Pout Borchsenius' Book 'History of the Jews ,
Is a Classic Tribute by Christian Theologian
Poul Borchsenius is a Danish
pastor who had actively partici-
pated in the underground anti-Nazi
activities during the period of the
German occupation of his country
in the last war. He became deeply
interested in Jewish history and
"The History of the Jews" he
authored became a best seller in
Denmark.
Now, in excellent translations
into English by three writers, it is
available in a five-volume edition
published in this country by Simon
and Schuster. It is a post Biblical
history—dealing with the events
from Jerusalem's destruction to our
own time.
The Rev. Borchsenius came
well equipped to write this his-
tory. He had helped smuggle
Danish Jews out of their homes
during the historic one-night
flight, and was himself an exile
from his country during the Nazi
occupation, living in Sweden
among the refugee Danish Jews.
He had written a biography of
David Ben-Gurion and he au-
thored a history of the German
occupation of his country. There
is a deep and sympathetic ap-
proach to his subject, and the
result is a highly commendable
history.
-
The first volume in the five-
volunie series, translated by F. H.
Lyon, is entitled "The Son of a
Star." It refers to Bar Kochba and
the revolt against the Romans. But
the story commences considerably
before the Bar Kochba revolt. It
deals with the Zealots, under the
Romans, with the Dispersion, with
the heroes and the martyrs of the
period when Jews began to lose
their independence, when they
fought for freedom.
As the able Christian author
describes these stages of_ struggle
for freedom and survival, "Jerusa-
lem survived, Caesaria faded out."
Referring to the establishment of
Caesaria, Poul Borchsenius wrote:
"Nineteen hundred years ago the
legions had marched out through
the gates of Caesaria and on to
Jerusalem to crush the holy city.
They came from the center of the
Graeco-Roman heathen power in
Palestine, and the goddesses of vic-
tory smiled on them. Cold strength
and violence triumphed over spirit
and faith. But today Caesaria lies
more dead than any cemetery. No
Vatican Declaration
Distributed Before
Pope's Proniulqation
ROME (JTA)—The Vatican Sec-
retariat Monday distributed to the
prelates attending the Ecumenical
Council the final text of the De-
claration on the Relations of the
Catholic Church with Non-Chris-
tian Religions which includes a
chapter on relations between the
Church and the Jewish • Religion.
That text was approved by the
Council on Oct. 15 by a vote of
1,765 to 250.
The docuinent was to be pro-
mulgated by Pope VI in a public
session of the Council on Thurs-
day. The text exonerates the Jew-
ish people of collective responsi-
bility for the death of Jesus, and
also "deplores" anti-Semitism.
The Vatican Secretariat also dis-
tributed to the prelates the latest
version of the draft declaration
on religious liberty. Like the de-
claration containing the chapter
relating to the Jews, adoption of
the religious liberty draft has also
been advocated by the liberal
majority of the bishops attending
the Ecumenical Council.
The measure would, for the first
time, establish Catholic doctrine
as recognizing that every man is
entitled to follow the religion of
his choice and that religious free-
dom must be granted by all states,
even those that recognize only one
state religion.
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
34---Friday, October 29, 1965
one misses it, no one mourns for
it. When it is remembered, it is
because the apostle Paul was kept
'here for a couple of years as a
"isoner before he was taken to
Rome."
This is one of the minor Christo-
logical comments, but there is
greater emphasis on Tisha b'Av
and the mourning that kept the
Jewish spirit alive. And in review-
ing the Bar Kochba story he asks:
"Was there not the Son of a Star
in every single Jew who was a
Jew?" Even in his Christological
approaches, it is the emphasis on
the powers within Judaism that
lift the Poul Borchsenius study to
a high rank.
The second volume, translated
by Michael Heron, is entitled
"The Three Rings—A History of
the Golden Age of Jewish Cul-
ture . in Spain." Here we have
interesting evaluations and ex-
planations of the relationships of
the three faiths, and the Chris-
tian-Moslem treatments of Jews.
There is a chapter of tribute to
Maimonides—"No One Like Moses"
=and the Cabbala is explained, the
Cabbalists introduced, the years of
the - Inquisition analyzed. He tells
about the Crusades, narrates the
story of the three rings in Gott-
hold Ephraim Lessing's "Nathan
der Weise," tells about the wan-
derings forced upon the Jews and
concludes on the hopeful note:
"Ahasverus wandered onwards
from Spain. He found new rest-
ing places, but only temporarily.
Once again he had to take the
long weary road. Judaea, Baby-
lon, Spain, Holland, Poland, Rus-
sia. They are milestones on
2,000 years of wandering. But to-
day Ahasverus is on the move
again and on his way home to
Judaea again. Perhaps the world
will yet see in our time Israel
gathered in its ancient land.
Then the ring will be completed.
The first of the three rings."
As he proceeds with his story,
he has titled the third volume,
translated by Reginald Spink, "Be-
hind the Wall: The Story of the
Ghetto." It is the fashion in which
he treats the subject that makes
Poul Borchsenius' description stand
out. He reviews Jewish hopes be-
hind the ghetto walls, the cultural
and spiritual as well as the mysti-
cal activities, the emergence of
Safed as a great center of mysti-
cism.
He takes the reader to Rome.
to experience the events in Italy;
to Germany and then on to the era
:Alen Hassidism emerged. He leads
up in this form to modern times.
In every instance, his history
is filled with stories, with He-
brew legends, with Yiddish anec-
dotes. For instance, in his refer-
ence to the Polish ghetto, under
the SS in Hitler's days: "It was
in Berlin and an SS man snarl-
ed at a Jew: `Schweinhund!' To
which the polite reply was: 'And
I'm Cohen.' "
Relating the tales about the
false Messiahs, about Shabbatai
Zevi, and then about the Baal Shem
Tov, the readers also are told about
the Wailing Wall, about the Arch
of Titus— about Living Ruins and
the washing –a w a y through self-
liberation — on May 14, 1948 — of
disgraceful stigma.
Michael Heron returns as trans-
lator of Volume IV. It is entitled
"The Chains Are Broken: The
Story of Jewish Emancipation." It
deals with the years when emanci-
pation was envisioned but was ac-
companied by "Judenschmerz," by
untold sufferings, by reactions, by
the cries of "Help! Help!" These
were the years of programs and
also of the exoduses—of migra-
tions and flights. It was the era
of Heinrich Heine and of Moses
Mendelssohn. It also was period
of the Ku Klux Klan and the Proto-
cols of the Elders of Zion that pre-
sented the world with the most out-
rageous forgeries.
But it also was the beginning of
the cry for Zion—of the emergence
,
of Theodor Herzl and of the Zion-
ist ideal.
The story is completed in the
fifth volume which again is trans-
lated by Reginald Spink and
which is entitled "And It was
Morning: The Story of the Jews
in Our Time."
Indeed, "it was morning," but it
was preceded by scorpions, by
stings, by sufferings. But in the
course of it, as one chapter is en-
titled, "Wisdom Built Herself a
House."
Persons and politics are under
review here. The heroes of our
time, the Zionist idealists, the
builders of the Hebrew University,
the creators of a State.
_There were crises, and they are
analyzed with warmth in apprecia-
tion of Jewish attainments. "Today
the rose is unfolding on classical
soil" is the manner in which Poul
Borchsenius welcomes the emerg-
ence of Israel.
His history is a classic. It is a
tribute to a great Christian minis-
ter who had suffered with .victims
of Nazism and who arose as a pro-
phetic author of a valuable history.
And his Work is a complimeht to
the people about whom he has
written.
New Jobs in IN egev Industrial Plants
This young seamstress is busily engaged in the sewing depart-
ment of the Kitan Textile Co. plant at Dimona, which was estab-
lished with the aid of Israel Bonds. The textile factory, which employs
1,400 persons, produces ready-made garments as well as yarns, fibres,
and fabric, primarily for export trade. Dimona is one of the first
development towns to be set up with Israel Bond allocations to indus-
trialize the Negev and to provide jobs for new immigrants settling
in outlying regions of Israel.
A MAN WITH A DREAM
RUNS FOR COUNCIL
Marc Stepp is by no means an odds-on favorite to be
elected to Common Council — even though his election is
endorsed by The Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, Wayne
County AFL-CIO, Democratic Party, and dozens of other
civic, religious, and labor groups.
The reason is plain. Marc Stepp is not the candidate of
any "power structure." He doesn't have a high-powered
campaign organization working for him. Nobody has come
along to buy him TV time or billboards. Even this ad was
paid for by nickel-and-dime contributions. All Marc Stepp
has is courage and a dreani.
A dream of a city with no more slums.
A dream of a city where all people can receive proper
medical care.
A dream of a city where everyone enjoys equal educa-
tional and employment opportunities.
A dream of a city where there are clean, spacious, safe
playgrounds for all kids to romp in.
A dream of a city where all men and women are treated
equally.
Do these dreams sound impossible? Marc Stepp doesn't
think so . . . and he is a tough-minded, clear-thinking,
straight-talking guy. Marc Stepp steadfastly believes that
the right kind of Common Council can make these dreams
come true. That's why he's a candidate.
But being a candidate and getting elected are two different
things. Marc Stepp fought the primary race against over-
whelming obstacles—an unknown name, little money, nor
professional help. As a result, he belongs to nobody except
himself. But his goals belong to everyone.
So if Marc Stepp wins, his triumph will in a sense be your
triumph and the 'triumph of everyone, because his entire
career represents the fulfillment of the American dream.
He is a Negro, born in the South, who worked 19 years
in a Detroit auto plant. He labored days and studied nights
at the U. of D. Now he is an executive of the Community
lieaith Association, Chairman of the 1st District Democra-
tic Party, and a member of both the Advisory Committee
for Total Action Against Poverty and the Tactics and
Strategy Subcommittee of the Detroit Board of Education.
Marc Stepp has achieved much in his life. But his greatest
achievement rests in your hands. When you vote on
November 2 for Common Council, this gallant man will
need your vote in order to win. Will you give it to him?
Marc Stepp — No. 38
CITIZENS COMMITTEE FOR MARC STEPP
1530 BUHL BLDG., DETROIT, MICH. 48226