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The title of the latest book
by Dr. Mordecai -M. Kaplan ex-
plains its purpose. "Judaism
Without Supernaturalism" seeks
to indicate how it is possible to
revitalize Ju-
daism by free-
ing it from su-
pernaturalism.
The sub-title
of the book,
"The only al-
ternative to
Orthodoxy and
S e c ularism,"
gives addition-
Dr. Kaplan al indications
of the eminent author's pur-
poses.
This volume, published by the
Jewish Reconstructionist Foun-
dation (15 W. 86th, N.Y. 24),
reflects the courage of the au-
thor which has often been called
"daring." For instance, in his
preface he challenges Reform
Judaism, accuses Reform lead-
ers of mistranslating the "asher
bahar banu" phrase as "who
hast called us from among all
the peoples" rather than "who
hast chosen us . . .," and calls it
bilingual double-talk.
* * *
He calls for a re-examination
of Jewish traditions, asserting
that they abound in affirmations
concerning the meaning of God.
NOSY, when we speak of the "su-
pernatural," he state s, "we
mean something which is really
beyond the range of the pre-
modern intellectual perspec-
tive." He adds that a modern-
minded person who regards 'su-
pernatural' events not merely
as legendary but as historical

has to go through life with a Jewish symbolism, Dr. Kaplan
split personality." He advocated states:
arriving at a "method of inter-
"How the realities of the
preting the traditional accounts symbolic trend in ritual prac-
of miraculous events so as to tice — God. the community,
recognize in those events a re-
and salvation — can be re-
flection of the urge of the an- interpreted along lines en-
cient lawgivers, prophets and
tirely free from supernatural-
sages to stress the moral or reli- ism may be exemplified by
gious truths which man must means of what can be done
live by, if he is to escape frus- with the Jewish Sabbath.
tration."
The Sabbath is the most
His approach is, at the out- sacred of all observances in
set, to review "the current reli-
the religious behavior of the
gious upsurge" in American Jew. Tradition assigns to it
Jewish life. There is a warning the following four meanings:
in his analysis that "it is only
1. God as the Creator of the
because the inertia of centuries
world, 2. Israel as coven-
stands in the way of disassoci-
anted to God, 3. God as
ating religion from supernat-
Israel's Redeemer, and 4. a
uralism that modern civiliza- foretaste of the bliss in the
tions shy away . from religion."
hereafter.
He contends that Zionism has
"In the tradition, every
by-passed supernaturalism and one of those meanings car-
by doing so has Contributed ries with it supernatural im-
"to the drying-up of one of the plications. By substituting for
main sources of Jew-hatred." these implications moral and
Having taken the first step "in spiritual values which are es-
effecting the divorce of religion
sential to the realization of
from supernaturalism," he says
our human potential, the Sab-
it now devolves upon Zionism
bath comes to symbolize the
"to get Judaism to take the sec-
following:
1. Creativity is a
ond step of wedding religion to
manifestation of the Divine
naturalism."
Thus, he urges a re-interpre- in nature and in man; 2.
tation of the doctrine of chosen- The Jewish People should
achieve that organic unity
ness. "So long," he writes, "as
the literal version is dominant which is essential to its liv-
ing with a sense of destiny,
in men's minds, it is best, in
the interests of truth and en- as every people should; 3.
lightened religion, to omit all Man's creativity is a manifes-
reference to it and to put in its tation of the Divine; it can-
place the doctrine of vocation, not be released, however,
of divine calling, in which all unless man is free from co-
ercion. both individually and
peoples can have a share."
*
collectively; 4. A concern
with salvation should per-
Dealing with the future of
meate all human endeavors."
*
*

HEBREW SELF-TAUGHT

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is the Hebrew for cachet and denotes a person born in Israel.

Reeding material in vocalized Easy Hebrew, and also material for
advanced students may be obtained through your local Hebrew.
Organization or by writing to: Brit Ivrit Olamit, P.O.B, 7111,
Jerusalem, 1.crael.

Published by Brit Ivrit Olamit

There is a challenge to con-
temporary Jewry in the con-
tention that there is a religious
revival in our time. Dr. Kaplan
writes that the three elements
vital in Jewish existence are
belonging, believing and ex-
periencing, and that only the
first requisite is in evidence
today in American Jewry.
Prof. Kaplan sees in super-
naturalism a hindrance to inter-
faith good will.
He outlines and advocates the
Reconstructionist viewpoint, de-
clares, in relation to this ad-
vocacy, that "the relation of one
religion to another is like the
relation of one mind to an-
other," and adds that "each reli-
gion, as the self-consciousness
of a particular people or church,
has its own non-transferable
individuality."
Dr. Kaplan's thesis is effec-
tive in its interpretation of the
universal aspect of Judaism and
in his emphasis on the "oppor-
tunity to exemplify religious
maturity" of American Jewry.
"The reason," he writes,
"for wishing to have the
Jews remain a permanently
identifiable group is not to
be found in any universal
principle. It is as ultimate
a matter of feeling as the
will to live."
He concludes by declaring:
"Let American Jews have
the will to perpetuate their
Jewish peoplehood. That will
is bound to seek an outlet
which would give their per-
sistence as Jews the signifi-
cance not of mere inertia,
but of dedication to a high
purpose. That high purpose
should be to contribute to
American life the kind of
civic religion that will place
America in the .spiritual
forefront of the world, as
she is now in the political
and economic. That high pur-
pose should be to achieve
for ourselves a conception of
Jewish religion that is as
free and creative as poetry,
literature and art, a Jewish
religion that is humanist in
being relevant to reality as
we know it and live it."
Additional factors of merit in
the book is the chapter contain-

ing questions and answers re-
lating to the subject of this
volume; an essay on the need
for a greater Zionism, which is
followed up by a discussion of
the current turning point in
Zionism; an article on "The
Jewish People in Search of an
Ideology," and other essays fol-
lowed by questions and answers
in which the Reconstructionist
idea is further evaluated.

JERUSALEM, (JTA)—Jordan
returned to Israel a young Is-
raeli boy and a girl who were
kidnapped from -a beach at
Elath over two weeks ago.
The youngsters, clad only in
bathing suits, had been captured
by a group of Jordanians who
penetrated 100 yards into Israeli
territory. They were brought
back to this city via the Mandel-
baum Gate.

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1 3-THE DETROIT JEWIS H NEWS -- Frid ay, July 18, 1958

Israel Boy, Girl Returned
After Kidnaping at Elath

Revitalize Judaism by Freeing It from. Supernaturalism"—Dr. Kaplan

