Masada Story Dramatically Fictionalized
in Gneron's .111 S Volume 'The End of _Days'
Masada, the fortress that was
besieged by the Romans in the first
century of this era and was cap-
tured only after all of the surviving
Jewish defenders, numbering more
than 900, had committed suicide
rather than fall into the hands of
the enemy as slaves or prisoners
or possibly facing death at their
hands, has been a subject of great-
est interest in recent years after
the mountainous historic site had
been evacuated and restored.
Now one of the greatest attrac-
tions for tourists as well as Israelis,
Masada has been the subject of
illustrated lectures, and the slogan
shenit Masada lo tipol —Masada
shall not fall a second time—has
become a slogan for Israelis and
pro-Israelis.
The theme has become the sub-
ject for essayists and fiction
writers. A novel just issued by the
Jewish Publication Society of
America — "The End of Days" —
portrays the Masada theme. In it
the novelist, Daniel Gr-vron, who
now lives in Arad near Masada,
1
Grand Rapids
News Notes
Nlay 1—Kahn Bat Mitzva, Temple
Emanuel
2—Barkin Bar Mitzva,
Ahavas Israel
2-4—Antique Show, Temple
Emanuel
3—Grand Rapids Temple
Youth Elections
5—Ahavas Israel Sisterhood
Board
6—United Synagogue Youth
Executive Board
7—Temple Emanuel Sister-
hood Board
—Bnai Brith
Temple Emanuel Sisterhood will
sponsor an antique sohw May 2-4
at the temple. Mrs. Ben Goldstein
is general chairman.
Temple Emanuel will hold its
Spring Cotillion 8:30 p.m. May 9
at the temple. Co-chairmen Sam
Kravitz and Ben Pious are tak-
ing reservations at 241-3144 and
452-6772, respectively. Reserva-
tions are limited to the first 75
couples. Dancing will be to San-
dy- Norian's five-piece combo.
Dr. Arieh Plotkin, who served
as intelligence officer in the Israel
Defense Forces, will be guest
speaker at the Israel 22nd anni-
versary reception 8 p.m. May 13
at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Per-
cy A. Berman, 2465 Fletcher NE.
The reception will be on behalf of
State of Israel Bonds and also will
celebrate the 20th anniversary of
the Israel Bond campaign.
Dr. Arieh Plotkin recently ar-
rived from Israel with first-hand
information on the Middle East.
The first Israeli citizen to be ad-
mitted to Princeton University's
Woodrow Wilson School of Public
and International Affairs, Dr. Plot-
kin obtained his MA and PhD de-
grees from Princeton, whore he
was a member of the faculty.
For information on the recep-
tion, contact Mr. or Mrs. Percy
A. Berman, 456-5200.
Mrs. Ely Remes, 62,
Clubwoman, Dies
Mrs. Julia Remes, 2717 Coit NE,
active member in local clubs sev-
eral years, died April 22 at age
62.
Mrs. Remes, a lifelong resident
here, was the wife of Ely Remes,
president of Remegi Drug Stores.
She was a member of Cong.
Ahavas Israel and sisterhood,
Hadassah, Women's City Club and
the Ladies' Literary Club.
Besides her husband, she is
survived by a son, Norton; a
daughter, Mrs. Norman Leven;
two sisters, Mrs. Herbert Aronson
and Mrs. Morris Bloomfield, both
of Miami; and five grandchildren.
who was educated in England and
settled in Kibutz Amiad and now is
the Negev University's director of
public relations, describes the
Judean-Roman war, delineates the
chief characters, tells of the role
of the Sicarfi—the rebels who be-
came known from the daggers, the
Sica, they carried—and dramatic-
ally describes the manner in which
the people slaughtered each other
in order to prevent falling alone
into Roman hands.
Gavron's novel is, of course,
historical, and its major signifi-
cance is in the the directness
with which he '‘eans upon author-
ities in portraying his theme. He
commences with the four sen-
tences in the second chapter of
Isaiah, "And it shall come to
pass in the end of days," indicat-
ing at once the source for the
title for the book. In that source
also, perhaps most appropriately
because it is in the quotation
from Isaiah the Prophet spoke
about the Law coming out of
Zion, while the incidents in the
Bible end in death, the affirma-
tion is for an indestructible Jew-
ish survival.
Then there are the references to
Flavius Josephus' "The Jewish
War," and the very first one is
about Menahem in 66 C. E. who, in
Josephus, is quoted: "Meanwhile
some of those most anxious for war
made a united attack on a fort
called Masada, captured it by
stealth, and exterminated the Rom-
an garrison, putting one of their
own in its place." That's how it
began and then came the self-ex-
termination of the Jewish garrison
Depicting the Jewish War
Against Rome, 66-73 C.E., Gay.
ron describes at length the lead-
ership and activities of the rebel
chief, Eleazar. He traces his-
tory, the era of Herod. He tells
about Flavins Silva who was the
Roman procurator of Judea. He
draws upon the Bible for histori-
cal background and Josephus is
his major source of the details.
Many are the historic personali-
ties who form the cast of charac-
ters in Gavron's "The End of
Days." Simon bar Giora is there—
the notable figure who did not re-
turn to Masada, who gathered ad-
herents to carry on the war ;:gainst
Rome, who inspired the Zealots.
He was captured when the walls of
Jerusalem fell.
The suicidal roles are part of the
sad drama which makes "The End
of Days" a deeply moving story
that serves as a valuable adden-
dum to the famous episodes of
heroism and sacrifice. —P.S.
Canadian Commons OKs Anti-Genocide Bill
MONTREAL (JTA) — The gov- written or oral incitement to geno-
ernment sponsored anti-genocide, cide against any ethnic or national
anti-hate propaganda bill passed minority.
third and final reading by a vote
of 89-45 in the House of Commons THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Friday, May 1, 1970-9
after a week of sharp debate. The
bill now goes to the Senate, which
must accept it with all the amend-
ments voted in Commons. Senate
approval is considered a formality.
Most of those who voted against
the bill in the House were con-
• Selected fine Jewelry
servatives and members of the
and Diamonds
New Democratic Party. Several,
Large Selection of
during the week long debate, ex-
Fine Opal. Jewelry
pressed the view that the bill's
Watch and Jewelry Repair
passage would signify a corrosion
IRV ASHIN
of the Canadian Bill of Rights. The
measure, which was first intro-
LI 7-5068
duced by the prime minister.
13720 W. 9 Mile
would sentence to five years' im-
Near Post erfice
prisonment persons who engage in
OAK PARK
WATCH REPAIR
BUY or LEASE
A Coll Will Save You Money
Harry Abram
891-2360
Res. LI 8-4119
SHORE CHEVROLET
12240 JOS. CAMPAO, DETROI"
(All X - ways Lead To Our Office
Lorry Stern
891-0600
Res. 358-2232
COMPLETE THE TASK
SHARE IN THE ACHIEVEMENT
The response to the humanitarian needs of world Jewry
has been magnificent. The Detroit Jewish community will
once again prove its generosity and its understanding.
JOIN US AT THE
1970 ALLIED JEWISH CAMPAIGN
ISRAEL EMERGENCY FUND
VICTORY DINNER
Wednesday, May 6
Jewish Community Center
Shiffman Hall
18100 Meyers Road, Detroit
Reception 6:15 p.m. Dinner 7:00 p.m.
$7.50 per plate
for reservations phone WO 5-3939
Alan E. Schwartz
Maxwell Jospey
Federation President
Campaign Chairman
Performance by the
Festival Dancers of the Jewish
Community Center