August 22, 19 58-2

THE DE TROIT JEWISH NEW S —

Purely Commentary

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

Jean Ariss' The Quick Years': A Good Novel
With an Excellent Theme About Jews and Judaism

Israel Cabinet Approves New Burial Laws;
Chief Rabbinate Issues Strong Protest

Direct JTA Teletype Wire
to The Jewish News

TEL AVIV — New regula-
tions for the burial of Jews in
Israel which could open a way
for establishment of private
burial societies independent of
the rabbinate'were strongly pro-
tested Wednesday by the Chief
Rabbinical the in urging
repeal of the measures.
The rabbinical group also ex-
pressed regret that the Israel
Cabinet had introduced "secu-
larism" in a sphere regarded
as sacred "for many genera-
tions."
Chief Rabbi Isaac Halevi Her-

zog presided at the meeting
which approved a statment that
if the Israel government only
wanted to make administrative
changes in the law this could
be done within the traditional
Jewish framework.
The regulations were ap-
proved by the Cabinet last Fri-
day in line with recommenda-
tions of a ministerial committee
set up as an aftermath of a
sharp public debate last year
over burial of a boy with a
Jewish father and a non-Jewish
mother. The Pardess Hannah
rabbinate refused to allow bur-
ial of the boy in a Jewish ceme-

tery, but did permit interment
just outside the cemetery fence.
Israel Bar Yehuda, Interior
Minister; Pinchas Rosen, Justice
Minister, and Zalman Aarane,
Education Minister, made up
public groups including the
the ministerial committee.
Under the new regulations,
the Chevra Kedisha would pro-
bably be permitted to handle
the burial of Jews. The Ministry
of Religions, headed provision-
ally by Prime Minister David
Ben-Gurion, will continue to
supervise control of burial so-
cieties. New licenses will be re-
quired for all societies and they
must continue to function on a
voluntary basis.
Ben-Gurion took over the re-
ligious portfolio after Moshe
Shapiro resigned as minister
with other religious bloc mem-
bers of the Cabinet in an ear-
lier religious dispute — the one
having to do with national iden-
tity cards for Israel Jews.

Jean Ariss has written a remarkably good Jewish novel.
This reviewer chooses to call her "The Quick Years", just pub-
lished by Harper, a Jewish novel not only because the hero of
the story is a Jew and several of the more interesting characters
in it are Jews, but because of the discussions of Jewish issues
by the cast that makes up the unusual family described by her,
and their debate over Jewish traditions and the status of the
Jewish people. -
Miss Ariss' is a unique type of novel. It is a running story
written in a single chapter, but the able author has succeeded
in establishing excellent continuity.
Joseph (the grandfather) and Grandmother are the chief
characters, but never to be ignored in this tale is the narrator,
their granddaughter, born Sheila Mignon West but who con-
sidered herself Sharon — Shulamis — Baer, having been so
deeply attached to her grandfather — they all called him Joseph
— that she often thought of herself as his daughter rather than
as the granddaughter.
Joseph, born Jewish, unobservant, nevertheless always
spoke of The Law and frequently referred to his Jewish back-
ground. Grandmother is portrayed as having been rescued from
Calvinism when Joseph seduced her at the age of 14.
Direct JTA Teletype Wire
tute for the Blind, Mrs. Rabin-
Sharon — Sheila — whom her grandfather always called
to The Jewish News
Shulamis, was deeply interested in the Jewishness of Joseph.
JERUSALEM — Amos Ha- owitz and Dr. Azulai. Haham
She insisted she was a Jew. She Was in great measure responsible ham of Israel was the winner won an antique glass vase from
for her grandmother's conversion to Judaism just before giving Wednesday of the International the Talmudic era which was
birth to her thirteenth child who was named Rebekah. The Bible quiz, scoring 42 out of a found near Cesaria.
■
child's aunt Shulamis then already was 16. And the 'grand- maximum possible 45 points be-
■
mother — so the story goes — had secret hopes that there fore a huge audience in the He-
would be yet another child, in spite of its having to be so much brew University open-air amphi-
Boris Smolar's
younger than her grandchildren, so that it might be an offspring theater and a large radio audi-
born a Jewish son — to be named Solomon.
ence.
The interesting point about the conversion is that it marked
Simone Dumont of France
Grandmother's third marriage, her conversion was accompanied was second with 29 points and
by a traditional Jewish wedding.
Mrs. Irene Santos of Brazil was
Grandmother loved to be married. The full-bearded Joseph third with 23 points.
(Copyright, 1958,
did not know she was so young when he seduced her. He married
President Yizhak Ben-Zvi and
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
her at once, although knowing that he faced jail as a bigamist Premier David Ben-Gurion were
because he already was married. But his first wife later consented part of the audience for the fi- UN Echoes
Second thoughts are now beginning to emerge in United
to a divorce. Then, to make it legal, he married grandmother nals which lasted nearly five
the second time. When the conversion of Grandmothr to Judaism hours. Most of Israel's populace Nations circles over President Eisenhower's six-point plan for
was consumated, the couple felt again that another element of sat before radios until 1 a.m., the Middle East . . . It is feared that some of the suggestions
legality was needed for their union: and they already had 12 listening to the results. The contained in this plan may work out detrimentally for Israel .. .
children at that time — one who had died left a deep wound empty movie theaters and de- Especially the suggestion that the UN should establish a body
— and several grandchildren!
serted streets were reminiscent to study the flaw of arms to the Arab countries and Israel ..
Joseph proceeded again to contact Anna, his first wife, who of Israel's wartime curfews.
Such study, it is felt, would take a long time to effect . . The
had also remarried. He wanted a traditional gett, the Jewish bill
F our t h, ,fifth, sixth and question is asked: What will happen in the meantime to Israel's
of divorcement. Anna came to visit them, she became friendly seventh places were won by request for modern arms from the United States? . . . Israel
with Grandmother, accepted the Gett—and the third marriage Uruguay's Dr. Nestor Figari, cannot afford to lose time in seeking to secure modern weapons
ensued.
Finland Preacher Viljiam Aital- just when she faces the danger of being surrounded by Nasser
This plot would, in itself, have made a most interesting
lah, Columbia's Dr. Rayl Maya who has plenty of weapons from Russia . . . There is also doubt
narrative. For the Jewish reader it becomes even more excit-
and Mexico's Sarah Rabinowitz. about President Eisenhower's suggestion for the establishment
Mrs. Myrtle Davis, the Ameri- of a United Nations armed force to protect Jordan . . . Such a
ing and thought-provoking because of the debates about
can finalist was eighth. Next in force, as is the case in the Gaza area, can only be stationed as
Judaism incorporated into the story. Mrs. Ariss' apparent
deep study of Jewish history and traditions stood her in good
order were Carol Treard of Swe- a buffer on the Jordan borders, but cannot interfere in Jordan's
den, Daniel Duplessis of South internal affairs . . • Thus, the •pro-Nasser elements in Jordan
stead. She has passed on to her readers some very positive
Africa, Dr. Prosper Azulai of can overthrow the present regime there—as--the pro-Nasser ele-
Ideas — much more positive than we have found in any of
France, Angelo Pera of Argen- ments did in Iraq—with the UN forces remaining on the border
the scores of novels about Jews written by Jews. This is the
tina, Paul Guillamier of Malta just as bystanders ... A pro-Nasser government in Jordan could
factor that makes "The Quick Years" such a remarkable book.
The Orthodox Jewish viewpoints enunciated by a guest at and Laura Cerutti of Italy.
then legally. vote to integrate the country into the Nasser's United
Jewish entrants among final- Arab Republic ... What would the UN forces do in such a ease
the family reunion of the Baers — the observant Jew Yonah —
ists
were:
Haham,
a
30-year-old
will be found especially intriguing. Orthodox Jews will be very
—except to prevent Israel from moving into that part of Jordan
pleased with the views of Yonah as they are introduced into this employe of the Jerusalem Insti- which would improve its defense line against Nasser? . . . Other
novel by the non-Jewess Jean Ariss: they may disown their own
points of Eisenhower's plan for the Middle East promise much
darling Herman Wouk for his failure to accomplish what the
to the Arabs, but add practically nothing to Israel's security.
non-Jewess has attained in this book.
•
Suburban Tensions
It is the Grandmother who insists that her offspring should
be Jews, when an argument ensues, but Joseph, who expects the
The tensions developing among religious groups in present-
contrary, nevertheless often affirms his Jewish loyalties, as he
day suhurbia are beginning to attract the attention of major
does, for example in his rejection of, Christmas celebrations: he
Jewish organizations engaged in combatting bias • • . Heated
tells his wife that he is "not much of a Jew," admits that there
issues
which have invaded the suburbs emanate from the fact
LONDON (JTA)—The Egyp- that Americans
are some Jews who observe Chrsitmas, but as for himself: "I'll
of various religious, social and ethnic back-
be damned if I'm going to acknowledge a birth . . • which has tian semi-official daily, Al Ah- grounds were brought into close living relations . . On many
ram,
asserted
in
an
issue
ar-
meant 2.000 years of death and destruction for other Jews."
issues, the differences are resolved by healthy give-and-take, but
. At the family reunion, when all the children and grand- riving here that President Nas- on others, the clashes bring bitterness and tension . . The
ser
of
the
United
Arab
Re-
children had gathered, and with them was the Orthodox Jew
American Jewish Committee has embarked on a project which
Yonah, the discussion about Jews and their faith includes serious public warned Robert Murphy, aims to reduce the immediate causes of friction . . . The project
and sober expressions of opinions about Jews and Judaism, President Eisenhower's special consists of a study, to be conducted by Columbia University's
evaluations of articles of faith by Yonah and by Reuben Rabin- Middle East envoy, that the Teachers College, to identify and alleviate some of the problems
owitz who marries Shulamis. Joseph, too, has this positive ap- UAR would "immediately at- . . . The study will center mainly on the suburban school sys-
tack Israel" if Israel moved
proach:
against any part of Jordan. tems, since it is felt that they are likely to be accurate barome-
"Survival is its own end. Submerging our Jewishness has
Al Ahram, which is known ters of pressures in the suburban atmosphere . .. Many of the
never saved us from our persecutors. There is courage re-
school systems there are in 'themselves highly charged storm
quired, as Shulamis says, but there is dignity in our way of to reflect Col. Nasser's views, centers . . . Ever present are the questions of religious differ-
asserted that the Murphy-Nas-
life . . ."
ences, holiday observances and the scope of religion's proper
Yonah introduces parables into the discussion, and he is ser meeting in Cairo was con- role in the public schools . . . In a number of communities the
the non-conceding advocate of Orthodoxy: "While one mitzvah cerned mainly with the pre- Board of Education tends to vote along religious lines whenever
leads to another, so one transgression can also lead to another. sumed intentions of Israel in conflicting issues are raised . . . In one suburb, for example, a
the event of a change in the
This is a reason for erecting 'a fence around the Torah.' "
controversy over whether to expand a public school or to build
The willingness of Grandmother to go along with her regime in Jordan.
a parochial school, divided not only the community and its
The
Egyptian
newspaper
also
adopted faith is one of the interesting developments in the story.
leaders,
but the clergy as well . . . In another, a near riot
Its major appeal, however, lies in the supreme love affairs declared that Murphy expressed developed at a school board meeting called to consider the ad-
between Joseph and Grandmother, the strong affections that the belief that, in such an visability of presenting a Christmas play . . . Thus, the public
bind them together.
event, an Israel anxious for
schools, traditionally regarded as the most effective place for
The reader will wonder how a non-Jewess could approach her security would occupy cer- promoting understanding among children, are now—more often
tain
parts
of
Jordan.
Accord-
the issues she tackled in her novel with such understanding of
Jewish laws. Who is this able narrator?
ing to the newspaper, it was than not—chief sources of conflict in the suburban communities.
Jean Ariss was born Jean McLellan Fitch in Oakland, Calif., in response to this warning Communal Issues
May 9, 1915, was raised in Napa, then a rural county seat of that Col. Nasser issued his
The question of multiplicity of publicity material sent out
about 7,000 inhabitants, went to The University of California threat.
by various Jewish organizations is now being a subject of dis-
The
for two years, married and moved to the Monterey Peninsula.
official Cairo radio cussion in Canada ... It may also become a subject of discussion
Mrs. Ariss went to Monterey "largely because a teacher of meanwhile, as monitored here, soon in the United States ... Especially in connection with the
creative writing gave me a letter of introduction to Robinson stepped up its anti-Western increased cost of postage . . . Many Jews throughout the country
Jeffers. I was too shy to present it." She stayed there, raised her and anti-Israel campaign, de- have long been complaining of the fact that they are being
family in Monterey, has five children, ranging in age from 8 to veloping the theme that the flooded with all kind of publicity material by Jewish organiza-
21, and devotes much time and energy to her "mad household." Western Powers had committed tions . • • It has been stated by some that they do not even
She claims that she must join three PTAs a year ("the class their "most heinous crime" in open some of the envelopes which they recognize as coming
doesn't get ice cream if every mother doesn't join"). She says her 1948 when they created Israel. from certain organizations . . . In Canada, representatives of
first novel, "The Quick 'Years," is purely fiction" but the back- A commentator was monitored the Zionist Organization, Israel Bond Organization and Hadassah
ground has been created from the physical surroundings of her as saying that "the Arabs will therefore met to discuss the question whether some controls are
childhood in Napa, where many of her family still live.
never forgive them for this." possible to prevent. multiplicity in publicity materials.

Israeli Has Near-Perfect Score
in Winning International Bible Quiz

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`Between You
and Me'

...

Nasser to Attack
Israel if Israelis
Move into Jordan

