New Literary Hit for Sam Levenson: 'In One Era and Out the Other'

While he was writing "In I vived the jump into the
One Era and Out the Other" moon-walk generation.
(Simon and Schuster), Sam
Like his "Everything but
Levenson became a grandfa- Money," which made plenty
of it, "In One Era" brings
ther for the first time.
It was the kind of timing back the joys and pains of a
one would expect from a sea- time when you could buy a
soned performer like Leven- whole fresh chicken, feet in-
son, whose new book reflects cluded, and look forward to
the amazement of a Depres- its reincarnation through the
sion era child who has sur- soup pot.
I
Today, mourns Levenson:
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
"Mama's chicken has been
dismembered. It has been
18—Friday, August 3, 1973
neatly disjointed and all its
. Reserve now for
organs sorted out and filed
into plastic see-through bags.
The young housewife has
been spared the bloody or-
deal of chicken surgery.
Chicken can now be bought
For every reason... in parts. Anyone can create
his own version of a chicken
In every season'
out of a do-it-yourself chick-
en. kit. Put together two
heads, one eye, three breasts,
four feet, add a mandolin,
and you've got yourself an
original poultry Picasso."
If Levenson tends to ro-
manticize a period that must
have been, at the best of
GOLF ON PREMISES
times, uncomfortable, we can
REGULATION 9-HOLE COURSE
forgive him. A poor boy, he
• INDOOR POOL • HEALTH CLUB
loved, and was loved; the
• LATE SHOWS • 4 BANDS
memories ar: enough of an
• ALL-STAR ENTERTAINMENT
inheritance. He compares the
• LUXURIOUS ACCOMMODATIONS
wedding of yesterday ("For
•INDOOR ICE SKATING
our honeymoon we went to
YEAR 'ROUND
Manhattan, by subway to the
• ALL WEATHER TENNIS COURTS
Sheraton Hotel, where for
• SUPERVISED DAY CAMP
$3.75 a night we were given
• COMPLETE TEEN PROGRAMS
a large bedroom with two
beds. Wow! Two beds! My
bride had the opposite reac-
AT THE PINES
No obligation of any kind required to an-
tion. 'Oh no, oh no!' She
t...Contest. Judging by Contests Unlimited
turned toward the wall and
OPEN
began to cry. I couldn't un-
ALL
derstand. 'What's the mat-
YEAR
ter? Isn't it nice?' It's very
nice, but I thought we were
going to have the room all to
South Faflsburg, N.Y.
ourselves!') to the wedding
For Reservations,
(914) 434-60;4 of today:
call collect
Or See Your Travel Agent
"This is the ceremony

candles in their hair, hum- his love for Mama, that his mothers passed on such lega-
ming mystic hymns to the public 'love shmove' was cies to their children.
first rays of the rising sun only a cover-up for his pri-
In those days, every moth-
as they strike the motorcycle vate embarassment? I left er was pinching pennies,
reflectors . . . "
my bride, walked over to Pa- practicing a finesse with the
Although his mother died pa, and put my arms around grocery man and the butcher
shortly after Sam's Bar Mitz- him. He kissed me for the that a Wall Street broker
va, she fills his recollections. first time in my life, and we would envy. And yet:
At his wedding, Sam was broke into tears. We, who
"An old lady came by every
surprised to hear the rabbi had hardly talked together, day pushing an even older
pronounce the name of "the were now crying together." baby carriage on the seat of
We seriously doubt that which was a tray of strange
departed Rebecca Levenson"
in his benediction.
Levenson is as disenchanted notions intended not for us
"I didn't know whether with modern apurtenances as kids but for our mothers—
tradition or Papa had calted he appears to be in his book. spools of thread, scissors,
for it, but there it was, a But in his exaggeration is clothespins, matches . . . She
prayer of mourning for Ma- , some truth, and, anyway, he
m a, who was n) longer with could be right when he says: had no name because she
us. My brothers and sister "I have seen wealthy fami- had no specific merchandise.
She wasn't a man, and you
knew that Mama was the lies sitting around in luxuri- couldn't call her 'our lady of
SAM LEVENSON
bond that tied us all togeth- ous homes pale and hungry, the bobbins,' but the women
er. Yet none of us, not even waiting for the dinner to always 'took from her' be-
No aisle. Aisles represent the Papa, had had the courage thaw."
cause she was a widow, 'even
rigid unilateralism of tradi- to mention the word 'Mama'
The humorist occasionally if she costs a penny more.'
tion. Just a circle of friends that day. It was Papa who
seated on the grass in the had asked for the prayer. turns off the humor to be- A widow lady, Mama used
park at dawn, with lighted Was it possible that after all come serious, as when he say, 'comes even ahead of
we're going to have, Mother. these years he was declaring quotes "an old cousin," Moses grocery man.' "
Maimonides, on the eight lev-
Levenson laments the loss
els of charity. It reflects a of that sweet simplicity. If
compassion that Mrs. Leven- only for 190 short pages, he
When Taping Fascinates
son instilled in her son—just brings it back in this delight-
By DAVID SCHWARTZ
haven't it so bad. You are as so many other Jewish ful account. —C.D.
(Copyright 1973 JTA, Inc.)
President of a big country,
It was said of Ben-Gurion but I am president of a na- I
when he was prime minister tion of presidents."
—at least in the beginning—
We know that Weizmann
that whenever anyone came said that to Truman because
to talk with him he would Mrs. Weizmann has so re-
take notes, writing down ported. But did Truman say
what the person said.
anything?
There was one difference
Truman said, "Look who's
from the White House tap- talking! Have you got any
ing: the person saw Ben- Republicans to deal with in
Gurion writing down his Israel like I have? I have
words. Ben-Gurion's explan- no trouble with the Jewish
ation for his practice was vote, but Dr. Weizmann,
that the writing served to don't you understand, the
better imprint on his mind goyim have a big say here."
the thought of the person he
No doubt if a tape record-
was talking with. Writing can ing had been made, Tru-
be a form of clarification.
man would have said some-
Personally Conducted
We should like to have had thing like this. We know he
tapes or notes taken of Ben- was not the type of man who
by Rabbi Milton Arm
Gurion's late wife, Paula. just sat back and said noth-
What she said was always ing.
Consider how much has
interesting. She had a way
of coming to the point. No been missed by not tape-
recording the administrtion
beating about the bush.
For instance, the UN has of Andrew Jackson. Jackson,
always leaned to the Arab they said, couldn't spell well,
side in view of the large vot- but in conversation, that is
unimportant. His swearing
ing power of the Arab bloc.
When some years back Dag was above reproach. To hear
Hammarskjold, the UN sec- Jackson, "By the Eternal,"
Recommended by America's Leading Orthodox Rabbis
would no doubt be very invig-
retary, visited Israel and pre- orating.
Per Pens
sented
his
position,
Paula
Double
CALORIE AND
DAVID ROSNER'S
When Coolidge was Presi-
said to him, "Mr. Hammar-
Occup.
SALT•FREE DIETS
dent there would, of course,
UNSURPASSED
skjold,
you
are
such
a
nice
TO SEPT. 3
STERLING MEALS
man. Why don't you get have been a problem. Maybe
35 of 145 Rms.
then someone could have
Day & Nighttime
married?"
INCL. 2 MEALS
turned on the radio and taped
Supervised Activities!
So
much has been missed that.
WRITE OR PHONE
HOTEL • POOL • 200 FT. BEACH
by unrecorded conversations.
FOR BROCHURE
In the case of Israel, there
100% Centrally heated Take the case of Martha might have been a little
Dial Direct Free
Sterling Quality is Supreme
&
Air-conditioned
Washington. Here was a lady trouble with Weizmann's suc-
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S00-327-6642
Constant Rabbinical
married to the most impor- cessor, Itshak Ben-Zvi. He
AND QUALITY
from New York
Supervision Machgiach tant man in American his-
didn't like secret service
COLOR TV IN EACH ROOM
on Premises
tory •
Based
on Double Occupancy
men, and if his conversa-
On the Ocean at 67th Street, Miami Beach, Florida 33141
George Washington was tions were taped, we would
the father of his country, so no doubt hear him saying,
Martha Washington must "Get away. I am not going
• On EL AL Israel Airlines
have been the mother. You to run away. Don't follow
•
Deluxe Hotels
would think that the country me."
would know some things she
•
Daily — Full Israeli Breakfast and
. t V tit 1
said. Maybe if the Presi- Poetry of Meditation
• Planned programs for teens
We
entertain
and
children!
Lunch or Dinner
dent's house had been taped,
S t °
Poetic experiences of the
them while you play!
we
might
have
heard
her
• Transfers
• 18-hole championship golf course!
World War I infantry offi-
say at least, "George, you cers are presented in a new
• Floor shows & dancing nightly! • 3 gourmet meals! —
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8 Days Sightseeing
Attractive
accommodations!
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New
tennis
courts!
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better put on your rubbers Wayne State University
• Swimming, water-ski schoott • Horseback riding!
or you will catch a cold."
Press volume.
Maybe she might even
"An Adequate Response—
AUGUST : VACATION FOR THREE—
have said to her husband, The War Poetry of Wilfred
third person will be only $7-per-day. Beginning Fri., July
Limited Space Available
"George, tomorrow you have Owen and Siegfried Sassoon"
27th to Fri., Aug. 31st—the third person in room (with
to go to shul. Remember it's was edited by Prof. Arthur
2 adults) will pay only a service charge of $7 per day
Call or Write
(includes 3 meals per day).
Rosh Hashana." Or at least E. Lane of California State
she
would
have
told
him
to
University.
AUGUST BONUS: From Sun., Aug. 26th to
go to church. There is very
Fri., Aug. 31st—in addition to the third person in a room
Defining the work of the
little we know about Wash- two writers as "poetry of
paying only $7-per-day—any extra children under 15 in
the same room will also pay only $7-per-day (includes
ington's church going. If experience" and "poetry of
3 meals per day).
there had been tape record- meditation," Dr. Lane pro-
Only o5 miles from
ings, we would probably have vides an exceptionally im-
Pen
Chicago vic expwy.
all the facts.
pressive study of poetry as
In the Lincoln Center
What a loss that the con- well as the works of two
25950 Greenfield
versation between President masters in this impressive
Qrt
anar
Genoa City, Wisconsin
Truman and President Weiz- and expressive book.
Oak Park, Mich. 48237
I. J. Goldstein
mann on the recognition of
Call Our Israeli Hot Line
25839 Southwood
the
state of Israel was not
Don't despair of a student
Southfield 48075_
(313) 566-4724
recorded. Weizmann said, if he has one clear idea. —
Ph: 557-2566
"Mr. President, you really Ralph Waldo Emerson.

5

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