Jewry's Role in
Human Affairs

However, nearly all men-
tion of the subject, along
with references to natural
selection, the origins of the
universe or common ances-
tors between species, have
been omitted. Those that
remain are diluted by the rec-
ommendation that other the-
ories be taught as well.
For example, these words
are omitted from the recom-
mended course of study for
12th-grade Earth Science: "...
the dramatic changes in the
Earth's atmosphere (i.e., intro-
duction of 0 2 that were affect-
ed by the emergence of life on
Earth ..." This passage, found
in an earlier version of the
Kansas standards, implicitly
states the world was not just
created as it stands today
Harriet Lorch teaches science at Yeshivat Akiva.
because of the inclusion of
these words: "changes" and "emer-
gence." In the next line, the words
17rock cycle," which imply that rocks
Teachers at local Jewish day schools
changed gradually, were omitted from
were among those aghast at the possi-
the new version of the state science
bility that a reputable school could
standards.
consider eliminating evolution from
And the state has taken out the
its curriculum.
entire 12th-grade benchmark on the
Evolution is, by definition, a theo-
"major concepts of biological evolu-
ry, said Carim Calkins, a science
tion."
teacher at Hillel Day School of
The Kansas science standards are
Metropolitan Detroit, "but there's
only the latest in a series of attempts
some pretty darn good evidence."
to add so-called "creation science' to
The idea of gradual change is
public school curricula. Advocates of
woven into Hillel's science curriculum,
creation science reject the theory of
he said, encompassing the study of
evolution and pin many of the ills of
geology and botany as well as human
modern society on denial of the literal
evolution. Without allowing for evolu-
truth of the Bible.
tion in all fields, the advances of sci-
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled
ence — from agriculture to medicine
against creation science in a 1987 case
to everything in between — would
involving a Louisiana law that prohib-
not have been possible.
ited the teaching of evolution in the
However, he said, evolution does
public schools unless accompanied by
not eliminate the possibility of reli-
the teaching of creationism. The issue
gious belief.
also came up in Arkansas, where the
"I certainly talk about creation
U.S. District Court ruled against a
when it comes up. It's not something I
similar act.
feel I have to dance around," said
With these two cases setting a
Calkins, who teaches at Hillel's highest
precedent, the Kansas Board of
levels, seventh and eighth grades.
Education took another tack. A vision
'As we get more and more evi-
statement at the start of the 114-page
dence, it seems to point to the fact
Kansas State Education Standards
that there is not a disparity, nor need
emphasizes that the document does
there be," Calkins said.
not set out a required curriculum, but
For instance, he said, there is defi-
rather suggested content that "can be
nite evidence that the universe is
organized and presented with many
expanding, and that everything was
different emphases and perspectives in
once in one place. "When you look at
many different curricula."
the Torah, it doesn't say there wasn't a
However, statewide testing contin-
`big bang.
ues to be based on state standards
Hillel usually brings in its rabbi in
rather than local curricula. And, as
residence or another member from the
teachers are fond of saying, "What's
Judaic Studies Department to spend a
tested is what's taught."
BALANCING ACT on page 10

A Theory That Works

SPORTS STARS THEN AND NOW - I
History recounts two Jewish sports heroes separated by 2,000 or more
years: Ben Hur, the charioteer of ancient Rome reputed to be a Hebrew,
and Daniel Mendoza, England's 1791 heavyweight champion hailed as the
father of modem boxing. No Jewish sports figures of their stature emerged
during the years before or between--although Hellenistic Jews had
participated and even prevailed in classic Greek events: discus throwing,
marathon races and as gladiators.
But modern times, especially in the U.S., called forth Jewish
athletes of reigning prowess. Henry "Hank" Greenberg, the Detroit
Tigers' all-star outfielder, only two home runs under Babe Ruth's season
record, was ranked with the game's best right-hand batters. Benny
Leonard, considered one of the greatest lightweights ever, has been
acclaimed as the all-time champion Jewish pugilist, with Barney Ross a
close second. Much can also be said about Sid Luckman of the 1939
Chicago Bears, the first pro quarterback to consistently run and win with
the dynamic new T-formation. And Englishman Harold Abrahams, the
first European to take an Olympic gold for the 100-meter dash, was also a
subject of the Academy Award winning Chariots of Fire. Others marked
the way as well:

SANDY KOUFAX
(1935-) b. Brooklyn, NY Were it not for a career-
ending arthritic elbow, he might have entered the
record books as the most dominant pitcher in
baseball history. Before his premature retirement
in 1966, the Dodger organization's left-hander
won an unprecedented three Cy Young awards
and tossed four no-hitters, one of which was a
perfect game. He netted more than 300 strikeouts
in each of three seasons, and fanned almost one batter for every inning
pitched in twelve years on the major league mound. During his best period,
from 1961 to 1966, Koufax's record stood at 129 wins and only 47 losses,
and his last year's salary was the highest then paid to a player: $135,000.
Koufax became the youngest elected member of the Baseball Hall
of Fame, and was famous for refusing to take the field during the High
Holy Days no matter how crucial the game. The legendary manager, Casey
Stengel, once said of him: "Forget Johnson, Wadelle and Matthewson, the
Jewish kid was the best." After leaving baseball, Koufax took on positions
as a TV sports commentator followed by electrical appliance sales--quitting
both soon after. The lure of baseball drew him back to the Los Angeles
Dodgers as a pitching coach in which role he served until 1990. Also a
member of the Israel's Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, Koufax has been
married to the daughter of actor Richard Widmark.

MARK SPITZ
(1950-) b. Modesto, CA The most outstanding all-
around swimmer the world has ever known showed
little of his greatness when winning lesser prizes in
the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City: a silver in the
butterfly and bronze in the freestyle races--far
below his expectations and talent. The Hebrew
school student who once planned a career in
\- dentistry recalled, "When I was ten years old, I had
no idea where I was going when I starting swimming. It was more or less
like a social activity with my boyfriends and I had goals to be somebody like
Johnny Unitas [a superstar quarterback]. I was introduced to a program that
enabled me to see what swimming was really about when I went to the Santa
Clara Swim Club in 1964." A year later Spitz set four new records and won
four gold medals at Israel's Maccabiah Gpmes.
While discouraged by his first Olympic showing (he had just broken
five American and seven world records in the butterfly and freestyle) his
return to the 1972 games in Munich was electrifying. The fiercely com-
petitive Spitz brought home an unsurpassed seven gold medals, set world
records in all four of his individual events, and earned his third World
Swimmer of the Year title. He left aquatics that year to become a sports
commentator; an Olympic trial comeback attempt in 1992 failed for reasons
he described as "old age."
- Saul Stadtmauer

Visit many more notable Jews at our website: www.dorledor.org
COMMISSION FOR THE DISSEMINATION OF JEWISH HISTORY
Walter & Lea Field, Founders/Sponsors
Irwin S. Field, Chairperson
Harriet F. Siden, Chairperson

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1999

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