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Friday, October 18, 1963—THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 40

Chagall Classic, Glatzer's Talmudic-Midrashic
Text, Works on Judaism in Schocken Paperbacks

Emergence of Conservative Judaism
by Dr. Moshe Davis Issued by JPS

It has been repeatedly said: interest in social welfare and
"Judaism—A Way of Life," by
A people that does not under- in the defense of civil rights;
Prof. S. S. Cohon.
Dr. Cohon, who was profes- stand its past cannot have a it is inspiring again in the
sor of Jewish theology at He- future. The Jewish community emphasis it lays upon the
brew Union College, had writ- of the United States should common action of conserva-
ten this work as an introduction have taken this truth to heart tives and reformers in deal-
to Judaism's basic ideas. Deal- long ago. Fortunately one of ing with education and other
ing with piety, deliverance from our most thoughtful scholars community undertakings; and
evil, worship, social righteous- has now produced a book which it is inspiring in its fervent
ness, religious aid to health, the should go far in rectifying this assertion of the Jewish faith,
including the Messianic ideal
divine in man and a score of situation.
. . . In my opinion, it is one
Dr. Moshe Davis, author of
other subjects related to the
of the most instructive and
"The
Emergence
of
Conserva-
teaching of Judaism, Prof. Co-
books written in
hon concluded with an appeal tive Judaism," just issued by elevating
the field of religion in re-
for the revival of the habit of the Jewish Publication Society cent
years. The style is clear,
private and public worship as of America, is head of the In- graphic,
and at times ele-
a means of guarding our peo- stitute of Contemporary Jewry vated."
at
the
Hebrew
University
of
ple's spiritual health.
Among the problems with
Jerusalem and co-director of
"Faith and devotion," he the American Jewish History which the volume deals are
emphasized, "serve as the Center of the Jewish Theologi- those of education, community
foundation of the synagogue cal Seminary of America. Dr. organization, defense, and syn-
and of Jewish life."
Davis is an editor of its Re- agogue growth. In each case
His work serves as a guide gional History Series and for- the book makes clear the stand
which the important personali-
for home study and for strength- mer Seminary Provost.
ening home life and could well
Dr. Davis' new book gives ties of the day took with re-
be an excellent textbook for the the story of the Jewish Re- gard to these and other prob-
youth as well as in adult classes. ligion in America from the first lems. There are also brief
His work is an effective evalu- Jewish settlement in the United spiritual biographies of impor-
ation of the language of prayer States to the beginning of tant personalities: Isaac Lee-
and of the logic of worship. His the present century. Scholarly, ser, Isaac M. Wise, Benjamin
section on "The Way of Torah" thorough, objective, the story Szold, Marcus Jastrow, Morris
reviews the ideals of study and is also full of human interest. J. Raphall, Cyrus Adler, Solo-
learning. The chapter on faith- It is best described, perhaps, mon Solis-Cohen, and others.
cults and the explanation of by a few quotations from a
Judaism's relation to medicine personal letter sent by Prof. Hebrew Corner
are valuable portions of this Allan Nevins, the noted Ameri-
can historian: Dr. Nevins says: Agricultural
book.
MARC CHAGALL
"The story seems to me an
The Cohon book is valuably
inspiring one, and I am sure Workmen's
Rabbi Yohanan said:
supplemented
by
notes,
a
glos-
tling in Paris in 1922. She trans-
that others will share this
lated into French her husband's Not like the Jerusalem of this sary, an index of names, sub- sentiment. It is inspiring in
world
is
the
Jerusalem
of
the
jects
and
Hebrew
terms.
Organization
autobiography, "My Life."
its discussion of the Jewish
* * *
world to come.
In the Agricultural Workmen's Or-
Her contacts with Jewish life
ganization there are more than 230,-
upon visiting Palestine • in 1931 The Jerusalem of this world: All Bickerman's 'From Ezra to
000 members. The "Merkaz Hachak-
who wish to ascend to it, may the Last of the Maccabees'
lai" (Agricultural Centre) is the exe-
and Vilna in 1935 impressed her
Egyptian Urges UN
cutional institution of theirs and in
ascend.
The foundations of postbibli-
into commencing to write in That
it are organized all the various
of the world to come: They cal Judaism, starting from the Poll Arab Refugees
workers' settlements in Israel: the
Yiddish. She died at Cranberry
Kibbutz, the Kvutza, Workers' Settle.
will enter there who are return from the Babylonian to Decide Own Fate
only
Lake, N. Y., in 1944.
ments and the Cooperative Settle-
called.
exile through the period of
UNITED NATIONS, N.Y. ments belonging to all he various
Her "Burning Bush" was
An untold number of gems Alexander Jannaeus, are ana- (JTA) — Mahmoud Fawzi, For- settlement trends and movements.
In the "Merkaz Hachaklai", the
one of her major works. are provided for the reader's
eign Minister of Egypt, proposed owners of the small farms, from the
Translated from the Yiddish edification in the Glatzer-edited lyzed in "From Ezra to the Last to
who are members of the
the General Assembly that Moshavot,
of the Maccabees," by Elias
Histadruth, are also organized.
by Norbert Guterman, it re- paperback.
the
United
Nations
conduct
a
The "Merkaz Hachaklai" deals with
Bickerman,
a
Schocken
paper-
tains its charm and its effec-
* * *
organizations of the hired agri-
plebiscite among the Arab refu- the
back.
cultural workers over the country,
tiveness to this day, and the Gentile-Jewish Relations
gees and "eventually abide by cares for their rights in the field of
The
first
portion
of
the
book
classic.
paperback is, indeed, a
wages and social conditions, and re-
Medieval, Modern Times is devoted to a review of the their choice to return to their presents
the agricultural workers in
Enhanced by 36 drawings by in Dr.
homes" in Israel.
Jacob
Katz,
professor
of
Government offices, and in national
history
of
the
periods
of
Ezra
her eminent husband, this work, history at the Hebrew Univer-
and
public
institutions in work and
He made the proposal in the
matters.
which is supplemented by a sity, is the author of another the Scribe, discusses the policies course of his formal address to social
In
the
"Merkaz
Hachaklai" there
lengthy glossary to assist the Schocken paperback, "Exclu- of Alexander the Great and the . Assembly's plenary session, are Departments for
Settling on the -
leads
up
to
a
resume
of
the
im-
Land,
and
for
Settlements.
The De-
reader who does not know Yid- siveness and Tolerance." It is
outlining hiS government's gen- partment for Settling on the
Land
pact
of
the
Hellenic
influences
dish or the Hebrew terms used, a study of Jewish-Gentile rela-
deals
with
all
matters
of
settling,
in-
eral foreign policies. He also in-
loans, prices, land, water,
contains 25 essays. They read tions in medieval and modern upon Judaism. The Greek ver- dicated that the Assembly cluding
education
and
so
on;
the
Department
sion of the Torah is reviewed
like fiction, but they retain
for Settlements deals with all the
here and the period of the should "see to it that a stop be problems
holdings and organiza-
reality about life in the Old times.
put to the Jewish influx into tion of the of small
farms and of the
Material
for
this
book
was
Scribes
is
evaluated.
World.
workers in the settlements that are
Palestine."
He
said
that
"the
by the author during
In the second portion of
organized in the Hired Agricultural
Parents and grandparents of collected
Arab
people
of
Palestine
would
Workmen's Union (about 80,000 mem-
the present generation will find a several years' period of re- this paperback, Bickerman continue to struggle until jus- bers) which is the largest union in
search.
deals
with
the
Maccabean
the country.
echoes of their heritage and of
Translation of Hebrew column.
Dr. Katz commences, in his period and the road to inde- tice is done for the restoration
the Jewish past in this splendid study,
of
their
rights."
Published by the Brith Ivrith
with the terms of refer- pendence.
Olamith, Jerusalem.
collection of nostalgic remini- ence and
proceeds
to
show
10th
Under discussion here is
scences. For example, in the to 14th centuries' experiences
opening piece, "Heritage," Mrs. relating to attitudes, involving Judea's role as a Hellenistfc
T •
T
Chagall wrote, at Sainte-Die, martyrs, disputants, proselytes princedom. The character of
Maccabean
Hellenism
is
out-
France, in 1939:
and apostates.
wke7r.rin trL?pitri nintinpri
lined. "The Maccabees," the
"Dear God, it is so hard to
He
then
proceeds
to
show
the
author
states,
"saved
Israel
draw out a fragment of bygone
steps that were taken, from the from the Greek danger. But this
life from fleshless memories!
,trzm74ion -Prnj r1,17I71D7 rIni.npr.rz
16th to the 18th centuries, in danger was two-fold, and the
And what if they should flicker
the
course
of
which
there
was
a
Maccabees
eradicated
one
kind
out, my lean memories, and die
rrke? pnri
7r.)**1' te!
n'ke?
transformation from exclusive- of Hellenism only to . facilitate
away together with me?
ness
to
tolerance.
the
growth
of
another
kind."
230.000
— n
,-ntptp
rO?ttivri-
ril yinro
"I want to rescue them .. .
In the latter section the
Explaining the effect of Hel-
"Only one thing torments me.
17npri -ryinn
-,ke?priri
My sweet little daughter, who reader is taken back to the lenism upon the people in that trr4s7
spent only a single year of her time when there was ghetto ex- era, the author states that "Hel-
trTriz.z7 in!) c;-.:itp
.077.11.71t1".7717?
life in my parental home—and clusiveness. The author reviews lenism was a supernatural cul-
the
conditions
that
marked
the
ture
based
upon
reason
and
this as a one-year-old child—
ninrnry,-;
will she understand me? Let us enlightenment and toleration faith in reason." He shows how
era
and
he
describes
the
politi-
Judaism was able to enrich it- r7L2rm :ninVin'?1nInto2t)7L? mr. nr
hope that she will."
:Ln:r1t4,74
self with new and foreign ideas
If there is a lessening of tra- cal application of tolerance.
Dr. Katz describes the accept- and to be saved from mummi- nnv z7nn n'mton ninttPrmn
pintr,
,
ntjin
ditional practices, Mrs. Chagall's
brief description of the life ance of the idea of a common fication that overtook other re-
L 2'2iZ
'7;k ro`i"r1V7P71
that has passed for many may humanity and the dissemination ligions.
He concludes by stating: "If
serve to instill new inspiration. of progressive and humanitarian
nisrnr)rn
,n'Tr11P
How many still search for principles. He r e v i e w s the today the West and Islam be-
methods
of
apologetics
resorted
lieve
in
resurrection,
the
idea
chometz on the eve of Pass-
n7L7rl7] ;It) n,4411w.i
over? Her "Hunting for Cho- to by Jewish leaders who "rec- is one which Maccabean Juda-
metz" must create a new in- onciled the contemporary views ism took over from Hellenism -75771n's4ss7 ► t inn r)'7Ptm mwri rntr,r;r1 tvni7 na
terest in an established custom. with the ancient authorities, and and then passed on to Chris-
tianity and Islam. The Macca- D'PVPri
t];.- 3t0
,nizVin4
She is an expert at describ- declares:
tl".41alkv11 n".P.
"It remained for a later gen- bees preserved the Judaism of
ing the festivals and the feats
.rwrinp7:Irr
n'-rs7rn
0 217.iD
and the fast days, as she does, eration—our own—to lay aside the Greek period from both dis-
in this book, in re-creating the the notion of static doctrine and solution and ossification. It is nt17.iDn
n.);rnt.oprr L7ptm
Sabbath, Rosh Hashanah, Yom teachings, and courageously to through their deeds that the
trace
the
true
development
of
God
of
Abraham,
Isaac
and
Kippur, Sukkot, Simhat Torah,
Lnf, c,41a-)154.
wke:?prin a' sr7n
Hanukah, Purim, Passover and ideas and practices down the Jacob could and did remain our
centuries."
God. 'My help cometh from the
tr-rV}-1 tr k;e7p.rin
Tigh b'Ab.
z•tiritg ,.(V"lrl 80.000
*
*
Lord, who made heaven and
There is real delight in the
,r1t:r v.7
10,4 L71 -r 7 n;71,tyisnnT Lpv
-nr-r)
stories "Hanukah Money," "Purim Prof. Cohon's Introduction earth.' (Ps. 121:2)."
Bickerman's book contains an
Gifts," "Purim Players," "The to Basic Ideas of Judaism
By arrangement with the important chronology and
nt2V
Afikomen" and many of the
°m1:Y:17. 3 )
other selections in "Burning Union of American Hebrew genealogical tables and a Pales-
Congregations, Schocken Books tinian map of the time of the
rlrti9)
Lights."
Appearing as a paperback, it have released as a paperback Maccabees.

Schocken Books, the publish-
ing house carrying the famous
title of the world renowned
Jewish book producers, whose
headquarters now are at 67
Park Ave., N.Y. 16, has en-
larged its scope with a series
of paperbacks, including some
of the best known Jewish
classics.
Enhancing this field, in the
new Schocken series is the
widely acclaimed "Burning
Lights" by Bella Chagall, the
late wife of Marc Chagall.
Born in Vitebsk, Russia, in
1895, the youngest of seven
children of Samuel Noah and
Alta Rosenfeld, Mrs. Chagall
studied in the University of
Moscow. She was married to
Marc Chagall in 1915, in Vi-
tebsk, the Chagall family set-

becomes available to more peo-
ple; the stories will provide
genuine inspiration and the
Marc Chagall drawings will
cause the reader to cherish the
possession of "Burning Lights."
* *
Dr. Nahum M. Giatzer's
`Hammer on the Rock'
The Talmud and the Midrash
become much more understand-
able after reading "Hammer on
the Rock—A Midrash Reader,"
edited by Dr. Nahum N. Glat-
zer. It is an-
other of the
Schocken
p ap erbacks
that should
have a place
in every Jew-
ish home.
Talmudic;
and Midrashic
poetry and wis-
dom is incor4.
porated in this Dr. Glatzer
book. The wisdom of an impor-
tant age if reflected here. The
numerous notes appended to
this excellently compiled col-
lection assist in acquiring the
deired understanding of the
works from which the wisdom
is culled. There is, for instance,
the selection from Baba Batra
75 b, "The Two Jerusalems":

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