Newspaper Page Text
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Negative Dictionary Definitions
of Word 'Jew' Provoke Inquiry
11
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similar admittedly
definition of, other
NEW YORK, (JTA) — H. B.
wolf, managing editor of Web
ster’s Third International Dic
tionary, said this week that such
description of Jews in the new
edition of the dictionary as “a
person believed to drive a hard
bargain’’ are always qualified by
the expression “usually use dis
paragingly’’ or "usually taken to
be offensive.” The negative defi
nitions of the word “Jew” in the
new edition provoked inquiries.
In a telephone interview with
the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
from Springfield, Mass., head
quarters of the dictionary’s pub
lisher’s the Merriam Company,
Mr. Wolf said that it was the
philosophy of the dictionary’s
editorial staff that any diction
ary that is supposed to present
a record of the English language
as it is used in the year of pub
lication should present most cur
rent usages of words.
He said the Third New Inter
national Dictionary defines Jews
in three categories—noun, adjec
tive and verb, and in several
“senses.” The noun “Jew” in the
new 1961 edition includes as one
of the “—OSes” the definition *A
person believed to drive a hard
bargain.” Mr. Wolf noted the
phrase "believed to” as indicat
ing popular usage and under
standing of one of the “senses.”
The adjectve “Jewish” has as
one descriptive phrase, “usually
taken to be offensive.” The verb
includes a definition “to cheat
by sharp business practice” and
this is followed by the phrase
“usually taken to be offensive.”
The word “kike” also appears in
the new edition as a definition
of Jew, followed by the phrase
“usually taken to be offensive.”
Dr. P. G. Gove, editor of the
Dictionary, confirmed to the JTA
that the offending definitions
were eliminated in the 1949
printing and not restored in sub
sequent printings of that edition.
He said this was done to make
room for new words related to
jet propulsion and not because
of any feeling that the definition
should be removed because they
might be offensive.
Mr. Wolf told the JTA that
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derogatory
on of other groups also
appear in the new edition, such
as Dago for a person of Italian
or Spanish dement; and the term
“digger" in the definition of
Negro, also described as “usual
ly taken to be offensive.” He
said no protests had been re
ceived from groups representing
any of the nationals or descend
ants of groups whose definitions
in the dictionary included insult
ing or offensive definitions aris
ing from popular usage.
... In Brief
MUNSTER, Germany, (JTA)—
Three physicians who worked
for the Nazi Waffen SS at the
Sachsenhausen concentration
camp during World War II, and
are accused of murdering “nu
merous” camp inmates, went on
trial here this week.
One of the physicians is Dr.
Heinz Baumkoetter, who had
been sentenced to life imprison
ment by the Russians after the
war but was released and sent
back here in 1956. The two others
are Dr. Alois Gaberle and Dr.
Otto Adam. The prosecutor said
more than 100 witnesses from
Germany and other countries
wll testify for the prosecution
when the trial gets under way.
LONDON, (JTA)—Pope Jehu
XXIII is considering whether to
extend invitations to attend the
next World Ecumenical Council
to Jewish and Moslem observers,
it was reported here from Rome.
LONDON, (JTA) -Queen
Elizabeth II has approved the
granting of a baronetcy to be
conferred upon Sir Bernard
Waley-Cohen on his retirement
as Lord Mayor of London.
PARIS, (JTA)—Israel’s bid for
French support for some sort of
Israeli association with the Euro
pean common market was polite
ly but firmly rebuffed by a lead
ing French Government official
last night.
Center in
WASHINGTON, (JTA) — The
convention of the Union of
American Hebrew Congregations
approved last week the estab
lishment of a Reform Jewish
center here to deal with religi
ous, social and political issues.
A spokesman tor the center,
which is intended to work, with
other religious groups, will ap
pear before Congressional com
mittees and give views on pend
ing legislation. The center will
also provide information for af-
filated synagogues on national
affairs.
The establishment of the new
center, which was favored in the
vote by an overwhelming majori
ty of the 1,300 delegates to the
organization’s biennial assembly,
had already been approved in
1959, but because of opposition
by a group Of affiliated congre
gations, it was decided to put
the issue to a new vote at this
year’s convention. The assembly
also passed a resolution calling
for the formation of a six-mem
ber committee to advise the
center’s staff. The committee will
be composed of three rabbis and
three lay leaders.
Approval of ordination of
women as rabbis was urged ut
the biennial assembly of the
National Federation of Temple
Sisterhoods, the major women’s
organisation of Reform Judaism
uoetteg fat conjunction with the
Union of Anaerican Hebrew Con
gregations.
Calling on the sisterhoods to
work towards the adoption of a
definite resolution on ordination
of women at their next assembly
in 1963, Jane Evans, executive
director of the federation, said:
“The time has now come for the
sisterhoods to take a definite
stand on asking Reform semin
aries to ordain women as rabbis
when they are properly qualified
to Esta
ashington :V-sV\
com elation si the kten-
m of study with awn”
g that shs raaltesd
Egypt Expropriates Property
of 171 — 169 Jewish
PARIS, (JTA)—Egypt’s policy
of expropriating property of “re
actionaries” under President
Gamal Abdel Nasser’s program
of “Arab Socialism” is aimed al
most entirely at Jews, the Euro
pean office of the American Jew
ish Committee reported here this
week. Of the latest 171 “seques
trations” ordered in Egypt, the
report stated, 169 of those named
are Jews.
Jews affected by the latest
“sequestration” orders, the AJC
office said, have not only had
their property confiscated but
have also been barred from mem
bership in various clubs and so
cieties, and banned from serving
on any business or cultural
board. The latest list of 171 was
seen by the AJC here as part of
the general policy of Egyptian
property “nationalization” which
has struck so far at 593 persons,
“a large part of whom are Jews
or of Jewish origin.”
A complete list of property
owners affected was published
Former Greek Jews
Urged Prompt Action
On Compensation Claims
ATHENS, (JTA)—An urgent
appeal to Jewish organizations
and Jewish publications to in
form former Greek nationals
now residing in America and in
other countries that the dead
line for filing claims for com
pensation suffered by Nazi vic
tims in Greece is December 1,
1961. and that no claim filed af
ter that date will receive con
sideration, was issued by the Na
tional Council of Greek Jewish
Communities.
“We know there are thousands
in America who are eligible and
who have not as yet filed their
claims or filed team faultily,”
Isidor Noah, president of the Na
tional Council, stated. “It would
be tragic for them to lose this
money by default”
in the Beirut newspaper, A1
Hayat received here. The text of
the Nasser decree, printed in the
newspaper, states: “All Jews in
cluded in the list of sequestra
tions are deprived of their civic
rights and cannot serve as guar
dians, caretakers, or proxies in
any business association or club,
nor can they be members of clubs
or societies.”
•ad upon i
tical course
Assarting
teat ordination of woman could
be “unaooapttele” to ~
tive and Orthodoor
■vans raid tee hoped
Reform branch would svprsee Hs
“liberal spirit” by granting 1 lull
equality to woman.
WASHINGTON. (JTA) — A
resolution opposing
mental grants, loans <
forms of fiscal aid” to _
schools, was adopted hare Oils
week at the concluding session
of the general assembly of tbs
Union of American Hebrew Con
gestions The resolution tMgko-
sized, however, that this stand
“does not imply any lack of re
gard or respect for raligknsly
sponsored institutions or educa
tion."
“The devotion of our Union to
the separation of religion and
the state and our equally deep
commitment to public adraatien
as a cornerstone of the American
democratic process impel us to
reaffirm our opposition.. »Wtey
form of governmental aid to
elementary and secondary
schools under the
control of any
ination or sect,
testant of Jewish,” the
t ion said. “To this end we sup
port the President of the United
States who is striving so valiant
ly to uphold that positten.” The
resolution
ganizations
port religious education
Another resolution called tor
vigilance in maintaining ah—eh
state separation by barring “re
ligious practices such as Bible
reading, prayer, singing, af
hymns, religious holiday obtenr-
infM Mid SSDST-
cises” from public educational
institutions.
Another resolution urged rab
bis and all members of Reform
jewisn congregations to streng-
then “the cause of Inrate liberal
Jews by visiting and financially
supporting them during visits to
Israel and by making known
their affiliation with such Reform
Jews so. that the people of bnaal
shall know that tee Reform Jews
in their country an part of a
worldwide Reform movement
entitled to support and respect”
Judge Emil N. Bear, of New
York City, was re-elected chair
man of the board of trustees of
the UAHC.
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