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.