Dr. Marcus' Epic on U.S. Jewish Beginnings
By BERTRAM WALLACE KORN
To be published this November is
a monumental work on colonial
American Jewry by Prof. Jacob
Rader Marcus of Hebrew Union
College-Jewish Institute of Reli-
gion in Cincinnati. The capstone
of Prof. Marcus' research into the
origins of what has become the
largest and wealthiest Jewish com-
munity the world has ever known,
"The Colonial American Jew,
1492-1776," appears under the im-
print of Wayne State University
Press.
Prof. Marcus' three-volume work
includes 77 chapters in more than
1,300 pages, and almost 200 pages
of bibliographical references. Al-
though it is one of the largest
works ever written on American
Jewish life and, therefore, includes
more data and analytical interpre-
tation than most others, its im-
portance is not merely quantita-
tive. It is not intended simply to
heap up more factual colonial Jew-
ish material than can be found in
any other location (much as this
in itself is a significant contribu-
tion to anyone who ever searches
through the hundreds of journals
and quarterlies and other publica-
tions which have included some of
this material). Its author aspires
rather to present a comprehensive,
fully-rounded view of the begin-
nings of Jewish life in the New
World, and especially in the 13
colonies which were ultimately to
produce the foundation of the free-
dom and wide-ranging participa-
tion in all aspects of human en-
deavor which American Jewry con-
notes today.
Geographically, the reader
moves swiftly from Europe to
South and Central America and
the West Indies, then to the
earliest settlements in North
America, and finally, to an ex-
haustive investigation of Amer-
West Bank Arabs Split on Future;
Hundreds Seek to Extend Visits
TEL AVIV (JTA) — Opinion
among West Bank Arabs as to
their own political future is sharp-
ly divided. Several factions have
emerged since the civil war in
Jordan in September emphasizing
the schism and giving rise to a
generation gap.
This was indicated by a group
of young West Bank and East Je-
rusalem intellectuals, who are de-
bating whether to ask Israeli au-
thorities for permission to hold a
"Palestinian Congress."
The group is headed by Ahmed
Baram, a journalist employed by
the East Jerusalem Arabic news-
paper El Anba, and includes a
number of local merchants and
two lawyers from the Gaza Strip.
But the main purpose of their
congress seems to be to counter
a "Palestinian Congress" proposed
by Sheikh All Jaabari, the militant
mayor of Hebron who is disliked
by the younger generation. Sheikh
All favors closer ties with King
Hussein of Jordan.
The young group also has been
threatened by pro-terrorist ex-
tremists en the West Bank who
accuse them of "playing into the
hands of the Israelis."
Meanwhile, the Israeli mili-
tary government on the West
Bank is studying applications
from hundreds of Jordanians for
extension of their visitors' per-
mits.
Most of the applicants were
visiting relatives on the West
Bank when civil war brOke out in
Jordan last September. Although
the fighting in Jordan has ended,
they do not want to return.
Most of the permits expired
Sept. 15 but Israeli authorities al-
lowed the Jordanians to remain
in view of the situation across the
border. About 150 extensions were
granted in keeping with Israel's
general scheme of family reunion.
But the authorities have warned
the others that they will have to
leave.
Nevertheless, each request for
an extension is reportedly being
considered on its individual merit.
`Portnoy' to Be Filmed
By HERBERT G. LUFT
(Copyright 1970, JTA, Inc.)
Philip Roth's bestselling novel,
"Portnoy's Complaint," critically
acclaimed and attracting more
customers than any other book of
fiction this year—yet also violently
condemned for its none-too:11attern-
ing Jewish characterizations—has'
been acquired by Warner Bros. for
filmiration. Production will com-
mence early in 1971 in Burbank
and with exterior slated for New
York, New Jersey, Rome and Tel
Aviv. No cast has -been set so
far, but the selection of an un-
known to play "Portnoy" is a pos-
sibility.
The motion picture will be
directed by Ernest Lehman from
his already completed screenplay,
and produced by him in as-
sociation with Sidney Beckerman.
Lehman has been connected as
writer-producer with the award-
winning Elizabeth Taylor-Richard
Burton film, "Who's Afraid of
Virginia Woolf?," as well as with
such wholesome musicals as "The
Sound of Musi c" and "Hello
Dolly!"
lean Jewish commanit:es before
1776.
There follows a relentless, in-
depth search for understanding of
the political status, the economic
role, and the religious and educa-
tional aspects of American Jewish
life. The final section evaluates
the Jew in relation to the large
community in terms of patterns of
acceptance and rejection, the reali-
ties of assimilation and intermar-
riage, and Jewish views of and
participation in the American
Revolution.
The sweep of the work is epic;
the breadth of its coverage is
encyclopedic (ably abetted by a
highly detailed index); the author's
style is urbane and warm and
witty; the work will appeal to
everyone who is interested in un-
derstanding the realities of Jewish
life in the American past
I began to read the proofs of
this huge work with a prejudice
in favor of Dr. Marcus and his
field of study. He is my teacher
still today, 27 years after I took
his course in American Jewish
history (the first ever offered in
an institution of higher learning).
But I was still altogether unpre-
pared for the utter fascination of
this magnificent spread of coordi-
nated and integrated information—
much of it totally new and wonder-
fully illuminating — richly woven
into the tapestry both of Jewish
history in the large, and of the
drama of the American dream.
Many who consult the work while
searching for information will re-
main in its pages and chapters
altogether entranced with its su-
perb, simple beauty:
I. I. Katz Honorary VP
El Al Walkout Ends;
of UAHC Regional Unit
Teachers Continue Strike
In recognition of his contribu-
TEL AVIV (JTA)—A strike by
El Al ground maintenance work-
ers at Lydda Airport ended at
midnight Nov. 7, and work slow-
downs ended at the Tel Aviv and
Ashdod electric power stations.
But more than 1,000 high school
teachers continued to strike for
higher wages.
The teachers gained support
from academic employees and from
engineers, lawyers and physicians
employed by the education min-
istry.
Meanwhile, tugboat crews walked
off the job at Haifa in a wage
dispute with the port authority.
The El Al ground crews engaged
in a work slowdown for 10 days
in support of wage demands, then
the slowdown became a full-
fledged strike: On Nov. 7 they
agreed to return to work after
the El Al management promised
to negotiate their demands within
a specified time limit. If no agree-
ment is reached, Histadrut will
rule on the demands.
The Tel Aviv and Ashdod power
workers accepted a proposal by
the Knesset Labor Committee to
return to work while their claims
are taken up with the Israel
Electric Corp. management
tions for many years to American
Reform Judaism, Irving I. Katz,
executive secretary of Temple
Beth El, was elected honorary vice
president of the Northeast Lakes
Council, Union of American He-
brew Congregations.
This honor is a first in the coun-
try for a professional temple ad-
ministrator.
The Northeast Lakes Council in-
cludes temples in Michigan, north-
ern Indiana, northern Ohio, western
Pennsylvania and western New
York. Rabbi David S. Hachen is
director.
Bible Center Dedicated
JERUSALEM — A center for
biblical research and exhibitions
of daily life during various biblical
periods, was recently dedicated
here.
The site for the building and an
additional 5 acres for a park to
contain plants mentioned in the
Scriptures, has been allocated to
the. Jewish National Fund, which
will act as a trustee for the Bible
Society.
The idea for the center was
proposed by former Prime Minister
David - Ben-Gurion.
Friary, Newesiber 13, 1970-25
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
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