WILLIAM PHILLIPS
201
principles.
This divided consciousness has been at the root of the large spiritual
and intellectual achievement of the Jews, as well as the cause of much of
their suffering. Take the case of the national state, Israel. This duality has
been responsible for its successes and, to some extent, for its international
difficulties. For much of the criticism of Israel, especially by Jewish intel–
lectuals themselves, has come from the idealization of the Jews. Thus it
has been argued that Israel, as the land of transcendent Jewry, must be
judged by the highest standards, by the standards Jews apply to themselves
as well as to others. Hence criteria for political behavior that are not used
to criticize most other nations are invoked to attack Israel.
What is the answer, the cure for the split personality of the Jewish
people? Surely it is not to give up their universalist morality and codes of
thinking. Yet they are victims of a rising global anti-Semitism and the
widespread hostility to Israel. Perhaps the historic role of the Jewish
people cannot be altered easily. But the situation might be improved if
the Jews gave up some of their moral philanthropy and if, at the same
time, the presence of anti-Semitism in both the Christian and Arab worlds
were lessened.
w.
P.
Schindler's List
Mter reading on the black screen that
Schindler's List
is
produced by "Amblin Entertainment Industries," we behold a dark,
empty room and the slow lighting of Sabbath candles standing on a bare
table covered with a white tablecloth. We know immediately that the
film we have come to see is about the fate of the Jews, and we can guess
that the slowly changing glow of the candlelight, to orange and yellow,
also symbolizes a glimmer of hope. Many glowing reviews, of course, al–
ready had alerted the expectant audience that Steven Spielberg's subject is
more serious than
E.
T.
and
Jurassic Park,
and that it is about the German
businessman, Oskar Schindler, who defied the Nazi machinery set up to
destroy the Jews.
In this film, Spielberg certainly displays his exceptional talents as a
producer: his timing is flawless, his sense of decorum almost perfect,
worthy of a number of Academy Awards. He has managed to turn ordi–
nary people into actors and has evoked in them the most intimate emo–
tions while avoiding all triteness or overacting. A number of friends had
advised me to bring at least two handkerchiefs. Others had said they were
glad to have proof that even during Hitler's reign some Germans took the
risk to save Jewish lives. And some camp survivors as well joined the
