1••••••• ■ .10....4.• Par Lagerkvist's Novel 'Herod and Mariamne': Its Historical Shortcomings Christologically Par Lagerkvist, the 1951 Nobel Prize winner in literature, is in- clined to write on religious sub- jects, on the Holy Land and the Christian mythological themes. He is the superb allegorist, the author of parables, which he incorporated christologically in "The Holy Land," "The Death of Ahasuerus," "Barabbas," and now in "Herod a n d Mariamne" published by Knopf. It is a dramatic story about the cruel king of Judaea, Herod, his hatred for the Maccabees who fought him because he was an Edomite and was not fully circum- cized, and his love for Mariamne, the beautiful girl who was herself from the ranks of the Maccabean folks in Israel. Lagerkvist's novel — brief, in his usual style—limited to 110 pages—ably translated from the Swedish by Naomi Walford—de- scribes Herod's dedication to the temple he was building, a temple that was to be finer and larger and more affluent in the jewels and wealth it was to iisplay than was Solomon's. Mariamne showed no interest in his/temple; she is described as not having needed it. Mariamne managed, before her marriage to Herod, to rescue some lives of her relatives the Macca- bees. That's how she came to visit him. Later, after a brief period of Herod's al)tention from cruelty, he resumed his war against the Maccabees, annihilated the town whence Mariamne came, suspected her of having given messages to her kinfolk, had her murdered but to his last days mourned her be- cause she of all the women he had was his greatest love. His final words were "Mariamne, Mari- amne." So far, we have in Lagerkvist's "Herod and Mariamne" a bit of ancient history. It is limited history —Lagerkvist does not tell about Mariamne's two sons from the marriage with Herod, Alexander and Aristobulus, who also were murdered because Herod did not want the seed of a Maccabee to survive. Lagerkvist does not state that, while Herod's love for Mariamne is unquestioned, that he wanted a link with a Maccabee to coun- teract the Jewish people's hatred for him and his assumption of kingship because he was not a Judaean but of foreign blood. But the most deplorable part in Lagerkvist's "Herod and Mari- amne" is resort unnecessarily to christology by injecting into this novel the theme of the three wise men and the appearance of a star on the horizon. He is not to be blamed for re- sorting to Christian mythology in making use of this theme, but his- torically such a parable is a dis- tortion. Herod, who was called "the Great" because of his conquests and possibly also because he re- built the Temple in Jerusalem, (the Masada exhibit relates not to Solomon's but to Herod's Temple), ruled from 37 to 4 BCE. It was before the Christian era, and certainly long before the Pauline period when Jesus (the star intended in the Lagerkvist parable) was a reality on the world's scene. But creators of parables un- doubtedly have their novelists' and poets' right to do a little deviating. Youth News Applications for Hebrew Teacher's College Taken Applications are now being ac- cepted from men and women ages 18.25, for the academic year 1969- 70 at the Hayim Greenberg, teach- er training institute, Jerusalem. Two study programs are avail-, able — an advanced course of studies for those presently attend- ing one of the recognized Hebrew teachers colleges in the United States, and a more basic program for applicants with a less advanced background. Students at the institute spend a year in Israel on full maintenance and tuition scholarship, and attend institute classes 24 periods each week. The year's work includes travel and a kibutz work period. Applications may be obtained from Dr. Mordecai S. Chertoff of the department of education and culture of the Jewish Agency, 515 Park Ave., New York 10022. FS They Made the Grade GLORIA H. GOLDMAN, daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Gold- man of Stoepel Ave., and NAOMI WAINER, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sol Wainer of Marshall Rd., Southfield, will appear in the roles of "Prudence" and "Olympe" re- spectively in Tennessee William's play, "Camino Real" opening 8:30 p.m. today at Wayne State Univer- sity's Bonstelle Theater. * MARLENE HECKER of Lincoln Terrace Dr., Oak Park, was re- cently elected sweetheart of Tau Epsilon Phi Fraternity, Wayne State University chapter. TeMple Israel Youth to Lead Creative Service The youth group of Temple Is- rael will lead Sabbath morning services Saturday - The first creative youth service 'Midnight Shift' to Work of the year, "The Chosen. People" will have participants :from both at Bnai Moshe Jam the youth group and the high school Sean Conrad, disc jockey from choir, under the direceon of Cantor station WKNR, will be featured at Harold Orbach. a teen-age jam with 'two featured bands, the "Misunderstood" and "Midnight Shift," 8:30 p.m. Nov. Registration Open Again for WSU Yiddish Class 27 at Cong. Bnai Moshe. Students who wish to enroll for Refreshments and prizes will be featured at the jam, sponsored by the next quarter of beginners Yid- the Bnai Moshe Youth Commission. dish at Wayne State University may do so now by calling Hillel It is open to all Jewish youth. For information' or tickets call House, TE 1-0129. The next quarter Bnai Moshe, 548-9000; or Jeff begins Jan. 6. Kovacs, 353-2366. Classes are taught by Detroit 4 4 4: educator Movsas Goldoftas two Rabbi Moses Lehrman will install afternoons a week in Room 446 of the new officers of the junior con- the university library. gregation Saturday in the main sanctuary. Denny McLain pitched 336 in- Officers include Morris Mickel- nings for the Tigers in 1968, lead- son, president; Sam Mickelson, ing the league. He was the first vice president; Lisa Roth, secre- Tiger to pitch more than 300 tary; and Bruce Braverman and innings since Hal Newhouser did it Kenneth Garber, gabbais. in 1945. 32—Friday, November 15, 1968 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS - 1,7 Sam Mayldels Celebrate 50 Years of Marriage The reader, however, should know the historic facts. Perhaps parable can be better appreciated when the true details are known. Lagerkvist writes brilliantly. His "Herod and Mariamne" is a brilliant novel— with historic data told only in lim- ited form and the injection of the three wise men and the star a utilization for fiction and not for historic reality. —P. S. RADOM TAILORS AND CLOTH- IERS, 22141 Coolidge, in celebra- tion of its 11th anniversary in Oak Park, is offering a storewide sale of 20 per cent off on the entire stock of brand-name men's suits, sport coats, slacks, topcoats, haberdashery and formal wear. Alterations will be free. Proprietors of the store are the late Mr. Ra- dom's daughter and son-in-law, Mn, and Mrs. Louis Levinson, who continue the store's tradition of personalized service, expert tailor- ing and alterations on all clothing. Ladies' alterations are under the supervision of Rosa Levinson, a stylist and fashion coordinator. * * Weekly Quiz By RABBI SAMUEL J. FOX j gency, Inc.) e wish TIcrariiiig A Why is a mourner forbidden to work during the seven days of mourning? The rabbis in the Talmud de- duce this prohibition from a verse in the Book of Amos (8:10) which reads: "I will turn your festivals into mourning." From this they learn that "as labor is forbidden during a festival so is it forbidden during mourning" (Talmud Babli, Mo'd Katan 16b, 20a). The logic behind this association is quite ob- vious. Both the gaiety that is re- quired during a festival and the sadness -that is required during the seven days of mourning require a certain state of mind. Ordinary labor detracts from the spirit of joy during the festival as it does from the spirit of grief during the seven days of mourning. One of the later rabbinic authorities (Ginath Verdaim) explains that any man- ner of labor is forbidden especially during the first three days of mourning under any circumstances because the first three days are those in which a mourner is sup- posed to cry over his loss. Being engaged in work takes his attention away from the matter at hand so much that he cannot engage in crying. Apparently the rabbis con- sidered crying a necessary act which probably was an indispen- sable tool of relieving the anxiety and pressing grief of the mourner. * * * Why is the greeting one gives to his neighbor on the Sabbath different from that which is of- fered on any other day of the week? (On a weekday, one says "Shalom Aleihem." On the Sab- bath one says "Shabat Shalom" or "Gut Shabos.") Basically this is one of the ways in which a Jew remembers the Commandment to "Remember the Sabbath Day." By doing things differently on the Sabbath he brings attention to the fact that the Sabbath is a different day than any other day of the week. He is thus "remembering the Sabbath to keep it , (or really to make it) holy," (setting it apart and making it different than the ordinary day of the week). A recent writer ex- plained that when a Jew greets his fellow Jew with the expression "Shabat Shalom" ("A Sabbath of Peace") he is actually expressing the fact that the Sabbath brings both peace and harmony between body and soul. In the weekday, the-soul rejoices in study and wor- ship while the body grieves be- cause its bodily pleasures are ne- glected during worship and study. The body rejoices in partaking of food while the soul is grieved, be- cause of the time spent in eating, taking one away from study and worship. On the Sabbath the meals that one eats accomplish a spirit- ual fulfillment as well; likewise the time spent in worship and study present no material loss to the body which seeks material gain, labor is forbidden on the Sabbath anyway and there could not have been any material gain. Thus the time spent in study and worship prevents the bodily in- stincts from becoming monotonous. The American Diabetes Associa- tion reports that the prevalence of diabetes in the United States has increased almost 95 per cent since 1950. Diabetes now ranks eighth among the causes of death by dis- ease. Business Brevities MR. AND MRS. SAM MANDEL Mr. and Mrs. Sam Mandel, 20551 Lahser, celebrated their 50th wed- ding anniversary Nov. 3 at a din- ner-dance at Cong. Beth Hillel. They are the parents of Arnold, Mrs. Lucille Gordon and Mrs. Har- old Levin. Married in New York City, Ann and Sam Mandel moved to Detroit in 1944. They have eight grandchil- dren. Reagan Biography by Bill Boyarsky Governor Ronald Reagan's emergence as a possible Presi- dential candidate creates wide in- terest in the career of the noted actor who has gained so much popularity in his own state and is acquiring an increased following throughout the land. Bill Boyarsky has written an interesting biographical sketch of the popular Republican in "The Rise of Ronald Reagan." This story of a noted actor now a major political figure is a candid and truly objective review of a successful and impressive person- ality. Many charges, especially those relating to the John Birchers, are futed here. Boyarsky presents his hero as "a spokesman and a leader." This biography will be read with great interest as his political career develops. —P.S. In a recent BEE KALT TRAVEL SERVICE advertisement for a spe- cial weightwatchers group package to Lido Spa in Miami Beach, the price should have been $238.50, per person, double occupancy leaving Nov. 20. The trip includes air fare, transfers, free daily massage, free golf and tennis, all spa facilities, all meals and much more. For fur- ther information, call the agency, JO 6-1490 or LI 9-6733. The Jewish News regrets any inconvenience our error may have caused. MUSIC BY SAM BARNETT AND HIS ORCHESTRA LI 1-2563 J. .1. CLARKE STUDIO Portraiture of Distinction For Your Weddings Formals - Candids - Direct Color 3223 W. McNichols Nr. Muirland _ Call 341-4141 Music the stein_wu y DICK STEIN & ORCHESTRA LI 7..2770 Classified Ads Get Quick Results WE RENT AND SELL A COMPLETE LINE OF FORMAL WEAR Including the New Double Breasted Tuxedo ALSO FEATURING A FINE SELECTION OF MEN'S CLOTHING "AT THE LOWEST PRICES IN TOWN" HAN DELSMAN 7651 W. MCNICHOLS AT SANTA BARBARA UN 4-7408 1938 GRADUATES CENTRAL HIGH CLASS REUNION Sat.,Nov.30 Phone 868-9659 358-5518