Libel's Exposure Lays 'Little Simon' to Rest
(Continued from Page 1)
"sharp . turn," Msgr. Rogger re-
lates. Among the bitter speakers
was the daughter of Cesare Bat-
tista, the Italian national hero, ex-
ecuted by the Austrians, who led
the revolt. She and her supporters
called the worship in all its aspects
an affront to the good name of
Tr en t, threatened to turn to
Italian public opinion and pre-
pared an embattled motion to that
effect. Msgr. Rogger did not take
part in that debate. However, im-
mediately after that debate, he
proposed to the archbishop to en-
trust a historian with a final, ob-
jective and independent study of
the "Trials of Trent." Then, show-
ing uncommon diplomacy, he per-
suaded the Society of Studies to
sponsor this research, as a "better
solution than to start a public
protest which would create a
heated climate and thus impede
us."
They agreed, and Msgr. Rogger
found the right person in the
Domenican father; Rev. W. Eckert,
of Cologne, Germany, who readily
accepted. Father Eckert stayed
several months in Trent, in Rome,
and in Vienna, and worked un-
disturbed. He first published the
results of his study as a part of
a book without even advising
Trent. That study was translated
by the Society of Studies of Trent
and submitted by Archbishop Got-
tardi to the Congregation of Rites
at the Vatican, whose decision en-
abled the prohibition of the wor-
ship.
A glance into the 22-page
Eckert report is sufficient to
gather the horrible reality of the
Dark Ages.
Actually, Eckert limits himself
in his research to the minutes of
the Trent trials, which he found in
Trent, Rome and, most complete,
in Vienna. (These last, in parti-
cular, included also the proceed-
ings against the Jewish women and
the transient Passover guests.)
For him, these minutes were suf-
ficient to establish the truth, which
is diametrically opposed to what
the Trent judges wanted to
establish. Calmly and dryly, with
the scientific detachment of the
surgeon who cuts open an abscess,
Father Eckert proceeds:
"The minutes of the trials are
not without value. They inform us
about the personalities of the ac-
cused, their origin, their profes-
sion, their living habits, character,
and occasionally (sic!) about the
proceedings of the trial. Their
value is also to show precisely the
tortures that were used. Their pur-
pose was not only confessions, but
concordant confessions.
"The Trent judges tried to prove
—in opposition to nine papal bulls
issued during three centuries be-
fore the Trent trial—that ritual
murders are performed by Jews
as normal religious practice. In
fact, emissaries of the then Trent
bishop inquired in other European
towns where such accusations had
been made before, and in their
turn, by this caused similar ac-
cusations, e.g. in Ratisbona."
(The anti-Papist, anti-Rome ten-
dencies of that pre-reform period
emerged also in other instances of
the Trials at Trent. It is only an-
other example of the fact that
struggles for power in _history
were fought out on Jewish backs,
with Jewish lives.)
"There was not one objective
proof found in the whole trial, un-
less the alleged fact that the
wounds of the victim had opened
in the presence of the accused is
considered as proof," Father Ec-
kert wrote. "The Jews did con-
fess, after terrible tortures, some
broke down earlier, some later,
but even then, the confessions were
not concordant and speak against
the judges, and against their find-
ings." The tortures, for Eckert,
"proves one thing only: how ter-
rible that trial was because it
deprived man of his dignity."
Father Eckert gives us side-
lights on what is called "Gothic
romanticism in jurisprudence."
Baptism had the only effect for
the accused to be charitably
hanged instead of being burned,
decapitated or broken on t h e
wheel. Women were not arrested,
Eban May Succeed Golda Meir
(Continued from Page 1)
Rachel Ben Zvi, widows, respec-
tively, of Israel's first and second
Presidents; foreign diplomats re-
siding in Jerusalem; members of
the outgoing Cabinet; Gen. Yitzhak
Rabin, chief of staff of Israel's de-
fense forces; and other senior of-
ficials of the Government. Minis-
ter of Justice Dov Joseph, whom
the Mapai-Ahdut Avoda align-
ment excluded from its list of can-
didates in the Nov. 2 elections, was
the only Cabinet member absent.
Eshkol warned that he would
refuse to head the new govern-
ment unless Minister of Finance
Pinhas Sapir revokes his threat
to step out of the Cabinet, and
stays on in his present post.
Sapir's hesitance about holding
his portfolio again in the next
Cabinet is believed to be de-
pendent upon whether Eshkol
would support him fully in plans
he has announced for tough
measures to halt further in-
creases in wages in Israel.
The Finance Minister has sub-
mitted to the Cabinet a program
calling for steps to balance Israel's
economy without devaluation of
the pound. Included among his
plans is an effort to eliminate
Israel's trade deficit, by reducing
it at an average of $70,000,000 a
year.
Eshkol began plans to form a
new coalition government by dis-
cussing with other Mapai Ministers
the idea of offering the post of
Deputy Premier to Moshe Shapiro,
leader of the National Religious
Party, as a goodwill gesture.
The Deputy Premier's post
may become open as a result of
Mrs. Golda Meir's apparently
firm decision to leave the Cabi-
net post of foreign minister. If
that happens, Abba Eban, the
present Deputy Minister, would
become Foreign Minister.
The Religious Party decided in
principle to enter the new coali-
tion. Mapam leaders also gave ap-
proval, but on the basis of a more
leftist wage policy for Israel. Esh-
kol also plans to talk to the Inde-
pendent Liberals as a prospective
coalition partner.
Shapiro submitted to the Pre-
mier a long list of conditions for
joining the coalition. These in-
cluded revision of the issue of
drafting women for military serv-
ice, the Sabbath law proposal and
introduction of a 5 1/2-day work
week.
While welcoming a return to the
Mapai ranks by members of Rafi,
Eshkol took sharp issue with Ben-
Gurion's characterization of the
Mapai-Ahdut Avodah alignment
as a "corrupt and stupid regime."
Such labeling of the alignment,
Eshkol said — without naming
Ben-Gurion — was "an insult"
to the 500;000 voters who had cast
their ballots for the alignment's
ticket. He stated that the align-
ment's votes had included the bal-
lots of the majority of kibbutz
members in the country, and de-
clared that "this slander, this
burning insult, awaits reparation."
Mapai Secretary-General Reuven
Barkatt met with Aryeh Bahir, a
member of the political committee
of Rafi, to discuss "normalization"
between the two groups. The meet-
ing coincided with a reported re-
mark by Ben-Gurion to key
Rafi members that, with publica-
tion of his book on the Lavon Af-
fair soon, he would consider the
interparty- issue closed.
In Tel Aviv, Mordechai Namir
was assured of continuing in office
as mayor, as a result of decisions
by Rafi, Mapam and the Indepen-
dent Liberals to join his coalition.
Namir is a member of Mapai.
the cross-examinations were per-
, formed in their homes; the tor-
ture equipment was accommo-
datingly brought there.
Father Eckert's knife is sharp:
"In fact, John IV Hindenbach
(then Bishop of Trent) had hu-
manistic tendencies. More was not
needed to induce several of his
humanistic friends to get busy with
poetical compositions about t h e
death of little Simon!"
Father Eckert admires the ac-
cused, as they were admired by
many of their Gentile contempora-
ries, for their courageous and dig-
nified behavior up to their last
strength, and for the fact that they
tried to protect their wives and
chi'dren by taking all the guilt on
themEelves' in their 'confessions.' "
(When it came to that, the judges
abandoned their great care to have
concordant confessions they cheer-
fully extorted confessions a 1 s o
from the women.)
After quoting many other facts
in the minutes that clearly show
the Jews' innocence, in particu-
lar the report of the Papal ex-
traordinary commissioner, t h e
Bishop of Ventimiglia, Father
Eckert concludes "not only that
there was never produced a con-
crete proof for Jewish ritual
murder in any place or in any
time, but the same can be said
of Trent, where the trial was
conducted not `without ability.'
Of what is said, it appears clear-
ly that the Trent trial was as-
sassination due to judiciary er-
ror."
I asked Msgr. Rogger why the
Archbishop acted officially only
five months after the authorization
by the Congregation of Rites. He
answered candidly that "in a little
center like Trent, even truth has a
hard path." Therefore, they actual-
ly thought it would be better to
proceed after the promulgation of
the Ecumenical Council's declara-
tion on Catholic relations with
Jews. It would make the Arch-
bishop's instruction more accept-
able.
He repeated that Little Simon
had been once very popular in the
Trent diocese, and much tradi-
tionally based sentimental attitude
was connected with the worship.
A remarkable number of paintings
and sculptures are all around
Trent and smaller centers dating
mostly from the baroque period,
when dramaticity and passion as
subjects of art were at a premium.
No wonder that the more simple
minds reacted with perplexity to
the adverse, posthumous destiny
of the "Blessed Child." And
Rogger repeats that all those
ings were certainly not dire,--)
against Jews.
"Perhaps not consciously," I
conceded, "but it is impossible to
imagine that all those paintings
and prayers and processions and
booklets did not leave traces in
the minds, especially in simple
minds."
However, Archbishop Gottardi
and his collaborators do not shrink
from their task to make disappear
the nostalgic tears for Little Si-
mon. They are fully aware that
they have provided the Ecumeni-
cal's Council's 'Declaration on Re-
lations with Jews' with its "first
piece of bread to eat." "Believe
me," Msgr. Rogger concluded,
"five years ago, the letter of our
Archbishop would not have been
possible."
Reform Delegates Reject Open Proselytizing
Among Nan-Jews, to Focus on 'Unaffiliated'
.
SAN FRANCISCO (JTA)—Open
The statement further added that control information and education
proselytizing among non-Jews was Reform temples of the UAHC for family planning
is neither an
rejected by delegates to the 48th should continue to offer all our infringement of
civil liberties nor
biennial assembly of the Union of support for the seven young pro- an attempt to act
in ways pre-
American Hebrew Congregations gressive synagogues now develop- judicial to the
interests of any
as a program for American Re- ing in the state of Israel and called racial, ethnic or cultural group.
form Judaism.
for an intensification of the youth On the contrary, we believe plan-
After several hours of debate, exchange program between Amer- ned parenthood is for those who
the 3,000 lay and rabbinic dele- icans and Israelis.
desire it, a vital contribution to
gates adopted a resolution on con-
The Hebrew Union College—old- responsible family life."
versions to Judaism which was est rabbinical seminary in the
The NFTS resolution called for
milder that the request made by United States—was honored on the liberalization of abortion laws to
Rabbi Maurice N. Eisendrath in occasion of its 90th anniversary by make a "distinction between preg-
his presidential message to the the UAHC at a banquet address- nancies which occur voluntarily
convention last Sunday. He had ed by Dr. Nelson Glueck, president and those which happen involun-
called on the delegates to adopt an of the Cincinnati Seminary.
tarily either through force or
active conversion program for Re-
Dr. Glueck cited the addition otherwise."
form Judaism, aimed at both "the of new human relation depart-
Divorce laws should be liberal-
un-synagogued and the un-church- ments at the three American
ized and humanized "so as to end
ed."
practices which lead to collusion,
campuses of the Hebrew Union
The resolution approved by the
promote contempt for law
College as well as the plan to
delegates addressed itself only
establish a special department
and permit the existence of situa-
to the "unaffiliated" and it "af-
tions which the parties concerned
of social work on the California
firmed" the openness of Reform
find intolerable," the resolution
campus as examples of curricu-
Judaism to "those who seek us."
stated.
lum changes in recent years.
The UAHC Committee on the Un-
The UAHC's statement called for
In a graduate interfaith fellow-
affiliated was instructed to guide ship program, 25 Christian fellows, "the revision of the divorce laws
and assist the organization's 664 Protestant and Catholic, are study- of each state so as to eliminate
congregations to achieve this ing at the Cincinnati school for a those practices which lead to col-
goal with open proselytizing.
doctoral degree in Bible and Se- lusion and which permit contempt
The delegates also adopted a mitics.
for law."
resolution urging President John-
As for homosexuality, the Sis-
More
than
100
Christian
fellows,
son to ask for an armistice in the
terhood delegates recognized that
the
rabbi
said,
already
have
taken
Vietnam conflict, so that peace
it "may be a symptom of psychia-
negotiations could be started im- this program since its establish- tric disturbances" requiring medi-
ment.
mediately. The approved resolu-
cal care. They urged "revision in
Mrs. Merryle S. Rukeyser of the criminal code" and furthr
tion was a substitute for an origi-
nal one asking the United States New Rochelle, N.Y., was elected that "all available resources '—
to halt bombing of North Vietnam president of the National Federa- society be brought to bear on
"even if this were to entail a short tion of Temple Sisterhoods, for a alleviation of this problem."
term of two years, at its 25th bien-
military disadvantage."
Rabbi Jacob J. Weinstein of Chi- nial assembly held in conjunction
American. Firm Signs Pact
cago, president of the Central Con- with the UAHC convention
ference of American Rabbis, called
Mrs. Arthur J. Hass of Detroit's on Drilling for Oil in Israel
for increased religious commit- Temple Israel Sisterhood, was
TEL AVIV (JTA)—The Living-
ment to peace. "A Jew worthy of elected a member of the board of
ston Oil Company of Tulsa, Okla.,
his tradition will give the pres- directors.
A resolution encompassing all signed an agreement with Petro-
sures of conformity a run for his
cana, which holds an exploration
money," he declared. He said also phases of family life—from the
that "a rabbi worthy of his calling population explosion, birth con- concession on Israel's continental
shelf, for joint efforts at drilling
trol, to abortion, to divorce, to
will court, if necessary, dishonor.
for offshore oil reserves. A Petro-
Organized religion, I can hardly family life—was adopted by the
believe, will survive a third bend- more than 1,000 sisterhood dele-
cana spokesman said drilling
ing of the knee to war in our cen- gates.
would start next spring with an
tury."
A similar resolution was pre- initial investment of several mil-
Catholic- and Protestant observers sented to the Union's resolution lion dollars. An offshore drilling
attended Assembly meetings for committee but only the portion contractor will provide a drill ship,
the first time.
dealing with divorce and birth con- crew and equipment for the ven-
The delegates called upon Con- trol was reported out of commit- ture.
gress to enact legislation which tee to the plenary session. The
"would define assault or murder UAHC delegates reaffirmed earlier
with racial purpose or effect as a statements on both topics but re- Yiddish Teachers' Course
federal law" and further appeal- fused to act on the sections on Is Opened in Warsaw
ed to President Johnson "to make abortion and homosexuality.
LONDON (JTA) — The Jewish
such legislation a high priority
The delegates affirmed "the need
on his administration."
to strengthen family ties in every Social and Cultural Association of
A resolution adopted by the area of relationships and to inten- Poland has announced the open-
UAHC called upon the state of Is- sify Jewish religious and cultural ing of a three-month course for
rael to "end discrimination against education within the home in order teachers of Yiddish, it was report-
our non-Orthodox congreations and to help all members from youth to ed from Warsaw. The course will
non-Orthodox rabbis." (See story age, become creative and respect- include instruction in Yiddish, Yid-
on Religious Zionists convention ed contributors to the life of our dish literature and methods of
elsewhere in paper).
people and mankind, in conson- teaching Yiddish and Jewish his-
ance with our Jewish heritage."
tory. Students will get a mainten-
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
On birth control, the resolution ance allowance and their full sal-
Friday, November 26, 1965-32 stated, "The dissemination of birth aries for the duration of the course.