Sukkot — Feast of Harvest
THE JEWISH NEWS
Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951
Member American Association of English-Jewish Newspapers, Michigan Press Association, National Editorial
Association.
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit 35, Mich.,
8-9364. Subscription - $5 a year. Foreign $6.
YE. Entered
as second class matter Aug. 6, 1952 at Post Office, Detroit, Mich., under Act of March 3, 1879.
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
SIDNEY SHMARAK
Circulation Manager
Advertising Manager
FRANK SIMONS
City Editor
Hol Hamoed Sukkot Sabbath Scriptural Selections
Pentateuchal portions, Ex. 33:12-34:26. Prophetical portion, Ezek. 38:18-39:16.
Daily Hol Hamoed Sukkot Scriptural selections, Numbers 29.
Scriptural Selections for Concluding Days of Sukkot
Num. 29:35-30:1; Sinihat
Pentateuchal portions, Shemini Atzeret, Thursday, Deut. 14:22-16:17,
portions, Thursday,
Torah, Friday, Deut. 33:1-34:12, Gen. 1:1-2:3, Num. 29:35-30:1. Prophetical
I Kings 8:54-66; Friday, Joshua 1:1-18.
Licht Benshen, Friday, Oct.
11, 5:23 p.m.
October
Page Four
VOL. XXXII. No. 6
11, 1957
The Pro-Israel West German Situation
put into effect an effective reparations
Difficult as it, is to take the pill of
and indemnifications program in coopera-
tion with the State of Israel and with the
world's leading Jewish organizations, has
consistently refused to dignify with even
the slightest attention any of the Arab
threats that good relations with Israel
would lead to Arab retaliations against
the Adenauer government.
Now, after his triumph at the polls,
Dr. Adenauer is reported to be showing
"growing insensitivity to the violence of
Arab opinion upon the Israel issue." He
is ignoring, as he has in the past, the
threat of economic and political reprisals
made by the Arab League.
Saudi Arabia threatened to withdraw
its ambassador from Bonn. Syria warned
that she will retaliate against the Ade-
nauer regime by recognizing the East
German Communist government. There
have been other threats of economic boy-
cotts. But the friendship between Bonn
and Jerusalem is being strengthened.
Which is all to the good. It is good for
the peace of the world and for interna-
conducting negotiations with Germans,
whose rulers were responsible for the
murder of six million Jews and for the
demolition of most of the European Jew-
ish communities, we must, nevertheless,
accept with a sense of gratification the
truly courageous attitude of West Ger-
many's Chancellor Konrad Adenauer.
Many Jews must have been seriously
concerned, in the past few months, over
the declarations of Israel's Prime Min-
ister David Ben-Gurion that he would, in
the course of time, welcome the establish-
ment of diplomatic relations between his
and the Adenauer governments.
The realism of Ben-Gurion's position
became evident with the assertions of Dr.
Adenauer that he is prepared to establish
such a relationship, in defiance of threats
against such a diplomatic friendship by
Arab leaders.
We must recognize the new conditions
and the incontrovertible fact that there is
an element in Germany that repudiates
the ideology of the Nazis. This element,
led by Dr. Adenauer, has received the
tional amity, and it re-creates a certain
modicum of • Israel-German friendship
based on the repudiation of every vestige
of Nazism, whether it comes from Ger-
mans or Arabs,
overwhelming vote of confidence of the
West German population
For several years, this anti-Nazi and
pro-Israel group in Germany, after having
Necessity to --Know Hebrew Words
"American Judaism," the official or variant, however, which some rabbis em-
gan of the Union of American Hebrew ploy, is Yom-Hakippurim, which absolutely
literally is translated, Day of the Atone-
Congregations, renders an interesting serv-
rnents.
ice in its current issue by suggesting "some
"Most Hebrew words are supposed to
Hebrew terms every temple member ought
be accented on the last syllable. In spoken
to know!'
Hebrew, however, as in other languages,
Encircling the special feature article
a certain amount of slurring occurs. Rosh-
are a number of suggested Hebrew words:
Hashanah, for example, is usually pro-
Tanach, Taryag Mitzvot, Panim-el-Panim,
nounced Rosh-Hashawneh, whereas it is
Maasim Tovim, Shulchan Aruch, Halacha,
more correct to say Rosh Ha-Shah-naw (or
Am Ha-Aretz, Klal Yisrael, Ahavat Yis-
nah). Israeli Hebrew contains even more
rael, Galut, Gemara, and a number of
departures from what we might call `pul-
others.
pit' Hebrew, but we can't go into all of that
Some of the terms are explained, but
here."
the mere fact that the need for acquiring
a basic Hebrew vocabulary is urged in
an important Reform organ is in itself a
good sign of increasing interest in the
-
Hebrew langUage.
Of interest in the "American Judaism"
Hebrew is vital as a part of our re-
rigious services. It has assumed interna-
tional significance as the language of the
Jewish State. The Reform congregations'
official organ has wisely emphasized the
necessity of a basic knowledge of many of
article is the point made that there is an
inexactitude in the sound of some Hebrew the Hebrew terms by its members.
A further step to make a simple He-
words. The writer points out:
Dr. Goldin's 'The Living Talmud'
The Wisdom of the Fathers'
Translation of 'Pirke Abot'
In a 50-cent paper-backed edition—which carries the
assurance that it is "an original, not available in any other
edition,"—New American Library of World Literature (501 Madi-
son, N. Y. 22) has issued "The Living
Talmud—The Wisdom of the Fathers,
translated, and with a special essay, by
Dr. Judah Goldin, Dean of the Seminary
College of the Jewish Theological Semi-
nary of America.
It is a fine translation of the "Pirke
Abot." These teachings of our sages on
the conduct of human life and thinking
are presented here in a popular edition, so
that Christians as - well as Jews may more
thoroughly fainiliarize themselves with the
"Wisdom of the Fathers." Dr. Goldin
Dr. Goldin's work is viewed by his publishers as a "rich
and fascinating introduction to the world of the Talmud, the
enormous archives of studies and debates \conducted in the
Palestinian and Babylonian academies for more than 700 years,
from before 200 BCE to the year 500 of our calendar."
The essay "On the Talmud" is a scholarly work. It is a
splendid evaluation of the manner in which the great work
makes clear the law as enunciated in Jewish traditions.
Regarding "The Wisdom of the Fathers," the editor of this
work explains: "In every generation Talmud students took up
the text of `Pirke Abot,' commented on it sentence by sentence
and clause by clause, drew upon the interpretatiOns of their
predecessors and added something of their own. In this way
they made the ancient Wisdom of the Fathers a fresh testament
for their sons. And thus, the text of `Pirke Abot' and the classi-
cal commentaries on it became an active constituent of the
legacy of the living Talmud."
Dr. Goldin further explains the process of his work: "The
text of the 'Wisdom of the Fathers' is divided into its traditional
paragraphs, or `Mishnayot,' and each paragraph (or `Mishna') is
followed by relevant selections from the classification commenta-
tors, whose names are given in parenthesis at the end of each
comment."
With -the numerous Biblical quotation, in his excellent
translation, Dr. Goldin haS added another fascinating work to
the commentaries on the Talmud and on the distinctive treatise
—"Pirke Abot."
brew vocabulary available to ever-increas-
"The problem si complicated by the
ing numbers of Jewish readers is the col-
various ways that Hebrew gets pro-
umn "Hebrew Self-Taught," which is be- Current Thoughts Ota
nounced, even by rabbis of the same
ginning this week in the columns of The
group.
For example, take the term, Yom Jewish News. There will be 500 Hebrew
words, given as a basic vocabulary, to run
Kippur, the name of our holiday which
in 50 weekly lessons of 10 words each. It
is so familiar that it has become almost
is hoped that our readers will take ad-
an English expression frequently found
vantage of this interesting column pre-
in ordi-
in newspapers and magazines.
pared by the Brit Ivrit Olamit, a world-
nary conversational Hebrew, it is pro-
The dedication in Detroit of the Hayim Greenberg Center
nounced Yum Kipper. A technically purer _ wide association to promote the Hebrew by the Labor Zionist Organization draws attention anew to the
language, which makes its headquarters in volume dedicated in 1955 to the memory of Dr. Greenberg.
rendering, however, is Yom Kipper, and
This dedicatory volume, "A New Zionism," by Dr. Mordecai
Jerusalem. (See column on Page 40).
that's what you'll hear in some pulpits. A
Dr. Kaplan's 'New Zionism'
In Memory of Dr. Greenberg
"
Dr. Hershman's 50th Anniversary in Detroit
The current holidays mark the 50th
anniversary of the coming to Detroit, as
Rabbi of Congregation Shaarey Zedek, of
Dr. Abraham M. Hershman.
It is an anniversary of more than ordi-
and he assisted in the gathering of funds
for the building of Israel.
mutual responsibility from the Jews of Israel and of the
Dr. Hershman also was active in many Diaspora."
civic affairs. He was a staunch defender
Prof. Kaplan gave a resume of the backgroUnd of pre State
-
of the honor of-his people, and by his ex-
nary interest. Rabbi Hershman, who has amples he helped gain respect for Jewry.
- He possesses great literary skill, and
gained recognition as one of .Tewry's most
his numerous essays and his several books
distinguished scholars, was among the
are monuments to his scholarship.
builders of the Detroit Jewish community..
While he has been making his home in
He was the inspirer of many cultural en-
deavors here. Under his leadership, his New York with his daughters for the past
congregation grew to a position of leader- few months, we continue to look upon
ship in American Jewry, and many edu- him as a fellow-townsman. We honor him
cational projects were sponsored by him. as one who has helped elevate the stand-
He was one of the pioneers in the Zion- ards of our community's actions. We pray
1st movement in Detroit. He helped found that he should be granted good health to
_/ •
17, -
-
4.
Kaplan, was sponsored by the Jewish Theological Seminary Israel
Institute.
In. it, Dr. Kaplan commenced his discussion by viewing "The
Crisis in Zionism as Crisis in Judaism" and advocated inter-
action of Zionism and Judaism as means of evoking "a sense of
14 4,
Zionism, discussed the perspective of pre-State Zionism, the
reaffirmation of Jewish Peoplehood, Eretz Yisrael's reclamation
and "The Creative Expansion of Torah."
"The present crisis in the Zionist movement is but a phase
of the crisis in Judaism," he stated. "Jewish loyalty has to be
motivated anew for all Jews throughout the world. They have
to be made to feel that Jewish life is intrinsically worthwhile
and indispensable to their self-fulfillment or salvation."
Prof. Kaplan declared that "Hebrew is indispensable as a
means of giving the Jew a feeling of continuity with the Jewish
past and of unit with the entire Jewish People," and advocated:
"In order that Jewish cultural development be an integral part
of Torah, it has to be sustained by the Hebrew language as the
.TPuritaii st41,f-r4x-orPssion_"