.',;?... ir.. • Page Fifteen DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE Friday, December 5, 1547 Average Jew Indifferent to New Jewish Books Build Homes on Palestine Desert vails in the Jewish publishing field is easily explained. DECENT SALARIES If books that 10 years ago would have sold no more than 500 copies now sell in editions of 3,000, it is not because the Jewish public has been stimu- lated and chastened into repent- ance by Arthur Szyk's "Jewish Book Month" poster, but because Rabbis and Hebrew teachers now get a living wage enabling them to buy books, a luxury they couldn't afford during the de- pression. As far as the average Ameri- can Jew is concerned, he just doesn't buy Jewish books. In point of fact, he does not even know of their existence. One of the severest handicaps with which Jewish publishers must contend at present is the virtual lack of outlets for their wares. Distribution and display make or break sales. -As far as the Jewish book is concerned, it is neither distributed nor displayed. Why then are we so shocked and amazed upon learning that Jewish books don't sell? Even the available 'Jewish books in English, with all their shortcomings, could have sold in much larger editions with a bit of adequate distribution. if they were cast in the familiar • By DR. shallow pattern of our one-day TItUDE WEISS-ROSMARIN Laura Z. liobson's "Gentle- American book successes that men's Agreement" and Joshua are „read, chuckled over, and af- Loth Liebman's ''Peace of Mind" ford the readers vicarious sex- were among the two most suc- ual thrills and a topic for con- cessful books of the Atr•..rican versation over the dinner or tea book market in the past twelve table. The evidence available supports this hypothetical diag- months. Sholom Aleiclim's The Old nosis. Country" and Arthur Koestler's To be sure, there are some Zionist novel "Thieves in the sexy and unsensational books by Night" too have been doing well and about Jews that were and Je• for themselves. There are an- are fairly successful. Maurice A new settlement rises on former desert waste as newcomers other two or three books by and Samuel's "The World of Sholom to Palestine lay foundations of homes on land purchased with about Jews on the current list Aleichem" and "Harvest in the funds contributed by American Jewry to the United Jewish which are rolling up sales run- Desert" did quite well for Appeal. ning into four figures. themselves. Nevertheless, Jewish writers, So did some of Ludwig Lew- educators, and the more articu- isohn's earlier volumesyet, the creative utterances of his the cost of paper, wear and tear of his typewriter, and fare to late members of the Rabbinate, neither Lewisohn's nor Samuel's pen. continue to bemoan "the forgot- books ever came near the best The Jewish Book Council and and from libraries. The writing of books about ten Jewish book." Especially at sellers' lists. In fact, their best the committees inspired by it this time of the . year, when books might never have seen have thus far concerned them- and for Jews is a luxury in Jewish Book Month is observed the light of print were it not selves only with the book and which only those assured of in many communities, tirades for the subv,ntion of Jewish or- the reader. The problem of the their tread and butter can in- against "the People of the Book" Jewish writer, however, is equal- dulge. ganizations. As a result, there are only a that has forsaken "The Book" This does not detract from the ly important. The truth of the handful of Jewish books on the are sounded from Jewish pulpits matter is, there are only a literary quality and importance market that appeal to the aver- and platforms. of Lewisohn's and Samuel's handful of good and worthwhile age reader, the reader who does Jewish books written in English POOR EXCHANGE books. It does reflect, however, available. This is due primarily not intend to make professional Unfortunately, the accusation the turpitude of American Jews To provide supplementary to the circumstance that those use of what he reads. The bulk is bolstered by irrefutable evi- who fail to buy these hooks. capable of producing such books of Jewish books now being pub- food, clothing, medical care, dence. "The People of the can't afford to take time out to lished in this country is frankly educational opportunities and Book" has forsaken its great CAN'T EARN LIVING geared to the needs of the rab- other welfare services for the As a result they, and many write them. treasure or, rather, it has ex- The average book about and bis, the educational personnel of Palestine-bound Jewish refugees changed it for glittering, worth- younger writers, have barely for Jews sells in an edition (the Jewish schools, organizations, on the island of Cyprus, the scratched the surface of their only edition) of two thousand etc. What with about 10,000 Joint Distribution Committee is less tinsel. Notwithstanding the success of creativeness. They have not over a year or two, if things go rabbis, Jewish educators — to now spending at the rate of three or four books by and about given us the books they wanted well. Then, if the book is truly say nothing of organizational $1,000,000 • a year. Jews that are enhanced by the to and could have written. extraordinary, there may be a leaders—clamoring for sermon, imprint of leading general pub- The American-Jewish commu- second edition of another three lecture, book review and sundry Chronicle Social and Club lishers, Jewish books written in nity, despite its numerical and thousand—and that will be the other educational material, the English are languishing. Jewish financial strength, has not as yet minor prosperity which now pre- News deadline is noon Monday. end. literature labors under the dou- provided the habitat in which a ble handicap of insufficient sup- niter for and about Jews can , HARDLY ENOUGH The author's honorarium (15 ply and failing demand and the earn a decent living. There is few Jewish books of quality no more scathing indictment of per cent royalties will barely available to -the English reader our cultural lag than that we suffice to indemnify him for the are so woefully neglected that have never managed to sustain a expenses incurred in connection even the zealous efforts of the single creative writer on Jewish with the writing of the book, Jewish Book Council, the book subjects, enabling him to live by such as the salary of the typist, department of the ZOA, and oth- er groups and individuals devot- ed to the dissemination of Jew- ish literature, have been of no avail. 6791 E. EIGHT MILE RD. SEASON'S GREETINGS CHANUKAH GREETINGS • AETNA INDUSTRIES ---- BASE LINE, MICHIGAN ONE DIAGNOSIS There is a school of thought which suggests that Sews would 'cad books by and about Jews - - Universal Carpet Service Greetings Chanukah Greetings To AU! 145 W. JEFFERSON ROBIN BUMS., list. Continental COAL AND ICE CHANUKAH GREETINGS .. • FOR QUALITY AND PRICE SEE US Baking Co. GUNSBERG STAR• KOSHER SAUSAGE Co. 1635 WESTMINSTER TO. 8 8800 - Chanukah Greetings and best wishes to all. 2915 GRAND RIVER 17 , 13 PINGREE TR. 2-2910 CH. 2330 GreetingS • • • convey to It is a real pleasure for us to be able to our many Jewish friends and patrons our most sincere wishes for a Joyous Chanukah. Chic Dress Shop 9035 13TH STREET TY. 6-7161 If Capper&Capper 1571 Woodward --"40