Fascinating Artistry Inspired by Many Traditions
Intermingled With Modernity in Mrs. Rockland's
'Work of Our Hands: Jewish Needlecraft for Today'

With a nostalgic feeling for bobe—grandmother—who
had goldene hent and did a lot (with her golden hands)
of sewing, when sewing was a skill that filled many family
needs. Mae Shafter Rockland, who was grandma's "ador-
ing and adored disciple," has undertaken to described a
great art which she describes in "The Work of Our Hands:
Jewish Needlecraft for Today."
In a truly fascinating and fully illustrated book pub-
lished by Schocken, Mrs. Rockland, who has developed the
Princeton (N.J.) Graphic Art Association Workshop. has
drawn upon Jewish traditions and has symbolized them
skillfully.
Quilting, applique, needlepoint, patchwork, em-
broidery, a large variety of ritual objects—the em-
phasis on these indicate the creativity of a distin-
guished artist.
The • tallit bag, the yarmulka, matzo and halla
covers, the :Hagen David, the Shabat theme, the
menora—these are among the numerous items that
are part of an inspired work.
Indeed, the sources of inspiration outlined in the
text, the delightful essays that accompany the illus-
trated work—some multicolored—add immensely to

the significance of this impressive and artistic volume.
For her motives, Mrs. Rockland has utilized her her-
itage which she has linked with original projects of her
own. Into her designs are imbedded her personal experi-
ences and the lifeline of her family, having included in
her designs such projects as a prayer shawl made from
neckties her husband wore on special occasions; an ap-
plique picture—a gift for a newborn baby—copied from
an old childhood photograph of the baby's namesake; a
tablecloth design taken from her grandfather's silver cup.
Along with Jewish designs for familiar and unusual
secular objects—wall ornaments, cushions, dolls, guitar
straps—are designs for objects connected with Sabbath
and holiday observance. Her projects are not complicated,
and she provides detailed instructions to help the amateur
or advanced needleworker go beyond ready-made kits
and patterns to begin to create her own personal, original
objects.
The inspiration derived from this notable work will
serve well for those wishing to utilize Mrs. Rockland's
work as a guide for similar creativity by those devoting
themselves to the handicrafts that give emphasis to Jewish
traditional, religious and cultural artistry, as the accom-
panying reproductions from her book indicate.

Wealth of Great Classics in Newest Paperback List

Like a cultural avalanche,
many of the most noted Jew-
ish classics have appeared
from several publishing
houses.
Atheneum Publishers. for
example, has a most impres-
sive list of paperbacks of
Jewish interest. Just off the
press is one of the great
novels of the early 1930s-
"Josephus" by Lion Feucht-
wanger. In this work we have
a combination of history with
narrative literature, by one of
Jewry's most distinguished
writers.
In "Between East and West
—A History of the Jews of
North Africa, - another of the
new .Atheneum paperbacks,
.Andre N. Chouraqui, a leader
of the Israel Oriental commu-
nity. offers programs for -co-
operation with the Arabs. It
is an optimistic presentation
of a case for friendship.
In the new list of Athen-
eum paperbacks is included
the important "Anthology of
Holocaust Literature," which
contains some of the most
important documents relating
to the struggle against Naz-
ism. It was edited by Jacob
Glatstein, Samuel Margoshes,
Israel Knox, Adah B. Fogel
and 'Mordecai Bernstein.
Much of the evidence of the
resistance is included in this
valuable collection of data
about the years of Nazi de•
struction.
Of interest in this volume
on the Holocaust is the rec-
ord it contains of some of the
noble actions of Christians
who aided Jews in their
battle for survival. The docu-
ments in this volume appear
in English translations for the
first time.
Related to the theme of the
Holocaust and the resistance
is the reprint into a paper-
back, by Atheneum, of Prof.
Yehuda Bauer's "From Di-
plomacy to Resistance," a
history of Jewish Palestine.
1939-1945, which contains the
significant record of the
struggles preceding state-
hood.
The 30th anniversary of the
WarsaW Ghetto Uprising
lends special significance to
another Atheneum paperback
—"The Bunker" by Charles
Goldstein. Translated from
the French by Esther Malkin,
with an introduction by Wil-
liam Glicksman, this deeply

48 Friday, June 1, 1973

—

subjects as continuity and the
works, including:
"The Plot," in more than uniqueness of Jewish history,
900 pages one of the longest Messianism, message from
paperbacks; "The Word," Qumran, thd Hasmonean re-
"The Seven Minutes" and volt, Jewish society under
"The Nympho and Other Islam, Hispano - Jewish his-
tory, Hasidism, the Jewish
Maniacs."
Simon and Schuster Pocket labor movement and other
Book series is enhanced by topics.
Authors included in this
the reissuance as a paper-
back of "The Natural" by volume are Profs. Ben-Zion
Bernard Malamud." Other Dinur, R. J. Zwi Werblowski,
Simon and Schuster paper- Hayim Tadmor, Yitzhak F.
backs include "Corporation Baer. Menahem Stern, David
G. Flusser, E. E. Urbach,
Man" (who he is. his
pulses) by Antony Jay. and Shmuel Safrai, S. D. Gotein,
Thomas Farber's "Tales for I. Twersky, Haim Beinart,
the Son of My Unborn Child" Cecil Roth, Jacob Katz,
Moshe Mishkinsky, Floyd P.
. Berkeley 1966-1969."
.
Gartner, S. N. Eisenstadt and
Scribner's is among the
DR. NAHUM N. GLATZER other publishers to produce the two editors of the volume.
* * *
moving work gives an reprints of notable recent
"Bittersweet
Encounter —
account of the author's sur- books. It has lust issued "The The Afro-American and the
Shaping of Jewish History—
vival, together with five other
A Radical New Interpreta- American Jew" by Robert G.
men and a woman, who had
tion." This work .attracted Weishord and Arthur Stein, a
built a bunker to hide from
wide attention when it first Schocken paperback, touches
the Nazis as insurgents in
appeared as hardcovered in extensively upon the Negro-
Warsaw. The agonies that
1971, resulting from the J e wish relationships and
marked their survival give
author's view that capitalism problems in this country.
this work great significance is crucial to Jews and Juda-
Especially significant is the
as part of the notable litera-
ism in this age. explainim, lengthy analysis of "Black
ture on the resistance and
that "it is, thus far, the only Nationalism and Arab-Israeli
will to live. Goldstein dedi-
system whose inner dynamic Conflict" in which the anti-
cated his book to his mother,
drives it to press for infinite Zionist developments among
who was tortured to death, at
economic growth." lie quali- blacks is thoroughly
77, in Treblinka; to his broth-
accounted for. The sources
er who was shot while trying fies it by adding that "with- drawn upon by the anti-
out sustained economic
to help her, and to his sisters
Israeli blacks accounts for a
and the rest of the family growth there can be no social footnote in this chapter in
or
political
unity
that
still
who were victims of Nazism.
allows diverse groups to which the authors state:
For an appreciation of the Maintain themselves."
" 'One could argue that in
dangers confronted by those_
A work of special merit in view of its tiny following, the
,-,no live on the borders of the paperback field is "The Anti-Zionist American Coun-
war-threatening Arab nations, Dimensions of Job," a study cil for Judaism receives more
"Border Kibutz': by Michael and selected readings edited space in the supposedly pro-
Gorkin provides first hand by Prof. Nahum N. Glatzer Israeli New York Times than
data. It is a description of of Brandeis University, pub- its numbers merit. In a re-
the realities of the struggles lished by Schocken.
cent publication the anti-
that accompany the construc-
The skillful editorial wo-k Zionist Council demanded of
tive efforts of pioneers who and the scholarly study of fellow Jews "that they devote
fearlessly conduct their daily Job by the editor is strength- at the very least the same
lives under threatening con- ened with the added material energy and finances which
ditions.
for modern reading of Job they raise on behalf of Israel
The daily life of the settlers provided in the selections in assisting the Negro com-
in Eilat is vividly portrayed from the writings of Martin munity to attain its full
by the young American who B u b e r, Leo Baeek, Leon rights.' "
There is a strong appeal in
participated in the adventur- Roth, Robert Gordis, Yehez-
ous drama that is the result kel Kaufman n, Margarete this volume for American
of his active life with the Susman, Ernest Renan, Hans Jewish all-out aid for the
fearless creators of life on the Ehrenberg, Iosiah Royce, black liberation movement.
border. Amidst dangers, the Horace M. Kallen, Hayim The authors summarize:
"The Jewish community is
settlers prepare for defense, Greenberg and many others.
faced with the challenging
while observing a Bar Mitzva,
a wedding, other normal func-
Essays by noted scholars task of marshalling its con-
tions of a wholesome COM 1.1- deal with "Jewish Society siderable resources and ener-
nity.
Through the Ages," the gies to assist the black man's
Simon and Schuster Pocket paperbacked volume issued .quest for freedom and equal-
ity. For it has been true of
Book paperbacks include a by Schocken and edited by
American Jewry as it has
number of best sellers. In the II. H. Ben-Sasson and S.
been true of America - as a
Pocket Book series are sev- Ettinger.
whole, that when all is said
Participating
scholars
have
eral . of Irving Wallace's
as their themes in this im- and done, more had been
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS portant collection on such said than done."

FIGI:RF. (R:

FIGURE

The Mazza/ Toy doll

144: Basic structure of the alef-bet

Flut•Ry. 95: .Jerusalem cushion

