Friday, April 22, 1983 61 TH E DETROIT JEWISH NEWS . From Hester Street to Hollywood' r By JOSEPH COHEN Tulane University NEW ORLEANS — Of all the enduring cultural in- stitutions Jew& have created, not the least impor- tant is that 20th Century phenomenon mirroring the American-Jewish psyche, the Jewish-American thea- ter. The play has always been the thing! The vitality and richness of expression that marked the Yiddish theater' in the early days, however af- fected by acculturation and assimilation, has consis- tently had a significant im- pact on the lives of Jews and non-Jews alike, right up to the present when names like Woody Allen, Jules Feiffer, Barbra Streisand and Mel Brooks are house- hold words. It is no accident that Al Jolson, Fannie Brice, Eddie Cantor and Jack Benny are respected as saints, while George Burns plays "God." The most recent chronicling of the unique history of Jewish theater in America is an engross- ing collection of essays, entitled "From Hester Street to Hollywood (In- diana University Press), edited by Sarah Blacher Cohen. The 18 essays are liter- ally packed with fresh in- sights, precise analyses, biographical data, il- luminating commentary and tidy summations. Most of the essays follow a chronological format, trac- ing their subjects' origins and careers, role by role, play by play or film by film, elucidating the specifically Jewish aspects of their work (except in the case of Lillian Hellman where Jewishness is absent). The Yiddishkeit abounds. Good definitions of it are intersperstd with descrip- tions of its intermingling forcefulness. Closely re- lated are the discussions of the on-stage effectiveness of bi-lingualism and the re- sulting sensitivity Jewish performers developed to the patterns and nuances of speech which increased their flexibility and range. Early on, stand-up comics perfected their techniques for assuming either "pred- ator" or "prey" stances, re- flecting both the aggres- siveness and the vulnerabil- ity required for interplay with their audiences. For immigrant Jewish children, learning about life in the streets, the "predator-prey" context was ideal for their future encounters in front of the public. Though the essayists who contributed to the book include a number of the best Jewish scholars currently writing on the literary and dramatic arts, there is precious lit- tle academicism, and the vitality, enthusiasm, color and sparkle of the theater is reflected in their well-researched ar- ticles and their verbal facility. The book's only distraction is its minis- cule print, obviously a casualty of ever-rising production costs, a seri- ously inhibiting factor for non-profit institu- tional presses. But you get a lot for your money when you can read Sarah Blacher Cohen on the Yiddish origins of the thea- ter, and the folk drama of Isaac Bashevis Singer, An- thony Lewis on the Jewish stand-up comics, Jules Chametsky on Elmer Rice, Bonnie Lyons on Lillian Hellman, Daniel Walden on Neil Simon, Stephen Whit- field on Jules Feiffer, Keith Opdahl on Saul Bellow, Mark Schechner on Woody Allen, and Sanford Pinsker on Mel Brooks. Other essayists deal with Fannie Brice and Sophie Tucker, Clifford Odets, Ar- thur Miller, Paddy Chayefsky, Jewish theater music, American Holocaust drama and the Jewish presence in the film indus- try. Just about every major Jewish actor, playwright and comic is mentioned, and though some are not the single subject of a given ar- ticle, they are thoughtfully discussed. A case in point is Lenny Bruce, whose ghost haunts these pages. The fare is so varied that it is nearly impossi- ble to survey it here adequately. Minor com- parisons and contrasts emerge from combining facts found many pages away from one another. For example, Mel Brooks' depiction of Jewish In- dians in "Blazing Sad- dles" seemed original but he was preceded by Fan- nie Brice who did a Jewish Indian routine as early as 1910. Barbra Streisand who has always insisted on "not changing your noses or your Moses," makes an effective contrast to Milton Berle who had his nose "bobbed" and subsequently joked about "cutting offhis nose to spite his race-," adding that he was "a thing of beauty and a goy forever." But, of course, he wasn't. The "goy forever" is Lil- lian Hellman. She has al- ways struck me as a Jewish anti-Semite, and I have never been able to be objec- tive about her or her plays. For all her vaunted opposi- tion to Facism and her widely publicized righteous indignation over the McCarthy era witch-hunts, she maintained a strict aloofness from those one might have regarded as her natural allies. As Bonnie Lyons con- firms in "Lillian Hellman: The First Jewish Nun on Prytania Street," that aloofness was marked not only by a lack of compassion for suffering humanity but by contempt as well. Her anti-Fascist plays written during World War II ig- nored the Jews and the Holocaust. One finds noth- ing Jewish in her themes or characterizations. The New Orleans-born daughter of German- Jewish parents, she re- jected the little Judaism they proffered, creating in its place a moralisti- cally rigid, pseudo- philosophical stance which singularly em- phasized unflinching in- dividual courage in con- fronting the violence in life. Lyons sees her in this re- gard as "Hemingwayes- que." I am reminded that R.P. Blackmur once de- scribed Hemingway as "a muscle without value." That description, it seems to me, more aptly fits Hellman than Hemingway who, his macho image notwithstand- ing, was capable of display- ing compassion and tender- ness. Obviously Hellman has made a contribution to American drama. That much granted, it is still a pity that with her remarka- ble talent, she might have unlocked the door to true greatness if she had admit- ted and embraced her hu- manity and her heritage. In her failing to do so, we all lost something, but she, the most. Church Thanked for Aid After Fire Rabbi Stanley M. Rosen- baum, president of the Rab- binical Commission of the Jewish Community Coun- cil, has sent a letter of thanks to the First Church of Christ Scientist for its ef- forts on behalf of Cong. Beth Abraham Hillel Moses after the synagogue was de- stroyed in a January fire. Writing on behalf of the commission, Rabbi Rosen- baum wrote: "One of the bright spots in that terrible situation was the way in which you and your congre- gation opened your doors to that congregation in its hour of need. "Your generosity to your Jewish neighbors is the finest example of religious living, of living the values of true brotherhood and neighborliness . ." Taubman, Ford Fisher Sell Calif. Land Al Taubman has con- firmed on behalf of himself, Max Fisher and Henry Ford II the sale of their interest in a 120 square mile tract of land in Orange County, Calif., the Irvine Ranch, for more than $1-billion. _ The buyer was Donald Bren, who already owned 34 percent of the development and now owns more than 80 percent. Two other original investors — Milton Petrie, chairman of Petrie Stores Inc., which owns a majority interest in Winkelman's Stores Inc. of Michigan, and Herbert Allen, Sr., of New York — also sold their interest to Bren. He that does not bring up his son to some honest cal- ling and employment, brings him up to be a thief. Y OU th News ADAT SHALOM Mig- dal Tzion will play vol- leyball at 6 p.m, Sunday at Akiva Hebrew nay School. Shoresh will have an oneg Shabat 8 p.m. April 29 in the home of Yariv Houvras, 7255 Camelot, West Bloom- field. For directions, call Houvras, 661-0173. Shoresh and Migdal Tzion will participate in the Israel Independence Day parade May 1. For details, call Hadas Reiter, 855- 9865. Migdal Tzion will sponsor a hot dog booth at the celebration. Volunteers should contact Reiter. Shoresh will have elec- tions 2 p.m. May 15 at the synagogue. Migdal Tzion will have elections 2:30 p.m. at the synagogue. Shoresh elections are open to youth in grades five-eight. A movie will follow. Migdal Tzion elec- tions are open to persons in grades eight-12. Eighth graders will not be allowed to vote. Shabat services are held at 10 a.m. Saturdays for all youth. ** * BETH ABRAHAM HILLEL MOSES youth age 9 and up will build a float for the Israel Indepen- dence Day parade. Youth interested in helping to build the float should meet at noon Sunday at Ealy Elementary School. A party will follow the completion of the float. For information, call adviser Aron Weber- man, 851-6880; or coor- dinator Mike Sabes, 355- 0891. The Atid group (age 5-8) will play miniature golf at "Putt and Game" Sunday, meeting. at Ealy School at noon. Children should bring a dairy lunch. For informa- tion, call adviser Julie Mar- golis, 547-6948; or Sabes. Junior Congregation services have been tempo- rarily suspended owing to the synagogue remodeling. However; youth are re- quested to attend services in the sanctuary. Discount credit will for the Cedar Point trip will be given to students who attend serv- ices. ** * BETH ACHIM Lahav United Synagogue Youth will participate in the city-wide oneg Shabat 8 p.m. today at Cong. Beth Shalom. Bnai Mazal will go to Plum Hollow Lanes to "bowl * * * Roeper Student Wins Math Prize Steven Newman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Newman of Ann Arbor, has won the 1983 Michigan Mathematics Prize Compe- tition for high school stu- dents by tying for first place. He was awarded a $1,200 scholarship and designated a Burroughs Corp. Scholar. Newman, 15, is a junior at Roeper City and Country School. for quarters" Sunday, meet- ing at the synagogue at 1:30 p.m. There is a charge. For reservations, call Bonnie Whiteman, 557-7582. Kochavim will have an Israel Independence Day preppy party Sunday, meet- ing at 1:30 p.m. at the synagogue. There is a charge. For reservations, call Linda Ankerman, 546- 5797. Beth Achim youth groups will march in the Israel Independence Day parade May 1. For car- pool information, call Youth Director Marc An- kerman, 352-8679. Shabat youth services are held at 10 a.m. Saturdays. * * * SHALOM BETH Kadima will go five-pin bowling noon Sunday, leav- ing from the synagogue. Members should bring a dairy bag lunch. Chips and beverage will be provided. There is a charge and members should bring a copy of their birth certifi- cate to go to Windsor. Driv- ers are needed. For reserva- tions, call Alex Greenbaum, 399-7194; or Ron Leff; 552- 8165. ** * BNAI DAVID Ruach ,grades three-five) will hold a Shabat luncheon Satur- day following services. A float-building party will take place 1 p.m. Sun- day at the synagogue, to build a float for the Israel Independence Day parade. Shabat youth services are held 10 a.m. every Saturday for youth age 3-13. Talit and Tefilin will meet 9 a.m. Sunday for serv- ices, followed by breakfast and a social activity. For information, call the youth hotline, 557-8325. * * * BNAI MOSHE Junior Congregation will hold Shabat services 10 a.m. April 30 at the Jewish Fed- eration Apts. Youth in grades one-six are invited. For details, call Mark Eich- ner, 358-0065, after 6 p.m. Bnai Moshe youth will participate in the March of Dimes walk-a-thon Sunday, meeting at 8:15 a.m. at Building H at Oakland Community College, Or- chard Ridge campus in Farmington Hills. For de- tails, call Adam Gottlieb, 352-2351, after 6 p.m.; or Walter Rosenblum, 352- 2307, after 6 p.m. The youth also will par- ticipate in the Israel Inde- pendence Day parade May 1 at the main Jewish Com- munity Center. For details, call Rosenblum. Regular Shabat services for youth are held at 10 a.m. Saturdays. , * * * TEMPLE ISRAEL TEMPLE YOUTH will hold an election meeting 6 p.m. Monday in the temple. Applications for the spring retreat, scheduled for April 29-May 1 at Camp Maas, are due at the meet- ing. The group will have its installation 6:30 p.m. May 21 at the temple. * * * YOUNG ISRAEL OF GREENFIELD will have a minyan for boys and girls age 5-9 at 10 a.m. Saturday. At 5:45 p.m. Saturday, the 613 Club for boys age 8-12 will meet at the synagogue to study the 613 Mitzvot (Sefer Hachinuch) . and Pirke Avot. Kvutzat Shabat for chil- dren in nursery school through second grade will meet at 5:55 p.m. Saturday at the synagogue. BBYO Activities Yachad BBG, Windsor, will hold its annual fashion show 7 p.m. Sunday at the Windsor Jewish Commu- nity Centre. All Jewish youth are invited. There is a charge. The next meeting of the BBYO board of directors will be 8 p.m. Monday at the BBYO office. The meeting will be the culmination of the annual board fund rais- ing, and Ways and Means Chairman, Henry Gutter,. will give a report. An orientation meeting for all AZA and BBG mem- bers going to the Israel Summer Institute will be held 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the United Hebrew Schools auditorium. Par- ents of participants are in- vited. The program will fea- ture BBYO members who attended the ISI trip last summer as well as touring Israeli high school students who will present a view of Israel today. BBYO will participate in the Israel Indepen- dence Day Celebration noon May 1 at the main Jewish Community Cen- ter. BBYO will have a float and chapter mem- bers are encouraged to march. Applications for the Elec- tions Training Conclave, which will take place May 13-15 at Camp Maas, have been sent to every regis- tered member of AZA and BBG. Additional applica- tions are available from chapter presidents. Dead- line for application is Thursday. _ Summer Classes WALTHAM, Mass. (JTA) — Registration is now open for the varied selection of courses in Near Eastern and Judaic studies highlighting the two 1983 summer ses- sions at Brandeis Univer- sity, May 3I-July 1, and July 5-Aug. 5. Correction Dr. Moshe Davis, who edited "Guide to America Holy Land Studies, Vol. 2" which was reviewed in the April 1 Jewish News, is the founding head of Hebrew University's Institute of Contemporary Jewry.