A merica 'apish Periodical alder

Feb

•

CLIFTON AVENUE, • CINCINNATI 30, OHIO

flontia: Naito HIAS WARSAW

Defense of Old Germany
Indictment of the New

)(L os MANN

Erika and Klaus Mann Collaborate in Writing
Charming Story About "The Other Germany"

One, more, brother and sister
have Alaborated in writing a
great 'A.:1.k. For the second time
in tii (. years they repeat that
which Riley have been doing on
the ..!Are platform—defending
Germany", condemning
the
Nazi state, glorying in
the
the ir 1 ,,.w-found Americanism.
Erik t and Klaus Mann, able
daught , r and son of Thomas
Mann, pour out their hearts in
"The Other Germany", the splen-
did new book which was just
issued by Modern Age Books,
432 Fourth Ave., New York. It
is, in a sense, a follow-up to
Erika Mann's "School for Bar-
barians" and to their joint ef-
fort, "Escape to Life", which
was one of the most important
books resulting from the scourge
of Nazism,
"The Other Germany" is an
explanation and defense of an-
other side to the German story
which is generally overlooked—
that side which must take into
account the existence of German
genius, the presence of decency
among Germans who have built
a great culture and who have
not been corrupted by Hitlerism;

and the background of German
greatness as it existed in the
days of Goethe, Schiller, Heine.
But the indictment of Nazism
is just as bitter, just as strong,
just as sincere. It is emphatic,
brutally frank as befits liberals
and human beings, "It is im-
possible to acquit the German
people of all guilt," they cry
out. "The terrible and undeniable
fact that will go down in history
to the shame of our nation is
that Germany has tolerated the
Hitler dictatorship. What is even
worse and almost incomprehen-
sible, there was no opposition to
Hitler even in the year 1933.
General Franco needed two-and-
a-half years and the help of two
great Fascist powers to conquer
Spain like an enemy country.
The heroic resistance put up by
the Spaniards against their op-
pressors is among the few truly
great and encouraging events of
the century. The seemingly com-
plete lack of resistance with
which Germans — workers, sol-
diers, intellectuals—accepted the
establishment of a dictatorship
remains one of the most inex-

Bialiles Stories
Reveal Genius of
Our Poet Laureate

of the peasants to Jews and their
preference for the learned and
observant Jews.
"Bialik," Mr. Lask writes, "be-
came the Jewish poet laureate,
with the responsibilities of a
Jewish poet laureate, before he
was thirty. It is possible that this
early recognition may have in-
fluenced his poetry adversely. He
resented such unsought responsi-
bility; and he found an outlet
for his resentment in his famous
"prophetic" poems. In these he
systematically berates his people
for not being what they should
be and for not doing what they
should do."
The publication of "After-
growth and Other Stories" . by
the Jewish Publication Society
of America is in line with one
of its chief aims, namely, to ac-
quaint teh English reading public
with the most important boo'cs
of Jewish literature written in
all languages. The name of Hay-
yim Nahman Bialik is the most
important name connected with
the renaissance of the Hebrew
language and literature during
the past fifty years. Not since
Ju(lah Halevi, who died eight
hundred years ago, has there
been any such master of the
Hebrew word or any such in-
terpreter of the Jewish spirit.
"Aftergrowth and Other Stor-
ies" offers examples of the litera-
ture genius of the man who led
this renaissance of Hebrew cul-
ture during the past generation.
The first story, "Aftergrowth"
proves Bialik's profound insight
into the mental and emotional
experiences of a child. From the
drabness and petty cruelties of
life, this child, probably Bialik
himself in his parental home, es-
capes into the happier world of
its imagination under the stimu-
lus of the tales and legends con-
nected with the Bible heroes.
"The Shamed Trumpet" re-
lates the story of a family whose
life was ruined by the stupidity
and corruption of the Czarist
government. With charming hu-
mor and quiet pathos the author
introduces the reader to the joys
and pains of Jewish lIfe in a
Russian village some fifty years
ago.
"The Short Friday" is a highly
entertaining story about a pious
and naive rabbi who, on the
shortest Friday of the year, un-
wittingly wandered away from
the straight path.
Indispensable for a thorough
understanding of these stories,
and of Bialik and his work in
general, is the appreciation writ-
ten by the translator as a preface
to this volume. Mr. Lask offers
a novel and exceptionally inter-
esting discussion of the basic
factors which gave direction to
Bialik's life and molded his poetic
spirit. Mr. Lask gives a psycho-
logical interpretation of Bialik's
development, novel as it is startl-
ing. This essay also includes some
of Lask's translations of several
of Bialik's important poems.
which have not been translated
before.
Mr. Lask has succeeded un-

The late Ilayyim Nahman Bia-
lik, for a generation the most
quoted creative Jewish literary
genius, holds as much attention
in Jewish life as he did in his
lifetime. His was the prophetic
voice that protested against per-

HAYYIM NAHMAN BIALIK

secutions and at the same time
pleaded with his pleople to eman-
cipate and to rebuild their na-
tional life. As a resident of Tel
Aviv he created institutions, made
the Oneg Shabbat in his home
a tradition that has been copied
throughout the world, and carried
on an effective and constructive
effort to make Israel respected
in the world—and self-respecting.
A few weeks ago the Union
of American Hebrew Congrega-
tion published a book of Bialik's
poems for children under the
title "Far Over the Sea," in
English translation by the late
Miss Jessie Sampter, whose name
is also synonymous with Jewish
poetry and national effort. Now
we hav e another valuable liter-
ary contribution in English from
the works of Hayyim Nahman
Bialik--the publication of three
of his five short stories under
the title "Aftergrowth and Other
Stories," translated by I. M.
Lask.

•

'I

7

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Chronicle

7 3, 1940

Published by the Jewish Pub-
lication Society of America, with
offices in Philadelphia, this vol-
ume is a significant addition to
the Jewish bookshelf. They pre-
sent to the English reader three
of the eminent poet's short
stories, and accompanying them
is a fascinating biographical
sketch of Bialik by the transla-
tor..Those who are interested in
Bialik, in his life, his poetry, his
background, his ideals, will learn
much from Mr. Lask. We are
told about Bialik's youth, his life
a amidst forests where he acquired
love for nature, the reactions

Among the Pontiac residents
sojourning in Florida, are Mr.
and Mrs. Benjamin Goldstein, Mr.
and Mrs. Irving Steinman, Mr.
and Mrs. Sam Cohen and Mr.
and Mrs. Jacob Kovinsky.

At Friday evening services, on
Feb. 16, Rabbi Eric Friedland
plicable and ghastly spectacles of gave a sermon on "Youth in the
our time."
World Today."
Then there is the touching
On Tuesday, Feb. 6, the Sis-
tribute to America in "The Other
terhood of Temple Beth Jacob
Germany": "We feel like reciting held its monthly meeting, with
all the great poems Walt Whit- Mrs. Abe Lapides, president, pre-
man ever wrote in praise of his siding. After the business meet-
great homeland. We should like ing, an interesting talk was de-
to bow down before America, livered by Rev. Mead of the Con-
smile a little and cry a little, gregational Church, Pontiac. An
and say: It is good that you interesting report was also heard
are there! You are not perfect, from Mrs. Harry Markle, recent
but we love you for your tre- representative at a meeting in
mendous, strapping imperfection. Washington on the "Cause and
To conquer your own great prob- Cure for War." A box social was
lems—the urgent, wild sorrows given by the ways and means
of youth—you need peace. It is committe of Temple Beth Jacob
good, forsooth, that you have Sisterhood on Tuesday, Feb. 12.
peace! Help us, that our peace
may be a righteous and lasting A German's Acclimatization
peace. Else your peace too will
to American Life
be threatened."
"The Other Germany" can not
Events in Germany, the bru-
be reviewed briefly. It would take tality of the Nazis, reports upon
columns upon columns to cover them in the American press,
it and to point to the significant leave their sting upon Germans,
angles of it. Therefore, it must especially upon newcomers. Peter
be read and reread for realiza- Volkers was just such a man. He
tion of the strength of character was a tragic figure, and the back-
of two eminent exiles who crave ground he left behind upset and
for peace, for justice, for the disturbed him. He was a sad
end of brutality under Nazism. man. His love for Ellen Carter
was a bit marred by these reac-
tions. His associates are naturally
German, and his reactions to
American life are strange. But
pending, arrival of a child. He
then came marriage and the im-
gets an assistant's job with a
carpenter, starts working on his
child's cradle, and in the mean-
time many events occur to dis-
turb the marriage and to create
unpleasant incidents. But the
marriage and the birth of a
child brings a transformation and
a gradual realization that liberty
is to be highly prized. Happiness
is born out of this marriage and
birth, and the couple, with their
two differing backgrounds, find
joy in the German young man's
transformation.
This is the theme of the new
novel by Walter Schoenstedt who
appropriately titled it "The
Cradle Builder." It was trans-
lated from the German by Rich-
ard Winston and published by
Farrar & Rinehart. It is in more
than one sense a poignant de-
scription of America as seen by
a newcomer. It is a happy addi-
tion to the literature published
in this country by those who
14(10110,
--Photo by
have escaped the Nazi knout. It
is especially valuable for its sub-
MRS. RAY STEWART
tle condemnation of Naziism.

ERIKA MANN

— —
Women's Mizrachi
Show on March 12

The Young Women's Mizrachi
requests all members to contact
their committees for additional
tickets for the variety show and
dance to be held March 12.
For further information call
the co-chairman, Mrs. Roy Stew-
art.
The next meeting will be hell
on Monday, Feb. 27. Miss Zelda
Rosenthal will be the guest
speaker.

usually well in preserving in' the
translation the charm, the vigor,
and, above all, the imagery of
the original Hebrew. Bialik's
prose is exquisitely and artisti-
cally fashioned, and at no time
can one forget that his sentences
were pened by a poet. It required
full mastery of both Hebrew
and English adequately to trans-
late these stories.
Even if Bialik had been only
the interpreter of an era that
is past, the reader of good litera-
ture could ill afford to neglect
him. There was something of the
universal and the timeless about
everything which this great poet
wrote, and "Aftergrowth and
Other Stories" is a good intro-
duction to the master-molder of
the Jewish mind. The book, beau-
tifully printed and • bound with
an attractive three-color jacket,
retails for $2.50. It can be so-
cured as one of the membership
books of the Jewish Publication
Society. Membership in the so-
ciety costs as little as $5 per
year. Full details on the member-
ship plan, catalogs and other in-
teresting literature on the work
of the Jewish Publication Society
of America can be secured by
writing to the executive director,
Maurice Jacobs, 320 Lewis Tower
Bldg., Philadelphia, Pa.

STAFF ALIVE

NEW YORK, N. Y. — The
entire staff of JEAS, the Polish
branch of the HIAS-ICA Emi-
gration Association (HICEM),
which has, prior to the outbreak
of war, functioned as the guide
and guardian of Jewish emigrants
from Poland, has survived the
siege and bombardment of the
Polish capital, the U. S. Depart-
ment of State informed the He-
brew Sheltering and Immigrant
Aid Society. While the Nazi au-
thorities have not yet granted
official permission to JEAS to
conduct its emigrant aid service
as heretofore, instructions as to
this question are awaited, the
diplomatic advice adds.

Fun for Purim

Finding fun for Purim is made
easy by "Purim—March 24, 1940,"
a booklet brim full of plays,
games, programs, art objects,
gifts and books, just released by
the Cincinnati office of the Union
of American Ilebrew Congrega-
tions.
Plays for different age groups
include a catalogue of ready made
material for children. There are
also suggestions of material from
which youth groups may construct
original programs.
Between the booklet covers,
there are items for varied tastes,
and for many kinds of unusual
celebrations, Further information
may be obtained from the Union
of American Hebrew Congrega-
tions, Merchants Bldg., Cincinnati.

A Perfect Mystery

Is there a perfect mystery
story? In John Mersereau's
"Murder Loves Company" (a
Lippincott publication) we at
least have a perfect setting—the
San Francisco exposition—a per-
fectly thrilling story, a swiftly-
moving brainteaser. It is a story
of the "murder" of an olive tree
—and it will hold the interest
of all readers.

EMJAYCEES

Emjaycees enrolled 12 new
members into the club.
If interested in becoming a
member of the Emjaycees, phone
Dorothy Fabian, To. 5-6138, or
Charlotte Shanbom, To. 5-7984.
The next business meeting of
Emjaycees will be held at the
home of Judith Rosenberg, 3741
Cortland, Wednesday, at 9 p. m.

Bobby Breen, the boy warbler
of the talkies, is having a ro-
mantic interlude.

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