Dr. David Polish's 'Eternal Dissent' Translated
Hama-vak Ha-nitzhi by David
Polish. Translation in English
from the Hebrew by J. A. Abbe-
di, Hashiloach-Achiasaf, Jerusa-
lem, Israel, 1966. 224 pages. A
review by Yosef Schub.
*
*
Dr. David Polish states that the
purpose of his book is "to trace
the impulses within the people
which shaped the events of their
history." The Hebrew title of the
book is "Hama-vak Ha-nitzhi"
("The Eternal Dissent"). The
author submits that from the days
of Abraham to the establishment
of the stae of Israel "the charac-
teristic which has affected the en-
tire development of Israel is dis-
sent"—hence the title.
In "The Power of the Myth" he
tries to point out that the funda-
mental essence of Jewish history
is that it is "self-contained." In
"Growth of a Life-Style" stress is
laid on the word Im (if) the peo-
ple will harken to my voice they
will receive the fruits of blessings
and if they disobey God's com-
mandments disaster and calamity
will ensue.
Abraham is depicted as the
"classic Jewish father image." He
rises above the environment and
dares to question and to protest.
He emerges as a-vibrant living be-
ing and Abraham's covenant be-
came binding on him and on all
Israel thereafter. In the "TheolOg-
ical Factor in Jewish History" the
author stresses the "Abrahamic
perception which is commitment
to God without 'abdication of man's
normal impulses. Thomas Aquinas,
the great systematizer of medieval
Christian theology, based his sys-
tem upon original sin and predes-
tination. Judaism on the other
hand teaches that each man is
punishable for his own sins and
must suffer for his sinfulness."
Judaism's teaching was therefore
at odds with Aquinas' principles.
* *
In the essays entitled "The Jew
and His Fellow Man" and "Israel
and the Nations," there is an en-
lightening discussion of the con-
cept of "bekhol hagoyyim and ke-
khol hagoyyim"—Israel among the
nations but yet not like the na-
tions. In his discussion on the
Covenant, Dr. Polish points out
that from the beginning God's
Covenant with . Abraham has af-
fected Israel's destinies through-
out its history. "This Covenant, to
be properly understood, cannot be
regarded as a relationship between
God and Israel consummated in an-
triquity and never _ renewed. The
Covenant is both recurrent and
changing." Habehirah (election)
avows that "Israel is chosen only
as long as it is fulfilling its obliga-
tions to God and Tora." Dr. Pol-
ish indicates that this election was
given "to the totality of Israel and
not to an individual," and that it
is "an ethical mandate not an acco-
lade," that it is "contingent upon
Israel's relation to the Tora and
as such "Israel is envisioned as an
ethical entity and an instrument
of God's purpose." This election,
while associated with Israel, "is
not reserved exclusively for Is-
rael, it can be revoked and its
test is survival."
* * *
In "Jewish Conceptions of His-
A Mummy Story
(From "Incidentally" Column
by "Chronicler" in London
Jewish Chronicle.)
The other day Rabbi Issac New-
man, of the Dalston Synagogue,
was asked by a boy at the syna-
gogue class to book his Bar
Mitzvah in the synagogue diary.
"Will you ask your mummy to
talk to me about it?" said the
rabbi.
"What has this to do with my
mum?" asked the boy.
Whereupon the rabbi turned to
the class: "Who can tell me what
it has to do with his mum?"
For a minute the children looked
bewildered, but then a bright
young lad piped up: Of course,
he has to open the dance with his
mum."
tory," the divergent views between
Judaism and Christianity on the
subject of history find their roots
in the characters and outlook of
the central figures of each faith.
Abraham's chief role is as progeni-
tor; the Covenant is transmitted
from father to son. Both Abraham
and Moses were fathers and found
satisfaction in sexuality. Jesus and
Paul were both celibate, abhored
sex as inherently sinful; since the
messiah was to come soon to in-
validate this world, there was no
social use for the sex act." The
role of Diaspora is a subject which
is of particular interest to the
American reader. "The Diaspora
will continue not only as a phys-
ical reality but as a spiritual neces-
sity." "Israel of the Exile" has
three tasks to perform: "(1)
strive to fulfill the Jewish concept
of a world society; (2) elevate our
spiritual life to be worthy of such
an undertaking; (3) propagate our
own religious beliefs in the world
where a review of man's theolog-
ical convictions has become im-
perative."
* * *
tory is different and does not fol-
low the simple cycle of rise, de-
cline and death."
* * *
In "Christian Theology and Res-
toration of Israel" the author points
out that the restoration of Israel
has compelled the Christian world
to re-examine its relationship to
Judaism,. He states that it is a
propitious time for Christianity to
seek "a reconciliation with Juda-
ism on the basis of parity." In the
closing chapter "The Continuity of
Jewish History," Dr. Polish lists
three goals which give significance
to Jewish history: 1. The morality
of its purpose, 2. The sanctity of
its experience, 3. The eternity of
Israel."
* * *
J. A. Abbadi, the former chief
translator for the mandatory gov-
ernment of Israel, has done a mas-
terful job of translation. The text
not only reads smoothly and well,
but is done in true Hebrew idiom.
It is a creative rendition. Lovers
of Hebrew will find this book a
delight to read. The next is clearly
and neatly printed and reads with
The chapter on the "Martyrdom great ease.
of European Jewry" is a timely
We owe a great debt of grati-
and meaningful discussion of Jew- tude to Dr. Polish first for sharing
ish and Christian responsibility with us his thinking and his inter-
for this holocaust.
pretations of the meaning of Jew-
In "Pivotal moments in Jewish ish history and secondly for mak-
History" Rabbi Polish traces the ing his volume available to the
biblical events and shows that "un- Hebrew reader both in Israel and
like other civilizations Jewish his- in the Diaspora.
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Friday, September 9, 1966-17
Hadassah Awards Key to U.S. Envoy
Mrs. Mortimer Jacobson, national president of Hadassah, is shown
presenting Hadassah's first "Key to Freedom Award" to William
Benton, U.S. Ambassador to UNESCO, as Secretary of Agriculture
Orville L. Freeman (left) looks on. Secretary Freeman received
Hadassah's second "Key to Freedom Award" when he appeared with
the former U.S. Senator from Connecticut at the recent Hadassah,
national convention in Boston. The award, inspired by the career of
Ambassador Benton, was established "to honor men and women of
our day whose life and work add new dimensions to human freedom."
Private Sickening lined up with
the rest of the raw recruits for in-
spection. Suddenly, the general
stopped in front of him. "Your face
is unshaven," he snapped in dis-
•;:*
..*•:•••
-
gust, "your boots are filthy; your
shirt is • unbuttoned -- good grief,
who ever told you, you were a sol-
dier?" "My draft board," the re-
cruit smiled weakly.
.
6 1966 R Lorillard C.
Co Founder of the American Medical Association
-
Technically, Dr. Hays' most important and prestige, the need for a permanent
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the first to study color blindness and de- in Philadelphia and chaired the commit-
tect astigmatism. But it is as co-founder
tee that presented a series of ethical
of the A.M.A. that his future fame was
principles for the guidance of the organ-
to rest.
ization. These rules of conduct were
Hays received his B.A. from the Uni-
adapted at the formation of the Ameri-
versity of Pennsylvania, and within two
can Medical Association, and continue
years of graduating from medical college
today as the basis of A.M.A. principles.
he was appointed to the staff of the Penn-
Dr. Hays' activities were as numerous
sylvania Infirmary of the Eye and Ear.
as they were varied. In addition to being
Not only did Dr. Hays excel in his an expert oculist, he retained a successful
chosen specialty, he also edited Hays' general practice. He found time to serve
Journal, of which it has been said : "It on hospital staffs. He continued to edit
is one of the few great journals of the and translate medical works, and to pub-
world, and one from which it is almost lish them as well. But involved as he was
possible to write the progress of Ameri- with medicine and science, Hays still re-
can medicine during the past century."
mained active in Jewish communal af-
As medical science advanced in skill fairs, and was a member of Mikvah Israel.
. ...........
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