A merica ,favish Periodical cc/tier

27, 1942

March 27, 1942

CLIFTON AVENUE - CINCINNATI 20, OHIO

Prince and Slave in the Egyptian Drama

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DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and the Legal Chronicle

difficult journey. In strange Giant Revue Continues
earth and in a foreign land my At Club Three 666
Editor's Note—This article, originally written in Yiddish by Rabbi grave will remain ever orphaned,
Saul Silber, president of the Hebrew Theological College of alone and forgotten."
C h a rl i e Morrison's Parisian
* * *
Chicago, Ill., appeared in the "Mizrachi Weg" some time ago.
Nightmare revue, featuring some
The present English translation is by Dr. Nathan Draznin,
And Moses begins to unroll of the country's best known
rabbi of the Shaarei Tfiloh Congregation, Baltimore, Md.
and reread the Holy Scroll which sepia singing and dancing stars,
his ow n hands wrote Ile o p ens continues in its second big
Two gigantic figures are beau- terribly hot desert . • • They t he Book
and weeps, weeps and week at the Club Three 666.
tifully woven into the fabric of are scorched by a merciless hot reads, and says:
Except for one change in the
the historic Egyptian drama, so sun and smitten by dry, sharp
"Oh, how difficult was the cast, the production remains the
poetically and magnificently por- winds; the sand over which they
path of my life and how bitter same with the line-up consist-
trayed in God's eternal docu- tread is truly aglow from the was my lot! From my cradle ing of the Harlem Highlanders,
ment—the Torah. Both will for- heat; for miles and miles there
unto my grave unceasing trag- kiltie-garbed quartette of song-
ever inspire humanity with their is not a tree, there is not even edies have been woven for me; sters, instrumentalists, and tap
majestic personalities and char- a blade of grass which might
specialists; Sam Fouche, popular
acters; their leadership will al- refresh the eye. The desert has like the waves of the sea, they swing master of ceremonies;
dame rushing% one after the
ways serve as models of idealism. almost sapped their strength. other.
Ralph Brown, tap dancer; Tarza,
These are Joseph and Moses. Their lips are dry and parched ;
"My mother, the unfortunate, vivacious soubrette ; Chocolate
their knees are bent with weak-
Both were entrusted by Provi- ness. Difficult is the path of the pious woman, alas, had, with and Mutt, jumping jacks of
her own hands, to place me, her rhythm ; "Peaches" McKinney,
dence with the keys of Egypt. desert.
The first was given the key to
infant, in the river. And when song stylist; the eight dancing
Among
the
fatigued
and
ex-
that gate through which the hausted wanderers, an old, hoary I already had the luck to come sepia-dorables, direct from Chi-
into a royal palace, good angels cago's Grand Terrace, and other
Jews came into Egypt.
man, whose body is bent by age,
The second was handed the pushes on. He desires to reach found me there also and burnt versatile performers. The famous
my tongue with fire. And the Hama State Collegians, 1942
key which, with Godly strength, the center of the camp.
fire, in time, set aglow my whole rhythm masters, play for danc-
opened the heavy locks of that
"Let me there," he mumbles. being and gave me no rest until ing and the two complete night-
gate through which the Jews
"There to the casket of the zad-
ly floor shows.
went out of Egypt, the key with dik. My grandfather was one of this day.
which the Jews unlocked the
"The pains of my brethren
chains of slavery and finally won those who faithfully promised did not let me rest. Their tor- the Holy Land, then surely I
their freedom and their 'inde- Joseph to redeem his bones from ments actually choked me. Yet, merit it too. I brought the Jews
Egypt. I must now execute my as soon as I spoke to them an
pendence.
OUT of Egypt and led them to
How close this Egyptian drama grandfather's oath. I still re- honest word, a word that did Eretz Israel. Why, why is the
member
how
my
grandfather
has bound the two and, yet, how held me on his knees and told not harmonize with their slave- land closed for me?"
different their destinies in life
attitudes, my life was no longer
And with a fluttering heart,
me wonderful tales of this zad- secure . . . It's difficult, indeed,
and even after death . . •
Moses waited for a reply.
dik,
of
his
greatness,
wisdom,
I.
to comprehend how persecuted
And the Master of the Uni-
Joseph was born to a father righteousness and holy life. Par- and tortured men can become verse answered :
don
me,
young
man,
move
aside
and mother ardently in love
slanderers . . .
"Read again, Moses, a little
and let me help carry the casket
with one another, who awaited
"And how did the liberated more carefully, a certaip chap-
of
the
zaddik.
Why
should
you
for many years a loving child,
react to me? It's difficult to re- ter of the story of Joseph.
a child who would serve as a worry about my age? Let me tell . . . My hands shudder each
"It happened that when Jos-
heavenly testimonial, a holy seal get closer. You see, God gives time I am reminded. Complaints eph was accused of a terrible
strength
to
do
a
great
virtuous
of their sacred love and eternal
and trials . . . Forty years of crime, his origin and his peo-
deed."
covenant.
steady, difficult struggles with a ple were then not overlooked.
The bent backs of the carriers people whose very blood was He and his illustrious descent
Joseph's father was a Patri-
arch; his mother, a wonderful, become straight. In their eyes infested with slavery. People were jeered at, and he was
beautiful princess. Her soft ala- glitters a holy fire. They are the with stiff necks and hardened locked up in prison. But, at the
baster hands affectionately car- most fortunate among the wear- hearts. And them I had to lead first opportunity, he proudly in-
essed his young body. He was ied wanderers. On their shoul- and polish . . .
formed all that he was a child
"Like an anxious father, I led of his people, "for I was stolen
fed on milk and honey. He was ders they carry Joseph's coffin,
dressed in silk. An old, loving even from Egypt, to his old them. I forgave them every- from the Land of the Hebrews."
father kissed his footsteps, home in the "Land of the Heb- thing. I always remembered the In time of trouble and persecu-
counted his words, actually swal- rews."
old domicile whence they came, tion, he remembered his land
Long and difficult is the jour- the place where they lived a with reverence. He always car-
lowed every sound that his be-
ney,
but,
finally,
the
bearers
of
loved child uttered, took his
long time. One cannot easily ried this love deeply rooted in
dreams prophetically, hoping that the coffin reach Shechem, a free himself from absorbed for- his heart. And later, too, Egypt
in the future they would become small poor town, where Joseph eign cultures, however bad they with its richness and frivolity
spent his youth before he was may be. Even with fire, one can; could not dim this longing for
realities . . .
And even when in his life kidnapped from his land.
not always purge them. I par- his own land. He, Joseph, mer-
Again his feet touch the lov- doned them. Only in my own ited a return to the "Land of
there came a difficult, sorrowful
hour and he was driven, a slave ing earth about which he yearn- heart have I carried the trag- the Hebrews" . . .
"Well, do you remember,
ill chains, to a foreign land, fate ingly had dreamt so much. And edy, and for no one have I un-
did not let him suffer long. The she, his mother-earth, opens her covered my wounds . . .
Moses, when you escaped from
arms
and
cuddles
him
close
to
"I !rad hoped: that a better, Pharaoh's sword? A homeless
heavy prison doort; were sud-
denly opened wide for him and hear heart : "Oh, dear beloved freer generation would come in- wanderer, you arrived in a poor
child
!
Finally,
after
long
years
to Eretz Israel. I would be with land. Your beautiful, majestic
a Godly hand brought him into
the king's palace. He was led of exile you have come back to them there, in their own land, conduct immediately earned you
through the streets of the capi- me. Lay your head upon my and all my torments would be a good reputation. You were ad-
tal city in royal splendor and breast. In your mother's bosom repaid with good fortunes. A mired, and the people began to
thousands of people scaled walls you will find eternal rest and free people in Eretz Israel would love you. They erred and took
be the golden crown upon my you for an Egyptian, and you,
ill order to catch a glimpse of happiness."
Angels stand by the open wounded head. But, no! Not who knew the Egyptians, their
the imprisoned slave of yester-
day—today the leader • of a king- grave and with their spread for me! Up to the Mount of demoralization, their brutality,
dom, who came to save a great white wings cover the body of Abarim you may go and no and how much they had en-
slaved and persecuted your
people from starvation, whose the holy, righteous man. They more!
"Joseph had much more luck brethren—when you were called
word is law and whose glance even let a tear drop into the
grave
so
as
to
make
the
earth
than I. From the cradle to the an Egyptian, when they ascribed
commands attention . . .
This event is so indescribably soft for him. With reverence grave a happy hand guided him. you to a people which is so for-
beautiful and inspiring that it and restrained breath they say Oh, Master of the Universe! I eign to your great character and
grips you ; the dramatic mom- Zodok Hadin in their own ver- will ask one more question. Oh, personality—you kept quiet, you
ents hold you spellbound; you sion: "Oh, you have lived beau- hear me just this one time. I did not protest . .. In that hour
really cannot tear yourself away tifully and have died beauti- want to know why Joseph mer- the Holy Land of Eretz Israel
from them. With great curiosity fully. The righteous are even ited that his bones should come took an oath to close her doors
greater in their death than in back to Eretz Israel; for them to you . . ."
you ask : "What comes next?"
there is room, and for me the
A deep sign issued out of
Has there yet remained some- their life'."
II. •
land is closed . . .
Moses' heart. Yes, Joseph's mer-
thing good in heaven that was
And the terrible word which
"I am not jealous of him. No, it is truly great. His bones will
not bestowed• upon him, upon
Moses, for many years feared jealousy is not a strain of my come back to Eretz Israel. He
Joseph?
soul. I do not begrudge this earned it honestly.
Yes! The brothers who at one to hear, finally was said.
The last command that God righteous man the fortune of
Moses began to roll up the
time mocked him, who so great-
ly sinned against him, have to gave was brief in form but having his bones brought back Scroll of the Torah . . .
Again he cast a few glances
come to him now to implore his frightful in content. "Get thee to the Holy Land. Surely, he
pardon. They, themselves, have up unto this mountain of Abar- merited it. Thou knowest that to the high beautiful hills of the
to set the scenes for the half- im—for thou shalt see the land I myself carried his casket on Holy Land. Deeply he bowed
nebulous fantasies that had from afar; but thither shalt thou my shoulders. But I want to to the place from which he heard
know why he, and I not. Why God's voice, and lifting his hands
brooded in the heart of the car- not go."
Like terrible thunders these is he treated as a loving prince to heaven, with a trembling
essed child. They now have to
contribute to the realization of words dashed through the ether; and I as a despised slave? If voice, he exclaimed:
the heavens trembled, and the he who took the Jews out from
"Yes, Thou art just. 'He is
his youthful dreams.
All these successes notwith- earth under Moses' feet rocked the "Land of the Hebrews" and the Rock, His work is perfect;
brought them INTO Egypt mer- for all His ways are just. Just
standing, the rich land of Egypt and shuddered.
With eyes soaked with tears, its to have his bones at rest in and upright is He'."
could not extinguish the love
that Joseph quietly, deep in his with a shattered heart and with
heart, kept aglow for the land heavy, slow steps, the great
of his birth—the humble "Land Prophet reaches the peak of the
of the Hebrews." Secretly, he mountain from there to cast
always yearns for his native his last glances on his long
land. If it is impossible for him hoped, beloved land, Eretz
to go there alive, at least his
Before his eyes come the long,
bones must be brought back to
the place where his cradle stood. green, velvety meadows of the
"Give me, dear brothers, your Sharon and the beautiful fields
hands and swear that you will of the Emek abundant with gold
take my bones back yonder, crowned stalks that sway with
where my great father lies in great humility:
On these fields the new gen-
eternal sleep. Only to that earth
will I entrust my bones. To that eration will find comfort and
earth will I eternally confide. hope. The trees and grass will
Let those trees there quietly sing, for the new Jews, a beau-
sway over my tomb and their tiful Song of Songs. On the
leaves, on falling, cover the crev- tall, slim mountains will the
ices of my grave. No, dear Jews construct their tents, from
brothers, the giant pyramids which they will speak their God-
cannot give my soul peace. Only ly-inspired thoughts to all the
those hills that rise over the children of man.
And Moses mumbles: "Oh,
city of Shechem, only they may
be my eternal 'comrades'."
great is my joy, but deeper is
* * *
my sorrow . . . my fate is al-
Legions of tired Jews, shab- ready sealed . . . I can't go
Pfeiffer Brewing Co., Detroit, Mid,
bily dressed and not fully fed, thither, the Mount of Abarim
continue on their march in the is the last point of my long,

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