DETROIT JEWISH NEW S..-'10
Winners of ,ACC Basketball Trophies Publicity Stunts BB Library Honors FUR
Backfire on Israel
Soccer Team
By HAROLD U. RIBALOW
(Copyright, 1957, JTA, Inc.)
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Holding trophies won by their respective basketball teams, at
the Jewish Community Center, are captains Larry Matlen,
Dukes, "C" League champions; Jerry Jaffe, "C" League run-
ners-up; Oscar Glieberman, Zussman, A.Z.A., "B" League
runners-up; and Gary Pacernick, Nationals "B" League cham-
pions (left to right).
An Historic Religious Work
The Inspired 'Book of Wisdom'
The author of "The Book • of Wisdom" is not known. It is
believed to have been written between 211 and 145 BCE. It is
a great moral and religious document, and by making an excel-
lent translation of it available, side by side with the original
Greek text, together with a highly scholarly introduction, makes
us deeply indebted to the publishers.
Edited and translated by Dr. Joseph Reider, professor of
Biblical philology at Dropsie College, Philadelphia, "The Book
of Wisdom" now is made available to us in the most acceptable
form and translation sunder the joint publishing sponsorship of
Dropsie College and Harper & Bros., as part of the Jewish
Apocryphal Literature Series.
A few lines from the text, taken at random, should serve
to throw, a bit of light on the contents of this great and historic
work. "The Book of WisdOm" opens with these lines:
"Love righteousness, you that be judges ckf the earth
Think of the Lord in goodness,
And in simplicitV of heart seek you him.
For He is found of them that tempt him not,
And is manifested to them that do not distrust him.
For crooked thoughts separate from God,
And his power being put to proof confutes the fools.
For wisdom will not enter into a soul that devises evil,
Nor abide in a body that is subject to sin."
Pseudo-Solomonic wisdom abounds in the book. It has many
historical references, but it is primarily spiritual and a "wisdom
book." It is a work of faith and it closes with words of faith
in Israel's survival:
"For in all things, Lord, that didst magnify and glorify thy people,
And dist not overlook them, standing by them at every time
and place."
The Hapoel All-Star soccer
teark from Israel lost two of
the three games it played in the
United States on its recent tour.
But the talk concerning the team
lets not been limited to sports.
There have been comments—
many adverse—on the sort of
publicity arranged for the play-
ers, all representatives of the
State of Israel.
To begin with, Marilyn Mon-
kicked out the first ball of
the first game, thus .gaining for
the squad nationwide publicity.
Some .newspaper commentators,
in the Yiddish and Hebrew
press, -felt it was a gimmick un-
worthy of Israel, to use a Hol-
lywood star for such a chore.
But tar more violent was the
reaction to the team's visit with
Cardinal Spellman in New York,
their trip through St. Patrick's
Cathedral and a gift of an
Israeli Bible to the prelate.
The Hebrew journal Hadoar
asked. editorially whether it was
necessary for the Israelis to keep
"a blessing" of the Cardinal.
In other ways, too, the . Jewish
press was critical, declaring it
was not right for the Jewish
boys to have made the trip to
Cardinal Spellman and the
Cathedral.
It only !goes to show that the
men who sought the publicity
understod how to win free
space in the newspapers. But
did not realize that they would
also irritate a segment of the
Jewish public, who like to feel
that a team from Israel would
more decently represent the
Jewish State.
A case. can be made for
everything the boys were asked
to do. But tempers were high
when these things were done.
Say 42,500 Immigrants
Reach Israel This Year
JERUSALIDIVI (JTA))—Some
42,500 immigrants arrived in
Israel in the first five months
of the year, the Jewish Agency
announced- this week. The num-
ber who arrived in May alone
exceeded 12,000.
There is a _ foreword to this volume by Dr. Abraham A.
Neuman, president of_Dropsie College, who refers to "The Bobk
of Wisdom" as "more than a repository of ancient wisdom and
a venerable text of moral religious philosophy which prevailed
in the Jewish-Hellenistic world two thousand years ago." He
speaks of it as "undoubtedly intrinsically important as an historic
religious work in the twilight zone during whidh Judaism
reached maturity and also gave birth to Christianity. In common
with all the inspired works of Scripture it has a value and
significance that transcends the limitations of the time and
circumstances which gave birth to this religious classic."
The introduction by Prof. Reider is, of course, the essay
that throws major light on the book, its historical background,
its purpose and the other elements surrounding it.
Dr. Reider explains that the contents of the book "expatiate
on the role of Wisdom in human life and experience .
enumerate in detail the moral demands -of WiSdom and her
corresponding rewards . . . describe in glowing colors the nature
of Wisdom and her supernatural powers . . furnish illustrations
of Wisdom's power from the ancient history of Israel .
constitute a digression on idolatry . . . contrast God's treatment
of Israel with His treatment of the Egyptians."
It is interesting to note that the purpose of the book is
.described as "an attempt to reconcile Jewish and Greek
philosophy." Another reason ascribed to its purpose is that "of
attracting proselytes to Judaism from among the cultured
Greeks." •
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WASHINGTON—The Franklin De no Roosevelt - Four Free-
doms Library, shown in the art* 's drawing above, will be
located on the main floor of the Bnai Brith Building, now
under construction here. The specialized library, sponsored
by Bnai Brith Women, will contain volumes on human rights
and Judaica and will serve the organization and the public as
a research center. Adjacent to it will be an exhibit hall of
paintings, statuary and historical data depicting Jewish contri-
butions- . to American democracy. The eight-story $1,500,000
national headquarters for Bnai Brith will be dedicated in
November.
•
French Bear. Brunt of
Israeli Film Censorship
JEIRJUSALEM (J'TA) —If the United States, one in Sweden
official actions of the Israeli and one in Argentina.
Film Censorship Board are a
criterion, the French are Still
ENJOY LIFE — VACATION
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GREENBUSH
. The board viewed 390 lull-
VACATION LAND
length films in 1956, as well as
On. Lake Huron—US '23
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Greenbush, Michigan
hundreds of short films an.d
Free group swimming and danc-
documentaries.
ing lessons. Finest steak, chick-
en, fish — Choice, tasty meals.
The board banned only three
Heated, filtered pool, also beach.
films entirely. Two were French
Child Counselors — Save
your "frau."
and one American. Ten films
Reservation direct or phone
Harrisville 9779 — Send $15
were out. Of these, five were
deposit.
made in France, three in the
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Especially impressive is Prof. Reider's analysis of the crisis
that Judaism was passing through at that time in Alexandria
and of the polemic role against apastasy of "The .Book of
Wisdom."
Dr. Reider says there is no basis for the ascription of the
book to Solomon. He asserts that "the locale is evidently Egypt,
•more specifically Greek-speaking 'Alexandria, with its speculative
'thought of a theological or philosOphical nature." Ascription of
authorship to a number of personalities, including a Christian,
are reviewed, and the editor and translator of this book states:
"Needless to say, all of these suppositions are far-fetched or
at least very doubtful." Arguments offered to show composite
authorship are evaluated, and Dr. Reider suggests that the book
may have been written by a single, person but art different
times in his life, and adds: "Assuming that the BoOk of Wisdom
is not a homogenous whole, this does not have to mean that the
book was composed by more than one person."
. Dr. Reider also makes mention of many ClaimS that the
book originally, was written in Hebrew. He points to flaws and
shortcomings in his claim that it was written originally in Greek.
While "The Book of Wisdom" is a work that may appear to
be merely for scholars, intelligent lay readers, and especially
all who are interested in the background of Jewish history and
literature, will find a great deal in it to commend it for
popular consumption. Dr. Reider and his publishers have
rendered a real, service to Jewish scholarship with this book.
,
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