`Forgotten Man' Behind Albert Einstein: Elsa
It was nearly 90 years ago that
William Graham Sumner, the Yale
University social scientist, popu-
larized the concept of the Forgot
ten Man, the luckless wight who
carries the burden, but does not get
credit for it.
Albert Einstein himself was no
forgotten man. In later years, his
family poked fun at him and call-
ed him the Genius. But he was a
genius whose achievements were
acknowledged by the world. He
was on friendly terms with royal-
ty and played duets with the queen
of the Belgians. He was awarded
the Nobel Prize and received what
TIN DETROIT MINN NEVIS
Wolf, September 111, 1970--23
Origin of Use of SurnameS
She cooked the South German
no raving beauty. Her one goal in
life became to love and protect dishes that he loved, and she lux-
The Bible (Genesis 49:27) in-
her husband. It was her job to see uriated confidently in the knowl-
By RABBI SAMUEL . J. FOi
dicates a blessing given to Ben-
(Copyright 1975, Mt, Inc.)
that he had ample time to do•the edge that her Alberti had the
The surnames, in the form of jamin by his father Jacob in which
one thing which was paramount in right answers. When she saw the
enormous reflector at the Mt. Wil- hereditary family names such as he said "Benjamin shall be ravin
his life—to think physics.
Elsa was lively, friendly and son Observatory, she asked the di- we use today, originated in a as a wolf . . ." Thus, some people
gifted with a sense of humor. She rector why such a huge one was gradual development from the called Benjamin, when forced to
packed her husband's suitcase needed. He answered that scien- eleventh to the fifteenth century take a surname simply added the
when he went on a trip and scold- tists required it to better estab- of the common era in various name "Wolf' as a sign of blessing.
ed him when he returned with half lish the structure of the universe. European countries. Because of the Then, generally, since the figure
its contents gone. He fooled her Her husband, she observed lacon- increasing population, spreading of the wolf was a symbol of the
once, however. He brought every- ically, could get the same result commerce and the tendency of in- blessing gived to Benjamin, it
thing back, beautifully packed. The with a few jottings on the back of corporation in society there arose came to be regarded as a name
difficulties in identifying individ- which bore a good omen and thus
ensuing inquisition revealed that. an old envelope.
Wolf came to be used as a Jewish
to avoid losing • anything, he bad
Dr. Jacob R. Marcus, director uals. The adaptation of surnames
never opened the case. When he of the American Jewish Archives, became a tool of identification for surname.
that
than
needed a clean shirt, he had has pointed out that Elsa's sim- the individual and more
Slowly but surely humanity real-
bought one.
plicity, her native kindliness, —some indication of his forbear-
Elsa may have been shy and shines forth in every line of her ers. It is worth noting, however, izes the dreams of the wise.—Ano-
in
the
synagogue
use
that
in
ritual
tole
France.
modest, but she knew how to han- personal letters. She was grateful
dle Alberti. In one of her rare to Leon Watters for his help in the individual is identified by
using
his
name
and
that
of
his
interviews, she said: "He is like a finding a summer residence where
child. You have to manage him. Albert could work, said his boat, parent without mention of the sur-
But I never let him know I man- and escape the Jersey mosquitos. name — even today. Likewise, in
41 Only women's reducing
the church, Baptisms and mar-
resort In the midwest
age him. I must not let him catch
It was with Dr. Watters, too, that riages are performed without the
4411511 . Lose Up tee l Lbs.
me, or pfui!" She once said des-
a 1Neek
Elsa
Einstein
discussed
where
her
use
of
the
surname,
even
today.
pairingly that she watched what-
ell Lake Steers Dr.
i
- Aucetaen Cltput r ndisne
ever he bought lest he allow a husband would lecture in order to There has been a suggestion to in-
secure
funds
to
finance
the
escape
2116TR
clude the use of the surname in a
glib salesman to sell him an eleva-
of
European
scholars
from
the
Jewish
divorce
—
but
this
has
not
tor for their cottage in the coun-
Hitlerian scourge.
been accepted by the Rabbis.
try.
The origin of Ste name "Sachs"
Elsa died in December 1936.
Acapulco, Mexico
She had no training as a scient-
ist and made no pretense of under- Her Alberti survived another 19 could refer to one who comes from
New modern completely furnished
a short form
i
standing what her husband was years, but her death was a terrible Saxony, th usioeing
2 bedroom, 2 both, air conditioned
blow to him.
- of a place. me. When compelled
doing.
villa for rent doily or weekly. Liv-
to assume surnames, many did
ing, dining, kitchen areas, private
adopt the name of their geographic
pool, maid service. Magnificent
place of origin for a surname. It
bay location. Cell (313) S61-41747
et
write:
also has a historical background.
in synagogues. Janitorial expense Jewish refugees from Stendal
By BEN GALLOB
Tine Victoria, c/o 11373 Bestrew
for a dress rehearsal held at a adopted this name to commemor-
(Copyright UM zrs, Inc.)
Rd., Detroit, Michigan 46221.
Ninety Jewish women have orga- school was covered by the Minnea- ate the memory of their martyrs.
nized and presented 200 perform- polis Human Relations Center. In this respect, the name Sachs
ances of original playlets combin- Paints, fabric and corrugated would represent a Hebrew abbre-
ing entertainment and anti-bias board for sets have been provided viation for the phrase "the Holy
messages to more than 70,000 en- by local ruins.
Seed of Stendal" (Zera Kodesh
Toward the end of the troupe's d'Stendal)
thusiastically receptive pupils
Many Jews adopted the name
Minneapolis public and parochial fir st year, the Minneapolis Tribune
EISA AND ALBERT EINSTEIN schools during the past three praised the "housewives who had "Wolf" as a surname.
sapid years.
never acted before," and declared
in a way was equally significant, a
The "Masketeers" troupe was or- that the play about the "purple Kutsher's Club Fnl*rges
ticker-tape parade in New York
ganized by the Minneapolis section people" had definitely "caught on"
City. But behind the Genius was a
Its Convention Quarters
Forgotten Man of whom few peo- of the National Council of Jewish with the school children. One
MONTICELLO, N.Y. -- Newly
school principal wrote that "in all
ple were aware This Forgotten Women, providing for many of the
pupils their first taste of live my years of teaching and working expanded, modern convention fa-
Man was, in fact, a woman—Elsa drama. The idea developed from with children, I have never seen cilities are now available at Kut-
Einstein, the Genius' wife.
the discovery by the section that such a response on the part of sher's Country. Club, Monticello,
The widow of Dr. Leon L. Wat- the city's elementary schools need- children." Another corn me nt e d N.Y. '—
ters, chemist, civic worker and ed enrichment programs for their that "every once in a while I am
Owner Milton Kutchner an-
author of the "Pioneer Jews of assemblies but had no money for discouraged by our affluent so- nounced that the recently complet-
Utah," deposited Einstein's papers • that purpose, according to a report ciety and I ponder if a society ed convention hall, which can hold
—including some of Mrs. Einstein's in the current issue of the "Coun- which allows people the freedom up to 1,000 people, can also be sub-
letters—with the American Jewish cil Woman," official publication of to be so indifferent can survive. divided into four smaller meeting
Archives, the documentary and re- the NCJW.
Then a group like the Council Mas- rooms. Each room is soundproof
search center on the Cincinnati
and has the necessary facilities
Mrs. Leo Wolk, then the section keteers renews my faith in people
campus of the Hebrew Union Col-
for sound and movies.
and in American society."
lege-Jewish Institute of Religion. president, and Mrs. Charles F.
Mark, later to become the Maske-
A cousin of "Alberti," as she
teers chairman, met in the sum-
called him in her Swabian dialect, mer of 1967 with Dr. John B.
Elsa and her Alberti had both
Davis, newly appointed school
been unhappy in their first mar-
superintendent, to explain their
riages. Both had been divorced
proposal to stage "colorful, enter-
and only then found each other,
taining plays for children, with a
though they had known each other
moral." The idea received quick
all their lives and shared intimate- approval from both Dr. Davis and
And that's how you can live at Harbor
IY a common background of
the community resource depart-
Island Spa South. In a truly breathtaking
speech, food and family.
ment of the public school system.
high-rise; in an apartment you'd love to
Heavy set, gray-haired Elsa was
have for a year round home. And that's
A typical drama is "The Stran-
only the beginning. For your front lawn all
ger's Crown," performed by NCJW
the superb facilities of a fabulous spa...
members made up in purple body
Roman marbelized pools, championship
paint and purple wigs. A purple
tennis, slimnastic facilities, new massage
king and queen and three purple
areas, color TV in every accommodation.
princesses cavort and sing. The
temperature controlled gymnasia, new sun
play depicts a kingdom of purple
room, personal lockers and when you want
people visited by a pale-skinned
to step off our magic island, the matchless
girl sent to the kingdom by a musi-
enticements of greater Miami beckon.
cal magician. The visitor wins a
Championship sports events, theaters
singing contest. On being un-
and night clubs.
masked, the winner turns out to
be a different color — tin-purple.
There's nothing like it anywhere; it's yours
MGM HOLIDAY TOURS
Frightened by the difference, the
if you call collect (or write now).
ROSH HASHANA. TOM KIPPUR
purple people mistreat the visitor
& SUCCOS TOURS
Season:
until she persuades them to under-
November 1,1970—May 1, 1971
Sept. 27 to Oct. 25
stand that "if everyone was the
December 1,1970 —May 1, 11171
AR lecksive
same; it would be like looking at
ROSH HASHANA eel
LARRY PASKOWS
yourself in a mirror all the time."
TOM KIPPUR TOUR
The troupe director, Mrs. Barry
Sept. 211 to Oct. 19 $83 1100
Bonoff, is also the troupe play-
All ischsilee
wright. She has had considerable
SPECIAL SUCCOS TOUR
experience as past president of a
Oct. 12-Nev. 22 %W eep
suburban communit y theater.
VITA BATH
Al lealmive
No Marc*s, Res. Mir
Backing up the actors is a crew
used exclusively
Reesk ► 2 & 3 Week Tears Louv-
attending to sets, lighting, chore-
bat Dir.
res every Sew. & 571400
in
our
health clubs
ography, costumes and make-up,
.......
Mess..fiesa
up
props and similar items. All the
For further information and our
sets and costumes are hand-made
79th Street Causeway Miami Beach, Florida
complete fail & winter program,
by troupe members. The program
Miami Beach. Fla. (Call Collecti:305 T51 - 7561 Or See Your Travel Agent
call or write
has been financed by the section's
AUTUMN HOLIDAY GIVE AWAY SPEND A -WEEK WITH US, ON US.
donor and thrift shop but local
Come any day from October 20 to November 5 for an Introductory look. Stay one week or
businesses, community and reli-
longer. We wiU give you ONE WEEK ABSOLUTELY FREE. • •than: one week per guest
gious organizations also have
1641 Oek Perk
23125 Ceeildee,
helped. Rehearsals have
been held
396-7
.....
- -
-
SHERIDAN SPA
Enchanting Play With a Moral
c 4 private apartment surrounded
br a Weald famous resort.
°Isn't this how you always wanted to live?
MIZRACHI
TOURS To
75RAEL,
stoso
HARBOR
ISLAND SPA
SOUTH
!MACH! TOURS