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
kasociation.
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

Editor and Publisher

CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ

SIDNEY SHMARAK

Business Manager

Advertising Manager

CHARLOTTE HYAMS

City Editor

Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the 20th day of Adar, 5726, the following scriptural selections will
be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion: Exod. 30:11-34:35 and Num. 19:1-22; Prophetical portion:
Ezekiel 36:16-38.

Licht benshen, Friday, March 11, 6:15

VOL. XLIX, No. 3

Page 4

March 11, 1966

Educators Memorialize a Great Poet

Observance of Hebrew Teachers' Month,
which will be climaxed at the dinner this
Sunday evening, assumes added importance
by the dedication of the concluding event to
the memory of one of the very great poets of
our time and one of the most noted in Hebrew
literature — Saul Tchernichovsky.
The Tchernichovsky saga is about a man
who was noted for his Hebraic and Russian
scholarship, who was born in The Crimea in
1875, studied in Odessa, then continued his
graduate work in Heidelberg and Lausanne
where he received his medical degree; was
a Russian army surgeon during World
War I, migrated to Germany in 1922 and was
permitted to settle in Palestine in 1931, carry-
ing on his Hebrew literary activities in the
new Jewish environment in Palestine, where
he died of leukemia in 1943. Thus, by his
final miaration, he was spared the agonies of
life under Nazism. But his poetic outcries
against bigotry and terror were expressed on
numerous occasions in protests against
pogroms.
He was a pantheist, and he became known
as the Hellenist in Jewish literary' circles.
Among his famous poems are "Before the
Statue of Appollo" and "To Ashtaroth and
Bel." In "A Treasury of Jewish Poetry"
(Crown), the editors and compilers have an
interesting explanatory note about this great
poet. They state:

"The great Hebrew poet, Tchernichovsky,
stirred up much controversy among Jews because
of his frank hedonism which was considered by
some to be. pagan and alien to Jewish tradition.
He was really intent on recapturing the sensory

joy of life and the beauty in nature which, he
complained, had been drained out of Jewish
experience by centuries of oppression, rootless-
ness, and puritanism. The pagan gods served him,
in this connection, as convenient symbols."

But there really was a great deal in Jewish
life that inspired the muse in Tchernichovsky.
For instance, he drew upon Ezekiel 8:14 to
write the poem "The Death of Tammuz." In
"I Believe" he expressed faith in the coming
of an era of peace:
"I still believe a time will come
Although it be delayed,
When nations shall meet and greet in
peace,
Share blessings unafraid:"
In spite of his Hellenism, he was inspired
by biblical themes, and he wrote a long poem,
"The Dance of Saul With the Prophets."
In his powerful "This Be Our Revenge"
he uttered a protest against the cruelties
experienced by Jews _during pogroms in
Russia. V
When he visited in Detroit before taking
up residence in the Land of Israel, the wel-
come was attuned to the recognition of the
coming of "The Greek," as many in Jewish
life then referred to him. He could well have
been called the great 'universalist, the pro-
phetically-inspired poet who charmed those of
us who were privileged to be with him.
Saul Tchernichvsky's name will be per-
petuated among the greatest in Hebraic and
world literatures. The recollections of him,
marking the 90th year of his birth, by the
educators in our community, are deserving
tributes to one who has enriched our litera-
ture.

Nasser's Mirage and the Peace Gestures

Abdel Gamal Nasser has been fuming amity fell on deaf ears, and the response was
again. Apparently he has not learned from the one filled with ridicule from the Egyptian
lesson of Yemen, or the rebuke from Bour- press. Nevertheless, the gesture was made,
guiba. The latter, in an interview with Giles the sentiments of Israelis who acclaimed the
Anouil, published in the last issue of Realites lone flier as a hero are on record, and Nasser
of Paris, stated in answer to a question about could well himself have emerged as a col-
the UAR dictator: laborator in peace efforts.
Meanwhile, the Nasser position continues
"He has talked of a Palestinian state, whereas
to be unpredictable. One day he is full of
there was no question of it before. He recognized
charm and invites American friendship, and
that he could not start a war with Israel and re-
fused to support Jordon over this. That is already
the next he spouts. venom. A short time ago
a great deal. In his interview with Realites (May,
he gave assurance that he would not start a
1965) he even implied recognition of the State of
war with Israel—intimating that he would
Israel by declaring himself for the applications of
not resort to warfare as long as he could not
the UN resolutions. But he did this by hiding be-
assure victory — and soon thereafter he
hind the Bandung Conference. That is not an
threatened
again.
honest way of approaching the problem. Moreover,
If we could be more certain of a con-
he directed his statements only to the outside
sistent State Department policy, the dangers
world, but for home consumption he continues, as
from the Middle East might be considerably
he has done for years now, to drill into the Arabs'
lessened. But neither are we sure of that.
heads that no compromise is possible. He brands
There are conflicting interests that have
me as a Zionist ally. I, for one, attach great im-
portance to a man's reliability."
brought about conflicting actions, and these
Will Nasser ever learn? Perhaps his conflicts have brought more confusion. Per-
failures in Yemen will teach him more than haps the Rusk visit to Cairo will bring results
the mirage that is blinding his view of Israel. —and let there be hope that our Secretary of
State also will visit Israel, out of a sense of
But an appeal for peace from an Israeli fair play, in a serious effort to promote peace
Jew who flew to Egypt with a petition for in that war-threatened area.

Vital Need for Community College Program

At the May 9 special election, the voters
will have an opportunity to join in authoriz-
ing the vitally needed Community Colleges
program.
Among the recognized major problems
facing American communities today is the
need to train young people for practical and
productive pursuits, to provide them with
technical and vocational training.
While the proposed Community Colleges
idea also provides for transferable or pre-
professional training, major consideration is
to be given to those who must learn trades,
who need counseling to guide them according
to their abilities in pursuing their chosen
vocations.

In the pursuance of the Community Col-
leges program we may find one of the most
vital factors in our search for means to elim-
inate racial strife, by our efforts to elevate
the standards of the less affluent in our midst,
so that this program can serve a most useful
purpose in the battle to end internal strife
among the haves and the have-nots.
The cost to taxpayers will be so nominal,
and the need to eliminate despair resulting
from a lack of proper training for creative
work is so vital, that every effort must be
made to assure the adoption of the plan which
is being placed on the ballot on May 9. We
urge that every effort be made to authorize
the Community Colleges program.

Interpretations of Exodus

'Understanding the Midrash`

"Understanding the Midrash" by Rabbi Amos W. Miller, published
by Jonathan David (131 E. 23rd, NY 10), is a unique work. Dr. Miller
undertakes to explain several chapters of the Bible first by translating
a midrash and then commenting upon, thus making the text more easily
understandable.

A typical example of his approach is the following: He quotes
Exodus 5:3: "And they said: 'The God of the Hebrews hath met with
us. Let us go, we pray thee, three days journey into the wilderness
and sacrifice unto the Lord our God; lest He fall upon us with peStilence
or with the sword.' "
Then comes the translated midrash from Exodus Rabbah: "Lest
he fall upon us—should have said, 'Lest He fall upon thee.' Why did
he say, 'Lest He fall upon us?' To indicate that Moses showed respect
towards Pharaoh, thus teaching us that one must show respect to
royalty."
And Rabbi Miller's comment on the biblical text and the midrashic
interpretation is:
"We have an obligation to show respect to the properly con-
stituted authorities. While it is our duty to protest injustice and to
strive to right the wrongs of which government may be guilty, never-
theless, insofar as possible, it should be done with respect for those in
authority. Disrespect for duly constituted authority leads to the break-
down of law and order in society."
It is in this fashion that "interpretations of the Exodus for modern
times" — as a subtitle to the book states — are presented.
In an introductory essay, Rabbi Miller explains the rnidrashim
which have become associated with Aggadah — the two terms, Midrash.
and Aggadah, becoming synonymous. He reviews the purpose of Agga-
dah: "to inspire and edify, to motivate people towards the kind of
righteous behavior which the Halakha requires." He expresses the
hope that utilization of his book for study by congregations will lead
to the finding "in the wisdom of the Midrash guidance and inspiration
for many of the problems of modern day life."

Vast Amount of Informative
Material in British Year Book

"Zionist Year Book 5726," published by the Zionist Federation of
Great Britain and Ireland, is filled with valuable directories, Jewish
historical -information, calendars, notable dates and guides to Zionist
and Israel facts.
Of special interest in this volume is the opening feature — a 357:
page summary — "Every Day in Jewish History" — by Josef Fraenkel. ---
It is divided into Hebrew and civil dates for major events in the past
140 years and is supplemented by an index.
It is followed by a survey of last year's world Jewish affairs,
also by Fraenkel; and Fraenkel also has authored an article "From
Basle to Jerusalem — English Delegates — An Historical Survey of
Zionist Congresses 1897-1965." This is followed by a critical article
on the last Congress by Dr. Aaron Zwergbaum of Jerusalem.
Because it is a British Year Book, the data on Britain's Zionist
Federation and other British affiliated groups is essential for this
work All the provincial Zionist societies are listed. But the volume
is not limited to British information. It contains complete listings of
Zionist organizations throughout the world, and as such is of immense
value to Zionists everywhere.
Surprisingly enough, in listing the chief rabbis and rabbinates,
only the Orthodox Union of Rabbis and its Rabbinical Alliance are
included.
Nearly half of the 542-page book is devoted to essays about Israel.
The article on "Desalination of Sea Water in Israel" by R.. Thieber ger
is important.
Then there is a listing of all Israel government officials, Israeli
institutions, Israel's diplomatic and consular corps, population and im-
migration figures, descriptions of personalities, anniversaries and also
the losses of the past year.
A Who's Who of British Leadership is similarly valuable. The
indices are well complied, and the Year Book is of great merit.
Its editor, Dr. Joseph Litvin, has earned commendation for a
splendid achievement. His assistant editor was Shaindy Mason.

