Greg Shoes
A Lithuanian Immigrant
Named Lena And Her Big Story
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Q: Do the large women of Ameri-
ca owe a special debt of gratitude
to the Jewish community?
A: NAAFA (the National As-
sociation to Advance Fat Accep-
tance), listen up.
Lena Himmelstein, a Lithuan-
ian-born immigrant to the Unit-
ed States, was the founder of the
Lane Bryant chain, specializing
in clothes for larger women.
Born in 1881, Lena came to
the United States when she was
16. Following the death of her
husband, David Bryant, she
opened a dressmaking store in
New York City.
RNS PHOTO
The founders of Tel Aviv cast lots for building sites in 1909.
Lena found success when in
1907 she designed a maternity
dress — until then an unknown Herzl's 1902 Zionist novel Alt- is dead, Joseph's brothers dip the
quantity in America. Until then, neuland into Hebrew. Sokolow coat of many colors in the blood
a pregnant woman stayed in- took the name of the settlement of a goat. They bring it to their
doors until relieved of her "con- of exiled Jews in Babylonia as father, Jacob, who cries, "It is my
stated in Ezekiel 3:5 and titled son's coat; an evil beast hath de-
dition."
voured him; Joseph is without
Lena married a second hus- his translation Tel Aviv.
In
German,
altneuland
means
doubt torn in pieces."
band, Albert Malsin, who helped
Then, the Torah recounts, Ja-
her build up the business. In "old-new land." In Hebrew, tel is
a
hill
of
ruins,
and
aviv
means
cob
"rent his garments, and put
1916, Lane Bryant, Inc., became
incorporated and soon expand- spring; thus for Sokolow, Tel sackcloth upon his loins, and
ed to include not only maternity Aviv perfectly symbolized the mourned for his son many days."
Today, Jews rend their clothes
clothes but attire for larger theme of Herzl's book.
Inspired
by
Sokolow's
book,
in
upon
the death of a parent, child,
women. By 1917, the store's
1910 the Jewish residents of the spouse or sibling. The most se-
sales reached $1 million.
Lena and her husband were Jaffa suburb of Achuzat Bayit vere rending is done for one's
active in the American Red changed the name of their town parents, when a tear is made in
every piece of attire (except un-
Cross, the New York Federation to Tel Aviv.
dergarments) on the left side,
of Jewish Philanthropies and
and may never be fully repaired.
HIAS. Albert died in 1923 and
HEM THE STORY... For other family members, tears
Lena in 1951. Their son, Raphael
are made on the right and usu-
Bryant Malsin, took charge of
ally on a lapel.
the company in 1938.
COPLEY NEWS SERVICE
Studio in Harvard Row- Mall
0: Why do some people wash their
hands before reciting BirkatHaMa-
zon (the grace after meals)?
A: The practice is prescribed
fref.-7
THE D ET ROI T J EWISH NEWS
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Lena could toot her horn at such
fashions.
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Q: How did Tel Aviv get its name?
A: Israel's largest city got its
name from the Polish-born He-
brew writer and Zionist,
Nachum Sokolow (1859-1936).
Sokolow translated Theodor
in the Talmud. In ancient Israel,
ordinary table salt often was
mixed with salt from Sodom,
which contained a high content
of potassium chloride, harmful
if it came in contact with the
eyes.
Over time, Ashkenazi Jewry
largely abandoned this practice,
though it has been retained by
Chasidim and is known as may-
im acharonim.
Q: Why do Jews tear their clothes
when a loved one dies?-
A: Keriah is a traditional cus-
tom that reflects the grief of a
mourner.
It is first mentioned in the
Torah in Genesis 37:29-34. To
convince their father that Joseph
In every case, the tear is about
4" long and is made upon recit-
ing the baruch dayyan emet (God
is a righteous judge) blessing be-
fore the funeral.
In earlier times, it was com-
mon to rend one's clothing fol-
lowing the death of a prestigious
leader. Today, many observe the
practice upon seeing a Torah
scroll destroyed in a fire.
Send questions to "Tell Me Why"
c/o The Jewish News, 27676
Franklin Rd., Southfield, MI
48034