Purely Commentary
The Historic Legend of the Lamed Vavnicks
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — Samuel Rothberg, the chairman of the American
Friends of the Hebrew University, may be remembered better for having developed
the plan for the establishment of the Harry S. Truman International Center for
Peace at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem than for all the other accomplishments
he has to his credit in behalf of American, world and Israeli Jewries.
To have conceived this idea was a stroke of genius. President Truman is, at
heart, a man of peace. He is a lover of the Bible. He is a dedicated student of history.
He was the first to recognize the State of Israel. His name belongs in Jerusalem —
the City of Peace — and at the Hebrew University, one of the world's greatest insti-
tutions of learning, research and the promulgation of peace ideas.
The event that transpired in Independence, Mo., yesterday, is one of the great
occurrences of our time. Not only did 36 generous people donate $100,000 each towards
the establishment of the Truman Peace Center: their love for the past President was
expressed in a fashion that emphasizes the genius of our people and recalls a great
legend which has become a tradition translated into reality: that of the Lamed Vav-
nicks.
By Philip
Slomovitz
Current Honor for Harry S. Truman Who Was
Called 'Modern Cyrus' by This Commentator
famous Declaration was issued as an expedient move in time of war, and Truman has
been charged with playing for Jewish votes. Yet, only the ungrateful will fail to
recognize that Truman acted a humane role, and if he played for votes he knew how
to gain it through a great historic act.
TRUMAN LINKED AMERICAN AND JEWISH HISTORIES
We have said it while he was in the White House, and we say it now that /
is in Independence, Mo.: Harry S. Truman's name will go down in history as the m:
who knew the arrival of a historic moment and he linked it promptly with American
history. He saw the emergence of an oppressed people as a free, sovereign state, and
he used his great office to extend to that people a friendly hand. For that reason, we
say that he is the modern Cyrus.
There were other occasions when Truman rose to great heights, especially when
he aligned himself with the liberal forces in defense of humane immigration and
naturalization laws. He proved his genius when he took the lead in pro"asating civil
rights and legislation for the advancement of our highest social sense. In these roles,
as Senator Morse said, he was a great President.
Cyrus' deeds are recorded in four Biblical books — Ezra, Isaiah, Daniel, and
Second Chronicles. Truman's name is indelibly written in modern Jewish history, to
be remembered by all generations to come.
One of the best evaluations of the meaning of the Lamed Vav tradition appeared
( Inserting this text in the Congressional Record, on Feb. 12, 1953, the late Con-
in "A Book of Jewish Concepts," by one of American Jewry's most distinguished Jewish
gressman John D. Dingell (father of the present Congressman, John D. Dingell, Jr.)
scholars, Dr. Philip (Paltiel) Birnbaum. The great work, produced by Hebrew Publish-
introduced the above article with these remarks.
ing Co. of New York, (it was reviewed in The
(Mr. Speaker, one of the great thrills of
Jewish News an July 3, 1964) contains the
my life came to me when I heard the announce-
basic ideas about Jewish laws and traditions and,
ment that President Harry S. Truman on behalf
as The Jewish News reviewer stated, it offered
of the people of the United States, extended
"Judaism on a Silver Platter."
LAMED-VAV TSADDIKIM
recognition to Israel, the new infant state in the
From this platter we have taken the ex-
family of nations. It was a thrill and an inspira-
cerpt on the Lamed Vav legend and have repro-
tion because it meant the fulfillment of God's
THE thirty-six hidden saints (GiPlY 1"), described by legend as
duced it here, as a tribute to those who have
promise to His wandering children. It strength-
made possible the honor accorded yesterday at
being extremely modest and upright, concealing their identity behind
ened me in my Christian faith and the belief in
the historic Missouri ceremony to President
a mask of ignorance and poverty and earning their livelihood by the
existence and the word of the living God.
the
Harry S. Truman. We present it for a full under-
sweat of their brow, are generally referred to as lamedvovniks. This
The miracle that is Israel, denied to millions of
standing of the Number 36 of the participants in
Jews who went on before, I was privileged to
widely-held belief among pious Jews is based on a talmudic statement
the sponsorship of the Truman Peace Center and
witness and applaud. As a Christian Zionist, I
to the effect that there are in the world no fewer than thirty-six right-
the wise leadership that made the project
hoped and prayed for the day when the Jews
possible.
eous men in every generation who "greet the Shekhinah," the Divine
would come into their own but never dreamed
11VX
Presence (Sanhedrin 97b; Sukkah 45b). The biblical verse
that the word would become real and the Holy
Recalling the Cyrus Appelation
(Isaiah 30:18), meaning "blessed are all those who wait for
Land become the haven of the oppressed Jews of
z1n
At the same time, this Commentator wishes
the world. The reestablishment of Israel in the
him,"
is
used
as
a
proof-text
alluding
to
this
idea,
since
the
numerical
to introduce a recapitulatory chapter of the
homeland should strengthen the faith of all who
valtie of the word is thirty-six.
Truman story.
believe in God and His written word.
When Harry S. Truman retired from the
The lamed-vav tsaddikim are also called nistarim (concealed).. In
(I am pleased to place in the Record the
Presidency, in January of 1953, this Commentator,
and historic comparison of President
the folk tales, they emerge from their self-imposed concealment and,
eloquent
under the heading "Harry S. Truman: The Mod.
Truman to Cyrus as set forth by Philip Slomo-
by the mystic powers which they possess they succeed in averting
ern Cyrus," wrote as follows:
vitz, the editor and publisher of the Detroit Jew-
the threatened disasters . from a people persecuted by surrounding
Senator Wayne Morse, of Oregon, the Re-
ish News and president of the American Associa-
enemies. They return to their anonymity as soon as their task is
publican rebel who bolted his party to support
tion of English-Jewish Newspapers, under date
the candidacy of the Democratic nominee, dra-
accomplished, "concealing" themselves in a Jewish community where
of January 23, 1953:)
,
matically told the United States Senate last week
*
*
*
they are unknown. The lamedvovniks, scattered as they are through-
that he views Mr. Truman as having been a great
Cyrus:
Truman's
Favorite
Bible Hero
out the Diaspora, have no acquaintance with one another. On very
President. He made these comments on the re-
Thus, we now recall an interesting episode
message:
rare
occasions
is
one
of
them
"discovered"
by
accident,
in
which
case
tiring President's valedictory
in American and Jewish history, to which must
"I think we have listened to a great his-
the secret must not be disclosed. The continued existence of the
be appended a subsequent incident.
toric statement, which is, in my opinion, the
world depends on their righteousness, it was popularly believed,
Three days before Christmas, 1964, on the
greatest message President Truman has sent to
eve of our departure for the World Zionist Con-
the Congress; indeed, I regard it as one of the
gress sessions in Jerusalem, it was this Com-
greatest messages ever sent to the Congress by
mentator's and his wife's great privilege to be
any President in our history. It is dramatic in
with President Truman for more than three
its ideals, reassuring in its goals, inspiring in its
hours,
at
the
St.
James
Theater
in
New
York, at the staging of "Hello, Dolly." We
appeals to patriotic duty, and convincing in its citizenship challenge.
talked about many things and the former President asked that we convey greetings
"In my judgment, it is a fitting valedictory of a President who, I am convinced,
from him to the President of Israel.
in the judgment of history, will be a much greater President than his critics now
Then he recalled my column in which I likened him to Cyrus, and he said, with
realize or appreciated."
animation, "Cyrus is one of my favorite historical characters."
Senator Morse was not alone in his commendation of Harry S. Truman. Other
The honors accorded President Truman remain as part of an indelible historic
Republicans and a number of Republican newspapers commended the retiring leader
record. In Jewish history, his name will live with Cyrus' through the ages.
*
*
*
for his fine analysis of the state of the Nation as he turned over his office to Dwight
D. Eisenhower. There will, of course, be disagreement on the choice of adjectives used
by Senator Morse in describing Mr. Truman's record. But in Jewish history Mr. Truman
will be recorded as a great man who understood our problems, who recognized an
historic moment, and utilized it properly.
On the Recognition of Israel: From 'Memoirs of Harry S. Truman'
It is your commentator's firm belief that Mr. Truman will go down in history
On May 14 I was informed that the Provisional Government of Israel was
as the modern Cyrus in recognition of the very great role he has played in the
planning to proclaim a Jewish state at midnight that day, Palestine time, which was
establishment of Israel and in causing this country to be the first to recognize the
when the British mandate came to an end. I decided to move at once and give.
American recognition to the new nation. I was told that to some of the career men a
infant Jewish state on May 14, 1948.
the State Department this announcement came as a surprise. It should not have beck ''
THE CHAPTER WRITTEN BY CYRUS
if these men had faithfully supported my policy.
In 536 B.C.E, Cyrus, the founder of the Persian Empire, the conqueror of Babylon,
The difficulty with many career officials in the government is that they regard
emerged as the instrument for the return of the Jews, who were exiled by Babylonia,
themselves as the men who really make policy and run the government. They look
to their homeland in the land of Israel. The great Jewish historian, Heinrich Graetz,
upon the elected officials as just temporary occupants. Every President in our history
speaks of King Cyrus as having been "but an instrument of God for furthering the
has been faced with this problem: how to prevent career men from circumventing
deliverance of Judah and the salvation of the world." Graetz wrote as follows about
presidential policy. Too often career men seek to impose their own views instead of
the great period in Jewish history in the time of Cyrus:
carrying out the established policy of the Administration. Sometimes they achieve
"The joy of those who were preparing for the exodus from Babylon and the
this by influencing the key men appointed by the President to put his policies into
return to the Holy Land was overpowering. To be permitted to • tread the soil of their
operation. It has often happened in the War and Navy Departments that the generals
own country and to rebuild and restore the sanctuary seemed a sweet dream to them.
and the admirals, instead of working for and under the Secretaries, succeeded in
The event caused great sensation amongst other nations; it was discussed, and con-
having the Secretaries act for and under them. And it has happened in the
sidered as a miracle, which the God of Israel had wrought on behalf of His people.
Department of State.
A poem faithfully reproduces the sentiments that inspired the exiles:
Statement Demolishing 'Virulent Disease of Anti Semitism'
" 'When the Lord turned against the captivity of Zion, we were like them that
Anti-Semitism is not a trait anyone is born with. It is something akin to a
dream.
communicable disease passed on from community to parent, and from parent to child.
" 'Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing; then
And the cycle goes on generation after generation.
said they among the nations, The Lord bath done great things for them.
The disease of anti-Semitism is so virulent that each generation seems to be
" 'The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad' (Psalms cxxvi).
helplessly caught up in it. And there is no effective cure in sight, save that of an
"As the patriots were preparing to make use of their freedom to return to
awakened conscience of man.
Jerusalem, one of their poets, in Psalm xxiv, bade them reflect whether they were
What I find even more discouraging is to see that in our institutions of higher
worthy of this boon. For only the righteous and those who sought the Lord were to
education, where one would expect the intellectual ferment to act as a purifier, there,
assemble upon God's ground. But who would dare take on himsell the right to pro-
too, prejudice, discrimination and exclusion exist in one guise or another.
nounce judgment?"
I do think it is about time that we face up to the offensive treatment
THE RELATED CYRUS-TRUMAN ROLES
accorded the Jewish people here and elsewhere. And it is about time someone said
Transplant these impressions, written nearly a century ago about the great and
something about the violation of not only their civil rights but in certain areas their
miraculous event of the return from the Babylonian exile, 2,489 years ago, to our
very
lives as well.
time, and it is easy to imagine as if the great historians were speaking of our time,
Excerpt from Truman's Letter to King Ibn Saud, Oct. 28, 1946,
and of the rebirth of Israel in 1948. And while the role of Cyrus and Truman were
Rejecting Arab Charges Made When the President Asked That
not entirely analogous, they were related. Cyrus was able to order the freedom of
Palestine Doors Be Opened to Admit 100,000 Jewish Refugees
the return of Jews to the Holy Land, and Truman used the great power of his office
"It was entirely in keeping with the traditional policies of this Government that
to sanction Israel's rebirth and to give the great signal to the nations of the world
over a year ago I began to correspond with the Prime Minister of Great Britain in an
that the greatest nation on earth wills it that Jewish homelessness should end and
effort to expedite the solving of the urgent problem of the Jewish survivors in the
that Jews should have the right to reconstruct their lives in dignity and freedom and
displaced persons camps by the transfer of a substantial number of them to Palestine.
through self-determination.
It was my belief, to which I still adhere, and which is widely shared by the people
such as the guaranty
Some writers make mention of other gestures by Cyrus
of this country, that nothing would contribute more effectively to the alleviation
of freedom to the Greek cities of Ionia — implying that it was politically expedient
of the plight of these Jewish survivors than the authorization of the immediate entry
for the safety of his empire to create friendships among his subjects. Graetz, too,
of at least 100,000 of them to Palestine . . ." -
wrote that "the true reason for his decision is unknown," but he made it a point to
emphasize that "Cyrus was a humane conqueror."
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
2—Friday, January 21, 1966
By the same token, some historians have said that Arthur James Balfour's
President Truman on Israel and Anti-Semitism
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