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Boris Smolar's

I

Between You
and Me

Dr. Frain Commends JPS Revised Bible
Translation:' Sees Revival of Interest in
Biblical Studies Among U. S. Jewry

Announcing that he has commenced a new Bible class, at !blamed it all upon himself, upon
Temple Israel, which will enable him to use the new revised trans- his own lack of perception. Now
lation of the Torah which has been published by the Jewish the
modern reader is frankly
Publication Society of America, De. Leon Fram praised the new
faced with the fact that in the
translation
and
gave
it
the
following
evaluation:
Colossal Contribution
handling of the Bible manu-
The long-awaited new translation into English of the Torah
"I anticipate with pleasure the
finally made its appearance this week, and it will be welcomed use of the new translation of the ological authority which em- script by generations' of scribes
for more than one reason . . . It was a revolutionary undertaking Torah when I teach my Bible boldened them to change the and copyists, mistakes, omis-
very first sentence of the Bible sions and distortions have crept
by the Jewish Publication Society to publish this modern- Class at Temple Israel.
language translation from the Hebrew text, avoiding obsolete
"This new translation of the from the familiar 'In the begin- in, and some passages of the
words and phrases and translating Hebrew idoms by means of Torah, just published by the ning God created the heaven Bible may forever remain ob-
the normal English equivalents . . . It is no small change in Jewish Publication Society of and the earth' to 'When God scure. In view of the over-
tradition when the word "thou" is replaced with the modern Philadelphia, has been hailed as began to create the heaven and whelming portion of the Bible
"you" even when referring to the Deity, or replacing the word a translation from archaic Eng- the earth.' These scholars are which lends itself to transition
"hath" with "has" . . However, as the preface to the new lish into modern English. It is not only linquists—they are also into beautiful and inspiring
translation explains it, because the Bible is an eternal book, that, but it is also much more. archaeologists and geographers, modern language, the admission
it must be made intelligible to every generation . . . And this There is no doubt that modern and it is this scientific authority that a few words and passages
is exactly what the new translation does . . . It reads more easily Jews, as well as modern readers which emboldened them to des- are still opaque will not discour-
than any of the other editions of the Bible translated into English in general, will approach the ignate the sea which the chil- age the modern reader. It will,
which followed the archaic flavor of the King James Version Bible with new zest when they dren of Israel crossed in their instead, add to his appreciation
which is more than 350 years old . . . Edited by eminent Jewish find that it reads like any con- flight from Egypt as The Sea of of the significance of the Bible
Bible scholars — with Prof. Harry M. Orlinsky as editor-in-chief temporary book. No longer does Reeds' instead of the familiar and the wonder of its having
come down to us from remote
— the new translation is designed to be read, enjoyed and under- every sentence begin with 'And.' but erroneous The Red Sea.'
stood by the intelligent layman who is discouraged by the ob- No longer are people referred
"So far from impairing what- antiquity.
scurities of the usual editions . . . The new JPS translation is to as thee or thou. There are ever beauty the older Jewish
"I predict that this new trans-
based on the traditional Masoretic text of the Hebrew Bible on no such antique words in the translations or the King James lation of the Torah will produce
which Jewish savants, known as the Masorites, worked for new translation as doth or say- version of the English Bible a great revival of interest in the
several hundred years, devising a system of vowel "points" and est. These are words no longer may have possessed, this new Torah and the Bible. I predict
accents which fixed the correct meaning of words in the Bible in use. Therefore they do not translation brings out the grace that young people especially
. . . On the basis of this text, the new translation asserts that appear in this translation of the and color and the rhythm of all will now begin to read the Bible
with new zest. I believe, too,
the Israelites, when they made their exodus from Egypt, crossed Torah. It is refreshing to find the poetry of the Bible.
that this newly stimulated appe-
the Sea of Reeds and not the Red Sea as is related in all other that the ancient Books of Moses
"I am planning this season to
English translations of the Bible . . This makes the miracle can be read in the tongue we all teach my Torah class the Book tite for the reading of the Bible
of the Exodus more credible, especially since it is known that speak rather than in King of Numbers. In previous at- will exert also a beneficent,
desert folk anywhere are inclined to call any body of water a James' language which has be- tempts to teach this Book, I moral and spiritual influence
upon an entire generation that
"sea," no matter how small or shallow . . . It is also known that come quite unfamiliar to us.
have always been frustrated by
"There are undoubtedly many the awkward translations of the will be touched by the power of
the Israelites were unfamiliar with the effect of a strong wind
coinciding with a tide, and thus could
may reached solid ground romantics who still believe that poems attributed to Balaam. the Bible word.
"There is no substitute, of
at low tide while the Egyptians may have been caught in the something is added to the sanc- They were not only. awkward—
returning waters as tide and wind changed . . . It is similarly tity of the Torah or the Bible they were completely obscure course, for the reading of the
known that Napoleon in 1798 rode his horse without difficuty in general when it is read or and incapable of conveying any Bible in its original Hebrew. I,
where he guessed Moses had crossed . . . The change from the spoken in an archaic or anti- meaning to the modern reader welcome all the evidences of a
Red Sea to the Sea of Reeds, which has now been introduced quated language. They forget dependent solely on the English revival of interest in the study
for the first time in the new translation — however correct in that what makes the Bible dis- translation. In this new Torah of Hebrew, stimulated as this
accordance with the traditional Hebrew text — will provoke tinctive is that, though it is old, version, all the poems are de- has been by the establishment
much critical discussion . . . So will the change from Salt Sea it nevertheless speaks to all gen- lightfully lucid. Lucidity, in- and the prestige of the State of
to Dead Sea and other innovations in the new translation . . . erations. When it speaks in a deed, as well as accuracy and Israel., However, even Hebrew
scholars will seek and find guid-
However, there can be no doubt that the new modern transla- language now .obsolete, the im- modernity, is what the transla-
ance in this new English trans-
tion will be welcomed by many serious students of the Bible, pression is created that its ideas tors aimed at, and I believe have lation of the Torah. No matter
are
also
obsolete.
If
the
word
of
achieved.
Jews and non-Jews alike . . . It is a colossal contribution to the
how well our Jewish community
the Torah is to be represented
understanding of the Bible, which is the basis of our Jewish
"A remarkable charaeleristic in America may succeed in our
as eternally valid and eternally
heritage .
fresh, then the Hebrew original of this translation is that when programs of Hebrew - education,
Personality Profiles
must be so translated as to be the translators come upon an this modern English version of
Meet Louis Stern, the new president of the Council of also eternally new and meaning- obscure passage which thpy„can- the Bible will remain a neces-
Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds . . . A businessman active ful. As Maimonides put it The not translate, they adrn4that sity for American Jews. as it
for many years in behalf of Jewish non-sectarian causes, he Torah speaks in the language of the word or phrase is 615nire-ox will undoubtedly also be an
untranslatable. In all previous object of admiration and emula-
established for himself an enviable record both nationally and ordinary men.'
translations, when the reader tion b„,y our Christian neigh-
in his own community of South Orange, N.J. . . . He held many
"However, what makes me so found a text unintelligible, he
important positions in the CJFWF prior to being elected presi- eager to teach the Bible in this
dent, and was chairman of important committees in the National new translation is not only that
Jewish Welfare - Board, of which he is currenly vice-president it is written in current English,
• . T
T • ".
. . For outstanding contributions to the Jewish community but even more, that it is the
center field, he has been presented twice with National Jewish !most accurate rendition of the
tr'ptnz.n
Welfare Board awards . . . His _ local Jewish affiliations are Bible in existence today. The
quite numerous, and SO are his other affiliations . He considers translators, headed by Dr. Harry
the Jewish Federation an expression' of the principle of volun- Orlinsky of Hebrew Union Col-
nii47 t7v nint
1943 riltz4 '7771:1;-1
tary commitment, one consistent with and complementary to lege-Jewish Institute of Reli-
the highest ideals of American ciizenship .. .
ntrm?
gion, are not only Hebrew schol-
.;1:40
11 7.r.i t??? M1
Domestic Front
ars—they are scholars in all the
.-
F
!
nnt:?,
L7v
it.z
L7v
Ir-
1ri71
;f-r7 r-pr4
Professional anti-Semites in the United States are now con- Semitic languages and are lin-
centrating on mass distribution of anti-Jewish literature . . . guistic scientists. It is this phil-
rinix
147
""? 719P; 'triPri N;l41
Their depots of hate literature are stocked not only with material
printed in this country, but also with imported tracts by Swedish, Hebrew Corner
riNt
Jr-ryrn
;1'0
1
.
2.
'7
nrix
.r).7. 7`1` rri.t?trkt
British and German neo-Nazis . . . Included in the propaganda
material are pamphlets reviving canards long disavowed or
4 11 .7 11 I'7 tP n1"`117'7 n1a'7r7
Italian Proselytes "P72 trV.71
disproved . . . Among the most prominent purveyors is oldtimer
It began in the year 1943, during
Gerald L. K. Smith . . . The books which he offers for sa7.e the
1]7.4
ltPti - 7PF1
Second World War, when the
include the notorious Protocols of the Elders of Zion, long Jewish Brigade of the British Army
L73.7 . X17 in747,4-7xo Typrn,
southern Italy. The soldiers
established to be a forgery, as well as the International Jew entered
of one of the Jewish units that
which is another long-repudiated canard . . . His monthly maga- - passed through- the streets of the
T I7 • nin"1.7 7iwinL7 Irnxi
`IPP
village, San Nikandro -, did not r1717`???. 7;7 '7r)r1
zine the Cross and the Flag is still one of the most widely read small
believe what they saw: alongside
. . Conde McGinley, another anti-Semitic publisher, is also the road there were groups of lutry,73
n1xrp4177
Italian children with Jewish flags
;1 17?;7-
operating as a bookseller and is using his semi-monthly Common in
their hands. The officer asked,
rittpri
'7r7nrr7r;1
trptpt.rkt
Sense to promote an exhaustive list of anti-Jewish books and "Are you Jews?" A young boy, in .747:4- 1xo
15. answered, "Yes," and took
pamphlets . . . Selected issues of Common Sense are also re- about
the officer to an old farmer who
L
. 1747PP L7 j -4 1 )7 P7?
printed in bulk for wholesale distributors in various parts of was known in the village as "the PrI L?
of the Jews."
the country . . . The racist National States Rights Party, with prophet
Twenty years ago, while he was
p
toktn
r4 1 . 7)1
headquarters in Birmingham, Ala., also entered recently the reading the Bible. he came to the nrIL711:77?rt77Pri "YIN
conclusion that the Jewish religion
field of book selling, distributing inflammatory books by the is the right one, and he began to
15 nn ms.74 -11ri4
British Nazi, Colon Jordan, and the late British Fascist Arnold influence the people of the village
in this spirit. They listened to him.
Leese.
In the course of time, 120 persons
'Pr" 1447

I

Copyright, 1963
(Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.

r4rTri 177

M`tr.`?

Adenauer's Party Elects Former
Himmler Aide to Parliament Seat

BONN, (JTA)—Max Frauen-
dorfer, chief personal aide. to
the late Heinrich Himmler who,
in turn, was Hitler's chief of the
Gestapo, became a deputy to
the Bunclestag (lower house of
parliament), as a representative
of Chancellor Konrad Aden-
auer's Christian D emocr a ti c
party.
He was elected by the party
to fill a seat vacated by another
Christian Democratic deputy

who resigned his parliamentary
post.
Frauenclorfer ran for parlia-
ment in 1958, and was defeated
when his Nazi past was widely
publicized. He ran again in 1961
and just missed election. He was
elected by the party to the va-
cant post because he had the
highest number of votes among
the unsuccessful candidates for
the seat won by the man who
has resigned.

gathered around him as their leader,
and they called themselves "Sons
of Israel," and observed the mitzvot
of the Torah. Ten years later, they
wrote a letter to the Chief Rabbi
of Rome, asking him to accept them
into the Jewish community. All this
the officer heard from the old man, t
who asked him to tell about the
Holy Land.
When the War of Liberation
broke out, five young men from
San Nikandro decided to go to
Israel to defend it. After the war.
the entire community came to Is-
rael. Not long ago. the proselytes
celebrated their tenth anniversary
. of their settlement in the country.
To this celebration came those from
Italy and their children, born in
Israel, altogether over two hundred
people. They sang together in Ital-
ian and prayed in Italian. However,
the children spoke among them-
selves in Hebrew.
Translation of Hebrew column pub-
lished by Brith Ivrith 0 1 a in i th,
Jerusalem.

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