THE JEWISH NEWS

Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951

Member American Association of English—Jewish Newspapers, Michigan Press Association, National Editorial
Association.
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit 48235 Mich.,
VE 8-9364. Subscription $6 a year. Foreign $7.
Second Class Postage Paid at Detroit, Michigan

PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ

Editor and Publisher

Business Manager

SIDNEY SHMARAK

Advertising Manager

CHARLOTTE KYAMS

City Editor

Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the eighth day of Passover, the 22nd day of Nisan, 5725, the following
scriptural selections will be read iv our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion: Deut. 15:19-16:17; NUM. 28:19,25; prophetical portion: Isaiah
10:32:12-6.

Licht benshen, Friday, April 23, 8:02 p.m.

VOL. XLVII, No. 9

Page 4

April 23, 1965

A Papal Statement That Warps Good Will

Catholics, like other Christian denomina-
tions, and Moslems as well, affirm that Juda-
ism is the mother religion. But while acknowl-
edging such maternity, many Christians insist
that their faith is a continuation of Judaism
and their chief objective is the conversion of
Jews. On that basis, efforts at cooperation and
good will are inevitably weakened.
The more orthodox emphasis on the cruci-
fixion has created conflict between faiths, and
the sufferings which Christians have imposed
on Jews are traceable directly to the New
Testament stories on the murder of Jesus.
Jews are not alone in their contention that
our ancestors could not have been guilty of a
crime involving crucifixion; that such a
method of punishment was not Jewish but
Roman; that no religious Sanhedrin could
possibly have meted out a death sentence.
Yet, Pope Paul saw fit to renew the
charge, to assert that there was blame, and
while he absolved present-day Jewry, he did
not clear those of the past.
It is doubtful whether such complete
clearance could possibly be expected from the
Vatican. That would call for Bible reading
with commentaries. It would negate centuries
of teachings — and such steps might be too
revolutionary. Why, then, all the fuss about
the recent actions of the Ecumenical Council?
One of the most elaborate statements on
Pope Paul's most recent statements appeared
in the Pilot, the official organ of the Catholic
Archdiocese of Boston. Referring to "the
hornet's net of buzzing - comment" raised by
the Pope's speech, expressing resentment that
what the criticisms reveal "is not at all attrac-
tive," the Pilot editorial proceeds to say: "We
would suppose that everyone will agree that
the Jews of that time of Christ repudiated.
him as the Messiah and were involved in some
manner in his destruction. For Christians the
gospel narrative is the story of the Christ who
`came unto his own and his own received
him not.' "
We have already indicated that we do not
agree, that we do not believe there was a
question of accepting or rejecting a Messiah
because he was not introduced as a Messiah
even to Christians until much later than the
era under discussion in the Holy Land. And
we maintain that Jews had no share in his
destruction.
The Pilot editorial proceeded to assert:

"At the same time it is true that there is nothing
in the evangelical writings, properly understood,
that is incompatible with the plans and expectations
of the Vatican Council in its much publicized
document on the Jews. The actions of a small
number of Jews in Jerusalem two thousand years
ago have not set a mark of guilt on all Jews every-
where; nothing in the life and death of Christ can
be used as an excuse for discrimination or bitterness
against Jews either as persons or as a race. In fact,
the very origin of the gospels themselves, and, the
Church that venerated and preserved these records,
suggests quite the contrary, that Judaism can claim
a paternity which Christians are proud to acknowl-
edge and honor.
"The impatient and intemperate remarks that
have been directed against Pope Paul for a simple
preaching of the gospel indicate that there are
many who do not understand at all either the
attitude of the Church on this question or the work
of the Council. There is no question here of
rewriting the scriptures or revising history; Chris-
tians are not prepared to promote the notion that
Palestine in the time of Christ was populated by
some unknown people and that his sufferings and
death were anonymously machinated. He himself
was a Jew, as were his mother and his followers;
his enemies were also Jews. Christians believe this
and should be allowed to say it without any ill-
feeling toward their Jewish neighbors of this
century or any other.
"We rejoice, and these pages have long reflected
our joy, that Catholics and the Church officially
have entered • upon a time of new understanding
and affection with the Jewish people; we hope the
sun will never set upon this friendship. But this
must not rest upon a false foundation, upon the

suppression of historic truth, or the compromise of
Christian teaching. Catholics blush with shame for
the excesses of the Inquisition, Protestants regret
the execution of Servetus, but it is in the knowledge
of this past with all its wrongs that we must build
the future."

There is a measure of encouragement in
the contention that what may have happened
many centuries ago should not be an excuse
for bitterness against Jews, but such bitter-
ness has nevertheless been engendered. The
Ecumenical Council sought to correct the
errors of the past and now, because state-
ments like those made before Easter by Pope
Paul are considered compatible with Ecumen-
ical action, we are accused of being "im-
patient and intemperate." This is in itself
an inconsistency; There are many Catholic
dignitaries who would avert ill feeling by
refraining from continuously placing em-
phasis on the crucifixion and Jewish guilt.
There are Christian non-Catholics who would
erase the crucifixion charge entirely from
their rituals. But those who persist in resort-
ing to it are not healing past or present
wounds.
The Pilot goes a long way when it con-
cedes a sense of shame over the Inquisition.
Yet, there are many Catholics who would not
even make a concession in the matter of the
Spanish era which was one of the most
inhuman in Christianity's history. It was not
so long ago—in 1930—that a Catholic cleric
who headed a large seminary here refused to
condemn William Thomas Walsh's biography,
"Isabella of Spain," which condoned the
Inquisition and gave credence to the ritual
murder charge against Jews. We were then
involved in the controversy indirectly, when
Dr. David de Soda POol, at our invitation,
wrote the review which demanded a Catholic
repudiation of that biased biography.
The newest "conflict" with Catholicism—
if there really is a conflict—renders greater
injustice to American prelates than it does
to the Jews. The American Catholic leaders
have consistently struggled for justice to the
Jew. They fought a valiant battle in support
of the Ecumenical Council's decision of last
year. It is they who have been hurt more
than we.
It is to be hoped that the good feelings that
have been established between Catholics and
Jews in this country will not be marred by the
unwise papal declaration. Heartening evid-
ence of good will came last week from Cam-
N.J., where a questionnaire was distrib-
den, N.J.
uted by
Catholic Star Herald, the organ
of the Camden diocese.
The replies were in themselves most in-
teresting. Supplementing the report on the
results of the survey was an indication, ex-
pressed by the Camden diocese newspaper,
that there is more anti-Jewish prejudice from
respondents who. attend public schools "in
certain areas" than those who are in parochial
schools. The report stated that there was less
prejudice among parochial school students
"in regard "to housing, companionships and
accepting Jews as no different than other
persons; while parochial school graduates
showed more trust of Jews, were more in-
clined to vote for a Jewish candidate for the
presidency and gave greater endorsement to
the council's recent declaration on Jews."
There is no way of knowing whether the
Camden attitude represents the thinking and
the feelings of Catholics elsewhere. Based,
however, on our own experiences in this
community, we would have little reason to
doubt that there are good feelings between
Jews and Catholics. Such feelings should be
strengthened. We doubt whether Pope Paul
contributed towards them by his assertions
which have, in effect and in essence, renewed
an old charge, contributing thereby to the
oldest of all prejudices.

Our Teachings and Practices

Dr. Cohen Defines Jewish Terms
in 'A Basic Jewish Encyclopedic:II-

Ordinarily, the term "encyclopedia" seems to imply a voluminous
work. But Rabbi Harry A. Cohen, who earned a doctorate in Semitic
languages at Columbia University and was ordained by the Jewish a k
Theological Seminary of America and now holds the pulpit of the
Savyan Synagogue in Israel, has incorporated into 200 pages of a 411,
regular-sized book "Jewish teachings and practices listed and inter-
preted -in the order of their importance today," under the title "A
Basic Jewish Encyclopedia." Its contents are certain to be of great
help to those seeking basic Jewish religious information.
Published by Hartmore House (410 Asylum, Hartford, Coriri.),
this unusual volume does, indeed, have a unique approach and pro-
vides much information about Jewish observances and teachings. As
a handbook for those desiring to acquire knowledge about funda-
mental Jewish laws, it is superb. As indicated by the author in' his
introduction, his work is based on views of 100 authorities.
Offering an explanatory note on his use of transliterations,
Dr. Cohen commences his work with 155 terms, listed in Hebrew,
with their translations and transliterations. Starting with Elohim
(God), Torah, Shema, it proceeds down the line with a listing
of basic terms that conclude with hanukkat habbayit (dedication
of a new home), helped (eulogy) and amora (a sage of the Talmud).
Then follow the articles explaining the various terms, and each
explanation is an essay, and in their totality the articles, all brief
and quite suitable for understanding by an average layman, do, in-
deed, form a veritable encyclopedia of religious Jewish terms.

Aside from the simple, ordinary terms, like Shema, Shabbat,
Mitzvah, Yisrael and others, Dr. Cohen explains regulations and
prohibitions, drawing upon the views of noted authorities.
For instance, dealing with the subject "Issue Nissuay TaaroVet"
("Prohibition of Mixed Marriage"), he quotes several authorities,
including David Einhorn, the Reform Jewish leader, who said: "Every
mixed marriage furnishes a nail for the coffin of the Jewish people."
In half a page, Dr. Cohen analyzes the prohibition on intermarriage.
The holidays, tefillot (prayers) and other subjects are defined,
and in a page and a half he explains "Am Segullah" ("A Chosen
People"). Again quoting noted authorities, this essay concludes:
"The one dogma of Judaism," the great Talmudist of modern
times, Prof. Louis Ginzberg, told an assembly of rabbis, "is the
selection of Israel to be God's people."
Among the definitions offered are those for "Ahavat Habberi-
yot ("Love for One's Fellow-Men"), "Ahavat HaShem" ("Love - for
God"), "Ahavat HaShem Laolam" ("God's 'Love for the World"),
and numerous other terms.
*
There is an interesting note on the Messiah' and the 1VIessianie
era, declaring: "Every Jew is the bearer of the messianic message
that man will yet become what God wants him to. be."
An indication that basic rules are defined in this small book is
found in the inclusion of the explanation for "Tzaar Baalay Hayyim"
—"Prohibition of Cruelty to Animals." Showing how Jewish .tradi-
tions and laws call for kindness to animals, that "before a Jew sits
down to a meal, he must first feed his domestic animals, Dr. Cohen
states, showing the contrast: "It is noteworthy that the Christian Bible
does not mention kindness to animals or prevention of cruelty to
animals, nor does the Koran of Islam show any concern for animals."
-
*
*
Sacredness for Human Life, Reward and Punishment, The Ten
Commandments, Family Purity, Halakha, Shulkhan Arukh, Convert
to Judaism and scores of other terms are described.
Sources of rabbinical citations are listed and there not only is
an index but also a Hebrew index which proves most valuable in
searching for the pages containing the various items.
In a foreword, evaluating the contents of this book, Dr. Louis
Finkelstein states that the author "placed us in a great debt" with
his informative encyclopedia.
Dr. Cohen has rendered a valuable service with his book and he
has made encyclopedia applicable to a small volume—so long as the
contents are as encyclopedic as his collection of Jewish religious terms.

