ellar
hich
ut it
n to
here
rels,
gni-
vife.
reach-
in a
astier,
ly, he
se the
:ewed,
hered,
over
close
and a
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Is int-
trifle
h the
fellow
Ahern
red a
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lit he
usual
C. lie
worts.
it out
hus-
't got
time
ad to
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r had
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v itsterkam Palish Periodical Cotter
Friday, March S, 1946
▪
CLIFTON AVENUE • CINCINNATI 20, 01110
DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Lega l Chronicle
Book Review
By LEON SAUNDERS
Anthology of Jewish Humor and
Maxims — Some Humorless Humor
So They Tell Me--
By LOUIS W. ENFIELD
In a large city In pre-war Po-
land, there lived a very wealthy
man who operated the largest
winery in that section of the coun-
_—
try. His cellar was stocked with
VI
T ISS ELASA TEITELBAUM'S sense of humor or perhaps just barrels of wine that he sold to
es—sr
an urge to collect has prompted her to put together a great Jews all over Poland.
number of Jewish storks or stories about Jews into this one
Although he was loaded down
volume.
with money, he was noted for his
Paraphrasing the old adage we will sly that the trouble with the miserliness and his resistance to
collection is that what is new is not funny and what is funny is not the calls of charity. To requests
new.
for assistance to the needy, he
We are willing to give the author credit for assembling a
was deaf. His contributions to
great number of wise and witty remarks about rabbis and tzadikm
communal agencies were of the
which have an historical value freLn the viewpoint of national lore,
most meager. To strangers and
hilt the repartee and stories are not humorous. The parables col-
travelers who were in need of a
lected give an inside of the method and material the magids used
place to stay for a night, his home
the
yearn
long
ago.
Whether
they
belong
in
a
book
of
humor
is
in
was a total stranger.
debatable, but they have their value and are interesting without
Employed in his winery was a
being funny. In her desire to gather as many stories as possible,
little Jew named Beryl, a poor
Miss Teitelbaum injected many oldies which have nothing to do
widower who worked long hours
with Judaism.
for a salary that was just a little
This reporter tried hard to find one story which would tickle his over his needs for a bare exist-
risibility, but search as he would he could not find even one. And the ence. Beryl lived on such a frugal
compiler's claim that the fault lies with the reviewer will not avail her. scale, however, that he managed
to save almost a dollar a week.
Sense of Humor
Beryl didn't trust any hank. He
It is a truism long established that some people have no sense of lived in the winery and slept on
humor and in some the sense of the ridiculous is highly developed. an old cot In the cellar. In fact,
Take the charming story of St. Thomas Acquinas hurrying to the eve- the old place was the only home
ning prayer. As he passed the statue of the Blessed Virgin, it opened he knew. He decided therefore to
Its lips and said: "Thomas. you are late." To which the saint replied: conceal the money where he
"Mary, this is the hour of silence." An intelligent lady to whom we worked. He dug a little hole'in the
told this story remarked, "What's funny about a priest being late for side of the wall and there he hid
prayer?"
his little hoard each week. The
&There are numerous theories as to what is humor and what makes months went by and the sum grew
peotile laugh. Bergson, Freud, Replier and Eastman advanced various larger. No one knew about it and
theories and explanations of the sense of the ridiculous. Of all the ani- Beryl was content.
mals, human beings are the only ones endowed with a sense of humor.
One day as he was patting the
This is the quality which distinguishes them frum the quadrupeds.
mud back in place which con-
Should one analyze or theorize over humor? Hazzlit analyzed so cealed his hiding place, he caught
much that people began to doubt its exaence.
sight of the miser nearby. There
was no way of knowing whether
Humorists Don't Laugh
It is known that humorists seldom laugh. Carlisle and Dickens his employer had seen the place
or not. But even if he had, what
never laughed. A story which would fit at a tea party of the ladies was there to fear? The owner of
m' the D.A.R. can make some people laugh, yet a really funny story the winery was a man wealthy be-
leaves some people cold.
yond dreams of avarice. What
Someone wittily remarked: A joke in some mouths is no laughing would he want with Beryl's slen-
matter. Of all definitions, we prefer Plato's. He claims that man will der hoard?
always laugh at somebody's discomfiture. Humor is creative, a sense
So he comforted himself and al-
of humor is merely receptive. There are national traits and customs. layed his fears. But his fears were
They say that the Japanese will watch an actor fan himself with a justified. One Sunday afternoon,
fan and the manipulations will throw the Japs into fits of laughter.
Beryl came down to the cellar to
Mark Twain claims that the humorous story is American; the
add another dollar to his treasure.
comic story is English and the witty story is French. To that we
And lo and behold. The money
would add that the Germans were kings in music, princes in po-
was gone.
etry, good speculators in philosophy and leaders in scholarship,
Wild with anxiety and furious
but lacked the comic spirit. The English excel in satire and are
with anger, Beryl went straight
noble humorists, but they esteem c n sense too h. The
to his employer and accused him
French have a passion for logical issues, for reason and orderly
of theft. The miser looked at him
:mental process to be capable of mirth. If Russia laughed little be-
with withering scorn.
fore, she laughs less now.
"Do you know what you are
Russia knew only one kind of laaater, the laughter of Gogol,
laughter through tears, which Is not the privilege of Jewish humor as saying?" he asked, looking down
the editor of the book in question claims. The modern Yiddish story from his great height on his lit-
is influenced. entirely by the language, customs and habits of the coun- tle employee. "Do you know who
it is you are accusing and what
try Jews resids in.
it is you are accusing me of?
Fun in Preface
Have you any proof? How dare
We stated at the beginning that the anthology of humor contained you speak to me like this? Get
no funny story. We take it back. It does, but ... of all places, in the out before I have you put in jail."
Editor's Preface.
Beryl paused. What was he to
We believe it was a little selfish of the editor to hog the only two
do? He had no proof. Maybe some
funny cracks in the whole book and mention them in his preface. Like thief had broken in. Maybe—What
'the story about the Jewish highwayman who could not stab the victim was he to do? If he spoke any
because the knife was "milchik," or the man who captured an enemy
more, he would only lose his job.
soldier to fill out a "minian," which stories are humorous and really So he humbly begged the miser's
Yiddish.
pardon and crept away.
Humanity Needs Laughter
But inwardly he was seething.
But enough of analyzing humor. Humanity needs laughter. The
The desire for vengeance burned
trouble is that men laugh at the wrong things and at the wrong
within him. So the next day, he
time. Will funny stories make life happier? Certainly not. Only
put on his best clothes and went
with the ending of struggles for existence and the disappearance of
to the home of the rabbi of the
hatred will lighthearted and gay laughter appear. But that can
community, the great Tzadik. To
only happen in heaven, in places where white wings are worn
him he told his tale of woe and
and
the music of the spheres is heard. Here, on this earth, genuine
his suspicions of his employer. The
humor and true wit require a sound and capacious mind, which
rabbi listened to him calmly,
is always a grave one.
stroking his long white beard.,
When the tale was done, the
Few men have been graver than Pascal. Few men have been wit-
tier. And it is so easy to grow morose in discussing wit and humor. I Tzadik spoke.
"You shall have your money
don't feel funny. Whenever I look around me, it seems to me that
back," he said. "And ten times as
Jehovah is saying, "Laugh THAT off, sinner, if you can."
much to go with it. Your wages
have been sufficiently small so
1,
that you are deserving of it."
"But how?" queried Beryl. "I
have no proof."
"The Lord will furnish the
proof," replied the sage. And
Beryl, comforted, went back to
his cellar.
The next day, the miser was
(Ed. Note: This is a reply to a letter from the editor setting forth summoned to the Rabbi's home.
that English and English Literature are compulsory subjects in every He went there, defiant.
Russian school from the fourth grade up and claiming this as proof
"Have you come to ask me for
of basic Russian-American friendship.)
more charity?" he burst out. "I
give
enough."
THE DAILY
"I underitand you have had a
WASHINGTON 111ERRY-GO-ROUND ,
robbery in your cellar," said the
•
Washington 7, D. C.
Tsadik.
, iris tobert S. Allen
f
Drew Pearson
"You've been listening to that
crazy Beryl," was the reply. "Well,
Jewish Chronicle, 525 Woodward Avenue, Detroit.
there is no proof. Not even you
ear
. ear Editor:
sae 1 I appreciated your fine letter. I wish that I might say in reply that would dare tO accuse me."
The rabbi stared at the insolent
'^ `I was mistaken about the Russian
situation. I hope that I am, but I face of the miser. Once again, he
fear I am not.
stroked his long white beard.
It is a situation which has caused me considerable worry, as you
"The money was stolen from
may have noted from the column published today in the Detroit Free your cellar," he said gently.
"Will
Press. In general, my observation is that the Russian people are not you not make it good for a poor
fully aware of the help we have given them during the war or the msa?"
kind feeling which, I believe, is entertained by most Americans toward
"No, I won't" stormed the miser.
the Russians. There may be some of this, but unfortunately the Rus-
"I'm not responsible for thieves
sian radio which, of course, is entirely government-controlled, pours who break in. And P11 discharge
out a mass of propaganda, some of it taking the line that Alaska Beryl as soon as I get home. And
should be returned to Russia because it was sold
dirt cheap, some of you," he sneered, "what do you
it quoting editorials from the New York Post and praising the Soviet think you can do about it?"
government, some-of it rather slanted regarding strikes and our own
"Yayin Nasach," replied the old
domestic discomfort here at home.
tsadik softly. "Yayin Nasach."
However, the basic thing, in my opinion, to be remembered about
The miser grew pale as death.
the present Russian set-up is that Russian policy is based on force.
"Not that," he screamed. "Not
II Russian penetration of Roumania and Bulgaria were based upon Yayin Nasach."
(Continued on Page (1)
(Te be continued next week.)
LurcuRo Box
Drew Pearson on Russian Threat
Page Five
MAN OF THE WEEI
N WELCOMING back Rabbi Morris Adler, recently arrived in
Detroit from Tokyo where he saw service as a chaplain in the
U. S. army the CHRONICLE bids him "Shalom" and accords him
honor as the Man of the Week.
Rabbi Adler was born in Slutzk, in Russia. As a result of that
he is an honorary member of both the Berdichever and the Pinker
Societies. He came to this country in 1912, three years after his
father arrived to prepare the way for his family.
Adler senior was a rabbi in New York. Ile Imbued the young
lad with such a love of things Jewish, that the rabbinate was the
boy's choice of a career from the very beginning. His education
followed the pattern of the times in New York. lie studied In the
public schools, then went on to take his II. A. degree from New
York City College and do graduate work at Col bla.University. He
took his Rabbinical Degree from the Jewish Theological Seminary
of New York and is now working at the same seminary for the de-
gree of Doctor of Hebrew Literature. Ile is married and has one
child, Shulamith.
Two Years in St. Joseph
Upon becoming ordained, Rabbi Adler spent two years in St. Jos
seph, Missouri. Then for four years he occupied the pulpit of Temple
Emanuel in Buffalo. In this pulpit, his predecessor had been a reform
rabbi. The congregation has remained in the conservative fold ever
since. In 1938, he was invited to Detroit where he is now associate
rabbi of Shaarey Zedek synagogue.
Always active in the community, Rabbi Adler was on the Board
of Governors of the Jewish Welfare Federation. Ile was on the
Executive Committee of the Community Council and chairman of
its Budget Committee. Ile was also first chairman of its Internal
Relations Committee.
Past president of the Zionist Organization of Detroit, he was also
on the Board of Education of the United Hebrew Schools. He was
local chairman of the Lathed fund
which gives prizes to Hebrew and
Yiddish authors in an attempt to
bring the two literatures closer
together. He is intensely interested
in Hebraic and Yiddishist groups
here, has spoken at their meet-
ings and reads omnivorously in
both literatures.
Wrote Book
Rabbi Adler wrote a hook,
an analysis of selected pass-
ages from Scriptures for the
National Conference for Jewish
Adult Education on which he
is a member of the Board of
Governors. This book was pub-
lished in an experimental two
volume mimeographed edition
and was used by more than a
hundred adult institutes in syn-
agogues. It is now being pub-
!kited in regular bound form by
the Jewish Theological semi
RABBI MORRIS ADLER
!nary.
He was an active member of the Round Table of Catholics, Prot.
estants and Jews and was sent to various camps with a Catholic pro-
fessor and a Protestant clergyman.
All these activities are spoken of in the past tense because in
December of 1913, the rabbi became a chaplain in the armed service.
Ile took his training at the Chaplain School at Harvard. In Novem-
ber of 1911, he was in New Guinea. Next he was In Leyte in the
Philippines and then was chosen as the first Jewish chaplain to
land in Japan.
Interviews MacArthur
In Japan, he was the Jewish representative of the delegation of
religious leaders who interviewed General MacArthur on the subject of
bringing in religious views common to the West into Japan.
Questioned about his actual work, Rabbi Adler explained that
there never was an idle or a dull moment. He conducted services, as
many as twenty ,a week. He conducted classes in Hebrew, Yiddish and
Zionism. He was in two combats and has two battle stars.
Most of the work, however, was in personal consultations. He met
soldiers everywhere, under all sorts of circumstances. He hitch hiked
on planes, ships and patrol boats to conduct services. He carried
Talesim, Siddurim, Mezuzoth and even canned gefulte fish with him
wherever he went. He passed these out at services which were held
everywhere, on a hill, at the side of the road, under a tree. Often
these services were interrupted by air raids.
"Once we were engaged in that part of the services during which
one is not allowed to move when a Jap airplane zoomed by," he said,
smiling at the thought. "Nobody stopped to discuss what to do. We
just moved."
Other chaplains took weeks or even months to break down the
reserve of the boys of their faiths. Rabbi Adler, however, had no such
trouble because of a curious phenomenon.
Sholom Aleichem
"We Jews had one great bond," he said. "When I said 'Sholont
Aleichem' to a Jewish boy, a delighted smile broke over his face and
he was my friend at once."
He wrote from 250 to 300 letters a month for boys in the hospitals
telling their parents what was what. He has saved literally barrels of
their replies, moving human documents.
There were tragic things in his experience. There was the boy
who died in his arms on the day orders came through for the soldier
to return to the United States. There was the lone Jew in a little
Philippine town who became a close friend, and at whose funeral he
officiated.
Here, only a few days, Rabbi Adler will address the Annual
Meeting of the Jewish Welfare Federation next Monday. He will
express his views on the subject Af the IiJA appeal.
Success Is Barometer
"The success of this appeal," he said, will be the barometer of our
awareness of what is happening. It is a real test of Jewish sensitivity
and scceptanse of responsibilty."
"I am very much committed to the Community Council idea,"
he continued. "It represents for me the organization of a Jewish
community on a democratic basis for the perpetuation and develop-
ment of its group life. It should stand above party and above sect.
We live in a time when nothing less than the resources of 'lila!
Yisroel,' the entire Jewish collective can sustain us. All our acti-
vities should derive from this basic acceptance of ourselves as Jews
and of our loyalty to the totality of Jewish life. II American Jewry
is to come of age and accept the obligations which this epoch has
thrust upon us, it must organize itself around an idea. An aggre-
gation of Jews becomes a community only as it accepts the idea.
"I met a larger and more authentic sampling of American Jewish
youth in the army than I would in civilian life," said Adler. "There is
no doubt there is a vast lack of familiarity with Jewish traditions and
a remoteness from the centers of Jewish experiences. However, by
and large, I found them a sound wholesome and self respecting group
that neither wears its Jewishness as a chip on its shoulder nor seeks
to escape it. I firmly believe It is possible for us to reach them. We
shall have to learn, however, to present Judaism in terms that are
relevant to the background and needs of these young men. I think it
Is a sign of their healthy mindedness that they are almost universally
In favor of Zionism."