Jewry's Role in
Human Affairs
AMONG 1HE WORLD'S GREAT VIOLINISTS
It is often said that music is lodged in the souls of Jewish people, and that song and
melody are descended from the ancient origins of prayer. It might also be said that
the rhythms of devotional recitations are hymns sung to the supreme being and in
them is exultation for the gift of life. Such has continued throughout our history
and we find its spirit intensified in brilliant Jewish musicians who stood alone in the
classical repertoire–as masters of the most noble instrument, the violin.
JASCHA HEIFETZ
(1901-87) b. . Vilnius, Lithuania He was perhaps the
greatest violinist of the last century, made concert
appearances before age five and first performed in the
U.S. when sixteen. While a mere six-year old, the
musical prodigy astonished all by flawlessly playing
the challenging Mendelssohn Violin Concerto. So
popular was the young Heifetz on stage that police
escorts protected him while on tours through Europe
Fleeing the Russian Revolution in 1917, he made his American debut in New York
City's Carnegie Hall the year after and became a citizen in 1925. His virtuosity
combined reasoned interpretations and technical mastery, achieving a unique level
of classical and romantic perfection. His performances set standards by which
other violinists are measured to this day. In addition to composing works, Heifetz
was a founder of the American Guild of Musical Artists.
DAVID OISTRAKH
(1908-74) b. Odessa, Russia "Incomparable" was the
word often used to describe recitals by the virtuoso
acclaimed for his exceptional technique and tone. He
made his Leningrad debut in 1929 and became a legend
in his youth, winning important instrumental contests
that launched a hugely successful international career.
Widely acknowledged as a world master, Oistrakh also
appeared as a conductor and introduced 20th century
Russian works to Western European and U.S. audiences through numerous
recordings. Such composers as Prokofiev, Khachaturian and Shostakovich wrote
violin concertos especially for him. He was also appointed a professor in the
Moscow State Conservatory in 1942, earning the prestigious Stalin Prize for his
contributions to music. Oistrakh's son, Igor, a greatly talented violinist noted for
his lean, modernistic interpretations, has kept the family name alive and sonorous.
SIR JEHUDI MENUHIN
(1916-99) b. New York City Taking up the violin at age
four, the outstanding musician struck up a lifelong
friendship with David Oistrakh after becoming the first
American concert artist to visit Russia at the end of
World War Two. He had much in common with his
colleague in style, power and proficiency, and
previously played more than five-hundred recitals for
the Allied armed forces. Menuhin appeared as a soloist
and conductor with leading symphony orchestras worldwide for more than a half
century. His tours blended many eastern and rare works with the standard
repertoire. Regarded as one of America's foremost musicians, Menuhin also
established music festivals in Switzerland and in England–the country where he
eventually settled and which awarded him a knighthood. The Menuhin Festival
Orchestra that he organized remains a fixture in our musical firmament
-Saul Stadtmauer
COMMISSION FOR THE DISSEMINATION OF JEWISH HISTORY
Walter & Lea Field, Founders/Sponsors
Irwin S. Field & Harriet F. Siden, Chairpersons
Visit many more notable Jews at our website: www.dorledor.org
6/29
2001
28
A place where
beauty and
wellness come first
248 . 624 . 7922
39800 WEST FOURTEEN Mill ROAD
Newberry Shopping Plaza • Near Hiller's Market
Visit us at www.venusbeautydaysspa.com
This Week
News Digest
As Knocks
Sharon Strategy
heard from Holocaust survivors who
said that we cannot rule our a person
on the basis of their nationality."
Damascus/JTA — Syrian President
Bashar Assad accused Israeli Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon of pushing the
Middle East toward war.
Assad also said Wednesday the Bush
administration has not yet done anything
to advance the Middle East peace process.
Assad's comments came as he ended a
visit to France that was marked by
protests over anti-Semitic remarks Assad
made at a welcoming ceremony last
month when the pope visited Syria.
During his visit to France, Assad defend-
ed those remarks, saying that when he
said Jews had betrayed Jesus and tried to
kill the Prophet Mohammed, he was
talking about Israelis, not Jews in general.
Actress Learns
Self-Defense
Airport Rescue
Remembered
Entebbe/JTA — The pilot of the Air
France flight kidnapped to Uganda 25
years ago, who insisted on remaining
with the Jewish hostages held at Entebbe
Airport, is due in Israel next week to
take part in ceremonies commemorating
the daring rescue of the hostages.
In an interview with the Israeli daily
Maariv, he said he only had been ful-
filling his duty.
Western Wall Plaza
To Be Lowered
Jerusalem/JTA — The Jerusalem
municipality plans to lower the
Western Wall Plaza by six yards in
order to uncover lower portions of the
Western Wall and create a more
impressive structure, the Israeli daily
Maariv reported Wednesday.
The paper said the plan would cost
nearly $25 million.
German Heads
Haifa Campus
Haifa/JTA — Haifa University named
what is believed to be the first non-Jew
and German to head an Israeli university.
Manfred Lahnstein, a former
German finance minister, has served as
vice chairman of the university's Board
of Governors since 1999. The univer-
sity's president, Yehuda Hayuth, told
Ha'aretz that while some people said
Israel is not ready for the appointment
of a German to such a post, he also
Los Angeles/JTA — Actress Jennifer
Lopez recently learned an Israeli mar-
tial art for her upcoming movie.
Lopez learned Krav Maga for her
upcoming role in Enough, in which she
will play a working-class waitress who
fights back against an abusive husband.
Krav Maga reaches people to use every-
day objects as weapons in order to sur-
vive violent confrontations.
Paper Must Pay
Schindler's Widow
Berlin/JTA
A German court
ordered a newspaper to pay $11,000
to Oskar Schindler's widow for pub-
lishing documents that had belonged
to the German businessman credited
with saving Jews during World War II.
Emilie Schindler had demanded
four times as much from the
Stuttgarter Zeitung, saying she has the
right to the documents found by a
German couple in 1999 and given to
the newspaper.
—
Olympian To Swim
At Maccabiah
New York/JTA — A U.S. Olympic
gold medalist says he will swim in the
Maccabiah Games next month, despite
the violence in the Middle East.
Lenny Krayzelburg, who earned
three gold medals in the 2000 Sydney
Olympics, says he never considered
dropping out.
"I want to come close to my her-
itage," said Krayzelburg, who was born
in the Soviet Union and will be visit-
ing Israel for the first time.
"It's important to show support for
Israel."
Some 2,000 athletes are expected to
compete in this year's Maccabiah,
down from the 5,000 who originally
registered for the Games.
IBM Planning
Haifa Lab
Haifa/JTA — IBM is establishing a new
microelectronics laboratory in Haifa.
The lab initially is expected to employ
about 30 people.