Old Testament Radically Interpreted in Fromm's l Newest Work as Humanist Development in Mankind "The interpretation of the Bible It is also asserted by Dr. Fromm I every man carries within himself all of given in this book is that of radical that "the idea of the One God hulan !ti y i What we mean to ask is humanism," Dr. Eric Fromm states expresses a new answer for the dead, dead. de o t f h:sarfgengerisGod in a self-evaluation presented in solution of the dichotomies of hu- we might better raise the question man is dead." the introduction to "You Shall Be man existence; man can find one- whether of His evaluations of the Psalms, As Gods," published by Holt, Rine- ness with the world , not by regress- hart and Winston (383 Madison, ing to the prehuman state, but Halakha, of practices related to z2ahr etitS has the finest gifts for dad! NY16). This radical interpretation by the full development of his spe- the development of humanism, ele- of the Old Testament and its tradi- cifically human qualities: love and vale this work to the status of lion treats the subject as a "global j reason. The worship of God is challenging ideas that will intrigue and philosophy which emphasizes the first of all the negation of idolatry. theologians, religious leaders laymen. He declares that the ren- Oneness of the human race, the The concept of God is at first la i i n the West capacity of man to develop his own formed according to the political aissance of humanism now occuring among adherents powers and to arrive at inner har- and social concepts of a trial chief is of all faiths as well as in Marxist mony and at the establishment of or king . . . This God without at- Socialism. "It is," he declares, "a a peaceful world." tributes, who is worshiped :in si- reaction to the two-toed threat Dr. Fromm implies "a skeptical lence,' . . . has ceased to be an which mankind faces today: that attitude toward the use of force, authoritarian God; man must be- of nuclear extinction and that of precisely because during the his- come fully independent, and that the transformation of men into tory of man it has been, and still means independent even from appendices of machines." is, force — creating fear -- which God. In 'negative theology,' as i mysticism, we find the has made man ready to take fiction well as in same revolutionary spirit of free- for reality, illusions for truth. Wondering about which characterized the God "Is it not natural," the eminent of the revolution against Egypt..." "Is investments as a philosopher asks in introducing Further he declares: possible next step his subject, "that the story of the "Independence is not achieved simply liberation from slavery in Egypt, by not obeying mother, father, state, in your family's the like. Independence Is not the the speeches of the great human- and same as disobedience. Independence is financial planning? ist prophets, should have found possible only if. and according to the to which, man actively grasps an echo in the hearts of men who degree the world, is related to it, and thus $150 to begin—then $25 a month had experienced force only as becomes one with it. There is no inde- will start you on a systematic in- pendence and no freedom unless man vestment program in the United its suffering objects, never as arrives at the stage of complete inner activity and productivity. surprising Funds group of mutual funds. its executors? Is it "The answer of the Bible and of the For free Booklet.Prospectus that the prophetic vision of a later Jewish tradition seems to be: giving detailed information,write man is feeble and weak, but ne ! united, peaceful mankind, of indeed, is an open system which can develop or call... justice for the poor and helpless, up to the point where he is free. He needs to be obedient to God so that ; found fertile soil among the Jews he can break his fixation to the pri- and was never forgotten? Is it mary ties and not submit to man. "But is the concept of man's freedom surprising that when the walls •arried to the ultimate consequence of the ghettos fell, Jews in dis- of his freedom from God? In general this is undoubtedly not the case. God. in proportionately large numbers the rabbinical literature, is conceived were among those who proclaim. as being the supreme ruler and law- He is the King above all kings. ed the ideals of internationalism, giver. and those laws for which reason can peace and justice? What from find no explanation must be followed for not other reason than that God has National &tabulate of the a mundane standpoint was the commanded them. Yet, while this is Wiled roads group true, there are statements in tragedy of the Jews — the loss generally of mutual funds the Talmudic law and later Jewish of their country and their state literature which are indictive of a trend is to make man completely autono- — from the humanist standpoint that mous. even to the point where he will was their greatest blessing: be- be free from God or, at least, where he REPRESENTED LOCALLY BY deal with God on terms of equality ing among the suffering and can The idea that man has been created despised, they were able to de- in the image of God leads not only to MARVIN S. GREEN the concept of man's equality with God, velop and uphold a tradition of or even freedom from God. it also leads 353-6300 central humanist conviction that / humanism." to a Jewish historical ex- Tracing Friday, June 9, 1967 - 13 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS periences in relation to the growth) of humanist tendencies, Dr. Fromm 1 Waddell &Reed MCINIIVOLATC• Gifts Beautifully Wrapped NOBODY FITS IT LIKE l ot ' makes these S CLOTH ES 19132 LIVERNOIS JUST OFF 7 MILE ROAD PHONE DI 1-0480—FREE PARKING LIVERNOIS CORNER OF CAMBRIDGE OPEN MONDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY 'Tit 9:00 P.M.-SATURDAY 'TIL 6:00 P.M. important observa- tions: "The Jews were in possession of effective and Wchigan Bankard and Security Charges Honored. impressive secular power for only a short time, in fact, for only a few generations. After the reigns of David and Solo- mon, the pressure from the great powers in the North and South grew to such dimensions that Judah and Israel lived under the ever increasing threat of being conquered. And, indeed, conquered they were, never to recover. Even when the Jews later had formal political independence, they were a small and powerles satellite. sub- " ject to big powers. When the Romans finally put an end to the state after R. Yohanan ben Zakkai went over to the Roman side, ask- ing only for permission to open an academy in Jabne to train future generations of rabbinical scholars. a Judaism without kings and priests emerged that had already been developing for centuries be- hind a facade to which the Romans What's your best time from the basement to the phone? Michigan Bell gave only the final blow. Those prophets who had denounced the idolatrous admiration for secular power were vindicated by the course of history. Thus the pro- phetic teachings, and not Solo- mon's splendor, became the domi- nant, lasting influence on Jewish thought. From then on the Jews, as a nation, never again regained Part of the Nationwide Bell System out most of their history they suf- fered from those who were able to use force. No doubt their posi• Lion also could, and did, give rise to national resentment, clannish- nes, arrogance; and this is the basis for the other trend within Jewish history." • 956—monthly charge for each extension • $4.00—one-time charge. Covers any number of phones in color installed on the same order. No charge for black. A nominal serrice- power. On the contrary, through- SOUTHFIELD ELEMENTARY and JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS will hold open house 2-4 p.m. Sunday. Activities in the 21 buildings will range from carnivals and demon- stration lessons, to ice cream so- cials and the rededication cere- monies at the newly named Marion M. 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