56 Friday, Febniary 29, MO
THE DETROIT Intl NEWS
The Last Curtain for Actress Hanna Rovina
By MOSHE RON
The Jewish News Special
Israel Correspondent
TEL AVIV — It was the
last curtain for the prim-
adonna of the Habima
Hebrew Theatre, Hanna
Ravine. Many thousands
followed her when she was
laid to her last rest. She died
Feb. 2 at age 90.
Rovina started her career
after the Communist revo-
lution in Russia. For more
than 60 years she was per-
forming on the stage. She
appeared in 69 plays. Her
main roles were: Lea in
"The Dybbuk," Mirele Ef-
ross in "The Eternal Jew,"
Kineret-Kineret in "Mother
Courage," Lady Macbeth
and others. She scored great
success in all her perform-
ances in Israel, Poland, the
U.S. and other countries.
She cast a spell over her
audience and was called
"The Crown of Habima."
Hanna Rovina played an
important role in persuad-
ing the Habima ensemble to
settle in Eretz Yisrael in
1927. Many actors were
against it, but she suc-
ceeded. She won the respect
of people all over the world
not only as a great artist,
but also as a human being
with a warm Jewish heart
and character.
I remember an interest-
ing episode which oc-
curred 30 years ago. It
was during a congress of
Jewish journalists in
Eretz Yisrael. There was
a big quarrel between the
journalist associations of
Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
. Close to the end of the
congress, during a
dinner, the former chief
editor of the Palestine
Post (today the
Jerusalem Post) Gershon
Agronsky (Agron) in-
vited Hanna Rovina.
With her charm and
authority she found a
compromise between the
two associations which
led to one united Jour-
nalists Association.
Hanna Rovina passed
many a hardship during her
brilliant theatrical career.
She had a very hard time
during pregnancy and the
birth of a daughter after liv-
ing together for many years
with poet and writer Ale-
xander Penn. Her daughter
liana is now a well-known
singer in Israel.
Rovina lived very mod-
estly in a small apartment
on 36 Gordon St. in Tel
Aviv. In 1957, she received
the Israel Prize from the
state of Israel for her
achievements in the He-
brew Theater. She owned no
car and often she went late
at night by bus from the
theater back to her home.
However, Tel Avivians who
saw her waiting at the bus
stop often offered her a lift
home.
She used to visit chil-
dren's homes, new immig-
rant centers and military
camps and gave special per
formances. During World
War II, she visited Egypt
and Italy several times to
appear before Jewish
soldiers serving with the
British forces.
-
HANNA ROVINA
When the news of her
death spread, thousands
came to the Habima
building where her coffin
was lying in state on the
same stage on which she
had performed and
scored so many suc-
cesses. Her coffin was
covered with flowers and
Habima actors formed a
guard of honor for the
famous actress. Many
thousands of artists,
writers, Knesset mem-
bers, friends and admir-
ers passed by the
catafalque. Premier
Begin eulogized Rovina
in the Cabinet meeting,
saying that Rovina, so
admired by the Israeli
people, gave the highest
expression to the Hebrew
language on her stage.
herself from private life and
dedicated herself with all
her heart and soul to the
stage and the public, who
returned her love and
gratitude.
Navon said that in every
role on the stage she in-
duced and expressed her
own very special character
and personality, the
tragedy of a Jewess and the
glory of Kingdom. Her eyes,
her hands, her voice and her
movements were all a mov-
ing and trembling sym-
phony. "We do not weep or
scorn, we are mourning that
we shall never again be able
to hear her unforgettable
voice, to see her delicate
movements on the stage,"
Navon said. "We can only
say, with the great Israeli
poet Nathan Alterman: 'We
thank you, crowned lady,
we thank you glorious He-
brew actress.' "
"A Jewish Physician's
Harvest," (Ktav), written
by Dr. Harry A. Savitz, may
be reviewed by the critical
faculty of the mind, or the
sympathetic beat of the
heart: The summation will
inevitably vary whether we
apply intellectual criteria
or emotional appreciation
and values.
From a strictly academic
approach the author simply
compiled his collection of
essays spanning nearly
half-a-century with no par-
ticular unity of theme other
than the common
authorship. The topics in-
clude biographical and his-
torical sketches of many
Jewish physicians through-
out history, also comments
on Talmud, psychosomatic
medicine, geriatrics, gen-
eral aphorisms, case his-
tories and even analysis of
Hebrew words.
While the author titles
his book "A Jewish Physi-
cian's Harvest," the reader
may regard it as lean glean-
ings. However, besides the
evaluative process, one is
impressed with the warmth,
sensitivity, broad human
interests and compassion
that this Jewish physician
brings to light. One may
then perhaps overlook the
repetition and the homilies.
The Jewish physician
'Between You
. . . and Me'
Editor-in-Chief
Emeritus, JTA
(Copyright 1980, JTA, Inc.)
JDC REUNION IN HUNGARY: The Joint Distribu-
tion Committee, which has a magnificent record of
achievement in aiding needy Jewish communities
throughout the world wherever they can be reached, has
now added another major achievement of historic impor-
tance to its record.
It brought about the reunification of the Jewish com-
munity of Hungary with the Jewish community of the
In the black-draped
United States.
Habima hall which bears
Unable to function in Hungary for the last 30 years,
her name, Hanna Rovina
the JDC has now secured an agreement with the Hunga-
was eulogized by the
rian government permitting the resumption of its relief
President of Israel Yitzhak
activities through the central body of the organized Jewish
Navon, the veteran Habima
communities in Budapest. The link between American
actor Shimon Finkel (who
Jewry and Hungarian Jewry has thus been restored.
spoke of Rovina as the
Having received de jure recognition, the JDC is now
"High Priestess of
able to reach the 100,000 Jews in Hungary — the largest
Habima"),_and the Mayor of
Jewish community in the Soviet bloc, after the USSR —
Tel Aviv Shlomo Lahat.
with essential aid for welfare programs. It committed itself
Dozens of wreaths of to spend $1 million on these programs during 1980. In
Navon said that Rovina flowers were laid on her addition, the JDC will contribute up to $400,000 toward the
left us young at the age of grave. Cantor Benjamin cost of building a new central Jewish kitchen in Budapest,
90. For years she was con- Unger intoned the burial which will operate a number of feeding stations. It will also
sidered the Jewish Queen in prayers and Shimon Fin- provide $100,000 for the restoration of synagogues and
the hearts of our people. She kel recited Kadish in ac- welfare buildings in the Szeged community. JDC represen-
lived their sorrows and suf- cordance with Rovina's tatives will go into Hungary for evaluation and develop-
ment of programs in conjunction with the Jewish commu-
- ferings, their dreams and last wish.
joys. She expressed all our
The last curtain went nity.
problerds with her fine and down on the stage of Hanna
THE BUDAPEST AGREEMENT: Jewish welfare
delicate soul. She removed Rovina's life.
and religious institutions in Hungary will benefit from the
JDC financing of the Jewish community and also from the
donations in kind which the JDC will send to the central
body of the Jewish communities. The donations in kind will
be exempt from duty.
The Budapest community is very vibrant and well-
has admittedly played a Maimonides in the his-
unique role in the 2,000- tory of Spanish Jewish organized. In addition to feeding the needy, it also main-
tains
two homes for the aged, a 100-bed hospital, a 60-bed
year history. It must be culture is well known.
noted that besides admi- Another personality of nursing home, a rabbinical seminary famous for its schol-
ration, the Jewish physi- that period deserves arship and for being the only Jewish theological seminary
cian also evokes envy equal attention: Judah in the sphere of Soviet influence, a clothing distribution
and jealousy, manifested Halevi, born 1085, char- center, a matza bakery, a slaughterhouse and many
as anti-Semitism.
acterized by the historian synagogues. It also takes care of 1,200 cemeteries through-
One of Hitler's com- Graetz as the "perfect out the country. Many of these functions will now benefit
plaints was that about half poet and thinker" and "in from JDC participation in financing the Jewish com-
the doctors in Berlin in 1932 the image of God." He munities.
At present, the Jewish welfare programs in Hungary
were Jewish. In that same wrote the most beautiful
year in Detroit, this re- poetry on Israel and command a budget of $3 million a year. The JDC will
contribute one-third of this budget during the current year.
viewer's graduating class Jerusalem.
The government is committed to also contribute to the
numbered close to 50 per-
Jewish community a liberal sum in Hungarian currency.
cent Jewish Students, and
The rest will come from the sale of kosher meat—there are
this despite some obvious
more than 10 kosher butcher shops in Budapest alone —
discrimination.
the sale of matzot, the operation of cemeteries and other
The anti-Semitism which
sources of income.
locked the doors of
JEWISH LEADERSHIP IN HUNGARY: Of the
academia, industry and
100,000 Jews now estimated to be living in Hungary, some
public office, made the
80,000 reside in Budapest. The Central Board of Hunga-
"free-wheeling" practice of
rian Jews has a presidential council composed of a
medicine attractive to the
president and four vice presidents. They are all paid and
Jewish applicant. There
elected for eight years. There is a general council of 34
are, no doubt, numerous
members, not paid, who meet monthly. The next body con-
other causes.
sists of 200 electors who meet once or twice a year.
It may be pertinent to
The country is divided into six regions, each with a
highlight one basic factor,
president who is not paid. The six regions meet once a year
and that is that Jews always
in
Budapest
for a one-day meeting to hear reports.
valued scholarship and
MAIMONIDES
The Jewish community in Hungary conducts a very
learning more than wealth
Other
outstanding
physi-
active religious life. There are 105 synagogues in Hungary,
or other attainments. The
cians who showed a com- 30 of them in Budapest. They receive encouragement from
Jewish physician not only
mitment to Israel were: Ep- the government, which has a liberal attitude toward reli-
utilized his knowledge but
hraim Luzzato from Italy gious institutions.
exercised a moral leader-
who said: "A jackal am I for
The Jewish Theological Seminary in Budapest has
ship. This fact is further wailing Zion's desolation.
been providing rabbis not only for the Jewish communities
emphasized as the author
No rest for me until its re- in Hungary. It helps the community leaders to take care of
relates the history of-those storation".
religious needs also in other countries of the Soviet bloc
who concerned themselves
He also could be very sar- where there are no rabbis, no cators, no shokhtim.
with the welfare of their
castic
about
his
fellow
The Hungarian Academy of Science published in 1957 _
people as well as contribut-
physicians: "If the patient a reproduction in 720 numbered copies of the rare Kauf-
ing to medicine.
was a beautiful dame, to mann Hagada illuminated in 10 colors. This Hagada is
The
name
of soothe her pain hours took;
considered a work of great art similar to the famous
but if she was old and lame, Sarajevo Hagada which was bought by the National
sufficient was one remote Museum in Sarajevo in 1894 as an outstanding piece of art
look." Also, H.L. Gordon, and was kept hidden by the Yugoslav government during
Pinsker, and Nordau — all t he Nazi occupation of Sarajevo.
associated with modern
The Kaufmann Hagada is part of the valuable library
Zionism and Herzl.
f ancient books and illuminated manuscripts left to - the
The final portion of the Hungarian Academy of Science by David Kaufmann, a
book is devoted to some case n oted bibliophile who taught at the Jewish Theological.
histories of patients treated Seminary in Budapest from the opening of the seminary till
by the author and a section his death. The Kaufmann Library now forms part of the
on geriatrics ;
Oriental Collection of the Hungarian Academy of Science.
'A Jewish Physician's Harvest'
By DR. MILTON J.
STEINHARDT
Boris Smolar's