THE JEWISH NEWS
A Vacation with a Aril Israel
Incorporating the Detroit 'Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951
Member American Association of English-Jewish Newspapers, Michigan Press Association, National Editorial A..o-
tiation.
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit 35, Mich., VE.
113-9364. Subscription $4 a year, Foreign $5.
- Entered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1942, at Post Office, Detroit, Mich., under Act of March 3, 1979
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
FRANK SIMONS
SIDNEY SHMARAK
City Editor
Advertising Manager
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
selections will
s
This Sabbath, the twenty-sixth day of Tammuz, 5715, the following S Criptural
be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Num. 30:2-36:13. Prophetical portion, Jer. 2:4-28; 3:4.
Rosh Hodesh Ab Reading of the Torah on Wednesday, Num. 28:1-15.
Licht Renshen, Friday, July 15, 7:57 p.m..
Page Four
VOL. XXVII, No. 19
July 15, 1955
The Travesty Created by Shakespeare
Thousands of Canadians and Americans
and visitors • from other countries are witness-
ing a revival of the Shakespearean play "The
Merchant of 'Venice," by the Shakespeare,an
Festival at Stratford, Ontario. Reviewers,
with few exceptions, are giving the play
their blessings. Therefore,. in view of the ob-
jeCtions that were raised against its staging
at the outset by the Canadian Jewish_ Con-
gress, and because of the growing feelings
among the Jewish spectators that the play
was an unwise choice by the Stratford Fes-
tival committee, this controversial play must
be re-examined in order that the uninformed
should not be Misled by its anti-Semitic
tones.
A very distinguished critic, Brooks At-
kinson of the New York Times, had this to
say about the play:
Ever since the Stratford festival announced
"The Merchant of Venice" the familiar charge
of anti-SemAism has been raised against it.
Without taking time to go into the subject of
English culture in Shakespeare's day, let's admit
that the play is anti-Semitic. It might also
• that Mr. Valk's acting robs Shy=
be.
lock of most of his distinction. Although Mr.
Valk is a vigorous, interesting actor, he cannot
convey much of Shylock's lonely thinking or
the shades of Shylock's feeling.
.
But if we are to get touchy about religious
Matters, the Christians might file a counter-
stilt against Shakespeare for libel and slan-der-
a more serious. indictment, Since he lived among
Christians and presumably was one. In the
"Merchant"_his-Christians are not •only fools and
pOOdigals: They are also heartless, arrogant,
vindictiire and cruel, and they violate most ‘of
*lie principles their Lord tried to teach them. .
,
Trust Dr: Guthrie to put the bitter facts on the
line. When the trial goes against Shylock, the
Christians taunt and jeer him, Jostle him-- and
spit on him with an animal ferocity that would
be horrifying if "The Merchant of Venice" were
asensible-- play. -
It isn't. But Dr. Guthrie had made a stimu-
lating show out of it.
Because of our concurrence in the impres-
sion left by the play, an its opening night,
that it is a glamorous spectacle, beautiful in
all its arrangements, we take exception to
this viewpoint. In the first place it is our feel-
ing that Frederick Valk has failed to create
the impression claimed for him—of the dig-
nity required in interpreting a strong Jewish
character who protests against injustice. Mr.
Valk's acting is even less vigorous than is
conceded especially in the famous speech,
and in the long run the spectator who knows
Jewish history, who is acquainted with Jew-
ish traditions; leaves the Stratford tent-
theater with the conviction that the Bard of
Avon, who never had met a Jew—there were
no Jews in England in his day---did not por-
tray a Jew. He merely ascribed an old theme
—the frightful "pound of flesh" claim—to a
character whom he called a Jew.
Secondly, it is our. contention that it is
ineffective comfort to assure us that the
play also libels the Christians. In the glam-
,,orous spectacle staged by Dr. Tyrone Guth-
rie- the Christians emerge fairly elegant. The
beauty of the settings and the secondary
theme — Portia and the three caskets — are
quite attractive, and it is doubtful whether
many people in the audience -leave with a
feeling that the Christians are a bad lot.
We believe the contrary to be the fact. Mr.
Atkinson's appeasing note is weak and illogi-
cal.
A producer often takes liberties in stag-
ing. It is not our intention to advise a man
as distinguished as Dr. Guthrie in the prep-
aration of stage effects. But we do•know that
producers resort to certain poetic license to
create effects. In at least one instance, the
Stratford production creates an evil effect.
We refer to the trial scene and the request
by Portia for the scales to weigh the pound
of flesh. Dr. Guthrie has reintroduced Tubal,
the other. Jew in "The Merchant of Venice,"
who brings forth toy scales. But in the play
itself we read the part as follows:
.
Shylock: Ay, his breast: So says the bond:—
cloth- it not, noble judge?—(He takes the bond
and marks the place with his finger).
* "Nearest his heart": those are the very words.
Portia: It is so. Are there balances here to
weigh the flesh?
Shylock: I have them ready. (Opens cloak
and takes out balances).
This is evil enough; it is un-Jewish and
humiliating enough, without being rendered
into an even worse spectacle.
When, at Stratford, on the opening night
of "The Merchant," Tubal came forth- with
the scales, there were audible snickers in the
audience. Tubal's reappearance was a chil-
dish
dish interjection that, very evidently, left a
tragic mark- with an audience that should
have been directed towards 'a climax of sym-
pathy. The effect was bad. Another 'unsym-
pathetic note was struck when a second Jew
assisted Shylock in providing the evil-mean-
ing scales. In the text it is Shylock alone who
has them hidden in his cloak.
Shakespeare's portrayal of 'a Jew was
un-Jewish enough to make it anti-Jewish.
There is no necessity to libel another group—
the Christians—who are the frivolous, jeer-
ing crowd in a comedy. These Christians,
linked with the ugly characterization of Shy-
lock's daughter Jessica, are interpreted as a
pack of rogues only by critics Who desire to
be nice to protesting Jews. In truth,. how-
ever ,the comedy of the Christians does not
fuse well with the tragedy of a man whom
Shakespeare portrays as a Jew. The Jew's
defensive role is powerful only in the speech
"hath not a Jew eyes . . . ," and this portion
was poorly presented in the opening show.
The Shylock theme is anti-Semitic' as
Mr. Atkinson admits—and it will serye,
good, purpose to becloud the iSSuerby'tr-Sting
to paint the Christians as "even worse." We
concede that there is little justification in
protesting against plays whose Jewish char-
acters . are painted villainously. There are
good and bad among all peoples, and we shall
fight for the recognition of this basic prin-
ciple. But in "The Merchant of Venice" the
entire Jewish people is reviled—in 'the per-
sons of Shylock and Jessica,. and at Stratford
also in the person of Tubal. Therefore we
must revert to the old charge: that "The Mer-
chant of Venice" is anti-Semitic and must be
treated as such.. Therefore, it would have
been healthier in this. age of freedom not
to revive a play that inspires hate.
Avoidable Errors
It is human to 'err and it is better that
errors should be admitted, even if belatedly,.,
rather than that they should not be admitted
at all.
But there 'are times when errors can be
avoided and corrections made in time to.pre-
vent harm to people involvied. This was the
case with Wolf Ladejinsky. Secretary Ezra
T. Benson has • finally asserted that Lade-
jinsky is not a security risk. He had been
advised against unjust treatment of his for-
mer associate when the case first- came to
public notice. A firm stand at that time
could have ended the controversy to the
greater glory of Mr. Benson's department.
Let this be a lesson to others who may'
become involved in unnecessary witch-hunts.
Atoms-for-Peace
The United States and Israel this week
concluded an historic agreement—the atoms-
for-peace pact, which enables the Jewish
state to receive-uranium from this country
for research purposes.
Israel is second to Turkey, among the
nations of the world, to sign such an agree-
ment. Her leaders therefore have reason to
take pride in it and to view it as an addi-
tional mark of friendship between the
world's strongest and youngest democratic
nations.
The Jewish state's scientists pride them-
selves on their efforts in fields of research.
The newest agreement with the United
States should provide the sinews for further
studies into the universe's unknown ele-
ments. Thus, not only shall "out of Zion go
`Mishne Torah—The Jewish Constitution'
Prof. Zeitlin's Ualmonides':
utstanciing,Prophetic Biography
.
.
TRADITIONAL PORTRAIT OF MAIMONIDES
When Prof. Solomon Zeitlin first published his biography of
Maimonides, in 1935, on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of
the birth of Moses Maimonides, he included in his volume a chapter
"Mishne Torah—the Jewish Constitution." He then expressed the
view that the great Jewish philosopher'L;
magnum opus, "Mishne Torah" ("The
Second Torah") furnishes a constitution
for the Jvrish state.
Dr. Zeitlin's "Maimonides" has just
been republished by Bloch, Publishing
Co., on the 750th anniversary of the
death of Maimonides. There are no
changes in it from the one which ap-
peared 20 years ago, except for a new
five-page introduction to the second
volume. The chapter on "Mishne Torah"
appears unchanged. It' is a tribute to
the biographer who manifested. pro-
phetic vision in his biography of
rnonides — still the only one-volume
story of the life of 'the great Rabbi
. Prof. Zeitlin
Moshe ben Maimon (RaMBaM).
"Maimonides' real purpose in writing the Mishrie Torah," ac-
cording to Prof. Zeitlin, ".was to furnish the Jews with a constitu-
tion for their future, state.: He believed that the arrival of the
Messiah, i.e., the establishment of a Jewish 'State would take .
-place after the Christians and Moslems would have met in Pales-
tine. He also believed that the wars between the crescent and
cross would lead to the establishinent of a Jewish State • .
Our ,biographer points out in his new introduction:
"In my' book, which was written in 1915, I - said: The vision
which' he cherished that the Jews 'would return to Palestine mean'-
-while has been partially fulfilled.' Now, in 1955, we may add that
the vision which Maimonides saw of the establishment of a Jewish
State has been realized."
In the same 'sense, the prophetic vision of Mairrionides' able
biographer, who interpreted his Mishne Torah as Irael's constitu-
tion adds laurels to the brilliant scholarly .record 'of .Dr. Zeitlin.
Dr. Zeitlin's biography is an all-inclusive 'document. It traces
the background of Jewish life in the areas where Maimonides lived, •
describes his life in Morocco, his :arrival in Egypt, his writings, his
medical and philosophical works. In this important biography, the
eminent author evaluates the great Jewish philosopher's commen-
tary on'the Mishnah. We learn from it the details of Maimonides'
controversy with Samuel Ben Ali, the values of the Guide to the
Perplexed.
Maimonides as thinket and statesman, his influence, his per.
sonal character, are evaluated in this book. There is an adequate
description of the battle between the Maimunists and anti-Mai-
rriunists..
. iIndeed, Prof. Zeitlin's `Maimonides" •rethains the most•import-
forth 'the Law," but, perhaps also great -
scientific achievements.
ant work about this great physician-philosopher-theologian..