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Purely Commentary :To P it

The Laughter of Sholom Aleichem

By S. SINGERMAN
God that there is something to
(Standard Feature Syndicate) laugh about, and someone to
4:2
The "Yiddish Mark Twain" laugh at."
was born Solomon Rabinowitz
"Through laughter which the
in March 1859, in the Russian world sees, flow tears that the
Another
Hanukah—and
there
will
be
4)4
teachings and practices, we have less to Pale of Settlement. His chief world does not see," said Go-
›; more talk about dedication, rededication, fear. If the standards are lowered, there importance lies in the so-called gol. I say: "The world only
"Sholom Aleichem World" sees the laughter because it
= cz the challenge of the Maccabees and the emerges cause for panic.
•,-.
* .w, *
which he created, a world does not want to see the tears
,..,
need
for
a
response
in
positive
terms
fro
The problem we face is not a new one. populated with hundreds of which often flow through the
1 to our great heritage from the descend-
It has been discussed for many decades types, men and women, old laughter and can move stones."
ants of the Maccabees.
and young, rich and poor, ig-
"A smile can be worse than
The solution may be at hand, but we are norant
and learned, good and tears," said Turgenev. I say:
w
We'll have lots of celebrations, and the slow at grasping it.
bad—all in full view with their "Some tears are worse than a
In 1927, replying to a Communication desperate struggle of existence smile.
O manner in which our children will be
One wants to smile be-
4 entertained by Jewish traditional cere- he received on this subject from S. Dingol, and their social relationships. cause of the tears and to weep
• monials, the nightly lighting of the then managing editor of the Yiddish Daily
The writer had chosen one because of the smile."
the late Louis Marshall, who at the single town for all his stories
"There is no humor in heav-
candles and the recollections of the tri- Day,
time was one of the recognized outstand- as the scene and background en,"
said Mark Twain. I say:
• umphs of old, will be heartening.
ing Jewish leaders, wrote as follows:
and lovingly describes the "Hum or is everywhere — on
humble people of Kasrilevke, earth, in heaven, and even in
E-4
"Christmas, of course, is not a Jewish
Equally as heartening are the remind-
institution, and so far as it has a religious how the simple Kasrilevkites hell."
ers of the triumphs of the modern Macca-
connotation cannot be accepted by Jews be- lived, married, brought up chil-
• bees—of the heroic men and women who
"The world is a mirror re-
cause it is alien to the concepts of Judaism. dren, earned their bread, sor- fleeting your own face. Give
it
rowed,
rejoiced
and
died.
an
defied all obstacles to create Statehood,
Its observance by Jews, therefore, is apt to
angry look and you will see
lead to serious misconception on the part of
Many of his lovable, humble a melancholy countenance. But
who redeemed their ancient homeland,
those of the younger generation who, be-
haracters have become pro- he who laughs, will find in the
whose admonitions to adversaries were,
cause of the growing indifference of Jewish ve rbial. For instance: "To be mirror a happy loyal friend,"
as they continue to be, that they will not
parents to the Jewish education of their chil-
Menachem Mendel," which says Thackeray. I say: "The
dren, are unfortunately either not well- means to be a shlemiehl, a world is a distorted mirror re-
be kicked around again — as they were
grounded in or entirely ignorant of our re- ne'er-do-well, is derived from flecting your own face, but you
under Czarism, as they suffered from Na-
ligious doctrines. Were the Jews to celebrate Menachem himself, whose de- do not recognize it. Give it an
zism, as they are being threatened in so
according to its true spirit the inspiring festi-
many areas, including our own great
angry look and the mirror will
val of Hanukah, which usually coincides in
reflect a smiling face which
democracy even in this second half of
date with Christmas, there would be less
laughs at you. But he who dis-
the twentieth century.
likelihood of confusion, but it is regrettable
torts his aspect, will find in
* *
that to a great extent even Hanukah has
the m i r r or a happy, loyal
little or no meaning to a large proportion of
We are sure to discuss again, this
friend."
the
rising
generation.
What
to
me
is
of
great-
Hanukah as in past years, about the con-
"Beat me, but let me laugh,"
er vital importance than the mere discussion
flicts in Jewish life between the observ-
said 14Ioliere. I say: "Do not
of
a
theory,
is
to
ascertain
what
can
be
done
ance of Hanukah and the competition of
beat me for I shall still laugh
to impress upon the Jews of this country the
Christmas. When the two festivals coin-
and my laughter will hurt you
necessity of preserving Judaism through the
cide, the eight days of gift-giving, candle
more than your blows will hurt
medium of Jewish education and to overcome
me."
lighting and home celebrations give
the deplorable and growing lethargy with
strength to the Jewish position in the
He wrote his own epitaph, an
regard to things spiritual which is manifest
everywhere."
home. This year, it will be more difficult.
eloquent expression of the true
* * *
humorist's great art, whose
By the time Christmas rolls around, the
laughter was blended with bit-
aura of Hanukah will have worn off. How
Many changes have, of course, taken
ter tears:
will parents and teachers again solve a pla ce in life generally since this state-
Here lies an ordinary Jew
community religious problem, involving me nt, taken from the volumes, "Louis
Who wrote in Yiddish, it is
the overwhelming influence of our sur- Ma rshall: Champion of Liberty," pub-
true;
SHOLOM ALEICHEM
roundings and the effect of the constant lis hed by the Jewish Publication Society
And
for wives and plain folk,
resounding of Christmas carols? of America. Hanukah is being celebrated lightful letters from a big city
rather,
mo
The task of retaining the interest of clin re extensively than ever. There is a de- to his wife in a small town,
He was a humorist, an
author.
our youth within the spiritual Jewish is e in the lethargy referred to. There tell of his Don Quixotic efforts
to earn a living with all kind
Poking fun at all and
fold is not an easy one. It does, however, o a keener interest in Jewish education of
"luftgeschefte."
sundry:
represent the major challenge to our on the part of parents. But we have only
immortal character
At the world he thumbed his
people. It is part of the major dilemma scr atched the surface in our approach to is Another
Tevye, the milkman, a
nose . . .
t
of how to strengthen our religious ties, the
problem of Jewish education. Much man
of the soil, deeply
The world went on swim-
how to emphasize the Jewish spiritual act ains to be done. Much is yet to be
ooted in the land and faith
mingly
ieved.
values, how to differentiate between the
of his fathers. On intimate
While he, alack, took all the
obligations we have to the community at
Whatever attainments we may see in terms with his God, he
blows,
large—which we possess as citizens—and evicl ence, they must, we emphasize again, touchingly typifies the eter-
And at the time his public
mak e the Jewish approach in the home a nal faith of the Jew and his
those we owe to our heritage as Jews.
rose
* * *
yea r-wide influence. If we limit it to the unswerving reliance upon
Laughing, clapping and
ligh ting of Sabbath candles and let the God of his fathers.
making merry
All of this reverts back to the chief then
Aleichem was one
He would suffer, only God
obligation of Jewish communities: to th r glow fall upon playing cards rather of Sholem
the most successful writers
knows,
strengthen our cultural forces, to empha- be
on sacred writings; if Hanukah is to with nearly all of his stories
Secretly—so none was wary.
size our spiritual duties, to educate our f merely an occasion for gift-giving and translated into many lan-
—Sholem Aleichem.
children—and ourselves. A problem like
r games, without emphasis on the rea- guages. He also wrote original
Sholem Aleichem
the one faced at Christmas time, and dur- sons for the great festival; if we are to plays which were performed is Although
gone, his daydreaming shle-
ing Hanukah, is not solvable during an permit the dragging of Jewish communal by the Jewish Art Theater in miehls
"Luftmenschen"
eight-day period. If the resources at hand practices into cabaret-style and night-club New York and Habimah in with all and
their amusing mis-
Palestine.
are not accumulated throughout the year, programming; if our best sellers are to
adventures, with their hunted,
When he died in New York, troubled looks, with their petty
if the emphasis on Jewish values is not be the cookbooks and works by joke-
felt from Hanukah to Hanukah, not dur- smiths rather than the works that repre- in 1916, more than 150,000 troubles and human strug-
followed his hearse.
gles for survival, are more
ing Hanukah week alone, then we are lost. sent our sacred heritage—then we are in people
His humor, rich in pathos alive now than ever and "The
a bad way.
This is not a new theme. It is as old as
and humane compassion, has World of Sholem Aleichem" is
We happen to have faith in our youth. been called "laughter in
Israel. But it is also as sacred as Israel's
as amusing today as it was half
teachings are to Jews. If we feel the chal- We believe they'll drag us out of the tears."
a century ago. Tevye and Men-
* * *
morass.
When
they
do,
it
will
be
a
glori
lenge today, let us try to solve it through-
achem Mendel and many, many
ous day for Jewry, and by that token a
Here are a few dainty mor- others, have become immortal
out the year. If the year-round practices in good
one
for
America.
sels from his rich, nearly in-
our homes are Jewish, if our standards
types evoking the laughter and
In confidence and in hope for speed- exhaustible storehouse:
are elevated during a twelve-month cycle,
"Laugh rarely, not much and tears so characteristic of their
ily-attainable
spiritual
heights
in
Jewry,
great creator who formed them
to the elimination of vulgararity, by
we bless you all with good wishes for a not at much," said Epichtel. I lovingly out of his own warm,
means of raising the standards of our Happy
say:
"Laugh
whenever
your
Hanukah.
compassionate heart bubbling
heart desires. Be grateful to over with laughter and tears.

kris

Hanukah's Challenge: Raise the Standards of Our Cultural Values
• . . Recalling Louis Marshall's View
s on Hanukah-Christmas Issue

,

Hanukah Miracles: The Maccabeans, Israel Menorahs

By BEN JOSEPH

(Copyright, 1958, JTA, Inc.)

entered the Temple after his
victory over the enemy, he
found in the Menorah oil
enough only for one day, but
miraculously it lasted a week.
However, the real miracle, it
is conceded, was how the Mac-
cabeans managed to last. They
were far outnumbered and had
little in the way of military
equipment.
* * *
Judas Maccabeus is one of a
handful of military leaders hon-
ored with a statue on the

•
and a Hillel-Shamai
Disagreement

I grounds of the West Point to do in political campaigns
Military Academy. If he had when Lincoln ran for President for religious purposes, but they wanted to impress th l
e lesson
. mad e an exception of Hanukah
Antiochus
ei: * *
candles. Even if you have to that the Jew must look to his
there would have been no Juda-
Many people in Israel visit
past as the time of greatest
ism—and also no Christianity. Modin during Hanukah week. go to the finance company for
glory. The school of Hillel held
* *
a
loan,
you
should
buy
them.
Don't mention that name to Fortunately, they e
the opposite view, that on the
If you've lost your fortune
are cheap. first night, one candle be
Antiochus, the Syrian general,
lit
Even a very beautiful Israel and added to each succeeding
and are trying to regain it, the
you happen to meet him reasonabl
Menorah
can
be
bought
very
Hanukah lamp may help you if
night, to impress the opposite
somewhere. That's where old
out. At any rate, the famous Mattathias and his five sons
y, thanks to the sup- lesson that it is to the future
Yiddish writer J. L. Peretz
port Israel Bonds has been in we must look. The dictum
of
wrote a story of how a Hanukah lived, and raised the banner developing the ceramics indus- Hillel prevailed, We look to the
which caused Antiochus to run
lamp helped a man regain his backward so fast he almost try in Israel.
future, however glorious the
* * *
fortune.
caught pneumonia by getting
past may have been. So thou-
* * *
The followers of the strict
mei
overheat e d .
sands
of can
A i Jews invest
In Israel, Hanukah is ob-
Rabbi Shammai urged that all in Israel bonds to help win
* *
served by marchers carrying
Hanukah candles be lit on the Israel's economic independence
The rabbis
lighted torches as they used people going were averse to first night and diminished by and enhance the glory of all
into debt even
one each succeeding night. They Jewry.

