56 Friday, February 18, 1983

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

Book Revieilth' English Literature's Treatment of the Jew

By ALLAN A. WARSEN

"The Alien in Their
Midst," authored by Esther
L. Panitz and published by
Fairleigh Dickinson Uni-
versity Press, commences
with an overview of the his-
tory of the Jews in England
from the times of William
the Conqueror in 1066 until
their expulsion by Edward I
in 1290.
Originally, the Jews lived
amicably with their Chris-
tian neighbors. But with the
appearance of the Crusades,
the attitude of the gentile
masses radically changed
and their hatred for the
Jews took on threatening
forms, often resulting in
anti-Jewish massacres.
The Church, too, assisted
by the monarchs, accused
the Jews of all kinds of hide-
ous crimes. Among others,
it charged the Jews with as-
sociating with the devil,
mutilating Christ's body,
killing Christian children
for religious purposes and
poisoning wells. As
punishment, it forbade all
contacts between Jews and
Christians and ordered the
Jewish people to wear on
their outer garments the
yellow badge of shame.
At the same time, the
monarchs extorted large
sums of money from the
Jews as ransom for
crimes they never com-
mitted. For instance,
King John imprisoned all
Jews of his kingdom until
he obtained 66,000 marks
from them. And King
Edward I, "after having
imposed a huge fine upon
them as his final gesture,
officially banished all the
Jews from England."

religious law, he would
have known that Jews,
since time immemorial,
were forbidden to practice
this primitive custom.
In 18th Century English
literature, "the medieval
stereotype of the Jew as
devil-usurer," writes the
author, "had altered to be-
come that of a usurer." In
addition, the Jew was por-
trayed as a crooked dealer,
financial manipulator, "and
the alien, to be noted for his
peCuliarities of speech,
dress and manner."
Similarly, the 19th Cen-
tury English novelists
associated the Jews with
love of money and lust of
power. Foremost were
Charles Dickens, William
Makepeace Thackeray
and Anthony Trollope.
Profound are the author's
comments concerning these
writers:

to overcome all obstacles in
life's path, to look on old age
as the fulfillment of the pat-
tern of existence, and to
welcome death as still an-
other challenge with the
end not yet in sight."
The author summarizes
her evaluation of the Jew in
English literature as fol-
lows:

FINAL WINTER 'CLEARANCE
501'75%0FF

All Sale Iterne

Infant - Toddler - Maternity

all sales finsl

no charges

24901 NORTHWESTERN HWY.
Corner of Evergreen, Fidelity Bank Building
356-7050
Hours: Mon.-Sat. 10-5

from the days of the
Norman Invasion (1066)
to the 20th Century has
been witness to this
thesis. It is the one con-
stant factor in the Chris-
tian composite portrait of
the Jew in English litera-
ture."
Esther L. Panitz, author
of "The Alien in Their

Midst," in addition to
numerous essays in various
periodicals also wrote the
five-volume work, "The
Jewish Experience in
America."
She holds degrees from
Hunter College, the Jewish
Theological Seminary of
America and Columbia
University.

Youth News

BETH ACHIM Lahav
United Synagogue Youth
will meet at the synagogue
at 6:30 p.m. Saturday to go
to a Detroit Pistons basket-
ball game. There is a
charge. For details, call
Harold Baker, 399-6553.
The youth department
will participate in the
Megilla reading 7:30 p.m.
Feb, 26. Following the
"Dickens' early thief Megilla reading, the youth
Faigin was the prototype for will gather to set up the
all his later villains, who by Purim carnival, which will
their meretricious hanker- be held 12:30 p.m. Feb. 27.
ing for wealth were bent on The carnival will feature
games, prizes and haman-
destroying society.
"Thackeray, in 'Vanity tashen. There is a charge.
For details, call the youth
Fair,' had Christians pursu-
ing wealth with as much av- department, 352-8679.
Shabat services are held
idity as the nouveaux riches
of 'Our Mutual Friend,' for youth at 10 a.m. Satur-
Trollope's venal clergyman, days.
* * *
Mr. Emilius, of 'The Eus-
tace Diamonds,' and
BETH SHALOM youth
Augustus Melmotte, the department announces its
crooked millionaire of 'The Feb. 27 Purim festival will
Way We Live Now,' who be highlighted by luncheon
may have had Jewish blood and games.
in their veins, based their
The 11 a.m. carnival, to
very existence on money."
be held in the synagogue, is
In contrast, the poet open to the public free of
Robert Browning, who com- charge, but there is a fee for
posed the great poem, the games and luncheon.
"Rabbi Ben Ezra," was free Prizes will be awarded.
Kadima and Beth Shalom
Incredibly, hundreds of of prejudices. His belief that United Synagogue Youth
"the
essence
of
existence
is
years following the expul-
are at Camp Tamarack this
sion of the Jews from found in man's striving for weekend.
England, Geoffrey Chaucer, good" was embodied in his
The Yachad-Yeladim
though he never met a Jew, masterpiece.
group will meet noon Sun-
In "Rabbi Ben Ezra," day for a Purim-craft-
concocted in his magnum
opus, "The Canterbury Brownirressed "the making program. Only
Tales," a story about Jews spiritual n t the rabbi children who have advance
murdering a Christian child felt as a young man was reservations are eligible to
for ritualistic purposes.
itself worthy for it par- attend.
Though there were no took of the divine ability
* * *
Jews in Elizabethan to question. As spiritual
BNAI DAVID Ruach
England, still Shakespeare, struggle was proper to (grades three-five) will have
who like Chaucer before youth, so now in old age a Shabat luncheon Satur-
him, never saw a Jew in his would the rabbi be obli- day, following Shabat serv-
life, accused Shylock in gated to seek and know ices. Songs and Purim study
"The Merchant of Venice" of - God.
will highlight the luncheon.
"lex talionis." Had he been
Such knowledge would
Story Hour (age 4-7) will
acquainted with Jewish grant the rabbi the fortitude have a cartoon matinee 1:30

ba key and M

"Through the centuries
relationships between Jews
and Christians in England
changed because of differ-
ent historical develop-
ments, but the image of the
Jew found in Christian lit-
erature still found its
rationale in the supposedly
alien qualities.
"Every literary era

TM

p.m. Sunday at the syna-
gogue. The afternoon will
include an ice cream social.
High school youth in
grades nine-12 are invited
to Cafe Israel 8 p.m. Satur-
day at Bnai David. The eve-
ning will include a slide
presentation on Israel by
Elliot Maness and David
Nathan, Israeli food and
music. Information will be
available on programs and
tours in Israel for high
school-age youth.
Talit and Tefilin will
have a parent-son bowl-
ing tournament Feb. 27,
following 9 a.m. services
and breakfast. Bowling
will follow at Ark Lanes
West. Prizes will be
awarded. There is a
charge and youth will be
matched with an adult if
they have not been al-
ready. For required
reservations, call Elliot
Maness, 557-6269.
A Purim party will be
held 7 p.m. Feb. 26 in the
synagogue. Youth age 4-14
are invited. Each age group
will holditheir own celebra-
tion, featuring games,
music, hamantashen and
more. Children are re-
quested to wear costumes.
Youth Shabat services
are held 10 a.m. Saturdays.
Newcomers are welcome.
For information on Bnai
David youth activities, call
the youth line, 557-8325.
* * *
BNAI
MOSHE
Rishonim (grades one-
three) will have a Purim

party 2 p.m. Sunday at the
synagogue. There is a fee;
reservations are required.
For information, call Elissa
Driker, 557-3453, after 6
p.m.
Kadima United Syna-
gogue Youth (grades
seven-eight) will have a
roller-skating party Sun-
day, meeting 1:30 p.m. at
the synagogue. Drivers and
reservations are required.
There is a fee. For informa-
tion, call Sharon Levine,
547-3369, after 6 p.m.
The Bnai Moshe Youth
Department will host the
Megilla reading at 7 p.m.
Feb. 26, at the synagogue.
The program will include a
costume parade, greggers,
entertainment and re-
freshments. This event is
free and open to all. For in-
formation, call Walter
Rosenblum, 548-3123, be-

tween 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday-Friday.
Shabat services are held
for all youth at 10 a.m.
every Shabat.
* * *
YOUNG ISRAEL OF
GREENFIELD youth will
meet 10 a.m. Saturday for a
Shabat minyan. Boys and
girls age 6-11 are invited.
The 613 Club for boys age
8-12 will meet 4:40 p.m.
Saturday at the synagogue
to study Sefer Hachinuch.
Youth of Young Israel of
Greenfield will host their
annual Purim carnival
12:30 p.m. Sunday in the
synagogue. Games, and
prizes, video games and
more will be among the ac-
tivities. A hot dog lunch and
other refreshments will be
available.
For information, call
Janet Fink, 967-3077.

BBYO Activities

The AZA Basketball
League will meet Sunday at
Oakland Community Col-
lege, Orchard Ridge cam-
pus. This week's games will
feature Rose vs. Beber and
Kennedy/Benny vs. Wal-
lenberg at 9 a.m.; Goode vs.
Akiba and Jolson vs.
L'Chaim at 10 a.m.; and
Hart vs. Herzl at 11 a.m.
Beber currently leads Di-
vision I and L'Chaim leads
Division II, both with 3-0
records. The BBG Vol-
leyball League will also
meet Sunday at the same
facility. This week's games
CHAIM to Meet,
will feature Shalom Aviv
Genealogy Topic vs Shoshanna/Shemesh at
9 a.m.; Brice vs. Erani at 10
of Gathering
a.m.; and Dalyah vs. Savage
CHAIM — Children of at 11 a.m. Savage BBG is
Holocaust Survivors Asso- currently in first place with
ciation in Michigan — will a 3-0 record.
have its next monthly meet-
BBYO will sponsor a trip
ing 11 a.m. Feb. 27 at the to visit the Hillel Founda-
Jimmy Prentis Morris tion at Wayne State Uni-
Branch of the Jewish Com- versity for • AZA and BBG
munity Center.
seniors on Wednesday. The
Guest speaker will be program will include a tour
Betty Starkman, who will of campus, information on
speak on "Jewish Geneal- Jewish life on campus and a
ogy — Tracing Family kosher lunch with active
Roots."
Hillel members. A charter
Refreshments will be bus will leave the BBYO
served at 10:30 a.m. There office at 9:30 a.m. Reserva-
is a nominal charge for tions are necessary. For
non-members. The commu- reservations, call the BBYO
nity is invited.
office, 552-8260.
The next meeting of the
Couple Honored BBYO
board of directors
Bnai Torah Synagogue in will take place 8 p.m.
Boca Raton, Fla., will honor Thursday at the BBYO
Dr. and Mrs. Sidney Z. Leib office. The 1983 operating
of Detroit and Florida on budget will be presented
behalf of Israel Bonds 7:30 at that time for approval.
p.m. March 3 at the syna-
Michigan Region BBYO
gogue. The couple will re- will host members of
ceive the state of Israel's Greater Jersey and
David Ben-Gurion Award.
Philadelphia Regions in De-

troit, Feb. 25-27. The
weekend will include visits
to the Detroit Institute of
Arts and the Detroit Science
Center as well as an Inter-
Regional program ex-
change, participation in
Purim services, and a party
hosted by Ruach AZA.
Housing for the weekend
will be provided by the
members of Brice BBG,
Shoshanna BBG and Rose
AZA.
The next meeting of the
BBYO advisers will take c_
place 7:30 p.m. March 2 at
the BBYO office. BBYO an-
nounces the appointment of
the following new chapter
advisers: Alan Kideckel,
Akiba AZA; and Susan
Katz, Rishonah BBG. Posi-
tions are still available for
volunteer advisers to chap-
ters located in West Bloom-
field, Oak Park and South-
field. To volunteer, contact
the BBYO office, 552-8260.
Shalom Aviv BBG will
sponsor its annual gym and
swim program 8:30 p.m.
March 5 at the main Jewish
Community Center. The
theme for the evening is
"Let's Get Physical" and the
program will feature bas-
ketball, volleyball, rac-
quetball, swimming and c_
aerobics. All Jewish youth
are invited. There is a
charge. For information,
contact Susie Hollander,
851-9462; or Dianne Lugosi,
681-5459.

As long as a man im-
agines that he cannot do a
certain thing, so long . . . is
it impossible for him to do it.
—Spinoza

