Blankfort's 'The Strong Hand'

Modern Love vs. Eternal Faith

Michael Blankfort, who is best known for his novel about
Israel, "The Juggler," which was transformed into a strong movie,
has produced a new work that rates being called the best
Jewish novel published in many years.
"The Strong Hand," Blankfort's latest creation, is saluted
by his publishers, Little, Brown & Co. (34 Beacon St., Boston 6),
on the jacket, as "modern love in conflict with eternal faith."
It is that and much more: it is a powerful interpretation of
traditional Jewish principles, or the orthodox credo, of a young
AmeriCan rabbi's determined and uncompromising adherence to
deep-rooted ideals and to practices which; to the average person,
may appear to be most difficult. It is not so difficult for the
Leo Berdick portrayed by Blankfort.
This is the story of a • thoroughly assimilated girl, Katy
Waterman, a beautiful girl who traveled a great deal as photog-
rapher for leading magazines, who covered many world important
events, whose family long ago had shed every connection with
Jews and their religious practices.
While love conquers assimilation, the genius of Blankfort's
description is in convincing the reader that it is not love alone
that wins; that it also is the power of Leo's convictions, the
genuineness of the religious beliefs he explains to the unknow-
ing, to his felldw-Jews who had become estranged from faith
and kinsmen.
, The love affair ends in tragedy. Leo would not marry Katy
until he could be assured that her former husband, who was
"presumed" to have died in a mission over Communist China,
was really dead. Until that time, he considered his beloved an
"agunah"--a neglected wife—and if he married her he would
be marrying some one else's wife.
Katy's first reaction was one of resentment. But the realiza-
tion of the justice of his position increased her respect • for him.
Her search for facts about her first husband was futile. She
turned again to her work, and she ,died in an air crash on a
flight to Korea. Leo became a part-time radio repair man, in
order to earn enough to enable him to continue his Talmudic
studieS. He held fast to - faith.
This, in brief, is part of the story in "The Strong Hand."
Its major factors are the interpretations of Jewish law and lore.
But, a word about the other characters in the story. There is,
first of all, the narrator, who tells the tale in the first person.
He, too, at first resented Leo. But the faith he learned from
him became so deeply ingrained that he turned back to old
beliefs. When news of Katy's death reached him, the former
cynic, this narrator, Ernie, "went to the synagogue I belong to—
and with the others who had come for the daily afterno9n and
evening services, I recited the kaddish, the memorial prayer."
Then there are Ernie's friends, the Bill Settles and their
children. Mary Settle is not Jewish, Bill is pro-Commie. The
children are far removed from • Judaism. But the boy, Frank,
begins to question things. He differs with his father. He agrees
with Leo on the agunah question. He becomes interested in
Jewry. He goes to Israel.
Ernie's last lines in the story, after he tells about the
recitation of the kaddish for Katy, are:
"Next year at this time I hope to be in Jerusalem to spend
the Passover holiday .with Frank. He is still there, working in a
farm settlement in the Judean hills."

*

•

This is the plot. The story's strength, however, lies in the
manner of interpretation of Jewish values. Leo and his crippled
father, Rabbi Jacob Berdick, tell their own stories, that of their
people, of the principles of Judaism, and dignity of the entire
approach holds the reader glued to the pages of this book that
has the great merit of both entertainment and instruction.
"We Jews have sinned mostly when we have not fought
back against injustice," says Rabbi Jacob Berdick.
"A mitzvah is an act of love or charity. It is—as I once
heard the young Rabbi A. J. Heschel say—a prayer in action,"
is a quotation from the several explanations of the younger
Rabbi Leo Berdick.
Wherein does the title, strong hand, figure in the story? The
narrator, describing the effects of the Katy-Leo separation forced
by her agunah status, of Leo's final departure—as he comments
"I can't change the law by myself"—from his beloved, writes:
"He left me, limping, a little bowed and desolate, yet with
an old and inviolable courage. It was as if some strong hand
was moving him away from me—the hand of an absolute de-
rived from God or man or tradition or politics or the heart's
expedients, it mattered not, which at one time or another ,lay
across all our shoulders pushing us ahead, giving us a reason
to live nobly or foolishly, and most of all, keeping us sane against
the knowledge-that some day we must die.
"I Felt sorry for myself; I felt sorry for those rabbis and
scholars 'and priests and politicians, the standard-bearers, - who
lacked the courage to add to the tradition; but I felt sorriest
for Katy and Leo. Upon them the strong hand had lain too
heavily."
But in spite of his sorrow, our story-teller winds up his own
search with a return to his Jewish inheritance—as has already .
been indicated.
While "The Strong Hand" is piimarily - an evaluation of
Orthodoxy, even the most dogmatic among the Reform and
the Conservatives cannot possibly take offense, for, as the
author asserts, in describing his final thoughts about Leo
Berdick's views: "I must confess that I don't /Tally accept
them. Yet, I love him. Love is beyond definition. I cannot
conceive of Leo's God, and yet, why should I be able to? The
clearest of His attributes is that He is inconce•vable."

Rear Admiral Isquith New
Director at I. Rokeach Sons
I. Rokeach & Sons, Inc., man-
ufacturers of food and house-
hold products since 1870, an-
nounces the appointment of
Rear Admiral Solomon S. Is-
quith, (USN, Ret.), as a director
of the com-
pany. Since his
retirement o n
Jan. 1, 1 9 4 7,
from a brilliant
military career.
Admiral Is-
quith has been
well-known as
a prominent
lawyer and an
outstanding
leader in civic, Adm. Isquith
national and veteran affairs.
Presented with the New York
State Distinguished Service
Cross by former Governor
Dewey, Admiral Isquith has
within the past few years been
active in many movements.
"Who's Who In America" lists
seven awards and commenda-
tions received by Rear Admiral
Isquith during his distinguished
naval -career.

Swedish Court Gives Aberg
Two-Month Jail Term
STOCKHOLM (JTA) — The
Supreme Court of Sweden has
confirmed a two-month prison
sentence imposed on Einar
Aberg, Swedish anti - Semitic
propagandist, for distributing
anti-Semitic material in contra-
vention of the Swedish press
law.

National Dinner April 17

Governor Theodore R.. Mc-
Keldin of 'Maryland, president
of the American-Israel Society,
announced that the society's
third national dinner in tribute
to the creative spirit of the
people of Israel will be held in
the Willard Hotel, Washington,
D. C., April - 17, to mark the
eighth anniversary of the es-
tablishment of the State.
Governor 'Christian A. Herter
of Massachusetts, Thomas K.
Finletter, former Secretary of
the Air Force in the Truman
Administration, and Ambassa-
dor Abba. Eban, will speak.
Governor McKeldin will pre-
side.
F. Joseph Donohue; chairman
of the society's board of gov-
ernors, head of the dinner corn-

mittee, said there will be several
special features of the program
which will be announced later.
GoVernors of a number of
states, members of Congress, di-
plomats, judges and leaders in
music, literature,: the arts and
sciences and representatives of
learned societies are expected to
be present.

Sid Shmarak's

Business Briefs

Last Saturday an exciting
and informative event took
place at the luxurious SACCA
RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE
at 18800 W. McNichols Rd. The
JACQUELINE SHOPS of De-
troit and Oak Park featured
the latest in clothing for the
fair sex of the community.
These fashion shows by Jacque-
line, with professional models,
will continue each Saturday at
12:30 p.m. at Sacca's until fur-
ther notice.

he is a nephew of the distinguished American Jewish Orthodox
leader, Rabbi Herbert S. Goldstein.
The jacket of the book carries a high recommendation from
Herman Wouk, who speaks Of the "power, honesty and warm
sympathy for lovers caught in a religious dilemma . . ." and
of the "continuously exciting tare, with an affirmative religious
note that is startling," in "The Strong Hand." Would that he had
read Blankfort's book before he wrote the disturbing "Marjorie,"
which is so offensive to Jewish sentiments. —P. S.

•

A Letter in Verse

By NATHAN.ZIPRIN
I am no admirer of utilitarian
poetry, even when it is har-
nessed to so sacred a cause as
Israel. Yet, how can a columniSt
refuse to print a poem by . -a
reader with a modest request
that his name be omitted?

The Hearts That Bled in '48

The hearts that bled in '48
Have left their seal upon the land;
Their spirit stalks the hills and sand,
Proclaiming freedom for the State.

The hearts that bled in '48
Have seen 800,000 souls
Return to Israel's sacred rolls,
Redeemed from danger, death and
hate.

Be strong, 0 Israel, strong and free,
Build up your farm's and industry,
Hold high freedom's banner. unfurled,
Hope of the democratic world.

Build with our strength a stronger
state,
Build with the Israel Bonds we buy;
Build so that they will never die,
The hearts that bled in '48.

Detroit Jewish News-25
Friday, March .16, 1956

The Thirty-Plus Club

presents a

DANCE

On Sunday, March 18, 1956
At the D. W. Simons Br. of the

Jewish Center
4000 Tuxedo Ave. at. Holmur

With Carl Sims and his Recording
Orchestra
Members' $1 Non-Members: $1.25
Members!! Please bring your
Membership Cards with you!!
Come and have a wonderful time.
Refreshments!!!
•

HOW TO BE A HAPPY HOUSEWIFE
for PASSOVE

. . . your home sparkles in true holiday
tradition ... your menus are so varied .. .
your foods so thoroughly enjoyed ...tanta-
lizing tastes ... delicious homestyle appeal
... everything is so right with ROKEACH

KOSHER CONDENSED

for . PASSOVER..

T
VONIIALO
SAUCE

MUSHROOMS

"

• rt,:r

•

86 Years
86 Products

Rokeach Binscht

. Gefilite Fish

Herring . .Nyafat. . Chicken Soups

*

An interesting point about the ultra-modern Katy was that
her (the Waterman) "family looked with distaste and discomfort
on all Jews but German Jews, and conceived of Orthodox and
Zionist Jews as people who were basically the cause of anti-
Semitism." But the convincing, the devoted Leo turned the tide.
When she first became engaged to Leo, before she learned of
the futility of her love as long as she could not prove that her
husband was alive, Katy remarked about her , betrothed's de-
votions: "If this is the way - Leo has to live, it's the way I'm
going to live."
The reader is left equally convinced. The warmth and dig-
nity of the author's approach to the Orthodox dogmas elevates
them to a high degree of respect.
*.
*
Blankfort expresses thanks, in a postscript, to a number of
eminent rabbis for their "help and ,insight," and we learn that

American-Israel Society

Tomato & Mushroom Sauce . . Kosher

REACH FOR

Soaps . . Foaming Cleanser . . .

Silver Polish . . . Scouring Pads . . . Kosher

New Pickles . Canned Fruits . . . Pre-

erves , . Spices.:. Macaroons. . . etc.

KOSHER FOR PASSOVER

PICID7

Send for fREE - PASSOVER RECIPE BOOKLET

and 8-Day Menu to P.O. Box 711-R Flushing, New York

I. ROKEACH & SONS, INC., New York, N. Y:, Farmingdale, N. 1. - , Toronto, Canada.