Judaism on Silver Platter: irhilip Birnbanms'
llook of Jewish Concepts . : Encyclopedic Gift

Dr. Philip Birnbaum has gained
worldwide fame for his transla-
tions of daily. Sabbath and holiday
prayerbooks. His siddurim and
mahzorim are in use in Jewish com-
munities in all English-speaking
countries. One of the very great
Jewish scholars of our time, he
has added to his constructive rec-
ord as an author with his "Trea-
sury of Judaism." His abridged
edition of Maimonides' "Mishneh
Torah" and his "Arabic Coinmen-
tary on Hosea" established his
ability to conduct research into
Jewish scholarly works.
"A Book of Jewish Concepts,"
Dr. Birnbaum's latest work, just
issued by Hebrew Publishing Co.
(77 Delancey, NY 2), may well
prove one of his most noteworthy
accomplishments because it pro-
vides an encyclopedia, in the
easiest terms to be understood by
lay readers. of nearly every im-
portant subjects in daily Jewish

Hebrew Corner

Conquering the Sea

Israeli freighters visit far off ports of
the world. They bring with them good
memories of the State of Israel to the
Jews of the diaspora and cause surprise
and happiness. .
....It was the El Yam Steamship Company,
the second largest in Israel, that made
it possible for Israeli ships to sail for
far off ports. The company that was
established in 1953 developed an im-
portant financial branch for the State.
The company entered international
lines and carries loads between far off
ports. as ports in Japan, Eastern and
Western America, ports in the Pacific.
Africa and Europe.
The company was encountered by
great difficulties in its first steps to
build up a fleet of Israeli cargo ships.
It had to train Israeli seamen fit for
far off sailings. It was also compelled
to compete with ships of experienced
maritime countries.
In a short period it became clear that
the activities of the company were suc-
cessful. Today the company has 10 ships
with 450 seamen and officers serving on
them, mostly Israelis.
The El Yam ships are named after
well known hills of Israel as: Mount
Carmel, Mount Gilboa, Mount Canaan,
Mount Tabor, Mount Sinai and others.
Recently two new additions joined the
El Yam fleet. one named after the larg-
est city in Israel "Tel-Aviv." and the
other after the newest city "Arad."
The El Yam cargo ships sail the Israeli
flag on the seven seas.
Translation of Hebrew column published
by Brit Ivrit Olamit Jerusalem.

living, in Jewish traditions, in the
synagogue, the home, in our litera-
ture.
Never before has Judaism
been made as easy for the un-
knowing as by this noteworthy
compilation and excellent series
of explanations of every con-
ceivable Jewish concept. This
book places Judaism on a silver
platter and offers the reader all
the treasures of our literary heri-
tage and the definitions for all
our concepts.
There are 1,600 terms in this
book. It begins with Av — the defi-
nition for the Hebrew month —
and concludes with Tushlaba, the
word comprised of the letters of
the Hebrew words "Tam v'nishlam
shevakh la-El, boreh olam" —
which is explained thus: "At the
end of Jewish works on traditional
subjects, it has been customary to
express humble thanks to the
Author of the universe for enabling
the author of the book to complete
it satisfactorily. The author's per-
manent gratitude for divine aid is
thus expressed in one word, Tush-
laba . . ."
The Av begins With Aleph, the
first ward in the Hebrew alphabet,
and Tushlaba with Taf, the last
word in the Hebrew alphabet. Be-
tween the two words appear, in the
720 pages of the text of "A Book
of Jewish Concepts," so many
terms, such a variety of definitions,
that even the ablest of our scholars
will be staggered by the ingenuity
which has inspired Dr. Birnbaum
in the gathering of the concepts
and in the excellence of the ex-
planations.
All the books of the Bible,
every holiday, our customs and
ceremonials, are among the terms
analyzed and defined. The He-
brew terms are included in the
original Hebrew in the interest
of absolute accuracy and this
compilation could well be con-
sidered a supreme dictionary as
well as a noteworthy encyclo-
pedia, an anthology and a his-
tory.

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Search Is Widened for Missing Threel

Those who seek an explanation
for Aramaic (Aramit in Hebrew)
will be enlightened in a single
page of historical review about the
dialect. Christian and Jewish
authorities are quoted where
necessary, in this as in other items,
and the status of Aramaic emerges
in clearest fashion.
Following it, alphabetically, of
course, is one of the longer evalua-
tions of a subject — an essay of
four pages on Eretz Israel.
The short prayer recited upon
entering a Sukkah, inviting the
Jewish patriarchs as invisible
guests, is explained under Ushpizin
— again in the Aleph section.
When we come to the holidays,
we not only have a review of the
festival's history, but also are of-
fered a calendar of corresponding
civic dates for the next 35 years.
A real service is performed

with this book for the less in-
formed with many of the evalu-

ative factors in this impressive
work. For instance, dealing with
"Hamisha Humshei Torah" —
the Pentateuch — the able auth-
or lists all the Sidroth in the five
Books of Moses.
It is difficult not to select too
Goodman
Chaney
Schwerner
many of the very appropriate con-
cepts as examples of the treasures
The FBI has expanded its search for three missing civil rights
in this volume. Suffice it to say
that there is hardly a conceivable workers to five states. Last seen in Philadelphia, Miss., June 21.
term of importance in our tradi- those sought, or clues of their whereabouts, are Andrew Goodman.
20, New York City; James E. Chaney, 21, Meridian, Miss., and
tion that is missing from Dr. Birn-
baum's collection. Desiring an ex- Michael H. Schwerner, 24, New York City.
planation of the Jewish view on
inheritance, it will be found under
Yerusha, and there is an interest-
ing definition of Tzavaoth—wills.
Many of the prayers are evalth
ated here under the terms of their
first words, as, for example, the
Aramaic Yekmn Purkan, or the
Shavuot piyyut Yatsiv Pithgam.
In Yein Nesekh the reader will
find an explanation for the wine
of libation rule in Jewish dietary
laws.
Yahrzeit is explained under Yom
Haptiroh. The books of the Mish-
nah' are reviewed. And so on, ad
infinitum.
Dr. Birnbaum wrote this book
out of his recognition of the
need for the enunciation of guid-
ing Jewish principles. Deploring,
as he does in his introduction,
that "knowledge of Jewish values
has reached an abysmally low
point," he states that the study
of Jewish precepts "must not be
the prerogative of specialists,
but should be shared by the mul-
titudes."
And so he designed this work
not for rabbis, teachers and stu-
Nathan Schwerner and his wife (left) and Mrs. Robert Goodman
dents, but "for all laymen who are met with press in New York to discuss their sons. The young men,
interested in the universal message civil rights workers from New York, have been missing for many
of Judaism."
days. Their car was found on a lonely road in east Mississippi. The
That is why his book includes
parents said: "Their dedication and perhaps martyrdom was devoted
explanations of liturgical compo- to a .task which should be the task of every American." Mrs. Fanny
sitions "because they represent a Lee Chaney of Meridian, Miss., mother of the third missing youth, --
goodly portion of the spiritual sus-
joined the conference via a telephone hookup.
tenance of . the Jewish people in
many generations," as well as the
vast historical data and the con-
cepts of holiness.
Dr. Birnaum opened his intro-
duction to his book with this state-
FALLSBURG, N.Y. (JTA)—The Jewish federations to stop immedi-
ment:
"The purpose of this book is Rabbinical Council of America ap- ately the functioning of Jewish
to provide in a single volume pealed to the United States to centers on the Sabbath.
intercede with West German
An appeal to the world leaders
the essential teachings of Juda-
ism. It is written for those who auhorities to withdraw German sci- of the major religions to express
want an up-to-date and easily entists "who are helping Egypt to their opposition to the continued
intelligible account of basic Jew- develop a missile and rocket pro- policies of the Soviet Union "in
ish conceptS, a knowledge of gram intended to destroy Israel." uprooting and destroying the fund-
The appeal was made in one amental tenents of Judaism and
which brings meaning to what
may otherwise seem empty of a series of resolutions adopted religious liberty" was voiced by
phrases. At the present time, at the closing session of the Ortho- Rabbi Israel Miller of New Fork,
when we are confronted with dox organization's annual conven- newly elected president.
widespread indifference, we have tion here. The rabbis, in another
"These leaders," Rabbi Miller
great need of a spirituality resolution, asked the State Depart- said, "should arouse and mobilize
based upon genuine knowledge ment to make "every effort" to the peoples and governments of
protect American firms and busi- the world in a vigorous campaign
of our heritage."
The extensive indices, which as- ness from the Arab boycott and to to reverse anti-Semitic outbursts
sist the reader in finding material withold United States aid from which have been fully confirmed
in the book both under the Hebrew Arab states while the boycott was in reports emanating from Russia."
and English titles, attest to the maintained.
He pointed out the contradiction
The postmaster general was in the Soviet Union playing a role
magnitude of this work.
Dr. Birnbaum's anthological work asked, in another resolution, to as the champion of the newly
provides such a basic knowledge. stop the mailing of all hate liter-
emer g ing nations of Africa and
It should serve a very valuable ature. The rabbis also asked lib- South America while at the same
purpose in opening up for the un- eralization of United States im- time undermining the religious
knowing the vast treasures of Jew- migration laws, and called on and cultural freedom of Russian
ish knowledge. "A book of Jewish the Soviet government to grant Jewry.
Concepts" deserves a place of pri- "unqualified religious freedom
ority in every Jewish home.
to Russian Jews.
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
They also called on all local 32
Friday, July 3, 1964

Orthodox Rabbinical Body Urges U.S.
to Pressure Germany on Scientists