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THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
26—Friday, November 27, 1970
Lady Rabbi-to-Be Serves in Michigan
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eekly Quiz
Why does Jewish tradition re-
quire that the eyes of the de-
ceased be closed after death?
Some sources claim that it is
the duty of the son to close the
eyes of his father after death takes
place. They trace this to a verse
in the Bible (Genesis 46:4) where
Jacob is assured to the effect that
his son "Joseph shall put his hand
on thy eyes." It is claimed that
when the soul leaves the body
the last vision it sees is Divine
Countenance of the Almighty. The
eyes are then closed to that this
vision of the Almighty's presence
be the last thing observed by the
physical vision. After the individu-
al has seen the Divine Presence
By RABBI SAMUEL J. FOX
(copyright 1970, JTA, Inc.)
The Buffalow Jewish Review is
marking its 50th anniversary. Its
editors and publishers, IDA and
the man appears to be no different ELIAS JACOBS, received the
than that of the animal. It is only Israel Freedom Medal at the local
in life that one can observe the Israel Bond Organization's sixth
difference between man and ani- annual dinner.
mal.
Generally, this is because of the
holiness of the ancient area of
Jerusalem. Apparently, it becomes
not only an insult to the corpse
but even an insult to the holy
ground which may become defiled
from the corpse. Some claim that
it may even be an embarrassment
to all the holy ones whose spirit
is lodged in Jerusalem. Jerusalem
he has seen everything there is is thus to be a city of life supreme
to see and any other sight would where death is indeed out of place.
be superfluous.
• • •
Why does the Jewish tradi-
tion require that the deceased
have his face covered immedi-
ately by a sheet when death oc-
curs?
Rabbi-to-be Sally Priesand, 24, of Cleveland, is shown taking.
the Torah from the Ark of Temple Beth Israel in Jackson where she
is serving as rabbi two weekends a month. Sbe is a student at He-
brew Union College in Cincinnati and is scheduled to be ordained
rabbi in 1972.
Ktav Distributes Goldman Responsa
"The Life and Time of Rabbi the book appeared in The Jewish
David Ibn Abi Zimra," a notable News on Nov. 13.
work on Responsa, by Dr. Israel
Dr. Goldman is rabbi of Chizuk
M. Goldman, has been placed on Amuno synagogue in Baltimore.
sale by Ktav Publishing Co.
He is a former president of the
The volume has the imprimatur Rabbinical Seminary of America.
of the Jewish Theological Seminary
of America the semina ry 's
The Latin American Jewish Con-
chancellor, Dr. Louis Finkelstein,
wrote a laudatory preface highly gress has announced that its 1970
"Human
Rights Award" will go to
commending the study. A review of
Fr. BENJAMIN NUNEZ, the Cos-
ta Rican ambassador to Israel, in
GOT YOUR DATE?
acknowledgement of his "sensitiv-
CALL US! SEE US!
ity to Jewish problems, particu-
WE CAN SAVE YOU MONEY!
larly those concerning Soviet Jew-
ry." Fr. Nunez said recently that
Soviet Jews "are not killed but
are condemned not to live, which
STUDIOS
is more cruel than death itself."
Saha- 3aync-
THE PARENT-TEACHER ORGANIZATION
of the
Beth Achim Branch of the United Hebrew Schools
presents
Dr. George Barahal, Pfs.D., Noted Phychologist
in 0 lecture
FAVORABLE FACTORS
IN THE CLIMATE OF LEARNING
DATE: Wednesday, December 2, 1970
PLACE: Beth Achim School Social Hall
TIME: 8:30 P.M.
Refreshments will
be served
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Some claim that this was insti-
tuted for a practical reason. The
corpse of a poor man would dis-
play a worn and thin haggard face
while the face of a rich man would
display a round full visage. When
the rabbis observed that the poor
were covering the faces of their
because of their embarrasment,
they ordained that even the rich
do likewise so that no one would
be able to discern the financial
status of the deceased since all
are equal after the life on this
world. In this way the poor corpses
would be spared embarrasment
Others claim a moral reason for
this practice. Gazing upon the face
of the deceased represents an in-
sult to him, as well as a sign of
disrespect. The dead are unable
to protect their privacy since they
are helpless, unlike the living who
can turn away from anyone whom
they do not wish to look upon
upon them. Thus their faces are
covered to protect their privacy.
Some also claim that the corpse
of a deceased becomes holy after
death. In Jewish tradition that
which is holy is always covered.
Thus, some say, are the faces of
the dead covered like we cover
the Torah—both being holy. All
this shows how Judaism protected
the dignity and sanctity of man
even in death.
• • •
Why does Jewish tradition re-
quire burial for the deceased as
quickly as possible?
Basically, this tradition is traced
to the case mentioned in the Bible
which involves one who was hanged
in which case the Bible tells us
that he should not be left hanging
but taken down and buried the
same day (Deuteronomy 21: 22, 23).
Generally, the Rabbis consider this
to be a means of respecting the
honor of the deceased. Man, ac-
cording to Jewish tradition retains
a certain nobility even in death and
thus his remains are to be treated
with honor and laid to- rest as
quickly as possible.
It is interesting to note the two
reasons given by the Zahar (Leviti-
cus 88b). One reason given by the
Zohar is that whoever keeps a
corpse from being buried prevents
the Almighty's design from being
carried out. This is so because
the Zohar claims that the design
of the Almighty may have been
that the soul be transferred to
another body and this cannot take
place until the original body has
been buried.
In giving the second reason the
Zohar says: "So long as the body
remains unburied the soul suffers
pain and an unclean spirit rests
upon the body . . . At night the
unclean spirit spreads over the
earth seeking for a body without
a soul to defile it . . . The said
cannot enter the other world until
it is invested with another body
formed of light" This does not
take place until the body is buried.
In another place the Zohar (Idra
Rabba Number 1431)) explains that
keeping the corpse overnight with-
out burial embarrasses the indi-
vidual soul because the corpse of
CARS TO BE DRIVEN
Why is Jewish tradition espe-
cially cautious about not keep-
ing a corpse overnight in the
ancient city of Jerusalem?
Folkstimme Won't
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Folkstimme, Poland's only offi-
cially sanctioned Jewish periodi-
cal, would cease publication at the
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