i Several years ago, Frita Roth Drapkin, the wife of the well known Detroit photographer, Jack Drapkin, drew many laughs and re-created interest in the Detroit Jewish community of her childhood years, with her humorous book, "Papa's Golden Land." Her newest work, "Mama Is a Citizen," published this week, is certain to revive that inter- est, to bring forth many laughs, to draw into the sphere of her reminiscences of many well known D e t r o i t personalities, merchants and community leaders. The author, the Freydeleh in this story, evidences an excel- lent memory in recounting the events that took place when her mother became. a citizen, the FRITA ROTH DRAPKIN manner in which she reacted to the great event, the planned celebration that was spoiled by a Windsor-Detroit border cus- toms man's insistence upon ask- ing too many questions. The author's parents, the Roths play their roles here in the typical fashion of Americans who claim the right to travel as they choose. Mrs. Drapkin's book is filled with Yiddish expressions. The transliterations are poor and some of the translations are in- adequate and often incorrect. But it is clear that the phrases used and the meanings intended were those of the neighborhood, of the people who resorted to them, of the language corrup- tions of the time. They reflect the era and the people delin- eated. Describing the Bar Mitzvah of her nephew Sandy, Mrs. Drapkin takes the reader to the 29th Street Synagogue -- El Moshe—which was a center for many activities in the Michigan Avenue area. Lachover emerges here as the Hebrew teacher. Rosenberg's Department Store is recalled. The Parzens and the Kraftmans enter the picture. Mrs. Drapkin recalls Morris Levenson, (father of Kate Kei- dan) "whom everyone called `Moishe Naftuleh' ", and his Levenson's Paint Store. Many are the Jewish inter- ests that enter into this story. There is cousin Eugene who teases our author about her music and her being serenaded by MeXican neighbors. There is Eugene's argument with Mama about her kosher food. A trip to New York, a visit by Freda and Eugene to the Automat under dire circum- stances, episodes filled with drama at Coney Island — the food, the family involvements, the games of chance — these wind up with an exciting visit on Bedloe Island, the reciting of Emma Lazarus' famous poem and the impact it left on the visitors from Detroit. Of course, there were the sub- ways, the Fifth Avenue stores, the many other New York at- tractions. Then came word from Detroit that Mama broke her arm, and arrangements were made for Freda to be driven back home by a relative whose kibitzing added to the excite- ment of a young girl's experi- ences on a vacation that ended in a happy return home but the introduction of new problems— Mama's insistence that the fam- ily move to a new home, in a new neighborhood. A date with a non-Jewish boy who wanted to, make love in a hearse, talk about a dowry, col- lege days, the finding of a roommate, the bringing of Chi- nese food into the home and the mother's protests, the mat- ter of dating and mother's prej- udices—there is no end to ex- periences related here in a spirit of jollity. , Mama plays her parts well in all the factors of this tale. The author's graduation from Wayne University brought her new rec- ognition. Neighbors and friends have their share of glory in this set of reminiscences. Dr. Leo Kroll gets honorary mention. The au- thor's future husband meets the dean. The Penslars, the Zuie- backs, the Patricks (the Jews with the Irish name), pass in review. To newcomers—"greenhorns" —Mama's first advice was: "The first thing you got to do is get your First Papers . . . then study the questions . . . In the library they got books on how to become a citizen . . . mine Frieda will help you . . . If you're a citizen, mine Nathan says you got the most wonder- ful gift in the Goldeneh Landeh . . . LIFE . . . LIBERTY . . . SUIT OF HAPPINESS . . " And on the note of a Suit of Happiness, which Mama wasn't quite sure about and which "Papa wore proudly," this hu- morous book ends. List Speakers for NCJIV Parley Histadrut Hohors' David J. McDonald PHILADELPHIA, (JTA) David J. McDonald, president of the United Steelworkers of America, received the 1963 Histadrut Humanitarian Award at a dinner attended by some 1,200 trade union, business and civic leaders. In a message sent to the American labor leader, Presi- dent John F. Kennedy congra- tulated McDonald on his being selected by the National Com- mittee for Labor Israel to re- ceive the Histadrut Award. Messages were also received from former President Harry S. Truman and Aharon Becker, secretary-general of the His- tadrut. Among the speakers at the dinner were Supreme Court Justice Arthur J. Goldberg, Israel Ambassador Avraham Harman, R. Conrad Cooper, exe- cutive vice-president of the United States Steel Corporation and Jacob S. Potofsky, president of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers Union. More than '700 delegates will gather in Minneapolis this Sun- day for the five-day convention of the National Council of Jew- ish Women. Highlighting the bi- Mrs. Peterson Sen. McCarthy ennial conclave, which marks the 70th. anniversary of the edu- cational and service organiza- tion, will be addresses by U.S. Senators Hubert H. Humphrey and Eugene McCarthy. Issues affecting the future of Jewish life at home and abroad will be pin-pointed in the presi- dential report of Mrs. Charles HYmes of Minneapolis, as well as in speeches by Dr. Judah J. Sha- piro, secretary of the Natiorial Foundation for Jewish Culture, and Meir Shapira, Israeli educa- tor. Another national figure to ad- dress the convention will be As- sistant Secretary of Labor Esther Peterson, who will receive an NCJW award for personifying the convention theme, personal commitment by women to social progress. The Council's services to Jew- ish communities abroad will be dramatized by the appearance of Dr. Shapira, principal of the Hebrew University High School in Jerusalem, for which NCJW has just built a new $500,000 campus of buildings. Dr. Dr. Shapira Shapira will present the dele- gates with a key to the new school, which is the model sec- ondary school and teacher train- ing center for the Hebrew Uni- versity John Dewey School of Education. SAVE UP TO '/s AND MORE AT OUR STORE AT OUR LOW, LOW CANADIAN PRICES ON CHINAWARE AND CUT CRYSTAL STEMWARE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY PRICES HAVE BEEN REDUCED ON ALL THESE FAMOUS MAKES! 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One of the desecrations, in Cella, is still being investigated, the report showed. It also listed a number of minor anti-Semitic offenses and smearings. Elect Admiral Kahn to Head French Jews PARIS, (JTA) — Admiral Louis Kahn was elected presi- dent of the Central Consistory of. France, the leading religious body of French Jews. Admiral Kahn is deputy president of the Alliance Israelite Universelle. We Deliver to the U.S. at Our LOW CANADIAN PRICES IT WILL BE WELL WORTH YOUR WHILE TO SHOP HERE AND SAVE Come in and see our Bridal Consultant. Register for showers • and weddings . . . co-ordinate your china, crystal and silver. • Enquire about our special Bridal Package. BRIDES YOUR U.S. DOLLAR IS WORTH $1.10 HERE ONE OF THE LARGEST SELECTIONS OF ENGLISH BONE CHINA DINNERWARE AND CUT CRYSTAL STEMWARE IN NORTH AMERICA SHANFIELDS-MEYERS CHINA SHOP PHONE 252-9702 PHONE ENQUIRIES INVITED PHONE . 253-6098 188 OUELLETTE AVE., WINDSOR OPPOSITE POST OFFICE 3 BLOCKS FROM RIVER 5 MINUTES FROM DOWNTOWN DETROIT PHONE ENQUIRIES INVITED 27 - THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Friday, March 22, 1963 Frita Roth Drapkin's New Pooh, `Mama Is a Citizen', Full of Fun