by NOW
sibility of amending the McCar- tained new stature as an out-
CLEVELAND — The National
ran-Walter Immigration Act.
standing champion of human
James Hagerty, Presidential rights, civil liberaties and hu- Council of Jewish Women, at
Press Secretary, said, "I have mane naturalization and immi- the closing session of its 20th
triennial convention, adopted a
talked to the President and Mr. gration policies.
Dulles about the matter and
He was born in New York City series of resolutions including
neither one of them remembers in 1876, the son of German im- one • which urged the United
any such. conversation."
migrants who came to the States in cooperation with other
Hagerty, however, noted that United States in 1948. After nations to strengthen the de-
Eisenhower, in his State of the graduation from Williams Col- fenses of the free world against
Union address, went on record lege in 1899, he worked for a communist aggression through
generally in favor of revision of firm of textile manufacturers, economic and military measures.
The session was climaxed with
the controversial law.
devoting his evenings to teach-
re-election of Mrs. Irving
ing at the Henry Street Settle- the
M. Engel, New York, to the presi-
ment.
Sees Russia Easing
dency of - the organization for a
Over the years he has been two-year term.
Anti-Semitic Drive
treasurer and vice-chairman of
Full implementation of
the American Jewish Joint Dis- Council's national program the
of
Although the recent anti- tribution Committee, . noted re- education and service, at home
Serhitic campaign of Soviet Rus- lief agency; a chairman of the and abroad, was assured by
sion and her satellites is gen- United Jewish Appeal of Greater adoption of a budget of $676,-
erally believed to have been in- New York; and for thirty-five 500 for the fiscal year 1953-54.
spired and directed by Malenkov, years an active member of the Through re-organization for a
the new regime's bid for popular American Jewish Committee, of more integrated structure, based
support and favorable world which he is honorary vice-pres- on the recommendations of the
opinion may cause a moderation ident. As • a philanthropist his organization's year-long self-
in this policy, Dr. Simon Segal, benefactions have been numer- evaluation, a reduction of almost
director of the foreign affairs ous but unpublicized. .
$20,000 compared to the previous
department of. the American
Governor Alfred E. Smith year'S budget was made possible.
Jewish Committee, told a lunch- first recognized Mr. Lehinan's
eon meeting of the New York unusual combination of prac- 2—THE JEWISH NEWS
Chapter of AJC.
ticality and zeal for public
Friday, March 27, 1953
By Philip .
Slom ovitz
.
Brandeis' View of American
Jewry's Future : 'Noblesse Oblige,'
Zionism and the Quest for Freedom.
the performance of which Zionism alone seems
capable of affording effective aid. We must protect
America and ourselves from demoralization, which
has to some extent already set in among American
Jews. The cause of this demoralization is clear. It
results in large part from the fact that in our land
of liberty all the restraints by which the Jews were
protected in eir
th Ghettos were removed and a
new generation left without necessary moral and
spiritual support. And is it not equally clear what
the only possible remedy is? It is the laborious task
of inculcating self-respect, a task which can be ac-
complished only by restoring the ties of the Jew to
the noble past of his race, and by making h i m
realize the possibilities of a no less glorious future.
The sole bulwark against demoralization is to de-
velop in each new generation of Jews in America
the sense of noblesse oblige. That spirit can be
developed in those who regard their people as des-
tined to live and to live with a bright future. That
spirit can best be developed by actively participa-
ting in some way in furthering the ideals of the
Jewish renaissance; and this can be done effectively
only through furthering the Zionist movement."
There is something vibrant and alive in this
appeal. There were a few years during which some
people began to disbelieve that there was validity in
linking a plea for "furthering the ideals of the Jew-
ish renaissance" with Zionism. The current of world
events has proven that the ideas which motivated
Brandeisian leadership have not died and that the
Zionist idea remains a vitally needed force in Jewish
life.
This renaissance can be rooted only in freedom,
since it stems : from a craving for freedom, and the
plea for . noblesse oblige so eloquently uttered by Mr.
: Justice Brandeis emerges as a great Passover message
for our time.
Zionism and Freedom: The Brandeis View
Mr. Justice HBrandeis knew the thoughts that tor-
tured the minds of many Jews and he hasteried to
assure them that Zionism "is not a movement to com-
pel anyone to go to Palestine." His view of Zionism, as
Rabbi Goldman recorded it, is classic. Here is his in-
terpretation of Zionism:
. "It is essentially a movement to give the Jew
more, not leis freedom; it aims to enable the Jews
to exercise the same right now. .exerciied 'by, prac-
tically every other people in the world: To live at
their option either in the land of their fathers
or - in some other country; a right which members
of small nations as well as large, which Irish, Greek,
Bulgarian, Serbian, or Belgian, may not exercise
as fully as Germans or English."
He said much more. But this paragraph should
suffice to indicate an important thought: that the
Zionist quest for liberty is a movement for more, not
less freedom. Those who dispute it are people who
suffer from. unjustified fears, • and the Brandeis view
of fear is: "Fear breeds repression . . . repression
breeds hate ... hate menaces stable governnzent."
Every American will always have something to
learn from Brandeis. Jews are especially indebted to
him. And on this Passover, as Jewry again is being
menaced by men of ill will, there is cause for special
gratitude to men like Brandeis who were fearless,
who awakened their people to_ the dangers that faced
them, who •joined in the battle for the liberation of
the oppressed and who knew how to interpret the
idea of noblesse oblige and the need for the highest
form of self-respect.
The most important lesson of Passover is that it
teaches us self-respect, that it gives us dignity, that
it straightens our backs and causes us always to re- ,
main the enemies of enslavem,ent. This festival is a
most .fascinating instrument in Israel's preservation.
It teaches us, in the words. of Brandeis, "that the
Jewish people have something Which should be saved
for the world; that the Jewish people should be pre-
served; and that it is our duty to pursue that method
of saving which most promises success."