Czechs to Mark Jewish 1VIillenium; Consider Establishing Israel Ties Charles A. Madison's Extensive Study of Yiddish Literature, and Major Writers Former Detroiter Charles A. Madison commenced his interest in Yiddish literature as a child who was brought to this country by his parents, from Kiev, Russia, and he pursued his studies in re- cent years. After retiring as an editor for Holt, Rinehartand Winston, oa post in which he con- tinued after edi- ting college textbooks f o r Holt & Co. for 30 years, he de- voted himself to research in Yid- dish literary cre- ations. The re- Madison suit is his volum- inous work, "Yiddish Literature — Its Scope and Major Writers," published by Frederick Ungar Publishing Co. (250 Park, S., NY3). Madison had won prizes for essays in Yiddish literature when he was a student at the University of Michigan. • His current work is extensive. It is especially, valu- able for the compilation of Yid, dish writers from the time when the great literatures began to appear from the pens of Mendele Mokher Sforim, Shalom Aleichem, Isaak Laybusli Peretz and others who followed • them. • Madison traces the origin of : Yiddish from its source, the old Judeo-German, and he giVes an account of "The Bovo Book," "The Maaseh Book" and other Judeo-German writings. He shows other influences, for example, the Yiddish prayers of Rabbi Levi Isaac of Berditchev (1740- " 1809) and he leads up to the ,Haskala period when Hebrew and Yiddish writings began to enrich Jewish! literature. In this connection, Madison ex- plains that Jews were always a bilingual people, supplementing Hebrew as the "holy tongue" with usage and resort to the :se- cular language of the lands in which they lived outside the Holy Land. . bescribing the ."phenomenal de- velophient" of Yiddish in the past century, his contention is that "the tragic events of the 1940's—Nazi ; crematoria and the suppression of Yiddish under Stalin—have ex- tirpated or stilled the main body of Yiddish readers as well as many writers." He expresses the view that "currently Yiddish appears to thrive mostly in Israel, where it was disdained or ignored until around 1950, and it is perhaps there that the future of Yiddish literature will lie." In his special chapter on Yid, dish in Israel he portrays the role. of Yiddish, its writers -, the thea- ter, the broadcasting and states: "Indeed, more books in Yid- dish are now being issued in Israel than in the United States. With the roots of Yiddish as a _ language and literature obvious- ly, and perhaps inevitably, dry- ing up in the Diaspora, its chance of survival as a living linguistic expression of the Jews depends on its likely pullula- tion in Israel. And of that only time can tell." Madison's extensive study lies primarily in its emphases on the eras during which Yiddish litera- ture, the press, the theater and their allied interest functioned and flourished. He reviews in detail the ,"efflorescence" of Yiddish in America and he bases his analyses upon the works of the scores of distinguished writers both , in the United States and in Europe. In a special section devoted to the history and progress of Yiddish in the Soviet .Union, he gives an interesting account of the works and activities of the Yiddish writers in Russia, and that list, like the one from Europe and America, also is most reveal- ing. Madison's work fills -great need in presenting the basic facts about Yiddish and its literature, as well as the theater, which served such a valuable need for the generations of im- migrants and their children's continuing interest in the lan- guage. It is especially meritor- ious biographically, in its des- cription of the lives and works of the pioneers who raised the . high" standards of Yiddish, of Sholoni Asch,' Morris Rosenfeld,, Yehoash, H. Leivick, Peretz Hirschbein, Joseph Opatoshu, I. J. Singer, I. Bashevis Singer, Abraham Reisen and many others. Then there is the presentation of the list of writers in the Soviet Union — a revealing bibliography of works and a description of the writers who enriched the Yiddish library Itzik Manger, Shlome Mik- hoels, Itzik Fefer, Leyb Kvitko, David Hifshteyn, Peretz Markish, Itzik Kipnis are among the many Russian Jewish writers enumera ted. The sufferings of some under Communist oppression are account- ed for in these elaborate descrip- tions. Israeli Yiddish writers are giv- en credit for • their accomplish- ments in the chapter dealing with the progreSs'of Yiddish in Israel. Regrettably,. the review of the history of the Yiddish press has Many shortcomings. It is incom- plete. It is sketchy. It fails to give a. full account which would indi- cate the dramatic rise and the tragic ,fall of a. great press that played a most signi!icant role in Jewish life. There are other factors in the Madison book that are of spe- cial importance. The antagon- isms to 'Sholom Asch, the de- bates about circumcision, in which Peretx and Asch were involved, the numerous humor- ous sidelines' have, great merit in a history like Madison's. The subject undertaken for historical analysis by Madison is so vast that • even the extensive coverage in his book can be viewed as merely introductory. As such, however, allowing ,for the Sketchiness of some elements, es- pecially the press, hiS "Yiddish Literature" is a valuable and most 'creative • work. WASHINGTON (JTA) — Czech- oslovakia plans a festive celebra- tion of the 1,000th anniversary of Jewish settlement and is consider- ing resumption of diplomatic rela- tions with Israel, Czech diplomats indicated to JTA's Washington cor- respondent, Milton Friedman. The embassy of Czechoslovakia, in an apparent display of a new, independent policy toward the world Jewish community, invited the JTA correspondent to a diplo- matic reception tendered by Am- bassador Karel Duda. It was the first time since June 5, 1967, when the Six-Day War erupted, that a JTA representative was invited to any Communist nation's embassy reception. Czech diplomats indicated their desire for friendly relations be- tween their country and world Jew- ry. While cautious responses- were given on the possible resumption of ties with Israel, the Czechs sug- ' Residential and Commercial LARGE OR SMALL ORDERS PROMPT DELIVERY INCLUDING EVENINGS 8 SATURDAYS CALL 1111-1200 ■ •• creative social stationery . stylists, extends its warmest fel- icitations to you and your family on your forthcoming joy- ous occasion, and invites you to choose among its wide selection of fine papers and many styles of: thermograved and copperplate engraved announcements and invitations iri the comfort of your own home. We also carry a com- plete line of accessories. Call Al for appointment at 963-8706 PRINTING NEEDS. WIMP ■I■ 10.1 Si. MO /ail JIM* OWN MIR wi Only Detroit Bank Offering Full Banking Services On Satur a For Regular Savings • With DAILY INTEREST you earn every day on every dollar from date of deposit to date of with- drawal. DAILY INTEREST ble tool in training the highly spe- cialized teachers neded for these children. It is estimated there are 5,000 brain-injurd children in Is- rael. The room was designed and built for the school, at a cast of $4,300, by Malben, the Joint Dis- tribution Committee program for aged, ill and handicapped immi- grants in Israel. JDC receives funds for its world-wide health, welfare and rehabilitation pro- grams from the United Jewish Appeal. READY-MIX CONCRETE PROFESSIONAL PRINTING COMPANY, t School - for Brain-Injured Children A. specially designed soundproof observation room has been in- Otalled in the Massada School in Tel Aviv, the only school of its kind in Israel for brain-injured children. The room contains six one-way mirrors and a series of microphones enabling teachers, psychologists a n d psychiatrists on the other side to see through the mirrors to study the handi- capped children- and prescribe treatment without the children being aware of their presence. It enables members of the treatment staff to evaluate the effectiveness of their treatment and will make possible a greater degree of research in' the field of brain damage or brain dysfunc- tion. The room is also an invalu- THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS . 6—Friday, August 2, 1968 ISM awlm Mmi JDC-Malben Builds Observation Room ► gested that the matter was under active consideration. Soviet diplo- mats at the reception noted the presence of the JTA correspond- ent. The Russians have insisted on a rigid anti-Israel policy by the Communist bloc nations. • Interest is paid and compounded January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1. • Usual withdrawal privileges. • Issued with 90 day, 6 month or 1 year maturity, automatically ,renewed • Issued in multiples of $1,000 • Interest paid monthly or quarterly as desired TIME CERTIFICATES Your deposits are insured up to $15,000 by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. MEMBER FEDERAI. DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION ICHIGAN BANK Uterine cancer can be cured in its earliest stages. Make your ap- 19201 Livernois pointment for a free examination 13403 W. 7 Mile Rd. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION at Cambridge through the Michigan Cancer 1 Blk. E. of Schaefer OFFICES THROUGHOUT GREATER DETROIT Foundation at this year's Health- open 4:30 *very weekday, including SATURDAY, branches open 111 ar00 AFL, 0-Rama.