Rashi's
Influence
By DR. EZRA SHERESHEVSKY
of Temple University
MISS MARILYN SEIDON
Mr. and Mrs. Burton M.
Seidon announce the engage-
ment of their daughter, Marilyn,
to Donald Hartman of Mexico
City, son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl
Hartman of Norman, Okla.
The wedding will take place
Feb. 16 in Chicago.
Casablanca Grants Aid
to 3 Jewish Agencies
(Direct JTA Teletype Wire
to The Jewish News)
CASABLANCA—The Casa-
blanca Municipal Council made
a grant Tuesday of 15,000 dir-
hams ($3,000) to three Jewish
institutions in Casablanca. They
were the OSE (children's aid so-
ciety), Aid for Scholars and the
Bengio Home. .
2 Chajes Compositions
Published in New York
Two recent compositions of
Julius Chajes, conductor of the
Jewish Center Symphony Orches-
tra, have been published by
Transcontinental Music Publica-
tions of New York.
The works, primarily designed
as teaching material, are "Air
Varie" and "Four Little Dances'
for piano.
Savannah Units Merge
SAVANNAH, Ga., (JTA) —
The Savannah Jewish Council
and the Jewish Educational Al-
liance have announced a merger
of the two organizations. Irwin
B. Giffen has been appointed
as director of the consolidated
organization.
David the Psalmist
By THOMAS CARLYLE
David, king of Judah, a soul
inspired by divine music and
much heroism, was wont to pour
himself in song; he, with seer's
eye and heart, discerned the
godlike amid the human; struck
tones that were an echo of the
sphere-harmonies, and are still
felt to be such. Reader, art
thou one of a thousand, able
still to read a Psalm of David,
and catch some echo of it
through the old dim centuries;
feeling far off, in thy own
heart, what it once was to other
hearts made as thine? To sing
it attempt not, for it is im-
possible in this late time; only
know that it was once sung.
Then go to the opera, and hear,
with unspeakable reflections,
what things men now sing!
Pioneer in Microscopy
David Gruby, a Jewish physi-
cian who lived in Paris in the
19th Century, was one of the
leading pioneers in the field of
microscopy. He was esteemed
as the personal physician of
Dumas, Daudet, Heine, Liszt,
Chopin and other -Paris nota-
bles.
Noted Banker
Samuel Montagu, First Baron
Swaythling, a prominent Jew-
ish banker in 19th Century Eng-
land, was instrumental in mak-
ing London the hub , of interna-
. tional currency exchange when
he founded the banking house of
Samuel and Montagu in 1854.
In an essay in current issue
of Jewish Quarterly Review
Rashi's influence on posterity
has been profound. Both Juda-
ism and Christianity have felt
his impact. Great Jewish ex-
egetes arose in the decades and
centuries following Rashi's era,
but there was none who did not
pay attention to Rashi's com-
mentary and no one succeeded
in overshadowing the great mas-
ter. He had a profound knowl-
edge of the psychology of the
people. Preachers culled pas-
sages from the Rash Commen-
tary for their sermons;' teachers
used it as a textbook inspiring
their pupils with a love for
Jewish studies. Women read ex-
cerpts of it in their meditations
on the weekly portion. It was
well worthwhile to study Rashi's
'Commentary. Through it one be-
came acquainted with Rabbinical
literature and was able to delve
into other creations of the Rab-
binic mind. Rashi's Commentary
was the key to the great treas-
ure house which was locked to
the uninitiated. It was devotedly
perused with every weekly por-
tion. Ability to quote from it
became proof of scholarship. To
cite Rashi on the right occasion
and in the proper circle com-
manded respect. No one who
knew his Rashi could be desig-
nated an Am-Ha'arez. Study of
Rashi was deemed more impor-
tant than secular studies.
"Christians, too, became more
concerned with learning the
plain sense of the Holy text. In
view of the rather faulty text of
the Vulgate, many Christian
scholars turned to the Hebrew
text and sought Jews as their
teachers. The Bible Exegesis of
Andrew of St. Victor (around
1100) contains many of Rashi's
interpretations. An d r e w was
fascinated by Jewish teachers
and had many discussions with
them. He was of the opinion that
the literal meaning of the text
must necessarily be what the
Jews say it was. If you want
to know the literal sense, go to
the Jews, he said. He explained
the words . . . "priest whose
hands were filled and conse-
crated" . . . exactly as Rashi
did namely, as a reference to
investiture. "It was an old cus-
tom, Andrew said, if somebody
accepted an office, the enjoined
office was transferred to him
by means of a piece of wood
or a stone or something of that
kind which was put into his
hands. It was what is popularly
called the saisina and investi-
ture of the enjoined office." . .
Rashi's influence, noticeable
for over 900 years, was second
to none upon both Jews and
Christians alike. Since his Com-
mentary provided acquaintance
with all Rabbinical literature, a
large number of copies were
made and are available.
The first Hebrew book brought
out in print was Rashi's Bible
Commentary.
Rashi died in 1104; his work,
however, lived on and bestowed
its creator with immortality. No
monument or statue was set for
this great master. There was no
need for it. His memory is kept
alive through his life work. His
gigantic mind entitles him to his
name of honor — The Parshan-
data.
He was an outstanding his-
torical personality, in every
sense even a heroic figure.
MIT Inter-Religious Panel
An inter - religious discussion
group was established at MIT
comprising Protestant, Catholic,
Jewish, Quaker, Hindu, and
Islam students to consider the
outlook and teachings of each
tradition, particularly in rela-
tion to major questions con-
cerning students today.
Want ads get quick results!
Confusion Worse Edelman's 10th
Confounded in Anniversary in
Book by Ludwig Council Honored
Many readers may wonder,
after reading "Confusions" by
Jack Ludwig, published by New
York Graphic Society, Green-
wich, Conn., how the author will
be able to explain the vulgari-
ties in his book—the frequent
use of the still-unacceptable
four-letter word—to his pupils.
Ludwig, now a professor of
English at the State University
of New York, writes brilliantly.
He has a good sense of humor.
His "Confusions" point to falla-
cies in education, expose cam-
pus experiences, draw upon his-
toric facts to provide a setting
for what the author may call "a
Jewish novel."
The Jewishness of the book
lies in the author's ability to
utilize all the Yididsh phrases
and words he knows.- He resorts
to them at length — often ad
nauseam.
The hero of the story is Jo-
seph Gillis, and the reader is
told in the first paragraph:
"Look at me, tall, slim, gray-
eyed, a typical washed-out pale-
face with a father swarthy,
squat, burning with Hasidic joy
and fervor, a mother so Semitic
she's frequently snubbed as an
Arab. I'm all Harvard—A. B.,
A. M., Ph. D. — my thesis,
Iconography in the Later Novels
of Charles Dickens and George
Eliot, Harvard University Press
published in the interests of let-
ters and learning at a cost of
only $680 to me and my father,
Simon Galsky, who makes a
small living out of a tiny Rox-
bury bakery, and never went to
school a day in his life. I chang-
ed my name to prevent the sac-
rilege of `Galsky' appearing on
a Harvard degree in Latin.
There were precedents-
Abram's name change to Abra-
ham, Jacob's to Israel, and my
people have been changing their
names religiously ever since."
It is in this vein that we are
introduced to confusions—and
such they are. One wonders
whether the professorial author
tries to be smart-alecky or real-
ly believes that he is introduc-
ing a new type of humor in a
humorless world.
"Confusion is my country's
master faculty," Ludwig writes.
"For Descartes substitute this
vision: 'I am confused, there-
fore I am.' "
With this type of philosophy,
we are treated to lots of sex
and an uninhibited use of words
that can't be repeated here. The
author treats us further to this
philosophic idea:
" 'I am confused, therefore I
am' replaces THINK on the
plates of IBM and the world
rides up to heaven like the Ben-
edictine bottle in the ads the
monks create to push their
potion."
Insofar as this is called a
Jewish story, there is cause to
feel a bit resentful. Why the
resort to so many Yiddishisms,
without rhyme or reason, unless
it is to assure confusion? Thus
it is in Jack Ludwig's "Confu-
sions." —P. S.
Israel Sub in France
for Goodwill Visit
wSU Librarian to Talk
on Russian Poet Lensky
Alfred A. Greenbaum, libra-
rian of the Near East Collec-
tion at Wayne State University,
will be guest lecturer at a meet-
ing of the Arlazaroff Branch of
the Farband Labor Zionist Or-
der Feb. 5 at the Labor Zionist
nstitute.
Greenbaum will speak on
Russian Hebrew poet Chaim
Lensky. Guests are invited.
Pinchas Sheps of Israel
Seeks Detroit Relatives
JOSEPH EDELMAN, di-
rector of internal relations
and of the cultural commis-
sion of the Jewish Community
Council, was honored at the
delegates' assembly Monday
with a specially engraved
resolution and a gift of books,
marking his 10th anniversary
with the Council. The resolu-
tion paid him honor for his
devoted services and for the
efficient management of the
radio and television programs
he arranges for the Council in
behalf of all community
functions.
Pinchas Sheps, a chauffeur
serving the Hadassah Council
in Israel, is anxious to locate
his relatives in Detroit. They
now go under the name Morov-
sky or some similar spelling.
They were formerly Mormeroff-
sky.
Anyone having information
about the Morovskys is asked to
contact Mrs. Rose G. Jacobs, 201
W. 77th St., New York, or The
Jewish News.
31,-TH E DETROIT JEWISH NEWS—Friday, January 1'7, 1964
Seidon-Hartman
el/lent Told
En 077o-
a a
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PARIS, (JTA)—The Israel
submarine Rahav arrived in the
French port of Toulon for a
few days' goodwill visit.
The submersible received the
customary greeting, and the
submarine captain called on
officials of the French base.
The Rahav has been engaged
in maneuvers in the Mediter-
ranean.
New This Season!
Modified American
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per person,
daily, double
occupancy. Includes
full course breakfast and
deluxe dinner! Same rate
weekends or week days.
European Plan (room
only) if you
prefer.
Only 3 hours' drive from Detroit via I 94.
Michigan Central train daily to Niles—
and we'll meet you if requested.
Suggests Monitoring
of Hate Material
NEW YORK (JTA) — Sen.
Kenneth B. Keating of New
York called for creation of a
United Nations propaganda
monitoring board "to control
and condemn international hate
propaganda."
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