PURELY COMMENTARY

Humanistic Principles In Libertarian Passover

PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

Editor Emeritus

very festive occasion in Jewish
experience is motivated by prin-
ciples imbedded in high leveled
ethical codes. The Passover we are com-
mencing this evening has the high role
that inspires all mankind in the quest
for freedom, in the demand for the liber-
ties that spell justice and humanism for
all, irrespective of differences that must
command respect for ideological inter-
pretations. It is as the Festival of
Freedom that the Passover idea is ac-
cepted as the introduction to liber-
tarianism and the faith in people's
determination to adhere to the ideal.
In the folklore of our people the
Passover idea dominates every occasion
in Jewish observances. The Exodus is
always remembered. Even in Sabbath
prayers it is recalled. This is a
naturalism, because the festival is a
commencement of recognition and devo-
tion to the ideal that spells the rejection
of enslavement.
In the Passover folklore there is also
the lesson that acclaims humanitarian-
ism. There is a high goal of social and
human justice in its affirmation.
The legendary legacies prove
fascinating and enriching applications
to the Passover theme. They are the in-
spirations that keep elevating the ideal
to justice as well as the dedication to the
desire for freedom. There are the
human appeals for social justice.
There is an enriching folklore about
Passover. The acclaimed anthologies of
the folklore relating to Jewish ex-
periences by the eminent scholar

E

Nathan Ausubel sparkle with these
themes. In one of the parables, Ausubel
related the following:
Rabbi Israel Salanter was
very scrupulous in his obser-
vance of all the six hundred and
thirteen precepts prescribed by
the religious code. It was his
custom whenever the Passover
holidays came around, to per-
sonally supervise the baking of
matzos in his town. He wished to
make sure that it was done ac-
cording to the time-honored
ritual regulations.
On one such occasion, when
he was confined by illness, his
disciples volunteered to super-
vise the baking of the matzos.
"Instruct us, Rabbi," they
said. "Tell us all the important
things we have to watch out for:'
"My sons, see that the
women who bake the matzos are
well paid," was Rabbi Israel's
brief reply.
There is much more to the lesson of
Passover. There is also the commitment
to be compassionate to fellow beings.
There is the admonition not to gloat
over sufferings, even when there is
triumph over an enemy.
Rabbinic commentaries give em-
phasis to the contrasts between jubilant
practices in observance of Sukkot and
avoidance of it on Passover, using the
two festivals as exemplary in this study
of human values and duties. In A Rab-
binic Anthology compiled by C. G.
Montefiore and H. Loewe, the Talmud
is utilized as the authority for this in-
terpretation. Here is the interpreted

talmudic idealism actually forbidding
jubilation over an enemy's demise or
suffering:
It is noteworthy how a touch
of pity occasionally comes over
the Rabbis in regard to the
enemies of Israel and their
destruction. One may get this
touch even after a passage full
of human satisfaction in the
destruction of Israel's enemies
and oppressors in the Messianic
age. In relation to the Feast of
Tabernacles, rejoicing is men-
tioned three times, Deut. XVI,
14, 15; Lev. XXIII, 40. But
concerning Passover, rejoicing
is not mentioned at all. Why?
Two explanations are given, of
which the first is that at
Passover it is not yet known
whether the harvest will be
good or bad. The second ex-
planation is, Because at
Passover the Egyptians died.
And so you find that during
Tabernacles we read the 'Haller
psalms all the seven days, but on
Passover we read them only on
the first day and in the evening,
even as Samuel was wont to
quote Prov. XXIV, 17, 'When
thine enemy falls, do not rejoice.'
(Pes. K. 189a (cp. (142).)

Such are the ideals of a great
festival whose teachings send forth
challenges to all manknd These are the
ideals and inspirations that make
Passover the great event inviting
universal endorsement of the com-
mitments to social justice and to human
compassion. It is a festival that

multiplies the cheerfulness of its
observers who have inherited a great oc-
casion with its perpetuating glory.

The Pride
That Is Wounded
By The Violence

T

here is deep pride in the parable
just quoted above, in the appre-
ciation of the rabbinic expression
of faith in the highest principles of
humanism.
This pride is being seriously injured
by the violence of youth against Jewry
and the State of Israel, the rockhurling
that obstructs the path to peace.
There are differing views and sen-
timents, and they are undeniable. There
are injuries to be healed and peace to
crave for. Neither can be acquired by the
type of hatred that is generated.
It is not only the Zion of the Sacred
Scriptures, of the Prophecy of Israel
Redeemed that are the targets of
rockthrowers. It is the Jew, the Jewish
people everywhere, who are the victims
of the spreading abuse. Among the
slogans of destruction now heard in the
attacks on Israel is a renewed venom of
"where is Hitler?"
It is this injury that is most painful
as the chief obstacle to peace. It must
not deter the Jewish path to justice.
There must remain the unified effort for
peace. There must be the proper coop-
eration with the dearest of Israel's
friends, the United States. But the ma-
jor obstruction cannot be ignored. It is
the Arab world.
Continued on Page 58

A Justified Chauvinism: Pride In Entertainers' Record

T

he accumulated record of Jewish
entertainers, actors, performers
and directors is one aspect of
Jewish contributions to American life
that speaks for itself. Nevertheless, the
assembling of the eminence registers so
much pride that it is welcomed
cheerfully.
An anthological treasure on this
subject is provided by Darryl Lyman in

Great Jews on Stage and Screen

(Jonathan David). It is a companion
volume to Lyman's Great Jews in Music.
Of related interest in the publica-
tion of this volume is the role of the

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Vol. XCIV No. 5

2 FRIDAY. APRIL 1, 1988

April 1, 1988

publishers in providing valuable an-
thologies for Jewish readers. Jonathan
David issued both collective efforts by
Darryl Lyman and also Great Jews in
Sports by Robert Slater. 'lb the credit of
Jonathan David are anthologies on
Names, Jewish and general, and a
variety of historicaland religious
subjects.
Commencing with Barbra Streis-
and, continuing in an encyclopedic
fashion, this interesting volume covers
the vast field of entertaining geniuses
who have cheered and continue to en-
chant the many millions in their
audiences.
With 100 full-scale biographical
sketches and hundreds of additional
thumbnail biographical notes, the
Lyman volume is informative and
entertaining. It is like a guide for
becoming intimate with those on stage
and screen.
Lyman includes Sammy Davis, Jr.
and Elizabeth Taylor in his sketched
luminaries. Therefore, the unavoidable
question how he judges the Jewishness
of his heroes and heroines. He has an
important explanation in his introduc-
tory essay in which he states:
Who is a Jew? In this book,
I have followed the definition
established by Jewish law: a

Al Jolson
Jew is anyone who was born of
a Jewish mother or who con-
verted to Judaism. The fact that
the person later defected and
joined a Christian church would
not matter; according to Jewish
law the subject is still a Jew.
The above definition forces
the exclusion of performers
born of a Jewish father and non-

Jewish mother as in the cases of
Don Adams, Melvyn Douglas,
Carrie Fisher (father, Eddie
Fisher; mother, Debbie
Reynolds), John Houseman,
Michael Landon, Paul Newman,
and Simone Signoret. On the
other hand, it allows the inclu-
sion of such converts as Sammy
Davis, Jr., Marilyn Monroe, Nor-
ma Shearer, and Elizabeth
Taylor.
Lyman covered a vast field, gather-
ing the distinguished compendium of
entertainers. His book is a veritable en-
cyclopedia. He has written 100
biographies in full-length fashion and
additional hundreds of thumbnail sket-
ches of others in what results as
achievements by Jews.
The longer biographies include such
names as Barbra Streisand, Luther
Adler, Jack Benny, Milton Berle, Fan-
ny Brice, Eddie Cantor, Kirk Douglas,
John Garfield, Joel Gray, Al Jolson,
Danny Kaye, Jerry Lewis, Marx
brothers, Marilyn Monroe, Zero Mostel,
Paul Muni, Mollie Picon, Edward G.
Robinson, Joseph Schildkraut, Sophie
'Ricker, Eli Wallach and many more.
The thumbnail sketches include

Continued on Page 58