This biography introduces one of the greatest American personalities in American history. Mr. Douglas, a former slave becomes one of the most articulate spokesmen for the abolitionist movement. He becomes a foremost activist for the causes of abolition, negro suffrage , women's suffrage and other civil rights. He speaks out against the colonization movement, the demand for the black populace to go back to Africa because white America can not seem to amalgamate black people into white society.
One striking feature of this bio is that the author records the observations of Karl Marx, founder of Socialism/Communism. Marx was keenly observing what was going on during the Civil War because he was sure that the economic revolution would be triggered by the overwhelming work force of newly emancipated slaves! Although what Marx predicted did not come to fruition, nevertheless the upheaval and struggle for black rights is well detailed here.
Mr Douglas has his fans among white society. At first he aligns with William Lloyd Garrison in the cause for abolition. Garrison turns on Douglas because Douglas questions Garrison's need for radicalism. Mr. Douglas gains a following in England and is joined by the white Julia Griffiths who becomes indispensable in cranking out his periodicals and newsletters. Speculation about their relationship creates a stir and is used to attack him. Some claim that perhaps Griffiths edited and tutored Douglas because his articulation of ideas and his oratory are too fantastic to believe originating from a former slave. Mr. Douglas feels compelled to write his own memoir to stop the speculation about his integrity. Griffiths ends up leaving him so as to not upset the equilibrium of his family. Curiously, after his wife dies, he marries an educated white women to the chagrin of the black community. He, nevertheless, explains that he always believed in humanism and has always been colorblind.
The book details the nightmare of Reconstruction, the hatred of blacks and the murderous activities of the Ku Klux Klan. And throughout the entire period, Frederick Douglas is constantly agitating not only for the betterment of his people but also for women's rights. He shows courage to speak out. Newspapers throughout the USA testify to his amazing oratory skill by following his career as a lecturer and adult educator.
The book teaches us how the Republican party was originally the party of choice for the black man and Frederick Douglas was steadfast in his support of it. The Democratic party represents Southern interests and prejudice. Not until after the Grant administration does the Republican party seem to abandon the black man's plight and align with big business ignoring past pledges.
This is an inspiring, excellent introduction to the origins of the politics of Black America and of one of its greatest spokesmen.
Monday, September 30, 2013
In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson
This strong narrative documents the career of William Dodd, a historian by vocation in the role of the American Ambassador to Nazi Germany in the beginning of Hitler's rise in the 1930's. It also follows the promiscuous behavior of his daughter, Martha as she is first lured by the seductive nature of the nationalistic momentum of the German people following their leader and then romantically linked to a Soviet spy.
Dodd is given a mandate directly from President Roosevelt to represent the values of the USA in stark contrast to what was happening in Germany. The lengthy reports being submitted by the Consul General about the violent attacks on Jews become politically sensitive because the USA does not want to interrupt domestic issues. What makes this a very interesting read is that Dodd himself and his daughter have genteel antisemitic tendencies and initially can identify with Germany's irritation of their "Jewish problem". What unfolds in this narrative is, however, Dodd's evolution starting out as a neutral diplomat and turning into a tough social critic of Germany, rejecting Nazi terror and brutality.
The title is a double entendre because it refers to the section of Berlin in which houses the Zoo and where the Ambassador lives and where much of his political activities occur. Moreover, it reveals the brutal nature of the Nazis as beasts. The reader is introduced to the cast of brutal characters: Hermann Goering, Josef Goebels, Heinrich Himmler and Hitler himself. In Dodd"s only meeting with Hitler, he experiences Hitler's flash temper with his piercing stare. As time goes on, Dodd becomes more and more revolted and repulsed by the violent nature of the regime.
One gets a glimpse of harsh American politics through the developing opposition to him as Ambassador because he refuses to temper the truth about Nazism. His own antisemitism wanes as a result of his constant witnessing of innocent people being beaten. At first seeing Jews being beaten, his (and his daughter's) immediate reaction supposes justification and reason. When an American is beaten, however, by mistake, the Ambassador must lodge a complaint. These events go unreported back home in the USA. Dodd eventually is eased out of his position because of his refusal of doctoring and tempering the truth.
Dodd goes down in history as an honest reflection of American values of justice and seeking the truth. His daughter, however, is more embarrassing than a reflection of American values. She is seen as being seduced by Nazi men and then by a Soviet. One of her first loves is the first commander of the Gestapo, Rudolph Diels. Diels comes off human and actually is out maneuvered by Himmler who takes over as Gestapo chief. She enjoys the wild hedonism of the Nazis and falls in love with a Soviet diplomat who is a spy. Nevertheless, she too, transforms into a critic of the Nazi regime. The brutality is too much to stomach.
The book ends at the beginning of the end for European Jewry and thus is a heartbreaking read.
Dodd is given a mandate directly from President Roosevelt to represent the values of the USA in stark contrast to what was happening in Germany. The lengthy reports being submitted by the Consul General about the violent attacks on Jews become politically sensitive because the USA does not want to interrupt domestic issues. What makes this a very interesting read is that Dodd himself and his daughter have genteel antisemitic tendencies and initially can identify with Germany's irritation of their "Jewish problem". What unfolds in this narrative is, however, Dodd's evolution starting out as a neutral diplomat and turning into a tough social critic of Germany, rejecting Nazi terror and brutality.
The title is a double entendre because it refers to the section of Berlin in which houses the Zoo and where the Ambassador lives and where much of his political activities occur. Moreover, it reveals the brutal nature of the Nazis as beasts. The reader is introduced to the cast of brutal characters: Hermann Goering, Josef Goebels, Heinrich Himmler and Hitler himself. In Dodd"s only meeting with Hitler, he experiences Hitler's flash temper with his piercing stare. As time goes on, Dodd becomes more and more revolted and repulsed by the violent nature of the regime.
One gets a glimpse of harsh American politics through the developing opposition to him as Ambassador because he refuses to temper the truth about Nazism. His own antisemitism wanes as a result of his constant witnessing of innocent people being beaten. At first seeing Jews being beaten, his (and his daughter's) immediate reaction supposes justification and reason. When an American is beaten, however, by mistake, the Ambassador must lodge a complaint. These events go unreported back home in the USA. Dodd eventually is eased out of his position because of his refusal of doctoring and tempering the truth.
Dodd goes down in history as an honest reflection of American values of justice and seeking the truth. His daughter, however, is more embarrassing than a reflection of American values. She is seen as being seduced by Nazi men and then by a Soviet. One of her first loves is the first commander of the Gestapo, Rudolph Diels. Diels comes off human and actually is out maneuvered by Himmler who takes over as Gestapo chief. She enjoys the wild hedonism of the Nazis and falls in love with a Soviet diplomat who is a spy. Nevertheless, she too, transforms into a critic of the Nazi regime. The brutality is too much to stomach.
The book ends at the beginning of the end for European Jewry and thus is a heartbreaking read.
Monday, September 16, 2013
Hitler's Willing Executioners by Daniel Jonah Goldhagen
Mr. Goldhagen analyzes the perpetrators of the Holocaust in this compelling study. He studies the least Nazi indoctrinated group: police battalions and finds some chilling facts about the group. The alacrity with which the shooters killed and the brutality inflicted on the innocent victims and lack of moral concern or dissent from the killings put the Germans in a different category of antisemitism. Mr. Goldhagen claims only an "eliminationist" antisemitism could have produced an efficient killing apparatus to have killed so many people without serious dissent or without moral outrage. Mr. Goldhagen challenges the previous studies that gloss over the lack of moral outrage and shows that the real problem was not even the lack of moral outrage but rather the alacrity and enthusiasm with which the task was carried out! He shows that those few who opted out of being the shooters did so not out of moral principle but rather out of squeamishness; in principle they were convinced that Jews should be destroyed.
The traditional German defense that was brought out and introduced in the Eichmann trial of "only following orders" is completely destroyed in this study. There is evidence that photos were proudly sent home picturing the actual shootings. There is evidence that wives supported husbands in the field of killing operations. The author shows that the program was so large requiring so many people to perpetrate the murders that there could not have been any serious coercion. The evidence does not support any serious argument in Germany against killing the Jews.
Churchmen calling out against the evil like Karl Barth are unique and not the rule. The opposite seems to be true that the Church allowed the spewing of hatred and only a few Churchmen called out against it. Only a few voices remind that "Pauline love" precludes hatred of the Jews. Those voices fall on deaf ears.
Mr. Goldhagen studies the concept of the labor camp (not killing centers) and concludes that the exploitation of slave labor had little positive economic effects or advantages. The labor camp, the author asserts served as an outlet for orgiastic terror and brutality.
The author argues that Germany went through long stages of indoctrination toward antisemitism but only with Hitler's racial and eliminationist tendencies do the German people become inured to persecution of the Jews and agree enthusiastically to carry out his plan and wishes.
I would like to offer that eliminationist tendencies in hating Jews do not start with Germany. Biblical exegesis from Nachmanides shows that the ancient Pharaoh wanted to eliminate the Israelites and could not call for their destruction for fear of the immediate moral outcry. Rather, Pharaoh gradually introduces an incremental persecution program when eventually everyone in the country sees the necessity of casting the male infants into the Nile without moral outrage. Additionally, the Biblical character of Haman hates Mordecai the Jew and hence forth desires to eliminate the entire Jewish nation.
Additionally, the concept of willing executioners is also not necessarily originating with Germany but perhaps has its origin in ancient Egypt too. Rabbi Joseph Dov Soloveitchik comments that the killing of the first born that culminates in the 10 plagues recited at the Passover Seder represents the concept of willing perpetrators. The Rav explains that the first born in antiquity was the basic administrator of the family. Striking down the first born meant that he had to punished for the complicity in the persecution of the Israelites. Egypt was a country with willing executioners.
I do not seek to minimize the uniqueness or minimize the gravity of the Holocaust because the German efficiency and scope of murder is so great. I point out, nevertheless that the single concepts of eliminating the Jews and being complicit in persecuting them are old themes. The event of the Holocaust is uniquely German because as Mr. Goldhagen argues the brutality coupled with alacrity in killing creates a whole new strand of Jew hatred.
The traditional German defense that was brought out and introduced in the Eichmann trial of "only following orders" is completely destroyed in this study. There is evidence that photos were proudly sent home picturing the actual shootings. There is evidence that wives supported husbands in the field of killing operations. The author shows that the program was so large requiring so many people to perpetrate the murders that there could not have been any serious coercion. The evidence does not support any serious argument in Germany against killing the Jews.
Churchmen calling out against the evil like Karl Barth are unique and not the rule. The opposite seems to be true that the Church allowed the spewing of hatred and only a few Churchmen called out against it. Only a few voices remind that "Pauline love" precludes hatred of the Jews. Those voices fall on deaf ears.
Mr. Goldhagen studies the concept of the labor camp (not killing centers) and concludes that the exploitation of slave labor had little positive economic effects or advantages. The labor camp, the author asserts served as an outlet for orgiastic terror and brutality.
The author argues that Germany went through long stages of indoctrination toward antisemitism but only with Hitler's racial and eliminationist tendencies do the German people become inured to persecution of the Jews and agree enthusiastically to carry out his plan and wishes.
I would like to offer that eliminationist tendencies in hating Jews do not start with Germany. Biblical exegesis from Nachmanides shows that the ancient Pharaoh wanted to eliminate the Israelites and could not call for their destruction for fear of the immediate moral outcry. Rather, Pharaoh gradually introduces an incremental persecution program when eventually everyone in the country sees the necessity of casting the male infants into the Nile without moral outrage. Additionally, the Biblical character of Haman hates Mordecai the Jew and hence forth desires to eliminate the entire Jewish nation.
Additionally, the concept of willing executioners is also not necessarily originating with Germany but perhaps has its origin in ancient Egypt too. Rabbi Joseph Dov Soloveitchik comments that the killing of the first born that culminates in the 10 plagues recited at the Passover Seder represents the concept of willing perpetrators. The Rav explains that the first born in antiquity was the basic administrator of the family. Striking down the first born meant that he had to punished for the complicity in the persecution of the Israelites. Egypt was a country with willing executioners.
I do not seek to minimize the uniqueness or minimize the gravity of the Holocaust because the German efficiency and scope of murder is so great. I point out, nevertheless that the single concepts of eliminating the Jews and being complicit in persecuting them are old themes. The event of the Holocaust is uniquely German because as Mr. Goldhagen argues the brutality coupled with alacrity in killing creates a whole new strand of Jew hatred.
ISRAEL VS. IRAN The Shadow War by Yaakov Katz and Yoaz Hendel
In order to understand what is happening between Israel and its neighbors, this book is a good primer. Katz, a military corespondent for the Jerusalem Post and Hendel, a military historian at Bar Ilan Unversity effectively discuss that last twenty years of the political tension and war between Israel and its neighbors concluding that Israel is in a proxy war with Iran.
The immediate neighbors of Israel are essentially being armed by Iran. In the north, in Lebanon, Israel must contend with Hezbollah, a Shi'ite military organization that constantly threatens Israel through rhetoric with heaving its arsenal of rockets down on Israel's north periodically. Its main supplier is Iran.
Hamas, a terrorist organization that took over the Gaza strip, is constantly struggling with Fatah for control of the West Bank threatens Israel from the Southwest. It is supplied secretly by Iran even though culturally Hamas is Sunni and Iran is Shi'ite.
Syria's ruling party, although not an immediate threat to Israel at this time because it is in midst of a civil war, nevertheless receives its weapons and support from Iran.
As Iran continues to march toward building a nuclear arsenal, Israel has had to make adjustments. The authors contend that Israel has adapted its army to the new conditions of a proxy war with a possible showdown by reworking its armed forces into a more commando style fighting force and utilizing high technology as opposed to a conventional army that is protected by a superior air force. In the past, Israel has prided its army as fundamentally based on the civilian reservist who during war is called up to fight. Now, the army does not rely on the reserve but relies on the commando concept of preemptive and surgical strikes with electronic warfare.
The ultimate gambit must include Israel's successful preparation for any serious counter strike from her immediate neighbors or from Iran itself. Military planners must include a program to absorb the massive retaliation bound to occur from a very vocal and animated opponent.
This book is a very sobering, chilling read of history, strategic possibilities and military scenarios.
The immediate neighbors of Israel are essentially being armed by Iran. In the north, in Lebanon, Israel must contend with Hezbollah, a Shi'ite military organization that constantly threatens Israel through rhetoric with heaving its arsenal of rockets down on Israel's north periodically. Its main supplier is Iran.
Hamas, a terrorist organization that took over the Gaza strip, is constantly struggling with Fatah for control of the West Bank threatens Israel from the Southwest. It is supplied secretly by Iran even though culturally Hamas is Sunni and Iran is Shi'ite.
Syria's ruling party, although not an immediate threat to Israel at this time because it is in midst of a civil war, nevertheless receives its weapons and support from Iran.
As Iran continues to march toward building a nuclear arsenal, Israel has had to make adjustments. The authors contend that Israel has adapted its army to the new conditions of a proxy war with a possible showdown by reworking its armed forces into a more commando style fighting force and utilizing high technology as opposed to a conventional army that is protected by a superior air force. In the past, Israel has prided its army as fundamentally based on the civilian reservist who during war is called up to fight. Now, the army does not rely on the reserve but relies on the commando concept of preemptive and surgical strikes with electronic warfare.
The ultimate gambit must include Israel's successful preparation for any serious counter strike from her immediate neighbors or from Iran itself. Military planners must include a program to absorb the massive retaliation bound to occur from a very vocal and animated opponent.
This book is a very sobering, chilling read of history, strategic possibilities and military scenarios.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Irving Thalberg: boy wonder to producer prince by Mark A. Vieira
Irving Thalberg who died in 1937 at age 38 was a trailblazer in the film industry and helped build MGM into the successful film corporation that it is. His fragility, his work ethic and eye for quality set him apart from the other producers in the formative years of Hollywood. His ability to lead effectively and his innate modestly put him in a different league to the extent that Louis B. Mayer sought to strip him of his power.
Irving Thalberg was not expected to live beyond twenty years old because he was diagnosed with a weak heart - a blue baby. His mother determined to prove the doctors wrong oversaw his successful childhood, raised a voracious reader. Thalberg did not go to college,however, he was better read than most graduates. Knowing perhaps that his life would be cut short, he accelerated his plans to produce over 400 movies. He was unstoppable, putting in long hours in determining each project. He was responsible for the concept of the "Star" celebrity and created and nurtured the careers of such famous personas as Jean Harlow, Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, and his wife Norma Shearer, John Gilbert, and Clark Gable etc. When the world had enough of the humor of the Marx brothers and were considered 'has beens', it was Thalberg who reinvented them and gave them their profitable hit movie "A Night at The Opera".
Groucho Marx explained the difference and the trouble he and his brothers were having. Their humor and previous movies were similar to their zany vaudeville acts that lacked a story line. After two movies that flopped, Thalberg approached them to make a movie on his terms. He told them that a movie is a vehicle to tell a story and not just a series of gags. The brothers signed a contract but were not used to being subservient to anyone. On one occasion when the Marx brothers were waiting for Thalberg in his office over an hour for a scheduled meeting, the brothers stripped and roasted marshmallows in Thalberg's fireplace. Although appalled by their behavior, Thalberg was never late again! Groucho marveled at Thalberg's ability to understand what was funny without laughing! He convinced the brothers the need of a story line with a romance and that formula created the hit of "Night at the Opera" and revitalized their career.
Thalberg observed Germany in the 1930's and had strong opinions against Hitler but not fascism. He hated communism. He was convinced that Hitler, although brutal as he was would pass. When confronted with the possibility of the destruction the Jewish people, Thalberg almost with prescience responded that the Jews will survive not matter what happens to them.
This book is a contribution to the history of Hollywood during its formative years. It shows that the producer had complete control over a film. Thalberg was never interested in his name on the credits because his ego did not require "stardom". In this regard he was modest in not promoting himself. His ego, however, required him to dominate others so that his productions reflected his imprint.
Irving Thalberg was not expected to live beyond twenty years old because he was diagnosed with a weak heart - a blue baby. His mother determined to prove the doctors wrong oversaw his successful childhood, raised a voracious reader. Thalberg did not go to college,however, he was better read than most graduates. Knowing perhaps that his life would be cut short, he accelerated his plans to produce over 400 movies. He was unstoppable, putting in long hours in determining each project. He was responsible for the concept of the "Star" celebrity and created and nurtured the careers of such famous personas as Jean Harlow, Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, and his wife Norma Shearer, John Gilbert, and Clark Gable etc. When the world had enough of the humor of the Marx brothers and were considered 'has beens', it was Thalberg who reinvented them and gave them their profitable hit movie "A Night at The Opera".
Groucho Marx explained the difference and the trouble he and his brothers were having. Their humor and previous movies were similar to their zany vaudeville acts that lacked a story line. After two movies that flopped, Thalberg approached them to make a movie on his terms. He told them that a movie is a vehicle to tell a story and not just a series of gags. The brothers signed a contract but were not used to being subservient to anyone. On one occasion when the Marx brothers were waiting for Thalberg in his office over an hour for a scheduled meeting, the brothers stripped and roasted marshmallows in Thalberg's fireplace. Although appalled by their behavior, Thalberg was never late again! Groucho marveled at Thalberg's ability to understand what was funny without laughing! He convinced the brothers the need of a story line with a romance and that formula created the hit of "Night at the Opera" and revitalized their career.
Thalberg observed Germany in the 1930's and had strong opinions against Hitler but not fascism. He hated communism. He was convinced that Hitler, although brutal as he was would pass. When confronted with the possibility of the destruction the Jewish people, Thalberg almost with prescience responded that the Jews will survive not matter what happens to them.
This book is a contribution to the history of Hollywood during its formative years. It shows that the producer had complete control over a film. Thalberg was never interested in his name on the credits because his ego did not require "stardom". In this regard he was modest in not promoting himself. His ego, however, required him to dominate others so that his productions reflected his imprint.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
The Well by Chaim Grade
This novel is a profound cacophony of Jewish life in Vilna that culminates with a visit of the famed Chafets Chaim, Israel Meir HaKohen Kagan. The book on the surface revolves around a water well in the Jewish section of the city of Vilna (Vilnius) that needs repair but no one wants to step forward and raise the necessary funds. The reader is introduced to a cast of descriptive characters only found in a Yiddish novel.
The translation is almost too literal and thus loses some of Yiddish's lyrical rhythm, nevertheless, as one reads this beautiful story of Jewish life and values with its trials and tribulations and challenges to the Almighty one understands the book's value as a testimony to the wisdom of Jewish tradition.
It is a book of loss and tragedy, about a couple who lost young children and about a couple who are left childless. It is a book of Jewish politics, the Zionists vs. the Non-Zionists. It is a book of apostasy with some who no longer believe in the miracles of the Bible but, nevertheless, need to rewrite the stories. The climax of the book is so sad when the greatest Jew of that generation, the Chafets Chaim refuses to give the childless couple a blessing because "Nowadays, no one knows how children will turn out!"
The Well is really a story of redemption because ultimately beyond the logic, beyond the social cacophony, the well is indeed repaired! The person least expected to raise the funds is successful after visiting a rabbinical conference. There is a wonderful celebration that all can draw "water with joy from the wells of redemption..."
This story will make one cry and laugh, an incredible satisfying read, a clear testimony to Chaim Grade's genius.
The translation is almost too literal and thus loses some of Yiddish's lyrical rhythm, nevertheless, as one reads this beautiful story of Jewish life and values with its trials and tribulations and challenges to the Almighty one understands the book's value as a testimony to the wisdom of Jewish tradition.
It is a book of loss and tragedy, about a couple who lost young children and about a couple who are left childless. It is a book of Jewish politics, the Zionists vs. the Non-Zionists. It is a book of apostasy with some who no longer believe in the miracles of the Bible but, nevertheless, need to rewrite the stories. The climax of the book is so sad when the greatest Jew of that generation, the Chafets Chaim refuses to give the childless couple a blessing because "Nowadays, no one knows how children will turn out!"
The Well is really a story of redemption because ultimately beyond the logic, beyond the social cacophony, the well is indeed repaired! The person least expected to raise the funds is successful after visiting a rabbinical conference. There is a wonderful celebration that all can draw "water with joy from the wells of redemption..."
This story will make one cry and laugh, an incredible satisfying read, a clear testimony to Chaim Grade's genius.
Friday, August 16, 2013
The Brothers Ashkenazi by I. J. Singer
Isaac Bashevis Singer's older brother, Israel Joshua wrote a very gritty tragic novel about Jewish Lodz, Poland's manufacturing center.
Fundamentally, its a Jewish story of the effects of assimilation, how expectations of acceptance never accompany the Jew when he sheds his Jewish ways. It is a story of Divine Providence about two disparate brothers; one a prodigy always scheming and plotting driven by raw ambition and the other a happy go lucky hulking simple spirit who seems to find good fortune at his every turn.
The blessing of these fraternal twins given by the family's Hasidic rabbi at their Bris, circumcision does not include "'God fearing", a clear foreboding of the adoption of gentility at the expense of their Jewish ways.
The Brothers Ashkenazi is a description of the intersection of conflicting values. It describes the lure of the emancipated outside world affecting the Hasidic and non Hasidic Jewish communities. It is the story of the conflict between capitalism and Marxism, the bosses vs. the workers and role many Jews played in the struggle for freedom under the capitalist's vise, yet exposing the Bolsheviks no better and just as oppressive. The book describes the irrationality of the Anti-Semitism of Eastern Europe.
In a climactic scene of grief when Max Ashkenazi cries out against his brother's reflexive response of punching an Anti-Semite resulting in Yakuv's murder - Max concludes that the Jew's survival has never been the adoption of "the hands of Esav" but rather the "voice of Jacob", a biblical reference to Isaac's response to his son's deception, "The voice is the voice of Jacob but the hands are the hands of Esav!" Biblical Jacob's identity is revealed by his voice, whereas Esav's identity is seen by how he uses his hands. Jewish survival depends on "intellect" not physical prowess. Singer argues through the protagonist that whenever the Jews adopt the ways of the gentile, he disappears. Assimilation destroys.
Singer's narrative style is rhythmic and lyrical, I can only imagine how much more pleasurable it would be to read in its original Yiddish. It is a novel that constantly refers to Jewish traditions and cultural references in contradistinction to the hostile Polish world. There is a realism to this novel that makes it incredibly authentic.
Fundamentally, its a Jewish story of the effects of assimilation, how expectations of acceptance never accompany the Jew when he sheds his Jewish ways. It is a story of Divine Providence about two disparate brothers; one a prodigy always scheming and plotting driven by raw ambition and the other a happy go lucky hulking simple spirit who seems to find good fortune at his every turn.
The blessing of these fraternal twins given by the family's Hasidic rabbi at their Bris, circumcision does not include "'God fearing", a clear foreboding of the adoption of gentility at the expense of their Jewish ways.
The Brothers Ashkenazi is a description of the intersection of conflicting values. It describes the lure of the emancipated outside world affecting the Hasidic and non Hasidic Jewish communities. It is the story of the conflict between capitalism and Marxism, the bosses vs. the workers and role many Jews played in the struggle for freedom under the capitalist's vise, yet exposing the Bolsheviks no better and just as oppressive. The book describes the irrationality of the Anti-Semitism of Eastern Europe.
In a climactic scene of grief when Max Ashkenazi cries out against his brother's reflexive response of punching an Anti-Semite resulting in Yakuv's murder - Max concludes that the Jew's survival has never been the adoption of "the hands of Esav" but rather the "voice of Jacob", a biblical reference to Isaac's response to his son's deception, "The voice is the voice of Jacob but the hands are the hands of Esav!" Biblical Jacob's identity is revealed by his voice, whereas Esav's identity is seen by how he uses his hands. Jewish survival depends on "intellect" not physical prowess. Singer argues through the protagonist that whenever the Jews adopt the ways of the gentile, he disappears. Assimilation destroys.
Singer's narrative style is rhythmic and lyrical, I can only imagine how much more pleasurable it would be to read in its original Yiddish. It is a novel that constantly refers to Jewish traditions and cultural references in contradistinction to the hostile Polish world. There is a realism to this novel that makes it incredibly authentic.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)