Weekly Jewish Quiz
Borowsky, Noted Zionist and Educator, Dies in Israel
By RABBI SAMUEL J. FOX
Samuel J. Borowsky, distin-
one of them where an issue arose
as to who would have the prefer- guished educator and Zionist
Why is it that a Jewish boy is ence in naming the new born child. leader, died Sunday in a hospital
not given his name until- after
in Israel at the age of 71. His
* * *
he is circumcised?
It is required to pronounce the late residence was at 315 E. 68th
Generally speaking, the process grace after meals over a cup of St., New York.
Surviving are his wife, the for-
of his birth has not been com- wine if it is said publicly.
pleted until after the circumcision.
mer
Selma Juliette Sonnenberg, a
There are some authorities who prominent
leader in women's
The Almighty gave a Jew the pri- require
a
cup
of
wine
for
the
reci-
vilege of completing the shaping
Zionist and educational circles;
tal
of
grace
after
meals
even
in
of a Jewish boy so that man be- the case of a private individual. two daughters, Mrs. Julius H.
comes a sort of partner with the This requirement is traced to the Winer, Beverly Hills, Calif., and
creator, as he puts the finishing general statement in the Talmud Mrs. Joseph Porath of Savyon, Is-
touch upon the Jewish boy who (Bavli, Pesachim 105b) where the rael; five grandchildren and two
has just been born. The kabbalists general conclusion is drawn that sisters.
contend that the circumcision re- the pronouncement of a benediction
Mr. Borowsky was buried in
moves the state of impurity from requires a cup of wine over which
the new born male and renders
to pronounce the blessing. Medie-
him holy so that he can acquire at val commentaries like Rashi, in
that time the holy name which is commenting upon this statement
to Identify his soul with the holy say that it refers to the benedic-
soul after whom he is being tions of the Grace after Meals.
named. (Chesed L'Abraham 2:52). The Talmud draws the historic
It is to be noted, however, that in antecedent for this requirement
a case where the circumcision has from the contention that Abraham,
to be postponed because of the the first Jew, used a cup of wine
health of the child, the name is when pronouncing the benedictions
given before the circumcision after the meal of the feast he
takes place according to many made for his son Isaac. Some Kab-
authorities, i. e. when the father balistic sources claimed that the
goes to the synagogue and is call- cup of wine brings forth the pres-
ed to the Torah.
ence of the Almighty Himself who
Who has the prerogative to watches over the celebrant. (Zohar,
give the first name to the first Terumah 168b). Basically, the pro-
child in the family, the father of nouncement of benedictions was
the child, or the mother of the not to be an abstract matter devoid
of relevance to th' physical world.
child?
Therefore one pronounces benedic-
In the course of the Biblical tions before partaking of some-
accounts of naming children, we thing which brings him physical
find both fathers as well as moth- benefit. (e.g. before eating, drink-
SAMUEL J. BOROWSKY
ers naming children. Most authori- ing, inhaling, etc.). Also, before
ties claim that where the father of one performs a sacred command-
the child has already lost his own ment one pronounces a blessing Hitler's Birthday Toasted
father or mother he should by all because the blessing refers to some by Neo-Nazis in London
means name the first child after physical act.
LONDON (JTA)—The nea-Nazi
his father or mother, in preference
The general reasoning is that
to the father or mother of Ms wife, one's religious performance should Greater Britain movement led by
should they also already have be tied up with one's real life and John Tyndall celebrated Hitler's
passed away. There are many who not left only to the theoretical and birthday April 21 while about 100
practice the custom of allowing metaphysical world of thought. The Jews demonstrated with placards.
the wife to choose the name of the problem then arises concerning
The neo-Nazis drank toasts to
first child, especially if her own those benedictions which are des- Hitler's memory at a bookshop in
father has already passed away. tined to give praise to the Al- South London which serves as the
They explain this on the basis of mighty. In the case of the benedic- group's headquarters. About 20
the fact that the new couple us- tions of the prayers, these were members attended the ceremony as
ually lived their first year or years originally associated with the sac- the demonstrators paraded with
in the home of the bride's father rifices in the Holy Temple (inter- placards reading "Fascist Swine"
and mother who would support estingly, which were also accom- and "Don't Let It Happen Again."
them so that the new husband panied with the pouring of wine).
When Tyndall emerged from the
Could continue his studies. In or- In the case of the benedictions for bookstore, one of the demon-
der to reward the father or mother the grace after meals, where the strators rushed him, using an um-
of the bride and to encourage physical performance of eating has brella for a weapon, but police
them to support the couple so as already taken place, a glass of intervened.
to promote the study of Torah, the wine is poured (to be consumed
choice of naming the first child after the grace is recited) so that
was given to the bride, so that her a-gain the benedictions can be re- Civil Servants Give to Fund
NEW YORK (JTA) — The New
parents could be so honored lated to a physical performance
should they pass away before the which follows (i.e. the drinking of York Civil Service Employees
first child was named. Generally the wine). There are many who Committee for Histadrut added
speaking, the Rabbis advised both claim that the presence of the $50,000 to the Histadrut Scholar-
father and mother of the child to wine symbolizes the spirit of joy ship Fund as a result of the testi-
exercise patience and understand- which indicates that we pronounce monial dinner tendered DeplIty
ing so as to keep the peace of the the benedictions in a feeling of Commissioner of Public Works
home and not to create friction eagerness and happiness rather Meyer F. Wiles. Nearly 1,000
over the naming of the child. For than under compulsion. The sing- guests including many past and
this reason the custom arose of ing of the praises of Hallel (Sirah) present city commissioners at-
giving a child two names so that in the Temple were likewise as- tended the event which was ad-
dressed by Israel's minister of
each of the parents could choose sociated with a cup of wine.
labor Yigal Allan.
(Copyright. 1966, JTA,
Inc.)
DAYEIN
BY HENRY LEONARD
---- 400i
1
The Jewish Travel Guide
to Be Available April 15
Bloch Publishing Cofnpany will
have ready for distribution on
April 15 its American edition of
"Jewish Travel Guide", a directory
of world travel, issued annually
by the London Jewish Chronicle.
It contains special sections on
the United States and Israel, in-
cluding places of Jewish interest
the world over. Listed are syna-
gogues, holidays, communal or-
ganizations, restaurants, hotels,
summer schools, etc.
Jerusalem Wednesday. Both Mrs.
Borowsky and Mrs. Winer flew to
Israel for the funeral.
Mr. Borowsky was in Israel to
arrange for the educators' con-
ference scheduled for July.
General secretary and a former
president of the National Asso-
ciation for Jewish Education, one
of the outstanding leaders of the
Histadruth Ivrith and a member
of the executive committee of the
Zionist Organization of America,
Mr. Borowsky played a major role
in advancing the Hebrew cultural
movements in this country.
He was a leader in movements
to encourage youth participation
in Jewish and general Zionist
activities and was a former presi-
dent of Young Judaea.
Mr. Borowsky came to the
United States in 1903. He attended
Rabbi Jacob Joseph Yeshiva and
Townsend Harris High School and
was a graduate of New York
University. He was principal for
25 years of Ma c z i k e i Talmud
Torah, Brooklyn, served as presi-
dent of Hebrew Principals Asso-
ciation, was chairman of the first
American Conference for Hebrew
Language and Culture and helped
organize the first World Hebrew
Congress in Jerusalem. He was a
member of Bnai Zion and served
on the executive council of the
National Jewish Welfare Board.
Greenfield, Oak-Woods Young Israel
to Merge Into One Organization
The memberships of Young
Israel of Greenfield and
Young Israel Center of Oak-
Woods have agreed to merge into
one organization.
The new organization will be
known as the Young Israel of Oak
Park, Coolidge Branch and Ten
Mile Branch. _
The merger brings together
some 250 families.
Religious services will continue
in each building, but all educa-
tional activities, youth program-
ing, social and cultural events
will now be sponsored by the
Oak-Woods membership. Final
ratification of a new constitution
will take place in June.
Cornerstone setting exercises
for the new Coolidge site syna-
gogue and school, originally sched-
uled for May 8, has been moved
to 11 a.m. June 5.
Grand Passover in Lebanon
BEIRUT (ZINS)—The Jews of
Beirut celebrated Passover on a
grand scale, according to the
Lebanese newspaper "El Amal."
The minister of the interior,
Pierre el Jumeil, as well as other
high government officials, partici-
pated in a special celebration of
the Jewish community and greeted
the Jews of Lebanon on their
festival of freedom.
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American Cars — Plus Parts
25,000 Postcards From Israel
JERUSAT,FM — After having a
"And tonight, instead of a speech, I'm going to
say something."
Cow. 1966, Dayenu Productions
grove planted in his name in the
John F. Kennedy Peace Forest
near Jerusalem, Ernest Debbs, su-
pervisor of Los Angeles County,
California, sent 25,000 greeting
cards from Israel to his numerous
friends back home in Los Angeles.
Debbs is a veteran friend of the
State of Israel and an enthusiastic
supporter of the land development
projects of the Jewish National
Fund. As a Christian, he founded,
years ago, the Christian-American
Committee for Palestine.
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Friday, April 29, 1966-17
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