Kafka's 1111-. K. in 'The Castle' Notes Challeng e of All Ages We often call it xenophobia — dislike of the unlike. In Franz Kaf- ka's "The Castle," Mr. K sym- bolizes the stranger who inspires suspicion, who is met with hatred wherever he goes. Staged for the first time in this country, at Meadow Brook Thea- ter in Rochester, the splendid cast presents a per- formance th a t emphasizes that challenge and brings to light the genius of Kafka, who was popularized by Max Brod and whose play was adapted for the Kafka stage by Brod. On the Oakland University campus, the interpretive per- formance gained in significance from the able direction of Milo Sperber, whose skills- have pro- duced a play that may be talked about for a long time to come and may encourage the staging of the great drama in many oth- er cities. Mr. K is the stranger who comes to the castle through a deception but who gains partial recognition in the form of an unexplainable assignment as a district surveyor. He never has a chance to work at it, and the various obstacles, the threats, the hatreds leveled at him keep emphasizing the challenge of all ages in his role as the stranger. It is here that one senses the evidence of Kafka's Jewishness, but the theme also could be ap- plied to a persecuted Negro or for that m a t ter to anyone who is labeled a stranger and upon whom a community that is encircled with prejudiced ideologies could pour out wrath and turn into a scape- goat. When final rites finally are held for K, a messenger finally arrives with word from the castle that he had been granted permanent domi- cile. And the grave certainly tes- tifies to that Richard Curnock performs the role of K with marked ability, and he gives status to a magnificent play. He is supported by an ex- May Wedding Planned by Ellen Jean Kalef Public Education Backers MissFenton,GaiyHirsch to Fight NY Parent-Aid Bill to Marry This Summer cellent cast, and "The Castle" adds glory to the fine record established by Meadow Brook Theater. * * * Kafka's 'The Trial' in a New Paperback Franz Kafka gains in popularity thanks primarily to the publica- tion of many of his works by Schocken Books and the many oth- er editions and interpretive works that have been published exten- sively in recent years. Schocken has re-issued Kafka's "The Trial" in a paperback con- taining a translation of the popular book that has been turned also into a play and a film. The paper- back is in a translation from the German by Willa and Edwin Muir. It is a revised work with addition- al material translated by E. M. Butler. There are excerpts in this vol- ume from Kafka's diaries, and it contains drawings related to "The Trial" by Kafka himself. • • • NEW YORK (JTA) — PEARL, the Committee for Public Educa- tion and Religious Liberty, said that the 41-15 vote in the State Senate in favor of a bill to repeal the Blaine Amendm en t, has prompted them to mount a cam- paign to defeat the "Parent-Aid" bill, currently in both houses of the state legislature. The repeal bill, now in the State Assembly, is expected to pass there also. The "Parent-Aid" bill pro- poses direct financial aid to par- ents of parochial school children. William Haddad, executive co- chairman of PEARL and a mem- ber of the governing board of the American Jewish Congress, told the JTA that the action in the State Senate to repeal the 76-year-old constitutional ban on state aid to nonpublic schools, "gave a false sense of power to those groups that are trying to get state monies for religious schools." Because of this, he said, PEARL would attempt to actively educate the public to the "dangers" of sev- eral measures before the State Legislature, including the "Parent- Aid" bill, that are attempting to "get around" the constitutional ban on state aid to non-public schools. Parents Without Partners will meet 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Jewish Center. The meeting will feature Carol Mindy, authoress, and a discussion of her book, "The Divorced Woman." Coffee and conversation will follow. There is a charge for glke06 < 11:f Radomer Meetings Slated Radomer Aid Society will hold an executive board meeting 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Workmen's Circle Center. Discussion will center on the fifth anniversary celebration in March and other chairity affairs. Mr. and Mrs. Louis Lumberg will be host and hostess. A regular meeting will be held 8:30 p.m. the following Tuesday. ROY'S COMBO Incomparable Music For All Occasions Highly Recommended Evenings 862-2639 #***********************r -lc • inlet ♦ 1: SATURDAY 9:30 TO 9 SUNDAY TO 5 EVERY WINTER MAXI • Now Reduced -ot NOW Book on Divorce Topic of Partnerless Parents Friday, February 20, 1970-27 MISS MILDRED FENTON Portraits by Dr. and Mrs. Paul Fenton of New Bedford Dr., Farmington, an- nounce the engagement of their daughter Mildred Arlene to Gary Stephen Hirsch, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hirsch of Highland as always fine Park, Ill. quality photography Merrillwood Bldg. Mall Miss Fenton is a senior in educa- Analysis of Kafka tion at the University of Michigan, Birmingham in Study by Urzidil where her fiance is a senior in 251 Merrill, cor. Woodward Wayne State University Press psychology. They plan to marry 647-5730 recently published a noteworthy in July. If youth is a fault one soon gets study of Kafka and the Kafkaesque —Goethe. rid of it. influences that have invaded the Detroiter D. Miro theater, literature, drama. In "There Goes Kafka," the WSU Press volume, Prof. Johannes Among Recipients Urzidil, a native of Prague, pre- GREEN-8 sents a factual picture that traces of Seminary Honor the most notable events in Kafka's ONLY ! Highest honors of the Jewish life, the important factors that af- Suburban c fected the life, his Jewish back- Theological Seminary of America were bestowed upon two U.S. ground and associates. Prof. Urzidil is one of the Ger- senators and eight noted leaders man poets who was closely asso- including David Miro of Detroit, ciated with the Prague Literary at the institution's 11th annual Circle of Max Brod, Franz Kafka convocation and dinner at Miami and Franz Werfel, and his study Beach, Thursday. Senate Minority Leader Hugh is based on intimate knowledge of the subject and his lifelong Scott of Pennsylvania and Senator Vance Hartke (D) of Indiana were study of Kafkaism. The role of Max Brod emerges recipients of the seminary's Her- interesting in the Urzidil book, bert H. Lehman Ethics Medal. and a good account is given of Miro, an attorney and former other notable personalities whose president of Cong. Shaarey Zedek, names are linked with Kafka's. received the 1970 National Com- There is an important chapter on munity Service Award. the Hebrew teacher, Dr. Fried- Presentation of the community rich Thieberger, son of Rabbi service awards were at a convoca- Karl Thieberger of Prague, and tion dinner in the Diplomat Hotel, his relationship to and influ- Hollywood, addressed by Sena- ence upon Kafka. Urzidil tells tors Scott and Hartke. about Kafka's knowledge of He brew. He states "There is little DICK STEIN doubt that the primary reason underlying Kafka's study of He- brew was his search for a world THE DICK STEIN ORCHESTRA AND fundamentally secure and there- fore promising for the future, THE JEEP SMITH ORCHESTRA above all else, however — and LI 7-27 7 0 that should be emphasized — it was the seeking for holiness which European life as well as a substantial part of Jewish life had somehow lost. Kafka cer- Coat Shown tainly did not wish to become a Hebrew scholar. He would Photography was $65 have needed a lifetime for that purpose rather than just a few IS MOVING TO 12 MILE hours of tutoring In Hebrew. He AND NORTHWESTERN was convinced, however, that by means of some knowledge of 111111 NEV - WEI EIK 1 IM Hebrew he would better be able to approach his innermost and central problems, the idea of God and the problem of death, The NEW which overshadowed all else and (formerly Dexter-Wyoming Mkt.) comprehended within itself all questions about the meaning of NOW in Oak Park at life, of justice and injustice, of 22175 COOLIDGE human existence and co-exist- (In old Berg Mkt. Bldg.) ence . . ." FREE DELIVERY — 399-4771 Kafka's closeness to Jewish mat- ters is revealed, in spite of the Rockeach Gefilte Can 99` bitterness that appeared in "Letter FISH Rockeach—All Flavors to His Father." There was a close- fort 0 C SOUPS ness to the Zionist idea, and in Manischewits or Straig ht the course of the definitive work 190 MATZO MEAL The Prof. Urzidil takes occasion to ex- Macintosh No. 1 29c 3-lbs. for pose and condemn the Nazi spirit APPLES # Maxi that was beginning to affect the White Star 39c y • SOUR CREAM world shortly before Kafka's death. ln grey cotton Mich. Golden In his delineation of Kafka's suede with a 3-lbs. ac DELICIOUS APPLES Pint Charge It: wram pile lining Jewish interests the author of this Borden's Juliet COTTAGE CHEESE good book indicates his own study 4it Baltic styling Bank- River Indian pretend with of m a t t e r s relating to Kafka's 5 for 49 4 GRAPEFRUIT Americard Mack Persian Jewishness in order to give the LUNCH Michigan Lamb trim. c ays study its effectiveness and its root- jeCh f:rilid9 BAGS Ban/card Sizes 8 to 14 edness in a knowledge of the era, o Closed Sat. • Al the people of Israel and Kafka's ********************** 46 IN1111111111•1111•1====M relationship to both. 1/2 Ern iKtti#111 ▪ & MORE! MISS ELLEN KALEF Mr. and Mrs. Maynard C. Kalef of Maryland Ave., Southfield, an- nounce the engagement of their daughter Ellen Jean to Louis Feld- man, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Feldman of Harwich Dr., Farming- ton. Mr. Feldman is a student at Lawrence Institute of Technology. A May wedding is planned. THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS MINCER'S MKT.