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July 06, 1990 - Image 2

Resource type:
Text
Publication:
The Detroit Jewish News, 1990-07-06

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PURELY COMMENTARY

Commending The Courage Of Senator Carl Levin

I

n the United States
Senatorial re-elections
year in progress there are
many speculations and
forebodings among political
manipulators who call the re-
election of Senator Carl Levin
seriously endangered; the
guess is that it will be af-
fected by his view that capital
punishment is both unjust
and unwise.
Especially in politics, there
are always dissenting views,
not only on party preferences,
but also in matters of differ-
ing principles. The death
penalty as a political princi-
ple entails more dangerous
responses.
Adhering to his opposition
to the death penalty, Senator
Levin demonstrates great
courage. He protects his con-
science against political
threats of defeat for embrac-
ing this principle. This earns
for him the admiration of his
constituents.
While the ranks of ad-
vocates of capital punishment
seem to be gaining sup-
porters, there are ideals
dating back to rabbinic times
that remain compelling
almost as sanctified
traditions.

Carl Levin

We have advocated
adherence to the ideals
recorded by talmudic
scholars. There is this em-
phasis in the Mishna:
A Sanhedrin that effects
one execution in seven
years is branded as a
murderous court. Eleazer
ben Azaria: one in seventy
years. Tarfon and Akiba:
Were we members of a
Sanhedrin, no one could
ever be put to death. Si-
meon ben Gamliel: They
would multiply murderers
in Israel!

The ranks of death penalty
prophets are increasing under
leadership in the White
House. Opposition to capital
punishment becomes a most
difficult task. Even some rab-
bis in our communities have
expressed support for death
as a penalty for arch crimi-
nals. Therefore its opponents,
like Senator Levin, have a
serious obstacle ahead to gain
adherents for their views.
This commentator shares his
ideas on this challenging
issue and invites support for
its defense and in commenda-
tion for our senator.
Dr. Robert Gordis, one of the
most eminent leaders and
distinguished scholars of our
time, has important guidance
for us on the question of the
death penalty. In one of his
works, A Basis for Morals:
Where Can It Be Found?, in
the chapter entitled "Natural
Law for the Modern World,"
he drew upon principles that
incite strong endorsement
and sharing of the views of
Senator Levin.
The Sixth Command-
ment in the Decalogue,
rendered variously, "You
shall not kill" or "You shall
not murder," expresses

what is perhaps the most
fundamental and enduring
imperative in natural law.
Nevertheless, for the an-
cient Hebrews this prohibi-
tion was felt to be entirely
compatible with the prac-
tice of blood-vengeance. If
a man was unintentionally
slain, any relative of the
victim could hunt down
and kill the accidental
killer with impunity (Num.,
chap. 35).
In the three millennia
and more since Sinai, the
mass murder of human be-
ings in war was not looked
upon in any society as
violating the prohibition of
murder. Even today
pacifism is the faith of a
small minority who see in
war a colossal violation of
the principle. The day will
come when their ranks will
grow, and ultimately na-
tions will recognize that
the commandment is ap-
plicable to them as well.
A similar process is
under way with regard to
capital punishment. The
execution by 'the state of
convicted criminals is still
held, by large segments of
the population, to be per-
missible. However, senti-

meat against the practice
continues to rise. The day
will come when executions
ordered by juries and
judges will be recognized
as judicial murder. The
principle "You shall not

Robert Gordis

kill" remains unchanged;
the understanding and the
application of the com-
mandment vary with in-
creased knowledge of the
facts and a growing sen-
sitivity to ethical values. ❑

Historic Tour With Contemporary Lessons

T

he urge to learn about
contemporary events
in Israel, with em-
phasis on Jerusalem, finds
stimulation in a most infor-
mative new book. In The Ho-
ly Temple Revisited, Rabbi
Leibel Reznick covers the
events relating to the several
holy structures, the original
and the rebuilt; in the pro-
cess, he provides a veritable
history of Jerusalem.
This volume could even be
described as a tour of
Jerusalem.
The devotion implanted in
Jewish experiences and com-
mitments stemming from the

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
(US PS 275-520) is published
every Friday with additional
supplements in February, March,
May, August, October and
November at 27676 Franklin
Road, Southfield, Michigan.

Second class postage paid at
Southfield, Michigan and
additional mailing offices.

Postmaster: Send changes to:
DETROIT JEWISH NEWS, 27676
Franklin Road, Southfield,
Michigan 48034

$29 per year
$37 per year out of state
75' single copy

Vol. XCVII No 19

2

July 6, 1990

FRIDAY, JULY 6, 1990

temples in Jerusalem pro-
vides a continuity in aspects
of Jewish life. Rabbi Reznick
lends significance to the
theme in introducing the
scores of historic occurrences:
To the Jews of ancient
Israel, their Temple was
the seat of religious rites
and judicial authority.
Every twenty-four weeks
all Jews were invited to
participate actively in the
service. The Temple was a
very real part of their
religious, legal, and social

One might assume that
the Temple only played a
role in the life of religious
Jews, that to the non-
religious its significance
was less important. This
was not the case. To all
Jews the Temple was
highly revered. Jews and
their Temple were in-
separable. Non-religious
people did not denigrate
the Temple rites or the
Supreme Court; rather
they sought to use their in-
fluence to control these in-
stitutions, like rival sibl-
ings vying for the attention
of the parent. Every Jew
felt that without the Tem-

ple, life would be in-
complete.
This is where the reader
has the privilege of witness-
ing the priesthood in action in
the ancient Temples, of atten-
ding the services and of lear-
ning about the sacrifices. We
learn about the populace in
relation to the priests, which
of the clergy may share food

"To the Jews of
ancient Israel,
their Temple was
the seat of
religious rites and
judicial authority."

from sacrifices and accompa-
nying restrictions.
Primarily, this well-
illustrated volume makes a
notable contribution to the
architectural aspects. The
construction of each Temple,
the assigned spacing, the
skills in the planning will
prove enchanting. The 'Tem-
ple of Herod and the Hero-
dian time earn special merit
as we admire the author's
researched data.

this
Chronologically
volume invites attention to
Jewish-Christian-Moslem
relations and disputes. Some
instances are almost like
echoes that equate to ex-
periences like the present in
the Jerusalem conflict over
Jewish immigrants housed
near Christian churches.
Very special historic
developments traced in the
.Rabbi Raznick analysis in-
clude the references to Mes-
sianic hopes. The chapter titl-
ed "The Apostate Gives the
Messiah Another Chance,"
makes historiography com-
pelling for students searching
for realities in Jewish learn-
ing. The application to eras,
especially the present, pro-
vides thrills in reading this
chapter which recalls the
following:
In 135 C.E., Hadrian con-
verted the Temple into a
center for paganism. That
status remained for almost
200 years. In 324 Emperor
Constantine converted to
Christianity and moved
the seat of the Roman Em-
pire to Byzantium.
Jerusalem became a holy
Christian city. The
Emperor's mother, Helena,

had many churches and
shrines erected in
Jerusalem. Jews were for-
bidden entrance to the ci-
ty, except on the Ninth day
of Av, in order to mourn
their loss. The pagan tem-
ple on the mount was torn
down. The mountain was
now desolate and bare.
In 363, a new emperor,
Julian, was crowned.
Although raised as a Chris-
tian, he grew up in the
pagan city of Athens, and
upon assuming the throne,
renounced Christianity. He
was branded Julian the
Apostate by the Christian
faithful. He granted full
rights to the Jews and gave
them permission to restore
the Temple.
At once, the Jews in the
Holy Land began assembl-
ing supplies in great
storehouses. Messianic
hopes were stirred. But
alas, a great earthquake
tore down the storehouses,
destroying the supplies.
Within the year Julian was
killed in battle and the new
emperor, Jovian, restored
Christianity as the religion
of the realm. Again the
Continued on Page 36

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