THE JEWISH NEWS
Pricorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951
Member American Association of English-Jewish Newspapers, Michigan Press Association. National Editorial Association
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit, Mich. 48235,
VE 8-9364. Subscription $7 a year. Foreign $8.
Second Class Postage Paid at Detroit, Michigan
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
Business Manager
SIDNEY SHMARAK
Advertising Manager
CHARLOTTE DUBIN
City Editor
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the 25th day of A•. 5729, the following scriptural selections will
be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Dent. 11:26-16:17. Prophetical portion, Isaiah 54:11-55:5.
Rosh Hodesh Elul Torah Reading, Thursday and Friday, Nuni. 23:1-15.
Candle lighting. Friday. Aug. 8, 7..24 pm.
VOL. LV . No. 21
Page Four
Aug. S, 1969
A Supreme Cultural Attainment
5 Megilloth and Jonah: A JPS Triumph
American Jewry reached its highest meri-
torious peaks not with an increased popula-
tion, or political, social and economic status,
but with its cultural attainments. The estab-
lishment of schools of learning, the literary
creativity of our best scholars, the recognition
gained by our theological seminaries—these
have been the marks of progress in our com-
munity which has emerged as the largest in
world Jewry.
The mark of greatest distinction in the
spiritual-cultural sphere of American Jewish
creativity is the work of the Jewish Publica-
tion Society, now in its seventh decade of
existence, and among the most notable accom-
plishments of the past decade was the com-
mencement of a revision in the translation of
our Scriptures.
Under the direction of Dr. Harry M. Or-
linsky, the first step in that direction was the
publication of the Torah in a revised transla-
tion, and that task well deserves a rating of
major importance in American Jewish his-
tory. For the first time since 1920, when the
previous Jewish Publication Society Bible
translation was published, English-reading
Jews were presented, seven years ago, with a
revised English translation that merits widest
acclaim.
This undertaking deserves to be design-
ated as an historic effort, and the continua-
tion of the translators' labors is among the
very vital dedications to Jewry's cultural
needs by a major publishing project in our
ranks. The continuity is represented in the
newest of the Jewish Publication Society
products, the Hanzesh Megilloth v-Sefer Yonah
— The Five Megilloth and Jonah — and its
appearance is cause for jubilation in Amer-
ican Jewish ranks.
Under the editorship of Prof. H. L. Gins-
berg, with Dr. Orlinsky as his fellow editor
and a group of distinguished scholars assist-
ing them, The Five Megilloth and Jonah is so
impressive typographically, the revised trans-
lation is such a vast improvement, the presen-
tation of the Hebrew text parallel to the Eng-
lish version lends itself so well to students,
teachers and to lay readers that the combined
effort is a source of distinct joy at the new
gift to American Jewry from its major non-
profit publications institution.
Dr. Ginsberg's introductory essays that
accompany all of the megilot — Song of
These introductions offer a course of '
study and are in many respects revealing
commentaries on biblical lore, and they are
based on research that assures authoritative
accounting of the scrolls that are so signific-
ant both in Bible studies and during synago-
gue services on important occasions on our
calendar.
The appearance of The Five Megilloth and
Jonah is an occasion for rejoicing by lovers
of good books, by students of the Bible, by
world Jewry as an entity. in its desire to pre-
sent Scriptures in most readable fashion by
the English speaking and reading communi-
ties.
To the Jewish Publication Society of
America go forth our congratulations for a
great task superbly carried out in its various
airing. What was done in recent years to
prevent calamitous results? Where is the
rabbinate and 'itS • teaching qualities? Why
graphs not only covers the life of the dis-
tinguished Israeli but also serves, in
large measure, as an enhancement Of
aspects of Israeli history.
The printing by Massada Press Ltd.
indicates the advancement that has been
made lithographically by Israeli experts.
Also, the photographic work edited by
Dan Hadani deserves to be complimented.
These physical aspects do not reduce
the importance of the text itself.
This portraiture commences IVAll
an essay by David Ben.Gurion entided
"Dayan's Service as Chief of Staff—A
Significant Turning Point for the Israel
Defense Army." When Dayan retired
Moshe Dayan as Israel chief of staff on Jan. 2e,1958,
Ben•Gurion, as prime minister and minister of defense, wrote to bls
colleague a farewell letter with a glorifying tribute to a great leader
of his country. That tribute serves as the prefacing note to this
impressive work.
stages. The new work augurs well for an
Equally valuable for the biographical study is the article that follows
early completion of the complete translating Ben-Gurion's,
the message by Maj. Gen. Ya'akov Dori under the title
revision of the entire treasure embodied in "The Generation of First Sons," in which one of the men who followed
our Torah, Nevi'im and Ketuvim.
Dayan as chief of staff writes about the young Israelis who proved their
'Attrition,' Ignorance Charge, Search for Solution
A new stage in soul-searching and self-
testing has been reached at the American-
Israel Dialogue just concluded in Haifa. As
a challenge to both American and Israeli
Jewries, the warning was issued that there is
an "attrition of Jewishness" in the United
States and that there is "a threat to Jewish
continuity both in the United States and in
Israel."
While we have had panic-mongers in all
ages, and whenever there is a crisis in Jewish
life we have been admonished to expect a
collapse of Jewishness, the current one as-
sumes new proportions in view of the free-
doms that have been attained as well as the
battles for survival under unusual circum-
stances.
It is because never before has there been
such a great opportunity to advance Jewish
learning, while the temptations from the out-
side may be luring Jews away from their
heritage.
Yet, in the light of the apparent sensa-
tionalism of the latest attitude of concern
some basic questions must be posed to peo-
ple in responsible positions:
The warnings uttered in Haifa are not
new, yet they were taken to Israel for an
Moshe Dayan Portrait Idolizes
Hero, Signifies Israel's Glory
Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes and
the Esther and the Book of Jonah — repre-
sent the contributions of one of the most dis-
tinguished scholars in American Jewry. They
Printed in Israel, distributed in this country by Dodd, Mead and Co.,
enlighten and they guide the reader in a an unusually impressive work presents to the English reader an unusual
better understanding of the six books when account of the life of one of the great men in Israel.
they are read, respectively, on the Sabbath
"Moshe Dayan—A Portrait," edited by Pinhas Jurman, contains the
of Passover, Shavuot, Sukkot. Purim and
life story of the Israel minister of defense,
Yom Kippur.
and its extensive collection of photo-
are our schools inadequate in meeting the
emerging problems?
Indeed, what has prevented our national
organizations, like the American Jewish Con-
gress which sponsors the challenging Ameri-
can-Israel Dialogues, from rendering the
service that must lead towards an upbuild-
ing of Jewish interests rather than to permit
a decline that causes despair?
Responsibility for action to avert a fur-
ther decline in Jewish identification is too
great to permit sensationalism of any sort,
whether it stems from national organizations,
synagogues or individuals.
mettle in the struggle for freedom and independence. Both these essays
provide excellent settings for the Dayan biography.
The story as related in this important book commences, of course,
with Dayan's childhood, introducing parents, family, the kibutz (De-
ganiah) where the future hero of Israel's wars for independence and
liberty was born in an important Jewish settlement which was often
under fire, still being under attack from neighboring enemies.
Dayan's life is not limited to his generalship in Israel's army.
He was engaged in Hagana activities, was under arrest by the Bri-
tish, served two years in Acco prison together with 42 others. Thts
did not reduce his loyalty to the cause of *glee, and he was among
those who enlisted in the British army to battle the Nazis. It was le
one such battle that he lost an eye. It is clear that Dayan was the
loyal defender of the democratic idea, and while be opposed British
as well as Arab intransigence, he nevertheless was engaged it
every activity to elevate the standards of Arabs and to defend the
democratic principles in World War II.
These facts are relevant in a story that depicts the life of one of the
What we need is a combined effort to im- great heroes of the 20th Century who is to this day among the leading
prove our school systems, to encourage great- contenders for leadership in the Israel government.
er participation in Jewish activities, to make
it possible for the ablest young people to
assume teaching posts in the Jewish com-
munities.
Serious duties rest upon synagogues and
rabbis to plan more practically to induce an
interest in the spiritual-cultural life of our
people. We realize that advice-giving is easier
than it is to find a path towards solving our
problems and to follow rules in assuring
effective action. But just as advice-giving
without proper action is inadmissible, so also
is resort to panicky assertions. If we get to-
gether for action, we should find a solution.
And search for a solution must be in the
spirit of confidence that Am Yisrael Hai —
that- the people - Ittaetlives.
On this score, too, Dayan's life story as depicted here serves as a
guide for students of history because his views are presented in oul-
lining Israel's role in her struggle for independence and justice.
On a black page, with a Small photo of Dayan with his eyepatcb,
appears a brief item from Davar Daily of Oct. 10, 1941: "In Nahalal, MS
in all other settlements, everybody is showing sympathy for relative.
and friends of Moshe Dayan (son of Shmuel Dayan), who was wounded
on Saturday night during the advance into Syria and Lebanon. Yesteth
day he was taken to a hospital in Haifa, where an operation on one of
his eyes and his face was performed."
Briefly this is the story of the loss of his eye. But the
is to his role in the British forces.
reference
He was born in Deganya, was raised in Nahalal, emerged as onedl
Israel's treasured sons. His life story reads like a novel. It is the stow
of Israel which reads like fiction but is in truth genuine history.
That's the significance of this great. book "Moshe Dayan — A DIN
trait'" "-' "
—