The Canadian Jewish News, Thursday, December 21, 1989-Page B7
Chanukah Greetings
Bv
CYNTHIA GASNER
TORONTO^
Talniudic scholar, joiir-nalist and the author of ^ more than 20 books, Toronto's Rabbi Nachman She-men, recently published two volumes titled, Jewish Attitudes Towards Man.
Shemen's latest contribution • to Jewish scho-larship includes interpretations on Biblical, Talmudic, rabbinic and literary studies. The twavoluihes, published in Tel Aviv in Yiddish, discuss issues that date back to creation and the Book of Genesis, up to such current day controversial issues as conversion and assimilation.
The rabbiiiic scholar was bom in Chodel, Poland, a small town near Lublin just before the outbreak of the firstWorld War. His great-grandfather was a disciple of the founder of Chassi-. dism in Poland, the "Seer of Lublin." Both his jpaf-ents were descendants of chassidism and scholars.
When he wasjust over 17 years old, he received rabbinic ordination from the ■ chief rabbi of Warsaw, Rabbi Eliezer Ezra Ker-shenbaum of Lublin and ,a].so from the famous scholar Rabbi Pinchas Eliezer ■ Grosfershtand.
In 1930, he came to Canada with his family and became: a disciple of the . world respected rabbinic authority and author. Rab- •. bi Yehuda LeibGraubart. In 1936, he married Toby (Rosenberg) and they have four children;
Shortly after his arrival in Canada, Shermen embarked on a jpurhalistic
career with the Toronto Hebrew Journal, working with editors Avraham Rein-wein and Shmuel Meir Sh'apiroT' Writing under seven pen names, the prolific' writer's works appeared in numerous Yiddish dailies, weeklies and periodicals throughout North America. Israel, Europe and Soiith America.
Among his numerous books are; Fascism in Europe; Jewish Attitude _.TD_\yard the Non-Jew; Lublin, a best seller in Yiddish literature which received an award from the Canadian Jewfsh Congress; Jewish Attitudes Toward Labour, which received the Zvi Cas-sel award in Mexico; The role of the Woman in Jewish Life; Literature and Lore, for which he wais awarded the J. J. Segal Award in Montreal; and Sanctity of Jewish Family ■Life~
For over 40 years, She-nien has served as direc-
tor of the Kashruth Council and Rabbinical. Vaad Hakashrulh of the Canadian Jewish Congress and the Toronto Jewish Congress. He is one of the founders of Congregation Torah V'Avoda and he is associated with _the^ Eitz ChainTSchoois where he taught for oveir 25 years.
In Jewish Attitudes towards Man, the openmg chapter deals with the question, "What does it mean, G-d creatai man in his image?" With scholarly interpretations, the rabbi discusses Maimonides' explanation of creation and man's; intellectual elevation to the utmost heights to control even the universe. He cbntinues-with the Interpretations of other Jewish philosophers' writings on man's relationship to man and other creations.
The author moves chronologically to Abraham to discuss, * 'Why the
seed (descendants) of Abraham were considered superior to others ." Shem^n elaborates that this is not a chauvinistic or racial distinction, -but js based, on moral and ethical elevation:
He moves thematically from universalism, versus isolationism within the Judaism to the fight against the worship of idols, protection from assimilation, and cults and heathen practices among the sects at the time of the Second. Temple.
The'rabbi writes extensively about the struggle by . the Sages-against the Romans who wanted to destroy the Jewish religion and nation. At the same time, they struggled to fight off other cultures which infiltrated Judaism while also observing the commandment to teach non-Jews the seven commandments they should follow.
One chapter of his analytical book deals with the translation of the Bible throughout the ages. He
compares the translations'^ from Hebrew to Aramaic, Greek, Latin and other languages by referring to Onkelos as the disciple of the Sages. ^
From ancient writings. Rabbi Sheriien moves through to modern times with a chapter on the 18th century enlightenment peri-
od which began in Germany and' spread to Eastern Europe. He discusses the Orthodox movement's resistance to it.
Among the numerous topics he addresses are modern-day concerns such as conversion^ and the acceptance, recognition and, appreciation of
^righteous peojal^ regardless of their Jewish or non-Jewish backgrounds.
He explores and expands on Talmudic thoughts on Jesus and his apostles_gnd_ why Jews did not accept Jesus. He explains the ramification of this rejection within Christian and Jewish circles to the present time.
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