'The Will to Power'--Nietzsche and the Jews
Prof. Walter Kaufmann and the
author R. J. Hollingdale combined
their skills in translating "The Will
to Power" by Friedrich Nietzsche.
This volume of notes, published by
Random House, has been edited by
Prof. Kaufmann and now emerges
as one of the most valuable inter-
pretive volumes which has been
utilized by Nazis whose views have
been repudiated in turn by the
context of this collection of Nietz-
chean ideas.
In "The Will to Power" there are
many references to Jews, the
Bible, anti-Semitism. There is, in
his note of March-June 1888 this
comment:
"How did the German spirit
transform Christianity!—And to
stick to Protestanism: how much
beer there is in Protestant
Christianity! Can one even imag-
ine a spiritually staler, lazier,
more comfortably relaxed form
of the Christian faith than that
of the average Protestant in
Germany?
"That's what I call a modest
version of Christianity! A homeo-
pathy of Christianity is what
I call it.
"One reminds me that today
we even encounter an immodest
Protestantism—that of the court
chaplains (an illusion to anti-
Semitic Hofprediger Adolf Stoec-
ker-1835-1909—who was then
court chaplain in Berlin and
founder of the Christian Special-
ist Workers' Party) and anti-
Semitic speculators
Another dig at Stoecker and his
anti-Semitism appears in a later
Nietzsch ea n note.
Writing on "Morality as a means
of seduction," in 188'7, Nietzsche's
notes contain the following:
"Compare the related logic of
Paul. It is always God's cause in
which these reactions come forth,
the cause of right, of humanity,
money. Anti-Semites — another!
name for the 'underprivileged.'"
(What a boon such a reference
can be for the Arabs today and
the haters everywhere!)
Nietzsche made many references,
in his notes, to Jews, the Bible,
Christians and Christianity. In one
note he spoke of Jews (Heinrich
Hein e, Offenbach) approaching
genius. He also mentioned Rahel
who was famous for her salon for
the literati and the great of Berlin.
A note of the authors to some of
these references points out: "Rahel
von Vanhagen (1771-1833): her
salon was a great cultural center
in Berlin. Mendelssohn, Rahel and
Heine—and Offenbach, were of
Jewish descent, while Wagner was
a rabid anti-Semite."
Thus Nietzsche's "The Will to
Power" provides vast material for
study of German political aspects,
of Christian relationships, about
Jews and the world scene in the
latter part of the last century, dur-
ing Nietzsche's lifetime. The Kauf-
mann-Hollingdale volume is excel-
lently compiled and edited.
Awake You Sleepers
,
Excerpts from "Days of Awe" by S. T. Agnon,
Published by Schocken
Despite the fact that the blowing of the ram's horn on Rosh Ha-
shana is an explicit decree in the Scripture, it is also an illusion, as if
to say: Awake from your slumber! Search your deeds and turn in
Teshuva. Remember your Creator, 0 you who forget the truth in the
vanities of time and go astray all the year after vanity and folly that
neither profit nor save. Look to your souls, and better your ways and
actions. Let every one of you abandon his evil ways and his wicked
thought, which is not good.
(Mainzonides, Hilkhot Teshuva 111.4)
*
*
Secret Language
The reason for the blowing of the ram's horn was revealed to me
in a dream. It is as though two friends, or a father and son, who do
not wish that what the one writes to the other should be known to
others, were to have a secret language, known to no one but themselves.
So it is on Rosh Hashana, the Day of Judgment; it was not the will
of the Omnipresent that the Accuser should know of our pleas.
Therefore He made up a language for us, that is the ram's horn, which
is only understood by Him (Tiferet Uziel).
Israel's port of Eilat on the Gulf of Aqaba, which has been
built up with the aid of Israel Bonds, is expected to be of even
greater importance to the future of Israel's economy. Ellat is
Israel's sole outlet to the Red Sea and the countries of the Far
East, and the intake point of the pipe-line which pumps oil to the
refineries at Haifa. Above, a panoramic view of the town of Eilat,
whose present populaton of about 11,000 is expected to grow rapidly.
Below, phosphates mined in the Negev are loaded at the port for
shipment to Asian and African countries which represent a grow-
ing market for Israel's exports.
Two Impressive Volumes on Israel, Translations
Russian, Leave Deep Impression
From French
Israel as an international point
Tudor Publishing Co. (221 Park,
etc. In the case of Christ, the rejoic- of interest, as a magnetic force S., NY3), and "This Land of Is-
ing of the people appears as the that has enchanted writers from all rael" by Andrei Sedych, published
cause of his execution; an anti- nations, has become the chief at- by Macmillan (866 Third, NY22).
"The Israel I Love" is part of
priestly movement from the first. traction for tourist, a major point
a series of a uniform format
Even in the case of the anti-Semites of interest for historians.
Many volumes have been pub-
about many lands and some
it is still the same artifice: to visit
cities. The volume, containing
condemnatory judgments upon one's lished about Israel, and new ones
108 photographs, 12 in full col-
opponent and to reserve to oneself are appearing this year — both in
relation to the Arab-Israel conflict
ors, was translated from the
the role of retributive justice."
as
well
as
primarily
to
deal
with
French
by Ruth Whipple Fer-
- In 1888, writing on "why the
weak conquer," referring to the the historic interests of the Holy maud. The text and captions to
the photos are by Noel Calef.
quality of races, Jews among Land.
The photographs are by Patrice
Two books of special interest
them, he stated: "The anti-
Semites do not forgive the Jews appeared this week — "The Israel Molinard. There is an excep-
for possessing 'spirit' — and I Love" by Noel Calef, issued by tionally fine and informative in-
-
Numismatists' Guide: 'History of Israel's Money'
Numerous new commemorative their breakdown); up-to-date-values giving the first complete coverage
coins are being issued by Israel, (compiled from hundreds of deal- to a series that has long been
and there are medals of interest ers lists over a period of three neglected.
The State Medals are catalogued
that already have proved of great years and truly reflecting the mar-
ket today); mint and die-varieties and fully attributed with the issue
value to collectors.
(with over-sized enlargement sand price for each.
Numismatic experts are catch- line drawings); a reference chart
A separate listing of the mints
ing Israel's production of currency to the previous works of Leo Kad- and printers of Israel's coins and
and of coins and the values placed man. now out of print; and a scar- banknotes has been compiled.
on the minted Israeli products are city chart of the Pruta series.
The Palestine Mandate section
mounting.
lists all regular and proof coins
For the first time the mystery
and banknotes issued during the
of the "Pearl Mark" is authenti-
For an understanding of Israel's
cated. This mark has governed British Mandate from 1917-1948,
money system and the value of its
the market on the Pruta series including the Turkish and Egyptian
coins, nurnismatits would do well
to read "The History of Modern since 1963 and is now reviewed. coins of that period.
Mrs. Haffner, lecturer and author
The lead story before each sec-
Israel's Money" by Sylvia Hoffner,
available from the author who can tion of the book brings to the read- of many articles on the coins of Is-
rael,
is eminently qualified to au-
be addressed to P.O. Box 2153, Sta. er a wealth of information about
Israel and her people's determina- thor this publication covering Is-
A, La Mesa, Calif. 92041.
tion to preserve their freedom and rael's coinage. While other books
It is a meritorious work that traditions.
have delved only into listings and
commences with the stylized dates
A resume of the central banks values of these coins, Mrs. Haffner
of Israel's coins, with the Hebrew and the government agency in- presents the full historical and
and Georgian calendar dates. For volved in the distribution of the numismatic aspects of the subject.
non-Jewish numismatists, there is coins, banknotes and medals of Many unanswered questions about
a listing of Hebrew alphabetical Israel is included to clarify Is- the coins and banknotes of Israel
characters and numbers, with nu- rael's banking system.
and origin are clarified in this
merical combinations.
The New Year Remembrances book.
Fully illustrated, this volume given to collectors by the Israel
Mrs. Sylvia (Rosenblatt) Haff-
includes the state medals and Government Coins and Medals ner, born in 1917 in St. Louis, Mo.;
complete data not only about the Corp. Ltd. are catalogued.
is the great-great-grand daughter
Israeli coins but also those of
The fractional notes of Israel is- of Cantor Joseph Rosenblatt. She
the years under the Palestine sued in 1952-53 are listed for the has been a Zionist since 1945
Mandate.
first time by signature and color, when she joined Hadassah.
This guidebook is numismatic
depth-study of Israel from 1917 to
date.
It encompasses the patterns; From Naomi Shemer's Popular Song "Yerushalayim shel Zahav"
`Jerusalem the Golden'
emergency tokens, mintage figures
(showing the different mints and Mountain air as clear as wine,
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
64—Friday, October 6, 1967
Eilat Will Have Greater Role
in Israel's Future Development
And the scent of pines
Soaring in the evening breeze
With the call of bells.
0 Jerusalem of Gold and of bronze
And of light!
Am I not the harp
For all thy songs?
troduction by Joseph Kessel of
the Academie Francaise.
A French product, replete with
valuable facts, containing signifi-
cant maps, which, in comparison
with current conditions, still retain
great merit, and a very important
chronology of great events in Is-
rael's history feature this splendid
book.
The value of this large book is
that it is not only a commentary
on present-day' Israel but is a
thorough review of past Jewish
history related to current Israeli
creativity.
It is not all compliments. It
points to faults and errors as well
as to achievements. But the author
emphasizes that "no one shirks
work," and at one poirit the author
states: "Whereas the Jew has for
long been called a grasping shop-
k e e p e r and usurer, the Israeli
seems unquestionably to be the
most selfless man on earth. Be-
tween members of kibutzim and
moshavim . . . empoyees in co-
operatives earning the same sal-
ary, researchers who scorn profit,
civil servants who, without a mur-
mur, receive less pay than our
streetcleaners, and soldiers who
earn virtually nothing, we arrive
at a proportion of 20 per cent to
25 per cent of the population who
have chosen to earn their living
instead of money."
In the main, the approach is
positive even in its criticism. It's a
book full of information and the
introduction by Kessel is filled
with stories based on the writer's
experiences, and as a narrative
and as a prefatory portion of an
illustrated boom guides the reader
towards the sharing of the title
"The Israel I Love."
Interestingly e n o u g h, "This
Land of Israel" also is a trans-
lation. Elizabeth Reynolds Hap-
good rendered it into a splendid
English text from the Russian.
The author of this moving story,
Andrei Sedych, a native of the
Crimea, now a U.S. resident,
emigrated to France, was gradu-
ated from the 'University of
Paris, had written 13 books on
historical subjects, was the editor
of a Russian newspaper and had
traveled widely, including Israel,
where he had gathered his - facts
and impressions of the Jewish
State. "This Land of Israel" is
his first book to appear in Eng-
lish.
Having traveled through every
portion of the land, Sedych has
written a travelogue based on his-
tory, and has outlined historical
developments with great skill and
with a deep appreciation of the
accomplishments resulting f r o m
Zionist ideology.
He, too, has incorporated into
his story important dates in Jew-
ish history, and the main task
undertaken by him is to interpret
conditions, to explain aims and de-
velopments, to report on great
movements in Israel and in Jewry.
Because of the sincerity of his
task, the reader gets interesting
views of Histadrut, OAT, Jew-
ish National Fund, Jewish
Agency and other organizational
efforts.
It is as "a small country with
large problems" that Israel is
viewed in this book.
It is a volume filled with real-
ism and with admiration, and it is
interesting to note Sedych's con-
clusion in which he states:
"One can be deligted with or
critical of Israel. It is neither a
heaven nor a hell. It is inhabited
by saints and sinners. It will be
what the Israelis make of it.
"No one possesses the gift of
foresight. Israel stands at a dan-
gerous crossing of historical roads.
It has too many enemies, but the
Jews who returned to the Prom-
ised Land after two thousand
years have learned a lot. They
have faith in the future of their
state and they remember the
blessing of Moses, the man of
God.
"In the fifth book of the Penta-
teuch it is written: 'Happy art
thou, 0 Israel: who is like unto
thee, 0 people saved by the Lord,
the shield of thy help, and who
is the sword of thy excellency!
and thine enemies shall be found
liars unto thee; and thou shalt
tread upon their high places."'
Thus, the reality of Israel has
enchanted modern writers, and the
biblical background has had its
influence, as both volumes just
reviewed indicate: