Prof. Abraham S. Halkin, of
the Jewish Theological Semin-
ary, in his address at the Mc-
Gregor Conference Center of
Wayne State University,
Wednesday evening, on the sub-
ject "Medieval Judaism Under
Christendom and Islam," de-
clared that "in Judaism, in Mos-
lem countries, there was a • won-
derful fusion of Judaism and
the world outside it."
He stated that such a rela-
tionship enabled -Jews to be
loyal Jews•and loyal citizens of
the larger world, and he added
that it would be helpful for
Jewry in our time "to think into
the life and culture of Jewry
under Islam, for it will help
them find a modus vivendi that
is so much needed today."
Prof. Halkin delivered an-
other of the Borman Near East-
ern Lectures of the WSU Near
Eastern Department. He was in-
troduced by Dr. G. Merrill Len-
ox, executive director of the
Detroit and Michigan Council
of Churches. Dr. Lenox and Dr.
Abram Spiro, chairman of the
WSU Department of Near :r_;ast-
ern Languages and Literatures,
who, opened the session, praised
Al and Tom Borman for mak-
ing the lectures possible.
Dr. Halkin spoke of the ac-
culturation of Jews 2,000
years ago. He showed how
Latin Christendom of the era
he described was strictly rel-
gious in its approach, but that
Islam functioned alongside
the cultures of the then
known world. "The univer-
salism of that time," he said,
"determined the character of
the culture produced by
Jews."
In the Christian world, the
Jews fell entirely upon them-
selves, "cultivating their own
religious , works — the Talmud,
th,.: Mishnah, commentaries on
the Bible—and they composed
an ethical literature, fully in '„he
_Jewish tradition," Dr. Halkin
said.
• By contrast he indicated the
expansion of the Jewish horizon
under Islam He showed how
Jews in Moslem countries en-
gaged in medicine, astronomy,
mathematics, as did the Mos-
lems among whom they lived.
"They did it because it was neu,
tral terrain," he said.
"Thus, among, them devel-
oped a rationalism to such an
extent that whatever they
turned to was in line with the
culture of the time," he de-
clared. He contrasted the books
produced in Moslem countries
with those under Franco-Ger-
man-Italian influence, and
showed their dissimilarities —
the liturgical character of the
Christian countries and the "dis-
tinct personality" of the reli-
gious poetry in Islamic coun-
tries, alongside which arose also
a secular poetry that was
"really amazing."
Dr. . .Halkin spoke of the
works of Jews in Islamic
countries, of their love songs,
their poems about women and
wine drinking, poems with
"Oriental frankness, marked
by a variety and a freshness,"
which gave to that era the
title "Golden Age of Medieval
Hebrew Literature." He add-
ed that "they were none-the-
worse nor lesser Jews because
of it" since they also were
religious Jews.
Dr. Spiro announced the
forthcoming Near Eastern Con-
ference, to be held May 8-10,
and invited the community's
participation in it.
nual Wayne Conference on the
Near Eastern Background of
WeStern Civilization will com-
mence at 8 p.m. Sunday, May
8, in the WSU Community Arts
Auditorium. Sessions will con-
tinue through Tuesday, May 10.
Dr. W. F. Albright, Pro-
lessor Emeritus of Johns Hop-
kins University, will be chair-
man of the conference. In ad-
dition, the following scholars
will participate:
Prof. Rudolph Anthes
.(Egyptology), ' University of
Pennsylvania; Prof. George G.
Cameron (Ancient Persia),
University of Michigan; Prof.
Gustav V. Gruenebaum (Is-
lam), University of California
at Los Angeles; Prof. Hans G.
Guterbock - (Hittite —Ancient
Anatolia), Oriental Institute,
University of Chicago; John L.
McKenzie (Old Testament Stud-
ies), West Baden College; Prof.
James Muilenburg (Old Testa-
ment Studies), Union Theolog-
ical Seminary; Prof. A. D.
Nock (Classical and Early
Christian Studies), H a r v a r d
University; Prof. Franz Rosen-
.
The Mizrachi Women's Organ-
ization will inaugurate a Fresh
Air Fund for Israel's under-
privileged children this spring.
lonia), University of Pennsyl- and Tomorrow."
vania; Prof. Abram Spiro (An-
cient H e b r e w Literature),
Wayne State University.
Dr. Spiro will also serve as
secretary of the conference.
The following topics will be
Serving-Detroit
discussed at the conference:
Homes' and - Industry
"The Influence of the Old Tes-
tament," "The. Influence of
for Over 45 Years
Egypt," "The Influence of
Southwestern Asia," "Oriental
Influences in the Roman Em-
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11 — THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS — Fri day , April 8, 1960
Dissimilarities of Jewish Life in
Set Near Eastern Conclave at WSU for May 8 to 10
A. Rapport, Dean of thal (Islam), Yale University; pire," "The Influence of the
Christian, Moslem Countries Shown the Victor
College of Liberal Arts of Prof. Joseph Schacht (Islam), Near Eastern Legal Institu-
Wayne State University, this Columbia University; Prof. E. tions," "The Influence of Is
by Prof. Halkin in WSU Lecture
week announced that the an- A. Speiser (Assyria and Baby- lam," "The Near East—Today
BEN GREEN
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Khrushchev Silent on Jewish Issue
in. Interviews with French Press
PARIS, (JTA) — Soviet Pre-
mier Nikita Khrushchev, prior
to his departure from Paris for
Moscow, refused to answer ques-
tions concerning the situation
of Jews in the Soviet Union.
In a news conference last-
ing almost an hour and a half,
many of the 1,200 newsmen
present fired various questions
dealing with the attitude of
the Soviet government toward
the 3,000,000 Jews living in the
USSR. Khrushchev refused to
answer any of the queries.
The Soviet leader was asked
what response he intends to
make to a request for a meet-
ing with Israel Prime Minister
David Ben-Gurion.
"I have not received a de-
Calls Leukemia
a Curable Virus
nand for such a meeting," he
replied. Asked how he would
reply if such: a request • were
laid before him, he replied
evasively: "If I got such a re-
quest, I would answer."
Surprise was expressed in
Jerusalem over Khrushchev's
statement that he received no
request from Ben-Gurion for a
meeting. It was pointed out
that Ben-Gurion advanced such
a request to the Soviet Am-
bassador to Israel, prior to the
Premier's trip to Washington
and London. The Russian Am-
bassador, Michael Bodrov, who
is on home leave now, is ex-
pected to return next month
when, presumably, he will bring
an answer to Ben-Gm-ion's re-
quest.
The fact that Ben-Gurion did
request a meeting in Moscow
with Krushchev was confirmed
officially in the Knesset Tues-
day.
Finance Minister Levi Esh-
kol appearing in the Knesset on
behalf of Ben-Gurion—who is
- w`mtwORageolasews03.041--
on vacation—set all unofficial
reports straight.
Ben-Gurion, said Eshkol, made
a "formal" request to visit Mos-
cow about four months ago in a
conversation with Michael Bod-
rov, the Soviet Ambassador
here. The Israeli Premier had
told the Russian envoy he was
willing to meet with the Soviet
leader at the latter's 'con.ven- How the year has flown! Once again, it's time for our reminder about the C) seal
ience.. -
When •Ben-Gurion returned carried by many Heinz food products. (Just to make sure there will be no misunder-
from his trip to Washington standing.) As you know, the Q is the seal of the UNION OF ORTHODOX JEWISH CONGRE.
and London, the:Finance Min- CATIONS OF AMERICA—your guarantee that the products carrying it are Kosher.
ister continued, he was told by
Bodrov that there was as yet no Strictly Kosher for year 'round use —but not for Passover. The Qu guarantee definitely
answer to the request from his does not include Passover. To you, your families and your friends—a happy Passover!
government. Acocrding to Esh-
kol's official statement, Bodrov
said he would visit Moscow
soon and would inquire into the
Makers of the 57 Varieties
status of Ben-Gurion's request.
•
ENJOY THEM BEFORE
AND AFTER PASSOVER
(they're Kosher, but not for Passover)
•
•
DR. STEVEN 0.
SCHWARTZ, of Chicago, is
shown in Louisville, Ky., at
an American Cancer Society
meeting, where he announced
he has definite proof that leu-
kemia — blood cancef— is a
virus, and thus a cure is pos-
sible through serum.
-
H. J. HEINZ COMPANY