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38 Detroit Jewish News
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It's Hard To Stop A 7hIne
N. OAKLAND
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CROSSE POINTE
882-4870
The Seminar attempts to strip away
these later additions and to then reveal
the "true" Jesus. If this is possible, it
will simply present an alternative pic-
ture of Jesus to the one we currently
see from the canonical text.
The Seminar is frequently charac-
terized as radical or destructive, espe-
cially by conservative Christians. The
overall impact of this group is difficult
to gauge at the present; however, many
scholars, liberal and conservative, have
criticized its methods. The Seminar is
preparing a new Bible version to reflect
its discussion that anyone can review
and either accept or reject. This is a far
cry from revising all existing Bibles.
There is no one on the scene currently
proposing that modern Bible versions
be arbitrarily altered to reflect the
Seminar's work.
The last portion of the Altman arti-
cle describes a matter that is in debate
in biblical studies. This debate centers
on the historical reconstruction of
Israel in the Late Bronze and Early
Iron ages. It involves archaeologists
and biblical scholars. It has nothing in
particular to do with revising the Bible
— the scholars on one side simply
believe that the biblical history is false
— a theological construction. They
de-emphasize the biblical text for the
reconstruction of history.
The opposing side feels that a his-
torical core exists in the biblical text
and can be used as a source for the his-
tory of this period. It is true that some
of these scholars have agendas, political
and otherwise, but they aren't trying to
change the Bible, which they see as a
quaint storybook from a later age than
it purports to come from.
Biblical debate is wide open and
uninhibited. The most outlandish
ideas are circulated side byside with
the most careful scholarship. This is as
it should be, for it stimulates all schol-
ars and makes them challenge each
other and rethink their own work. Yet
it is very easy to gather up the most
radical of these suggestions and present
them as imminent threats to our values
and traditions.
Committees of scholars prepare the
printed Bible that we use, such as the
new Tanach (Jewish Publication Soci-
ety) or the New Revised Standard Ver-
sion and other translations. The sole
goal of these committees is to maintain
the integrity of the translation and the
textual basis upon which that transla-
tion stands. It is the committees'
responsibility to shield the text from
unsubstantiated theories or irresponsi-
ble scholarly assertion.
from page 34
ings identified what members liked
and disliked about that softcover edi-
tion, a gift of Batya and Dr. Allen
Berlin.
As work began on the new siddur,
the experimental edition continued to
be used, far beyond the time frame
envisioned.
The liturgically inspired artistry of
the new siddur accentuates the sensi-
tivity of the accompanying prayers —
that's quickly evident. Israeli artists
Amiram Ikan and Yiftach Maas (hus-
band of former Detroit shlicha Sivan
Maas) "have given our congregation a
great gift," Yedwab said. "As I began
to flip through the pages for the first
time, I was stunned. I couldn't speak.
It was a thing of beauty — a dream
come true."
A few days before the dedication,
Wendy Yedwab
described the sid-
dur, which her hus-
band often worked
on devotedly well
past midnight, as
their fourth child.
In jest, the rabbi
replied: "Giving
birth to the other
three was not as
Rabbi Paul
Yedwab
painful as this
one!"
Yedwab lauded his wife for shoul-
dering both of their parental responsi-
bilities as his deadline for completing
the manuscript neared. Without her,
he said, "this prayer book simply
would not have happened."
In the introduction, Yedwab relates
the siddur's role in bringing forth feel-
ings of kavanah — "of spiritual con-
nection to our congregation, to the
community of Israel and to the eter-
nal God who hears our prayers."
He writes: "May this siddur be a
sincere reflection of the search for
holiness in our lives. May we be
touched and transformed by the
prayers of our ancestors. May their
prayers lead us to our own.
Siddurs come and go as spiritual
needs change.
So Shema Yisrael, Hear, 0 Israel
won't be the last siddur of Temple
Israel, which Rabbi Leon Fram, of
blessed memory, founded in 1941.
But it does, in a profoundly uplift-
ing way, instill a sense of kedushah -
of holiness.
❑
To leave a message for Robert
Sklar, please call (248) 354-6060,
ext. 258; fax (248) 354 6069; or
e-mail rsklargthejewishnews.com
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