ellar hich ut it n to here rels, gni- vife. reach- in a astier, ly, he se the :ewed, hered, over close and a guar- Is int- trifle h the fellow Ahern red a slop. lit he usual C. lie worts. it out hus- 't got time ad to filing ∎ssion is in. feel- 'most one as on him- t and r had utual ten- s the f ac- re as T ir- ' the Irry." lever using :ess ) 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."