F' -~ . .. ·· . ( . · .-· · .. . .•. . . ; .· .· , - . . ; ·· · . .. .·· ...... ··" ...... · _...... - •· .-.· ...... ··· ;· ..· . : .··. . ... · . .. ,. .. -· ....H .· , 'E --·_.:··.: . :E.. .·· w·· ··:·_· ._:·:"·1· ·s ··-.H. ·· .._._. · · :_-.·:-. _. ·. ". -. : .: ~~~J~''/ :U~~~~ - ~967 -·::-:.:< ·· · ~- . ·, .. . -' .. . · FIFTY CENTS · . · · ·- . .. .· . . . .. ·•· ...... · ...... · .·.··

.. ,

.. ..

. -...... ·· .· ...... - .

. .. . ' ...... ·' . , · . . .. - ...... ·" - . -- ...... •· . . , - .

. ,, . - ·.... -. - . - .. · · -_-: :. ·.· ">- - -.··.--. : ·" A priest proposed·..• further revisions . : .· · . . · · .> . ·~- :: -._ _..··· .-. . -->...... : . · ...... · ...- · .· .. · :": .. ~to eliminate Scriptural readings that · _. _ . ...: . . ~- . . ·: :· . . · - ...... hurt the Jews ... he was not advocating . -· .. -· .· .... .·· ..· . .· ·· . " .. · . a deletion of passages.~ .It is simply : _ . _ ...... · .-·· ·· .... -· ... a matter of ... choosing better passages:~." · ?:

. ,. . .: . -· - ·· ' . .. .· --.. Adocumentary survey of the growing "dialogue" threat -: .- ~ .- ... -·· -.~-~ ·· ~.- .··:.. ·...... / . · - .. . · ·- .·

...... · _· .· ._ ... : .- ...... :

. . .. · - . ... .

...... · ...... · :: . . - - . .· .. ' . . . ' - . ~ ...... -· .. .: . ·· _,......

. - ..· ..· ·· ,· ...... ~- . - - .. _,. .

: _.. _.· ·.. ...- ...... '. .· .. -· -- .· . · ... .· .· · THE JEWISH QBSERVER

In this issue ...

"CHOOSING BETTER PASSAGES'' ..• A documentary survey of the growing "dialogue" threat. We believe that this survey should be read by thinking Jews far beyond the circle of our own readers, in order to alert them to the dangers to Jewish integrity and survival. We feel it is urgent to distribute thou­ sands of reprints throughout America and the English-speak­ ing world. If you lvant to participate in this action, send your contribution nott' to the REPRINT FUND, c/o THE JEWISH OBSERVER ...... 3

THE JEWISH OBSERVER is published Two BooKs ... recent tt'orks that offer deep insights into two monthly, except July and August, by the Agudath Israel of America, 1najor areas of Jewish concern ... 5 Beekman Street, New York, N. Y. 10038. Second class JOURNEY THROUGH A HAUNTED LAND l 1 postage paid at New York, N. Y. Subscription: $5.00 per year; single copy: 50¢. Printed in the THE JEWS OF SILENCE ...... 12 U.S.A. PROGRAMMED ]NSTRUCTION-lTS POTENTIAL FDR TORAH. so1ne proposals for utilizing new educational techniques to Editorial Board teach Torah to children and adults, Lams Nm.MAN ...... 14 DR. ERNST L. BODENHEIMER Chainnan RABBI NATHAN BULMAN AGNON AND THE NOBEL PRIZE ... so1ne co1nments on s. Y. RABBI JOSEPH ELIAS AGNON, and significant excerpts fro1n his acceptance address JOSEPH FRIEDENSON to the Swedish Academy ...... l 7 RABBI MOSHE SHERER Advertising Manager RABBI SYSHE HESCHEL ISRAEL DIGEST ... reports on issues facing Jews in Israel, from military security as viewed by religious Jewry to pro­ Managing Editor posals for election reform and how they would affect the RABBI Y AAKOV JACOBS religious parties, by MENACHEM GREENBERG ...... 19

THE JEWISH OBSERVER does not SECOND LOOKS AT THE JEWISH SCENE: assume responsibility for the Kashrus of any product or service Thanksgiving 1884 advertised in its pages. Image The Council for Judaism is 'Getting Religion' ...... 22 MARCH 1967 VoL. IV, No. 2 .....@) LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ... readers coniment on the Syna- gogue Council and Orthodoxy, and other issues ...... 27 . .. .' .. ~ .. ..

. ' u choosin·g ·better .passages" Adocumentary survey of the growing "dialogue" threat

We have had much to say* in the three years of our ing than anything we · could write-which offer some existence on the subject of ecumenism and "dialogue." indication of the scope of the problem as we see it Torah scholars have unanimously agreed that the ex­ through the mass of releases, pamphlets and books tension. of a purely Christian movement to encompass which reach our office. The problem will soon be com- Jews, will weaken the commitment to Judaism of masses pounded many times over by the use of television (see of Jews, and ease the way to sHMAD (conversion). On page 10) which a leading Jewish "dialoguer" reg«rds as February 20th, a front-page story in The New York "the secret weapon of ecumenism," and will bring Times (excerpts appear on page 8) detailed the growing "dialogue" into millions of Jewish homes. proportions of Christian-Jewish "dialogue" and re­ The documents also point up the confusions and con­ ported the opening of a "new phase" in which the tradictions of the Jewish sponsors of "dialogue" (who Synagogue Council of America would take part in incidentally an paying a good part of the /Jill) and the theological "dialogue," which their Orthodox consti­ determination of Church groups to continue their "mis­ tuents had until now restrained them from doing.** sion to the Jews" while adopting a new set of terms to What follows is a series of documentary citations from describe it. We welcome comments from our readers. Jewish and non-Jewish sources-they are more reveal- Y.J.

.- *Second Looks, Oct. 63; Nov. 63; Jan. 64; Rome and Cin­ ** A disclaimer appeared several days later in the Yiddish­ cinnati, May 64; The Vatican Council and the Jew, Nov. 64; language Day Morning-Journal. In answer to our inquiries we Second Looks, Dec. 64; Rav Amnon's Dialogue, Jan. 65; Sec­ · were told that a similar disclaimer would appear in The Times. ond Looks, Apr. 65: Emphasis ... Ours. Oct. 65; The Declara­ When no such disclaimer appeared after a week. we called tion on the Jews and The New Theology,' Jan. 66; Second Edward Fiske of The Times' staff, who wrote the story. and Looks, Jan. 66. he denied that any correspondence had been received from SCA.

.. . : .-- . 0 between Christianity and Judaism. In its strictest tech­ .· lnter-religious Relationships" nical sense, the term ecumenical applies only to rela­ An Ecumenical. Inter-Religious Concert tionships among Christians-Le., Catholic, Protestants, • and Eastern Orthodox-and the ground of ecumenism This FIRST will be held . is the shared Christology which is peculiar to Christen­ at Music Hall, Cincinnati . ..

The Jewish Observer / March, 1967 3 ,,· ..· ..

......

.~ . .. ~ .. Some Recent Releases

NE\'.V YORK. . . . A "how-to" Guide he firmly believes that they will disagree fo11owing primary rules are observed: to lnterreligious Dialogue, slated for in a more informal way and can then 1) Clarify your own beliefs practical use in the burgeoning area of pursue the controversy on a reasonable 2) Keep a completely open mind ... interfaith discussion, has been launched plane.... -AJC release by the American Jewish Committee. To encourage intergroup activity, the Reviewing the dramatic growth and manual includes a list of provocative WASHJNGTON .... Jn an event be­ popularity of the dialogue movement in topics for discussion as well as a prac­ lieved to be unprecedented in the history American life, Rabbi Marc H. Tanen· tical working plan which explains how of America's religious con1munities, all baum. Director of the Committee's Inter· to set up a dialogue, where to hold it five of the American Roman Catholic religious Affairs Depa1iment, stresses the and how to attract participants. In Cardinals and about 40 Archbishops and fact that the dialogue is not a debate addition to local church and synagogue Bishops will join in a ceremony with where points are scored and the oppof!ite groups, the pamphlet suggests that local Jewish leaders at a luncheon reception side wins. States Rabbi 'l"anenbaum, chapters of important national organiza­ Sunday, November 13, starting at Noon "Those who participate should not be tions such as the National Council of at the Board of Directors offices of 1'he motivated by a desire to convert or Catholic Men and Catholic Women, the Catholic University, Washington, D.C. instruct their opposite nun1ber, but to National Council of Christians and Jews, The occasion will be the presentation understand and accept them in the fol· the Christian Family Movement and the by the American Jewish Committee of ness of their differences." National C'ouncil of Jewish Women offer commemorative plaques to the five Car­ Rabbi Tanenbaum concedes that par· a fertile area for interested participation. dinals and to Archbishop Patrick A. ticipants in a dialogue, may still disagree A truly successful dialogue can be O'Boyle of Washington, Chairman of once they've exchanged viewpoints, but achieved, the Committee suggests, if the the National Conference of Catholic

Nothing New not those primarily concerned with the truths and laws of Judaism but those who think in terms of the social, RABB! TANENBAUM: ... I think that those of us who political and physical welfare of Jewry, who are con­ have been concerned about the passage of the Decree cerned with the sociological order rather than the the­ [on the Jews--ed.] and who have welcomed its passage ological aspirations of Jews. They are often uninformed have felt that the reality ... of the [deicide] charge and even unconcerned with the faith of Israel, and to in terms of what it has meant in affecting attitudes on them the relationship between Jews and Christians as the part of many Christians across the centuries with religious people is of the same order of significance as regard to the Jews ... that is a terrible reality. And the anti-Jewish discrimination practiced by a golf-club the Vatican Council addressed itself to that reality ... or a "gentlemen's agreement" in a wealthy Detroit MiR. GOLDMAN: ... am I right here with my little pile suburb. These Jewish "Madison Avenue" agencies are of notes, didn't the Church declare the same thing 400 well financed-;-operate -smoothly-in-thcpublicarel1a years ago? . . . Perhaps Msgr. Oesterreicher can straighten us out on this ... and in snlOke-fi1iCd___ COiifCfence-roOIT1S:- anlf-~ill effect MONSIGNOR OESTERREICHER: Yes. The Council of

4 The }e}l>ish Observer / March, 1967 . ~~· .- .. .·· .. :·

.· Bishops, in "heartfelt appreciation" for graduate authorities in Jewish-Christian Rabbi Tan.enbaum said, "would include the leadership given by American mem­ relations to examine historical, theo­ these: ... "The development by Chris­ bers of the Roman Catholic hierarchy logical, and sociological issues on an tian scholars of a theology of Israel that in behalf of the passage last year by ongoing basis located at a center of a is constant with 'the reality of a Jiving Vatican Council II of the declaration major university of international reputa­ Jewish community and Jewish religious on relations with non-Christian religions tion," Rabbi Tanenbaum said. tradition;' and of its implementation. . . . He proposed that the center would . "The development by Jewish scholars - AJC release link together in scholarly dialogue Chris­ of a religious outlook that deals serious­ tian and Jewish scholars froro Jerusalem, . ly with 'the living theologies of con­ CAMBRIDGE, MASS .... Creation of Rome, Geneva, Constantinople, and temporary Christianity and Christen­ an international center for advanced from American intellectual centers. . dom.' ... studies in Jewish.-Christian relations was Rabbi Tanenbaum disclosed that ·he Commenting on the significance of the proposed here by a rabbi who was a had explored the idea of such an inter­ colloquium. sponsored by the I 50-year- participant in the four-day International national center with authorities at the . old Harvard Divinity School. with the Colloquium on Judaism and Christianity. Hebrew University in Jerusalem and cooperation and support of the American The project, outlined at a dinner at­ with a number of Roman Catholic. Jewish Committee, · Rabbi Tanenbaum tended by 150 scholars from Europe, Protestant, and Orthodox: leaders. "Their remarked : ·Israel, and the United States at Harvard reaction," he said, "was one of deep "It is rather significant that the par­ Divinity School, was suggested by Rabbi ·and sympathetic interest." .ticipants regard it as natural and normal Marc H. Tanenbaum .. . "The kinds of issues that could profit­ .that this sort of dialogue on the deep "It would enable graduate and post- ably be explored at the proposed center," level is taking place. In th.e perspective those who have heard of the "new approach" there other schisms in the church; and third, because of the are some who are suspicious of its genuineness and of Christian eschatological hope of the conversion of the its motive. Are Christians changing their tactics, sub- Jews ... stituting "honey for vinegar" in order that Jews lower It is inevitable ... that the Roman-Catholic approach ~· / their defenses and become easier candidates for conver­ to the Jews should be essentially missionary in char­ sion, or are they prepared to love Jews as they are, .. acter. And this is characteristic not only of Roman­ loyal sons of the Covenant between God and Israel? . Catholics but of Protestants as well. Among the latter -Marc Tanenbaum in Tlze Star and the Cross I Bruce this is best discerned not among those who are actively Publishing Co. I Milwaukee, 1966 ··engaged in "the mission to the Jews" but precisely among the few who have of late strongly opposed this . ancient Christian enterprise. Even more than the fa- "We are missioners at all times" mous statement of Reinhold Neibuhr, Markus Barth That Jews should be concerned with proselytizing is a good case in point . . . [He argues that] the so- implications and overtones in Christian "ecumenical" • called "mission to the Jews" must be abandoned ... approaches to them can hardly be surprising in view · But we must clearly understand that Barth does not of two-thousand years of Christian endeavors in "the really abandon the Christian desire to fconvert the mission to the Jews"- by spiritual exertion, by stealth ) ews1 ... he merely suggests a new and perhaps better and by bloody force-in view of the agony of the body way of achieving the same end: " .... only after the of the Jewish people in our own time at the hands of Jews have found reason to ask about the unexpected . .. , ~ nations which were at least nominally Christian, and in friendliness toward them will come the time and the view of actual explicit statements such as those of .· opportunity to speak to them of ... the king of the Msgr. John Oesterreicher, the head of the lnstitutc of Jews." Judaeo-Christian Studies. The latter is centrally in­ .: volved in the [then] current Vatican Council delibera­ * Quoted by Rabbi Arthur Gilbert ... .irt "The Council ... .. · tions regarding the Jewish people. He is also a Jewish and the Jews," The Rcconstructionist, Jan. 10, 1964, p. 9.­ . . apostate and, therefore, doubly a person of spiritµaI This is a rather typical combination: the "Roman-Catholic" / concern to Jews. He has said that "whether we will or involved is a Jewish apostate, and the Jew is a functionary of one of the "civic organizations ..." [s.s.] no, We are missioners at all times . . . WC Win will -Steven Schwarzschild, ibid. [the JewsCif we move on the height to which we are - - ---··--- called ..." -Fr~dregory Baum (another Jewish apostate turned "Influenced by paintings"

··Roman-Catholic ecumenist) has given his reasons for Gregory Baum was born a Berlin .Tew, reared as a . . .~ ·wishing the chapter on the Jews included in the schema nominal Protestant, and converted to Catholicism ... on ecumenism:* first because Christians are spiritually . . . his first exposure to Christianity was through related to the "old Israel"; second, the division between -the reproduction of religious paintings which hung in ·· baptized Jews and unbaptized Jews is symbolic of all his Berlin home.

· The Jewish Observer / March, 1967 5

· ..· ' : ... .. ~~· Some Recent Releases

Of 2,000 years of history. this colloquium For a solid seven hours Catholic and Bronx ask the question. "Who is a is a miracle.'' ~ AJC release Jewish clergymen, educators and repre­ Jew'.'"-and courageously adn1it that a sentative laymen exchanged views on large gap existed in her information on NEW YORK. An ecumenic fear­ what the parochial schools are doing­ the subject; and they heard a Colun1bia lessness is seeping into Catholic-Jewish and not doing-to present an accurate University philosophy professor. who is relations which is in marked contrast to in1age of the Jew, in order to con1bat Jewish. answer her frankly and without prior courteous but surface exchange. anti-Semitis1n. a di<>sertation on credo. - AnL release The courtesy continues. but it is aug­ lt was the initial pl'ogran1 on second­ mented now by honest probing of the al'y school curricula held under joint NEW Y()RK .... Anl::rican evangel­ areas of conflict and agreement and bv Catholic-Jewish sponsorship in the New ical sen1inaries and colleges are '·ready an openness to the kind of learning York Archdiocese and, as such. a 1nilc­ to institute progran1s for co1nbatting which makes one-to-one relationship stone in ccun1enical relations. anti-Sen1itisn1." according to the only possible. The 200 participants heard. for cx­ Jewish observer at the month-long World This much was demonstrated at the :1mplc, a Catholic priest and author place Evangelical Congress held in Berlin. recent "Colloquium on Judaism and the the prin1e responsibility for historical "rhe observer, Rabbi Arthur (Jilbert. Church School," held at Marymount anti-Sen1itis1n on the Church. while a director of the department of religious Manhattan College under the auspices noted Jewish historian defended the curricu!un1 research of the Anti-J)efanul­ of the Catholic School Board of the Church against this charge by den1on­ tion League of B'nai B'rith. said presi­ Archdiocese of New York, the Anti­ strating a,<; 1nyth the i

. . . One of the men whose influence was felt by a deletion of passages from the New Testament. "It is Baum ... was Rabbi E. L. Fackenheim, now a phi­ simply a matter of choosing better passages for public losophy professor at the University of Toronto. He Worship, ·'-he-·sruc1:--·----... ---.. ·~·------·------says, "Gregory is remarkably ·sensitive to all genuine ----~------=-·rhe New York Times religious impulses. He has a great openess to both Protestantism and Judaism . . . "I think there is a definite place for more specific -from an article: Gregory Baum: Man For Our Tin1es, contacts between Jesuits and Jewish religious leaders The Sign, June 1965 . and I trust these will take place ..." -the world leader of the Jesuits, quoted in The New "Dialogue" or "Mission" York Times It is not just Jewish attitudes which make genuine inter-religious dialogue impossible at this time. To the Commonly known as the Jesuits ... their chief average Christian layman, the word dialogue is still labors are in teaching, literary work and foreign mis­ equated with evangelism. As Lowell Streiker points out sionary work. They are known for their intensive schol­ in his essay The Modern Jewish-Christian Dialogue, arship . "many Christian laymen and clergy still look upon -The Maryknoll Catholic Dictionary I Grosset & dialogue as an opportunity to demonstrate how Chris­ Dunlap I 1965 tianity fulfills the hopes and aspirations expressed by the particular religion in question.') [In this case, Juda­ ism--cd.] Despite the fact that theologians like the late "Freedom from the Law" Paul Tillich and Reinbold Neibuhr have condemned We Christians have told the Jews what they this attitude as morally wrong and fruitless, there re­ ought to be. religiously, and have not bothered to learn main millions of Christians who have not yet been able that they do not remotely fit our specifications. We have to distinguish between dialogue and mission. said, "You ought not to be Jews at all; but since you -Balfour Brickner, director of Interfaith Activities for are you had better be Orthodox. That's the good kind." UAHC and CCRA (Reform) in an article in An1erican But when Jews became Conservative and Reformed Judaisn1. and when some of them began to eat pork and every­ thing else (saying that in those matters the Scriptures are not to be interpreted literally), we said they had "Choosing better passages" lost all faith. What we forgot was that we, centuries New Rochelle, Feb. 20--A priest proposed today earlier, had declared our own freedom from those that the Roman Catholic church make further revisions prescriptions of the Law and any such view of the in its liturgy to eliminate Scriptural readings that hurt Scriptures. the Jews ... Rev. Gerard Sloyan in Torah and Gospel I Sheed and The Jesuit made it clear that he was not advocating Ward I New York, 1966

6 The Jewish Observer / March, 1967 .- , . . ·-·

cases, eagerness, to rethink their the­ Pontiff was a highlight of a dinner at Council, particular occasions have been ology on Jews ... the Waldorf Astoria honoring Dr. sought to affirm the great principles that Evangelical Protestants, Rabbi Gilbert Maurice Hexter and Joseph Willen on are common to Jewish and Christian declared, have been largely inacces.~ible their retirement as executive vice-presi­ traditions. with Jewish community leadership de­ dents of the Federation of Jewish Philan­ "One of those principles and perhaps spite the fact that Jews have engaged in thropies of New York. . . . the most important is the Mitzvah," the education programs at an ever-increasing The Pope's Emissary, Father Felix A. Pope's Special Emmisary continued. "In pace with liberal Protestants and Cath­ Morlion, O.P .. president of the Pro Deo this era which we can call the spiritual olics. . . . He said he interpreted his Free International University for Social revolution of understanding and esteem, invitation extended, by Dr. Carl H. ·studies of Rome, read the message which we do not want to honor a leader just Henry, editor of ''Christianity Today," was described as "a recognition in the because of the tenets he professes or as "a direct sign" of change. spirit of the renewed brotherhood ex­ .the words he speaks. We now see that "It was for this reason that T ac­ pressed in Vatican Council JI.'' the best criterion to judge the value of 'cepted," Rabbi Gilbert said, "after hesi­ ... In his message, Pope Paul lauded a human life is to consider the deeds t:iting because of the traditionally strong the "precious work" accomplished by accomplished by man for his fellow evangelical belief that Jews must be Dr. Hexter and Mr. Willen. In present­ man. The Mitzvah tradition, so pro­ ·converted,'' ing this message, Rev. Father Morlion found and powerful in the Jewish people, said: "Why should the head of the Cath­ · never ceases to stress that the Torah NEW YORK, Jan. 9. (JTA)-A special olic church himself decide to send a cannot fulfill the requirements of religion emissary of. Pope Paul VI sent directly message to two Jewish leaders? The without the Mitzvah which embodie.~ in .·from Rome with a message from the reason is that after the Ecumenical deeds God's commandments."

A Confession missions, he put the picture in focus: 'The ecumenical approach is one-sided-an attempt to know each other Never before in history have Jews and Christians really confronted each other as brothers, each entitled better without the intention of conversion. We cannot, .to the dignity of his uniqueness, both respectful of the . however, say conversion is no longer the duty of the other's freedom of conscience and right to be . . . Church. On thecontrary, we must bring [the founder ln the past, Jewish-Christian confrontation was of the Christian faith] to the whole world, and this duty fraught with danger and physical violence. Both the . cannot be destroyed by ecumenical dialogues.' Ecumen­ New Testament and testimonies of Jewish history rec­ ism might give rise to the idea that now the Church ord a tragic tale of man's oppression of his brother should leave everyone to follow his own conscience. because of religious difference. The truth is [sic] we [He] did not say this. He said to bring the Gospel to have never really spoken words to each other-we every creature- but with kindness. The priority of -persecuted, flogged , burnt at the stake, humiliated, evangelization must be stressed, since this is what [he] mocked, murdered, feared, and hated the other . .. wishes 'impatiently,' since love is impatient to com­ -Arthur Gilbert in A Jew in Christian America I Sheed municate itself." and Ward I New York, 1966 -The Tablet, Brooklyn's Catholic weekly, May 26, 1966

Is Conversion .,Out?" In Holland, the Dutch Reformed ·Church and the · We hear it said that conversion is out in this ecu­ Roman Catholic Church have abandoned their mis­ menical era, that the ecumenical movement has caused sionary societies to the Jews and, in their stead, have a drop in the number of converts to Catholicism created new agencies for "dialogue" with the Jewish throughout the world, that the old idea and approach people, concentrating their missionary programs "to of convert work is out of tune with the new ecumenical the gentiles." . spirit of today. In fact, our own Diocesan Ecumenical -from a report by Marc Tanenbaum, director of the Commission in No. 22 of its temporary directives, inter-religious affairs department of the AJC suggests that "it would seem only right to use such expressions as 'instruction,' 'formation' or 'training' of -The Dialoguers' Credentials candidates rather than the familiar 'instruction of con­ verts.' Rabbi Marc H. Tanenbaum was born in Baltimore, But all that concerns only words. What is of greater Md. He received his B.A. at Yeshiva University in ,,·.: .· importance is misinterpretation of words and of the 1945; M.A. at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New reality behind words . . . York. He undertook graduate studies at Johns Hopkins Cardinal Suenens has said the Church must walk and at the New School for Social Research, 1953. He has been a free-lance writer since 1952; public relations with two Jegs--one ecumenismancfthe other evangel­ counsel, Eternal Light radio program, 1951. He was : ization. Speaking on the Council's proposition on the literary editor and public relations director of Henry

The Jewish Observer / March, 1967 7 ......

'. Schuman, Inc., publishers, and of Farrar, Strauss, and Jewish experience. This is not the way Jews have, as Young, publishers. He is director of the Interreligious a rule, expressed themselves when describing the nature Affairs Department. The American Jewish Committee. of their Judaism. Another example (p. 114): in speak­ He was director of the Synagogue Council of Amer­ ing of the problem of secularism and indifferentism, ica, and on the board of directors of Religion in Amer­ Rabbi Gilbert says, "Even as we work at this problem ican Life. in the decade to come it is clear that Reform rabbis -from Vatican If: An Interfaith Appraisal will wish to engage their faithful in the practice of their particularism, and in this effort we are no different than Rabbi Arthur Gilbert, a native of Philadelphia, grad­ other confessional churches in today's America." nated from New York University in 194 7 and in 1951 ~From a review of A Jew in Christian America in the received his M .H.L. and Rabbinical Degree from the Reconstructionist, Dec, 23, '66 New York Branch Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Orthodoxy and "dialogue" A true ecumenical pioneer, Rabbi Gilbert has an impressive list of "'firsts" to his credit, including: the Pointing to the ever-widening areas of Jewish-Chris­ first rabbi to be published in a Southern Baptist mis­ tian relations, Rabbi [Seymour] Cohen [president of sionary magazine, The Royal Service; observer at the the Synagogne Council of America] questioned the in­ International Pentecostal Convention, the first Christian volvement of non-religious Jewish human relations and conference to be held in Israel; and the only rabbi to defense agencies in dialogues with Christian groups address the International Lutheran World Federation when they do so in a representative capacity. Consultation on the Church and Jews held in Logum­ "Only the religious agencies can serve as the authen­ kloster, Denmark. tic spokesman of the Jewish religious community in From 1953 to 1960, he was the Director, National the area of Jewish-Christian interreligious relations," Department of lnterrcligious Cooperation, of the Anti­ Rabbi Cohen stated."Faith must come before inter­ Defamation League. From 1960 to 1965, he served faith, and meaningful interreligious understanding can as Director, Project Religious Freedom and Public flow only from the depth of religious commitment." Affairs, of the National Conference of Christians and Acknowledging that there were differences of opinion Jews. In October of 1965, be returned to ADL as among the Orthdox, Conservative and Reform constit­ Director, National Department of Interrcligious Cur~ uents of the Synagogue Council with regard to the riculum Research. extent of such "dialogues," Rabbi Cohen stressed that --from the dust.jacket of A Jew in Christian Anierica, only joint consultations by these relii,>ious groups could by Gilbert. bring about a "responsible clarification of the proper range of the Jewish community's involvement in inter­ rcligious activities." As I read Rabbi Gilbert's book, I became par­ -Highlights, Synagogue Council of America, Dec. 1966 ticularly aware of two very complex problems. One may be called the problem of translating the religious and cultural experience of one group into the vocabul­ The nation's principal Jewish, Protestant and Roman ary of another. Catholic organizations, which until now have restricted Rabbi Gilbert, for example, has incorporated into their joint activities to secular matters, are preparing to his own way of speaking and writing the sort of phrase­ move to a new stage-their first discussion of a religious ology which he might never have used in discussing subject. Judaism with other Jews. For example, at the very The discussion, to be held at a meeting in Boston in beginning (p. 8), he describes a Friday evening when May, is a significant development in what has become one of the fastest growing aspects of the contemporary Protestant students visited a Jewish Sabbath service ecumenical movement: interfaith dialogue between and then, at theifSuggestion, everyone dancedthehora Christians and Jews. around the statue of Martin -Luther. "Each inter-reli~ The conference is being organized by the Synagogue gious experience seems to me a new one, like the spirit Council of America, which includes all three branches renewing reacquaintance of brothers, long separated of Judaism; the National Council of Churches, which from each other . . . for at the depths this is exactly includes most of the major Protestant and Eastern Or­ what we Jews share together: a sense of ourselves as thodox denominations, and the National Conference of being covenanted in community to God and obliged Catholic Bishops. by faith to witness to Him and to serve our fellow man Its theme-the role of the religious conscience­ in love and justice." reflccts the growing desire of many Jewish and Chris­ These phrases: "brothers long separated from each tian leaders to move their dialogues beyond discussions other," "covenanted in community to God," "obliged simply of social issues to include mutual consideration by faith to witness," etc. are not indigenous to the of problems with religious dimensions.

8 The Jewish Observer / March, 1967 Movement to the · next stage-discussion of ~such if Th; American Jewish Conimittec and the Union ·· ·purely theological subjects as the nature of God-has of American Hebrew Congregations together sponsor not been considered by these national organizations more than 300 formal dialogues annually. The Anti­ because of opposition from Orthodox Jewish leaders in Defamation League is involved in about a dozen sem­ the Synagogue Council, who fear the talks could water inars a year at Catholic colleges. down the faith. Conservative and Reform Jewish groups ~ The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and have had dialogue with Christians on such themes ... South America has begun discussions aimed at initiating During the last year thousands of Christians and dialogues with Jewish officials this winter ... Jewish laymen and clergymen have been flocking to meetings in churches, synagogues, dormitories, offices Rome is still searching for the best way to relate to .· •' · and Jiving rooms throughout this country and Europe. the Jewish community. The roots of the di alogues date to the nineteen-fifties Jewish leaders have expressed a desire not to work and earlier, but the biggest stimulant was the Ecumen­ with Rome through Paolo Cardinal Marella's Secretar­ ical Council from 1962 to 1965. iat for Non-Christian Religions. This is because they "It's now reached the point where the only limit on feel that the close historical link between Christianity the number ofdialogues is that there aren't- enough and Judaism makes the relationship between the two Jews togo around,;' said. Rabbi ArthurGilbert:-an different from the relations between Christianity and · other religions. Another problem is that this secretariat official oCihe Anti-'befamation League of B'nai B'rith is also intended to handle relations with Moslems. and a participant of many of the discussions. The subjects of these meetings range from war and So far the solution has been to assign Jewish relations - peace to the Torah and the Trinity, and the stated pur­ to Cardinal Bea's personal supervision. His secretariat pose is usually to increase understanding and to foster is charged with promoting "Christian unity," but he cooperation between Jews and Christians. has the confidence of Jewish leaders because, at the Participants frequently report, however, that they Ecumenical Council, he championed a strong statement ·learn as much about their own faith as they do about declaring that Jews as a people cannot be held re­ the other and there are signs that the impact of the sponsible for the crucifixion .... talks on both faiths may eventually be profound. -The New York Times, Feb. 20, 1967 "The ecumenical movement has taught us that when we talk to representatives of other faiths we must expect , . ' .... to be changed-not just in personal attitudes but at the . . . Dialogue among Catholics, Protestants and Jew's very least in the way we formulate beliefs," said the which was formerly limited to matters of social or · Rev. Filliam A . Norgren, executive director of the De­ economic concern, has moved into the sphere of re­ partment of Faith and Order of the National Council ligion. of Churches . . . It has been announced that three faiths arc planning The scope of the increasing interfaith talks is exem­ a theological conference to be held in May in Boston ... plified in the following developments: -from an editorial in The Tablet, Feb. 23, 1967 tf The Episcopal Church and the Synagogue Council Cif America will hold their first formal discussions in New York on March 5 and 6. The meetings, which will The debate on the merits of Jewish-Christia11 dia­ deal with family life, are a result of a resolution passed logue is flaring up again. · .. by the Episcopal Church's triennial General Convention One objection, frequently heard before, is that ex­ in October, 1964. posure to Christian ideas will weaken the religious ft Dialogues are organized on a continuing basis in commitment of Jewish dialogue participants. But so virtually every country in Western Europe. More than far this remains unsubstantiated. Responsible agencies 70 leaders of the two faiths met in Cambridge, England, · approach interfaith discussion with the idea that it in August for an eight-day International Conference should strengthen, not weaken, self-understanding (AJC , .... , . .on Jewish-Christian Relations. makes the point in its Guide to lnterreligious Dialogue), ~Augustin Cardinal Bea, chairman of the Vatican's and that is what consistently does happen. Some rabbis ... •' Secretariat for the Promotion of Christian Unity, has call di~logue "the secret weapon of adult Jewish educa­ . named the Rev. Cornelius A. Rijk, a Dutch scholar, to tion." . .. be his personal representative in seeking ways of estab­ .· .· lishing formal contacts with Jewish leaders. AJC's credentials for interfaith dialogue are beyond ..... ; iT Special councils have been formed for the same question. They include a staff of nationally recognized purpose by the National Conference of Catholic Bish­ experts, plus more than 30 .years of pioneering research, ops in this country and by local dioceses, including the .studies and experience . . . . Diocese of Brooklyn. -from an editorial in the AJC newsletter

Tlie Jewish Obserl'er / March, 1967 9

,, . " . "Mass media ecumenism" Father Ambrogi said: "For a Christian to be exposed to the profound religious sense of the Jew, to try to NEW YORK •.. An unprecedented demonstration in ecn­ understand in all sincerity just what a Jew believes menical and interreligious understanding will be pre­ through study of the way in which he worships-this sented on the NBC Television Network next month is a stimulating force of genuine dialogue which can be when "Frontiers of Faith" brings together representa­ very fruitful for mutual understanding. The same can tives of Judaism, the Greek Orthodox Church, Roman be said of the dialogue between the separated Christian Catholicism and Protestantism for a four-week program communions. Acquaintance with the different forms of series, "The Holy Seasons." ... worship of the divided Christian traditions can be a In "'The Holy Seasons" there will be exchange about most creative, and as yet rather untapped, source of the meaning of liturgical customs and usages of the rapprochement between the churches." festival cycle that has developed around Passover-East­ Father Stephanopoulos said: "The series is a unique er and Shovuos-Pentecost. It will show how intimately effort to present the richness and variety of two respec­ the different traditions are linked through the Mass, tive faith-traditions as they ritually and spiritually the Jewish Seder for Passover, the Eastern Orthodox celebrate their own holy seasons . . . By their own ritual, the observance of Shovuos (by the Jewish people) nature the holy cycles are different, but careful dis­ and Pentecost (by the Christians). Viewers will see, cussion, conducted in a spirit of understanding and for example, a Roman Catbolic couple given Holy mutual respect, demonstrates how closely the two faith­ Communion, a part of the Jewish Seder for Passover, traditions are interconnected at many points ... It is a performance by a .Russian Orthodox choir. greatly to be hoped that this series is a sign of the times Dr. Hagen Staack will be host for the series . . . in interfaith discussions and an indication of future Guests and interpreters for their own faith traditions hopes." will be tbe Rev. Thomas E. Ambrogi, S. J., professor Dr. Staack said of the series, which has already been of ecumenics, Woodstock (Md.) College; the Rev. taped: "We have tried to show how intimately our Robert G. Stephanopoulos, pastor of the Church of different traditions are linked and how we can borrow Our Saviour, Rye, N. Y.; and Rabbi Marc H. Tanen­ and learn from each other ...'' baum , National Director of Interre1igious Affairs, American Jewish Committee. All will appear on each -NBC NEWS release of the four telecasts. In Part One the origins of the Passover and the birth of Israel as a nation are considered, as are Easter and Where Will it End? the birth of the Christian Church. In Part Two the MADRID, Feb. 28-The rich voice of the young rituals and symbolism of tbe Jewish Seder for Passover cantor in the black ritual skullcap filled the vast Roman are portrayed and the relation of the Christian services Catholic Church of Santa Rita tonight as he intoned of the Lord's Supper to Passover are discussed. In Part the old Hebrew peace prayer "Hashkivaynu avinu le­ Three the timing of Good Friday in relation to the shalom" ("Our Father, grant us sleep in peace"). Jewish Passov~r is noted, and the Orthodox ritual is performed. Music is by St. Vladimir's Theological Sem­ Standing to the right of the cross-adorned rectangular inary Octet of Crestwood, N. Y. In Part Four the altar of the modernistic church of the Augustin fathers completion of the Passover and Easter cycles with the ... the cantor of the Madrid Synagogue--chanted in observance of Shovuos and Pentecost, respectively, are Hebrew as the congregation of nuns, monks and a examined. thousand Catholics and Jews listened intently ... All four participants have commented on the impor­ The organ in the loft of the church accompanied him tance of the series. softly. Rabbi Tanenbaum said: "In light of the unpreced­ Jt was not a joint religious service, in the strictest ented character of 'The Holy Seasons' the National sense of the word, because there were no purely liturg­ Council of Churches and the National Broadcasting ical elements of the Catholic mass or of Jewish ritual ... Company are to be congratulated for th_eir leader~hi~ In any event, no such sight has been seen in a Roman in this pioneering undertaking. 'Mass me~~~c:.um.:,~1s~. Catholic church in Spain, which 475 years ago expelled of this kind may well be the secrctwcapon of the entire some of her Jews, forced others to convert to be able ecumenical and intcfreligiouS movements . . . Mass to stay and for centuries persecuted those who con­ inedia C'Cuffienisffi-feprCsentSone-of thCifUiy imagin­ verted or chose to return. ative and powerful instruments to close the gaps be­ The priests wore the black robes of their order and tween the generals and the ecumenical troops, and this large crucifixes hung from the belts. series is a splendid and dramatic illustration of how it can be done." -The New York Times

10 The Jewish Observer / March, 1967 ..· "'"

.· :· , · ... · ... two hooks

.· . ~ .. Journey··_ Through .-A ·Haunted ·· land "The . .. generation which ... put Hitler into ·power . .. still bo/Js on.,, ff'WO SIGNIFICANT BOOKS recently published by jour­ "The first president of West Germany, Professor nalists whose work normally appears in Israeli news­ Theodor Heuss, tried hard to ban the wearing of World .... .·· papers, gives us some notion of what journalism can War U decorations and service medals. Eventually he contribute to the illumination of areas of Jewish con­ had to give up. Cabinet members and deputies, profes­ , · ... cern. Both were published by Holt, Rinehart, and sors and judges, gem:rals and managers of the new Winston-a New York house that has a growing list economy adorn themselves with Hitler's decorations­ of Jewish titles. from which the swastika has been carefully removed. Few miss an opportunity to prove on white, starched "The New Germany," a concept popularized of late by dress shirts how hard they worked to help Hitler to .. : Jewish leaders to justify their relationships with West victory. When queried, they say 'objectively' it was a Germany, is carefully analysed by Amos Elon, an Is­ bad war, but 'personally' they were fighting for 'good': raeli journalist, in Journey Through a Haunted Land, Joyal service being always honorable. West Germany a report on an extended trip through the cities and -though a democracy-is marked by moral schizo­ towns of Germany. phrenia. At official receptions in Bonn, proud memories German propagandists have been pushing the idea . of war clink and shine on the breasts of the prominent. · that the majority of Germans today are young people What clinks .inside? The same decorations sat on the who had no part in Nazi Germany. Elon puts this idea chests of men who stood guard in Auschwitz (awards to rest with the following facts: that were won there because their recipients were good "The older generation which helped put Hitler into at throwing cyanide gas into scaled chambers packed . · with screaming naked human beings)." ,. power, cheered him on, waged his wars, watched while -·· the synagogues were burning and their Jewish neighbors Elon vividly describes the visit of a West Gennan were led away-this generation still holds on. In cul­ court to Auschwitz, to determine if a witness is telling tural life it has little influence; press, radio and tcle­ the truth about one of the defendants. Franz Bernhard .vision are mostly in the hands of the young. But cco­ Lucas, a gynecologist, who was an ·ss ofliccr in the nomically and politically this older generation still infamous camp. He is charged with the murder or controls the new West German Republic. Adolf Hitler's abetting the murder of "an undeterminable multitude" genera)s, officials and indust1ialists are respected citi­ · of people in Auschwitz in 1944. The court has decided , ...: - .. ·· zens today. They are found among the mighty in Bonn: that his innocence or guilt hinges on the distance the in leading positions as members of parliament, as sec­ witness stood from where he testified he saw the de­ retaries of state, lawyers and commanders of an army fendant sending Jews to their death. In Elon's words, wholly integrated into NATO. Some two-thirds of all · "The Frankfurt Court lws sent them here to measure West German judges practised 'justice' during the Third . an outrage with a yardstick." Someone asks the judge Reich. Sixty-four percent of all army officers once be­ if he had ever been a member of the Nazi Party; Elon .. : ,· · longed to the Nazi Wehrmacht. Half of all federal offi­ reports: "He couldn't remember. 'You see, all that lies cials served the Nazi administration. When one con­ so far in the past. As much as I would like to, I simply siders that more than twenty years have passed since can't remember.' " the end of the war, these are astonishingly high figures. In the course of the trial, Lucas is free on bail. The age group of senior executives (those between "An Israeli witness, alarmed at seeing him [Lucas] forty and sixty today) was severely decimated by the at Frankfurt International Airport shortly after facing war. One would consequently expect to find younger him in the courtroom, called the police. Was Lucas .. .. ' ·. .~ · men advancing more quickly. Rather than former Nazi trying to flee the country? No, he was merely using judges handing down the law, or former Nazi generals the shuttle service to Hamburg to set: his patients on planning Germany's defense against Russia, one would days when his trial was in recess. His practice appar­ expect to see younger judges, generals or ambassadors. ently has not suffered. He is widely -praised by his ....,,. . . ,, But in Germany forty or forty-five is still considered too patients. At Hamburg, he is said to be a doctor who young for such a job. cares, a Samaritan anxious to alleviate pain, good- . ' The Jewi.~h Observer / March, 1967 11

... . · - natured and conscientious~ At Frankfurt, he is accused only Jews. The Soviet Union, not counting ten· million ·· of having selected the doomed from the living, telling dead soldiers, lost thirteen million people in occupied .them to step aside and move towards the gas chambers, territories, including four million prisoners of war, shot, a master over life and death at the railroad platform gassed, worked or starved to death. The Soviet Union, of Auschwitz." says Alexander Werth in Russia at War, did not have The Judge dictates to the court stenographer: just one Lidice, not only one Oradour, but hundreds. "Thereupon the Court went to the trenches in which Lesczynski estimates the number of dead Polish civil­ the corpses were burned." ians at two and a half million people. At least one "One of the defense attorneys questions his wording. million Poles died in extermination camps. Shouldn't it say: ' ... in which corpses were allegedly "It has become common to compare-even equate­ burned?'" the extermination camps of Auschwitz and Treblinka Js this only the attitude of a defense attorney work­ wjth the destruction of Dresden by Allied bombers a ing to acquit his client-Elon thinks not. few weeks before the end of the war, or with the ex­ "Others [Germans] go still a step further, and ac­ pulsion of the German population from East Prussia, tually rationalize Nazi crimes. This is nothing new. Silesia or Czechoslovakia in 1945. Some people de­ One reads about it before coming to Germany. Hearing mand trials ~gainst 'Allied War Criminals.' Prominent it with your own ears and, of all things, from the mouth politicians, led by fom1er Minister of Defense Franz of a twenty-five-year-old, has a shattering effect. A Josef Strauss, render lip service to this demand. It is young man sat next to me in a railroad compartment: politically useful." 'Oh, it can't have been as bad as all that,' he said idly The latest upsurge of neo-Nazi strength, and their stretching his legs. That stuff about the six million victories in Bavaria and Hesse, should give pause to murdered Jews is enormously exaggerated. I heard it Jewish leaders who speak of "The New Germany." from an absolutely trustworthy source ... Elon's Journey to a Haunted Land points up "The New "Today even those who admit that millions of Jews Germany" as in reality the old Germany, wrapped in were murdered often pretend that Germans murdered the garb of democracy, patiently awaiting Der Tag.

The Jews of Silence ':As I stood among the Jews of Russia, I became a Jew."

In The Jews of Silence,* Elie Wiesel, an Israeli cor­ of Jews who appear to have made peace with living respondent whose novels on the Holocaust have gained their every-day lives almost as non-Jews, but whose him popularity, offers a journalistic report of a visit to souls yearn for a return to their Torah, to their G-d, Soviet Jewry. Wiesel writes little that has not been and to their people. It is the frustration of Jews loyal reported before. His description of visits to synagogues, to Torah, searching for direction, and consoling them­ of Jews whispering to him in public places, his visit to selves that this is a Dor Yosom, an orphaned genera­ Babi Yar-these have become the standard appurte­ tion. nances of the visitor returning from the Soviet Union. Whether it be the temptations of an affluent, mate­ The feeling that Wiesel experienced have no doubt been rialistic society, the restrictions of a government tinged felt by other Jews; but Wiesel adds to our understanding with Jew-hatred, or a Jewish state which offers the · of the situation of our Soviet brothers . . . the poetic choice of a complete Jewish life based on Torah, or dimension, and thereby says infinitely more than others a life based on an ersatz Jewishness-all these have in have said. common the stumbling block of believing that a Jew Whoever reads a poem carries away from it his own can survive without Torah. Certainly the problems of unique reaction; perhaps the poet did not have that in Russian Jewry are vastly different from ours, but the mind; perhaps he would even disagree with his reader's Russian Jew must ask himself the same question that reaction. For me, Wiesel has made clearer the nature all of us must answer: Am I to accept the values of an of the tragedy of Soviet Jewry; it is the tragedy of all age which has fostered mass destruction of human life, Jewry today. In America, in Israel, in Russia; it is the or can I somehow find my way back to the eternal tragedy of Jews seeking their identity; the soul-pains verities of Sinai and base my life and aspirations on these verities? * I cannot pass without commenting on the beautiful design Wiesel's description of the Simchas Torah celebration of the book, which makes it a masterpiece of the bookmaking art, and enhances the effectiveness of the literary product it in Moscow is masterful: contains. " .. . The people crowding into the synagogue tonight

12 The Jewish Observer / March, 1967 ...... --· --

.· . . .· , •' ' . . . .· were simple Jews who had come to learn that it was has been denied him_:_is demonstrating th~ wisdom "of .. · possible to be a Jew and to find reasons for rejoicing ... G~d's choice of the Jew, his stubborn determination to or to rejoice for no reason at all. Long-beards and be G-d's people. How else explain the following story workers, old and young, widows and girls, students and Wiesel tells: bureaucrats. Among them there were many who had One morning there was a knock at the door of never prayed but who had come to watch the procession a man wlw for some years had secretly and at and to honor the Torah . . . great risk brought dozens of children into the " ... The entire Israeli diplomatic corps was present, ·covenant of Abraham. His wife opened the door, together with their wives and children. We sang, Gather · and was confronted with a Russian colonel. "Does ...... our scattered ones from among the nations, and our Comrade K . . . live here " Terrified, she an­ dispersed from the corners of the world. Five times, swered yes. The officer demanded to speak to ten times. A number of the diplomats belonged to left­ her husband. "I have heard that you are a mohel; wing parties. In their youth they had scorned religion, true or not?" The man tried to deny it. "Don't . and religious people in particular. Tonight they cele­ waste your breath." The officer commanded the brated the holiday with hasidic enthusiasm and a~an­ man to get dressed; his wife packed his personal - ...... - ~ don. Differences of opinion and class were left behmd. belongings in a satchel. "Take your instruments," An American writer once told me, 'As I stood among ·the colonel ordered. the Jews of Russia, I become a Jew.' He was not alone; They got into an army vehicle, and the man many who come here as Israelis also return home as - was blindfolded. They rode for ahout half an Jews ... hour, then got out; the colonel opened a door and .. ·.· ". . . Men who had not seen a Torah all year long removed the blindfold. They were standing in a were embracing and kissing it with a love bequeathed to ·well-furnished apartment. A woman lay in bed, them from generations past. Old men lifted their grand­ a crib by her side. "You must circumcise my son," ·childrcn onto their shoulders, saying, "Look and re- the colonel said. The ceremony took five minutes. member." The children looked in wonder and laughed, · The father asked the price, but the mohel refused uncertain what was happening. No matter; they would to take money. The colonel would not hear of it. understand later, and they would remember ... He gave the man 25 rubles and two bottles of "The dignitaries had made their way back to the vodka, blindfolded him again, and drove him pulpit. The first procession was over. The gahbai an­ home. nounced that all guests were to take part in the second, and the congregation responded with new bmsts of ·· Did this happen just as it was told to Wiesel? Did song. From one comer came an Israeli tune, 'Heivenu Wiesel take poetic license in his telling?-no matter. Shalom Aleichem, We have brought peace unto you;' If Jews only tell such a story, it is a miracle-the mir­ from another 'Hava Na[?ilah, Come Jct us rejoice.' A acle that is the Jewish people. third group preferred a traditional song, 'Blessed is our Wiesel tells us that his visit changed his opinion on G-d who created us in His honor and separated us from what Jews outside the Soviet Union should do; he now the nations and implanted in us eternal life.' Instead believes that there should be protests; that protests will of resisting one another, the various songs seemed to · influence Soviet policy toward the Jew for the better. fuse into a single melodic affirmation. Those who had In this, of course, he differs with the position of leaders spent years in prison or in Siberia, those who had only of Torah Jewry who have counseled against public recently become aware of their Jewishness, now pro­ protests and demonstrations. (Prudence does not permit claimed their unity: one people, one Torah. Each of us here to argue, or to defend the position of men them had stood once at the foot of Mount Sinai and ·steeped in the ways of Torah and in understanding of heard the word, 'Anochi-I am the Lord thy G-d.' the non-Jew world.) But Wiesel has produced a work _ Each of them had received the promise of eternity ..." that makes a major contribution to the understanding of This Simchas Torah phenomenon raises these questions: the situation of Soviet Jewry. ·· ls it an accident that these young Jews choose - We would not seek here to quarrel with the groups to proclaim their Jewishness within the walls of that have chosen the way of. public protest. It is not the synagogue, or even in the surrounding streets? to be expected that Jews who look for guidance to the Is it an accident that of all festive days in the political and social scientists rather than to Torah and Jewish calendar, Russian Jews single out the day of Simchas Torah, the day when the Jewish people its teachers, should suddenly react differently in this area. But Wiesel's work should make it clear to all pours out its gratitude to the Almighty for making Jews that the problem of Soviet Jewry is a problem us His people and giving us His Torah? ·_ that goes to the depths of Jewishness, and the answers A poet once said, "How odd of G-d I To choose the must be found in the depths of Torah, and the expe­ Jews." Not odd at all; the Russian Jew, heir to a vast riences of the Jewish people through centuries of ad­ : heritage of Jewish living and learning-a heritage which versity. YAAKOV JACOBS

ThE;. Jewish Observer / March, 1967 .13 Louis Nu/man ·Programmed Instruction - Its Potential for Torah

As a result of the education explosion in this country, and the constant develop­ ment of new techniques, educators have developed and introduced various types of "teaching machines." DR. Louis NuLMAN, Director of Research for Torah Umesorah, the National Society of Hebrew Day Schools, was the first to apply the .. - technique of programmed learning to Torah education in his "What is Chanukah?" We asked Dr. Nulman to outline some of the work being done in this area and to indicate its possible use in the Yeshiva and Day School curriculum. o

EDUCATION IN AMERICA is experiencing a technological of two known as chavrusa. For the major part of their revolution. In response to the many rapid changes in learning day, the members of the chavrusa work as a teaching technique, universities throughout the nation team, reviewing the day's shiur, going over new ma­ have established institutes and departments of educa­ terial, preparing for the next day's lecture. Throughout tional technology in their schools of Education. In this period of chavrusa learning, each member of the order to further the scientific knowledge of the learning team is forced to defend the correctness of any state­ process, researchers must closely examine the theories, ment he makes. His own superficial understanding of methods and techniques underlying such news ideas as any material being studied, will quickly be challenged programmed-instruction, computer-ussistcd education, by his chaver. The stimulation, the inter-action of the learning laboratories and educational communication. two students makes for an exciting-and productive-­ But, it is not the universities alone that arc interested learning experience. This chavrusa system has been in these developments. As the revolution gains momen­ used successfully over the centuries by students of the tum, industry is showing a good deal of interest. Sev­ Talmud. It is the embodiment of the advice of the eral of the big corporations have already bought out Mishna (Pirkei Ovo.1), Knai /echo chaver, "Get your­ major iextbook publishing houses, an indication of the self a companion." growing relationship between the communication in­ Jn programmed-instruction, there is a similar type dustries and education. of inter-action, naturally more mechanical, between the Our Federal government is deeply interested and in­ student and the programmed text which substitutes for volved in these new developments in education. The the second member of the chavrusa team. This learn­ ·United States Office of Education has established a ing technique, which has evolved in the last six years, special department to guide the education consumer in is a departure from the conventional methods of in­ the selection and purchase of 'software' ( programmcd­ struction such as the lecture, use of the textbook, work­ text materials) and 'hardware' (teaching machines). book, or film. Jewish education cannot escape the impact of this Jn programmed instruction, the unit of study is revolution, and we will here consider only one of the structured to meet the following basic cri teria: educational technologies, programmed-instruction, and • The information is divided into small, sequential its possible application to Torah studies. steps. • At each step. the learner is asked to respond. , •' Chavrusa Learning WHAT JS programmed instruction? This new tech­ • The student is immediately informed if he has nology can best be understood by an analysis of a responded correctly or incorrectly. classical learning system practiced over the centuries This general procedure is followed whether the ma­ and still widely used in Yeshivos today. teri::il is presented on a printed page or in any of a The basis of actual instruction in the Yeshivas is the variety of teaching machines. shiur, the lecture delivered by the rebbi each day. After Among subjects already available in programmed the shiur has been delivered, the students pair in groups instruction are mathematics, science, English, and

14 The Jewish Observer / March, 1967 · .· ...

Th~ first page of "What ls Kosher?"

.· PART

KOSHER ANIMALS

READ CAREFULLY Before you begin, cover up oll the written moteriol found in the left.side of the poge. Use a cord or ruler for this purpose. . ···" Uncover the onswer(s) only ofter you hove filled in your own onswer(s).

..· ..

1. The bottom port of the horse's foot is called a "hoof." The port of the horse's foot, simi lar to the toes of man, is known os the.

COMPARE YOUR ANSWER WITH PRINTED ANSWER IN LEFT COLUMN.

ANSWER TO 2. The horse's hoof is shaped like one toe of a man. Donkeys and zebras hove "FRAME" 1: hoofs simi lor to the hoof of the horse. The hoofs of a horse, _··--·-··--····--····-- and look like ___~ ·--- toe(s) of a man's foot. 1. hoof two I one / three

COMPARE YOUR ANSWER WITH PRINTED ANSWER IH LEFT COLUMN.

ANSWER TO 3. What is found ot the bottom of the horse's foot? ----- "FRAME" 2:

2. donkey zebra one TURN TO NEXT PAGE. THE ANSWER TO "FRAME" 3 IS FOUND IN THE LEFT COLUMN.

The Jewish Observer / March, 1967 15 hygiene, and they are being taught with these materials Gemorah must be the constant companion of the stn­ in schools, in industry, in the Armed Forces and gov­ dent, and the basic tool of instruction. ernment agencies. But, this hardly means that programmed instruction The developers of programmed materials have found cannot be a valuable tool in the Day School and Yeshi­ the cost of preparing, editing, and printing quite high, va curriculum. Hebrew language and grammar and hut it is generally agreed that these instructional tools Jewish history (even Dinim which are often taught are most econon1ical over a long period of time. verbally), not being anchored in a traditional text, of­ Until now, programmed material has been used in fer the best potential for the use of programming tech­ teaching skill building, simple facts and understanding niques. This might be especially helpful in schools of basic principles. But researchers and practitioners which have a crowded curriculum, where programmed are yet to be convinced that progra1nmed instruction material could be assigned for home study. can be used effectively in teaching concepts, discovery, and creativity. Use in Adult Education Application to Jewish Education Apart from possible application in teaching children, this new educational tool bolds out a rich potential BEFORE WE GO all out in an attempt to adopt pro­ for teaching Judaism to adults, a need which is strong­ grammed instruction in Jewish education, we must first ly felt in our time. Programmed texts could teach the determine in which areas of the curriculum it can be narrative, the terms and laws of the Chumash, Nevi-itn used. Can we program Hebrew gram1nar, Tanach, and even Talmud, in preparation for ultimately expos­ Mishnah, l'aln1ud, History, Dinim? ing the student to the actual text. rforah education, unlike general education, is book­ centered. Mastery of Torah learning revolves around It has been suggested that we develop a basic Jewish vocabulary which would add to the richness of Jewish the actual text-the posuk or the blatt Gemorah. The life experiences; such a lexicon would certainly ]end student displays his knowledge by reference to a spe­ itself to programmed instruction. cific text, in the sa1ne manner as the T abnid G'hochon1 supports his analysis of a point in Halocha by the text Many Day Schools have already introduced pro­ of the Gemorah or Shulchan Aruch. It is the absence grammed instruction in their general studies depart- of this book-centeredness which has made possible 1nents. Torah Umseorah has already initiated experi­ programmed texts in such relatively complex areas as mental programs in conjunction with textbook pub­ Descriptive Statistics, Elementary Physics, Psychology, lishers who may find the Day Schools a growing market and the like, since they are not anchored to a particular for their wares. textual structure. IT Is IN KEEPING with Jewish tradition that we should At the present stage of development of programmed make use of whatever materials and techniques become instruction, it is not conceivable that we could prepare available to further Torah life. If these techniques make a programmed text for the teaching of Tanach or Ge­ it possible to enrich the Torah studies program for our morah. But a more basic obstacle, is the great loss we youngsters, and make it possible for us to reach large would suffer in taking the student away from the or­ numbers of uncommitted Jews who are thirsting for iginal text; a loss that could not possibly be compensat­ Torah learning, then we must grasp these opportunities ed for, or justified. The actual page of Tanach and to enlist science and technology in the service of Torah.

.16 The ]el1:ish Observer / March, 1967 AgriOn ancl the

SHMUEL YOSEF AGNON has said that synagogue and is careful not to extensive coverage - should have . ..· . he enjoys reading the critics be­ travel on the Sabbath - this consigned to oblivion these actions cause he then learns what he meant observance is part of a totality and words of Agnon. when he wrote what he did. He of Jewish outlook, of a mind "The Swedes made sure every­ playfully notes that his writing is schooled in traditional Jewish thing was kosher for me," he told said to be influenced by writers he learning and a spirit nourished a reporter. He lamented that Swed­ .h as never read and some he has by warmth. and security of this i sh Jews had forgotten about Kash­ . never heard of. closed world whose rules sup­ rus, but, he said, "Now they know." No doubt he enjoyed the game ply answers to every question Asked in Israel what he thought of · played by the Israeli press: ARnon man might ask. He is observ­ · Stockholm, he said, "There hap­ is ours-No, he's ours." Some in­ ant, but not Orthodox in the pened there what does not happen sisted that Agnon was honored as sense of being rigid. here. The Swedes did everything a representative of Israeli literature. We do not feel it necessary, for me to observe the Shabbos. ·Some observed-with justification nor do we feel called to render They cleared the street. When I go -that Agnon writes in a talmudic, judgment between the disputing to schul in Jerusalem I have to pass midrashic style about life in the parties on the fundamental charac­ 600 cars." Wherever he went in •... · East-European shtetel, a period ter of Agnon's life and letters. ·Stockholm, be wore a black velvet which the typical Israeli writer Nevertheless, some of the things he yarmulka and carried a small siddur either ignores or treats with scorn. said and did since becoming a in his hand. When he was greeted Still others angrily disputed any at­ Nobel laureate, were-in their own on bis return to Jerusalem by a tempts to claim Agnon for religious terms-a rare and inspiring proc­ children's band, he walked over to Jewry, betraying their uneasiness lamation of the divine holiness of them and said: that a religious Jew was awarded the Torah and the people of Israel, "I wish you should all have the the Nobel Prize for Literature. One in the midst of the nations and their honor of playing for the arrival of Israeli journalist wrote: wisdom. To the best of our knowl­ Moshiach. That will real1y be worth­ While Agnon today lives edge, no Jewish literary figure has while." the life of an observant Jew, ever spoken in such accents in the Agnon opened his response to does not care for outsiders to ears of the non-Jewish world-and the Swedish Academy by reciting see him with his head un­ at the very moment when that the traditional brochos said fo the covered, makes a great to do world conferred its highest honors presence of a king, and of men of over eating in the houses of upon him. It is strangely ironic learning. The following excerpts friends because the food may that the world Jewish press-which are from the remainder of his not be kosher, goes to the gave Agnon's Nobel award such address.

lT IS SAlD in the Talmud (Tractate Sanhedrin 23a): were to hear, they would be unable to bear their grief 'Jn Jerusalem, the men of discrimination did not sit over the happiness they have lost. To console me for down to dine in company until they knew who their having prevented me from singing with my mouth, they companions were to be'; so I will now tell you who enabled me to compose songs in writing. ... : .. am I, whom you have agreed to have at your table. I belong to the Tribe of Levi; my forebears and I As a result of the historic catastrophe in which Titus are of the minstrels that were in the Temple, and there of Rome destroyed Jerusalem and Israel was exiled · is a tradition in my father's family that we are of the from its land, I was born in one of the cities of the lineage of the Prophet Samuel, whose name I bear. Exile. But always I regarded myself as one who was born in Jerusalem. In a dream, in a vision of the night, I WAS FIVE YEARS OLD when I wrote my first song. It ...... · I saw myself standing with my brother-Levites in the was out of longing for my father that I wrote it. It Holy Temple, singing with them the songs of David, happened that my father, of blessed memory, went .·· King of Israel, melodies such as no car has heard since away for business. I was overcome with longing for him · the day our city was destroyed and its people went and I made a song. After that I made many songs, but into exile. '.nothing had remained of them all. My father's house, I suspect that the angels in charge of the Shrine of where I left a roomful of writings, was burned down Music, fearful lest I sing in wakefulness what I had in the First World War, and all I had left there was sung in dream, made me forget by day what I had sung burned with it. at night; for if my brethren, the sons of my people, The young artisans, tailors and shoe-makers, who

The Jewish Observer / March, 1967 17 used to sing my songs at their work, were killed in the then, did I list the Jewish books? Because it is they First World War-and of those who were not killed in that gave me my foundations. And my heart tells me the War, some were buried a1ive with their sisters in that it is they who recommended that I be honored the pits they dug for themselves by order of the enemy, with the Nobel Prize. and most were burned in the crematoria of Auschwitz There is another kind of influence, which I have together with their sisters, who had adorned our town received from every man, every woman, every child I with their beauty and sung my songs with their sweet have encountered along my way, both Jews and non­ voices. Jews. People's talk and the stories they tell have been The fate of the singers who, like my songs, went up engraved on my heart, and some of them have come in flame, was also the fate of the books which I later up into my pen. made. All of them went up in flame to Heaven together It has been the same way with the spectacles of in a fire which broke out one night at my home in Bad nature. The Dead Sea, which I used to see every Homburg as I lay ill in a hospital. Among the books morning at sunrise from the roof of my house, the that were burned was a large novel of some seven hun­ Arnon Brook in which I used to bathe, the nights I dred pages, the first part of which the publisher had used to spend with devout and pious men at midnight announced he was about to bring out. . . . besides the Wailing Wall-nights which gave me eyes After all my possessions had been burned, G-d gave to see the Land of the Holy One, Blessed be He, which He gave us, and the city in which He established His me the wisdom to return to Jerusalem. I returned to Name. Jerusalem, and it is by virtue of Jeru"alem that I have written all that G-d has put into my heart and into Lest I slight any creature, I must also mention the my pen. I have also made a book about the Giving domestic animals, the beasts and birds from whom I of the Torah, and a book on the Days of Awe, and have learned. Job said long ago (35: 11): Who a book on the books of Israel that have been written teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and since the day the Torah was given to Israel. ... )naketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven? Some of what I have learned from them I have written in my I have already told how my first songs came out of books, but I fear that I have not learned as much as longing for my father. The beginnings of my studies I should have done, for when I hear a dog bark, or also came to me .from my father, as well as from the a bird twitter, or a cock crow, I do not know whether Rabbinical Judge of our town. But they were preceded they are thanking me for all I have told of them, or by three tutors under whom I studied, one after the calling me to account. other, from the time I was three and a half till I turned Before I conclude my remarks, I will say one more eight and a half. thing. If I have praised myself too much, it is for your WHO WERE MY MENTORS in poetry and literature? sake that I have done so, in order to reassure you for That is a matter of opinion. Some see in my books having cast your eyes on me. For myself, I am small the influence of authors whose names, in my ignorance, indeed in my own eyes. Never in all my life have I I have not even heard, while others see the influences forgotten the Psalm in which David said (13): Lord, of poets whose names I have heard but whose writings 1ny heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty; neither I have not read. And what is my opinion? From whom tlo I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too did I receive nurture? Not every man remembers the high for me. name of the cow which supplied him with each drop If I am proud of anything, it is that I have been of milk he has drunk. But in order not to leave you granted the privilege of living in the land which G-d totally in the dark, I will try to clarify from whom I promised our forefathers to give us, as it is written received whatever I have received. (Ezekiel 37:25): And they shall dwell in the land First and foremost, there are the Sacred Scriptures, that I have given unto Jacob My servant, wherein from which I learned how to combine letters. Then your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, there are the Mishna and the Talmud and the Mid­ even they, and their children, and their children's chil­ rashim and Rashi's commentary on the Torah. After dren forever. these come the Poskim-the later explicators of Tal­ Before concluding, I would say a brief prayer: He mudic Law-and our sacred poets, and the medieval Who giveth wisdom unto the wise and salvation unto sages, Jed by our Master Rabbi Moses, son of Maimon, kings, may He increase your wisdom beyond measure known as Maimonides, of blessed memory. and exalt your Sovereign. In his days and in ours may When I first began to combine letters other than Judah he redeemed and Israel dwell in safety. May the Hebrew, I read every book in German that came my Redeemer come to Zion, may the earth be filled with way, and from these I certainly received according to knowledge and eternal joy for all who dwell therein, the nature of my soul. As time is short, I shall not and may they enjoy much peace. May all this be G-d's compile a bibliography or mention any names. Why, will. Amen.

18 The Jewish Observer / March, 1967 ;,there was a time when 'seeurity · questions . stood above all our inter-party rivalries. Over the years many have accepted the idea that stability was synonymous -Israel with the State of Israel, while the surrounding Arab nations were plagued by unstable, ineffective govern­ ments. Today we are a tiny nation whose spokesmen Digest tear at each other like gabboim in the shtetl. Who cares -about security-about the future? The major goal is to win, to hurt your rival even at the expense of all s------Menachem Greenberg values. even at the expense of basic security considera­ tions." · Knesset Rejects Opposition Demands Rabbi Lewin apparently was referring to the con­ tinuing tlow of hostility between leaders of Mapai and For Military Response to Arabs of the faction which left it before the last election to ..· Th~ Knesset has voted approval of Prime Minister · form the Rafi party; to the split in the Communist party, Levi Eshkol's policy on the Syrian border crisis. Oppo­ and to the current feuds threatening to split the Herut sition parties Gahal and Rafi had demanded military party. reprisals against el-Fatah terrorists on the grounds that "Many of us have sunk into battles of personalities the Syrians understand only the use of force. The Esh­ and mutual insults," Rabbi Lewin said. "After such kol government withheld retalitory action and agreed abuses, can we expect the nations of the world to re­ to meet Syrian representatives at the negotiating table spect us? Can we expect our children to rush to spill of the United Nations Mixed Armistice Commission. their blood at the order of such heads of our State? ,' In the Knesset vote-of-confidence, only one opposi­ "What is the root of all this evil? Why have all these tion party-Agudath Israel-supported the Eshkol pol­ troubles come upon us? A nation without spiritual con­ icy. Speaking on the Knesset floor, Rabbi Yitzchok tent, without a central idea, an elevating purpose, can­ Meir Lewin, head of the party's delegation, declared not escape decline. Clearly, one who wishes to inquire that Israel should not follow Syria's militant example deeply will realize that only G-d has saved us and only until every non-violent method had been tried. He will continue to save us. Today more than ever one "On the other hand." continued Rabbi Lewin, "we can sense that Hashem Shochen Betziyon-the Lord must not rely on world public opinion." He reviewed dwells in Zion-and it is only thus that we have re­ ....· recent efforts to solve the problem by diplomacy, re­ mained alive; but cur's is a life full of tension, fear, and calling the rejection by the Security Council of Israel's - insecurity, with the future beclouded. complaints following raids of murder and destruction "The moment we all reach that conclusion-I am by terrorists supported by the Syrian government. But confident that moment will come-the moment all eyes a full-scale Israeli. retaliation against the Es Samu base open to see that the Almighty is the essence of our lives, of el~Fatah guerillas in Jordan brought a unanimous, that there is no rallying point for the people of Israel .sharp censure of Israel by the Security Council, led by other than G-d's Torah, only then will we be saved and the Soviet Union, Great Britain, and the United States. "There is no doubt," Rabbi Lewin said, "that even those who are considered our friends, value their good LIPSCHUTZ KOSHER WINES relations with the Arab nations more than the concept Adorn vour Seder Table wit.Ti Upschu.tz Kosher wines ! of justice. For the very reason that we are all alone in Known for their reliability for Kashruth, Lipschutz our demand for justice and truth in a world which wine h<:!s been the favorite for generations and has gained friends throughout the United States accepts every outrage without pangs of conscience­ _ and abroad. it is for this very reason that we must continue our The famous New York State Malaga, Concord -thoughtful, careful policies; we must not be incited by Grape, Tokay, Sauterne and Burgundy wines. ··provocations." For Diabetics: Wine without Sugar Rabbi Lewin noted the military advantages of the California Port·, Sherry and Muscatel wines hostile Arab states over Israel, as well as the continued We also carry a full line of Yerusalem wines. military build-up of these nations by powers less con­ With the Ha ~h gcwho of tl1e P.eth Din of Khal AdaM Yercim under Rabbi Ezriel Yehuda Lebovitz Shlitn cerned with maintaining peace than with securing po­ . a r,k for Lipschutz Wines at your neighhorhood litical, military and economic advantages in the Cold Liquor Store or at our stores. War. Lipschutz Kosher Wines "And at a time like this, when our sole response 158 BROADWAY BROOKLYN , N. Y. must be to unify and strengthen all our internal forces," 119 NORFOLK STREET NEW YORK CITY declared Rabbi Lewin, "we are divided among ourselves Call: 777-8080 .·" ·"' e as never before."

The Jewish Obsen•er / March, 1967 19

' ' : · .~ ....

. . . , . . .. " .... only this realization can secure our continuity in time ability of accommodations in hotels which are mehadrin to come. in kashrus and Shabbos observance. To this end, the "And I will permit myself to note with caution," Office will send questionnaires to tonrist establishments Rabbi Lewin concluded, "that all the disturbances to ascertain the nature of their services and their suit­ which surround us have come upon us because we have ability for religious tourists. estranged ourselves from our source of life, from the The Office will also promote tours to places of special Almighty. If we attempt to come closer to Him, our interest to religious tourists. [] victory will come, and the promise You shall dwell in your land safely, and I will give peace to the land Jerusalem's Religious Council will be fulfilled." 0 Ups Expenditure by $600,000 .JERUSALEM'S Religious Council has announced a budg­ Educator Blames His Colleagues et of IL I. 8 million ( $600,000) for the coming fiscal for Lack of Values in Students year, an increase of 29 percent over the present budget. Among the items in the budget are salaries of rabbis, IN A SYMPOSIUM on secondary education, Dr. B. Ben­ shochtim, mashgichim, and workers in mikvo'os; main~ y ehuda, principal of the famous Herzliyah High School. tenance of mikvo' os; support for bnai Torah; purchase complained that Israeli schools do not teach "Love of and distribution of religious articles (tashmishei kedu­ values." sho); and welfare assistance for the poor. The Council In placing the blame on educators, Dr. Ben-Yehuda, also approved a three-year development budget of a veteran secularist educator, admitted that schools do $500,000 for the construction of a new mikvoh in the not teach students to differentiate between right and Kiryat Yovel quarter, new synagogue and other build­ wrong. He charged that Israel's high schools do not ings for religious institutions. celebrate Jewish holidays properly and do not implant The Council's budget is covered by the city govern­ the spirit of Shahhos in their students. ment, which contributes two-thirds, and the Ministry Similar concern was expressed hy Israel Rogosin, the of Religions, which gives one-third. 0 American industrialist who has brought money and jobs to Israel by building industrial plants and by huge THE NATIONAL CENTER for Taharas Hamishpochoh contributions to the United Jewish Appeal. "Ask every (observance of the laws of family purity) spent $215,- boy and girl what is their aim in life," Rogosin said, 000 in 5726, three times the sum spent five years ago, "and they will tell you that they want to become mil­ but closed the year with a deficit of $20,000. The Cen­ lionaires. In 1951 the Israeli children spoke differently. ter supports mikvo'os in 82 communities throughout They then said they want to do everything for their Israel, including all parts of the Galil, the Negev, the country." D Lachish development area, and the Jerusalem Corridor. Israel Information Campaign Ten-Point Program Issued To Increase Religious Tourism To Avoid forced Autopsy THE MINISTRY OF TOUR!SM's Office for Stimulating FORCED AUTOPSIES continued to be the number one Domestic Tourism has embarked on an information problem facing religious Jewry in Israel. The Commit­ campaign designed to increase religious tourism in tee for Safeguarding Human Dignity has issued a ten­ Israel. point list of instructions to patients entering Israeli The project is designed to make Israel's religious hospitals. community travel-conscious by emphasizing the avail- The patient is advised to send a registered letter to the hospital indicating his objection to post-mortem dissection in the event of death, and asking the hospital Grace Your Seder Table With to issue written orders to the appropriate departments to carry out the patient's wishes. (In a recent case, an American tourist had her lawyer KEDEM KosHER W1NE write such a letter upon her admission to Hadassah Best in Quality Highest in Kashruth Hospital in Jerusalem. The letter was acknowledged by Try: • EGGNOSH • WISHNIAK CHERRY Dr. Kalman Y. Mann, director of the hospital. When • ALASH •CHAMPAGNE the woman died, her body was dissected.) available at leading liquor stores The Commission also advises relatives to attend a Also the BEST in grape juices seriously-ill patient day-and-night, and in the event of death, not to leave the deceased unattended at any 132 Norfolk Street, N. Y. C. GR 3-8288 time. If the relatives arrive at the hospital after death, they are advised to immediately ascertain the location

20 The Jewish Observer / March, 1967 ~ ·. '. -· of the b6dy and to demand its return from the hospital cation and Welfare fo conduct a five~year "clinical,­ without delay. laboratory, and epidemiological research study" of bone In the event that an autopsy has already been per­ fragility in persons between the ages of 55 and 84. formed, the family is directed to demand of the hospital «Jerusalem is particularly suited for this research," the return of all organs and limbs removed from the wrote one Israeli periodical, "since apart from the body and to make certain that the organs returned are .different ethnic groups who reside there, its population the ones which were removed. Tourists and residents includes a high percentage of old people, many of without close relatives are advised to send copies of whom have come to spend their last years in the Holy their letters to the Conunission. City.'' One Israeli weekly predicted that American Gedolei- In a newspaper symposium on the deficiencies of .. Torah would soon issue a ban on settling in Israel or the Israeli medical profession, Dr. Mann said "Our making an extended visit until a satisfactory autopsy trouble is that our training is so hospital-oriented that law is passed. Such a move would be a blow to tourism, it places all emphasis on the test-tube rather than the which is already in a slump. patient." D ..·· A huge public demonstration brought thousands of persons to Ohel Shem Hall in Tel Aviv, where mass autopsies were termed inhuman coercion of 90 percent - Election Reform Proposed of the population. Rabbi Solomon Reichman of the ··THE LARGER PARTIES in the Knesset are proposing a Agudas Horabonim, who represented American Or­ revision of Israel's election law which would in effect thodoxy at the rally, declared that the Government's eliminate the smaller parties and redistribute their seats policy "was closing the gates of the country'' to immi­ among the larger parties. gration of Orthodox Jews. Among the speakers were Under the present law, any party which polls at least ·· the famed rabbonim and Roshei Yeshiva Rav Yosef one per cent of the total vote has a right to be seated Kahaneman, Rav Yaakov Kaniefsky, Rav Eliezer in the Knesset. The proposed revision would change Shach, and Rav Michael Feinstein. this figure to five per cent. Since the Knesset is com- The unwillingness of leaders of Mafdal (Mizrachi) posed of 120 members, the effect of such a revision to exercise their power as members of the Government would be to bar from representation all parties which . ·coalition to force an end to the abuses by passage of do not poll enough votes to win six seats under the an effective law was condemned by Young Mafdal, the present system. At least eight parties holding 19 seats party's young-adult group. At a meeting, the group in the present Knesset would be affected by such a law, criticized the leaders' support of a "watered-down" which would disenfranchise nearly <>me-sixth of the amendment to the present Anatomy and Pathology voters or force them to vote for one of the larger parties. Law, which would in many cases aggravate rather than The proposal is supported by Mafdal, which holds · alleviate the situation. 1 l seats. If enacted into law, it would eliminate Agu­ Meanwhile, fears of increased autopsies mounted as dath Israel ( 4 seats) and Poalei Agudath Israel ( 2 Hadassah Hospital secured a grant of IL 1,050,000 seats), thus leaving Mafdal the only religious party ($350,000) from the U.S. Department of Health, Edu- in the Knesset. 0

. If you can't drink wine for Arba Koses . .· ·· The members of the Editorial Board of then use

. LIPSCHUTZ . THE JEWISH OBSERVER CONCORD AND MUSCAT GRAPE JOICE Now available at your neighborhood grocery store extend Mazel Tov to also look for Lipschutz Wine Vinegar and Lipshutz Apple Juice. With the Hashgocho of the DR. ERNST L. BODENHEIMER . Beth Din of Khal Adas Yereim under Rabbi Ezricl Yehuda Lebovitz Shlita Chairman of the Editorial Board Available at your neighborhood grocery or at Lipschutz Kosher Fruit Products upon the marriage of his daughter 158 BROADWAY BROOKLYN, N. Y. . . .. -· 777-8080 EV 7-3793

The Jewish Observer / March, 1967 21

. ~-. second looks at the jewish scene

lived in a Christian land . . . Thanksgiving Day - 1884 las] the temporary chief mag­ istrate of a Christian people May the State take cognizance of closed on the appointed day. They . . . that a Proc1a1nation fnr the religious sensibilities of a 1ni­ charged the governor with a viola­ Thanksgiving which omits to nority without offense to the major­ tion of the South Carolina constitu­ unite the name of the Redeem­ ity? tion which provided: er with that of the Creator is Is the complete disregard of re­ The free exercise and enjoy­ not a c:hristian Proc1an1ation ligion a solution? ment of religious profession and might justly give offence Many thoughtful persons who and worship without discrim­ to the Christian People whom have given serious consideration to ination or preference, shall it invited to worship. lf in these matters in the last few years forever hereafter be allowed comphti~ance to the Israelites may think that these problems are within this state to all man­ and Deists, His name must be novc1. However, they have existed kind. excluded, the Atheists might wherever and whenever men of di­ In a fifteen-hundred-word, close­ as justly require that of the verse faiths have sought to live to­ ly-reasoned reply) the governor, Creator to be omitted also; gether as civilized beings. An in­ bristling with restraint. declined to and the Mahomctan or Mor­ teresting instance of conflict over apologize. Admitting that he pro­ mon that others should be in­ such an issue took place in the State fessed no religion and that he was serted. of South Carolina in the year 1884 attached to no.._ particular denomina­ After pointing out that there was between Governor James l{. liam­ tion, he nevertheless insisted that he no compulsion to worship in accord- mond. a brash young man of 37, and the Jewish community of Charleston. Governor Hammond. it appears, had issued a proclamation on Sep­ tember 9th, 1884 appointing the first Thursday of October as a Thanksgiving Day. Jn this procla­ •M-67lii£ii:mENTIRE OCEANFRONT BLOCK- 31th to 38th ST., MIAMI BEACH mation he invited and exhorted "our STRICTLY KOSHER MEALS ONLY GLATT MEATS SERVED Under@ Supervision Citizens of all denominations to •FREE CHAIS[ LOUNGES & MATS Enjoy the Beautiful Assemble at their respective places •FREE TV I. RADIO IN All ROOMS •PRIVATE BEACH FLORIDA SUNSHINENJ4 of wor.1Np to of]er up their devo­ •OLYMPIC POOL Don't Be Confined 1 :l_"ii;,.,; tions to God, the Creator, and his •OCEANfRONT DINING ROOM •PLANNED ENTERTAINMENT to Indoors ,~ Son ..." He promptly received sev­ •MOVIES •CHILDREN'S COUNSELLORS eral private letters of protest and a •SYNAGOGUE ON PREMISES letter was addressed to him in the •SALT. SUGAR & fAT·fREE OIETS 1l11l'l'.l":i~3. r\OE: l'tl-9 public press, all of which he ignored. •CENTRAllY C"'l1D W'!'!!!-it l:')ITI jTr"i i~•t:;.~\it;C~ ~ When he received a letter signed by AIR CONDITIONED ?:iiw iytn}I; ]'}!; wrn~i 1ix & HEATED over one hundred leading Jewish •FREE PARKING ill< i1 ~ll i11lll\!I citizens of Charleston he felt com­ daily per person 'tl'IJ'N.11 1l'l'.li1~13.1l:l 'l'.l'1 pelled to answer. The letter by the $13* double occupancy toMmh Apri /'23 <=mi;~~c ::'1>1) Jews pointed out that the wording *25 of 157 rooms For Reservations Phone of the proclamation was repugnant INCLUDING STRICTLY KOSHER MEALS N.Y.PL7-4238•EVES. FA7-1742 to them and that they, therefore, MIAMI BEACH PHONE (305) JE 1·0061 kept their two houses of worship

22 The Jewish Observer / March, 1967 -· .·

- ance with the procJamation and that after the manner of the Jews. Later governors :of that · state -· he would have felt the manifestation The Constitution forbids me avoided the controversial terminol­ · .·of disapproval by the closing of the to 'discriminate' in favour of ogy in their proc1amations, so that .· synagogues more severely if it had the Christians; and I am de- it might be said that the Jews of · stopped there, without indications of .· .· nounced because I have not Charleston established their point . scorn for Christianity, he made this 'discriminated' in favour of the Y ct the kashe of Governor Ham­ telling thrust: - Israelites . . . mond stands. How does one answer I would not have hesitated The Jews published a lengthier . it? Is the answer to be found in a to appoint for them [the Jews], reply in the Charleston Mercury thorough-going secularist s t a t e had it been requested, a spe­ .. which reaBy shed no new light on which leaves no one but the Hu­ cial day of Thanksgiving ac­ the controversy. They were appar­ manists happy, or are we taken in cording to their own creed. ently taken aback by the governor's golus? REUBEN E. GROSS position, having expected an incon­ This, however, was not, I im­ For agine, what the Israelites de­ sequential acknowledgement of an Service and Savings .sired. They wished to be iu­ oversight. Both sides, driven by on your principle, felt extremely unhappy General Insurance c1uded in the same invitation Mutual Funds to public devotion with the over the whole affair which ended and Christians! And to make that so unpleasantly and inconclusively. L I F E invitation acceptable to them, The above extracts may not fully call I must strike out the corner­ reveal the gravity, care and pro­ stone of the Christian creed foundity that each side exercised in and reduce the whole to entire developing its position. Both dis­ conformity with that of the played a thoughtfulness that is not Israelites; I must exhort a common in parallel discussions to­ 189 Montague Street Christian People to worship day . Brooklyn, N. Y. UL 2-8200

.Yeshiva .. Preparatory High School . MesivtaDivision of Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yisroel Meir HaCohen (Chafetz Chaim) Fall' 6 7 Entrance Examinations-Tuesday, March 21, 9:30 a.m. _. . The Mesivta of Torah and Mussar . .. a Pace-Setter in Mesivta Chinuch for over JO years

• Experienced Roshei Mesivta ... • Havana, B'kiyus shiurim daily • Only licensed H.S. teachers ... all Yodin-Yodin Musmachim • Regular sichos-Mussar • Bio, Chem and Physics Lab ... intensive Kolle/ training • Intensive becl1i11os schedule • Extensive library collection • Select admissions policy • 50% on YPHS '67 Honoi: Roll • High NMSQT and Regents scores Iii Beautiful suburban area in heart of N.Y.C. • New, modern dorm facilities • 24-hour dorm hashgacha • Personal guidance • Recreational facilities • Torah ruach from Yeshiva Gedolah on presmises The preferred Dorm school . • . FOR the thoughtful New York parent - close enough for continued parent·af guidance, while the student is surrounded by Ruach HaTorah ... FOR the out-of-town parent - where continual home-school con­ tact inspires confidence that the student is under constant, competent supervision. The preferred Mesivta for dorm and non-dorm students . . . with standards of excellence in Torah and academic studies . . . . the choice of Torah educators for their own children. Transportation from Brooklyn and the Rockaways

92-15 69th Ave., Forest Hills, N.Y. - BO 3-1445 RABBI ZECHARIA FENDEL, Principal .. ·. ..

Tire Jewish Observer / March, 1967 23

.· ...... ·· . · ...... - -.. lV e are pleased IMAGEIMAGEIMAGEIMAGEIMAGEIMAG to announce The word 'image' is defined as a itself; that the 'image' which they the formation of representation of a person as op­ project is a perfect likeness of the THE JEWISH OBSERVER posed to the person himself. Seman­ thing itself. Speakers Bureau ticists have warned against confus­ 'fhe word 'image' is also defined ing a word with the object which as an object set up for worship. The The contributors to the col­ the word represents. The 'national two meanings often overlap; the umns of THE JEWISH OB­ image,' the 'corporate image,' and in1agc a man attempts to project is SERVER have demonstrated the 'personal image' are all concepts often indicative of what he 'wor­ their ability to articulate the which the politician and public re­ ships,' what he believes to be worthy positions of Torah Jewry lations expert would have us believe of emulation. on the problems confronting are one and the same with the na­ In announcing the appoinhnent tion, the corporation or the person of Rabbi Emanuel Rackman to the our people throughout the Fifth Avenue Synagogue, The New world. Included in this York Times attributes to Rabbi Ber­ group are prominent rabbis, FOR PASSOVER TOO! nard Twersky, press secretary of the educators and communal Rabbinical Council of America, the leaders, men whose thinking HOSPITALS, HOTELS statement that: helps to shape the future of "the Fifth Avenue synagogue is Jewry in An1erica. the 'jewel' of Orthodox Judaism. Its and AIRLINES location, lvealth and influence have These outstanding persona­ CAN NOW SERVE toRether rnade it cornparable to lities of Torah life in Amer­ Temple Emanuel in Reform Juda­ ica have authorized us to _..6,J,~,,~n- ism ..." arrange a limited number KOSHER MEALS Is this the 'image' Orthodoxy seeks to achieve? Is this the 'image' of lecture engagements for When you travel ... where you which Orthodoxy sets up for emula­ them to discuss before inter­ stay ... on Land, Sea or in the ested audiences throughout tion-"location, wealth and influ­ Air be sure to ask for Schreiber ence?" Does being "con1parablc to the country matters on Frozen Foods ... Temple Emanuel" make a congre­ which they have written in gation "the 'jewel' of Orthodox the columns of The Jewish Judaism?'' Observer, and other vital We refuse to believe that Rabbi questions confronting Jewry Rackman, or the former rabbi of today. the congregation, Rabbi Jakobowitz If your group is looking for (now Chief Rabbi of Great Britain), r' or the RCA itself, subscribe to such one or more stimulating, in­ ic.J_,;J_,_,,_~,/ nonsense. It is time that RCA put a formed lecturers, write to us Available in a fine variety, ready for heating and serving. stop to the absurd machinations of giving details: dates desired; their press secretary, and his asinine Home-recipes prepared by a size and type of expected declarations in The Times. A good famous name in catering his· audience, etc. If you would tory. Distributed in more than place to start is with the repudiation like to be kept informed of 50 areas in the U.S. and also of this latest absurdity. The hectic the availability of speakers, in international service ... search for an 'image' can easily deteriorate into 'image' -worship, we will be happy to place GLATT KOSHER which can only be a disservice to the name of your group on Under strict Rabbinical '[;\. Orthodoxy. Enough already. our mailing list. supervision of the Union of ~ Orthodox congregations of America ... WRITE TO: Government Inspected. Invited to a (please do not telephone) Speakers Bureau for information call or write SIMCHA? THE JEWISH OBSERVER ..0c~"'''~" Send a CATERERS, INC. THREE-YEAR 5 Beekman Street 9024 Foster Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11236 SUBSCRIPTION TO New York, N.Y. 10038 PhC'ne: 212 272-9184 THE JEWISH OBSERVER

24 The Jewiah Observer / March, 1967 ......

"Rabbinic ·tradition . . ; which is .· .. Council for Judaism "Getting Religion" characterized by the multiplicity of opinions it records, by its recogni­ The American Council for Judaism which we have no wish to take tion of the fact that 'the Torah is 'getting religion.' Their monthly sides . . .''; yet he is disturbed by speaks in the language of man.' " bulletin, Education in Judaism, has Orthodox Jews using the phrase WE MIGHT ORDINARILY HAVE IG­ featured articles by a Y.b.S., the 'b' "Torah Judaism," especially in the nored this 'Purim Torah'-any child presumably standing for hen. Y.b.S. now-famous ad of the Igud Harab­ in a yeshiva or day school could writes on religious matters, and his bonim in The New York Times. easily refute it. But Jews who are ·· articles are sprinkJed with rabbinic With a tortured twisting and turning exposed to this arrogant illiteracy, quotations, i.e., "cf. b. Sanhedrin of talmudic erudition, Y.b.S. con­ .· are often more illiterate than Y.b.S., 90a, b." He recently urged members cludes that the Rabbinical Alliance, and the myth that the difference of the Council to study the Hebrew and all those who maintain that between Reform and Orthodoxy is language in order to understand Reform and Conservatism are in­ analogous to the differences between .Judaism better. He was promptly authentic manifestations of Juda­ Hillel and Shammai, continues to taken to task by a reader who was ism, are themselves heretics, rather flourish in the American country­ shocked at the suggestion that Jews than Orthodox Jews. They are, he side, and like the Great Lie that it pore over Hebrew tomes every day charges, no better than the Saddu­ is, it grows in acceptance. and master the Bible in the original, cees and Karaites, who rejected all It recently was aired in the mass­ and another reader rushed to his but the written word, since the Or­ .circulation TIME magazine (June 24, defense to say that Y.b.S. certainly thodox Jew insists on the authority 1966) in a report on the JUDAISM didn't mean to go that far. of the Shulchan Aruch-which is symposium on Jewish Unity: Y.b.S.'s latest excursion into re­ written-and rejects the new inter­ A necessary first step to­ ]igious matters takes him into the pretations of non-Orthodoxy. He ward unity, suggests Conser­ SCA dinner affair, which he says "is insists non-Orthodoxy must be vative Rabbi Seymour Siegel really an inner-Orthodox affair, in granted validity on the basis of of Manhattan's Jewish Theo-

Experience Counts!

For a summer vacation with long-lasting benefits, do what thousands of satisfied parents do - send your child to:

,....------For Girls------,___ ....__ __ For Boys -----.-.-.-....,;;.·"""'. CAMP .: BNOS CAMPAGUDAH ,• .. ··

Liberty, N. Y. Ferndale, N. Y. ' • ... .

Sponsored As a Public Service by Agudath Israel of America

Two trips: 4 WEEKS - June 29 to July 26 • 5 WEEKS - July 27 to August 30

REGISTER NOW GIVE YOUR CHILD THE VERY BEST , - · ..

For information phone, write or visit the City Office TODAY: CAMP ACUDAH · .CA.MP ·· BNOS 5 Beekman Street New York, New York 10038 Telephone: WO 4~1620

The Jewish Observer / March, 1967 25 : •'

...... : logical Seminary, is a recovery Torah. Their disputes arose in their of Judaism's ancient tolerance. attempt to learn what it is that the IF YOU READ YIDDISH In the 1st century B.C.[E.], .Torah wants of them. In the dispute for example, the Saducees and between Orthodoxy and non-Or­ YOU WILL ENJOY THE Pharisees and the rabbinical thodoxy, the non-Orthodox have schools of Hillel and Shammai changed the ground rules; they seek difjered bitterly in their inter­ to salvage from a Torah that they MC!I pretations of the law; yet they have rejected some 'mitzvohs' that did not seek to exile opponents are still acceptable to the climate of j~=~~r;N from the ranks of accepted the times. By rejecting the ground rules they have taken themselves 11'.l?>J?~t 1'>'>iDt:m) Judaism. Siegel concludes that in today's Judaism there can out of the contest; they are no long­ "'r.> er in the tradition of Hillel and !1'\))'>Yi )U( tl'>iY.lNJ'.) be no single interpretation­ which means that Orthodoxy Shammai, but in the tradition of -t<".,?$ 1'2'( ~N")\(/' - '~11) 1'!:1 in particular must surrender the nations of the world who cen­ -,,;'ti 1H( i)lj'l)l"T )l't/'Oi't'"T its exclusive claim to represent turies ago rejected G-d's offer of 1'l:l m"""T~::l ''IY"T )Wn i)l::l true Jewry . the Torah by asking: "what is writ­ • nt19 ::inrc'' ten therein?" Without belaboring the point: The Pesach-Almanac ap­ Hillel and Shammai f u n c t i o n e d Y .b.S. consoles himself that the peared a number of years within the same system; a complete dreadful ad in The .Times "has per­ ago and has enjoyed such acceptance of and commitment to formed a real service" by upholding the traditional line of the American immense popularity that the Council for Judaism which seeks to first edition has been com­ "guard us from the danger of having pletely sold out. Because any individual or group speak for all Americans of Jewish faith." We of the great demand a sec­ Good taste is too have cautioned against any ond edition has been printed better in Season group speaking for all American and is now available. Jews; but Jews loyal to Torah, and loyal to the leadership of Daas The 1s an Pesach Almanac Torah will continue to speak out appropriate work for every against those who seek legitimacy reader of Yiddish. Jt is an for their distortions of Torah­ important source-book for whether they justify themselves with the 'Purim Torah' of Y.b.S., or the rabbis, public speakers, ed­ more sophisticated 'scholarship' of ucators and a source of joy the spokesman for non-Judaism. for every member of your Having maintained the integrity of Torah since Sinai (even when we family who has a taste for sinned and were driven from our original Yiddish thought. Land) against constant physical and Reserve your copy of the spiritual attacks, through a long and bitter Golus, we arc not about to 100-page Pesach Almanac The toothsome taste of sardines give it up as the end of our Oolus in time and you will have is even better in SEASON ••• Nor­ appears in sight, for the sake of wegian Brisling sardines, packed an added Oneg Yom Tov at the peak of the season, in pure 'Jewish unity.' Such unity could leave the Moshiach with no one to this coming Pesach. olive oil ••• regular or cross· packed. For better -tasting sar­ come for. [] dines, salmon, tuna - and dried Price - only $2.00 fruits - look for SEASON brand. For your copy write to: Write for free booklet of carefully tested redpes for new, delectable A week-day Bar Mitzvah, PESACH ALMANAC sardine dishes and snacks. either with or without Krias Your taste is due for a treat tf'tjs Dos Yiddishe Vort Hatorah, can be an inspir· ing experience and will 5 B EEKMAN STREET SEASON I. Epstein & Sons, Inc., Irvington, N. J. avoid Chilul Shabbos. New York C ity 1003 8

26 The Jewish Observer / March, 1967 ·· ' ·"

... ,. ·· ... letters .. to the editor

Torah Yicltfohkeil and deviationism. I ranks of American Jewry caused by the Synagogue Council am sure that his heart is torn by the SCA dinner shows that razor.edge distinc­ many young men whom he has sent out tions which may be clear to trained To the Editor: to do baltle who have never relurned. minds arc not appreciated by the masses; The tragic trnth is that Dr. Belkin is that despite Dr. Belkin's clear words to I concur in your evaluation of the caught in the foils of a situation beyond the contrary, his attendance at the Syna­ importance of the Synagogue Council as his control. He has a great insititution gogue Coucil dinner constitutes an en­ .:m issue in Jewish life today. but I must on his hands with a monumental budget, dorsement of deviationist Judaism by one disagree with your overemphasis of cer­ and he has Jost a great den l of freedom of our acknowledged leaders. tain aspects and under-emphasis of oth­ o( action. He needs our sympathy, not REUBEN E. G ROSS ers. our condemna1ion. Staten Island. N. Y . One of the unfortunate consequences P.S.-And under all circumstances let of the attack on D r. Belkin is that it The truth of the matter is that: the us avoid the street urchin prerogatives is creating the impression (to the delight t:l'l!:l '!l?:i versus yin '!:l'i:i distinction is a of Rabbis Lookstein and Levovitz or of the non-Orthodox) that there arc two purely theoretical division b~aring no getting down to that level. Torahs. one for the West Side and an­ correspondence to the facts of the real other for Boro Park. Not once have you world. Whoever first came up with this mentioned those parts of Dr. Belkin's distinction would seem to be a keen To the Editor: s peech which was uttered to a politely theoretical mentality, of no prac1ical ex­ I am a trial lawyer, having been born · silent gathering of the SCA dinner " . .. a p erience. The irony of the matter is in New H aven, Connecticut (where I traditional Jew will not compromise that those who rely on this distinction ·have Jived all my life ) in 1910. I. am either with his universalism or with his claim a monopoly of practical experi­ a member of the Young Israel and particularism. But to attain this end, we ence! Yet, the utter confusion in the have for a score of years been an officer need not belong to a Synagogue Council. Furthermore, some say that the main goal of the Synagogue Council .is to help in creating a spirit of unity in the Amer­ ican Jewish community. Here, again, I United Chevra Kadisha D'Chasidim disagree. In the things in which we differ we can have no unity, nor should it be Har Hamnuchot. Jerusalem expected of us-particularly of Jews of Orthodox orientation." FOUNDED 1856 Instead of applauding Dr. Belkin for these statements- which were courage­ • Strictest Orthodox observance of all Laws ous, considering their time and place­ and Customs in the transfer of the we have joined in a general condemna­ deceased to Eretz Yisroel tion that has compounded his own error. . • r . · Unfortunately his actions spoke louder • Expeditious handling than his words. His presence at the • Karka (Graves ) on Har Hamnuch()t, · dinner drowned out his own voice. Many Jerusalem people are totally surprised when his actual words are quoted. They actually • Special arrangements for those individuals think that he stands for full cooperation who wish, during their lifetime, to secure with SCA. Instead of dispelling this no­ ground in Israel, for after 120 years tion, his critics have actua II y re-enforced • the idea that there is a difference as to * NEW ADDRESS: . . this fundamental in Orthodox ranks when Collie in or write to our new office and the only difference is really one of tac­ 44 CANAL ST. tics: Does one unduly risk recognition discuss the details with us. You'll be sur­ NEW YORK CITY of deviationist Judaism by breaking bread prised at lww reasonable the rates are. 10002 with them on quasi-religious grounds. Nr. E . Broadway Sta . · Dr. Bdkin says, .. no." But he cannot be •'D" Train so isolated in his ivory towers of Wash­ * Day & Nite Phone ington Heights as not to know how un­ Maalin Bakodesh Society realistic his position is: His office is the WA 5-2277 command post on the frontier between

The Jewish Obsen•er / Marc/r, 1967 27 and diretcor · of the local day school are like 1 was then, Orthodox participa­ . by orthodox rabbis in joint religious which is a Lubavitch affiliate. tion in the Synagogue (',ouncil is a dis­ associations with "Conservative" and For all practical purposes my adher­ tinct disservice to traditional Judaism "Reformed" rabbis leads to a further ence to traditional Judaism commenced and a violation of the ordinance prohib­ confusion of the already confused masses. in roy 35th year (I am now 56) when iting putting a stumbling block before CrIARLF-<; G. ALBOM J became interested in the day school the blind. New Haven, Conn. movement. Prior to that time, I had For those who are torch bearers of been indifferent to religious values, in­ traditional Judaism, our rabbis, to dig­ frequently attended both Orthodox and nify "Conservatism" or Reformism as Early Marriage "Conservative" services and on rare occa­ equal partners in the religion of Amer­ sions even Reformed services. ican Jewry strongly serves the purposes To the Editor: J can confidently state that prior to of the religious philosophers or clergy Enclosed, please fi nd some clippings the time I became-out of intellectual of pseudo-Judaism, enhances their pres­ which m ay interest your talented staff. curiosity and then conviction- Orthodox tige, causing a disservice to Tornh. Congratulations for your superbly in profession and practice, I was a Many years ago an emissary from a thought-provoking magazine, which we "typical American Jew." Now what does Polish yeshivah seeking funds in the hope, is here to stay. that mean? It means one without any United States for an institution was There is an item I would like to see Jewish religious learning in depth, with addressed in an open letter by Abraham discussed some day in the pages of THE no knowledge of talmudic sources and Cahan of the Jewish Daily Forward ask­ .JEWISH OBSERVER: early m arriage. As a scanty knowledge of the written Torah; ing why Poland needed all its yeshivahs, practicing physician, I have become con­ with inability to distinguish the phi­ since-as Cahan said-there was no pro­ vinced, over the years, that a return to losophical differences between traditional fusion of pulpits to accommodate Polish that wise tradition of our forebears Judaism and "liberal Judaism;" with Jewish rabbis and consequently Poland would offer the solution to m any of the corresponding inability to distinguish be­ had enough rabbis. True, said the emis­ problems that are plaguing our youngest tween the nature, function and sources sary in an open letter, we have no need generation. of authority of the Orthodox rabbinate of yeshivah graduates or rabbis to fill I know that, to many, this sounds and that of the Conservative or Re­ pulpits. Our graduates will not be rabbis quite old-fashioned and impractical; I formed movements. To me, then, a "rab­ in that sense but they will be. mavinim sincerely believe, however, that with bi" was a "rabbi" from whatever group on rabbis. effort and dedication early marriage he was ordained. Jn the United States, where the masses could be effectively restored, in spite of Having reference to those who now are not mavinim on rabbis, participation the changed circumstances. To sum up, I would state that, in my opinion, early marriage is the best poly­ valent vaccine against immorality, self­ REVELATION ishness and intermarriage. What Happened on Sinai? A. PODRlZKI M.D. Shreveport, Louisiana A new book on the meaning of Torah edited by RABBI PINCHAS STOLPER Antisemitism Covers: The Belie.f in Divine Revelation - lts significance and meaning for modern man / How we can be certain that G-d made His will known to man I Evidences from history, logic aod tradition / What actually took place on Mt. To the Editor: Sinai? / Just what do we mean by Revelation? / What is its significance for me? • Essays by classical and modern authorities / Written in clear, readable Your article "Anti-Jewish or Anti­ language. / The first major anthology on this basic, crucial subject. / No thinking Torah'!" in the Shevat issue was very person should fail lo read it. • Sections written by: Reh Aaron Kotler ?"ST, much to the point. Eliyahu Ki Tov, Rabbi Dr. Joseph Breuer, Dr. Samson R. Weiss, Rabbi Avigdor Miller, Dr. Henry Biberfeld. Rabbi Isidore Epstein, Rabbi Eric Kurzweil, Dr. Aron Barth, Rabbi Daniel Stolper. Rabbi Chaim Feurman and others. CORRECTION 192 printed pages - Regular price: $2.98 In the article Credo of a Special limited price, with this coupon only: $1.50 Scientist, which appeared fo our issue of December, 1966, Published by the National Conference of Synagogue Youth a reference foot-note was omit­ ted in error. The reference was NCSY PUBLICATIONS·- 84 Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y. 10011 to a quotation from an article Please send...... - ...... copies of RfiVELATION at the special price of $J .50 per copy. by Prof. Sanford A ranoff, The Enclosed find $ ...... Age of the World, which ap­ peared in INTERCOM, August My name ...... ·················-····.. ··--· 1962, a publication of the Address ...... Association of Orthodox Jew­ City...... State...... Zip...... ish Scientists.

28 The Jewish Observer / March, 1967 .. The word antisetnitisrri was first used . '1 J) y 0 , l c ~ ';i , ::> ' ll " t , :T , 2 :s It only 86 years ago by Wilhelm Marr, the A Compliment u n THE TORAH son of a Jewish actor, in his Zwanglose ... a Antisemitische H efte (Occasional anti­ ,.. v To the Editor: r:: CLASSICS LIBRARY semitic cahiers). I haven't had a chance to write you · W e prourllr announce the This is another case where the popular _ /ollotoing publications: :i earlier, but I must compliment you on c .J interpretation of Yesbayahu 49, 17 ap­ THE JEWISH OBSERVER. It is excellently D MESSILATH YESHARIM .. plies: written and is a welcome and necessary ~ THE PATH OF THE JUST u "Your destroyers and they that make voice on the international Jewish (not ~ by R' Moshe Chaim Luzzatto " you waste descend from you." just Orthodox) scene. ·r- For the first time with Hebrew ::t .· tJ pointed-text and a new Eniilish 'i ERNST S. KoPLownz SAMUEL SPERO a translation by Shraga Silverstein. -' Cincinnati, Ohio S. Euclid, Ohio : 352 pages, clothbound $5.50 ~

D SHAAREI TESHUVA .:: -: The Gates of Repentance "' Mazel Tov to My Dear Friends r:- by R' Yona hen Abraham :oo of Geronn a A YROHOM CHAIM FEUER MOSHE ELOZOR LLPKA ,.._ Newly-prepared according to the upon his engagement to upon his marriage to ··r... first edition. Complete with vowel- ... 0 r marking and source references. Reizel Minzer Luba Rochel Gifter .·1;> English translation by " _ i:; Shrnga Silverstein ~ YE.BUDA Dovm FE.UR YoSEF BECHER it: 416 pages, clothbound $6.50 u n upon his engagement to upon his engagement to .. CHAPTERS OF THE a Chavi Potashnik Soroh Levy ,.. FATHERS - ni::l~ 'i'i9 ::r r:: with translation and commentary .- by Samson Raphael Hirsch ::.t MENACHEM MENDEL GREENBERG c Rendered into English for the first .J p time by Gertrude Hirschler. .., 128 pages, clothbound $2.95 u n ~ ,... CHOVOTH HALEVAVOTH :J Your 1J>V>n nlVll contribution ~ DUTIES OF THE HEART E 0 by Baehya ibn Paquda ~ Hebrew text with Engfoh transla· will accomplish more tion by Moses Hyamsou. :! 0 when you send it to: 2 vols. clothbound $10.00 ..!J MAIMONIDES ., Overseas Passover Campaign SEFER HAMADAH ';; Agudath Israel of America SEFER AHAVAH Book of Knowledge 5 Beekman Street r Book of Adoration D " . ,· E;> Hehrew text with English transla· ;:s New York, N. Y. 10038 c: tion by Moses Hyamson. _::: 2 vols. clothbound $10.00 ts n THE NINETEEN LETTERS The Air-Conditioned Under ,.. OF BEN UZIEL ::r ™ ,., •• , @ r: b y Samson Raphael Hirsch A new edition prepared by Supervision rraldman n Jacob Breuer $3.50 _, HOTEL STRICTLY KOSHER CUISINE p THE WORLD OF PRAYER ::; . on·ly GLATT MEATS Served in the WALDMAN Manner . n by Rabbi Elie Munk (Paris) ~ ;: Vol. I Daily Prayer $6.50 ::t $ I ~*daily per person, double occupar,ey G r::i Vol. II Sahbnth, ~ Mar.12 to Apr. 23 •30 of 133 rooms J INCLUDING MEALS . c High Holidays and Festival Prayers $8.50 :: Write Direct or Call N. Y. OFF: JU 2·2277 • Philipp Feldheim

Be sure to notify us in advance so that your copies ..· , · .. · .MOVING? .· will continue to reach you. ·· .·

The Jewish Observer / March, 1967 29

..· · Agudat'1 Israel Dinner Hears Rabbi Feinstein Condemn Ecumenical •'Dialogues"

The three prominent New York State legislators who receil'ed awards at tire Agudath Israel dinner being introduced to several of the leadinf! R oshei Yeshivos who graced the dais. From r. to I.. seated: Ra/>bi Yaakov l . Ruderman, Rosh Y eshiva of Ner Israel, Baltimore; Rabbi Yitzdwk Hutner, Rosh Yeslifra of Mesi/ta Rabbi Chaim /Jerlin; Raflbi Mordrcltai Giffer, Rosh Yeshiva of Te/sire Yeshfra, Wicklifle, Ohio; Rabbi Sl111e11r Kotler, R osh Yeshil'a of Beth Hamedrosh Govoha. Lakewood: Rabbi Baruch S. Schneer.wn, Tshehiner Rosh Yeshiva of Jerusalem. Standing, r. to /., Assembly Speaker· Anthony .r. Travia, Rabbi Moshe Sherer, Senator Edward J. Speno, Senator William J. Ferrall.

AN OVERFLOW AUDIENCE of I .000 at the dais tables were leading rabbis from 7th to the 12th grade. The presentations 45th anniversary dinner of Agudath Is­ many communities. including the fore­ were made by Rabbi Moshe Sherer, r ael of America heard one of the world's most Torah a11thorities. An interesting executive vice-president of the organiza­ ·foremost Torah authorities, Rabbi Moshe highlight of the event w:'.s a pledge by tion. Senator Speno was cheered when Feinstein, labd the recent wave of ecu­ New York State Assembly Speaker An· he stated that "Albany now knows that menical "dialogues" as bordering on thony J. T ravia to block "humane slaugh­ the American Jewish Congress does not avodoh zoroh (idolatry) . Rabb: Fein­ ter" legislation. T he assemblage warmly speak for the Jewish people." The leg­ stein, C:iairman of the Moetzes Gedolei applauded Speaker Travia's dech:ration islators warmly lauded Agudath Israel's Hatorah, spoke with deep anguish about that "the American tradition of religious major efforts to help the passage of the the recently-announced relizious ecumen­ freedom speaks agair.st the 'humane Textbook .Bill. ical conference to be held in Boston in slauehter' bills because Orthodox Jewry May with the co-sponsorship of the Syna­ considers them a threat to Jewish ritual THE GUEST SPEAKER, Rabbi Mordechai gogue Council of America. He issued a slaughter.·· Gifter, Rosh Yeshiva of the Telshe stern warning :;gainst participating in Speaker Travia was the recipient of Yeshiva. commended Agudath Israel for such dialog'.lcs, which he condemned as an award at the dinner because of his projecting an independent Orthodox po­ contrary to Jewish faw and inimical to concern with the legislative interests of sition in Jewish affairs. He decried the Jewish interests. the Orthodox Jewish community. Awards secular concepts that have crept into The dinner, which took pbcc on Sun­ were also received by State S::nators policy-making even among a number of day evening, Fcbrur..ry 26tb in the Hotel Edward J. Speno and William J. Ferrall Orthodox groups, and scored the spirit New YOJ"ker, was the largest in the his­ for co-sponsoring the New York State of conformism which has brought chaos tory of Agudath Israel's annual anniver­ Textbook Bill, which provides textbooks into Jewish life. Rabbi Gifter"s call for sary celebrations. Seated at the two huge for non-public-school children from the a universal reaffirmation of Torah sov­ ereignty received an ovation.

SPECIAL AGUDlST SERVICE AWARDS were INTERIOR DESIGNER FOR HOME AND OFFICE presented to Rabbi Joshua Silbermintz for many years of leadership of the Agudist youth movements, and to Mr. Pesach Dovid Schonfeld for spearhead· ing chesed activity in the organization. An award was also presented to Agudath Israel of Long lsland for establishing the newest Agudah branch-in Far Rockaway-which was accepted by Is­ JOSEF KASTNER • 124 W. 72ND STREET • N. Y., N. Y. 10023 rael Katz, Abraham Septimus and Rabbi SC 4.5335 Moshe Spiegel. A telegramed greeting from President Lyndon B. Johnson de· dared that Agudath Israel's "unfaltering

30 The Jewish Observer / March, 1967 Employment · EMMARENTIA .. _, , - .. HEBREW CONGREGATION SHOMER SHABBOS JOBS . Vacancy - Spiritual Leader LOOKING FOR A JOB? NEED OFFICE HELP? A· CALL IS HEREBY EXTENDED TO FILL Contact: .THE POSITION OF RABBI AND SPIRITUAL . TRADITION PERSONNEL LEADER. APPLICANTS MUST BE ENGLISH NOTE NEW ADDRESS: SPEAKING. EXPERIENCE IN ORGANIZ­ 147 We~t 42nd St., New York, N. Y. ING YOUTH WILL BE A DECIDED AD- Room 111 1 O Tel. 563-3994 . VANTAGE. APPLICATIONS WILL BE TREATED IN STRICTEST CONFIDENCE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES in life & health . AND MUST BE ADDRESSED TO THE insurance. Jack Klausner CLU, Agency Supervisor. Cooperman & Groman, Gen. CHAIRMAN, P. o: BOX 5381 , JOHAN­ · Agents. John Hancock Life Insurance .... - .:· NESBURG, GIVING FULL PARTICULARS. 118-21 Queens Blvd., Forest Hills, N. Y. 11375, Tel.: BO 3-2211 Rabbi Feinstein addresses di1111er. Seated on his ri1? ht: Rabhi Moshe Horowitz, Estab lished firm looking for experienced full.time bookkeeper. Good sa lary call .· ·· .. Bostoner R ebbe. ... - Specialists CA b.7940 - I - 2. Ask for Mr. Mendlowib. IN MANAGEMENT OF concern for the education and spiritual Auto Service .····· - .. . welfare of young people has enhanced APARTMENT HOUSES the quality of life in our society." ALSO SALES lbth AVENUE GARAGE CO. 0 Expert Repairs. Free Road Service O Big Discount The evening was chaired by William ALL BOROUGHS and NEW JERSEY . K. Friedman, national treasurer of the on Tires O Plaid Stamps with Every Sale 1602 - b2nd Street, Brooklyn, N. Y. 11204 organization. A beautiful musical pro- SCHONDORF 0 DE 1-0229, BE 2-9513 0 GULF GAS . gram was rendered by the choir of Pir­ REAL ESTATE chci Agudath Israel, of PIRCHEl RECORDS fame, .led by Rabbi Eli Teitelbaum. 603 Emprre Boulevard Real Estate Among the cities that were represented _Brooklyn, N. Y. 11213 LOFTS-FACTORIES To Rent or Buy 0 at the dinner with delegations were Bos­ All Areas 0 EARL H. SPERO 0 33 West ton, Chicago, Philadelphia. Baltimore, IN 7-5554 - 5 42nd Street, New York, N. Y. 10036 0 Toronto and Montreal. BR 9-1539 ;

VOTE: D YESI Join Aqudath Israel Send your check and this coupon to 5 Beekman Sf., New York, N. Y. l0038

_, .. I~------·-----· I This is not : YES. I WANT TO JOIN THE RANKS OF AGUDATH ISRAEL : just another l TO HELP BUILD AN EFFECTIVE TORAH FORCE ON : coupon ••• it : THE WORLD SCENE. : is a ballot. l PLEASE. CONSIDER THIS AS MY APPLICATION FOR MEMBER· : VOTE: Yes •• : "SHIP IN AGUDATH ISRAEL OF AMERICA. ENCLOSED : for a militant, .l IS MY MEMBERSHIP DUES OF $10.00 FOR THE CUR· l independent : RENT YEAR. I I · orthodoxy; sign I Name ...... c...... _, ...... - ...- ...... _ ••, ...... 1 it and put it in I .·Address ,_...... ---·- · ...... · . I the mail today. I City ...... State...... Zip...... '·------. .

Tire Jewish Observer j Morch, 1967 31

...... -·

3Je fYtJ'?:j£e/<.1 o/ 3Je fiuMjA ae/

t/tftJ!b/< /ZtZ//M CM decf"~ o/

The Jewish Observer / 5 Beekman Street / New York, N. Y. 10038

We would like to enter your name on some of our gift cards, and send them to your friends and relatives with an annual subscription

Here is our special offer: 1 gift subscription ...... $ 5.00 2 gift subscriptions ...... · -····· 8.50 3 gift subscriptions...... ·-·······-···· only 12.00 ( adcl $1.00 lor each overseas subscription)

Give your friends a meaningful, lasting gift .. . and help us increase the number of our readers.

Clip this coupon, attach your checlr, ancl mail them now.

The Jewish Observer / 5 Beekman Street / New York, N. Y. 10038

Friends: Please send gift subscriptions and an announcement card to the following:

·· · Name_.., ...... ···-····- .. ··- ······-·····-·-····-...... -·-···· ··-·······-······ .... ···-·-···-·············-········-···· .. ·-·-········-·-Address...... -...... -...... ,...... ,......

City.. ...···· ·--······-·-····-······--···········--·········-···-·····-········· ...... St ate··-····-······················· ...... Zip N0 ......

Name ...... Address...... -·-···················-·······--·······-·····-·····--···········-·-·-·············-··············.. ··-····················· City...... State...... _ ...... ·-··-·-·--··· ······-·····Zip No ......

.. · .·'' Name...... Addreu...... -··--···- City ...... State...... Zip No...... ·-····-··-··· --····--······----·---····-····

(please moke your own Ii•+ for additional names)

I enclose $...... • ...... 0 Please bill me.

My name is: ...... Address..... ·····--··········-··········--·--·········--·-----·-············---·-·····---·---····--·-····-·····----· City...... •...... •...... •...... State...... Zip No ......