James N. Rosenberg's 'Unfinished Business':
Historical Records Feature an Autobiography
At 93, James N. Rosenberg, em-
inent lawyer, noted painter, fam-
ous for his labors in support of
war sufferers, displaced persons
and refugees, remains alert, still
laboring with his brushes, retaining
memories of a rich career that is
far from finished. That is why his
collected papers, just published
(Vincent Marasia Press, Mamar-
oneck, N.Y.) is titled "Unfinished
Business." It is an appropriate title
for a book packed with historic
JAMES N. ROSENBERG
documents and recollections of ac-
tivities that embraced many devel-
opments in nearly 60 years of
public work. And it is equally ap-
propriate that the cover and jack-
et of the book should bear the
simple "JNR" notation: under
these initials many great paintings
have been creAeid) and notable
memoranda were signed so simply.
It is fortunate for the reader,
who has much to gain from these
papers gathered into a single
impressive work that they were
edited by JNR's distinguished
son-in-law, the eminent historian,
author and literary critic Max-
well Geismar. And it is equally
significant that "Unfinished Bus-
iness" is filled with reproduc-
tions of some of JNR's outstand-
ing art works. For example, the
third part of "Unfinished Bus-
iness," which deals with "We
Jews and Anti-Semitism," com-
mences with Rosenberg's oil
portrait of David Ben-Gurion and
contains reproductions of Rosen-
berg's pastels and oils of Shot-
em Asch, "Young Sabras," Sea
of Galilee, Mt. Atzmon from
Sated, an expose of Hitler.
Geismar's editorial work is sup-
erb, but his five-page introductory
preface is especially valuable. In
these brief pages he gives an an-
alysis of the man who authored
these collective papers that sums
up JNR's life work with great
understanding.
He refers to an early associa-
tion of Rosenberg with Detroiters
in the early part of this century.
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
48—Friday, December 8, 1967
Spiro's 'A Time to Mourn' Suggests
Return to Chevra Kadisha Tradition
Geismar tells about Rosenberg's part of his new volume, he advo-
Rabbi Jack Daniel Spiro, direc- tachment and relationship — are
participation "in the reorganization cated a world court. He continued
of the Maxwell Motor Co. which his efforts in support of peace, of tor of education of the Central ideally achieved through the means
later became the Chrysler Corpor- a world movement to outlaw war. Conference of American Rabbis provided by Judaism, whose atti-
ation." For Detroit readers it
Even before Hitler gained and the Union of American He- tudes and ceremonials are emotion-
would have been of added interest
power, he began to call attention brew Congregations, offers practi- ally beneficial."
But it is especially interesting
to include in this reference the
to the German menace, to the cal advice and provides psychologi-
to note that he favors a return
fact that Rosenberg then had legal
threat to Jewry, and to peace cal guidance of bereavement in
to the old "Chevra Hadisha" tra-
dealings with the late Leo M. But-
of the world. He worked closely "A Time to Mourn," published by
dition. He claims: "Our Ameri-
zel and was offered the presidency
with James G. McDonald. He was Bloch.
can culture does not meet the
As Prof. Abraham N. Franzblau
active in the National Confer.
of Maxwell but turned it down.
needs of the mourner. The
(Rejection of that tempting offer
ence of Christians and Jews and of Hebrew Unio College points out
threatened
collapse of the tra-
in
his
preface
to
this
volume:
with other groups before and
may have been the wisest step in
ditional Jewish sociocultural sys-
"Rabbi Spiro considers the dy-
through whom he urged the
his life in view of the success he
tem,
depriving
the Jew of the
adoption on a worldwide basis namics of the process of mourning
attained in law). But the added
shelter of his self-contained Jew-
of a declaration of human rights. as it is revealed in modern psychia-
Detroit factor undoubtedly is only
ish community, would leave him
of local interest.
He was chairman of the United tric research, also the Jewish theo-
just as bewildered in his grief
logical background relating to the
Geismar notes quite properly, as States Committee for a United Na-
as the non-Jew."
concept
of
death,
the
hereafter,
the JNR papers indicate, that in tions Genocide Convention and he the soul, bodily resurrection, im-
Observing that the synagogue
addition to his law and painting consistently battled for adoption morality, supersititioru about the has assumed the place of author-
interests Rosenberg was greatly by the U.S. Senate of the UN Gen- ability of the deceased or his ity formerly held by the traditional
concerned with the problem of ocide Convention based on the idea 'ghost' to influence the survivors laws and customs, which were wov-
anti-Semitism, that he came very promulgated by the late Dr. Rafael
en into the very fabric of Jewish
close to Zionism and to Israel, that Lemkin. His plea, reprinted from or the community, the corpse and individual and communal life," he
handling, the functionaries in-
he battled for American endorse- United Nations World of June 1949, its
suggests that a way of developing
volved
in
the
process,
burial
ment of the UN Genocide Conven- is a powerful plea for this idea grounds, and so forth. But all this and implementing synagogue
tion and became a leader in a which remains ignored by the U.S. is essential to understand the be- authority would be "through the
world peace movement. And this
The portion of the book devoted reaved as mourners, the role of establishment of a `Chevra Kad-
reviewer concurs in Geismar's to discussion of anti-Semitism and the
relatives and the community isha Committee' within each syna-
judgment that JNR's "Painter's the position of world Jewry, based at large, and finally, to help in the gogue to function with respect to
Self Portrait," published in 1958, on his personal experiences and on integration of the grief-shattered each bereavement in the congre-
may well be considered Rosen- his studies which led him to sup- bereaved into the community of gation." He suggests volunteer
berg's best work. It is a most beau- port basic efforts to end the horr- the living, and the restoration of committees that would assist be-
tiful product. Included in it is the ors that were caused by Nazism their lives to normalcy."
reaved members their duties to be
famous poem JNR wrote in Rome and by other hate movements, is
This is an excellent summation extended "to meet modern circum-
on the back of a menu, while in an especially significant collection
of a volume that delves into tra- stances."
a restaurant witnessing the em- of papers.
ditions, that reviews the laws re-
He declares further: "The
ergence of the world's Nazi-Fascist
His Russian diary, "On the lating to burials and to mourning
problem of communicating the
tragedy — "Roman Holiday." (The
Steppes," with a forward by and traces all the factors relating
vital importance of re-establish-
latter, titled "Conversation Piece,
Louis Marshall; his descriptions to the subject from talmudic and
ing this old-new way of handling
1926, has been reprinted in another
of his work with the Agro-Joint, biblical sources.
the grief situation should become
separate volume which must be
the JDC efforts to settle Jews
Dr. Spiro defines the concepts
the responsibility of the rabbi
rated among Rosenberg's impres-
on the soil in Russia which had
related to grief and to emotional
of
every synagogue, and should
sive creations).
failed; his report on his labors
responses in bereavement. He
likewise become a project of all
Rosenberg's collected papers
with Louis Marshall for the for-
reviews Jewish laws, rites, mores
the rabbinical associations in this
rate as an addendum to his auto-
mation of the Jewish Agency —
of mourning and indicates how
country. In this way a great con-
biographical "Painter's Self Por-
these and other accounts emerge
"the conflict between frustration
tribution can be made to the
trait." It is, in fact, autobiograph-
as important chapters in modern
and guilt gives rise to a state
grief-stricken in the Jewish com-
ical. In a sense it is a commentary
Jewish history.
of anxiety."
munity, and perhaps ultimately
on Jewish and world history of the
There is also an account of
Dr. Spiro makes more interest-
in all the world."
past 60 years.
JNR's role in efforts to create a ing observations about the ambiv-
As a guide for rabbis, the vol-
Jewish
settlement
in
the
Domini-
It is, also, in a sense, a history
alence of bereaved about guilt ume also provides interesting
of painters and painting. JNR has can Republic. This chapter, which feelings, frustrations of love im- reading for laymen, Dr. Spiro's
created multiple works, and they became known under the title of pulses and the severity of grief.
work suggests ways of avoiding ob-
have been exhibited in museums the proposed "Sosua" settlement,
He points out that "familial and struction of the process of mourn-
throws light on efforts that failed communal participation in mourn- ing. It is a work replete with cita-
throughout the world.
Detroiters will recall the exhi- but which were proposed in great ing in Judaism helps and encour- tions from Jewish traditional teach-
bition of his paintings in the sincerity.
ages the mourner to recover from ings and serves a valuable pur-
Then there are JNR's reports the loss of his loved object." He pose as a study of the psychology
Detroit Art Museum. Many
homes possess his work and some on Soviet Russia and the Jews — states that three phases of success- of bereavement for people of all
of them are on display in the and while they date back to 1943 ful mourning — acceptance, de- faiths.
local museum and in public they have relevance to current
buildings.
discussions and concerns.
"Unfinished Business" is auto-
His legal work was, of course,
the great beginning in his rich biographical — it also is historical.
career, and Geismar points out im- It enriches knowledge about events
pressively that in the Ivar Kreuger that affected Jewish life in the
12 7;1 -env! r1-1 , -
case Rosenberg again played an last half century. Rosenberg played
important role displaying his gen- important roles and it is valuable
that he considers his efforts "un- Kist-1'7 Irr7sr.i rinrite ,prn nt/3
ius as a lawyer.
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Case of Martyred Mexican Jew
Related in Newly Issued Testament
"Dated in Purgatory." the tes- conquistadors. Liebman's persistent
tament of a young Jew burned at search led him through massive
the stake in Mexico on Dec. 8, Mexican records of Inquisition trial
proceedings, of which there are
1596, proclaims that God is one over 400 printed pages on Luis
The martyr was found "guilty of alone. What emerges is a doleful
being a Jew and having observed but inspiring family saga and a
Jewish practices," but to Seymour fascinating glimpse of 16th Cen-
B. Liebman, a New York and Flor- tury life.
ida attorney turned historian-re-
Luis and his family came to
searcher, the case is far from con- America from Castile to join Luis'
eluded. The testament appears for uncle who. as governor of the
the first time in English under New Kingdom of Leon. supervised
the title "The Enlightened: The a territory that included part of
Writings of Luis de Carvajal, el today's Texas. They knew extreme
Mozo." It will be published by the poverty, and before being executed
University of Miami Press Dec. suffered prison terms in chains,
15. Translated from the Spanish wore the penitential garment
by Prof. Liebman, the writings are known as the "sanbenito," and
augmented by his introduction, ep- begged alms with which to buy
ilogue and notes, and by a preface pardons. Luis' mother and three
by Allan Nevins, who encourage of his sisters perished at the stake
the preparation of the book. with him, and two other sisters
The scant but searing memora- were later consigned to the flames.
bilis represent the only known Of the four sons of the family,
writings by a Jew in Mexico during three took the name of Lumbroso,
the Spanish colonial poriod of 1521- meaning "The Enlightened," and
in Luis proudly affixed the name of
1821. Fleeing persecutions
Spain and Portugal, crypto-Jews Joseph Lumbroso to his last will
were in the ranks of the earliest . and testament.
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The hero of this story is a boy named
Nahman, whose companions succeeded
in leading him into bad ways. It appears
that Nahman Farkash's road to crime
was unavoidable. He took part in an
armed robbery, was caught, and was
imprisoned for several years. In prison
Nahman became a "lone wolf."
Even
his parents became estranged from him.
No wonder that shortly after his re-
lease, Farkash returned to prison again.
He was said to be a "public danger."
Farkash succeeded in escaping. The
search for him was carried out in
all parts of the country. In the end.
he surrendered himself to the psychi-
atrist of the prison.
Not much time passed before Farkash
escaped again, this time straight across
the border to Egypt. A year and a half
later, two members of Kibutz Nahal
Oz discovered him near the border and
handed him right over to the police.
The court sentenced him to nine
years' imprisonment. Nahman became
violent in the courtroom and could be
removed only by force to jail, which
bad become "home" to him.
But in spite of everything, someone
decided to give Farkash a chance.
This was a young woman whom life 1
had also not treated well. Rachel
Alknby, a new immigrant from Moroc-
co, a divorcee and mother of three ral l r
children, fell in love with the prisoner
alter a brief meeting in the jail.
The prisoner, who had never known
what love was, finally found an under-
standing heart.
In a modest ceremony, Rachel Alkuby
and Nahman Farkash were married.
The ceremony took place in a private
home, without guards. After a honey-
moon of 24 hours, Nahman Farkash re-
turned to prison, where he must re-
main until 1971.
(Published by the Brit Ivrtt Olamit
with the assistance of the Memorial
Foundation for Jewish Culture).
Material in vowelized, easy Hebrew
can be obtained throu h the local
Hebrew organizatione orami
w
riting di-
Overgr
reel to the Brit Ivri 01
t, P. 0. Box
I
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