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Those who correctly identified Ms. Winger: Michael and Phyllis Bernstein, Sheila Freedman, Shirley Jonas, Melissa Kalman, Larry Kaplan, Lynn Kasmer, Michael Mervis, Mike Levich, Neal Levine, Mar- ty and Elise Levinson, Linda Rosenbaum, Sherrie Rott, Nor- ma Schey, Sally Shapiro, Susan Si:porin, Rebecca Sykes, Dr. Melvin Wasserman, Gerald Ziskind, Jack Zwick. C daughter of a tailor in Opoczno, a town in south-central Poland between Lodz and Radom. Es- terka bore the king two sons and two daughters. The sons were raised Catholic and the daughters were brought up Jewish. After 1370, Esterka was killed during a pogrom. . Beyond their religious train- ing, nothing more is told of Es- terka's children. The sons did not ascend to the throne; in fact, Casimir stated that he had no male children, and in 1339 he recognized Louis, son of Charles I of Hungary (Casimir's broth- er-in-law), as successor to the Polish crown. There is no solid historical ev- idence to confirm the veracity of the story. Some scholars be- AND NOW! Another thrilling lieve it is entirely fictitious, a question: reworking of Megillat Esther, This country-and-western the Purim story of the original singer's real name is Judy Cohen. Esther married to a gentile Two of her biggest hits, released king. in the 1980s, were "The Queen of Anti-Semites used the Ester- • Hearts" and "Angel of the Morn- ka story to explain Casimir's ing." What was her stage name? friendliness to Jews. Nonethe- Send answers to Tell Me Why, less, the tale was widespread The Jewish News, 27676 and gave rise to other legends Franklin Road, Southfield, MI (especially regarding the royal 48034, fax (810) 354-6069. palaces in Cracow) and was used throughout Polish literature. Q: Several months ago Tell Me Q: No way! A friend told me the Why enlightened us about a Jew- ish woman who allegedly was the first left-handed boxer to win a mistress of a Spanish.king. I have world title was a Jew named Mc- heard similar stories involving a Coy? A: Yes, way — though that Jewish woman and a Polish king. wasn't his real name. Can you elucidate? Al McCoy was born Al A: You probably are thinking in 1894 in New Jersey. of Esterka of Opoczno, leg- Rudolph was Middleweight Cham- endary mistress of King He of the World from 1914- Casimir III "The Great" (Kaz- pion 1917, the first left-hander to imierz Wielki) of Poland (1310- capture 1370; king of Poland from in 1966. a world title. He died 1333). Adept in diplomacy as well Q: I recently saw a documentary as war, Casimir made peace with Poland's worst enemy, the on the life of two great "robber Teutonic Order, and wrested barons" of the 19th century: An- Silesia from Bohemia. He uni- drew Carnegie and his associate, fied Poland, established Henry Clay Frick. One section of the Poland's first university, put down aristocratic oppression, film recounted the horrible Home- founded towns and developed stead steel strike of 1892. Carnegie architecture. and Frick vehemently opposed Casimir also encouraged the workers' demands and violence immigration of Jews to Poland, confidant their artisan and broke out between the company's business skills would benefit private guards and the strikers. During the strike, an attempt was Poland's development. He ex- tended rights to Jews through- made on Frick's life by a man the out Poland and cultivated close documentary called a "revolution- relationships with the Jewish ary," Andrew Berkman, who had no banker, Lewko of Cracow. According to legend, Casimir connection to the workers. I have took as his mistress Esterka (a the feeling he may have been Jew- diminutive of Esther), the ish; was he? A: Your intuition is correct. Berkman was born in 1870 in Vilna, Russian Lithuania. In his youth, he joined the revolu- tionary movement in Russia. His immigration to the Unit- ed States in 1888 did not change his radical attitude. He joined the Pioneers of Freedom, an anarchist group founded by Russian-Jewish immigrants. Later, he was associated with other anarchist groups and ul- timately with the mother of all anarchists, Emma Goldman. . A fanatic and believer in anti- capitalist terrorism, Berkman in 1892 made his way to Home- stead, Penn., to demonstrate his solidarity, with the steel workers and his hatred of the bosses — especially Henry Clay Frick, general manager of the Homestead Company. Berk- man burst into Frick's office, _._ stabbed and shot him. Amaz- ingly, Frick survived the attack. His enraged office workers were ready to tear Berkman to pieces, but Frick saved Berk- man's life by commanding his employees to "leave him to the law." Berkman was arrested, tried, convicted, and sentenced to 25 years in prison. He was re- leased, after 14 years. Berkman's imprisonment did not temper his radicalism. For several years after his release he co-edited, with Emma Gold- man, the anarchist monthly Mother Earth. He later moved to San Francisco and published his own anarchist periodical, The Blast. . Berkman spent two years in the Atlanta penitentiary for propagandizing against mili- conscription in World War I. After his release in 1919, he was deported to Soviet Russia. Like a true anarchist, he could not live under a Bolshevik regime and left Russia in 1922. He settled in Germany, and lat- er in Nice, France, where he worked as a translator and writer. In 1936, he committed suicide. ❑ Send questions to Tell Me Why, The Jewish News, 27676 Franklin Road, Southfield, MI 48034, or fax to (810) 354-6069. All letters must be signed and in- clude the writer's address. Ques- tions answered in the column Will feature only the writer's initials and city of residence.