Tolstoi, Arab King and the Artist
By ELI A. ALMI
(Copy
TM,
P
ao over
r4 r.z Fox
By RABBI SAMUEL J. FOX
(Copyright. 1953, Jewish Telegraphic Agene-y, Ine.)
*
1953, Seven Arts Feature Syndicate)
Mr. Mani is a leading Yiddist i ► oet and essayist. The following is reprinted from his book,
"Our Unfinished World," pablisf td by Arco Co.
Leo Tolstoi, the great Russian novelist and moral philosopher lived the life of a
strict vegetarian. He also went about barefooted like a mere peasant. Yet though he
always advocated kindness and love, his face was extremely stern. To his house in Yas-
naya Polyana there came many pilgrims from other countries—admirers and disciples
who wanted to have a glimpse of the Russian prophet.
One student from St. Petersburg, a follower of Tol-
stoi's ethico-Christian teachings, who had visited Yasnaya
Polyana and had had the good fortune to be received by-
(Some Old and New Cracks)
his great teacher was, however, much disillusioned by Tol-
By BEN ZAHOK
stol's appearance. He could in no Way reconcile this great
man's gospel of loving-kindness as well as pity with his Cabinet Requirements
An immigrant f ,: ,., s 1-11y arrived
very unkindly, well-nigh brutal face. And the poor student
was consumed with anguish. One day, however, his face lit in Israel buttonholed Ben-Gur-
o n in the Knesset building
up with joy. He had made a great discovery and hastened i about
a job.
to communicate it to Tolstoi—a story told in an ancient
"What kind of a job do you
Hebrew book:
wish?" asked the Prime Minis-
Israel Laughs
What is the reason for the shank bone on the Seder p.1ate.
Passover?
This symbol was used to commemorate the first Paschal
lamb offering made in Egypt, when the Israelites were asked to
slaughter a lamb and smear its blood on the doorposts, to indicate
to the angel of death that he "pass over" that home because it
was the home of an Israelite and go on to the homes of Egyptian*
to slay the first-born. Some claim the shank bone represent's the
"lamb" which is the symbol of Israel which has many times been
brought to the slaughter as the "innocent lamb." Some claim that
the shank bone which is like the "arm" of the animal is used to
indicate that the Almighty took us out of Egypt with an "out-
stretched arm."
*
*
*
What does the egg symbolize on the Seder Plate?
In the days of the Temple there were two sacrifices that-were
offered and their flesh eaten on the eve of the Passover. One was
the Paschal lamb and the other was the "Chagigah," the sac-
rifice for the holiday. This calls for two different major food*
upon the plate. One, the shank bone. The other, the egg.
An Arab king who had learned of the great Jewish leader, ter.
According to some, the egg is a symbol of mourning since
is
"I would like the Finance Min- fed to mourners after the funeral as an object which has it no
Moses, as well as of his wisdom, kindness and saintliness decided
to procure a portrait of Moses and to hang it up in his palace. ister's position. I always like to mouth, like the mourners who are stunned and speechless and
He therefore ordered his best painter to go to the desert to find be near money," said the im- dare not question the justice of the Almighty. The mournin
Moses and make a portrait of him. When this painter returned migrant.
symbol is used, they claim, because the first night of thr
"Are you crazy?" burst out over occurs on the same day of the week as Tisha b'Ab—the Pass
from the desert with a portrait of Moses, the king placed the
an-
Ben-Gurion.
niversary of the destruction of the temple.
"Is that necessary for the
Others see in the egg the promise of a future since an egg is
job?" asked the immigrant.
a sign of a new life. Passover, besides being the festival of the
* * *
departure from Egypt, is also the season when the final deliver-
Different for Tourists
ance is expected according to some Talmudic authorities. An egg is
A Jew very much concerned also
one of the early Egyptian foods that was forbidden, and so
about the after life prayed
some claim that the egg is eaten to show we do not believe in these
*
Heaven for a glimpse of the fu- superstitions.
_-
ture state. Finally the Higher
*
And the King Asked Their Heads
Spirits, yielding to his constant
Each of the men in the royal assembly found in the por-
prayers, made a concession.
What is the "Charoses" on the Seder on Passover Eve?
frayed face evil, malice, vileness. The King was horrified. In Heaven would not be shown to
The name "Charoses" is applied to a mixture of apple s,
great anger he exclaimed: "Do you know who. this is?' This is
him, even in a glimpse, but if
almonds, raisins, cinnamon and wine. It might have gotten its
Moses, God's own emissary, the great Jewish leader, the man
he wished he might be granted name
from the Talmudic word "Charsis" which is the name for
who teaches love, justice and righteousness! And to think that
a brief visit to hell. It was felt
I have trusted you for so many years, believed in your knowledge that this might have a salutary "potter's clay" since the mixture looks like clay. Some claim that
the term implies the mixture of particles which were acquired
and wisdom!"
effect on the man.
by breaking or chipping pieces from larger articles. The "Charoses"
And the king in his indignation ordered that all his coun-
So the doors of Hades were mixture represents the mortar which was used in making
the
sellors and the wise men present be beheaded.
unbarred and the man allowed
These bowed their heads and listened to the king's decree to come and take a look. He was bricks which the Israelites made in Egypt, for Pharoah. According
without so much as daring to murmur a single word of protest. surprised to see wine,. women to some authorities, the objects that go into the mixture recall
One of them, a very aged man whose days seemed numbered and song and other terrestrial certain characteristics of the people of Israel—the sweet, the
sour, the rough, etc. Some claim that the different elements in
in 9.ny event, came forward and kneeling before the monarch, delights.
the mixture represent the different elements of a slave's life ht
spoke forth.
So impressed was he, that Egypt,
or the materials with which they had to work.
when the time came for him to
"My Lord and Master!" said he. "Thou art just and
enter
the
Great
Beyond,
he
in-
Some
claim the apples to be a symbol of the Biblical phrase
thy judgment is just. But . . ;perhaps it is the fault of the
(Song of Songs 8:5), "I awakened you under the apple tree" as
painter? • Maybe he has not truly taken down Moses' fea- When he arrived there, how- well
as finding other Biblical phrases for the other elements.
tures and that was why we arrived at a wrong conclusion." ever, he found none of the good Others say that the Charoses was simply meant to ease the
bit-
The King, realizing that there Was wisdom in the words of things he had seen in his pre- terness of the bitter herb which is dunked in the mixture to make
his aged counsellor, resolved that all his counsellors and wise men, vious short glimpse.
it easier to bear while eating. Perhaps there was even a mora
headed by himself, as well as the painter, depart for the desert
"How is it," he asked "when
involved in this too—that the bitterness of life is easier to bear
in search of Moses. After many months of wandering, they came briefly visited this place, there I when man sticks together like the clay mixture of
the different
upon Moses seated in his tent, and forthwith perceived that his was such good eating and drink- ingredients of the "Charoses."
face was not unlike the one they had seen in the portrait. The ing, while now I have nothing
king bowed to Moses and apprised him of the aim of their voyage. of this".
What is the reason for the salt Water which is put in a plat*
And. Moses said to him:
"Don't forget," the officer in on the table?
*
charge told him, "the first time
Into this you dip the potato or parsley at the beginning of the
you came as a tourist."
Now, '1 Am What I Am'
* * *
Seder. Some claim that the salt water represents the tears that
"Great is the wisdom of your counsellors and courtiers.
Progressive COuntry
were shed by our ancestors in their misery under the Pharoah's
They have truly judged my face. I was indeed born with all the
An Israeli visited America. He enslavement. Dipping the food in salt water indicates that they
instincts of a wicked, vile, brutal and cunning man. The traits rented a room and immediately ate their food in tears. Some claim that it represents symbolically
of all vice are engraved on my visage. But I have labored hard
inquired of his landlord about the Biblical command which ordered salt to be used with every
to bring about a transformation. I have conquered the evil in the various regulations.
sacrifice.
me. I have succeeded in undoing the wickedness, brutality and
"Oh, you have hot water 24
taken their place. At long last, I am what I am."
hours of the ' -day," said the the Israeli. "I always thought the first car off the assembly
Tolstoi was delighted with the story. He realized how it fitted landlord.
America was a progressive coun- line. It was decided that the
him, the moral teacher, who had in his early life been a de-
"And what time can I use the try, but you are back where we matter might be arranged in the
bauchee, and how edifying, too, was its object lesson to so many electricity?"
in Israel were 15 years ago."
form of a token sale. Ben-Gur-
men who if they but willed it, might convert evil into good and
* * *
"The electricity is also avail-
ion
would pay a pound note in
recreate themselves, as it were, by dint of individual effort, in able throughout the day," said It Was Cheap •
return for which he would re-
order to attain their own happiness, and to help others attain the landlord.
It is against the spirit if not ceive the car.
theirs.
"And on what' day can I buy the law in Israel for a member
Ben-Gurion agreed and fished
Great is the art of writing music or literature. Great, too, is eggs?"
of the cabinet to accept a n y into his pocket, but the smallest
the art of sculpturing figures of stone and bronze. But greater
"Any time you want, just go gratuities. At the opening of the he had was a two pound note.
still is the art of bringing about one's own regeneration.
into a grocery store," said the Kaiser-Frazer factory in Israel,
His wife nudged him. "Don't
landlord.
the manager was very anxious to take any change. At this price s
8—THE JEWISH NEWS
Friday, March 27, 1953
"To think of it," commented present the Prime Minister with we can take two cars."
likeness of the Jewish leader in the most magnificent part of his
palace. He then convened his counsellors and the wisest men in
the land and, without telling them who was the subject of the
.portrait he showed them, asked them what they thought of the
face in the picture. "A wicked man," said one of them. "A
murderer", said another. "An adulterer", said a third—with a
mien of disgust.
Bonds Vital
"
o Israel s Economic Development
fi ti
Exports are the lifeblood of Israel's economic development. Israel's diamond
industry, founded in 1940 by expert diamond cutters emigrating from Belgium,
has become the second largest industry in terms of exports, which amount to
approximately $12,000,000 annually. The stimulation of exports is a prime ob-
jective of the Israel Bond drive, proceeds from which are expanding Israel's basic
industries, creating new ones, developing the immense export potential of the
mineral deposits in the Negev and the Dead Sea, widening agriculture through
large-scale irrigation, and changing the face of Israel with new factory buildings,
homes and tourist facilities. Photos here show various operations in the plant
of the Hakohav Diamond Industry Ltd. in Tel Aviv. Photos from left: Sawing
raw diamonds; cutting the diamonds; diamond polishing; inspecting and grad*.
the finished diamonds. The cutting and polishing machines shown here awe
manufactured in Israel. Only skilled craftsmen, trained in Israel er with en-
perienee from abroad work here.