2 Friday, August 3, 1984 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS PURELY COMMENTARY PHILIP SLOMOVITZ The Maimonidean Year: perpetuating the glories of saintly scholarship Some weeks ago, a most important gathering in Casab- lanca, Morocco created somewhat of a sensation. Recorded was the conference held there in May on Maimonides. Re- porting on the event in the June 7 Wall Street Journal, Steve Mufson stated some facts relating to the decline of the Morocco Jewish community from the 1950 Jewish popula- tion of 350,000 to the present 12,000. Mufson thereupon gave this account of the conference on Maimonides: But the Jewish community isn't dead yet. Its importance was demonstrated last month when Jews here hosted a conference on Maimonides, the 12th Century Moroccan Jewish scholar who wrote his famous Guide for the Perplexed in Arabic. It was the first such Jewish conference in an Arab country in decades. Jews came from all over the world, including Israel. The unusual cultural happening quickly turned into a startling political event. Morocco's King Hassan II sent palace representatives, in- cluding members of parliament to the conference. While asserting support for the Palestine cause, the king reiterated Morocco's longstanding pol- icy of protecting its Jewish citizens and offered to mediate talks between Israel, Arab countries, and Palestinian groups. Syria withdrew its ambas- sador from Morocco the next week. "It was an incredibly gutsy move," says one diplomat in Rabat, the Moroccan capital. "It was a gesture to the Jewish community and a simple demonstration that Jews and Arabs can sit down and talk to each other at the highest level." An American Jew who attended the confer- ence adds: "It shows that the good offices of the Moroccan government are available and backed by good deeds." In the Arab world, the King's warm welcome of the Jewish delegates undercut hardline Arab states led by Syria and bolstered the more moder- ate camp, led by Egypt, which acknowledges Is- rael's existence. It is also believed that the king consulted with Saudi Arabia, his biggest financial backer, and received at least tacit approval for the conference. These facts are in themselves important. They indicate an oasis in a vast area of desolation threatening destruction for Jews. The Wall Street Journal article is therefore of great significance in the history of Jewish experierice in this century. The cause of the ingathering of friends of Jewry in Casablanca calls for added emphasis on the Maimonidean aspect of a conference of great significance. It is of unusual interest that the role of Maimonides should once again be on the world agenda. It is just that: while inauguration of the Year of Maimonides, marking the 850th anniversary of the birth of Moses Maimonides in 1135, commenced with an event in Morocco, the observance is on a worldwide scale. In this country it was initiated and is being conducted under supervision of the Chabad Lubavitch movement. Thus, the teaching and inspirations of Maimonides gain renewed attention, hopefully with increased identifi- cation. Maimonides was both saint and scholar. He left an indelible heritage for mankind. The daily programs on the Maimonidean principles, his teachings in More Nebuchim — Guide to the Perplexed and other works, provided in the daily radio programs sponsored by the Detroit Chabad Lubavitch movement, are efforts to be appreciated and commended. There is so much in the teachings of Maimonides that is applicable to the present time that the 850th anniversary is occasion for the 20th Century to benefit from the Jewish aspects of the Ninth Century. There is one special item to be learned from. A story dated July 8, 1971, which appeared in the International Herald Tribune, expressed volumes of inter- est in Maimonides. It stated: Because the Hippocratic oath bans abortions, Moses Maimonides' 850th anniversary the University of Miami's 1971 crop of doctors instead took the oath of Maimonides, which pledges them to "never see in the patient anything but a fellow creature in pain." The oath of Maimonides is shorter and more general in nature. It does not specifically mention abortion, as the Hippocratic oath does. A university official said he considered the Continued on Page 12 1303113 pan maimoniOes' ' 1 In 1: . imir; I V Itn •arliginn„ yenD IDD1I171 Iran . n 3 p ,n3nnon worm tni st:r371121 5w lnn n5iFin men 11113 Code for Pigskins (nnynn loon) 11+1]y GOD, Thou bast formed the body of man, with. infinite goodness; ‘Thou ham united in him innumerable forces incessantly at work like 'so many instruments, so as to preserve in its entirety this beautiful house cumagn- ing his immortal soul and these forces act with ail the order, concord, and har- mony imaginable. But if weakness or violent passion disturb this harmony, these forces act against one another and the body returns to the dust whence. it came. Thou sen Jest then to man Thy messengers, the diseases which announce the approach of danger, and bid him prepare to overcome them. The Eternal Provi- dence has appointed me to watch o'er the life and health of Thy creatures. May the love of my art actuate me at all times, may neither avarice, nor miserliness, nor the thirst for glory or a great reputation engage my mind; for, enemies of truth and philanthropy, they could easily deceive me and make me forgetful of my lofty aim of doing good tO Thy children. Endow me with strength of heart and mind, so that both may be ready to serve the rich and the poor, the good and the wicked, friend and enemy, and that I may never see in the patient any- thing else but a fellow creature in pain. mno . mono irs9 ow, nx nir nett :num our - 7x aux; el 1;11v Imo o73 oa nno prrm two n'typon nx . 11,30 •017 +.ot, 1•57 -mono ,71:07 o5U1 11? 1 1 sf2 lx .0"110 1+373131 Man nvIII popl, via ra on, ix ,IvriMM +110,1:on+1 rinl %VI Kln 1110 n5ant lloo 'eve 0l1110 troll ,nio7 7rt a11D to vim, -am, pro, e lool ol:Ionn ► lxvn 15 1T219 NUN 41:1X2 +5n1 %M ► = .1173 .13 nonono 'gra ,17 7131 171x 0110 nn? 'l+aan5 peon 31D 3113 'i+11x+1 Inn 'ODIN no nen hon ,as ma vino, on3:31 •111 want mon vier, .outs t1no5 n1xa11 IUD Moo 5x 173o )'93 ono, npol nyt nun main run "Inv IMO 17911 mower ox Inrat 1111a '3171 ,ontno w•rrn poly 7x mi5 'mum . , turn, ti ► r1013 73 AM: rinx 110 non 1111 mem D1 ; omo ox Moo . ► rt mu Do ovpn pno oasno -npoo or177n51 ono, +33lvt 'rut 3F physicians more learned than I wish to counsel me, inspire me with. confi- dence in and obedience coward the recognition of them, for the study of the science is great. If is not given to one-alone to see all that others see. May I be moderate in everything except in the. knowledge of this science; so far as it is concerned, may I be insatiable; giant me the strength and opportunity always to correct what I have acquired, always to extend its domain; for knowledge 'is boundless and the spirit-of lean can Aso extend infinitely, daily to enrich itself with new acquirements. Today he can discover his errors of yesterday, and to- morrow he may obtain new eight on what he thinks himself sure o' today. GOD, Thou hast apptiint4d me to watch o'er the life and death of Thy .crea- tures;,-here am I ready, for My vocation. v14* we , ny 73 .inrrn loon lout nvo pin 177o• ;oat aim 77 11p051 -moon 57 •1077 la 'mom +33on I wool zur 5x au :rnpo nx 13ut510 Toy +ma no 11D3 9331 6 b1/m1 anon 'Who ID ,T11 1117 111+115 .03 771e3 Pm" ny lnl lls1Z ray: omen Too -Pr 7111M noon., norn6 139 Tom V 11051, vo mu no t 5x 11+i 1 Ito mon mpn on n54 'w '3 "tom ow opt icon 'busy= Iva mini 533ron nurnm • io ;lona rip noon 'NM .Tralla of 1,11* • Insetn rma 1..,4.• • •r • 3 13 3611.4sunan 5131,1P isti5 zaa .r2n. ^1.391.1n n5onn 511 min "or