Podhoretz Made It: Attained Success Told in His New Book Norman Podhoretz really made are those with the late Elliott it 1 There's the upshot of the Cohen who preceded him as Com- confessional, "Making It," pub- mentary editor. Podhoretz makes lished by Random House, in which an evaluation: he offers an account of his life's "If Commentary had not been aspirations, his experiences and a Jewish magazine, it is doubtful his rise to his itself at all, but if the some of its present post as Jewishness had not at the same editor of Corn- time been largely an acculturated mentary, pub- one ... or if its style had smelled lished by the too strongly of immigrant origins American Jewish or been less facsimile-WASP than Committee. it actually succeeded in becom- What was thet,,1„ ing, it would certainly never aspiration? The 2:41 have gained the wide spread ac- reader will find ' ceptance it gradually did as a it revealed magazine of general interest. My promptly in the own policies as editor of Com- first paragraph mentary simply pushed the logic of the preface to Podhoretz of Cohen's strategy further than this interesting autobiographical he himself had done it: the 'new statement. That paragraph reads: Commentary' bespoke, and re- "Let me introduce myself. I am flected, a more advanced stage of a man who at the precocious age , acculturated than the old, and was of 35 experienced an astonishing accordingly more general than Jewish in emphasis, but it re- revelation: it is better to be success than a failure. Having mained explicitly Jewish in part been penetrated by this great of its contents and identifiably truth concerning the nature of Jewish in the intellectual style things, my mind was now open (that of the family) with which it for the first time to a series of treated even subjects of a wholly corollary perceptions, each one as general nature." There is a reference of inter- dizzying in its impact as the Original Revelation itself. Money.' est to Partisan Review which was founded mostly by Jewish I now sow (no one, of course, had intellectuals. When Podhoretz ever seen it before), was impor- mentioned the latter fact to tant: it was better to be rich than to be poor. Power, I now saw 1 Cohen, "a mischievous glint (moving on to higher subtleties), I came into his eye: 'The main difference between Partisan was desirable: it was better to give orders than to take them. : Review and Commentary,' he said, 'is that we admit to being Fame, I now saw (how courageous a Jewish magazine and they of me not to flinch), was un- don't'." qualifiedly delicious: it was better The criticism of the American to be recognized than to be Friday, January 5, 1968-15 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS ' Jewish Committee for subsidizing anonymous." So, the reader learns about Commentary in its universal status his difficulties, his struggles, his is not overlooked in Podhoretz' subjection to orders, until he discussions of his multiple ex- emerges in his present role neriences. He makes interesting comments which gives him the power of on accents, objections to it, the editorship. fact that third-generation Amer- 'Making it" is a tour of literary icans often emerge with accents. quarters. an experience with the Scores of incidents are recorded leaders in the creative world of in "Making 't." Autobiographi- writers, an uphill struggle until cally, confessionally. it is a the top of the ladder is reached. fascinating story of an aspirant to While the people of eminence literary success who "made it." in the literary field are of great importance in this story, it is the account of Podhoretz' experi- `Gems of Jewish Wisdom' A publication entitled "Gems of ences in high school, the interest that was taken in him by his Jewish Wisdom" has been issued by Far Rockaway (N.Y.) Jew- teacher, Mrs. K., that is of major ish the Community Council, it was an- significance. She had a great nounced by Rubin R. Dobin, Coun- aspiration for him: Harvard. He made Columbia. She saw great cil chairman. It is a pocket-sized brochure folder and it contains promise in him: he fulfilled it but selections from Jewish lore de- the path was difference. Mrs. K.. her characteristics. signed to focus attention of the her home life, her Jewish hus- important traditions of. Judaism. band, the prejudice of both. Culled from the Talmud, Midrash, the manner of her effort to Commentaries, and other Jewish be socially correct—these de- sources. "Gems of Jewish Wis- scriptions result in gems in dom" draws interest to the ethi- writing and autobiographical cal values of Jewish life. In addi- tion, the publication lists all Jew- confession. This is introductory to many in- ish holidays and the current cal- teresting experiences, among which endar. Tora Repaired by Buddhist OF WINTER AND YEAR-ROUND CLOTHING 69 UP TO $105 VALUES —NOW $ 79 UP TO $115 VALUES -NOW $ 89 UP TO $135 VALUES NOW $109 UP TO $ 95 VALUES suits - NOW $ - topcoats overcoats sportcoats UP TO $ 95 VALUES -NOW UP TO $110 VALUES - NOW UP TO $125 VALUES - NOW - NOW UP TO $135 VALUES Wide array of fine fabrics in numerous shades and patterns. And remember, nobody fits it like Block's 77. 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