arts & entertainment

Pictures Of Resistance

Book Fair author and Janice Charach Gallery exhibit
tell the story of Jewish partisans in Poland.

I

Suzanne Chessler
Contributing Writer

W

hen Joanne Gilbert introduces
her collection of personal histo-
ries at the Jewish Book Fair, she
and her audience will be surrounded by a
photo exhibit representing the tenacity of
one woman profiled.
Gilbert, author of Women of Valor:
Polish Resisters to the Third Reich (Gihon
River Press), honors partisans who served
in small militias during World War II and
will reference "Pictures of Resistance: The
Wartime Photographs of Jewish Partisan
Faye Schulman:'
The exhibit will be on view Oct. 19-
Dec. 14 in the Janice Charach Gallery at
the Jewish Community Center in West
Bloomfield, where Gilbert will speak on
Nov. 7.
The Jewish Partisan Educational
Foundation asked Jill Vexler to curate the
touring exhibit, which will be supplement-
ed by additional speakers (see sidebar).
"I am so honored to be trusted with
these precious stories, and I hope that I do
them justice says Gilbert, who grew up
in Oak Park and lives in Las Vegas. "I am
so grateful that these women have become
part of my life:'
Gilbert, a graduate of Wayne State
University, established a career as an
English educator before becoming a per-
sonal historian and extending histories
into books.
Through extensive interviews, Gilbert

Gilbert's book honors Polish
partisans and small militias.

Photographer Faye Schulman and
author Joanne Gilbert

A photo showing Schulman and other
partisans on horseback

learned that Schulman's wartime experi-
ences in the woods, eking out existence
while combating the Germans, were like
those of thousands of others. Gilbert also
found out how extraordinary it was to
bring along a camera.
Separately, Gilbert and Vexler went to
Schulman's Toronto home and saw how
the images showed the camaraderie, brav-
ery and losses shared among the photog-
rapher's group of partisans between 1942
and 1944.
"This exhibit is really unusual in that
photographic representation is so rare by a
partisan, especially one who is Jewish and
a woman:' Vexler says. "The pictures are
narrative and handsome, and they need to
be passed along:'
Among some 30 photos are panoramic

views of partisans in their uniforms and
with weapons. One shows Schulman and
other partisans on horseback.
Through their independent projects,
Gilbert and Vexler ultimately want to
emphasize how wrong it is to think that
Jews went like lambs to the slaughter
when Nazi forces approached.
Gilbert did not anticipate writing about
the Holocaust when she began developing
personal histories, an initiative taken after
working on publications for the Las Vegas
Jazz Society.
Once finished with a feature article
about the oldest member of the musical
organization, she agreed to do a longer
profile for his own use.
"I found out this type of work
can become a profession, joined the

Coming-Of-Age Comedy

JET mounts production of Enter Laughing.

Suzanne Chessler
Contributing Writer

at the Jewish Community
Center in West Bloomfield.
"So are the characters"
nter Laughing reaches the spotlight
The cast includes Greg
as a fictionalized play based on Carl
Trzaskoma (Mr. Foreman);
Reiner's beginnings in show busi-
T. J. Corbett (David
ness, but it resonates as a coming-of-age
Kolowitz); Nick Hartman
story for any young person detouring from
(Marvin); Katie Kujala
Carl Reiner
the direction urged by parents.
(Miss B.); Jonathan West
In keeping with the comedic tone of
(Pike); Eric Eilersen
Reiner's long career spanning stage, televi-
(Don Baxter); Joshua Nielson (Don
sion and films, the production is presented
Darwin); Charles Van Hoose (Marlowe);
with dialogue full of quips.
Kathryn Mahard (Angela); Peggy Thorp
"The dialogue is wonderful," says Mary
(Mother); Jerry Gerard (Father); Patrick
Bremer, director of the Jewish Ensemble
O'Connor Cronin (Roger); Mariah
Theatre production running Oct. 22-Nov. 16 Johnson (Wanda); and Ally Thomas,

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54

October 16 • 2014

JN

Lauren Ellis and Emily Sitton
(waitresses).
The 1963 play, based on a book
by Carl Reiner, now 92, follows a
young man intrigued by theater
and turning away from the phar-
macy career encouraged by his parents.
Joseph Stein (1912-2010), who scripted
Fiddler on the Roof, wrote the play, which
also includes romantic interests.
The 1967 film version was directed by
Reiner, who years ago spoke to the Jewish
News about his professional outlook as he
anticipated a local speak-
ing engagement.
"Everything I do is a
performance — even when
I write a book," he said. "I'm
always aware that I'm speak-
ing to an audience, although
I may not be speaking to
them all directly"

JET Gala

Drs. Phoebe and Harris Mainster
will be the honorees at JET's Silver
Anniversary Celebration Gala on
Monday, Oct. 20. The dinner will be
held at Glen Oaks Country Club in
Farmington Hills.
Phoebe received her Ph.D. in 1983
and has taught at both Wayne State
University and Oakland University. She
has received numerous awards for her
teaching and has been a board member

Bremer, who appeared in the JET comedy
Moonlight and Magnolias and has directed
Enter Laughing at the University of Detroit
Mercy, teaches theater at local colleges.
"This ultimately is a real look at life
Bremer says. "It's about relaxing and going
with the flow:'

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