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Take ‘Arba Kanfot’ out of
«K ** • : 0 i ’ A' ' *
Nothing to hide, today’s Jews
proudly display their Judaism
by Amo Herzberg
They define it this way: Arba
Kanfot is a rectangular garment of
white cotton, linen or wool with
fringes on its four corners. Strictly
observant Jews wear it under their
upper garment all day.
And Rashi, the great
commentator of the Bible, said:
The fringes are called tzitzit
because of the command to “look
at it.”
In the language of present-day
sociology the Arba Kanfot is a
means of non-verbal communica
tion expressing the basic thoughts
and commandments of Judaism. It
reminds its bearer that these
thoughts and ideas must be
translated into daily life, that the
Jew must elevate himself above the
depth and demands of ordinary
life. The deep religious meaning of
the Arba Kanfot is ever present.
But how many of an
emancipated and sophisticated
generation still know or care to
know what the Arba Kanfot
represents? They never have seen
one nor have they explored how its
meaning can add to a meaningful
life. They might dismiss it as
superstition.
Nevertheless, the Arba Kanfot is
making a comeback these days;
not in its old ritualistic form, not as
an accessory worn under the upper
garment, but as an outspoken
symbol of another age. Wherever
we go today, there are men and
women wearing a Magen David or
the Hebrew letter “Chai" on a
chain around their necks. They are
seen on people in the streets, or
joggers running alo'ng beaches and
on theater and opera-goers. They
are worn not “under the upper
garment” as in past times but in full
view of everybody, for all to see.
We might interpret this as a
revolutionary change in the
attitude of our people. This present
generation does not hide behind a
cloud of anonymous Jewishness.
The Jew of today has nothing to
hide.
Not so many years ago meeting
another Jew in strange
surroundings drew an understand
ing look and, maybe, a curt
conversation. There was the Jew in
a museum in Oslo, Norway. I was
fingering a book in which sales and
receipts were recorded during the
Middle Ages. I noticed a man
looking over my shoulder and
there was a casual, inquisitive
whisper “Jehudi?" He was from
Venezuela, South America, and
was happy to meet a Jew.
There was the Jew in the small
town in Nova Scotia. As we
entered his department store, he
took a look at us and with that
expectant smile he whispered
“Jehudi?” How glad he was to see a
Jew in this remote part of the
world. And so it was all over the
globe.
Much of this has changed these
days and we should be happy for it.
No question that the creation of
the State of Israel has contributed
to a different attitude and a
different outlook to the world. The
achievements of this State that
embodies the reborn and resolute
genius of the Jewish people, have,
in no small measure, instilled a
sense of pride and belonging to all
of us. The strange demonstrative
ornament dangling from Jews’
necks is only one expression of it.
Then we also have to realize that in
the America of today ethnic
identity is in. Our society has
accepted non-conformity and
consented to the search for ethnic
values. The Jews have just adopted
this change. They have made use of
a different cultural climate.
There are so few occasions,
actually rare moments, where we
can comprehend the manifesta
tions of a “new" Jewish life. Myth,
faith and reality blend into each
other. There is never an end to the
wonderment that life imposes on
us.
As I lay on the beach, my eyes
closed, my mind wanders to
recreate a picture never forgotten.
It was the year 1938. We were lying
on the sand of a pretty lake near
Berlin. The Germans had cleared
the beaches of all other- lakes
around the capital of Jews. There
was only this last refuge left where
we went to escape the drenching
heat. As we were at ease under the
closet
shady trees, as we let the sand run
through our fingers and talked
about an uncertain future, we
heard shouts. SS men were
marching down the beach: “Juden
out—in ten minutes.”
I still can hear these shouts. I
have never ceased to measure their
cruelty as a harbinger of things to
come —and of a dark age happily
past.
Now and then, as I open my eyes
I see a man reading a book on his
beach chair. Around his neck he
wears not one but two chains—one
with a golden futuristic Magen
David, another one with some
kind of amulet on which the
Hebrew word “Masl" for good
luck is engraved. Peace is reigning
all around us. The ceaseless
rhythm of the ocean sends the
waves high on the beach. It is like
life itself that always has to renew
itself. It is good to know that the
Magep David can be shown on
these shores. But can it serve as a
replacement for the Arba Kanfot,
can it be more than a playful
symbol? Does it signify more than
a cultural awakening or is it a fad
likely to disappear whenever
another wind is blowing?
I wonder.
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Pag* 9 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE February 9, 1979