THE HAUNTED SMILE by Lawrence J. Epstein (the story of Jewish comedians in America)

This scholarly work interweaves the issues of Jewish Identity and the immigrant experience. The author targets Jewish Comedians from Vaudeville to the present.  Jewish comedians basically follow the grand Jewish immigration from Eastern Europe (1892-1924) to the 21st century.  All major Jewish comedians are noticed and analyzed sometimes even psychoanalyzed.  The author puts forth a theme of acceptance and shows the varying values and morays during each decade of comedic development as the comedians develop their own response to their surroundings. 

I would like to point out some highlights: I never realized how successful Jack Benny was until reading this book. I had always known Benny's character as being 'cheap' but never really understood how wildly successful he was in the business.  Experiencing the depression and 'being cheap' in way that was identifiable with the common man of the era coupled with impeccable comedic timing made Jack Benny a household name first on radio and then on Television. His brilliance is marked by the fact that even though "cheap" is Jewish stereotype, Benny never gives away being Jewish in his character! The non Jewish successful comedian, Tom Smothers was surprised to find out that Benny was Jewish!  Moreover, being cheap was only a stage persona; Jack Benny was an amazingly kindhearted generous human being.

The Marx Brothers, according to the author, represents the classic outsider trying to fit in.  Groucho with his classic critiques and put downs is the classic outsider not interested in fitting in.  Chico with his exaggerated Italian accent always hustling something is clearly the immigrant trying to eek out a living and be accepted. Then there is Harpo who does not speak and communicates completely in pantomime with a bicycle horn representing the immigrant that does not speak the language expressing frustration as an outsider.

Mr. Epstein contrasts the humor between Mel Brooks and Woody Allen as being positive vs. negative. Mel Brooks being very positive about being Jewish and puts his humor in a zany environment whereas Woody Allen highlights his Jewish identity in a very dark negative manner and yet both draw huge laughs.

The classic show called "Your Show of Shows" with Sid Caesar is highlighted as a zenith in Comedy writing.  Caesar was a brilliant mimic and was able to imitate the rhythms of any language. As a waiter growing up, Caesar would entertain foreigners in their native 'gibberish'! 

Milton Berle was a proud Jew not afraid to punch out the anti Semite.  He was hugely popular in the early days of television but his popularity waned as more and more households procured tv sets. The theory behind his decline in popularity was the first TV sets were in the urban centers like New York - many immigrants (ie. Jewish) the expanded audiences did not relate to the Yiddishisms.

The cerebral comic, Mort Sahl became popular in 1950's and 60's as a political commentator.  Lenny Bruce fed off of Sahl and pushed the envelope in the use of profanity and drug use of the 60's. The author claims that Bruce was more angry than funny.

By the time Jerry Seinfeld comes on the scene, the Jewish community no longer is the immigrant community needing to be accepted.  Seinfeld represents complete acceptance where the comedian feels no need to hide his Jewish name on the one hand nor publicize one's Jewish identity. Only once during his long running TV show does Seinfeld come out an mention that he is Jewish which ends up being secondary and incidental to the punchline and theme of the episode about one who converts to Judaism just to tell Jewish jokes.

As history of comedy, this volume shows quite clearly that American humor was dominated by Jewish comics in such an obvious way during the 20th century.  The author discusses many more comedians and comediennes. This is also a proof that the Jewish people have been intertwined with American History from way back.

alone (the second volume of Churchill's memoir of WWII)

 Reading Churchill's account of 1939 and 1940 when England was alone in fighting Germany, and trying to discourage them from invading the Island, one realizes that Churchill was not writing a History of WWII.  He was actually enabling historians to appreciate what was going on in the mindset of British leadership.  His statesmanship, courage, defiance and overall role modeling was extraordinary.  He included practically all his memos and correspondences to the various cabinet members and generals and other world leaders.  One understands the close bond that he forged with President Roosevelt who represented a pivotal and indispensable ally in eventually defeating Hitler.

Churchill was fearless in going out and surveying the damage during the constant BLITZ and bombing of London.  People really saw that he cared about his people and country. In reading his memos and speeches one comes away with a character of substance and sensitivity. Churchill was unique in that he was easy to allow tears to flow, a quality that was not common among the British upper-crust.

With the postponing of the invasion, Churchill knew that he could last until other countries would join the fight eg. the USA.  He understood also that it was a matter of time that Hitler would turn against Stalin and violate his pact with Russia. Hitler's hatred of Marxism precluded any long term agreements. Stalin also seemed to understand this but clearly needed more time to develop his armored divisions. Churchill suspected Stalin's integrity and never seemed to trust him even as an ally.  Hitler was bothered by Churchill's lack of fidelity in the "Anglo - Saxon" bond.  He seemed to be hoping to exploit that bond as he did with Chamberlain. Churchill seemed to understand Hitler's hunger for territory all too well. Perhaps, Churchill's defense of the Empire gave insight into his understanding of  Hitler's desires.  Churchill always gave positive spin of his Empire as one with the rule of law, however, he saw the absolutism, despotism and arbitrariness of Hitler as evil.

Unreported Truths about COVID‑19 and Lockdowns: Part 1 and Part 2 by Alex Berenson

Written by a former reporter of the New York Times, these investigative reports shed light on the current situation due to Covid-19.  Mr. Berenson shows that before the pandemic there were actual protocols, policies and recommendations that were reasonable and not as harsh as the present lock-downs have been imposed. He shows that those original recommendations were similar to the way some other countries have reacted to the pandemic like Sweden (no lock downs).  He shows that fear, panic and mostly politics have scrapped the original plan and moved the country to draconian lock downs.

Written with a critical investigative tone, one is reminded of the investigative reporters of old that are rarely seen today. He questions whether the measures of today are really necessary since statistically the lethal nature of Covid-19 is mostly in the aged populations or people who have comprised health conditions.  He argues that had the country prepared models based on those targeted audiences the country would have fared better.   

Since contagion is due to inside close quartering, safeguarding the elderly in Nursing Homes should have been a priority.  Many interesting observations are made in these reports worth considering...

The Gathering Storm by Winston S. Churchill

This account of the years between the First and Second World Wars is riveting told by the one who championed the world against the Nazi threat.  Although today, he often is dismissed as an odious "imperialist" by the progressive Left, Winston Churchill is arguably the greatest statesmen of the 20th Century by the fact that he literally stood alone vigorously sounding the alarm against Hitler. Furthermore, he led England during a time when Hitler boldly stomped over the European continent and stood against him when England had very few allies.

There is a reason that Churchill received the Nobel Prize for Literature.  As he once put it "I absorbed the English Language..." His writing is breathtaking and his vocabulary is profound.  Just to read his style is worth the minutes spent. 

The book is multifaceted: it is a narrative of the politics of 1930's, it is a collection of facts and figures about the different skirmishes between Germany and Italy and Britain etc, it is a robust portrait of the various political leaders of the world at the time.  Although Churchill did not meet Hitler ever, nevertheless he tells of a near meeting that is insightful about the leader of Germany:  during a vacation in Germany, Churchill was offered a chance meeting since he was staying at a common house that was frequented by Hitler.  In striking up conversation with the go between, Churchill asked his host a question that squelched any possible future meeting: 'I am curious why the fury against the Jews? - I can understand a criminal but why hold an accident of birth against him?'  His host immediately comes back and claims that a meeting with Hitler would be impossible...

Churchill paints a sympathetic picture of Neville Chamberlain as one who sincerely believed in the 'Anglo - Saxon bond' that could possibly be the foundation for a serious negotiation with Hitler.  His policies of Appeasement were based on this foundation but Churchill always sees Hitler as one who had an insatiable appetite for Europe.  Appeasement for Churchill means weakness, feeding the Nazi appetite, offering more territory in return for nothing.

This first volume of six covering the Second World War ends with a powerful Churchillian realization that his whole life was nothing more than a preparation for leading his country and the world in the most trying time "...walking with Destiny"

Rav Breuer: his life and his Legacy by Dr. David Kranzler and Rabbi Dovid Landesman

I read this volume again!! Here is a fresh new look and not much different from my review of 2014!!

This is a biography of one of the Torah giants of the 20th century.  The book is a well documented, annotated history of the growth of the German Jewish community of Washington Heights in Manhattan. It serves well also as a contribution to the history of American Jewry and how the philosophy of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, Torah Im Derech Eretz successfully warded off assimilation in Rav Breuer's community against all odds of the prevailing trends in American Jewry.

Rav Breuer was a successful Rosh Hayeshiva in Germany and well into his late 50s he wrestled the Nazi beast successfully enough to leave Germany and make his way to New York City. He overcame difficult trials and tribulations such that one could see outward miracles occur on his behalf.

Rav Breuer's strength of personality and absolute integrity is highlighted in this well, smoothly written prose.  'Glatt kosher implies Glatt Yosher' represents his demand for ethical integrity that one must be vigilant in fulfilling the commandments not only between one's maker but also among one's fellow human beings.  One sees his success in his maturity that he was able to make ethical demands on people since he too applied those same standards upon himself.

When the young American born students came home from Yeshivah questioning the standard of the Mechitza, partition in the synagogue, wanting to add a curtain to make the partition opaque, Rav Breuer denied their request.  He argued one can not come in and cast aspersions on complete kosher communities.  When one of the community rabbis who did not help in the construction of the Mikva, ritualarium demand to see how water was collected, Rav Breuer was pained by the notion that one could entertain the possibility of nullifying the Kashruth of the mikvah which would put in doubt a whole community's family purity!

I was interested in the interactions between Rabbi Dr. Samuel Belkin president of Yeshiva College and Rav Breuer since I am a product of RIETS.  It was Rabbi Dr. Belkin who was able to secure passage for Rav Breuer in offering a position at Yeshiva College.  Rav Breuer was non committal about the offer with the authors claiming that his hesitation was due to the fact that the other Roshei HaYeshiva would have a problem with Rav Breuer joining the staff.  With the untimely death of Rabbi Dr. Belkin the offer was never brought up again!

What makes this a lively read is learning how Rav Breuer was not interested in making a typical American synagogue but rather a traditional 'community' or Kehilah with the corporate structure of the old European communities that maintained a school, a free loan society, a court system, a Kashruth agency and Mikva society.  As Rabbi Breuer aged and became more and more physically frail he asked that the synagogue add another Rav (not assistant) to split the rabbinical duties.  His frailty was only physical, his spiritual strength was nevertheless impressive.

His vision and success is born out of the fact that the success of American Orthodox Judaism now can be traced back to a Torah Im Derech Eretz outlook in almost every American Orthodox community except maybe the Chasidic world.

As a rabbinical student of RIETS, newly married with child I lived in the same building as Cantor Robert Frankel of Blessed Memory and experienced the Kehillah first hand and was able to meet and interact with Rav Shimon Schwab ZTz"L on a regular basis.  The Rav never made me feel uncomfortable knowing that my stay at the congregation would be temporary.  His sharing of his experience, meeting the Chofetz Chaim had a profound impact on me.  Selling my Chometz with Rav Schwab made an indelible mark on me as his radiant smile I can still see!

Dismantling of America by Thomas Sowell

This book differentiates between political will and factual evidence. This  means that the reality of a situation has very little to do with effects of political will. For example, Mr. Sowell explains that there is very little evidence to support systemic racism in America, but that has never impeded the call to arms against racism.  The theme of book maintains that slowly over time since the Wilson administration and more speedily since the Obama administration the power of Government has increased to the point that personal freedoms of yesteryear have been curtailed.  The country continues to grow a cadre of leftist elites that believe they have the power to impose their will over the masses. Mr. Sowell cites facts to contradict the perceptions of the politicians, however, the political will wins out to smash former personal freedoms. Often the political will creates social problems never intended.

One of the these policies, for example, was the demand for more affordable housing.  The government forced banks to lower their standards and allow a borrower to gain a mortgage.  The obvious noble largess on the service was noteworthy, however, the chances of banks losing great amounts of money increased was also noteworthy.  When indeed borrowers could not pay their mortgages housing went bust! No one remembers anyone taking responsibility for the fiasco.  Congressman Barney Frank decided not to seek re-election.  The real reason? He would lose - he actually was a prime mover in the affordable housing 'bust'.

Mr. Sowell also points out that when government call out 'gifts' or 'free stuff' or 'affordable' healthcare, he shows that there is never anything free! Usually taxes are raised and the public suffers in another way.  Another theme of the book: "there are no free lunches!"  The Affordable Healthcare bill is a case in point that although the public was told that one's healthcare premiums would be lower, the actual premiums consistently rose until the bill was put into place. 

Another issue that the author brings up is the minimum wage.  The demand of a reasonable wage is very desirable.  No one believes in the exploitation of the worker.  Nevertheless, the evidence shows that minimum wage laws actually reduce the number of jobs and create more unemployment.  The argument is quite simple. If an employer must raise his minimum wage creating a situation that a non skilled job is worth half of what the employer must pay he will automatically reduce his labor force to get his money's worth.  On the other hand, without a minimum wage more people will be employed and the chances rise that the minimum worker will be able to train and learn more skills on the job and advance.  Mr. Sowell points out that historically the minimum wage laws were actually originally put in place to stifle employment of ethnic workers. (The progressive president Woodrow Wilson was a bigot and suggested the minimum wage to eliminate workers of African American descent)

The author has some observations about slavery.  He points out that the USA was not the only place in the world to enslave others.  he points out that slavery was actually a world problem.  But it is Western Civilization that abolished slavery.  What makes slavery in the USA unique is that the issue was problematic from the moment the country was founded! The issue was constantly debated from the beginning and finally was eliminated.

The book makes observations about the 'greed of Wall Street'.  The executives on Wall Street make too much money!  They somehow are terrible people.  But somehow the entertainment industry is exempt from the accusation of 'greed' even though entertainers make sometimes more than the Wall Street executives.  The desire to be compensated according the market seems only one sided.  Making money from the Movies does not make greed but making money on Wall Street does make greed?!

Thomas Sowell is a fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, his books are cogent arguments for limited government, a less intrusive government, making worthwhile reading.

Rav Avigdor Miller: his life and his revolution by Yaakov Y. Hamburger

This very readable biography of one of the giants of Slabodka Mussar of the past generation inspires and teaches that anyone can grow to great lengths with organization and a plan.

Rabbi Miller was an American born Torah scholar from Baltimore and after taking advantage of the truly only advanced yeshiva at the time RIETS and realizing that that institution was going in a direction he disagreed, he decided on a course of European study that took him to Eastern Europe to study at the famed Yeshiva of Slabodka.  Although by the time he arrived at the yeshiva, the Alter of Slabodka had since passed away, Rabbi Miller nevertheless absorbed everything that the Alter represented and grew into a well developed Torah scholar.  With the second world war looming and the American consulate recommending all American citizens leave Lithuania, Rabbi Miller and his new wife returned to America where he began an amazing innovative rabbanus that changed many lives.  His rabbanus started out as a Mashgiach, the spiritual guide in Yeshiva Chaim Berlin under the direction of Rabbi Yitzchak Hutner, a student of the Alter of Slabodka and then as a community rav in East Flatbush, Brooklyn and then in Flatbush of Brooklyn.

Rabbi Miller was an extremely orderly and organized individual. He was consistent in his behavior and stressed 'simchas Hachaim' the joy of living.  He stressed the importance of counting one's blessings and thanking the Lord for all His kindnesses.  He was innovative in calling his synagogue a
'Torah Center' to stress that the purpose of a synagogue is not gathering together (church) but rather a place to study Torah! So his synagogue had constant learning going on.  This also reflected the vision of Rabbi Yisroel Salanter, the founder of the Mussar Movement - the Torah movement to stress personal growth and ethical behavior, Beis Mussar for the layman.  Rabbi Miller utilized the tape recorder to disseminate his Torah teachings.  He understood the power of technology could revolutionize the size of a class.

He stressed the 'Torah only' world outlook.  He despised American culture but actually understood it well to be able to address the emerging, new penitent.  He despised the medium of Television arguing that nobody would want to be told what is important and what is not - that the influence of the TV was like an uninvited guest to one's home.  The rabbi saw the total immodesty of the American world and actually banned the reading of any books written after 1920 in his family due to the rising bawdiness in literature. He also saw the philosophy of the theory of Evolution as heresy and a negation of the belief in the Creator.  Many of his books include counter arguments to Evolution and he wished that religious scientists would reject such an idea instead of trying to reconcile science with Evolution.  He also saw the study of history as antithetical to the Jewish world outlook because he understood that historicism creates independent values that clash with traditional Jewish values. He enjoyed citing Josephus as proof that the study of History is problematic because Josephus was actually sponsored by the Roman Caesar.  He could not be trusted - although Josephus acknowledges that the Jewish people value the words of the Pharisees.  Calling them a 'sect', however, is a complete distortion of the role that they played in the nation.

Rabbi Miller was almost deliberately dogmatic in his views to teach that Judaism has absolute truths.  He reflected and personified the ultimate Baal Mussar of the Mussar movement.  One should not forget, however, there are other legitimate approaches eg. Chasidic approach, or Sephardic approach etc. even a less Mussar approach. One cannot, however, dismiss this approach.  One must remember that the great Yeshivahs of America: Beis Midrash Gevoha, Lakewood, Ner Yisroel, Baltimore, Yeshivas Chaim Berlin, NY were products of the Yeshiva of Slabodka! 

Rabbi Avigdor Miller marveled at Hashem's genius and at his creation.  His famous lesson of the apple seed - that the tiny seed had all of the ingredients to reproduce more trees and fruit was an eye opener.  He taught one to appreciate Hashem's kindness and to thank Him always and as a result one would lead a happy life.

This book is a very worthwhile read, inspiring to let one 'set time for Torah study'!

Faithless Execution: building the political case for Obama's Impeachment by Andrew C. McCarthy

Andrew C. McCarthy was the lead prosecutor who was successful in getting a conviction in the case of 'blind Sheik' in the unsuccessful bombing of the World Trade Center in the 1990's.  Mr. McCarthy wrote a book chronicling the Obama administration's consistent lack of effort to follow existing laws in order to transform the country toward a more progressive entity.

The role of the president is to administer the laws of the country according to the Constitution. The book is breathtaking on so many issues. Not in politics but in not applying existing laws puts the president in the position of not fulfilling his Constitutional duty.  The book argues cogently the case for impeachment.  Issues such as open borders, weaponizing of the IRS against Conservative organizations, being dishonest about Healthcare in America, refusal to mark the Fort Hood massacre an act of Terror and more puts this book in a decidedly conservative camp, however, Mr. McCarthy argues well about the laws that are clear yet either ignored out of prosecutory discretion or bold neglect.

Churchill walking with destiny by Andrew Roberts

This biography of Winston Churchill covers the war years of World War II.  It is a Tour DE Force and an eloquent testimony of the greatest statesman of the 20th century.  There are some depressing statistics at the end of the book telling of the ignorance of the present generation thinking that Churchill was a mythical character - that most young people believe that he did not exist because his many accomplishments were far too many to fathom in one person!  In an age that tends to stress identity politics Churchill is often dismissed as a white imperialist fascist. (During the Obama Administration his bust, a gift from England was removed from display and cast to the basement unceremoniously.)  The truth is so far beyond such drivel.  Churchill was demonstrative in an age and society of the stiff upper lip, a Philo-Semite and Zionist in a culture of gentile Antisemitism and pro Arab-ism.  He was loyal to his friends, did not hold grudges against his political adversaries and was magnanimous in victory. He overcame parental neglect and surpassed all expectations of them. He had a very successful marriage.  And although he was indeed a proud imperialist and believed in the mission of the British Empire to bring the rule of law to the outstretches of the world, he nevertheless stood tall for the value of freedom and fought against Nazi tyranny single-handedly until he was able to convince the world of its absolute menace.

Although this volume is over 900 pages, it is well worth the effort. Churchill was multifaceted: an artist, bricklayer, writer, journalist, historian, politician, raconteur.  He absorbed the English language such that it is no wonder that he earned the Nobel Prize for literature for he captured the beautiful rhythm of the language.  The author, Mr. Roberts writes similarly, almost taking Churchill as his writer's guide, constructing clear sentences making reading this magnum opus a pleasure.

Chief Rabbi Hertz: the Wars of the Lord by Derek Taylor

Joseph Herman Hertz served as Chief Rabbi of the British Empire from 1913-1946. His Pentateuch and Siddur influenced traditional Jewish communities around the world through the 20th century.  He was not so much a controversial figure as he was a fearless blunt spokesman for Orthodox Judaism in the first half of the 20th century.  His causes and clashes with his lay leadership are documented is this very readable biography by Derek Taylor, one who has intimate knowledge and understanding of the organization of the United Synagogue of England. 

Taylor describes the clashes with the rabbi's primary antagonist Sir Robert Waley Cohen, lay leader of the United Synagogue.  There are some interesting issues raised in the book: the status of the Jewish theological seminary, Hertz position as orthodox, his clashes with the 'right wing' and his desire to improve Jewish education and stem the tide of assimilation, and his unpopular Zionist position.

Hertz was the first graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, now considered the flagship rabbinical school for Conservative Judaism.  As a matter of fact, Conservative Jews claim Hertz as one of their own by adopting his Chumash for many years and often giving a Bar Mitzvah boy his siddur as a gift (I have one).  However, the book makes clear that he never identified with any reforms.  Hertz was trained as a rabbi when Sabato Morais and Bernard Drachman were running the Seminary before Solomon Schechter became chancellor in 1902.  Hertz was ordained in 1894 and also awarded a PhD. in Philosophy from Columbia University.  Morais and Drachman were never associated with any reforms and considered themselves Orthodox.  Their vision was to prepare Orthodox rabbis conversant in contemporary life in America.  Throughout his career as a rabbi, Hertz accentuated his Orthodoxy and Mitzvah observance, demanding Kashruth, Sabbath and Mikvah during his tenure as rabbi.

Hertz being on the one hand blunt to those obviously trying to usurp his authority but quite diplomatic and flexible with his non Jewish colleagues was seen by some as controversial, however, he was a very effective orator and communicator and gained a large following in England among the Jewish and non Jewish worlds. The Jewish world in England was divided between the native born and the Eastern European immigrants.  The native born were concerned about appearances and socially conscious wanting to fit in to British culture.  Those from Eastern European extraction tended to be more aloof to the outside and more traditional in observance.  From this community the chief rabbi felt pressure that he was not observant enough and had to prove his Orthodox bona fides. This community did not concern itself with the United Synagogue despite Hertz's efforts to improve the Jews' College and make upgrades to the Beth Din with the appointment of Dayan Yechezkel Abramsky.

Hertz was a Zionist but his community that he served was not!  The lay leadership was embarrassed to push a Zionist program because of the implication that a Zionist could not be a loyal subject.  Hertz nevertheless forged positive relationships with Chaim Weizmann and others and was instrumental in the drafting of the Balfour declaration. He visited the Holy Land and was present at the opening of the Hebrew University. Hertz was skeptical from the beginning whether England would keep its promise about help making Israel the national home for the Jewish People.  Nevertheless, his lay leadership tried to keep the chief rabbi out of politics, however, the chief rabbi would not be intimidated.

The tenure of the chief rabbi was constantly distracted by one who believed he knew better for what was good for the Jewish community.  At almost every turn, Rabbi Hertz had to contend with a powerful executive from the Shell Oil Corporation, Sir Robert Waley Cohen.  Cohen was a hot tempered reformist that wanted the rabbi and United Synagogue to "modernize."  Hertz was smart enough, blunt enough and strong enough to withstand Waley Cohen's interruptions, objections and tantrums. 

The book is informative and a good read.