THE DETROIT JEWISH 'NEWS — Friday, November 10, 1961 — 16
Dr. Abba Hillel Silver's Significant
Book: 'Moses and the Original Torah'
Union of American
WJC Moves to Establish
Hebrew Congregations Central America- Office
Holds 46th Conference Steps toward the establish-
ment of a World Jewish Con-
gress Central American - Carib-
Dr. Abba Hillel Silver, distin- historic events to which it Torah of Moses consisted in
bean Office will be taken by
guished world Jewish leader gave rise are more fully ex- the fact that it was entrusted,
Yehuda Eb,stein, executive direc-
whose eminence is as great in plained. Otherwise the ven- in solemn covenant, to an
tor of the World Jewish Congress
the field of
ture is no more than a con- • entire people, which undertook
North American -Executive, in
theology and F5P77‘
juring trick unworthy of seri- for all future time to be its
the course of a visit to Mexico
Jewish schol-
ous scholarship. It is true guardian."
City on Tuesday.
arship as well
that a many may live in his-
The conflicts and differences
- Ebstein will confer with the
as in Zion-
tory who never existed in between Israel and Judah are
WJC's affiliate in Mexico, the
ist leadership,
time, but then the memory thoroughly reviewed in this
Central Jewish Committee of
has added
of him, which is reflected in significant book. The eminent
and will attend a meet-
another note-
literature, his echoing career author indicates the existence
Delegates from the United Mexico,
worthy work
and his immense influence of a harmonizing common past States, Canada, Panama and ing of that organization's execu-
to his sev-
upon mankind through the which made _them all "part of the West Indies will gather ive board scheduled for Tuesday
eral published
long centuries, must in some the andient Covenant at Sinai." for the 46th General Assem- evening.
The decision. to establish a
books.
other to be accounted for." But there were conflicting tra- bly of the Union of Ameri-
His latest,
The infrequent reference to ditions, and these are described can HebreW Congregations . Central American office was tak-
"Moses and
Dr. Silver
Moses in the Bible as "prophet" in detail, taking into account Nov. 11-16 at the Sheraton- en at the recent global executive
the Original
(Nabi) was "to distinguish him also the violent enmities that Park Hotel in Washington, meeting of the Congress in Gen-
Torah," just published by Mac- and set him apart from all other existed between the two differ- D.C., with Judge Emil N. eva.
Among its 64 affiliates, the
millan, is an analysis of "the prophets," Rabbi Silver con- ing peoples.
Baar of New York (left),
World Jewish Congress includes
real character of Moses and the tends. "Moses," he states, "was
Union
board
chairman,
pre-
Dr. Silver expresses doubt
essential message of the Torah." given the commission not only
siding. Victor G. Reuther communities in Barbados, Costa
whether the Ten Words were
(r i g h t), administrative as- Rica, Cuba, Curaco, Do I can
In his preface appears the to announce the will of YHVH actually incribed upon the
introductory expanation of his but to execute it as well."
sistant
to the president of the Republic, El Salvador, ate-
two tables of stone which
approach to the subject. De-
United Automobile Workers m a 1 a, Honduras, J a a a.
The uniqueness of Mosaic law were kept in the Ar1 in the
scribing the ."two distinct is "in that it excluded practices Tent in the wilderness, where,
Union, will deliver one of the Nicaragua, Panam an
dad.
major addresses.
traditions reflected in the his- which the ancient world did not he writes, "the people prob-
toric and legal writings of the find at all objectionable . . . ably carried with them a
Bible," those of Northern Is- sacred prostitution, the burn- simple portable Ark of
"It was the policy of my father
HAVE Y • E •-•
rael and Southern Judah, to ing of chidren in the service of YHVH. Such sacred portable to make his children feel that
. FOOD
which he refers as "two idols, witchcraft and sorcery, tents were possessed by home was the happiest place in
separate peoples" which "were and the obsession with death nomadic Arab tribes before the world; and I value this deli-
never truly united, even during and the underworld," Dr. Silver the days of Isam," represent- . cious home feeling as one of the
PLEASE A
ER
18952 WOODW
TO 9-9373
the period of the United King- asserts. "The singularity of the ing "the actual presence of choicest gifts a parent can be-
1 blk. S. o
Mile Rd.
dom," having "parted corn
the deitS7." He adds that stow."—Washington Irving. •
pletely and forever after the
"neither the Ark nor the
revolution of Jeroboam I in 933
tables of stone nor the cheru-
BCE," Dr. Silver :adds:
bim were in the Second
' "These . two • peoples shared
Temple." . . . "It has been
a common racial origin and
suggested that the Ark may
many ancestral memories, but
have been previously located
their historic experiences from
for a time at Shechem, where
earliest times differed sharply.
Joshua made a covenant with
The more important center of
all the tribes of Israel ... .
JHVH worship arose in the
Subsequently the Ark was
North where the Hebrews who
moved . . . to the inner
had left Egypt under,Moses had
sanctuary in the Temple
settled-. They brought with them
which King Solomon built."
the original Torah which he
Rabbi Silver thoroughly re-
had given- them."
views and analyses the codes
"It was with Moses that
of laws found in the Pentateuch
- the Torah religion of Israel
—their general contents, the
began and it was among the
Covenant, Holiness and Deutero-
tribes which later constituted
nomic Codes.
the Northern Kingdom of
"The ethical teachings of the
Israel that the Torah of
Torah" are described as "an
YHVH was first established,"
essential part of the orthodox
Dr. Silver declares. The cardi-
religion of all classes of Jews
nal spiritual and e t h i cal
during the 'Second Common-
Eshkol
Goldberg
teachings of the original
wealth," priority having been
Torah which were never sur-
ARTHUR J. GOLDBERG, given them by religious leaders
passed were those of Moses
U.S.,
Secretary of Labor, and over cult and ritual." Dr.
and not of the later prophets
LEVI
ESHKOL, Israel Minister Silver points out that "while
of Israel or Judah."
of Finance, are among a distin- mystic, pietist groups em-
He points out that the sub- guished array of speakers phasized the ethical content of
ject of his study in "Moses scheduled to address the 24th the ritual .and ceremonial law
and the Original Torah" is: annual national conference of as such. It was only with the
"What this original Torah of theL. United -Jewish Appeal, rise of Christianity that anta-
Moses was . . . where this Dec. 10 and 11, in New York gonism to these laws made
Torah is to be found, and how City's Waldorf - Astoria Hotel. itself manifest."
it fared in Israel an Judah." This will be Eshkol's first ap-
_ "The evolutionary new in-
He uses the Tetragrammaton pearance in the U.S. after suc-
stitution, the synagogue,"
"YHVH" for "the Lord," and cessfully taking the lead to
brought back from Babylon
"Torah" for "the Law."
by returning exiles, "was de-
form a new Israeli government.
In his extensive com- Facing the 1,000 Conference
stined to grow in importance
mentaries and research, Dr. delegates expected to attend
during the Second Common-
Silver makes thorough analyses from all parts of the country
wealth," Rabbi Silver states.
Come! Bring the Youngsters!
also of the major and minor will be 'the important task of
"The synagogue was the place
prophets. He takes into ac- adopting plans for 1962 to mo-
where God could be wor- -
Enjoy a preview of Christmas in
count some claims that Moses bilize additional funds to cover
shipped without sacrifiees
was a mythical person, then greatly increased needs of some
and priesthood. Here religion
he proceeds to review histori- 600,000 men, women and chil-
was a matter exclusively of
cal data, indicating the higher dren served , by UJA benefici-
prayer and the study of the
Egyptian- intellectual circles in aries, the United Israel Appeal,
Torah. Here laymen and rabbi
which he moved, and describes the Joint Distribution Commit-
could meet for ethical and
him as an active leader and tee, the New York Association
spiritual instruction. No com-
he answers the "myth" theory for New Americans and United
parable religious institution
by stating:
existed in _the ancient world.
Hias.
"It is permissible to dis-
No wonder that its complete
solve a world personality into
accordance with the spirit of
a myth if, by so doing, the . Israel to Aid Bolivia
the original Torah . . . gave
rise to the legend that it was
in Farm Development
Moses himself who founded
Id Newsboys' Goodfellow
LA PAZ, Bolivia, (JTA) — the
synagogue."
I igh School Chompionshiti
Yitzhak Levy, director general
Dr. Silver concludes by de-
What wonderful fun you'll have meeting
of the Israel Ministry of Agri-
culture, arrived here for a ten- claring: "The pure faith of
favorite
old friends from Story Land! Jack-
day visit during which he will Moses was by no means fully
in-the-Beanstalk,
Bo Peep, Cinderella, Snow
triumphant
even
now.
It
never
study Bolivian agricultural
White, Alice in W on d e r l a n d, Humpty
problems within the frame- had been in any generation in
work of a technical assistance the past . . . In all the suceed-
Dumpty — these are just a few of the en-
agreement concluded earlier ing centuries, the ancient strug-
chanting characters that will come alive here
gle
for
the
true
faith
was
to
this year between Israel and
go on, under new forms but
at Hudson's. Christmas Carol will be on
jiolivia.
unmistakably. The origin al
hand to greet you and help you catch an
During his stay in this coun- Torah would never lose its
try, Levy will study problems magnetic appeal and its eternal
early glimpse of Santa. (He'll be here in per-
dealing with irrigation, soil challenge."
son
after the Thanksgiving Para cle.) So
erosion, afforestation and fish
"Moses and the Original
come—bring the whole family—enjoy the
culture. The assistance pro- Torah" will no doubt be con-
gram also provides for the visit sidered one of the most im-
fun on Hudson's Downtown 12th Floor now.
to_ Israel of several Bolivian portant books by Dr. Silver.
agricultural experts to study. It is a guide for rabbis and
Israeli farming methods.
a revelation for laymen.
P.S.
•
C54
•
STO
Eshkol, Goldberg
to Speak at WA
Parley Dec. 10-11
S Co' 1\1" '
SANTA'S
MAGIC
STORY LAND
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