PURELY COMMENTARY

Lessons On Astrology

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tical astrology as prohibited
magic, a considerable number
of Jewish authorities in the Mid-
dle Ages were inclined to con-
sider astrology as an authentic
science. Ray Saadyah Gaon, Ibn
Gabirol, Rashi, Ibn Ezra,
Abravanel and others are in-
cluded among those who believ-
ed that astrologers could foretell
events by the position and
movements of the stars.
Astrological notions are to be
found in Kabbalistic books. The
expressions mazzal toy (good
luck) and bar mazzal (lucky
man), widely used as figures of
speech, are survivals of the old
belief.
Though practiced among
most of the peoples mentioned
in the Bible, astrology found no
encouragement among the peo-
ple of Israel. In an ode on the
humiliation of Babylon, which

ASTROLOGY

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was renowned in the ancient
world for astrology, and for the
practice of all kinds of magic,
the prophet says:
"Keep up your spells and
your many sorceries, with
which you toiled from your
youth; perhaps you can make
them avail . . . let the astrologers
stand forth to save you, the
stargazers who forecast at each
new moon what would happen
to you" (Isaiah 47:12-13)
Modern science has com-
pletely discredited astrology,
though astrological observation
contributed much toward the
advancement of scientific
astronomy.

Differing views, we now learn, have
always marked rabbinic disputes
relating to astrology. From A Rabbinic
Anthology, edited by T. G. Montefiore
and H. Loewe, a Jewish Publication
Society volume published in 1960, we
learn:

Like the nations among
whom they dwelt, the Jews and
the rabbis believed in astrology,
and in the influence of the
planets. But it is rather fine to
notice that their very par-
ticularism enabled them, as
regards Israel, to rise to some
extent above this current
superstition:
R. Hanina said: Upon the
planets depend wisdom and
wealth, and there is a planet for
Israel. But R. Johanan said:
Israel is not subject to the
planets (or signs of the Zodiac),
for it is said: 'Learn not the ways
of the nations, and tremble not
at the signs of the heavens: let
the nation tremble at them' (Jet
x, 2) Let the nations tremble; let
Israel tremble not.

Therefore we keep learning, and the

AA, I AN/ AA

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knowledge we acquire enables us to join
in the current controversy with proper
information. For resorting to the
classical rabbinic and traditional
Jewish sources we are now indebted to
Nancy and Ronald Reagan and Donald
Regan as contemporaries who inspire
us never to stop studying and learning.

Leonard Simons
Recalls Feuchtwanger
Novel On Hitler
And Necromancy

F

ew topics have aroused as much
conversation and essays as astrol-
ogy does today.
Detroit bibliophile Leonard N.
Simons calls attention to the novel by
Lion Feuchtwanger, published in 1943
by Viking Press under the title Double,
Double Toil and Trouble which, still in
Hitler's lifetime, exposed the brutal dic-
tator as resorting to necromancy.
Simons made a study of astrology in
recorded Jewish experience and writes
this comment:
"I can think of an unlimited
number of things I'd rather do than
mention the good names of the very
nice residents of our White House in
Washington in the same breath with
Adolf Hitler. But there is so much be-
ing written and said about our presi-
dent and his lady using astrologers to
make some of their decisions — I keep
thinking about Double, Double Toil and
Trouble. That's the name of a book writ-
ten way back in 1941 by Lion
Feuchtwanger, the German-Jewish
great historical novelist. He wrote this
novel based on a fact. He told about
Hitler and his clairvoyant named
Hanusen, who wielded considerable in-
fluence with Hitler and in Nazi circles.
"It's a strange coincidence — the
leaders of the great countries almost
45-50 years apart — sharing the beliefs
of those who consult the heavens and
the skies for mystical powers and ad-
vice. Jewish religious literature, history
and folklore contain many references to
astrology. Many Jews believed in it as
did most ancient peoples of all faiths."
This is another good occasion to
recognize Leonard for his role as a ge-
nuine bibliophile. Incidentally, he calls
our attention to the price Viking set in
1943 for Feuchtwanger's novel about
Hitler and necromancy. This book of
more than 350 pages then was priced
at $2.75. This is also an interesting
commentary on book publishing.

David A. Brown

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there upon the land, he became
head of the campaign to raise
funds for this purpose. In 1926
the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity
voted him the Gottheil Medal.
Brown's other civic
authorities included: chairman-
ship of the finance committee of
the Union of American Hebrew
Congregations (1924-35);
membership on the board of the
American Jewish Joint
Agricultural Corp. (1920-37);

membership on the board of the
Palestine Economic Corp.
(1926-36); chairmanship of the
United States division of China
Famine Relief (1928-33).

This is so fascinating an account of
achievements that it re-creates interest
in a remarkable man. He was the non-
Zionist who helped the Palestinian
Yishuv. He was as active in Christian
as in Jewish causes. He was as brilliant
in directing his business involvements
as he was in the charitable
undertakings.
He was active in politics, although
it is not mentioned here that he was an
unsuccessful candidate for mayor of
Detroit.
Philanthropists like Jacob Schiff,
Julius Rosenwald, the Warburgs, many
of the leaders of the Joint Distribution
Committee (JDC) admired him and call-
ed for his organizational and fund-
raising help.
Jacob Billikopf, son-in-law of Louis
Marshall, was one of his admirers. In an
article he wrote at my suggestion, he
told how he had urged that he assume
leadership of an important campaign
for the largest sum ever undertaken.
Under the title "Facts and History
about a Movement and a Personality,"
in which he expressed admiration for
Brown upon his acceptance of the chair-
manship of fundraising for the ORT
movement, he related the following:

David A. Brown was the
chairman for Michigan of the
$10 million American Jewish
Relief Committee Campaign of
which I was the national direc-
tor. He had done a remarkable
job in Michigan. His methods of
campaigning were original and
Michigan led the country in the
amount of money raised per
capita.
We here in New York were
about to put on a campaign for
$5 million. The late Jacob H.
Schiff was the chairman of the
New York Campaign. I sug-
gested to Mr. Schiff that we
bring David Brown to direct the
New York Campaign. Mr. Schiff
sent for Brown, who accepted
the responsibility, and the rest
of that campaign is history. In
less than ten days after the cam-
paign started, there had been
raised over $5,250,000 — the
largest sum that had ever been
raised in one campaign in the ci-
ty of New York.
Back to Detroit, Michigan
went David A. Brown to attend
to his own large business affairs
and carry on during that war
period every kind of campaign:
Red Cross, Hoover Relief,
A.R.A., Knights of Columbus,
Community Fund, United War
Work, during which time he was
the chairman for the American
Jewish Relief Committee of the
state of Michigan.
In 1921, I played a major role
in putting Brown in national
harness. It was at the now
historic gathering at the old
Standard Club in Chicago
where the Jewish leaders of the
United States and Canada had

come together at the call of such
leaders as the late Louis Mar-
shall, the late Julius Rosenwald,
Felix M. Warburg, Paul Baer-
wald, Dr. Cyrus Adler, James A.
Becker, Jacob M. Lezob, General
Abel Davis, David M. Bressler,
Charles Rubens, and a galaxy of
others from all parts of the
United States and Canada,
which would read like a Who's
Who in Jewish life.
The country had been in a
depression in 1921, many will
remember, and it looked as
though it was going to be a hard
year for the American Jewish
Relief Committee. We needed a
larger amount for European
relief than ever before.
The Joint Distribution Com-
mittee had submitted a budget
of $14 million for 1922 and it had
been accepted by those present
at this great conference. But we
lacked a leader to lead this cam-
paign. A group of us were in
private conference when I sug-
gested the name of David A.
Brown for the national chair-
manship. It took like wild-fire
for in a few minutes it spread
over the entire conference.

If I am not mistaken, I made
the brief address proposing his
name to the conference. General
Abel Davis was in the chair, and
as I sat down Brown got up to
address the chair, but the chair
refused to recognize Brown.
Louis Marshall seconded -my
proposal, followed by Julius
Rosenwald, Felix M. Warburg,
and many others, as though it
had been prearranged, Brown
all this time trying to secure per-
mission to speak. which was
granted him only after the mo-
tion had been made and
carried.
Then followed what I believe
to be one of the most dramatic
events in Jewish social history.
Brown, after a word of thanks
for the intended compliment,
stated that he was sorry that he
could not accept as he and Mrs.
Brown were about to sail for the
south of Italy; that Mrs. Brown
had not been well and they
planned to spend the winter in
Italy. While he was on his feet
telling why it would be impossi-
ble to accept the chairmanship,
Louis Marshall and Julius
Rosenwald has left the room, got
Mrs. Brown on the long distance
in Detroit, explained the situa-
tion and she agreed to give up
the trip to Italy. Brown was then
called to the telephone, talked to
Mrs. Brown for a moment or
two, returned to the conference
and after Mr. Marshall and Mr.
Rosenwald reported their con-
versation with Mrs. Brown,
David A. Brown accepted the
national chairmanship of the
$14 million campaign of 1921-22.
All of this took place on Sept.
26, 1921. Brown went to New
York, Sept. 28, 1921. The cam-
paign was on full blast within