Purely Commentary
An Isaac Loeb Peretz
Parable Challenging
Purchasers of Books
By Philip
WOMOVitZ
Canada Commons
Votes to Consider
Curb of Hate Mail
takes my customer — my bit of bread — from right under my nose, why
shouldn't I hate him? Or, if I have, among my wife's relatives, a drunkard
OTTAWA (JTA) — The House of
Encouragement to Historians, Purchase of Books
or a confirmed athetst, do you expect me to like such a person?
Commons voted to launch a full-
In Ecclesiastes 12:12 we are introduced to a fact more true today
Peretz: And besides these few?
scale inquiry into ways and means
than ever before in history, that "of making many books there is no
Jew: Besides them? Yes! I like all the relatives I know!
of curbing the distribution of hate
end." And immediately the sage who authored Koheleth states: "and
Peretz: How about those you don't know?
materials in this country.
much study is a weariness of the flesh."
Jew: I can't tell. For example, I have a first cousin in America.
Two bills seeking such a probe
To this very day, the latter has borne more fruit than the former. I never saw him.
had been introduced, one by David
The average person is less concerned with the many books that are
Peretz: Then yoy don't—.
Orlikow, a New Democrat, of Win-
published than with the fear that if he turns to them his flesh might be
Jew: I don't hare him but I can't say that I like him. After all.
I can't even picture him to myself. Try to like the hole of a doughnut! nipeg; the other by Milton Klein,
wearied, and what a worry that has become!
Montreal Liberal. Both are Jews.
And so, on the eve of the annual observance of Jewish Book Month, I don't know him!
The House authorized the de-
Peretz: But Jews in general you do know?
we take both facts into account. We are so anxious that books should be
(The Jew wiggles uncomfortably. Peretz pursues his argument.) partment of external affairs to
read, that they should be purchased. that history should be studied and
Peretz: I take you at your word. You don't like Jews in general conduct the inquiry, since Klein's
authors and historians encouraged in their work.
How are we to attain it? True, the social way is wise and effective, because you can't picture them to yourself. They are for you like the bill was aimed specifically at the
banning of acts that might lead to
and the Book Fair certainly has become a fine social event. Are we hole of a doughnut.
genocide. The Orlikow measure
(Pause.)
getting results Can we get even better results?
was aimed specifically at anti-
Peretz: What's your business?
Perhaps we should resort to parable in stimulating interest, thought,
Jew: Foodstuff!
racial incitements.
cooperation, devotion to the book.
Peretz: You've lived on this globe about fifty years?
Your Commentator wishes to utilize the occasion for a long
Meanwhile, Postrriaster-General
Jew: Forty-five.
quotation — of a famous story "On History" that was was written, in
J. R. Nicholson told Commons that
All
right,
forty-five!
In
your
lifetime
you've
come
to
know
the form of a dialogue, by the famous Yiddish writer, I. L. Peretz,
Peretz:
a U.S.-based organization, the Na-
perhaps 50 or more years ago. "On History," in a translation by Prof. close to two hundred Jews. Of these you reject about half: those who tional States Right Party, of Birm-
are
lacking
piety,
those
who
have
a
different
brand
of
orthodoxy,
and
ingham, Ala., has appealed to a
Sol Liptzen, follows:
those who don't pray at all—atheists! To the flames with them! Of the board of review against his recent
*
•
*
remainder
there
is
a
considerable
number,
you
have
no
use
for:
one
(The scene is in a park in Warsaw. Isaac Loeb Peretz is sitting
ruling, banning from the Cana-
The happens to be your opponent in a lawsuit, another is a competitor who dian mails the anti-Semitic mate-
on a bench. He is joined by a townsman of his acquaintance.
takes your heart out, a third once spread gessip about you, a fourth is
rial sent to this country by the
Jew speaks to Peretz:)
the fellow to whom you owe money, a fifth has a wife who quarreled
Jew: Pardon me, but you look very sad. I hope no sorrow has with yours. The few that are left over, well, perhaps you do like them. Birmingham group.
Under the law, such a hearing is
rt
befallen you.
(The Jew is troubled, deliberating what to answer. Peretz continues)
mandatory, and Nicholson said the
Peretz: Graetz is dead.
Liking presupposes knowing! To like Jews in general means: to be
Jew: God's will. One of our townsfolk, I suppose?
attached not to twenty or thirty Jews but to the entire chain of hearing is expected to be held next
Peretz: My good fellow, Graetz happens to have been our greatest generations and to the entire present generation which is scattered and week.
historian. He wrote the History of the Jewish People.
Pending the appeal, however, he
dispersed throughout the world .. .
said, the literature sent. to Cana-
Jew: Oh, history! (As if he had just been told somebody had eaten
Jew: (Thinks a while) No doubt, history is interesting!
a dozen hard-boiled eggs at one time.) And (after a pause) what's the
dian addresses.by the Birmingham
Peretz: It is more than interesting. It is a necessity. It is part of
group is being held unopened at
use of history?
the foundation on which rests all Jewry . . .
You
are
a
Jew.
Peretz:
the post office. The postmaster-
But
still,
what's
the
good
of
history?
Jew:
Jew: I thing so (smiling proudly).
general said the ban of the mate-
You have children, haven't you?
Peretz:
Peretz: Do you like Jews?
rials sent by the white supremacy-
Yes, in accordance with God's command.
Jew:
Jew: What then, I hate them?
Peretz: Who is wiser, pray, you or your child who is just about to anti-Jewish group is "a matter of
on his victorious
Peretz: You know that Alexander the Great met
great urgency, as there has been
go
into
the world?
march an entire kingdom consisting only of women?
(Becomes serious) The eggs always claim to be wiser than the a splurge of hate literature dis-
Jew:
Yakov.
I
believe,
Jew: Of course I do. The story is to be found in En
tributed through the mails."
chickens.
or possibly my teacher told it to me at school.
Each side, he said, will be able
Peretz: But what do the chickens say? Will you trust your business
Peretz: You also know when the Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom
to appeal to the courts, whatever
of Judah became separated and the Jewish people were divided into two? or your capital to a boy of six or seven?
ruling may be handed down by the
Jew: Of course not! Do you think I'm crazy?
Jew: When? Do I have to know when? The whole story is to be
board of review.
Why won't you?
Peretz:
found somewhere in the Bible.
Jew: I'd soon have to go begging.
And
what
happened
to
the
Kingdom
of
Israel?
Peretz:
Peretz: Why, can't a six-year-old conduct business?
New Chilean President
Jew: The Kingdom of Israel, we assume. is on the other side of the
Jew: Of course not! He has no experience.
Sambation.
Greets Mrs. Meir, Vows °
For
the
same
reason,
obviously,
a
newlywed
couple
aren't
Peretz:
Peretz: And what happened to the Jews who were expelled from given their dowry immediately and in full, because business requires
Democratic Policies
Spain?
experience and the young man hasn't any.
(Direct JTA Teletype Wire
Jew: They fled in all directions. •
True.
Jew:
to The Jewish News)
Peretz: And how about those who were twice expelled from France?
SANTIAGO, Chile — In the
Peretz: He is therefore given an older adviser or an experienced
Where
should
they
be?
Some
must
have
gone
elsewhere
and
Jew:
presence of Israel's foreign min-
partner.
the rest must have found their way back somehow. Is that so important?
Jew: Probably. Do you think ordinary Jews have no brains at all? ister, Golda Meir, who had come
Peretz: You surely know what the Jews have suffered and are
Peretz: God forbid! I don't think so. I'm just asking. Please tell me: here to represent her government
suffering to this day in Persia. Romania. and—.
at the inauguration of Chile's new
do children grow up and in time amount to something?
I
often
hear,
I
don't
know
about
Persia
but
about
Romania
Jew:
Jew: Of course! If they see the world, if they get experience, if they president, Eduardo Frei, the coun-
in the synagogue, newspaper reports which make my hair stand on end.
can distinguish between good and bad, then they have acquired maturity. try's new chief executive pledged
Peretz: Do you know anything about the Crusades?
Peretz: You see, a philosopher said that yesterday is today's teacher. here Tuesday to keep Chile free
Jew: Ask me something funnier!
Jew: Do you have to be a philosopher to know that? Why every of racial, religious or political
Peretz: It isn't funny at all. Don't you know that because of the school-boy will tell you that the world — (heaving a sigh) — experience, persecutions.
Crusades thousands of Jews were killed, entire communities were wiped
"Never during my administra-
is an expensive teacher.
out?
tion," President Frei said in his
Peretz: But experience means remembering, doesn't it?
Jew: You must mean the massacres of Chmelnitzky in 1648?
inaugural address," will we allow
Jew: Surely.
Peretz: Do you know anything about the Jews of Morocco?
Peretz: If, God forbid, a person falls sick, as in typhoid fever, and any kind of discrimination or
Jew: Never heard of it!
ideological persecution."
forgets everything?
Peretz: Would you like* to know?
Mrs. Meir not only congratu-
Jew: Then it's bad! He'll have to start all over again from scratch.
Well!
To
know!
What
is
there
to
know?
Another
variety
of
Jew:
lated President Frei bringing to
troubles? People behaving differently? Believe me. it's the same world This actually happened to Reb Sheshas.
Peretz: Supposing that a person, God forbid, has no memory what- him a special letter of congratula-
everywhere. I thank God that I don't have to bother about the world's
tion from Israel's president Zal-
troubles. (Pause, sighing:) But tell me, you read newspapers, is there soever, supposing he is born without the power of memory?
man Shazar, but also invited the
Jew: Does that happen?
anything new?
president to visit Israel.
Peretz: Let us suppose it does!
Peretz: No. (Pause) No, you don't like Jews.
After the inauguration cere-
Jew: Then it's really bitter. Such a person cannot learn anything
Jew: How so? Because I don't give money? I haven't any to give! at all; he can't grow wiser even if he becomes as old as Methuselah. monies, Mrs. Meir conferred with
The rich Jews have so they give.
leaders of the Jewish community
Without memory experience is impossible.
Peretz: I don't mean money. You see. a normal human being wants
Peretz: A boy of six with a memory can be wiser than such a person? and the Zionist movement here.
to know everything about a good friend or relative. If you meet a
Speaking at the opening of the
Jew: Of course!
relative, for example, whom you haven't seen for several years. you
Peretz: Right. You must understand one thing more. Not only an 44th Chilean Zionist Congress, the
don't get tired asking questions, one after another: how he got along individual but a people too must possess a memory. A people's memory Israeli foreign minister urged the
all the time, what he experienced, what his wife and children are is called history. What is true of an individual without memory is also necessity of increased Jewish im-
doing. If you learn that somebody in the family was sick, you want true of a people without history; they cannot become wiser or better. migration to Israel.
'to know what kind of sickness, how long did it last, did the patient suffer Where can a people derive in bad times experience, advice, and self-
much, what doctor or what faith-healer cured him. If a doctor was called confidence if each generation with its joys and sorrows, virtues and
in, did he prescAbe a red medicine-bottle, or a green one, or a plain failings, is cut off and cast away, or as the proverb goes, out of sight Owners Close Flour Mills
white one? If a faith-healer was consulted, did he merely pray for the out of mind?
in Israel; Blame Workers
sick -person or did he envelop him in smoke? Your curiosity, however,
TEL AVIV (JTA)—All 19 pri-
Jew: You're right. In bad times we lose our heads, we are like a
extends not only to Matters of such great importance. If you see an herd of sheep; whoever wants to, whoever puts on a front, becomes our vately owned mills in Israel which
acquaintance of yours in a new suit, you want to know how much he leader, our spokesman!
p r'o duce 85 per cent of the
paid for the cloth per yard and how much for the tailoring. You lift
Peretz: Listen to me, buy Graetz's History of the Jews!
country's flour were closed by
up the flap to see if he hasn't been fooled in the lining.
Jew: But where will I get the money?
their owners in • protest against
Jew: 'True (smilingly), there is no denying all this.
Peretz: My friend, at last you've• asked a question for which I have what they called a violation of a
Yet
(triumphantly),
as
far
as
your
brothers
all
over
the
Peretz:
no answer.
labor contract when workers of one
world are concerned, you don't care to know how they are getting along!
*
s
*
large mill near Tel Aviv proclaim-
Your brothers have been suffering for thousands of years and you are
What more need be said on the subject?
ed a slowdown in efforts to secure
not interested in finding out what's been happening to them all this
Remember: the Peretz dialogue was written during the sad days better te'rms than those negotiated
time. From this I gather that. when you usher in each month with a of Shtetel life, in the fenced-in ghetto, for ghetto folk.
nationally.
prayer which includes the words "All Jews are brothers," you say these
Now we are trying to apply it to our way of life, in a free society.
Flour supplies in Israel were ex-
words with about as much faith as the words "Next year we'll be in And we ask: how many people read, how many buy books — in an era
pected to be exhauted within the
Jerusalem."
of free time, unfettered opportunities, plenty of money with which to week if the shutdown continued.
Jew: But I still feel that I love Jews!
acquire books!
The owners were demanding that
Peretz: You are mistaken.
One of our good friends has proposed that instead of conducting Histadrut, Israel's labor federation,
Jew: Can you prove it?
propaganda for books we should instead have a campaign for book cases. ensure an orderly resumption of
Peretz: Yes, if you'll answer a few questions honestly.
Perhaps there then will increase the need for books with which to fill work by all mill employees in the
Jew: All right!'
up a piece of added furniture in the home. Is it really that serious a country before they would reopen
Peretz: Do you like all your relatives?
condition — that the library and the book are no longer valid in a the mills.
Jew: Not all.
Jewish home?
Peretz: Why not all?
Whichever way we view the situation, at least the issue has been
Jew: What a silly question! If a relative of mine opens up a store raised. Now let us face the facts in the hope that the People of the THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
next to me, if he becomes my competitor — as though there were no
Ha-Sefer — once again will be deserving of this title. 2—Friday, November 6, 1964
other business possibilities elsewhere, if he creeps into my insides and Book — the Am
A Book Fair Parable—on the Study of History,