Vandals Desecrate Philadelphia Cemetery `Gideon': Faulty Application of Bi ble to Drama Paddy Chayefsky, whose fame that makes Chayefsky's inter - quickly." What exactly is "the pretation of the Gideon tale un- ageless Hebrew fashion?" Did increased with "The Tenth pretation man," has, in his newest Broad- acceptable. Even the most fana- Jews have a special way of way success, "Gideon," contin- 'tic in Jewry—those who might shrugging? What nonsense is ued to make use of religions accept the Angel theories—al- this? * * * themes for his dramatic efforts. lowed for some sense of reason. Chayefsky's "Gideon" disallows While a dramatist's license per- He is a skillful writer and he mits many things, it is question- has a sense for the dramatic. it. Only those who believe that able whether the extent to which That is why he takes many lib- erties with the Biblical theme. Jewish lore is immersed total- he exerted himself to make a fan- tasy of the theme described in "Gideon" has just been made ly in myth and in illusory available in book form by Ran- visions can accept Chayef- Chapters 6, 7 and 8 in Book of Judges can be accepted and ap- dom House. It provides a better sky's tale. When the forces that were proved. opportunity than the play itself The Bible story, it is true, for a study of the author's ap- gathered by Gideon go off 'to proach to the theme of Gideon, battle shouting "For Gideon speaks of the Angel appearing to the Judge in Israel, who de- and for the Lord," the Angel invite Gideon to be his people's feated the Midianites after an mutters: "It used to be: 'For rescuer. But that does not justify Angel of God appeared to in- the Lord and for Gideon.' " the farcial. spire him to act in defense of his Much could have been made of There are cruelties committed the sudden Gideonite vanity im- —in the Bible as elsewhere in people. • * * plied by this. Instead, the brack- I literature—and there are whole- There is something very cruel eted italicized explanation of ! sale murders in the battles among in the Chayefsky drama. Gideon the Angel's actions at the end the ancient peoples. But when had failed to kill all he was or- of the first act appears thus in the Angel in Chayefsky's story is dered to execute in Succoth. the published drama: "He angered because not enough of "These men are utter wretch- shrugs in the ageless Hebrew the enemy were killed, the theme es." says the Angel, to which fashion and strides offstage is subject to challenge. hem my left. The curtain comes down (; don t * • e re p lies , "I p ity 1,4)rd." Wherupon the Angel un- In Judges 6:34 we read that leashes his wrath, telling about ' "the spirit of the Lord clothed the Succoth people's iniquities, Russian Academician Gideon." This is typical of the and Gideon assures him: "I Concedes Jews Were messages Prophets received in shall kill them then since you their visions of orders given by wish it." And the Angel utters Convicted of Crimes ' the Lord. But in the Chayefsky this type of nonsense in Chayef- NEW YORK ((JTA) — A drama it is more than that. It corresponding member of the is an Angel arguing with the • ky's words: oh, Gideon. you make so Soviet Academy of Sciences at emissary of God. much of death. You must not be M Moscow admitted that Jews were In the Biblical story, Gideon 'o temporal. It is all right for among the Soviet citizens re- is offered kingship and turns it the hulk of men to fear death. cently convicted for "economic down because (Judges 8:23): for in death they fear me. But, crimes," but insisted that the "Gideon said unto them: 'I will in truth. there isn't anything to convicted persons "justly re- not rule over you, neither shall it at all. Nothing happens, ceived their desserts under a my son rule over you; the Lord shall rule over you'." In Chayef- nothing changes; the essence of court sentence." The statements were made in sky's drama, there is temptation. things go on. You see, you meas- Furthermore, in Chayefsky's ure things in time, but there is a letter to the New York Times, no time in truth. You live now dated Moscow. signed by Mikhail theme there is something of the ten million years ago and are Strogovich, who identified him- sacrilegious when the Angel con- at this moment ten million self as a corresponding member cludes the play by declaming: years hence. or more: for there of the Academy in Moscow. He "God no more believes it odd That man cannot believe in God. are no years. The slaying of responded to a letter printed by Mari believes the beit he can, seventy-seven elders happens the Times nearly two months ago Which means, it seems, belief in but it does not happen, for they from the Rev. Dr. James A. Pike, man. live even so and have died be- Episcopal Bishop of the Califor- Then let him don my gold ephod fore. and all is now, which was nia Diocese. who had charged and is forever. Oh, dear, I see the Soviet Union with persecut- And let him be a proper god. Well, let him try it, anyway. this is heavy going for you." ing Jews. Bishop Pike had re- With this conceit, we end the ported that at least 13 Soviet This is-distortion of Jewish play ." tradition, it is untrue to the citizens recently sentenced to This borders on idolatry. Biblical story. If it isn't here- death for "economic crimes" Chayefsky had so much to by it certainly is poor philos- were Jews. Objecting to "sundry slander— utilize for a theme that could ophy. It is contrary to the "El Molei Rachamim"—"God 'ous articles about the life of go far in adhering to the reality is full of compassion" prin- r Jews in the Soviet Union." of Biblical lore. J-B was closer ciple— in Jewish tradition. Strogovich insisted in his letter to Job than "Gideon" is to the It is not the sacrilege alone that the USSR guarantees the story in the Book of Judges. but the lack of historical reality equality of all citizens. pointed The theme that was used to out that "outstanding Jews" have break pitchers and produce lighted lighted torches to frighten 2C4, 414, 4, + ,1, 4-1•It been elected "as deputies to su- the Midianitts. the selection of preme and local organs of state 300 warriors out of the thousands power." and stated: —both well resorted to for the "The conviction of a small group of state criminals — large "Gideon" play—are sufficient in- scale pilferers of public property dications to show how well the who justly received their des- story from Judges could be used serts under a court sentence— for more direct and more real among whom there were differ- purposes. As used by Chayefsky, ent nationalities including Jews' the application of a Biblical —gives no ground to draw un- story to modern times is very warranted conclusions as to the faulty. —P. S. supposed widespread character of these crimes in the USSR. I INEW1: I LOW +GROUP + FARES 31 x++++++++x SAME SAME SAME al SUPERB CUISINE FABULOUS SERVICE le TELAyi $592 PER PERSON ROUND-TRIP JET FARE FROM N.Y. Now's your chance to see the Holy Land! Qualified groups of 25 people can jet direct to Tel Aviv for only $592.00 per person-round trip! Almost any group is eligible. See your Travel Agent for details and quali- fications. Or, of course, call us. AIR FRANCE di A KlIg ,A , Ift ;AILT, 1.:1411 TINOIA 1 10MAI a authorities suspect juvenile van- dals, detectives said that some of the stones were so heavy — weighing as much as 1,200 pounds — that it must have taken a group of people, per- haps using ropes, to overturn the stones. The Finest in Printed Fabric NAME TAPES FOR CAMP CLOTHES School Clothes and Institutions Rhodesian Jewry The Jewish community of the African state of Rhodesia, which today numbers 7,200 per- sons, dates back to 1865 when Jews lived in the territory of Lobengula. The first synagogue was founded in a tent in Bula- wayo, Southern Rhodesia in 1894. $1.00 per 100 Send Check or Money Order Sorry, no C.O.D.'s QUICK DELIVERY Wholesale Acc'ts. Welcome NAME-ON CO (New Address) 57th St. & Grays Ave. Phila. 43, Pa. Announcing . . . Fall Registration at OAK PARK'S DAY SCHOOL The Hebrew Academy Finest education available for any Jewish boy or girl ✓ KINDERGARTEN Por 1st GRADE THROUGH 6th GRADE P4' ACCREDITED ENGLISH - STAFF ;/" MODERN HEBREW PROGRAM i.•• SMALL CLASSES fri" SPECIAL TUTORING lo° DOOR TO DOOR TRANSPORTATION For Information Call: Eves.: LI 8-3554 LI 8 8020 - The Community Is Cordially Invited to Attend The Dedication Ceremonies Of the New Building of . YOUNG ISRAEL OF NORTHWEST DETROIT SUNDAY, MAY 27th, 1962 at 2 P.M. at 17376 WYOMING AVENUE A Reception Tendered by the Sisterhood Will Follow the Ceremonies , Brazilian Senator Seeks to Amend Naturalization Act SWIFT JETS PHILADF.T PHIA, (JTA) — The Adath Jeshurun cemetery, in the Frankford section of Phila- delphia, was desecrated by van- dals who overturned 55 grave- stones, breaking or damaging eight of the markers, police here reported. Walter Hand, superintendent of the cemetery, who lives at the edge of the burial grounds, dis- covered the desecrations and in- formed police. While the police RIO DE JANEIRO, (JTA) — Senator Gilberto Marinho de- manded on the floor of the Brazil- ian Congress, at Brasilia, that the country's naturalization act be amended in such a manner as to wipe out about 150 regulations affecting naturalized citizens here. Abotit 80,000 of Brazil's 150,- 000 Jews are naturalized citizens, the remainder being either native-horn or citizens of other countries. Among the discriminations ' which Marinho seeks to wipe off the statute books are prohibitions against naturalized citizens to teach in public schools, to speak over the radio in the Portuguese language, or to run for Congress. The amendments have been pend- ing in Congress for five years but, thus far, no action has been taken by the national legislature. An act to provide for a state library in Michigan was ap- proved March 21, 1837. THUNDERBIRD DAY CAMP MAKE A POINT TO SEE OUR 20 FABULOUS ACRES AND SWIMMING POOL DURING OUR OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY, MAY 27 1 to 5 P.M. - at 48441 WEST ROAD BRING THE FAMILY R EFRE S HME N TS • DIRECTIONS: Grand River Expressway to Wixom Road; Turn right onto Wixom Road; 1/2 Mile to West Road, Turn right 1/2 mile to camp. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION EL 6-8893 or GR 4-0288 •