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Purely Commentary

Simons' Pioneering Against Dictionary Insults

we

base-

- osurers. - - extortionists." "eheats" in dm

tainarms and encyclopedists- Oxford s roncuse Dictionary repeated the
outra . .nutus definitions. and an outraged London merchant is suing the
ioddish•rs for slandering him

Suite flu tomaries and e ncxclop•ilias had corrected these blunders:
some
it around using ancient defindiens by stating that they are
libelous slanders now obsolete lse of such terms has been fought
fin many decades. in the eras during which anti-Semitism concededly
had Leen acknowledged as sinful and inhuman.

Leonard N Simons conducted a battle against the insinuations
mine than a decade ago When the issue emerged 12 years ago, The
Jew ish News asked him to present his s w•s. based on his experience
of fighting against the evil in lexicons We published it in our issue
of Dec I. Ile then dealt with many of the shocking terms, sonic
of which have a bearing on the current fight against prejudicial (fermi-
Inms in dictionaries

. the Death of Maurice Samuel and
World Jewry's Loss
Judd Teller . . . Leonard Simons' Pioneering to Prevent
Can We Mediate Internal Ills?
Abuses in Lexicons .

By Philip

SIOMOVitZ

Maurice Samuel and Judd Teller—Great Losses to World Jewry

Sorge

men are irreplaceable. Maurice Samuel and Judd L. TeHer belong to a category of men whose

skills are seldom matched, and their death is a very great loss to World Jewry'.

The Samuel record is too deeply rooted in the history of the last two generations to need added

emphasis Ilc was one of the very great Jewish authors of this century. tie was a lecturer whose ability
could well be described as oratory. He was among the very eminent translators of the words of Chaim

Nahrnan Bialik. Shmarya Levin, Sholem Asch and many others.

Not only in Jewish ranks, but in world history Mr. Samuel was authoritative, and he was especially
brilliant when he wrote about the da Vincis and their era of turmoil in Italy.

As a Zionist and as a lover of Yiddish as well as Hebrew, Nir. Samuel distinguished himself and
history and as aninterpreter o. linguistic trends.

wrote his name indelibly in Jewish

Many are the causes that will miss him. More than all others, the Weizmann Institute of Science
will recall his contributions towards the development of a great se entific agency. His friendship with
Chaim Weizrnann, Shmarya Levin and many other very great leaders in Jewry linked him with states-
men as well as writers and fellow Jews who were career men in behalf of Jewish redemption.

The issue relates at present to the discussions regarding the
Archie Bunker - All in the Family" program. Should we object to
"Jewing" and similar terms"

Dr. Judd L. Teller belonged to a similar era and to similar alcomplishments. He was nearly 20
years Maurice Samuel's junior, yet his achievements were immense. As a very young man he already
edited an important news agency (Independent Jewish Press Service). He had emerged as a master
writer in English, yet his early activities were as a journalist and an author in Hebrew and in Yiddish.

The analyses as N ritt•n by Simons in 1961 are as valid today
as they were when the eminent Detroiter's valiant efforts were
. recorded then. Here are the major portions of his important essay:

It was therefore in the three languages that he became a master and his scholarship and ability
as a researcher into historical occurrances elevated him into an authoritative status on Russia, the Mid-
dle East, Israel and Zionism.

I had occasion to look up the de-
finition of a word which started
with "in " 1 saw the word "Moses."
and was shocked to see that the
only definition they gave to the
word was, "nickname of a Jewish
money tender," Nothing about the
fact that Moses was the person
who gaxe the Israelites and the
world the Ten Commandments—

that he was a great prophet and
the Father of the Jewish religion.

The dictionary I was using, pub-
lished by the Press of Oxford Uni-
versity. is one of the most respect-
ed in the world

"Jew" they have agreed in the
future to insert "vulg." .(meaning
vulgar), when they use the de-
finition of the word "Jew" as mean-
ing "an extortionate usurer" —
hut they won't eliminate the de-
finitions

I cannot understand how intel-
ligent people like the publishers
of dictionaries cannot realize what
they are doing to perpetuate derog-
atory definitions of words that no
longer are in common usage—de-
finitions which are offensive to peo-
ple of various religious, ethnic or
racial groups—definitions detri-
mental to a nation's future and to
the relationship of one human be-
ing to another—definitions which
should never have been included
in dictionaries in the first place.

Then, I looked up some other
words, "Jew" and on that same
page I found "Jesuit." Here again
the derogatory definitions as-
tounded me. A Jew. spelled with
a capital "J" had several defini-
tions: "A person of the Hebrew
These derogatory, or vulgar, defi-
race; ( tranf. colloq. ) extortionate
usurer. Driver of hard bargains; nitions only perpetuate untruthful
generalities
and myths. Decent peo-
rich as a: unbelieving, incredu-
lous person: tell that an unlikely p'e will agree that this is profanity
tale) to the Is )." The next defini- against our fellow men—and that,
in my opinion, is a profanation
tion of Jew, with a capital
against God.
"'Hog. I
Cheat. overreach.
( press 1 "
If responsible publishers, like

The next one is,

- Jewing. -

Doubleday & Co., can arrive at

I started to Ifmk up these words
in several other dictionaries, and
practically every one of them had
similar definitions of the word

The word "Jesuit - was defined.
among other things, as "crafty
peon] e. intriguers. hypocritical
people, liars "

A tremendous amount of corres-
ondence has gone back and forth,
between our Jewish defense ai.fen•
le , and the Oxford Cnoersity -
Pri,s as well as many other dic-
tion:it - y publishers, some of which
incidentally are owned- by pem
the of the _Jewish faith

The Oxford University Press. for

instance, has agreed to eliminate
their of fensix e definition of
"Moses
'rhey have agreed that
in their next edition thet,
will
eliminate the statement that the
"Jews are a member of the He-
brew rate." However, on the of•
fensoe defamious or the word

the conclusion that vulgar and of-
fensive words have no place in a
modern dictionary, and can tack
up their judgment by publishing
the kind of dictionaries that they
get out, then why cant the pub-
lishers of all of the other dic-
tionaries emulate their example,
even if it does cost them a little
hit of money to set some type and
make some changes in their plates,

before they go to press with their
next editions"

believe that if enough people
of all religious denominations will
l - spress their feelings about these
many vulgar and offensive words

in the dictionary, to both the pub-
lishers of the dictionaries and the

retail stores which sell them, then
perhaps the publishers will realize

how much harm they are doing to
so many of their fellow men by
continuing to include unfair often-
sise and untruthful generalization
definitions of religious, racial and

Those of us who knew them lost two dear friends in these twii i men. World Jewry is impoverished
by their passing. It is so difficult to replace men of genius—and Maur ce Samuel and Judd Teller could well
be described as such.

•

Channel 56 Will Carry On

A week-long auction of contributed merchan-
dise, proceeds from the sales intended to perpetuate
an important community function, is holding the
attention of Greater Detroit and the wider areas
reached by the important educational station.

The interest that has been aroused by these auc-
tions is proof of a desire to keep the station alive
and to give it the means necessary to carry on an
important communications function.

Starting with next Tuesday, there will be added
interest in Channel 56 due to the introduction of
the "To Israel With Hebrew" 13-week program spon-
sored by the Zionist Organization of Detroit.

We are witnessing continuation of vital coopera-
tive efforts in which all elements in our community
are involved and as a result of which there is a
medium for greater educational projects for all.

•

•

19th Observance of Michigan

Week

May 20-21 will mark another repetitive ob-
servance, with Michigan Week serving as an in-
ducement in all of our state's activities for a variety
of progressive tasks.
This is the week to take stock—about our edu-
cational media, our industries, our homes and
schools.
This is a great state. On the eve of a Presidential
Primary we are witnesses to political differences.
When it's all over, we are an united community.
We have conflicts residentially—there are sub-
urban trends that cause concern. In the course of
time, we hope this and many other problems will
be resolved amicably.
We must raise the standards of our schools—if
we do not they will affect also our universities.
So—we hate problems. We also have the great
satisfaction of enjoying the blessings of a great state.
That's what gibes status to Michigan Week.

Another Israeli Triumph: Refusal to Yield to Terror

Hijacking has become a world problem. The crime, the danger, the resort to black-
mail have been felt by many nations. It was used against airlines of many lands. This
country has suffered from the criminals, so has Israel, Gtrmany, Great Britain, Switzer-
land, and other lands.
Israel took a firm stand. It resisted the newest act; that came via Sabena, the Bel-
gian airline. It was a lesson to others not to yield to blackmail, to threats, to terrorists who
have no sense of honor or decency.
Arab terrorists are not conducting a war: warfare is ;fought between two contending
forces. not by means of attacking innocent people or murde ing children on school buses or
throwing bombs into food markets.
The would-be murderers have been unsuccessful against El Al, and they therefore
tried other airlines. They have failed in threats against Israel the state, therefore they
threaten the lives of anyone who goes near the state. They have failed because Israel's
leaders have learned that they have nothing to fear other ithan fear itself.
Only a day before the newly attempted hijacking, Israel was among the first
countries to ratify the Montreal convention against hijacki g. The Israel cabinet approved
that convention on May 7 and was among the first61 nation who subscribed to the code
that was drafted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAC) in September of
1970. As soon as 10 nations ratify the convention, it becomes international law.
All the provisions of the conventions were adopted in an amendment to the aviation
laws by the Israel Enesset. What is needed now is firm an determined action internation-
ally--without fear and with a refusal to yield to blackmail.
When Nye read in scriptures that "Out of Zion shall go forth the Law" we mean
Torah. Now, as warning to hijackers, out of Zion goes forth the warning that there also are
laws of decency and humanitarian attitudes which must not be flaunted.

ethnic groups.

Thus, May 9, 1972. was another day of miracles—for Israel, and the Israelis' kinsmen
—for world Jewry: because any harm that might have com0 to Israel would have spelled
harm for all of our people.
It was a day of miracles: resulting from the Israeli' good sense, from the courage
of the liberators, 'from the fact that theSabena pilot was a Jew who understood how to
cooperate with Israel's defenders against terrorism! (All Jewl - y was in spirit with the Israelis
in wishing Captain Reginald Levy a happy birthday!)
Arbitrate . . . Mediate . . . End Dispute .
Else Meditate
We naturally welcome the miracles—and Who objects
Shckespea re bad w it •
.1 . `nllt -an old ( mum °.
arbitrator, Time," and offered it as a cure for to another holiday' of the type dated May 9. 1972?
many illnesses
•
•
•
Communal NN. does Tinn -
, e
l problems"' When w e b a se a conflict (a parent organization expel!.
Meanwhile,
there
remain
the
serious
threat of hijacking
ing its
tint
do
we
keep
resorting
to
Time
for
a
soltifinn
-
And
am ide
what if Time
to the a'rlines of the world, tio the security of travelers and
has calloused with age'
when a commicotx i s confronted by a coffin t oser policies, it dues not expel members It mediates. to the sense of security' anywhere. There is madness afloat
We are not all gazlonim i brutes), and a s humans we arbitrate if we concede to presiding judges, or we and it must be tackled firmly, That which affects travel by air
may escalate into threats in offices, private homes, wherever
we trust one another.
meditate
And what if we (inn't" Then we', I better begin to meditate about the wisdom of our acts and mic- one may find himself, as long as blackmail, kidnaping. hijack-
judgments that may harm all of us as a community'.
ing violence is tolerated. There must be an end to such
crimes and whenever the solution comes-it will be a blessing
2—Friday, May 12, 1972
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
for all

J( ai ry owes a debt of gratitude to Simons for his pioneering
efforts in this area of fight; ng defamation of the Jewish name. To a
degree he had succeeded in 1961: now the battle is renewed and the
precedent set by him should stand its in good stead. He is right- if we
express our collective resen fluent and demand an end to defamation,
vie ca -ant
in eradicat ing insults.

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