Jewish Quiz Box

be used to transform an object or
a person, at certain times and un-
der certain conditions, from a
state of impurity to a state of
purity. So important was the neces-
sity of a "Mikveh" in community
that some Halachic authorities de-
clared it was permissible to sell
even a synagogue in order to have
a proper "Mikveh" in the commu-
nity. (Meshiv Davur 2:45).

By RABBI SAMUEL J. FOX

(Copyright, 1965, JTA, Inc.)

What Is a "Mikveh?"
The expression "Mikveh" liter-
ally refers to a "gathering." Our
current colloquial usage of this
term refers to an abbreviation or
a short form of the biblical ex-
pression "Mikveh Mayim" which
means a "gathering of water"
(Genesis 1:10, Leviticus 11:63). In
the Book of Leviticus (11:36) the
Bible tells us that a spring,a cis-
tern and a gathering of water will
be (remain) pure .. . " This indi-
cates to us that a properly ar-
ranged gathering of water retains
its state of purity even if an im-
pure object falls into it. Further-
more, such gatherings of water can

The Humus Eaters

the Library elf incorrectly on the
BY CHARLOTTE HYAMS
We are a close-knit family—rel- amount of sesame oil (one of the
atively speaking. Our quarrels, I amazing properties of humus is its
rifts, arguments, animosities and drainability; the kitchen sink was
hostilities are of short duration clogged for a week), the recipe ran
and confined, generally, to such as smoothly as the National Water
unimportant matters as the solving Carrier Project.
of the Middle East question.
Unfortunately, when I diverted
But there is a gastronomical it to the dinner table, it was wel-
Middle East issue on which we are comed with all the warmth of a
split right down the middle. Jerusalem evening in December.
Humus.
"What's this?" David began.
To a starving American tourist
"It looks like a sour cream" Al
lost on the Dizengoff Street desert said accusingly. Al does not like
between the Mograbi and the sour cream. "I don't like sour
Broadway cafe, a plate of humus cream," he added.
is like manna from heaven. (I've
"Shush," said Ruth. "It looks
heard that the Jews leaving Egypt very—uh—interesting, Char."
were given manna because their
"She spent the whole day in
stomachs were still too sensitive the kitchen with it," said Moth-
for humus.)
er. That's what she said. What
When he has his first taste of she meant was: "In that time, I
Israel's gift to the chip-dip indus- can make a steak dinner—with
try, the American swears he will gribbenes."
never eat anything else. (It is, in
"What do you do with it?" Sim-
truth, often days before he can eat son asked, poking it with a fork.
anything else). He returns home
"You spread it on something.
with the pledge to boost Israel's
chick-pea industry by means of Don't you?" Sue offered helpfully.
grinding, mashing, pulverizing and "Can I have the recipe?" Sue col-
otherwise reducing it to a pulp for lects recipes.
Laurie put in: "I don't think I
hand-made humus.
So that is how my house was want any."
Douglas chorused: "I don't
torn asunder. Armed with a
recipe supplied by the Detroit either."
Brian added: "Ooogh."
Public Library (it took 14 elves
working eight hours for five
days to find it), I raided an in-
nocent by-standing health food
Join our successful- authors in a
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the kitchen door, opened wide
report a copy of Publish Your Rook.
the cupboards and proceeded.
CARLTON PRESSDept. JAO
Things really went well. Aside
54 filth Me., New York 11, N. re
from the discovery that I had heard

What is the basic nature of a
"Mikveh" compared to other
sources or collections of water?
Besides maintaining a certain
minimum of water which is re-
garded as sufficient to contain an
entire person, the Mikveh, in order
to be ritually proper must be such
a body of water that has been
drawn from some natural source,
Justice Frankfurter e.g., a spring, rain, snow, ice or
hail. This natural base of water
By JOSEF FRAENKEL
Professor (later Justice) Felix must not have passed through a
Frankfurter was an active Zionist vessel or any object which could
during the First World War, and ibe classified as a container dur-
published articles and essays deal- ing which process it could have
ing with Zionist affairs. In 1919 been considered as contained in
he represented the Zionist Organi- something created by man and de-
zation of America at the Paris tached from the original container
Peace Conference and was legal of water, i.e., the earth.
*
adviser to the Zionist Delega-
Why does such a gathering of
tion. It was to Felix Frankfurter
to whom Emir Feisal, on behalf of water have the ritual effect of
the Hedjaz Delegation, addressed purification?
the famous letter of March 1,
A number of reasons are offer-
1919.
ed. Basically, it is maintained that
The letter, in English, was writ- the Bible considered such water as
ten by T. E. Lawrence ("Law- a purifying agent, because it
rence of Arabia"), and signed in brings the object or the person
Arabic by Feisal.
back in contact with natural
"We feel," wrote Feisal, "that origins. Inpurity and imperfection
the Arabs and Jews are cousins is said to be the result of man's
in race, have suffered similar op- artificiality compared to the Al-
pressions at the hands of powers mighty's basic originality. In the
stronger than themselves, and by process of creation the word was
a happy coincidence have been originally either all water or sub-
able to take the first step towards merged in water. Immersing man
the attainment of their national or an object in water brings one
ideals together.
back to its original nature thus
"We Arabs, especially the edu- wining out all the impurities that
cated among us, look with the influenced the object through the
deepest sympathy on the Zionist process of its development. Water
Movement. Our deputation here is thus a means of spiritual purifi-
in Paris is fully acquainted with cation besides being an instrument
the proposals submitted yester- of physical cleanliness. From a
day to the Peace Conference, and practical standpoint. the therapeu-
we regard them as moderate and tic value of water has long been
proper. We will do our best, in recognized. Its physical benefits
so far as we are concerned, to have been extensively nut to work
help them through: we will wish in various forms of hydro-therapy
the Jews a most hearty welcome which brings physical comfort and
home . . ."
heating to a host of diseases and
The letter concluded:
pains.
"I look forward, and my people
Its healing value in mental cases
with me look forward, to a fu- have been realized during the
ture in which we will help you, course of which many mental pa-
and you will help us, so that the tients have been quieted from their
countries in which we are mutual- stress periods while being im-
ly interested may once more mersed in water—especially water
take their place in the community which circulates, thus emulating
of civilized peoples of the world." natural flowing water. Most every-
But when Chaim Weizmann and one has enjoyed the relaxing ef-
other Zionists later quoted the fects of bathing in water and the
Feisal letter, they were chal- stimulating results of swimming in
lenged by Arabs to produce it. In fresh bodies of water. Jewish tra-
1929 the Arab leaders denied the dition has only made the cycle
existence of this letter before the complete by adding to the picture
Shaw Commission.
the spiritual values of natural
For nearly 40 years this letter
bodies of water which lend spiri-
was mislaid and the Zionists were
tual renewal and purification to
unable to produce the original
the tainted soul or essence of the
copy. .
A few months ago, when the human or object. Some moralists
Jewish Agency offices moved from have interpreted the source of the
Great Russell Street to Regent root of the term "Mikveh" which
Street, the writer of this letter also serves as the basis of the
found the original letter inside an Hebrew word "hope" (Tikvah) to
indicate that immersion in a Mik-
old newspaper.
Today the Feisal letter and veh serves as a basis for hope
other Arab-Zionist documents are through renewal of one's faith.
being exhibited at the Central
Zionist Archives in Jerusalem.
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-

Many pay court to the noble;
Everyone is a friend to him who
gives gifts. —Proverbs

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
16—Friday, March 5, 1965

HOW TO PUBLISH

YOUR

BOOK

(Rodger said nothing. Had he
been born at the time, I'm sure
he would have.)
And so, with this vote of confi-
dence, I took the plunge or, rather,
dip—smacked by lips prematurely,
and, with all eyes glued to the goo,
gave it a go.
It is now a year later. The fam-
ily is still talking about it. Every-
time there is a get-together at our
house, I offer a return humus en-
gagement. After all, no sacrifice
is too great for the ones you love.
"Wellllll . . . " says Sue.
"We could . . . I suppose," says
Ruth.
"Ha," thinks Mother.
The men are silent. All except
Brian. He says, "Oogh."

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