Dr. Zeitlin Ex !ores Distortions in Crucifixion Story

(Continued from Page 1)
God raised from the dead, by him
Both this man stand here before
all you."
Then the high priest and all who
were with him. the Sadducees, ar-
rested Peter. On the following
morning, when Peter stood before
the Sanhedrin, the high priest
questioned him. saying, "Did not
we straitly command you that ye
should not teach in this name and
behold. ye have filled Jerusalem
with your doctrine and intend to
bring this man's blood upon us."
To this. Peter answered that he
sought to obey God rather than
man. the God who raised Jesus
whose death was procured and
who was hanged on the tree, "him
had God exalted with his right
hand. and to be prince (ruler)
and a cavior."
We may readily see that the
chief priests. the captain of the
Temple and the Sadduccees arrest-
ed Peter for teaching that Jesus
arose after his death and was made
by God the ruler of the Jews.
Peter could not have been tried
before a religious Sanhedrin. He
did not commite any religious of-
fense.
As In the trial of Jesus, who
was accused of a political of-
fense, we learn that Peter was
likewise tried by a political San-
hedrin. Again. as in the arrest of
Jesus. the high priest who actual-
ly delivered him to the Roman
authorities was compelled to do
so in order not to be accused
of being an accessory to the re-
bels.
In due time the followers of
Jesus became a religious group.
The political aspect of Jesus. as a
Messiah who claimed to be King
of the Jews, became less conspicu-
ous. The Jews looked upon these
followers as heretics who, in the
name of Jesus, sought to abrogate
the precepts of the Torah.
The trial of Stephen in contrast
to that of Peter, was purely for a
religious offense. The charge
against him was that he spoke
words of blasphemy (abusive lan-
guage) against God and Moses. And
for this he was brought before the
Sanhedrin. The witnesses who
testified against him maintained
that they heard him say that Jesus
the Nazarene changed the laws and
customs which Moses handed down
to the people. This was a purely
religious accusation.

lessly crucified anyone who as- other hand, despite their hostility
sociated himself with those who to the Sadducees, never put any
In the trials of Peter and Ste- were against the Roman state. of them to death for disbeief in the
phen. the Roman authorities are The account dealing with Paul Oral Law or in resurrection. At
not mentioned at all. This was reveals bitter animosity toward most, they maintained that those
not necessary in the case of the Jews. This hostility in The who did not believe in these mat-
Stephen. since he was tried be-; Acts can be readily explained if ters would have no portion in the
fore a religious Sanhedrin for a we take into consideration the future world.
Our task has been to make clear
religious offense. Although Peter " time when, and the people for
was tried by a political Sanhedrin whom. the book was written. Most that neither Pharisees nor Sad-
for a political offense, the lack of , New Testament scholars agree that ucees, nor the Jewish people as
mention of the Roman authorities the Book of Acts was compiled, a whole, could be held responsible,
in connection with his trial can after the destruction of the Tem- even morally, for the crucifixion
of Jesus. Jesus was crucified by
readily be explained. ple, between 100 and 130 C. E.
the Romans for a political offense
Peter did not cause any disturb- ;
At that time, the Jews had
as the King of the Jews.
amp in Jerusalem nor in the Tem- been totally destroyed politically,
ple. He was arrested for disobey-
Indeed, even upon Pilate alone
and thousands upon thousands
the entire blame for the cruci-
ing the injunction of the high
were taken captive and sold into
priest and the Sadducees against
fixion of Jesus cannot be set.
slavery. The compiler of The
preaching the idea of resurrection.
Men are oft times the victims of
Acts, who wrote with the Ro-
their own systems. Inherent in
In the trials of Paul, the
mans in mind and with the idea
the very nature of imperialism
Roman authorities figured prom-
of recruiting converts among
are evil forces that distort men's
inently. The names of the pro-
them, could not accuse the Ro-
natures, that give rise to cruel-
curators, Felix and Festus, are
man authorities of persecuting
ties and terrorisms, that compel
mentioned often. Paul, as is well
Paul. The evangelist wanted to
men to degrade and use other
known, laid greatest stress upon
convey the idea to the Gentiles
men to nefarious ends. The sys-
the religious aspect of Jesus, on
that the Jews, who rejected the
tem of Roman imperialism and
universalism against nationalism.
gospel, had killed the Master.
the destruction of small nations
He did not mention Jesus, the
The author of The Acts tried to
inevitably brought about their
King of the Jews; neither did
dissociate Paul's Christianity
Pilates, their Quislings and their
he call Jesus the Ruler of the
from purely Jewish religion, so
crucified victims. As long as im-
Jews as Peter did.
that the Romans should not look
perialism exists, there are bound
Paul is known in history as the
upon a convert to Christianity as
to
be traitors and betrayers who
Apostle to the Gentiles. His early
one who belonged to the rebels,
will
help the conqueror to des-
ministry. however. was in the Jew-
the Jews.
troy those men who are work-
ish synagogues of the Diaspora.
ing and sacrificing for the liber-
When Paul came to Pisidian An- History—Magistra Vitae
ty of their countries.
tioch. he preached in a Jewish syn-
Scholars, in their attempt to ex-
The dark forces that fought in
agogue that Jesus was indeed the
the first century against ideals of
Saviour and that he was the scion plain the crucifixion of Jesus, have
sought
devious
and
ingenious
ways
the universality of God, the
of the family of David. Thus, in
equality of man, and freedom for
the early days, Paul's ministry was to pierce to the heart of the mys
tery.
Some
have
tried
to
place
the
all humanity, still battle against
among the Jews of the Diaspora
blame
on
the
Sadducees,
hoping
them in our midst today. The pa-
and he stressed at that time that
thus
to
exonerate
the
Pharisees
ganism of Rome in new and dif-
Jesus was a descendant of the Jew-
and,
by
implication.
the
modern
ferent garb is still alive. The
ish royal family. which would have
Jews
who
are
the
historical
heirs
cruelties
of Caligula and Nero
been considered a political of-
against those who believed in
fense against the Roman state. of the Pharisees. Others have
The author of The Acts does sought to exculpate the individual
and preached the ideas of a su-
not tell us how Paul's life ended. Jew of modern times by placing
preme God and that all mankind
Early Christian tradition, however, the burden of guilt of the death of
is equal before God are still in-
informs us that Paul was beheaded Jesus upon the Jews as a people.1 dulged in by the pagan spirit.
by Nero Caesar (after a series of Not only do their explanations re- , The ideas and ideals which were
given voice on the hills of Judea
religious and poltiical trials). The veal an ignorance of Jewish his-
and on the mount of Galilee are
author of The Acts, in relating the . tory, but, as apologists, they are
trials of Paul, pictured the Jews as based upon distortions of history,. not yet fulfilled, due to the same
1
the persecutors of Paul, seeking and hence must be false and harm-
to destroy him, while Felix and ful.
We have learned that the Sad-
Festus tried to save him. However,
we learn about the character of duccees had no judicial or political
these two men not only from Jose- power and, therefore, they could
-.
phus but from the Roman histor- not have committed the crime of
Jesus' death. They were one group
ian. Tacitus.
Tacitus said that Felix "prac- within the Jewish people that dif-
ticed every kind of cruelty and fered from the Pharisees theolog-
lust . . . fostering crime by mis- ically and politically. Yet they
conceived remedies." We know were an integral part of the Jew-
from Josephus that Felix merci- ish people. The Pharisees, on the

The Trials of Paul

Abraham Nemeth, Blind From Birth, Awarded
Doctor's Degree by Wayne State University

"Upon the recommendation of of the many accomplishments of Brooklyn College in 1940, and a
the faculty of the graduate division. Nemeth. Besides studying and master's degree in psychology
the board of governors hereby con- teaching, he has opened new routes from Columbia University in 1942.
fers upon Abraham Nemeth the to learning for the blind. Finding job opportunities scarce,
degree doctor of philosophy . . . • . ,
Nemeth is the originator of the Nemeth went to work on an as-
So read the degree conferred by Nemeth Code of Braille Mathe- sembly line at a radio plant in
Wayne State University on one of matics and Scientific Notation, New York, later deciding to switch
its students at commencement core- which simplifies the study of to mathematics.
In 1943 he worked as a clerk in
monies Tuesday in Detroit's Coho mathematics for blind students.
Adopted in 1954 by the American the shipping department of the
Hall.
But the words on the degree will Association of Instructors for the American Foundation for the
never be read by the sightless eyes Blind, the code is used widely in Blind, studying mathematics in
of the recipient, for Abraham , the United States, Canada and night classes at Brooklyn College.
Nemeth has been blind since birth.' other countries. That same year he met and mar-
ried his wife Florence, whom he
While playing the piano in
As he walked, capped and
calls his "auxiliary will power."
New York saloons during his
gowned, to receive the doctoral
In 1955, after further study at
hood, the degree he earned
undergraduate years, when he
Columbia University, Nemeth
was proof of his often-made
found Braille music books diffi-
joined the U. of D. faculty and a
cult to follow, he also compiled
statement: "If you take enough
year later began work toward his
steps in the right direction you
the Nemeth Dictionary of Braille
doctorate at WSU, going to
Musical
Symbols,
and
is
also
a
will eventually get there."
school evenings.
co-inventor of a Braille slide
Those steps have taken Nemeth,
Despite his dual responsibilities
16240 Fairfield, on a journey from
rule.
as a student-teacher, Nemeth's life
riding the subways of New York
A member of Adas Shalom Syn- is not solely devoted to the aca-
to walking the campuses of Wayne agogue, he has transcribed the demic corridors. He finds time to
State and the University of Detroit Conservative Sabbath and festival play chess with his many friends
in the dual role of a doctoral stu- prayer book into nine volumes of and colleagues and to join with
dent at WSU and as an assistant Braille. Nemeth also brings the them in other social activities.
mathematics professor at U of Hebrew Braille Bible to services.
So when Abraham Nemeth joined
D. Nemeth is the only blind col- The 20-volume work, which took
lege mathematics professor in the seven years to transcribe into He- other WSU students at commence-
ment Tuesday, he had taken
country.
brew Braille, was proof-read by "enough steps in the right direc-
Earning a doctorate is only one Nemeth.
tion" in a journey which earned
Born blind 46 years ago in New him a doctoral degree, the admira-
York City, Nemeth received a bath- tion of those who know him and a
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
elor's degree in psychology from place in the annals of the blind.
32—Friday, December 18, 1964

"

forces of greed, cruelty, hate and
reacton whch existed in the time
of Jesus.
Cicero well said, "History is
the teacher of life." By that
teacher, provided we learn the
lessons of the past, we might be
helped to build a better life to-
day. If we were truly blessed
with wisdom and far-sighted
leadership, we might create,
through the fulfillment of the
teachings of the Bible. a new
and better world tomorrow.

(Condensed by Ruth L. Cassel from
"Who Crucified Jesus?" by Solomon
Zeitlin. Published by Bloch Publishing
Co., 31 W. 31st St., New York. Reprinted
with the permission of the author and
the publisher).
(Copyright, 1964, by Bloch
Publishing Co.)

Hebrew Corner

Israeli Produce

Special stores have been opened in
Israel for tourists in which embroidery,
works of art, glass, pottery, metal and
olive wood vessels that were made in
Israel can be obtained.
When tourists come to these stores, it
is very interesting. The women pat the
utensils and are excited at the sight of
a painted dish, an earthenware pot, silver
spoons and forks, candle sticks made of
olive wood or silver. Another group is
busy with dresses and blouses; later
they are seen in the streets wearing
Israeli clothing: blouses with Yemenite -
needle work, skirts in the "Sabra"
style; and in their hands are presents
and souvenirs.
Why are especially the women so in-
terested in buying Israeli products?
There are people who say it's because
women like nice things. Others say it's
because women are more sentimental
than men. and buy Israeli products
because of their sentiments for Israel.
However, it is clear. the Israeli works
of art, embroidery. decorations, vessels
penetrated into the markets of the
world.
In recent years an abundance of all
kinds of merchandise can be seen in the
stores in Israel: clothing. decorations
and house ware. Even rugs are woven in
Israel. The center of rug weaving is the
Porath village in the Sharon area. where
immigrants from Libya have settled.
These people Used in caves, and the
women are expert rug weavers. There
are also modern factories for house
utensils. metal work, silver and gold.
Many communities from all parts of
the world came to Israel. Every com -
munity brought its own tradition in
sewing. embroidery, art. houseware
and decorations.
Translation of Hebrew Column
Published by Brith Ivrith Olamith.
• Jerusalem.

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