Newspaper Page Text
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Book review
Inside history’s framework
Chaim Raphael, ENCOUN
TERS WITH THE JEWISH
PEOPLE, Behrman House, N.Y.:
1979, S6.95 ppbk.
reviewed by
Dr. David R. Rlumenthal
Chaim Raphael, a former
official of the British Foreign
Office and Treasury, a former
student and teacher at Oxford
University, and a writer of murder
mysteries, is better known to
American Jewish readers for his
"Feast of History” and for his
translation and modern
commentary to the Passover
Haggadah. In his new book,
“Encounters with the Jewish
People,” Raphael presents an
account of his odyssey in the world
of Jewish experience. As he put it
so well:
“If I say that I set out, in writing
this book, to turn Jewish history
upside-down, I am not being
entirely frivolous. Being a Jew is
usually presented as an experience
which starts in thedistant past with
the Patriarchs and works its way
through nearly 4,000 years of
history to arrive at what one feels
today.
“What I have done in this book
is the opposite: to start with myself
as a Jew and work outwards and
backwards... H i s tory has
established a framework, but
within it one is on one’s own. One
follows leads that seem significant,
or just enjoyable, and they acquire
their own momentum and depth.
This, at any rate, has been my
experience: and if I have
recaptured the mood here, perhaps
the reader will share it.”
It is exactly this realization —
that it is not Jewish history as such
that is interesting but the personal
echoes which we as individuals
find in Jewish history as we study
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it—that makes this book a
meaningful essay in contemporary
Jewish intellectuality. It is
precisely the search, not for masses
of data but for the insight that
flows from the personal critical
study of the facts, that makes this a
good book.
Following this principle, the
author writes first about his
personal experience, including
why he changed his name and why
he now regrets it. He, then, deals
with several modern figures, each
of whom is something of a model
for himself: the Vilna Gaon,
Chaim Weizman, Gershom
Sholem, and Cecil Roth. He
reflects, too, on the American and
English Jewish ways of life. The
book also includes articles on
several earlier Jewish figures as
well as a series of three essays in
which the author tries to sum up
and reach a conclusion.
Two other traits make this book
worth reading: First, there are
Shule suppers
some unusual insights. Raphael
has a rather “heretical” view of
creativity in the Diaspora as
opposed to that in Israel: “In this
sense, the outpouring of writers
among Jews in the Diaspora
expresses a response that can reach
deeper into the continum than is
possible in the single-focused
Israeli scene. It is as if life in the
ancient homeland is not enough,
as if Jewish history has an extra
dimension that continues to
demand expression." He also notes
quite clearly that: “To those Jews
of modern times who are seized
with the feeling that their people
has its own, completely compelling
raison d’etre, the story of the past is
seen in this shadowy way without
theology but with the patina,
nevertheless, of ancient faith.”
These themes will surely be
debated by his readers. Second, the
book is written in an engaging and
readable style. The portraits are
vivid. The summations penetrat
ing. And the English is delightful.
Plans underway for
Israel Bond dinners
Plans are underway for the
annual congregational Israel
Bonds dinners.
The first two such events will be
Ahavath Achim’s dinner on Nov. 4
and Shearith Israel’s Nov. 6 event.
Honoree for the Ahavath Achim
dinner is Morris Freedman.
Host Committee chairpersons
are Phyllis and Jack Freedman,
Ramona and Eli Freedman, and
Freeda Cohen.
Gerald and Lois Blonder are
chairing the dinner and Helen
Cavalier is handling arrangements.
George and Rosalie Alterman
will be honored by Congregation
Shearith Israel on Nov. 6.
Host Committee chairpersons
are Ben and Dotsie Zimmerman,
with Stanley and Louise Baum
serving as dinner chairpersons.
Mrs. Maurice Draluck is in charge
of arrangements.
Information or reservations can
be obtained by calling the
synagogues or the Israel Bonds
office, 262-1321.
Elect
Clint Deveaux
Clint has already served a full term as
a State Representative. He has learned
how to work effectively in-the Georgia
House. Clint has established good
working relationships with the other
legislators from Fulton County and the
rest of Georgia.
Clint has been recognized for years as
a leader who is willing to stand up and
be heard. He is a good friend of the
Jewish Community. We share his former
employer, Ambassador and
Congressman A1 Lowenstein’s respect
for Clint’s abilities.
The State currently returns to Fulton
County less than 60% of the revenues
from our County, and Clint has the skill
to improve this situation.
VOTE FOR CLINT THIS TUESDAY.
PERRY MORRIS SIDNEY FELDMAN
MIKE NICHOLS MARSHALL DINERMAN
ERWIN ZABAN HARRIS JACOBS
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Page 15 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE October 19, 1979