Friday, October 25, 1963—THE DETROIT JEWIS H NEWS-40

M. Samuel's Remarkable Career as Author JPS Issues History of Milwaukee
and Gartner
and Lecturer Depicted in 'Little Did I Know' Jewry by Swichkow
gional History Series of the

"The History of the Jews in
and Yiddish is so much the
alter ego of Yiddish-speaking Milwaukee" by Drs. Louis J. American Jewish History Cen-
Jewry, it is so perfect—and Swichkow and Lloyd P. Gartner, ter, of which Salo Baron,
indispensable—a replica of just issued by the Jewish Publi- Moshe Davis and Allan Nevins
that Jewry's life-experience,
that one can hardly know the cation Society of America, may are the editors, this volume
one without the other . . ." well serve as a pattern for sim- has a preface by Dr. Davis
Samuel's commentaries touch ilar histories of cities like De- who commends the publica-
upon the activities of a number troit and other communities.
tion of this history by JPS as
of prominent men, including
The Milwaukee story has the a "happy augury" leading
Chaim Nachman Bialik, and merit of having been prepared towards the interpretation of
upon Zionism, and out of his by Rabbi Swichkow, who has
essays in this remarkable book held a pulpit in that city for 25 "the impact of America on
there emerge some of the finest years, with the aid of Dr. Gart- Jewish life to indicate the
delineations of the Zionist cause ner, who is on the Jewish Theo- significance of the American
and its best defenses even now. logical Seminary faculty and is Jewish experience for the
There is a remarkable chapter a former Wayne State University world Jewish community."
on Vilna, on the Gaon, the Hasid- faculty member. It is evident
The lists of officers of various
ism and Mitnagdim, on the Mu- that the major facts about Mil-
waukee's development have been movements, of the rabbis of the
sa•ist or Moralist school.
And we find here a powerful compiled and that an account is city's congregations and other
excortation of anti-Semitism: "I given not only of the creative basic facts relating to the or-
will go on insisting that anti- activities in the Wisconsin city ganizational life of Milwaukee
Semitism is a specific, organized but also the struggles that exist- will be especially welcomed in
disease of Christian civilization; ed among various groups there. Milwaukee. For those outside of
that, wherever it appears, it is
This history of an important that city there also are suffi-
the companion or forerunner of American city provides inter- . ciently significant historical ac-
injustice to others than Jews; esting facts about the philan- counts to make the story of that
city good reading and applicable
and far from ignoring, out of
timidity or a miscalculating pru- thropic efforts, the categories to their own experiences.
dence, its first public appear- of giving, the extent of Mil-
ance anywhere, we should—Jew walkee Jewry's interest in
Hebrew Corner
and Christian alike—expose it at American politics, in Israel,
once as a threat to the whole in education. There are signi-
Judaeo-Christian world."
ficant allusions to the rise of
When Zalman Shazar was elected
His chapters "Writer and
to the presidency of the State, the
Zionism
in
that
city,
to
anti-
question
before him was: Will he be
Lecturer" and "The Maggid"
able to continue with his cherished
Zionist opposition which soon habits?
are especially fascinating. His
With which customs can he
dwindled, and to extensive keep and which is he compelled to
experiences have been so
MAURICE SAMUEL
concede for his important office.
varied that his description of
congregational functions.
Now it is impossible to walk plain-
He does not write on sex sub-
in the streets of the city. It is not
Jewish audiences will delight
Extensively annotated, con- ly
jects and his historical books,
allowed to just to "jump" into a
his readers. His retorts — taining many photographs of friends house for a visit. It is not
his essays and his novels do
especially those to Rabbi Fos- community structures and per- possible to go to the movies or
not have the appeal that is so
or to go to hear a lecture.
ter—already are famous and sonalities, this book traces Mil- theater
From now on all must be done in
often needed to create a large
it is well that he has recorded waukee's earliest Jewish settl- accordance with the official rules.
readership. But his books will
guests to dine at the table or
ers, the existence of the fur Even
tea — the president can not invite
Mimi Cooper Levy has written them in his book.
survive the best sellers because
Mag-
Describing
himself
as
the
trading
post
and
the
rise
of
the
at will.
they are so vital as commen- several noteworthy books for
However on one family tradition,
taries on important issues and children — among them a Civil gid, as a wandering preacher, industrial center and the Jewish which has already been kept for 50
participation
in
it;
the
manner
Samuel
asserts:
years,
Mr. Shazar decided to keep.
as results of research by a War story and one about 14th
"I do not pretend to be merely in which an organized Jewish This is the tradition of "openhouse."
brilliant student of Jewish af- century Africa- . Perhaps her
"Every Saturday the home of the
most impressive work, also of a purveyor of information. I community emerged from an Shazar family is open to friends and
fairs.
They come without a pre-
In his recollections and re- a historical nature, is her latest, have an axe to grind. My gen- early German migration that relatives.
vious notice. The hours of Saturday
later
was
supplemented
by
new-
eral
objective
in
lecturing,
as
in
afternoon
will remain now too, the
"Whaleboat
Warriors,"
.just
pub-
flections, his newest book just
comers from Eastern Europe "private house" of the new presi-
issued by Knopf under the lished by Viking Press (625 writing, is to help Jews acquire and
dent.
the religious traditions that
an interest in Jewish knowledge
And on another custom, Mr. Sha-
title "Little Did I Know," Madison, N.Y. 22).
decided to keep: this is the
Splendidly illustrated by Ro- with the hope that they will developed in the numerous zar
Samuel for the first time
family gathering on Hanuka holi-
synagogues.
day, on which 80 members of the
writes autobiographically. But bert C. Frankenberg, "Whale- transmit it to their children,
Milwaukee's early history was family gather in the house of the
he does more than that. He boat Warriors" is a story about though, with the recent improve- studded
with socialist activities, president.
ment
in
Jewish
youth
education,
young
patriots
who
fought
in
the
....And what about the secret hobby
comments on world happen-
and
the
Jewish office holders of the president? Few know the
ings and on distinguished per- American Revolution and who the children sometimes know who began
from time to time the in-
in socialism and later secret:
spiration of poetry rests upon our
sonalities with whom he has contributed greatly towards the more than the parents, and then turned to LaFolette
Progres-
president,
he sits at his table
dealt with over a period of American triumph against the it is a question of encouraging sivism provided an interesting and writes then
poetry. Will this inspira-
the parents at least to keep up
tion find a way to enter a home
more than 40 years; he de- British.
they live according to all
Written as fiction, it is evi- with their children. Where the background for the life of Jewry where
fines the Zionist ideal; he
rules of official ceremony?
speaks of Israel and the dent that the story has great interest already exists, I cater in Milwaukee.
Translation of Hebrew Column
Published as part of the Re-
Published by Brith Olamith
events that led up to the historical merit. It is about the to it. My theory of Zionist propa-
State's rebirth; he discusses young fighters for freedom who ganda is that the more a Jew
Jewish issues with warmth were branded by the British as knows of his people's cultural
ron:rn
T •
•, • r.:En
and describes them in the "Ruffians in eggshells."
and spiritual heritage the more
The
hero
of
this
story,
Robbie,
brilliant style that has ele-
likely he is to be a Zionist."
vated him to the highest rung joins these "ruffians," and their
This, in essence, is the aim
successes emerge as part of the of Samuel's latest book. In it we
attained by authors.
i 'tg't ?t4in
"Little Did I Know" is in two revolutionary triumph thanks to have an introduction not only
parts. The first deals with his the skillful handling of her sub- to the esteemed author but also
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childhood and his youth and ject by Mimi Levy.
to his remarkable themes, to his numb
The "ruffians," as they were background not only as a writer
his early experiences. It de-
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scribes the family background, labeled, knew about this brand- but also as a Jewish itinerant
the migration to England, life ing of them by the British, and preacher. He accomplished his
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a portion of the concluding chap- task remarkably well in "Little ,.-17= 771 nt 17 .1, n
in Manchester.
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It tells about his studies, how ter in this book contains re- Did I Know."
np7pn
he mastered Yiddish, studied markable commentary in the in-
Hebrew, served in the U.S. tended oppribrium. We read:
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"First it was 'Yankee Doo- Charming Children's
Army after coming to this coun-
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try, and tells about his assign- dles'," Hugh Lockwood said
ments to be an interpreter on quietly, "an' now 'tis 'ruffians Illustrated Story by
br7prIn
kv4Fi L7tri nnilnpri
the Allied Reparations Commis- in eggshells". When will the Susan S. Philipson
sions in Berlin and Vienna and British learn that nicknames
-Ipkz-,kt
,L7t,ta'?
Susan Sacher Philipson, who
then to serve as secretary on will never stop us from twist
began to write stories at the
nrp
the Morgenthau Commission in' the lion's tale?"
,n ,z7;7.
'7171
totriri t2r;.7
Whereupon a Britisher in the age of 12 and who attended the
that investigated the Polish
-rbp.t?"
story asks, "What makes you University of Michigan, is a fine
pogroms in 1919.
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The latter experience is the think a few miserable colonists story-teller, and her new chil-
.r3"7"71'
subject of an especially dra- can hold out against England?" dren's book, "A Lion for Niccol-
11P.471 r,.1 .V7P71
matic recollection of the man- And Jam, one of the patriots by," proves her talent.
With splendid illustrations by '4 80 irr.P4 trptn.tryp
ner in which the elder Morgen- answered:
Giovanni
Guarcello — in many
miserable
colonists?
"A
few
thau had bent backwards in
.t.rfpFT '7tp inr;07p
submitting an unsatisfactory Ah, but we're no longer colon- colors, some in full page pictures
which
have
captured
the
spirit
We
are
free
men
now,
an'
ists.
report.
'or; z, ririn In7 rrry rim
Samuel's tributes to his that's what makes the differ- of the tale, Mrs. Philipson takes
close friends, Chaim Weiz- ence! That's what will defeat her young hero on an adventure -trri
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mann and Shmarya Levin, are ye, with your mighty armies an' with a lion.
All the animal thrills, the
nvn
especially eloquent. In his navies, an' your hollow-hearted
T
new book their descriptions Tories an' all the rest! This is dreams that a boy has, the tours
rrypri
-rvion-ri rt.; —
he
makes
in
the
course
of
the
*n$1 ,tvg t.r4,;Fr
emerge as addenda to Jewish our own land we are fighting for
— and we'll win it for fair . . ." story, are in this narrative.
history.
The lion is dressed up, is ntin, 13nL?tU 'n.•;
And with this spirit the young
This book is replete with hu-
given
a platform, is incarcerated
"ruffians"
emerge
the
patriots,
mor. He tells, for instance, of
Irrtin"ri R.47pr) nktil .trIV
having searched for his Man- the heroes, the powerful young in a zoo, and then has his chat
with
Alex
Nicoolby.
Indeed,
it
element that was so vital in the
chester teacher in Safrad:
,rYt T ) 50
is a story "partly dream and trn
"We found him in one of the Revolution.
Mrs. Levy has produced a valu- mostly true." In the able handl-
"tjil .ibtr,P? - 5
narrow, crooked, sloping alleys
on whose gray, crumbling walls able book for our youth — and ing of the theme by Mrs. Philip-
rribr?
mxina)
(11'ut7ii/ rinaw
centuries of Jewish learning, a good story to be imparted to son it emerges as a thriller for
young
readers.
piety, poverty, and Miessianic all Americans.

Maurice Samuel is Jewry's
most distinguished literary fig-
ure in the world today. He is
not on best seller lists: his
works deal with interpretive
Jewish historical subjects, and
his philosophy of Judaism re-
grettably has a limited appeal.
Often—too often—even his
Jewish readers form a limited
audience. Yet, his lectures
usually are packed; because of
his well-established record as
a master of wliatever subject
he tackles, and as an eloquent
interpreter of Jewish values.

conjuration are almost visibly
encrusted. When he came to the
door I recognized him at once,
though his beard was now com-
pletely snow-white. He stared at
me, puzzled, until I said, in my
recently acquired Sephardic He-
brew—a pronunciation he would
associate with Christian protests:
Tebbe, eincha makir ati—don't
you recognize me?' Then his
eyes brimmed over, he uttered
a loud cry, and answered in
Yiddish (for like all religious
Jews in those days he reserved
Hebrew only for prayer and
study) : `111oishe! Redst takke
loshen koidesh, ober fort vi a
goy—you do indeed speak He-
brew, but it's still like a gen-
tile!' "
Or when he tells about mis-
pronunciation of Hebrew terms
by his mother: "I long wondered
who `Moidie Annie' and `Beany
Shmussy' were, and discovered
in due course that the first was,
in Sephardic Hebrew, modeh ani,
`I acknowledge,' and the second
bi nishmati, 'in me my soul'."
Describing how he fell in
love with Yiddish, Samuel
states in his reflections: "The
lovableness of- a language lies
in the intimacy of its rela-
tionship to a regionalist life-
form; the closer the intimacy,
the more lovable the language,

Third President

Story of Young
Patriots Told in
M. C. Levy's Book

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