PURELY COMMENTARY

PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

Art Inspired By Psalms Glorifys Hymn Book of Mankind

stated as a definition of the "Legacy of
Israel:"
I may truly name this book
the anatomy of all parts of the
soul; for no one can feel a move-
ment of the spirit which is not re-
flected in this mirror. All the sor-
rows, troubles, fears, doubts,
hopes, pains, perplexities, stormy
outbreaks, by which the souls of
men are tossed, are depicted here
to the very life."
Many eminent theologians used the
Psalms as their guides to religious teach-
ings and services. Another very famous
definition of the Tehilim — the Psalms
of David — was provided by the German
theologian, Carl H. Cornell (1854-1920),
who wrote in the Culture of Ancient Is-
rael:

Psalms — Tehillim in Hebrew — are
among the creatively sanctified Jewish
gifts to mankind. The Psalms have a
major role in the manner in which the
tehillim are utilized by all faiths.
Adding to the charm and glory of
the Psalms is the work of artists who
have applied their skills to the chants
and inspirations of the Psalms. Enrich-
ing the devotion accelerated by ale
Psalms is a revived collection of most
notable artistic works incorporated in a
charmingly-illustrated edition just issued
by Henry Holt and Co. The Book of
Psalms now made available with the
notable illustrations contain the creative
works of artists of the Middle Ages.
There is a deeply moving aspect to
the republished works. Gold and blue de-
corative devices mark the 160 illumina-
tions that are featured as drop capitals
for each of the Psalms. Then there are
the full-page five-color photos.
Produced by Shuckburgh Reynolds
Ltd. of London, England, one of the
world's master printers, the heavy cloth
binding of the newly-published work is
stamped in gold. It carries a five-color
reproduction plus a silk marker ribbon.
Psalms are utilized for religious
services by all faiths. The texts are
applied to all important occasions on the
calendar of world events. The Henry
Holt Co.'s The Book of Psalms adds to
such a glorious role. It is a masterpiece
the publisher can be proud of and will
surely be greeted by an appreciative art-
and Psalms-loving readership.
The text of this masterpiece is in the
King James version. Knowledgeable
Jewish Bible students will nevertheless
be able to apply it to the latest Jewish
Publications Society revised translation.
The illuminating art will contribute to a
continuing love for Psalms and Scrip-
tures.

Psalms Of David:
World's Hymn Book
Gifts To Mankind

Tehilim — Psalms of David — is the
hymn book of mankind. Religious serv-
ices of all denominations, in churches
emulating synagogues, specify it. Most
spiritual leaders are inspired by these
Psalms. Many have grown enthusiastic
in their chants, utilizing more of the
tehilim than any other of the Scriptures.
The Psalms inspired many faiths in-
cluding Calvinism. John Calvin, the
Swiss Protestant Reformer (1509-1564)

"As Israel is preeminently the
religious race, the Psalms are the
prayer-book and the hymn-book
of the whole world ... they are
religion itself put into speech."
There is so much to be learned from
the sentiments of Jews and non-Jews
alike in the glory assigned to the
Tehilim that the acclaim for them from
another theologian needs quoting.
George Adam Smith, the eminent Scot-
tish clergyman (1856-1942), wrote in this
essay "The Hebrew Genius:"

The veracity of the Hebrew
rsaimist§ is nowhere more

thorough than in such self-
examination and faithful dealing
with their souls ... No wonder
that the Psalm-book of that little
Hebrew people should have be-
come the confession of half man-
kind.
What an inspiration, especially for
the youth of our people, to know that in
our historic records the Psalms of David
are among our most precious gifts to
mankind!

Personalized 'Psalm':
Multiplied 'Thank You'
To Kind Communityites

These are very difficult lines to
write because it is not easy to say
"Thank You" to so many friends and
associates and scores of movements who
proclaim their kindnesses on an impor-
tant natal day.
It is doubly difficult because in ex-
pressing gratitude there is resort to a
special privilege: monopolizing, with
blessings of publishers and editors of this
great newspaper, of the personalized
space of Page Two.
The Natal Day was utilized by many
for praise of this aged Page Two, com-
menting on the 90th birthday of this
commentator. Therefore this gratitude
that moves me to express the "Thank
You" to family, professional associates,
leaders in government and other corn-
munity areas, congregations and their
rabbis, worshippers, et al.
My deepest appreciation commences
with Family for having established
scholarships in journalism at the Uni-
versity of Michigan. I have never forgot-
ten the welcome that was extended to
me, as an immigrant lad, by my univer-
sity. My gratitude is for having enriched
me with the great pride of sharing the
university blessings with my cherished
birthright.
Governor James Blanchard honors
me with his cheerful note.

Continued on Page 24

so

PSALM XC

1 A Prayer of Moses the man of

God.
Lord, Thou hast been our dwel-
ling-place in all generations.

2 Before the mountains were
brought forth,
Or ever Thou hadst formed the
earth and the world,
Even from everlasting to everlast-
ing, Thou art God.

8 Thou. turnest man to contrition;

And sayest: 'Return, ye children
of men.'

4 For a thousand years in Thy sight

Are but as yesterday when it is
past,
And as a watch in the night.

5 Thou carriest them away as with a
flood ; they are as a sleep;
In the morning they are like grass
which groweth up.

2

We bring our years to an end as
a tale that is told.

10 The days of our years are three-
score years and ten,
Or even by reason of strength
four-score years;
Yet is their pride but travail and
vanity ;
For it is speedily gone, and we fly
away.

11 Who knoweth the power of
Thine anger,
And Thy wrath according to the
fear that is due unto Thee?

12 So teach us to number our days,
That we may get us a heart of
wisdom.

13 Return, 0 LORD; how long?
And let it repent Thee concern-
ing Thy servants.

14 0 satisfy us in the morning with
Thy mercy;
That we may rejoice and be glad
all our days.

6 In the morning it flourisheth, and
groweth up;
In the evening it is cut down, and
withereth.

15 Make us glad according to the
days wherein Thou hast afflic-
ted us,
According to the years wherein
we have seen evil.,
7 For we are consumed in Thine
1..et rhy work appearunto Thy
anger,
drc-we-eurrretirlora--"
A
servants,
away.
And Thy glory upon their
children.
8 Thou hast set our iniquities before
17 And let the graciousness of the
Thee,
Lord our God be upon us;
Our secret sins in the light of Thy
Establish Thou also upon us the
countenance.
work of our hands;
Yea, the work of our hands
9 For all our days are passed away
establish Thou it.
in 'Illy wrath;

Chaim Grade Bequeaths Legacy
Of Major Autobiographical Novel

Chaim Grade wrote for the ages, and
for all demoninations. It was in Yiddish,
and the creativity of it enchanted the
publishers who provided it in other lan-
guages. He has captured the admiration
of English publishers. Knopf's readers of
manuscripts, translators, the literary
judges of brilliant authorship, give cre-
dence to this appreciation and Knopf
provides the proof.
The latest of his translated works,
My Mother's Sabbath Days (Mine
Mame's Shabbosim) is the great literary
legacy that awaited its present appear-
ance in English since it was first
acclaimed in its Yiddish text in 1961.
It is so immense in content and in
the eras and experiences portrayed that
it could well have been expanded into a
trilogy, and even more.
My Mother's Sabbath Days as a title
introduces the theme that sparks the
many experiences and tribulations in the
lifetime of one of the great literary mas-
ters of the century. The process of con-
tinuity shares with the reader the period
of horror when the Germans entered Po-
land, the years of agony under the Nazis,
the tragedy of the return, the horror
encountered in witnessing the miseries
into which the author's city of Vilnius
(Vilna) was transformed by the Hitlerite
maniacs.
Thus, a volume devoted to the mem-
ory of mother is also one that deals with
the memory of the Jewish past.
These are some of the elements that
mark this great work. Then there is the

factor involving the author's second wife
who does not hesitate to treat the mem-
ory of the first Frumme-Liebe, with
great dignity. The widow of Chaim
Grade, Inna Hecker Grade, was joined by
Channa Kleinerman Goldstein as trans-
lators of this immense work into the
English translation just issued by Knopf.
The widow's share in making the novel
available for English readers forms an-
other explanatory chapter in the wel-
come widely accorded to Chaim Grade's
new work in a translation from the Yid-
dish.
Chaim Grade, who was born in
Vilna in 1910, came to the United States
in 1948. Numerous of his works had al-
ready appeared in English translation
and the translation of My Mother's Sab-
bath Days commenced before his death
in 1982. He lived in New York with his
second wife Inna, who studied at Moscow
State University and earned an "A" in
comparative literature at Columbia Uni-
versity. Since her husband's passing she
is devoting herself to translating Grade's
works into English.
There is this to be added about
Chaim Grade. He was admired by his
contemporaries throughout the world
and many believed he had earned a
Nobel Prize in Literature. Maurice
Samuel was among his devoted friends
and admirers and he believed the cur-
rent novel was too great and too difficult
for a translation. Samuel was no longer

Continued on Page 24