Research Into Jewish History Embraces Scholars'
Development of Facts Relating to Many Periods

So much research has gone into the changing of reasons, which a Jewry and Judaism. Such studies as an introductory work in the
science, the spiritual forces that
the gathering of material for his full study of the history of anti- are not merely auxiliary and study of Jewish history.
were marked by preachings of the
"Documentary History of the Jews Semitism should explore). Among peripheral, for, if my experience
Magid
of Dnbno and finally the
CRITICISM
OF
DUBNOW
in the United States-1654-1875," them are charges theological, es- points to anything, Jewish life
Prof. Raphael Mahler of Tel Aviv role of Turkey as ruler over Pal-
that the editor of this volume, thetic, political, economic, racial
and thought run like golden
estine
as
well as the Ottoman Em-
Morris U. Schappes, has earned and 'psychological,' depending upon threads woven into the very fab- University adds impressively to
available studies of Jewish history pire's place in the struggle for
the gratitude of American Jewry. the specific situation and upon the ric of our history and culture."
with his "A History of Modern power with Russia.
In this Schocken volume of near- people to whom •the anti-Semitica
Palestine under Turkey, in pre-
Dr. Schweitzer has an interesting Jewry — 1780-1815," published by
ly 800 pages, the author has in- are addressed.
Zionist days, gets significant at-
corporated every known detail of
But the basic pattern is es- comment on dialects and lan- Schocken.
tention
and is among the major
Dr.
Mahler
holds
the
view
that
American Jewish experience. sentially the same. Stuyvesant guages, noting especially Yiddish
covers every aspect of Jewish wanted to oust the new Jew- and also Ladino, without indicat- it is necessary to reassess and matters of importance in the Mah-
ler
study.
life in the more than 200 years ish immigrants from New Am- ing, however, how speedily the lat- amend "value judgments vis-a-vis
The problems of immigration in
under review. There are 159 chap- sterdam hecause, he averred, the ter is disappearing. He states in the theoretical approach prevalent
ter headings which deal with the Jews were 1) usurers; 2) deceit- a summary: Jewish history touch- in Jewish historiography, largely the 18th and early 19th centuries
many events that relate to Jews ful traders; 3) so poor they would es and mingles—to a greater or determined by social viewpoints." also gets proper consideration in
in the earliest years of their set- be a burden on the community; lesser degree—with that of almost He also states in his preface: this challenging work.
tlement in this country—it will be 4) blasphemers of Jesus. There every area and every people in the "Notwithstanding the good inten-
HISTORY REINTERPRETED
noted that the author commenced was no truth in these assertions, world. This means that their ex- tions of the adherents of the school
Economic factors -have affected
with the year that was accepted nor were they uttered for the good perience finds expression in a mul- described by its originator, S. Dub- Jewish historicar developments,
as the commencement of the Ter- of the community. When Stuyves- tiplicity of modes, institutions, and now, as 'sociological-realistic,' it according to Dr. Ellis Rivkin,
centenary in 1954—and every as- ant had to allow the Jews to stay, languages. The ordinary specialist must be said that they were un- Adolph S. Ochs Professor of Jew-
pect of the struggle for religious none of the evils he had conjured in historical studies has to com- able to grasp the exuberant and ish History at Hebrew Union Col-
freedom, the right to earn a liveli- came to being; on the contrary, mand two, three, or four lan- colorful reality of Jewish life, its lege-Jewish Institute of Religion.
hood, to strike when that was nec- both the non-Jews and the Jews guages. But pity the poor scholar past and its present alike: they In "The Shaping of Jewish His-
essary, to stand guard over one's benefited. It is my judgment that who finds his materials in He- overlooked the principal factor in tory: A Radical New Interpreta-
possessions or to own a home.
the evidence •points to a funda- brew, Aramaic, Greek, Latin, Ara- the development of the people— tion," published by Charles Scrib-
ner's Sons, Prof. Rivkin holds the
In instances like the Damas- mental, irreducible cause of anti- bic, all the European languages, namely, its social dynamics."
This is perhaps the most critical view that Jewish emancipation was
cus Blood Libel, the review of Semitism: in any society so class- Yiddish, and Ladino, and indeed
American interest in the tragic structured that a minority econom- all •the major languages of the view that ever was taken of Dub- possible where capitalism devel-
occurrence and American inter- ically exploits, politically domi- world. Yiddish, it is well to note, now, and Dr. Mahler, therefore, oped, but was threatened when it
cession make this item a vital nates and culturally controls the is an important cultural datum draws special attention to his declined. He strongly believes in
the influence upon religious free-
one in world Jewish history. majority, the usefulness of anti- that preserves in itself an impor- views.
There are scores like it in this Semitism in all its forms and verb- tant strand of Jewish history and
His contention is that Jewish his- doms and the liberties of the indi-
alizations is assured and endless tradition: a vernacular language tory in modern times "has been vidual stemming from capitalistic
volume.
because it helps keep that minor- spoken by Jews of eastern Europe squeezed into a framework com- progress.
The fact that nearly 200 of the ity in power."
and by immigrants from there in prised principally of a description
There is the rather sensational
800 pages are devoted to notes
the United States and elsewhere, of a process of equalizing the
BOOST TO ECUMENISM
and explanations of the material
it
derives from medieval German, rights of European Jewry, with the view that "Jews and Judaism were
Much
continues
to
be
written
not
born with capitalism, but capi-
gives added support to the im-
has absorbed many Hebrew, Ara-
mense research values that have about Christian-Jewish relations, maic, English, and other words, additions of accounts of anti- talism is crucial to them in our
been imbedded in this notable ecumenism, good will. The newest and is written in Hebrew letters; Semitic movements and trends." age, because it is, thus far, the
work on the subject, by a Roman
He claims that no place was as- only economic system whose inner
bock.
Catholic, is among the very best since the mid-19th Century a large signed to American Jewish history
Take the final item in the book— because it is introduced by the body of popular literature and jour- and that modest sections are de- dynamic drives it to press for in-
finite economic growth; and with-
Number 159: Headed "Capmakers publishers, Macmillan Co., as "an nalism has appeared in Yiddish, voted to the Yishuv and Israel.
out sustained economic growth
on Strike, 1874," it tells of an unprecedented and vitally impor- first in Poland and Russia, then
there can be no social or political
His
insistence
is
upon
a
"con-
incident in New York described tant corrective for centuries of (and still) in the United States.
Ladino has a similar place in the sistent social approach to delve unity that still allows diverse
as "the first strike in which it is distortion and neglect."
groups
to maintain themselves.
life of Iberian Jews, and Marranos into the problems of 'Israel and
known that hundreds. of Jewish
the Nations' in all its reality, This Jewish historical experience
workers tuck part." "The strike,' ,1 Prof. Frederick M. Schweitzer in exile after 1492.
and at the same time determine points up again and again: crea-
the Schappes item states, "was I of Manhattan College, New York,
There is admiration for Jewry in
called when the Crisis of 1873, pre- in "A History of the Jews Since Dr. Schweitzer's historical analysis our people's place in the modern tive energies were unleashed that
the
First
Century
CE,"
is
an
ad-
world."
brought Jews and non-Jews to-
cipitated in September by the bank-
that causes him to point to the
In the author's "projected multi- gether in fruitful interaction; dif-
ruptcy of Jay Cooke and Com- vocate of friendship, he urges manner in which some philosophers
pany, was ravaging the people ..." deeper study of Judaism and Jew- are baffled by "The Jewish re- volume history," he pursues a ference was cherished, not scorned.
Most of the men on strike were ish history, he aligns himself with fusal to 'disappear.' " He even viewpoint of Jewish historiography In each instance this occurred in
German immigrants, the majority Israel's dearest friends and takes mentions the antagonism of Oswald with a "national role to fulfill, an societies strengthened by economic
pride in the rebirth of Israel's
important national mission to growth. When economic breakdown
German Jews.
Spengler and Arnold Toynbee's carry out."
statehood.
unleashed all that is destructive
Then there is an item about anti-
He is inspired by the Second labeling Jews a "fossil," and he
Dr. Mahler's is an ideological ap- in man, the Jew suffered brutal
Semitism in the armed forces. It Vatican Council Declaration on the responds: "Actually, the survival proach, exposing bigotry and at hostility in, the ancient," medieval
is dated Oct. 25, 1872. There was Relationship of the Church to Non- of the. Jews through so many terri- the same time indicating enfran- and modern worlds."
an investigation. It was not si- Christian Religions, seeking ever ble vicissitudes can be construed chisement, as well as the assimila-
Dr. Rivkin contends that in no
lenced.
greater accord between Christians as a vindication of Toynbee's cen- tionist tendencies. He devotes con- system other than capitalism "have
tral idea that a people's capacity
Schappes makes the interesting and Jews.
to survive as a civilized society siderable attention to the approach the mind and the spirit been so
ccmmer.t in his introduction that
to the Zionist idea, and in dealing free to venture forth unafraid,"
Prof. Schweitzer sees "the
"the use of anti-Semitism as a Jewish odyssey" as "one of the depends on their 'response' to the with the French Revolution and the that "capitalism is liberating only
weapon to gain advantage over greatest epics in world history." 'challenge' thrown up to them by Jewish position at -that time he as long as it develops."
rivals or to divert bubbling social He believes that Jews had "a -their circumstances and environ- states:
Dr. Rivkin even credits capi-
unrest has produced the result decisive influence in shaping the ment."
"Gradually, the revolutionary talism to the fortunes of Mon-
that to this day the Jewish people
Prof. Schweitzer emerges as a ideas penetrated into the numerous ism, maintaining that the quick
European mind and the Western
in the United States have not
strong defender of Zionism, as a and large Jewish communities of
of Israel by the Unit-
achieved full equality at all lev-
defender of Israel, and of Israel's eastern Europe and awakened them recognition
ed States "was not politically
He deplores the lack of Jewish
els, economic, political,. social and
right to unify Jerusalem. He states: to struggle not only for enfran- motivated, though its pi-ditical
studies
in
schools
of
higher
learn-
cultural."
"No matter how assimilated or chisement 'but also for auto-eman- potential was. thoroughly eamihdt-
ng and he states:
content or secure the Jew came cipation, for national activity and
On this score, Schappes states:
"It has been my experience to be in the lands of the Diaspora, self-liberation, for the consumma- ed. It was not simply a response
"It may be a signal, sad, but
that even a small liberal arts he never ceased to yearn for the tion of the Jewish people's histori- to the powerful Jewish lobby. It -
illuminating value of these repre-
was rather a logical and neces-
college will offer an undergrad- homeland and usually thobght of cal yearning to return and re-
sentative documents that they re- uate
sary consequence of the needs
course in Byzantine history himself as an 'exile.' That tension, constitute itself a nation in its own
veal for the first time that anti-
of the dominant forces of Ameri-
but none in Jewish history; or or polarity, between the center of country. These watchwords of Jew- can capitalism.
Semitism in our country has a
It was a wedge,
its religious studies department Jerusalem and the various -centers ish national rebirth were gradually
a penetrative-salient in an area
more ancient history, a more per- will offer
one and perhaps sev- of the dispersed communities is to evoke a response even in the
sistent continuity, and a wider dis-
hitherto
blocked
by British- im-
eral courses in Buddhism, Hindu= the golden key, it seems to me, Jewish communities of western
persion than even liberal opponents
perialism. The recognition of Is-
of anti-Semitism have hitherto ism and other Eastern religions, to explain the unique character of Europe that were partly or almost rael was a dramatic commitment
but absolutely nothing in post-
dreamed. The variety of anti- biblical Judaism. Yet whether Jewish history . . . The longing for entirely assimilated."
to the development principle."
the homeland was not mere patrio-
There is great emphasis on the
Semitic expressions, whose exis-
Prof. Riikin's outline of the
one abides by the view that we tism or empire-building; rather it French Revolution, and since the
tence is barely suggested in this
shaping of Jewish history, an ex-
volume, can no longer be ignored. should study those peoples and was the quintessence of Jewish study begins with 1780 it is note- planation of the influence of Juda-
cultures that have had the pro-
The types are many; we find offi- foundest influence in the making religious ideas and beliefs . . . worthy that Dr. Mahler turns to ism upon early Christianity, the
Judaism is as unimaginable with- North America, pursues a study
cial, legal and political discrimina-
of
our society and heritage, or, out the land of Israel as it would of the Rehilla organizations, then Pharisaic revolution, the role of
tion and abuse. as well as restric-
the Marranos in the rise of capi-
rather, -those whose attainments' be without-the people of Israel."
pursues his analyses of condi- talism, nationalism's triumph, the
tions economic. social and cultur-
are of such intrinsic worth that
tions as they existed over a 35- - road to Auschwitz which marked
al.
As an historical analysis, with
they merit our studying them as
year span in France, England,
"The rationalizations too are
the disintegration of nation-state
ends in themselves—by either of his comments on the Christian- Poland, Germany, Switzerland
many. Anti - Semitica emerge
capitalism, and the road -from
these criteria Jewish history has Jewish relationships dating back to and Austria.
phrased variously in the languages a strong claim upon us and
Auschwitz as an emergehce of
The
Hasidic
movement
gets
con-
oldest
times,
his
review
of
Bible
of piety, commercial spite, politi- should take precedence over
global capitalism.
siderable attention, and the author
cal billingsgate. or the gutter epi-
those fields which I have men- and Talmud scholarships, his defi-
He shows how freedom stagnated
thet with its roots in carefully pre- t ioned, as well as a great many nitions of the role of the Jew makes a thorough study of the pre-
under Nazism and how it is jeop-
served and designedly transmitted more. I cannot believe it is pos- through history, Dr. Schweitzer's Haskala years, the philosophy of ardized in the Soviet Union.
Moses Mendelssohn and the nota-
'folk-lore." The 'reasons given' will sible to make much sense of
ble Jewish personalities of that
It is a controversial bOok that is
include ,many things (and there is European history without eon- "A History of the Jews Since the
time.
First
Century"
adds
invaluably
nevertheless filled with historical
a history of reasons given and of s iderable attention to post-biblical
to
Also—the cultural revival among data that guides the reader toward
an understanding of Jewry and
44--Fridey, December 24, 1971
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Judaism and is especially valuable traditionalist Jews, the Gaon of a new view- of the role of capital-
Vilna, as well as advocates of ism in- this Crucial historical era.