The Denver Jewish news., 1925-09-17

the congregation, Leon Mod.na itssucd
statement against this action of the
elders.
Everything points TO the fnct that
the condition among the Jews of
Venice in those days was similar to
what II is in America today. The
rage for play was widespread among
them. From the arguments of Modena
1t follows TINT there was playing for
large sums, and indeed, also with
Christians Those who pronounced the
ban wanted 20 avert the ruin of fam
| iiics, and ut the same time to preserve
the ability Of the congregation to pay
taxes. Surely, thought Modcna, ON that
i last ground one should permit at least
the playing OF Jews with each other,
since the money stays with the Con
l gregation.
As matter Of fact the city of
Venice was notorious for Its cnrd-rlay-
ing, although IL WIS quite prevalent
in Italy. 1t is perhaps true that play
ing card factories were first established
in Venice and that in 1906 play cx-
hibition was released Lotto also orig
mated In Venice.
This passion for card-playing was
not only widespread among the nobil-
ity AMI the upper classes, but IL was
also general among the working classes.
The French writer, Molmenti, in his
la Vie Privce Venice says: While
he people gave themselves over TO
MYSTERIOUS merry making. the mobiles
llayiBe, and in the various kinds of
playing they lost the Iechincs' gather
I'd by their fathers. The play houses.
,le casinos, the cafes were the IA
| vorite gathering places OF the men and
| women. The poorer ones contendcd
l with the wcaltlier ones and after they
had lost their last ducat they played
| away their watches, their rings, etc
all their jewels which they had with
them
1t should not be surprising therefore.
that Leon Modena should have become
slave to card-playing. The mllieu
l in which he lived ns youth was con
lucive TO bring about passion and
lust for gambling which was hard to
eradicate. OF course. 1t is difficult to
understand how n youth who would
| write book against gambling. could
have succmbed. But he did this
should not be condoncd, but we must
understand the matter. Leon was
merely n child of his nge, and he sue
cumbed as did many others, to a gencr-
l ally spread custom.
During the life Of Modena CON
| irovcrsy ragged in Amsterdam which is
Of interest to us today. II seem that
together with others Of his colleagues
one year on n-ir n7r- (Simchath
Torali) the young people OF the city
put ON women's clothing There was an
| outcry against this, and Leon Modena
condoned this act. Isaac Uziel the
Rabbi of Amsterdam villiiicd Modena
in a pamphlet which he wrote and said
that Leon knew well how to play cards.
but not how to write Modena answer
ed in this way. Il. ] am the least
and poorest among all, for whose opin-
ion there should be no regard, for ]
have a greater understanding for play
Ing than for writing ] wish ii might
have been so, but unfortunately. It was
the reverse. for in playing ! lost in the
tifties, while with the pen earned in
the hundreds, | have, indeed
'inncd much, yet my only sin (here)
is that | went through the Bible. and
among The so prohibitions. did not find
the prohibition do not play"
But in spite of all Leon Modcna was
a great character. We must wonder nj
his manifold activity and accomplish
menis. the number of his works. The
range Of topics he discussed is mar
velous. Not only that, but he was
prominent Rabbi. great preacher.
teacher. translator and corrcctor He
worked ON exegesis, lcxicography.
ethics, liturgy. He wrote pastoral
dramas aud poems of different kinds.
So he died, really unknown and mis-
understood.