Heinrich Heine's Grave

BY JOSEF FRANKEL

•

i

Letters Published Are
• • from the Montmartre
Administrative Bureau

rtamottaimoos ■ oll•wommo•o•Now n

Boris Smolar's

'Between You
••and Me'

Empress Elizabeth, who some
In the rue d'Amsterdam, not is also incorporated, the writ- years previously had called
far from Montmartre, lived ing now almost indecipherable: upon 87-year-old Charlotte
Heinrich Hein e, the first Where shall I, of wandering Embden in Hamburg, received
weary,
refugee from Germany. Bed-
her consent. Frau Embden
(Copyright, 1958,
ridden for almost 10 years—he Find my resting-place at last? wrote to the administration of
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
called it his "mattress-grave" Under drooping southern palm- the Montmartre cemetery:
trees?
—he could no longer admire
"Hamburg, Aug. 25,1896 Jewish Nobility
The saga of the Schiff-Warburg families—the families of
the beautiful eyes of a night Under limes the Rhine sweeps
Dear Sir,
past?
Jewish nobility which have become part and parcel of American
in spring or sing of the car-
I should like to request the Jewish history—was written by Mrs. Frieda Schiff Warburg,
nations and violets he gathered. Will it be in deserts lonely,
Administration of the Mont- widow of the late Felix M. Warburg, shortly before her death.
Heinrich Heine (barn Dec.
Dug by unfamiliar hands?
martre cemetery, in Paris, as
has
13, 1797, in Dusseldorf. died
Shall I slumber where the sister and only relative of the . . . The book, entitled, "Reminiscences of a Long Life,"
Feb. 17, 1856, in Paris), the
been printed as a private -family edition but I feel that though
ocean
deceased poet, H. Heine, to
. and great-
great scoffer, the poet of
Crawls along the yellow sands? permit a monument by the the book is intended "for the children, grandchildren
grandchildren" of the authoress, her recollections are of interest
satire, drawing no line be-
sculptor Hassel- to a wider public inasmuch as she throws intimate light on
tween holiness and humor, It matters not! Around me famous Danish
riis to be erected upon the members of her family who have magnificent records of public
was sincere, when he con-
ever
I agree service. . .. Sufficient to mention her father, Jacob Schiff, her
There as here God's heaven grave of my brother.
fessed: "I am no godly. Bi-
to the removal of the old husband Felix M•. Warburg, her son Edward M. M. Warburg,
lies,
ped . . . not the boldest
is not to speak of her own role in American and Jewish philan-
German since Goethe • . .
And by night, as death-lamps tombstone after the new one
set up.
thropy. . . . It is true that - each of these personalities has been
not the great heathen num-
o'er me,
Yours most respectfully, discussed, described and mentioned in many other books and
Lo, His stars sweep through
ber 2 . . . no longer Hellene
Charlotte Embden,
articles, and that Jacob Schiff was the subject of a two-volume
the skies!
. . . I am just a poor dying
nee Heine."
biography of the late Dr. Cyrus Adler. . . . However, no biogra-
(Translation by Ruth Daffin)
Jew . . ." And he was proud
On June 15, 1901, the pher could give as intimate a portrait of any member of this
Above the tombstone is a
that his forefathers belonged
Austro-Hungarian
Consul-Gen-
glorious family as did Mrs. Warburg.
to the noble -house of Israel, marble bust of Heine, by Danish
sculptor Hasselriis, about whom eral sent to the Administration:
that he was a son of those
C. . . I should therefore The Father
is told the following story:
martyrs, who had given the
The book reveals Mrs. Warburg as an admiring daughter,
like
to ask you to also to put
A.
L.
Hasselriis,
a
poor
world monotheism and ethics
a loving wife, a deeply devoted mother, a friend of the "less
in
writing
the
assurances,
and who had battled and suf- artist, still unknown, was liv-
fortunate," a noble human being. . . . She speaks of her parents
ing in Rome. Seeking consola- given personally to the Consul-
fered in every field of
veneration and tells how her father used to pick a rose
tion in Heine's "Book of Songs" General. I assume that the de- with
progress.
for her mother in their summer garden each morning when
cision
accepted
by
the
Ad-
he
found
inspiration
there.
Here, in the nearness of
he went outdoors to recite his prayers. . . . She describes
Montmartre, he wished to rest. Hasselriis sent his Heine statue ministration on Feb. 9, 1897, vividly and with love the Friday evening family dinners at
ref.
No.
1446,
namely
the
re-
Above the house of eternal to the Vienna World Exhibi-
her father's house . She reveals how each year, when the
peace stretches a bridge, with tion, but though it won him a placement of the tombstone by balance sheet was prepared in January, Mr. Schiff put aside a
cars rushing along and people medal, it remained unsold. So a bust, is still valid. Enclosed tenth of the_ funds in a separate account .. . And he kept add-
hurrying across—part of lively the statue went back to Rome, a photograph of the bust . . ." ing to this account to build it up for his philanthropic interests
It is remarkable that nothing
Paris. But underneath• the where it stood in the artist's
. . . She refers to the loan her father gave Japan during the
bridge, in Montmartre ceme- studio for almost 20 years. on Heine's grave indicates the Russo-Japanese war primarily because he wanted to see the
Meanwhile an unpleasant dis- religion of the deceased: Jew- anti-Semitic Czarist regime defeated . • and she tells how Mr.
tery, the dead sleep on.
Christian and Jew are buried pute flared up in Germany ish, Protestant or Catholic?
Schiff later was honored by Japan.
here. In Montmartre, crosses as about the erection of a monu- There will be no whispered
The
Husband
masses,
well as Hebrew lettering are ment to the poet, in Dussel-
Mrs. Warburg brings out many hitherto little known facts
nor
no
songs
There
will
be
dorf,
his
birthplace.
Dusseldorf
seen.
Here
rests
the
writer
to be
about the Warburg family, especially about her late husband,
crying,
of comedies Henri Meilbac, as turned down the proposal. So
Felix M. Warburg. . . . We learn that the Warburg family is
Kaddish
None
will
rise
to
say
a
the
Heine
monument,
a
master-
well as Alexandre Dumas, the
said to have originated many centuries ago in Italy. .. . There
the
day
that
I
lie
dying.
On
piece
by
the
sculptor,
Ernst
composer Victor Nasse and the
(Translation by Louis Untermey•r) its name was del Banco, the bankers. . . . We discover that
philosopher Jules Simon. Emile Herter, was shipped to America
It was true, no Mass was the recorded history of the Warburg family places the first
Zola was interred here. A and set up in New York. While chanted, no Kaddish recited, on known origin of the Warburgs at Warburgum, a little town in
the
argument
continued
in
gravestone carries the inscrip-
the day of his burial—nearly Central Germany, from which the Warburgs migrated more than
tion: Emile Zola rested here Germany, Empress Elizabeth of 100 years ago. But this has three hundred years ago. . . . As a youngster, she relates, Mr.
from Oct- 3, 1902. On June 4, Austria declared: "The monu- now changed. Almost daily, Warburg was gifted in music, languages and sports and was
1908, he was transferred to ment to a poet should be the pilgrims visit Heine's grave. quick to make friends. . . . His parents maintained conventional
expression of his country's
the Pantheon.
Each one, in his own way, Orthodoxy more as a tradition than from conviction. ... . He was
Almost everyone visiting the love." This love did not exist prays for the soul of the great sometimes embarrassed by religious rules his parents laid down
in
Duesseldorf,
but
in
the
cemetery of Montmartre looks
poet. One recites his poems, for him and the rest of the youngsters in the family.... They had
for Heine's last resting place. heart of this ill-fated Empress another his verses, aphorisms to adhere to dietary laws even when dining out or traveling. . . .
On the tombstone, a harp en- —a true admirer of Heinrich or familiar quotations from his Mrs. Warburg describes her husband as an enthusiastic music
twined by a garland of flowers, Heine, who acquired the Has- works. - There comes a young lover, a person who was gifted with a quick and keen sense
and underneath the names: selriis statue for her castle,
girl from Israel to lay fresh of humor, a man to whom food was not very important
Heinrich Heine — Frau Heine. Achilleion in Corfu. Besides
and who did not care for liquor, but knew a good- deal about
A marble slab, festooned with this, she commissioned the flowers upon his tomb. There wines and liked them in moderation. . . • He took an interest
flowers, has the following en- Danish artist to design a mem- stands a refugee, whose tears in 57 philanthropic, cultural and other organizations—something
graved upon it: "To the mem- orial for Heine's grave. The instead of flowers fall upon which he jokingly called "the Heinz variety". . . . She describes •
ory of Heine: Liberal-minded authorization of Heine's sister the grave, as he murmurs a him as "an extravagant giver". . . . His credo was: "I prefer
Vienna." His poem, in German, had first to be obtained and prayer—is it Kaddish?
to be my own executor, and not to wait until my death to have
my legacies distributed." . . . In this, Mrs. Warburg followed
his example. . . . She preferred "to lend a helping hand" while
she could have the pleasure of seeing the results. . .. However,
gious services at military instal- chose Beth Shalom.
By IRMA FINN
The officers include Irving she also left more than $3,000,000 to charities after her death
lations at Fairbanks, Kodiak and
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Ziegman,
president; Burton last September. . . . She and her husband were heavy givers
the
Aleutian
chain.
Correspondent in Alaska
Goldberg,
vice
president; Mrs. to the New York Federation of Jewish Philanthropies, the Joint
However, Chaplain Wacht-
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The
Nissel
Rose,
secretary;
and Jo- Distribution Committee, the United Jewish Appeal and many
other Jewish and non-Jewish causes. . . . Mr. Warburg died
only civilian Jewish congrega- fogel is the only rabbi in
tion in Alaska was formally Alaska. He cannot cater to the seph Hart, treasurer.
in October 1937, at the age of 66, after having participated in
needs of all Jews in a state
Their tangible assets in- a historic meeting of the Jewish Agency for Palestine in Zurich.
organized on Oct. 3, 1958.
over
twice
the
size
of
Texas.
clude
some
25
prayer
books,
The organizational meeting
The needs of Alaskan Jews which have been ordered but The Family
took place after Sabbath serv-
In her book Mrs. Warburg speaks with pride of her five
ices, conducted under lay lead- are great. There is the need for which have not yet been de- children ,as "five real people, each of whom has found the
a
spiritual
leader
to
perform
livered;
a
silver
wine
cup;
a
ership, at the home of Mr. and
means to make his or her mark". . . . "They all enjoy each other
Mrs. Burton Goldberg of Spen- burial rites, to pass the tradi- pair of silver candlesticks; and respect each other, and are constantly enriching the life
tion
on
to
the
children,
to
per-
and
a
pledge
of
a
breast
plate.
ard, an Anchorage subrub.
Much is needed, the group of the family by the results of their explorations into new fields
Except for a short-lived con- form marriage ceremonies.
There
is
also
the
need
for
a
realizes.
The greatest need is of. endeavor and friendship," she writes. . . . In the field of
gregation in Fairbanks prior to
for
a
Torah.
But the Anchorage Jewish interests Edward M. M. Warburg is the most popular
house
of
worship.
1905, there has never been a
On
Oct.
3
the
small
group
of
group
is
optimistic.
They believe of her children because of his devotion to Jewish causes such
civilian Jewish congregation in
enthusiastic workers set out to that like statehood these things as the United Jewish Appeal and the Joint Distribution Com-
Alaska.
mittee. . . . Of the many contributions Mrs. Warburg made .
There are Jewish families in begin filling those needs by will come—in time:
during her lifetime, the most effective was "The Frieda Schiff
establishing
the
o
n
1
y
Jewish
To
date
the
group
has
not
Anchorage, not all of whom
Warburg Foundation for the Settling of Immigrants in Israel".
congregation
in
the
new
state.
affiliated with any of the
affiliate. For those eager to
It has been difficult for two branches of Judaism: Reform, . . . There is also the Felix M. and Frieda Schiff Warburg
maintain their religious tradi-
Foundation supporting a large variety of philanthropic and
reasons
for
Jews
to
maintain
Conservative or Orthodox.
tions, it has been a difficult job.
educational causes; the Felix M. Warburg Memorial Award
their
traditions
in
Alaska.
It's been difficult for civilian
It is the hope of the newly- Fund at New York University, which includes projects in the
Take
the
matter
of
dietary
Alaskan Jewry to carry on their
formed congregation that they field of human relations. . • Mrs. Warburg also established
tradition because they have had laws. Except for some pro- will be able in time to support Judah L. Magnes Fellowships to enable Israeli medical students
cessed
meats,
it
is
impossible
no rabbi, no house of worship.
a rabbi; that they will be able and doctors to continue their studies outside the country.
to buy kosher meats in Alaska,
They have not been, how-
establish a house of worship;
meat slaughtered according to to
ever, completely without reli-
to institute a school of religious
Biblical
law.
Some
Jews
send
gious guidance, thanks to the
education for their children.
to Seattle for kosher products;
United States Air Force.
During the last few years, chil-
few
can
afford
to
do
this.
For several years a Jewish but
Second, tradition, which dren in the community have at-
chaplain has made his head-
tended Sunday School provided
plays
so large a part in Jewish
quarters at Elmendorf Air Force
by the Air Force on the base.
family
life,
no
longer
has
the
Base in Anchorage, along with
Services conducted by t h e
impetus
of
family
solidarity.
chaplains of the Catholic and
Most Alaskan Jews are cut off group, in the pioneering spirit
Protestant faiths.
typical of Alaska are held in a
At present, the Jewish chap- from any kind of Jewish en- private home. The service is
vironment.
lain is Lt. Joshua Wachtfogel,
The new congregation elected read from mimeographed sheets
a 24-year-old Orthodox rabbi officers
and selected a name at because prayer books are lack-
from Philadelphia, who con- their organizational
are held despite
meeting ing. Services
Rum-Q_Qprvir.pc at th_e base to
r
rri
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Alaskan Jewish Community Takes Shape

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