Jewish Post, Indianapolis, Marion County, 14 July 1972 — Page 11

Friday, July 14, 1972

THE JEWISH POST AND OPINION

The Digest Of The Yiddish Press The Dominican Monk

BOOKS By RabW Mark H. Elovftz

By RABBI SAMUEL SILVER The new magnetism of Judaism, which makes even non-

Jewish people want a rabbi to officiate at their weddings — and the powerful impact of the Six-Day War were made vivid in Haifa not so long ago. As

Silver

reported by Leib Rochman in The Forward the Case of the Dominican Monk Who Came Back to Judaism deeply stirred the Beth Dm of Haifa. The re-convert told this story to the assembled rabbis. His name was Hirsh; in Germany as a child he was a restless sort. He left home and drifted to France. When Hitler came he heard that his family was having trouble because of their Jewishness. He had a period as a Communist. Then he went into French uniform and fought for six years. After the war, he heard that his mother had been rescued by Christian churchmen. He still didn’t get back to his family, but he felt a tug towards Christianity. Ultimately he went to a Christian seminary and emerged a Dominican monk. He served in that capacity for eight years, and then was assigned to a monastery in Jerusalem. Here he met some of Ms Jewish kin, including a brother. His job was to escort pilgrims to the Christian holy places. He became fascinated by his original faith, Judaism. Then came the Six-Day War, and he found that inside of Mm all of his sympathy was with the Jews. He left the monastery and became a travel agent. But the pull back towards Jewishness continued and ultimately he came to the Beth Din and asked to be allowed to revert to Judaism. His relatives were overjoyed.

The rabbis took their time, and finally they invited him to their gathering. “I did wrong/’ he said, and added, “I will keep all the mitzvos.” On Shavuot he was re-Judaized.

•

Proxmire’s Speech The Forward s B. Shefner applauds Sen. William Proxmire for one of the shortest but most effective speeches of his career. Emerging from the Washington Cathedral where he had addressed the religious school students, the senator was accosted by two robbers who demanded his money or his life. Fabricated the senator: ‘^You’ll do me a favor if you shoot me. I have a cancer which is killing me, and I would love to end it all.” Instead of shooting, the gunmen relented and left Mm alone. Shefner is reminded of an apocryphal Tel Aviv story about a hold-up man who told an Israeli he would kill him if he didn’t give him money. Said the Tel Avivan: “Please shoot me. I was going to jump into the sea now anyhow because I have no money for my wife and children. Perhaps after I’m dead people will take care of them.” Moved by pity, the gunman sighed and left. Rabbi Sam Silver can be reached at Temple Sinai, Lakeside Drive, Stamford, Conn. 06903.

* IV ★

NEVER AGAIN By Meir Kahane. Nash Publishers |7.95 . . .Rating two stars. This is an exciting book. Hopefully you won’t agree with all or most of i t s contents, but it is provocative and u n n e r ving. Meir Kahane is the spokesman of th:-* Jewish Defense League and it is to Elovitz those concerns that book addresses itself. “Never Again” is the slogan of the J.D.L.; they use it as a promise when it should be a prayer! Still in all, Kahane’s rantings will stimulate your thoughts and your Jewishness. Caveat: read this carefully and selectively. Kahane often presents distorted history coupled with a jaundiced view of the Jewish establishment and the question of Soviet Jewry. In spite of its severe limitations, Kahane’s book reads well. Though this reviewer is often bitterly at odtfe with Kahane’s views, they need to be read, understood and refuted.

Your Name By NORBERT PEARLROTH

Dear Mr. Pearlroth: Can you please tell me the meaning of my family name, “STOLPER.” My father came from

the town of Smorgonie, near Vilna. Thank you very much. Sincerely yours, Philip Stolper, 291 Honor Heights Drive, Muskogee,

Oklahoma 74401.

Sfolper is a family name of geograpbcal origin. It was taken from the name of the town of Stolpce, population 3,009 mostly Jewish, located about 40 miles from Minsk in White Russia. (Smorgonie is about 70 ^ miles from Minsk.) Your family most likely originated in Stolpce. The meaning of

Stopice is “Pillars.”

Dear Mr. Pearlroth: My late husband was born in the Lkraine, near the city of Hajsyn. I would greatly appreciate it if you would tell me the background of his name, “Talisnik.” Sincerely yours, Mrs. Fanny Tall, 3038 Brighton 12th Street, Brooklyn, New York. Talisnik is a family name of occupational origin. It denotes a merchant dealing in prayer shawls (Taleisim in Yiddish). The Hebrew tailit is pronounced Tails in Eastern Europe. There is no doubt that this was the trade of your ancestor in 1804 when the famfly name was first assumed. There was considerable prestige connected with the Tailit

trade.

(Do you want to know what your name means? Send all queries to: Mr. Pearlroth, Jewish Post & Opinion, 101 Fifth Ave., New York, N.Y. 10003).

Pearlroth

Will London Welcome PLO?

IP ft

\ ■ H 1

A T T i N T

0 N Congregations: Looking for wolf-framed Cantor for High Holidays or on yearly basis? Cantors: Looking for a High Holiday or yearly position? Contact; Cantorial Representative EDWARD SMITH 2750 Home crest Avenuo Brooklyn, New York 11235 Tel. 212-934-4411

What The Temple (Continued from Preceding Pg.) ness of my leadership in relationship to my continual focus on the dreams, and my constant endeavor at fulfilling them in partnersMp with you. If you cannot share any or all of them, at least you know toward what ends I will labor, and by what standards I would like my leadership and our temple to be judged.” The bulletin was “The Shofar” of Temple Emanuel, New Haven, Conn., and the “dream” was the expression of Rabbi Mark Winer. Myron Schoen can be reached at 838 Fifth Ave., New York City, 10021.

Obituary James L Magrish CINCINNATI — James L. Magrish, 71, former president of Isaac M. Wise Temple and just recently honored by Cincinnati B’nai B’rith with their Guardian of the Menorah award, died here. He was for many years chairman of the Cincinnati City Planning Commission. Magrish was a member of the Board of Governors of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and ex-president of the Associated Jewish Agencies.

Foreign Trotesters May Be Deported JERUSALEM — Whether aimed at Rabbi Meir Kahane, head of the Jewish Defense League, or not, Police Minister Shlomo Hillel hinted in the Knesset that foreign nationals convicted in Israel of acts of political violence were liable to

deportation.

He warned that authorities would take all means at their disposal to deter political violence whether from the Right, Left, or religious and anti-religious bodies. “We will not allow any foreign growth to strike root in our society,” he asserted.

TIME IN JAIL COUNTED Soviet Jews who spent time in Russian jails will get up to five years credit from Histadrut in computing their seniority where this makes them eligible for special allowances.

LONDON — With Israel’s protest ignored, and despite the rising tide of vocal opposition from many quarters, the question of the opening of an office here by the Palestine Liberation Organization was still shrouded in some doubt. The Government, however, if it hasn’t given the move its blessing, is not taking any action against it Anthony LeJeune, syndicated columnist, writing from London challenged the position of the Government that it had no right to interfere, pointing out that: “The excuse certainly seems thin, since Britain like any other soverign state, does in fact quite often exclude foreigners who are deemed, for one reason or another, un-

desirable.

LEJEUNE THEN lumped the British position with its “recent support for the monstrously onesided resolution of the U.N.

Security Council condemning Israel for counter-action against guerilla bases in Lebanon without any condemnation of Lebanon for allowing guerillas to operate from her territory.”

Reform Rabbis Also Veto Mixed M. EDISON, N.J. — A second rabbinical group composing rabbis of the three wings of Judaism has unanimously voted not to perform mixed marriages. The Raritan Valley Rabbinical Association consisting of rabbis of 13 congregations voted not to officiate at the marriage of a Jew and a non-Jew, nor at a purely civil ceremony, nor allow its synagogues or 'temples to bo used for such marriages.

SANCTUARY RENOVATIONS AND CUSTOM FURNISHINGS Write for illustrated folder P Sampson Seymour Engoren, Designer Eleven Holmes Place, Lynbrook, U.S.A. 11503

( .

Jerusalem: 3Vi Room Garden Apt. Close to University, Schools, Supermarket and Bus Lines. Full kitchen. Also partly furnished with beds and closets. Two Porches* Available Mid August for one or 2 years* $175.00 Monthly. Call Lee Ingber, Greensboro, N. C. 919 272-5123

Rates for Coittimmal Notices Minimum number of words - 25 One insertion .•..««••••• $12.50 Two insertions $1£*.00 Three insertions $27.00 Four insertions $35.50 25c for each additional word. All advertisements must be accompanied by remittance. If a box number is desired, add 50c for each insertion. Box numbers are 2 words. If a border around the ad is desired there is an additional charge of $2.50 per week. Jewish Post * Opinion 101 Fifth Ave n New York City, 10003 Telephone Number 989-6262

Positions Open

SMALXi TOWN university community, Reform, seeks Rabbi. Will serve also as part-time Hillel director. Submit qualifications, experience, salary desired to H.D. Levine, P.O. Box 1043, Morgantown. West Va. 26905.

TEACHER AND Youth Director desirous of young man to teach in afternoon school and direct Sabbath USY services. Experience required. Excellent salary. Address all applications to: Atty. Harvey Gelb, Chairman of Board of Education Temple Israel, Monroe & Gibson, Scranton, Pa. 18510.

PRINCIPAL. for Community Hebrew School. Excellent oi> portunity for capable individuaL Resume to: Jewish Community Welfare Couneii, 110 W. 10th Stl erie. Pa. 16501. ' ' ‘ - ‘ •V*‘ • .•» VI '* ■ ‘ r -'' . /•; : RABBI WANTED by Beth Israel Congregation, Weirton, W. Va. Modern Orthodox. Teacher and able to conduct complete HebrewEnglish Services. Write to Max Kuntz, 3900 Washington Street. Weirton, W. Va. 26062. 304-748-6858 after 6:30 p.m. 35 minutes from Pittsburgh, Pa.

Positions Wanted

CANTOR — Baritone, musical and cantorial background, outstanding baal Koreh excellent B’nai Mitzvah instructor, can train choir, (Hebrew teacher). Box 812. Jewish Post, 101 Fifth Avenue, New York City 10003.

TOP NOTCH young cantor available for High Holidays. Experience with large congregations available for an interview. Repiy Box 825, Jewish Post, 101 Fifth Avenue New York City 10003.