Purely Commentary
Ecumenical Uncertainties—Pope John's Attitude Recalled
A natural question to ask regarding the uncertainties over the
proposals for the elimination of anti-Jewish bias in Catholic dogma is:
How did it all start? Perhaps we'd have a better understanding of the
issues, which seem to have created such confusion among Catholics, if
we knew the beginnings of the movement to
amend the wrongs to Jewry.
The story has been told by a Catholic in
his description of the experiences of the late
Jules Isaac, the eminent French-Jewish his-
torian who conducted a battle against bigotry
in the churches.
Our readers will recall that Jules Isaac's
campaign for justice to his fellow Jews, as
depicted in his "The Teaching of Contempt:
Christian Roots of Anti-Sernitism" (published
by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. 383 Madison.
N. Y. 17), was reviewed by this Commen-
tator in our issue of April 24. We now have
from the publisher the translation from the
French of an excerpt from the book, "Juifs,
Jules Isaac
mes Freres," by Abbe Jean Toulat (pub-
lished by M. Caffin, 36 Avenue des Ternes, Paris, 17eme). The Cath-
olic scholar, Rev. Toulat, in his essay, "Jules Isaac Visits the Pope,"
taken from his book, stated:
Then I stayed my request. But how is it possible in a few minutes
to give an idea of the spiritual ghetto into which the Church
eventually imprisoned old Israel, together with isolation in the ma-
terial ghetto? I stated the main points of the lecture I gave at the
Sorbonne, showing how evolved what I described as the teaching
of contempt, which has survived to the present day. "But," I
added, "there is fortunately a purifying counter-current, and it is
becoming stronger day by day. The opinion of the Catholic world is
divided and wavering between these two opposite tendencies. Hence
the absolute need for a voice from above, a voice from 'the top,'
the voice of the Head of the Church, to be raised in solemn de-
nunciation of the teaching of contempt, which is basically anti-
Christian teaching."
I then offered the concluding note I had written the day before
suggesting the establishment of a sub-commission, which might be
entrusted with the study of this problem. To this the Pope reacted
at once: "I have been thinking of this from the beginning of our
talk," he said. He had several times in the course of my pleading
given signs of understanding and sympathy, for I had recalled under
what circumstances and trials I had given myself to the task for the
last seventeen years.
By now, more than twenty minutes had elapsed, and time was
up. Fortunately there were the memorandum, the dossier and the
concluding note which I handed over and the Pope promised to read.
As I expressed my deep gratitude for this reception, I asked if I
might take some sparks of hope away with me. But the Pope pro-
tested exclaiming: "But you have a right to more than mere hope!"—
And he added with a smile: "I am the head, but I must consult others
too, and get the offices concerned to go into the problems which are
being raised; this is not `Monarchie Absolve'!" So we parted with
another, very hearty handshake.
Some time later, Mr. Jules Isaac was delighted to learn that his
proposals had been remembered by the Pope, and transmitted to
Cardinal Bea. The latter established, within the Secretariat for Chris-
tian Unity, a subcommittee especially charged with the study of
relations between the Church and the People of Israel.
"Yes," Mr. Isaac said to me, "this audience with Pope John has
been a date in my life. One must seize favorable opportunities when
they arise, and such a happy circumstance was the accession of Pope
John XXIII. His first decisions, in particular the complete removal
of the word "perfidious" from the liturgy, had been most favorable
to the Jewish people. He revealed himself to the Catholic world as a
determined personality and a man of the future. — Yes," Mr. Isaac
went on, "Pope John is turned towards the future, and this is re-
markable in a man of his age — in fact he is younger than myself!
So I decided that here was an opportunity for raising the question in
its full scope. One doesn't meet a Pope John every day.
"About 11 a.m. an attache of the French Embassy, Mr. de Warren,
called for me at the hotel in an official car bearing the French
tri-colour. Outside the Vatican the Swiss Guards presented arms and
the officer saluted. We had to wait a long time in the last of the
ante-rooms, outside the library where Pope John receives visitors.
His Holiness, we were told, was tired as he had been awake since
midnight and there were many audiences that morning. A pity! this
would mean measured time for us. To while away time, Mr. de Warren
introduced me to the colonel commanding the Pontificial Guards, and
to a major chamberlain of Napoleonic descent. We chatted—but I
was a bit worried.
"At last, my turn came at 1:15. The Pope received us standing
at the open door. Mr. de Warren bent his knee. I bowed and Pope
John simply gave me his hand. I introduced myself as a non-Christian,
the promoter of the Amities -judeo chretiennes' in France, and a very
deaf old man. The Pope made m _ e sit by him. He is simplicity itself
and this makes an odd contrast with the exterior pomp of the apart-
ments and the ceremonial we had just been through. He did not look
so tired, he smiled broadly, with a clear. slightly mischievous look
in his eyes, and evident, confidence-inspiring kindness.
"It was the Pope who engaged .the. conversation—as foreseen—
in a most lively way. He spoke of his own devotion to the Old Testa-
ment, the Psalms, the Prophets and the Book of Wisdom. He also
mentioned Ms name, adding that he remembered France when he
chose it. Then he asked where I was born. I tried to work out a
transition to bring the conversation to my subject: I said that his
action had kindled great hopes in the heart of the People of the
Old Testament. And I added: "Is not the Pope himself, in his great
kindness, responsible for it, if we now expect more?" This made him
laugh.
While the incidents referred to here were mentioned also in Jules
Isaac's book, the Catholic dignitary's complete quotation of the ex-
perience of the Jewish historian with the late Pope John XXIII is of
such great significance that it is worth sharing with our readers. It
points, as indicated here, to the beginnings of the movement for
Ecumenical Council action, through Augustin Cardinal Bea; it shows
the role that was played by Pope John who instigated the movement;
it reveals the initial demands for such action by Jules Isaac; it portray'
Pepe John as that truly great spiritual. leader whose works were moti-
vated by love for all men.
These are incidents in our current history that throw much light
on an otherwise confused issue which might never have become so
muddied had Pope John lived to act upon it.
How Pope John Set Stage
for Justice to the Jews .. .
Pound's Aid to Brandeis
By Philip
Slomovitz
Roscoe Pound and Louis D. Brandeis
The death on July 1 of Roscoe Pound, one-time dean of the
Harvard Law School, at the age of 93, revives once again an interest
in President Wilson's determination to stick by his nominee for the
Supreme Court, the eminent Zionist leader Louis D. Brandeis.
Pound took a strong stand against the Harvard Establishment of
that time which, under the biased leadership of President A. Lawrence
Lowell, did their utmost to force a senatorial vote against the Jewish
candidate.
In his very illuminating story of the Brandeis case, "Justice on
Trial," published by McGraw Hill, A. L. Todd gives a good account
of Pound's consistent efforts in Brandeis' behalf. The former Harvard
law dean, who was considered this country's greatest authority on
legal matters, wrote to Senator William Edward Chilton of West
Virginia "that Mr. Brandeis is in very truth a very great lawyer." In
a postscript to his "Justice on Trial" Todd points out: "Pound at the
time (1916) was under consideration for appointment as dean of the
Harvard Law School, and received the appointment from Lowell while
the Brandeis case was still hanging in the balance."
So "Professors Pound, Scott (acting dean until Pound's appoint-
ment) and Frankfurter of the Harvard Law School of 1916 . . . were
in accord that they had no fear of retaliation from President Lowell
for standing in favor of Brandeis when Lowell was opposed."
But Lowell also was opposed by Harvard's President Emeritus
Charles W. Eliot, and there were others who were unafraid.
In an interesting review of Todd's book in the New York Times,
Supreme Court Justice William 0. Douglas commended the author and
added the following observations:
"Taft—later to become chief justice and in 1916 ambitious to
be associate justice in Brandeis' place — played an ignoble part
in the confirmation process. President Lowell of Harvard did the
same. Elihu Root followed suit. These men—and their allies—had
nothing against Brandeis but their prejudices. They played their
cards deftly, making charges against Brandeis by innuendo.
The 22 who voted against Brandeis included, of course, Henry
A. duPont and Henry Cabot Lodge of the Establishment. George
Sutherland—later to join Brandeis on the Court and align himself
on the other side of most public issues—was also one of the
22. So was Harding, soon to become President. So was Albert B.
Fall, whose name later was associated with infamy. Twenty-seven,
including Borah, did not vote.
"And so Wilson's courage and Brandeis' high character won
a notable victory. Some 19 nominees to the Court have been re-
jected by the Senate, and they are mostly forgotten. Brandeis,
who was cruelly flailed and who survived, will live on in memory
for causes he espoused, some of which have survived him. If his
causes in large part failed, his stature as a man, as an advocate,
as a jurist, caused him to tower above the scene. He helped America
grow to greatness by the dedications of which he made his life.
This book is therefore an important one in the American story, and
it is done with great accuracy and good taste."
Among the tributes to Roscoe Pound is the deserving recollection
of his courageous stand in the Brandeis case. He not only was a
great legal authority: he was a man of great honor and he evidenced
it at a time when his appointment as dean of the Harvard Law School
could have been in jeopardy. His name will be a blessed one in the
annals of American history.
Dr. Sachar Honors
King of Denmark
WALTHAM, Mass. — Brandeis
University President Abram L.
Sachar saluted King Frederick IX
of Denmark and the Danish peo-
ple July 4 on the 20th anniver-
sary year of Denmark's rescue of
its Jewish citizens from Nazi ter-
ror.
Dr. Sachar presented a special
gold medal to King Frederick in
ceremonies witnessed by thou-
sands of Danes gathered in Rebild,
Denmark, for the annual celebra-
tion of America's Declaration of
Independence.
Dr. Sachar, president of the
Western Hemisphere's first Jewish-
sponsored university to be founded
on a nonsectarian basis, paid tri-
bute to King Frederick "and the
courageous, high-hearted men and
women of Denmark in recognition
of the humane and selfless ex-
ample set for the world in a mid-
night moment of civilization."
In 1943, following a decree from
Berlin that all Danish Jews be
eliminated, citizens of Nazi-occu-
pied Denmark spontaneously co-
operated in warning, hiding and
transporting to neutral Sweden
their Jewish neighbors. By the end
of 1944, the Gestapo had .captured
only 472 of Denmark's 8,000 Jews;
the remained were safe in Sweden.
The gold medal conferred upon
King Frederick by President Sach-
ar was struck by the U.S. mint in
1956 in commemoration of the
100th anniversary of the birth of
Supreme Court Justic Louis Dem-
bitz Brandeis, for whom the liberal
arts university is named. On that
occasion, the university presented
one other similar medal to U.S.
Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl
Warren.
Trade for Israel, Spain?
MADRID (JTA) — An Israeli
delegation arrived in the Spanish
capital to study the development
of trade between the two coun-
tries. Spain does not maintain
diplomatic relations with Israel
but semiofficial ties are friendly.
Fifth literzl Year Book' Contains
Valuable Data on U.S., Zionism
The fifth volume of "Herzl Year
Book," issued by Herzl Press, is
one of the most informative in
the series and contains valuable
historical material that throws light
on the history of Zionism, and
deals with the movement in its
relation to non-Jewish America.
Data from Reform Judaism and
Zionism and the reactions to the
World Zionist Congresses are most
illuminating.
There are three sections to this
volume—Zionism and American
Jewry, Zionism and Non-Jewish
America, and In the Political
Arena—and each is replete with
facts that are vital for an under-
standing of the movement's activi-
ties in this country.
The two essays on Reform Juda-
ism and Zionism by Dr. Joseph
P. Sternstein and Herschel Levin
do, indeed, present both sides of
the coin and indicate that while
Reform on the record was anti-
Zionist, there were strong forces
for Zionism in the Reform
rabbinate.
Levin maintains, while refer-
ring to many of the early lead-
ers in Reform Judaism, who
were anti-Zionists, that the Cen-
tral Conference of American.
Rabbis "often affirmed the cul-
tural aspects of Zionism," and
that "Reform rabbis had con-
tributed greatly towards molding
American public opinion in
favor of political Zionism as
well."
The position of the American
Jewish Committee, its early oppo-
sition, the dissenters from the
anti-Zionist memoranda and other
factors are equally revealing.
Moses Rischin has many new facts
which throw light on the AJC
position.
The role of the press is de- in order to protect their mis-
scribed in essays in this volume, sions in those countries, they
emphasize their anti-Z i o n i s t
with special emphasis given by
Milton Plesur in "Zionism in the stand before the Arab authori-
ties."
General Press: 1897-1914." Leo
Shubow's "Jacob deHaas and the
A section on Zionism in the
Boston Jewish Advocate" is an Midwest contains articles by Oscar
interesting addendum to the his- Fleishaker, Gunther W. Plaut and
tory of the English-Jewish press. Seymour Leventman describing
Zionist efforts in the Upper Mis-
Early American Hebraists' ex- sissippi Valley, in Minnesota and
periences are enumerated in David Minneapolis.
Mirsky's "Hebrew in the United
Former Detroiter Herbert Par-
States: 1900-1920."
zen has compiled hitherto un- t
interesting is C. known facts about the role Su-
Similarly
B e z a 1 e 1 Sherman's "American preme Court Justice Louis Da
Labor Reacts to Zionism." The Brandeis played in the preparation
American labor movement is de- and the eventual issuance of the
scribed here as, next to the Jewish Balfour Declaration. Brandeis' ex-
community, "the staunchest friend cellent relationship with President
and the most loyal ally Israel has Wilson placed him in a crucial
position. There were many diffi-
in this country."
culties to be overcome, and Chaim
The pro-Zionist attitude of
Weizmann and his associates re-
the Mormon church is described
sorted to many pressures.
by Eldin Ricks, whose scholarly
Documents that have not been
analysis shows that "confidence
released until now are appended
in the Zion ideal is implicit in
the Mormon dogma." On the to Rabbi Parzen's article, and the
manner in which Wilson finally
other hand, Jehovah's Witnesses,
gave his approval and the pro-
whose position is explained by
Yona Malachy, are shown to longed perplexities over the issue
have believed that "Israel can- in which Weizmann, Jacob deHaas
and Brandeis and others are in-
not be a covenant promised by
Jehovah, especially since the volved makes this essay an im-
perishable part of Zionist history.
young State preferred to make
• Historically valuable also is
a covenant with the United Na-
the essay by Bernard G. Rich-
tions which is supported by a
ards, "First Steps in Zionism,"
military and police force." In
in which correspondence with
Jehovah Witnesses' views, hav-
Brandeis, Henry Morgenthau,
ing joined the UN, "the State
Louis Lipsky, and other valuable
of Israel thus became in their
data is utilized.
eyes an additional rampart in
The evaluations of American
Satan's fortress and yet another
Jewry's role in Zionism, the press
political entity." A foot note
relations, the cultural and re-
explains that "the Witnesses are
very active in Arab lands, and, ligious aspects in the struggle for
Zionism's success, combine to
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
make the latest "Herzl Year Book"
valuable history.
Friday, July 10, 1964
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