1,000 Acres in Galilee Reclaimed for Settlement
Highly Informative VVischnitzer Book Issued
by JPS on 'European Synagogue Architecture'
From its earliest beginnings to
the present, the European syna-
gogue had its architectural at-
tractiveness and has retained hiS-
torical significance for the unique-
ness of many structures.
In our own time there has been
a systematic destruction of many
synagogues, and because of the
losses sustained it is even more
vital than ever that the story of
the European synagogue should
be retained.
This is ably accomplished in the
new Jewish Publication Society
volume, "The Architecture of the
European Synagogue," by Rachel
Wischnitzer
In addition to a very informative
introductory essay, Mrs. Wischnit-
zer, who teaches the history of art
at Yeshiva University, devotes
her very impressive work to eval-
uative studies of the Temple-ori-
ented synagogue of Roman times.
the 12th to 15th centuries' Ark and
Bimah creations, the Central Bim-
ah of that period, the Sephardi
Two-Pole Pattern, Eastern and
Central European architectural
forms, monolithic and other de-
signs.
The 246 illustrations in this
work contribute greatly towards
a better appreciation of the ma-
terial introduced so authorita-
tively and expertly by Mrs. Wis-
chnitzer.
The author shows when and why
certain stylistic forms were adopt-
ed by the synagogue planners.
There is an interesting note in
her introduction that "the rabbis
did not object to Jewish craftsmen
working alongside non-Jews on
construction projects. However,
Jews were cautioned to abstain
from working on a basilica which
was intended to house a court of
capital offenses because of the as-
sociation of such tribunals with
harsh trials and brutal executions.
Jews who achieved prominence
in architecture are listed, and in
this connection Mrs. Wischnitzer
writes:
"Concerning the role of the
Jewish artisan in the develop-
ment of synagogue architecture,
it should be remembered that
the building trades controlled by
the medieval guilds denied ad-
mission to Jews. Jewish build-
ers could hardly have obtained
the specialized training which
the trade demanded. There are
some references to Jewish build-
ers in ancient and medieval
scources: A Jewish synagogue
builder appears in Prague in the
17th century and several names
of Jewish builders are preserved
from I8th-century Poland. But
it was not until the 19th century,
when the Jews were afforded
broader educational opportuni-
ties and the architectural profes-
sion was democratized, that the
Jewish architect became gener-
ally acceptable."
Students of Jewish history, arch-
itects and all who are interested
in religious developments will find
the Wischnitzer volume of special
merit. All laymen, however, who
have an interest in the synagogue
and the building' styles of houses
of worship will find this a great
work that will inspire them.
Mrs. Wischnitzer points out: "In
every place and every period the
synagogue sought a physical ex-
pression for its liturgical and social
needs, using the available struc-
tural forms, building materials,
and style of the time and place.
Style was not something detach-
able from structure, stone, brick
or wood. It was trained in their
guild traditions."
She observes that "what we
look for in a religious building
is not only style, which is the
product of the environment, but
also the meaning of forms."
There is a very telling comment
on the current European syna-
gogue constructions. Mrs. ,Wisch-
nitzer writes:
Camden Jewish Population
"The synagogue in Europe today
is in a state of reconstruction. The Doubles in the Last 15 Years
architects—mostly younger men
CAMDEN, N.J. (JTA) The
who carry out the new programs population of the Jewish commu-
financed by the War Damage Com- nity served by the Jewish Federa-
mission, the German provincial tion of Camden County has dou-
governments and cities, and other bled in the last 15 years, number-
agencies—speak a rather sober, ing a total of 14,965 persons as of
wide-awake idiom in terms of con- last January, and constituting 3.5
crete and glass. There are a few per cent of the total population
daring exceptions, and it is hard of the area, it was reported this
to predict the direction in which week. The area includes parts of
synagogue architecture in Europe Burlington County as well as
will move from now on. It is hoped Mapleshade, Moor estown and
that the synagogue will meet the Cimmaninson.
challenge of social and artistic
ideas in a spirit of free and happy
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
emulation."
Friday, November 27, 1964-9
Full
ONLY
The 4,110 "dunams" which have
been reclaimed not only have pro-
vided existing settlements with
additional land, but have made
possible preparations for the build-
ing of six new settlements, includ-
ing two semi-urban centers.
The first of these,-Biranit, will
be turned over this year to Nahal
(Army Pioneer Corps) for a period
of one year, after which, the first
LOO permanent families, primarily
new immigrants and civil servants,
are expected to move in.
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A BEAUTIFUL ISRAELI CHALAH COVER
•
i
Reform Leader
-Attacks Israel
Orthodox Policy
of the Galilee development pro-
gram, Weitz informed reporters
that over 17 miles of approach
roads and 151/2 miles of field paths
have also been constructed.
MENORAHSMENORAHS
King Solomon 's W se Decision
woman died in the night and she
From 1 Kings 3:16-28
Two women of ill fame came to took my child from my side while
the king and stood before him, I slept, and laid it in her bosom
and the one woman said: "0, my and laid her dead child in my
osom. Thus when I arose toward
lord, this woman and I dwell i n b
the same house, and I gave birth morning to nurse my child, behold,
to a child while she was there. it was dead; but when I was able
, t examine it closely in the morn-
Then, on the third day after I was
ing, behold, it was not my child
delivered, this woman also gave
birth to a child and we were to- which I had borne."
Whereupon the other woman
gether, there being no stranger
present. But the child of this said: "No, but the living child is
mine and the dead child is your
child."
But the first woman was saying
at the same time: "No, but the liv-
ing child is mine and the dead
child is your child."
Thus they spoke before the king.
Then the king said: "This one
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Reform
Jews were called upon to break declares, 'This is my child, the
their "silence" and face up to the living one, and your child is dead.'
problem of breaking the Orthodox And the other declares, 'No; but
"stranglehold" in the state of Isra- your son is the dead and my son
el, especially pertaining to church- is the living.' So get me a sword."
And they brought in a sword
state relations.
before the king. The king then
In a sharp statement to the said: "Cut the living child in two
board of trustees meeting at Hotel and give half to one and half to
Delmonico, Rabbi Maurice N.
the other."
Eisendrath, president of the Union
the woman to whom the liv-
of American Hebrew Congrega- ing But
child really belonged spoke to
tions said: "We have been far too
hesitant and silent in confronting the king—for her motherly ten-
this very real menace to our strug- derness was aroused for her son
—and she said: "0, my lord, give
gling Israeli progressive movement
her the living child, and by no
and to the welfare even of the very
survival of Israel itself," adding, means slay it."
The other, however, interrupted:
'the ever-emboldened audacity of
"It shall be neither mine nor yours!
entrenched political orthodoxy
Divide it!"
must be more vigorously and cour-
Then the king answered and
ageously countered."
said: "Give her (the first woman)
The Reform Jewish leader said the living child, and by no means
that conversations this summer slay it, for she is its mother."
with Israel government leaders
Now when all Israel heard of
and Israelis concluded that Reform the judgment that the king had
Jews should "no longer be silent rendered, they stood in awe of the
and do everything in their power king; for they perceived that the
to break the stranglehold."
wisdom of God was in him to ad-
"Our silence and hesitancy have minister justice.
been predicated on the false no-
tion that we were thereby harming
Because of three types of men
Israel and possibly precipitating . a the Almighty weeps daily, and of
'aur Kampf that would divide these three the worst is the pre-
Its people. This fallacious supposi- siding elder who acts haughtily
tion is not shared by most Isra- toward his congregation.
—The Talmud.
elis," he said.
SAFED—More than 1,000 acres
—10 per cent more than had been
predicted—have been reclaimed
by the Jewish National Fuld for
agricultural settlement in Central
Galilee, Joseph Weitz, chairman of
the Council of the Land Develop-
ment Authority, announced at a
recent press tour.
Reviewing the JNF's achieve-
ments since the launching last year
IIIM
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We Also Have the Following Sholem Aleichem Books in English
• "The Adventures of Mottel The Cantor's Son"
• "The Great Fair" • Selected Stories
• Stories and Satires
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