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Herbert Tarr's Textual Dexterity Makes
'A Ti me for Loving an Outsta
nding Novel
By RABBI SAMUEL SILVER
(A Seven Arts Feature)
The name of King Solomon
is known to everyone.
But how well do you really
know the Biblical King?
The Bible tells us more of
him than about most person-
ages of ancient times.
Yet for many people the
it's a relief to find one that
is delightfully textual.
An Interview
With Herbert Tarr
by Selma Shapiro
"P eople mistakenly as-
sumed that my first two
books were about me, but it's
my new novel that's really
has not rubbed off.
autobiographical," Rabbi
Well you will never forget Tarr admitted in a recent
the Biblical monarch after conversation. "Before, as a
reading the fictionalized ac- rabbi writing novels about
Count of his life in the newest rabbis, I felt inhibited about
book by that clever Rabbi being too personal. But in "A
Herbert Tarr.
Time For Loving" I was able
The enchanting creation, to write more openly, because
published by Random House, I could hide behind King Sol-
is entitled "A Time for Lov- omon."
ing." The author of "The Con-
Isn't it unusual to choose
version of Chaplain Cohen," Solomon as the hero of an
and "Heaven Help Us," has autobiographical love story?
now shifted his locale and in
"Not for me," Herbert Tarr
the new tome he artfully replied. "While my contem-
paints a portrait of Solomon poraries were growing up
that etches itself deeply into with Holden Caulfield, I was
our hearts.
befriending Moses, David and
Jaded with all his wealth, Solomon. The Bible is the
Solomon begins to sense de- first book I read, and it will
spite his success he has been be the last, because I never
a failure, because he has stop rereading it. For me, its
brought the people hardship. heroes are more real than
Like many famous fathers, many of my acquaintances."
Solomon has done a poor job He smiled. "As a child I used
on his successor-to-be, Reho- to pride myself on my famil-
boam, and wishes that his son iarity with the Bible. I'd take
were the more personable a copy,along on the subway
Jereboam.
and keep it open for all to
Despite his wisdom, which see — even when I wasn't
had triggered hundreds of reading it. In the original
proverbs, he begins to realize Hebrew, of course." He re-
that he has not been too in- called the poet Bialik's say-
telligent in administering his ing that reading a transla-
great empire. Lion is like kissing a pretty
Despite his harem, he also girl through a veil.
Herbert Tarr's parent s,
realized that 'he has failed in
the romantic department, be- wanting the best education
cause he has not formed any for their son, sent him to the
real attachment to a spouse. Eitz Chaim Yeshiva in Brook-
Then he is electrified by a lyn. Subsequently, while at-
young woman. But she, Shu- tending New Utrecht High
lamith, rejects his affection, School and Brooklyn College
for she is in love with an- in the daytime, he mcanlight-
other.
ed at night and on Sundays
So much for the "story at Herzliah Hebrew High
line," but inside this scenario School and Herzliah Hebrew
Rabbi Tarr has inserted pass- Teachers College, taking a
ages from the three books of total of 32 credits each se-
the Bible ascribed to Solo- mester, Later becoming a
mon: Song of Songs, Eccic• rabbi seemed 'a natural way
asistes and Proverbs. He does to combine his love for Jew-
it so dexterously that you ish studies with his desire to
think they were written so help people.
that this young rabbi, Herb-
Herbert Tarr's newest work
ert Tarr, would have them of fiction, "A Time For Lov-
for verbal weaving.
ing", combines his talents as
It's a fascinating bcok and a novelist with his abiding af-
a great accomplishment. So fection for the Bible.
many literary works these In "A Time For Loving,"
days are heavy on the sexual; when Israel turns against
biA lopiboM
29r12u51
biA ay_ )Jail
130121
noted Tarr humor, it's a se - THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Friday, J. S. 1173-17
' nous and touching book.
--
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"Readers may have laughed
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their way through the pages
Solomon, the King succumbs of The Conversion of Chap-
to the beauty of the young lain Cohen' and 'Heaven Help
village girl, Shulam)th. He Ls., Tarr said, "but they
abducts her from her lover, are serious enough to have
asserting, "Only the weak been preached about in
can control their passions. scores of synagogues and
They have such weak pas- churches. As a matter of
sions." But he confesses to fact, the Methodist Church
the girl, "Twice in his life- invited me to discuss the im-
time is every man compelled plications of 'Heaven Help
to love. In his youth, when Us!' with the spiritual lead-
he wants to share life's fu- ers of 800 churches."
ture triumphs — and in old
age, when he needs to cush-
ion life's ultimate defeat."
And the ingenuous Shulamith,
$ • Suits
believing that the time for
loving is always, succeeds in
• Sport Coats
imparting new wisdom as
well as renewed life to the
di • Overcoats
King,
• Slacks
Is Solomon the author's al-
ter ego?
8
all haberdashery-
"Originally no, but he is
now," Herbert Tarr conced-
• Master Charge
ed. "When I first started
20811 W. 8 Mile
' V • Bankard • Dinners
writing "A Time For Loving"
between Southfield • ToMograph
years ago, I saw myself as
13641 W. 9 MILE
Shulamith's young sherpherd
love, and I loathed the aging
OAK PARK
King for taking my girl
Just West of Chicago
away. But now that I've
Our Pnsasisa T. Yes,:
LI 5-3558
grown older and wiser, I
ErsT( om
UTTER SERVICE!
Mon., Thurs., Fri.-9 to 9
identfy completely with Solo-
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Tues., Wed. Sot — 9 to 6-30
mon.
Sun. 11 to 3
While "A Time For Lov-
ing" shows evidence of the Classifieds Get Qu ick Results irk 'ARK'XIIISSIIIIK VW VW< >UDC ANY MC< AIX AIX '411t< Attic .
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Harry
Women of The Jewish National Fund
ASK YOUR HELP IN PLANTING A FOREST
Honoring Israel's 25th Anniversary
BY ATTENDING THE
43rd Annual Donor Tea
Tuesday, January 23, 1973, 12 Noon
Congregation Beth Achim
I
Tradition for Emancipation
praise and good hope , are
solely bound up with our
land, and our happiness de-
We are, indeed, far from pends upon the rebuilding of
Jerusalem
in joy. Only then
being unconcerned about the
good of all mankind. No less "will the mouth of unrighte-
than others do we believe in ousness be stopped, and all
the promises to all men that evil vanish like smoke, and
are made in the words of our the reign of arrogance pass
prophets, and on the New away from this earth." May
Year and the Day of Atone- the Eternal, the Bless - ed, the
ment we do indeed pray: Exalted, the Keeper and Re-
"Grant, we pray Thee, 0 deemer of Israel, bring to
Lord our God, Thy awe on pass the saying of His proph-
the work of Thy hands and et (Zechariah 8:7-8): "Thus
Thy fear on all that Thou saith the Lord, Behold, I
hast created, that all Thy shall bring My people from
works behold Thee and all the East and the lands of the
Thy creatures bow down to setting of the sun, I _shall
Thee, that they make a sin. bring them and they shall
gle band to do Thy will with dwell in Jerusalem. They
whole heart." But after shall be My people and I will
and
e
this prayer for all men, we be th ir God in truth
also ask: "Grant, 0 Lord, righteousness."
honor to Thy people, good
hope to them that seek Thee, ; "A man should listen to his
praise to them that fear Thee, wife's opinion and take her
and courage to those that , advice on all matters deal- ,
await Thee, joy to Thy laud ing with the household and.
and rejoicing to Thy city, some add, even on general
and exaltation of the horn j wordly problems. but not on
of David Thy servant." Tru- matters of religion."—Tal-
ly the honor of our people, its mud
By Rabbi S. Mohilever,
from his Message to the
First Zionist Congress, 1897,
ANUVA ZADOR. Sabra, erotic personaloty
and performer. Singer. entertainer. re .
cording artist. Star of Grand Israel
Music Hall.
ZIG!
■
ili011. Brilliant Israelo and Inter
national accord.onist. singer and corn.
poser. MA 4n
music
on Milan. Record-
ing, radio and T V artist. Representing
Israel in Inteinational Accordion (earn
pionship
YAACOV NOPINS, Irish born Israel. G.0
lomat and Israel Foreign Ministry official,
author and brilliant orator
Women of
The Jewish National Fund
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