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BLOOMFIELD 399-1800 788-9073 38 Detroit Jewish News E. It's Hard To Stop A 7hIne N. OAKLAND 682-9090 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 -