58—Friday, April 12, 1968 - THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS ' `Hesed in the BibleI—Dr. Glueck's Contribution to Theologic Studies A significant theologic study no doubt that Glueck's interpreta- which was widely acclaimed when tion has remained primary." first published in 1927 has been Dr. Glueck's ' essay was his reissued in an English translation doctoral dissertation in 1927. It frotn the German by Hebrew is a thorough analysis of the Union College Press. "hesed" relationships and com- mences with a clarification of "`1-lesed' in the Bible" by Dr. the concept, those who practice Nelson Glueck, edited by Elias, L. it, its measure of human con- Epstein, translated by Dr. Alfred duct. "Hesed" thus is viewed in Gottschalk, of the Los Angeles the primary essay by the emi- Hebrew Union nent HUC scholar as "conduct College faculty, corresponding to a mutual re- also contains in lationship of rights and duties." the new edition In its religious meaning, as a a n introduction reciprocal conduct of man to man, by Dr. Gerald A. as a human relationship, Dr. Glu- Larne, professor eck treats the term in ethical of archaeology of terms and gives this among his the University of definitions: "Subjectively under- Southern Califor- : stood, 'hesed' can appear as favor, nia, who adds mercy, compassion. Objectively, scholarly re `hesed' remains obligatory, de- search in the termined by the divine-based ethi- form of "Recent cal commandments which are the Studies in 'He- laws of human society." sed.' " The major portion of Dr. The pioneer Glueck's essay treats "hesed" as study by Prof. "divine conduct" and he reaches Glueck, now the these conclusions: president of Heb- "God's 'hesed' can only be un- rew Union Col-- derstood as Yahweh's covenental Dr. Glueck lege-Jewish Insti- relationship toward his followers. tute of Religion, again gains re- "The significance of 'hesed' can cognition from Prof. Gottschalk as be rendered by `loyalty,' mutual "a basic source for biblical scho- aid' or 'reciprocal love.' larship and theology." "If God's 'hesed' is compre- Prof. Larue offers explana- hended in this manner, then it is tory comparisons between "hen" certain that only those who stand and "hesed": describing as "gra- in an ethical and religious rela- cious and favorable action pass- tionship to Him may receive and big from a superior to an expect. - "In his 'hesed' God ManifeSts inferior,an action that could not be forced or demanded"; His strength and power in behalf "hen" used "in making a re- of His faithful and brings them quest" h. a v. i n g the force of aid and salvation. "God's ':hesed' is the result, - of "please"; and "hesedl.l. is defined as being._ "employed drily ., where His covenant, or :His promise ar a previous bond exists as in re- oath. - "The.`hesed' of: God is very lationships of kinShip, marriage, betrothal, guest-friendship . . closely -related to his 'rahamim' found in the covenant relation- (Mercy) but distiniuished from it ship I.. . rich and impressive by its more positive `character. . The ... can be broken only -by a man Characteristic of loYalty which be- who has everything to loSe, al- longs to the concept of "hesed' is alien to the concept of crahamim.' " though God is also a loser." Dr. Glueck's essay has inspired Dr. Larue cle -;cribes "hesed" as many studies in the.-biblical refer- a divine quality appearing in ences and the traditional interpre- prophetle w,.it'ngs. He draws upon ta tions of -"hesed." The reprinting a wide variety of scholarship to of the significant study deservedly show that the term "hesed" is re- receives renewed acclaim. lated to the religious life of man,". that "the study of the phrase 'as - a "Not Worth a Dam" hesed' provides no distinction be- "Not worth a dam" (sic) is no tween the content of divine and more profane than "not worth- a human tesed' (unless it be in red cent." English traders invented divine perfection)." the phrase which refers to the There - is a thorough exploration "dam," a small, brass Indian coin of the "hen-hesed" relationship, . worth about a penny. "Not worth a tinker's darn" is and Dr. Larue declares in his tri- not profane either. Used in plumb- bute:to Dr. Glueck's work: "Despite research done on ing repairs, tinker's dams were "hesed" by others subsequent to made of- clay or similar material the first publication of - Nelson and were thrown away when the Glueck's monograph, there can be job was done. , BY HENRY LEONARD Benediction for 'Not Having Been Made a Woman' sible for the care of the home and the children and this is considered There is a benediction in the at least equally important or per- prayer book which is recited every haps more important than he car- morning by men who thank the rying, out of additional religious or Almighty for "not having been ritual obligations. This blessing is particularly - phrased in the nega- made women." This has been a most misunder- tive (i.e. "who has not made 'me stood custom. It certainly was not a woman" and not "who has made instituted because women were re- me a man") according to some garded as being inferior. In the commentaries, because as far as Cairo Geniza, a text for this bless- having been brought upon this world is concerned, it seemed to ing has been found which express- have been the consensus of opin- es it by giving thanks to the Al- mighty for having made- one "a ion of the rabbis that man would man and not a woman." It is re- have been better off not having lated that the early Greek philos- been born (or made) at all. (Tal- ophers claimed that amongst the mud Bavli, Erubin 13b). Indeed blessings a person should make the vicissitudes of life are such every day is that he was made "a that whatever one does attain is male and not a female." The often offset by the struggles, the source of the blessing we make is sins and the shortcomings one en- in the Talmud (Menahot 43b). dures and perpetrates. However, The medieval commentary to the since Providence has made it so prayer book authored by Abudra- that we were born, it is best to ham explains that this benediction have been born with the opportun- was instituted to make a man ity of observing as many command- aware of the fact that he has more ments as possible (i.e. a man as religious obligations than a woman contrasted to a woman who is ex- has and, instead of considering empt from many commandments Some commentaries (like Wolf this an additional burden, he should be thankful that he has ad- Yaawetz) claim that this was in- ditional ways to serve the Al- troduced to relfect upon the fate mighty. Women, in Jewish tradi- assigned to Eve in the Book of tion, have been excused from the Genesis where her destiny to be positive obligation of certain com- pained in labor is mentioned mandments — especially those amongst other difficulties that wo- which come at certain appointed men bear. Some sophisticated writ- times — because they are respon-/ ers have claimed yet another inter- pretation. Sin somehow seems al- most unavoidable for the common man. In the original story of Gen- esis, it was man who sinned while BY RABBI SAMUEL J. FOX (Copyright 1967, JTA Inc.) Beginner's Hebrew Transcribed Into Braille for Blind HELEN Z1NBERG, R.E. NEW YORK — The transcription into Braille of a Hebrew course Remove Hair Permanently for beginners is being undertaken by the Jewish Braille Institute of 8221 Curtis cor. Roselawn Anierica in cooperation with the Phone for Appt.—UN 2-8914 TarbUth Foundation for the Ad- varicethent of Hebrew Culture. The course will appear in regu- lar installments in the • Jewish Happy Passover To All Braille Review and will • also be I available in book form, according to Dr. Jacob Fried, executive di- rector of - the JeWish Braille Insti- tute. The publications of the insti- I tute are distributed in 36 countries including Israel, and are read by 17606 Sussex Jewish as well as non-Jewish blind. L(14111111•1.1 ■ 11.1 ■ 041•1.0.1!tHINNK10101 ■ 0•11M.1.11MI•041 ■ 0•11=1,1 The production of a course in con- versational Hebrew for the blind responds ` to awide-felt interest and Passover Greetings to All marks a first venture in this area. RYNNE CHINA CO. Dr. Wpm° Kodesh of Jerusalem Largest White China Dealers is the author of the course, which in the Midwest Everything for China Painter appeared originally in weekly news- Imports from France, Germany paper columns in American-Jewish and Japan weeklies throughout the country, LI 2-8700 222 W. 8 Mile under - the joint sponsbrship of the 1 Blk. W. of John R. Hazel Park Tarbuth Foundation and the Ameri can-Jewish Press AssoCiation. MR. AND MRS. MEYER LEVIN Happy Passover 41 Mimco Custom Gallery 24200 Telegraph 353-9554 Bess Roseman Holiday Greetings from ROBINHOOD'S Where Only the Finest and Best Foods Are Served 20176 Livernois 4 11/2 blocke South of 8 Mile Road UN 2-9762 Open 24 Hours r . t.....,.......................................... 1 . .. PASSOVER GREETING Sam's Carpet and Furniture Cleaning 18011 Hubbell UN 4-6203 A•111.0.111111.0 ■0■ 41.1=1/1.01 ■ 411 ■41■ 11.011 =1.1 .■ The Greenberg Agency Inc. 17634 James Couzens HAPPY HOLIDAY POWELL PRINTING CO. Letter-press - Offset 2545 Waverly TO 6-8130 1 ■ 10 11111, 1 Air . Happy Passover ZEMAN'S NEW YORK BAKERY 12945 W. 7 Mile Rd. UN 2-7980 Passover Good Cheer PASADENA Kosher Meat Market Tommy`S Barber. Shop. 18615 .4 Best Wishes For A Happy Passover Happy Passover Passover Best Wishes . Israel Pipeline to Bypass Suez JERUSALEM—P & F Industries Inc., Syosset, N.Y., has been award- ed a $1,500,000 contract by the gov- erninent of Israel to expand a pipe- manufacturing facility in Tel Aviv. The pipe-manfacturing facility will supply pipe for a $80,000,000 pipe- lines across Israel capable of transporting 1,000,000 barrels of . The pipeline ' will crude oil daily run. from Eilat on the Gulf of • Aqaba to the Port of. AShdod. The new . line will be capable of carry- • ing nearly one-third of the crude • oil,. which normally could move • • through the Suez Canal each day • • by tankers. women not only sinned but caused man to sin. They say, therefore, that it is better, if sin is inevitable, to be a sinner rather than to be cast in the role of tempting others to sin, a role which women often are unintentionally cast into be- cause of the powers of attraction which the Almighty has bestowed upon them. 24721 Coolidge Hwy. Ook Park, Mich. 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