Posts Tagged Jewish History

Beckett and the Jews

Posted by Rachel Broder in Jewish Knowledge on October 27, 2011

I wrote a paper for an Irish Literature class last year on Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot. The paper was long and winding, but in no way tied to Judaism. Little did I know an article in today’s Forward would bring me back to my som of confusing paper.

The Forward published an article today called, “ Samuel Beckett’s Letters Reveal Roots of Resistance.” The article focuses on Beckett’s intentional and unintentional ties to the Jewish people before, during, and after World War II. Two volumes of Beckett’s letters were recently published, The Letters of Samuel Beckett: Volume 2, 1941–1956 and Samuel Beckett’s German Diaries 1936-1937, both shedding light on Beckett’s ties to the Jews.

hrc.utexas.edu

The article interestingly suggests that, “Beckett and Joyce (both living in exile) identified intellectually with Jews as people of the Diaspora.” I think that Beckett may definitely have drawn similarities between himself and Jews because of the Diaspora, but also because Beckett had a real interest in human value and human control of life. Thinking about Pozzo and Lucky in Godot, I immediately draw ties to Nazis and Jews, and Beckett’s ability to not only write about the absurd relationship between master and subservient, but also how quickly the relationship can flip. Beckett had this great knack for recognizing competing perspectives on a single matter – i.e. master and subservient – that illuminate the undeniable connection between human beings.

I spent a lot of time in my very long paper discussing Beckett’s use of existentialism in Godot, and while I really never thought I would re-visit the idea in my life, here I am. To me, Beckett’s accidental connections to Jewish publishers in Paris, Jewish artists and authors, and a Jewish uncle-by-marriage had a lot less to do with his attraction to Jews, and more to do with his feeling for human beings as individuals free to explore and interact. Beckett saw people as they were- the Nazis as “appalling,” and seemingly common characters like Estragon, Vladimir, Pozzo, and Lucky as extremely complex and worthy of an entire play. He felt connected to human beings in general, whether it be by common experience, common tongue, common interests, or mere proximity. The Forward’s article on Beckett reminded me of how timeless Waiting for Godot is, and how impossibly wonderful Beckett was for being both brilliant and entirely human.

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Rock Like A Punk Jew

Posted by Rachel Broder in Jewish Knowledge on July 6, 2011

Generally when I listen to punk rock I don’t really think about the people behind the music, but more so the effect of it.  But then I did some poking around on the World Wide Web.  Mick Jones from The Clash was born to a Russian Jewish mother.  Tommy Ramone is Jewish, and so was Joey.  And so are Chris Stein (Blondie), Lenny Kaye (Patti Smith Group), Handsome Dick Manitoba (The Dictators), Richard Hell (Richard Hell & The Voidoids), Hilly Kristal (Owner of CBGB), Martin Rev and Alan Vega (Suicide), and Jonathan Richman (The Modern Lovers).  What’s up with all of these punk rocking Jews?

sharonactor.com

In my effort to figure out a connection between Jews and punk rock, I stumbled across Steven Lee Beeber.  In his 2006 novel Heebie-Jeebies at CBGB’s, Beeber writes, “Punk reflects the whole Jewish history of oppression and uncertainty, flight and wandering, belonging and not belonging, always being divided, being in and out, good and bad, part and apart.”  He sees Jewish-influenced punk music as a reaction to the Holocaust, a movement fueled by Jewish men born a generation after the Holocaust, who expressed both anger and confidence.  Beeber talks about punk rock’s use of Nazi symbols as a means by which to both shock and exert power.  Basically, Beeber connects a lot of the dots. 

Saul Austerlitz reflects on Beeber’s novel and writes that, “Punk may not have been Jewish, but its push-and-pull dynamic regarding American culture at large might as well have been.”  His really great article on beliefnet.com explains punk rock as a struggle similar to Jewish struggle, therefore making the two a perfect match.  As I listen to The Clash or London Calling, I feel each song’s power as it very quickly flashes, booms, and abruptly ends.  The music of The Clash and other punk bands is fast and loud, violent at times, and very often expressing a conflict with society.  Punk rock has always been utterly reactionary, a means by which musicians could verbally and melodically fight back.  What people needed a stage from which to fight back more so than the Jews?

Enjoy this very hot first week of July with any of the killer Jewish punk heads listed at the top of this post, and maybe also a little Adam Sandler spoof: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLieRUthktM

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Mahler Mania!

Posted by Rachel Broder in Jewish Knowledge on February 17, 2011

The first time I really heard a Mahler symphony was in the tenth grade.  A friend of mine was giving a presentation on Holocaust survivors and needed a piece of music to play during a portion of it.  She asked my dad for a suggestion, and he told her to play Mahler’s First Symphony.   

This February marks the 100th anniversary of Mahler’s illness, and this May is the 100th anniversary of his death.  He fell ill in December of 1910, but then insisted on keeping a date at Carnegie Hall in February 1911.  Following the concert, he came down with extreme fever and was diagnosed with bacterial endocarditis.  He died on May 18th, and was buried in Vienna.

 What amazes me about Mahler’s music, beyond the beauty, is its incredible presence in modern society.  Though older generations make up most of the audience at the orchestra concerts I attend, I can proudly say that I am among other young persons who will carry classical music into the future- and Gustav Mahler is coming with me.  Growing up I knew nothing of Mahler’s ten symphonies or song-cycles  his career as a conductor and composer, or his struggle to become appreciated as a composer.  I was unfamiliar with Mahler’s Jewish roots, his battle with anti-Semitism, and his (probably) politically forced conversion to Christianity.  But now I know.  Mahler famously considered himself to be, “thrice homeless, as a native of Bohemia in Austria, as an Austrian among Germans, as a Jew throughout the world—always an intruder, never welcomed.”  It is quite stunning and satisfying that a man who thought himself so alien is now so loved.

 Mahler’s success grew during his own lifetime, but faded following his death.  Though appreciation began to again grow steadily years after Mahler’s death, many attribute the real revitalization of his work to the grand composer/conductor Leonard Bernstein.  During the 1960s, Bernstein created the first complete cycle of recordings of all nine of Mahler’s completed symphonies.  Today Mahler’s music is celebrated throughout the world.  For longtime Mahler lovers and neophytes alike, here is a list of upcoming concerts celebrating the work of the one and only Gustav Mahler:

- February 22nd: 7th Symphony performed by The London Symphony Orchestra at the Kimmel Center

- February 24th- March 1st: 9th Symphony performed by The Boston Symphony Orchestra

- March 3rd-5th: 4th Symphony performed by The New York Philharmonic

-  April 14th- 16th: 4th Symphony performed by The Philadelphia Orchestra

- April 28th- 30th: 5th Symphony performed by The New York Philharmonic

- May 7th- 8th: 2nd Symphony performed by The San Francisco Symphony

- May 12th- 14th: 6th Symphony performed by The San Francisco Symphony

- June 1st- 2nd: 3rd Symphony performed by The Colorado Symphony

- June 2nd- 5th: 9th Symphony performed by The Chicago Symphony Orchestra

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Muslim Delegation to Auschwitz Promotes Unity and Understanding

Posted by Rachel Feltman in Jewish Knowledge on February 3, 2011

A Photo From The Event (AP)

Last Thursday was the 66th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. The notorious death camp, where at least 1.1 million people were murdered over the course of World War II, has become a symbol for the Holocaust as a whole. Many events and trips were planned in memorial of the liberation day, but one stood out as a beautiful message of peace.

On Tuesday, a group of about 150 delegates from Morocco, Turkey, Jordan, Iraq, and other nations arrived at Auschwitz to pay their respects. The delegation included many prominent leaders in the Muslim communities of their countries, including Karim Lahidji, the head of the Iranian League of Human Rights. Elan Steinberg, vice president of the American Gathering of Holocaust Survivors and their Descendants, called the gathering “unprecedented”.

The gesture is an important one. Many of these delegates came from countries considered sources of Holocaust denial (often due to one or two loud voices, as is the case with Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad), so their decision to travel to Poland for this occasion is a powerful message to the world in support of religious tolerance and interfaith unity.

The trip was mostly organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific  and Cultural Organization, which works to promote worldwide understanding and collaboration. Also in support was the French-based “Aladdin Project”, which is dedicated to strengthening the relationship between Jews and Muslims worldwide.

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A Treasured Museum Opens Its Lovely New Doors

Posted by Rachel Feltman in Jewish Innovation, Jewish Knowledge on November 17, 2010

The day after Thanksgiving is usually spent either shopping or lolling about the house in a food coma (or both, if you’re extremely industrious), but if you’re in the Philadelphia area, this year you can do something a lot more worthwhile.

The Majestic New Building

The National Museum of American Jewish History opens its new building to the public on Friday, November 26th. The museum, which first opened in 1976 under Congregation Mikveh Israel (which, FYI, has been around since 1740 and is known as the “Synagogue of the American Revolution”) has been moved to a spectacular new building down the block at Fifth and Market Street. I’ve only seen it in person from the outside, but it’s an amazing piece of architecture. Best of all, it sits proud and visible, adding to the excitement of Independence Mall instead of hiding just around the corner. Jonathan D. Sarna, chief historian at the museum, explains what the new facility hopes to convey:

Some have expressed surprise that Jews took to Independence Mall to educate visitors about the meaning of freedom rather than about more traditional subjects, like the distinctiveness of Judaism, the horrors of the Holocaust and the perils of prejudice. But that is entirely the point: The NMAJH represents a sharp break from decades of focus on Jews as victims and outsiders. It argues, instead, that Jews have arrived in America and feel confident enough to take pride in what they have accomplished under freedom, and to share those lessons with others. Gone are the days when Jews leave Main Street to the gentiles and hide themselves on hard-to-find side streets. Today, taking full advantage of the freedom that the museum itself celebrates, they can look down onto Independence Mall and America’s most hallowed ground.

The opening gala was, by all accounts, a huge success. Jerry Seinfeld hosted the event, Bette Midler performed a stunning concert, and Barbara Streisand attended to check out her section of the “Only In America” hall, which honors 18 Jewish Americans from different fields as chosen by online voters. That’s the most exciting thing about the museum: It’s modern, it’s fun, and it’s extremely interactive. I started my experience with the museum almost a year ago when I voted for my favorite American Jews (Babs was among my picks, of course, along with Henrietta Szold, a founding member of JPS), and I can’t wait to continue the fun when I visit in person.

Tickets are available starting this Friday. Order ahead if you want to visit on the opening weekend! Hope to see you there.

For more info, check out this collection of articles from The Philadelphia Inquirer.

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A Literary Treasure Trove

Posted by Rachel Feltman in Jewish Books, Jewish Knowledge on July 26, 2010

Try not to freak out, but we might have some previously unreleased Kafka on our hands very soon. If you’re not excited, I’m guessing that you’ve never read any Kafka. I forgive you, but just take my word for it: this is a big deal.

Photo Credit: AP Photo

After his death in 1924, Franz Kafka’s personal papers and documents were left to his friend and fellow writer, Max Brod. When Brod died in 1968, ten safety deposit boxes full of papers (some his, some Kafka’s) were left to his secretary and friend, Esther Hoffe. The disputed ownership of these documents is what’s kept them hidden from the public for so long. Hoffe’s daughters seem to have legal ownership, but if the papers are deemed to be “literary treasures” by the judge who is currently examining them, then they could be released into the public domain.

Even if the judge rules in favor of the Hoffe family, chances are good that the papers will soon be published in some form. Some speculate that the boxes contain unpublished manuscripts by Kafka, considered one of the greatest writers of the 20th century, while others hope that personal documents will shed light on his mysterious life.

You can read more in Haaretz, the Israeli newspaper that filed the lawsuit to make these documents public. The New York Times also has an article on the subject, where they suggest that an unpublished short story was found in the first box.

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Illuminated Manuscripts Illuminate Culture

Posted by Rachel Feltman in Jewish Books on July 21, 2010

Looking for a fun, cheap, and educational summer outing? The Yeshiva University Museum is currently hosting A Journey Through Jewish Worlds- Highlights from the Braginsky Collection of Hebrew Manuscripts and Printed Books, but only until August 1st! Here’s a little about the collection, from The New York Times:

“And as you examine these rare findings, which the curators bill as the most remarkable private collection of illuminated Hebrew manuscripts in the world, you are amazed first at the sensuous variety of the illumination, the examples extending over a millennium and across multiple continents. There are “micrographic” illustrations in which miniature lines of Hebrew text wind around images of Jerusalem or bend into a portrait of the biblical Samson. There are 18th-century documents from small Italian towns in which Renaissance putti find themselves the heralds of Jewish weddings. An illustrated scroll from early-20th-century India shows the Jewish story of Purim played out in Indian and Ottoman costume with macabre explicitness. Astrological signs and charts are found in a 14th-century scientific manuscript; they are also elements in marriage contracts or appear in centuries of Purim scrolls.”

Finding Moses, Charlotte van Rothschild Haggadah, 1842 Courtesy The Braginsky Collection

It’s extremely rare that such an extensive collection be made available to the public, especially in the US! The pieces provide fascinating insight into Jewish culture around the world, and throughout different time periods, by showing how art and religion were brought together.

The Yeshiva University Museum, located in the flatiron district of New York, has the manuscripts on view through August 1st. Admission for adults is only $8, and you can also take advantage of their free admission hours on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 5-8 pm.

While you’re there, be sure to stop by another exhibit- Drawing on Tradition: The Book of Esther features illustrations from JPS author JT Waldman’s graphic novel Megillat Esther. Drawing on Tradition will be on display until August 15th.

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Gustav, You Don’t Look A Day Over 149!

Posted by Rachel Feltman in Jewish Innovation on July 7, 2010

Today marks the 150th birthday of Gustav Mahler, famed Jewish composer and conductor. Although he was considered one of the greatest conductors of his day, his compositions (now widely accepted as some of the most powerful music ever composed), were largely ignored, and even criticized, until long after his death.

Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz

Mahler was born on July 7th, 1860, to a family that lived a constant uphill struggle. The Mahler family, originally from Bohemia, belonged to two very unpopular minorities: They were German speaking, and they were Jewish. Gustav’s father worked his way into the middle class by purchasing an inn, which would later give his talented son the chance to pursue a career in music. Despite this advantage, Mahler’s Jewish heritage would always be looked down upon. He described himself as “thrice homeless, as a native of Bohemia in Austria, as an Austrian among Germans, as a Jew throughout the world—always an intruder, never welcomed” [Memories and Letters]

To achieve his greatest career move-Director of the Vienna Court Opera (Hofoper), Mahler was forced to convert from Judaism to Catholicism. Even after he’d made this sacrifice, his heritage was consistently used against him throughout the rest of his musical career. Rivals and critics of Mahler’s compositions were known to employ the use of anti-Semitic press to defame him. Criticism of his work regularly escalated to full-blown attacks against his person from local papers. Later, despite his intense study of the German nationalists (Nietzsche called him a genius, and Freud supposedly gave him the counseling that saved his failing marriage), Mahler was denounced by the Nazi party. His music was declared to be degenerate, and was not played in his homeland throughout the war. Of course, this temporary disappearance only made it easier for his music to then be rediscovered by a new generation. Long after his death in 1911, Mahler took his place as a great composer of Europe.

Today, some criticize Mahler for what they view as an abandonment of his faith. In truth, Mahler was far from being alone in this flaw (Mendelssohn was another of the many artists who converted). His music continued to be influenced by his heritage, with such bold displays as a klezmer movement in his first symphony. After his conversion, his personal turmoil over the act influenced his music and choices. Many consider his move to New York, where he became the first conductor to direct the Philharmonic as a full orchestra, to have been a final protest of his treatment in Vienna. He wrote, “America is really different from Europe. Only there do you feel like a human being, with no master above you.”

You can find out more about Gustav Mahler at his Wikipedia page or by visiting The International Gustav Mahler Society website. Most importantly, listen to his music! My sister, a self-proclaimed Mahler fanatic, recommends “Ich ben der welt abhanden gekommen” and “Urlicht”. She warns that the latter will make you melt into a puddle of “Mahlered” goo.

Happy birthday, Gustav!

Update: Today is also the 150th birthday of Abraham Cahan, the founding editor of the Jewish Daily Forward!

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Three Weeks Round-Up

Posted by Rachel Feltman in Link Roundup on July 1, 2010

Destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem, by Francesco Hayez

Bein ha-Metzarim, also called The Three Weeks, began on Tuesday. This period, which is meant to be observed as one of mourning, begins with Shiv’ah Asar B’Tammuz, also known as the 17th of Tammuz, and culminateswith Tisha B’Av. Tisha B’Av is the saddest day on the Jewish calendar. While it primarily commemorates the destruction of  both the First Temple and Second Temple in Jerusalem (which occurred 656 years apart on the same day of the Jewish calendar), it has become a day on which we reflect upon any and all calamities that have befallen the Jewish people throughout history.

Here are some resources for finding out more about Bein ha-Metzarim:

  1. Tablet Magazine has posted a thorough, easy to read FAQ on the Three Weeks.
  2. Wikipedia might not be a source you want to cite in your next research paper, but they do have a great article on the The Three Weeks (which of course links you to many related topics).
  3. Last but not least, last year we wrote a blog post on the JPS Blog with tons of information on Tisha B’Av.

Unlike some other holidays and fasts, The Three Weeks and Tisha B’Av aren’t often observed by more secular members of the Jewish community. Even if you don’t plan on making any changes to your routine in the next few weeks, you can still keep the spirit in mind. Take some time to learn about the events we’re meant to mourn this month. If nothing else, you’ll gain a new appreciation for the resilience and strength of spirit of the Jewish people.

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Introducing the Future of the Encyclopedia

Posted by Rachel Feltman in Jewish Innovation, Jewish Knowledge on June 29, 2010

The internet has gained a fun and exciting new resource for those interested in Eastern European Jewish culture! The Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern Europe was actually published two years ago, but the online version just launched earlier in June.

http://www.yivoencyclopedia.org

The YIVO Institute for Jewish Research has designed a great online encyclopedia. The site is free, easy to browse, and incredibly thorough. Check it out, whether or not you have any specific research to do. Warning: With all the articles to read and images to enjoy, you’ll probably lose track of the time!

The online version doesn’t just feature text. Each article features relevant images, and even video in many cases. The fully interactive media resources turn the encyclopedia into something of an archive. It’s not to be missed.

For more information, check out Tablet Magazine’s podcast featuring the encyclopedia’s editor in chief, Gershon Hundert, talking about the project.

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