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The Soui itiehn Israelite
Page 11
Scanning the Jewish Horizon
lly DAVID SCHWARTZ
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
read the story some eight or
s ago in Mr. Mencken’s, “The
American Language.” It has been told
imes since. You recall it—the
f the Jew who changed his
•om Kelly to Murphy.
• Why are you making this second
ihanur?" he was asked.
you see, when I tell the peo-
n <’W that my name is Kelly, they
me what it was before, and I have
atl swer Cohen. But if I become
Murphy, when they ask me what it
lV as before, I’ll simply say Kelly.”
NAMED after holiday
reminded of this story by a
conversation recently with
v Schneiderman of the American
Jewish Committee, who recalled some
piaintance who had changed his
• ame from Cohen to Priest. Verily, in
nothing are we Jews so ingenious as
surgical operations on our nomen
clature. You know the one they tell
about the Jewish lad who was named
Richard.
"How did it get to be Richard?”
mama was interrogated.
"It was like this,” replied mama.
"My son was born on Pesach, so he
was I’esachdik, and “dik,” the last
syllable, is short for Richard, as you
know. Quod erat demonstrandum.”
IT’S ALRIGHT, BUT—
I think there is some observation in
the Talmud to the effect that the re
deeming virtue of the Jews in Egypt,
which led the God of Israel to release
them from their bondage was their
adherence to the names of their an
cestors.
In general, I am in thorough sym
pathy with the underlying idea of the
Talmudists in this regard. However,
:n the matter of changing Cohen to
I’riest, will I be guilty of treason, if
I confess a sneaking sympathy with
the alterations.
My reasons are. purely pragmatic.
Its no fun at all, if you happen to be
king up some Cohen in the New
telephone directory, to plough
way through eighteen columns
" °f Cohens before you find just
tf.» right shade of Cohen you want.
And I presume the same difficulty
s i n all of the large cities—Chi-
I’hiladelphia, Detriot, Cleveland
*mi the like. In the smaller towns, of
' se » °ne ought to be able to
f vn to his heart’s content.
V PICTURESQUE CONVERT
• coming of Aimee Palliere to
country revives interest in the
0 1 e business o f converts t o
l Sm - I am of course, not using
word business here in any com
mercial sense.
me one of the most intriguing
'•orts to Judiasm will alw'ays be
late Ada Isaacus Menken. There
an interesting woman for you!
everybody doing biographies,
•body ought to do a book on her
me current fashion.
lfrre was a great actor, and not
a bad writer, but above all a
•eluus personality, who set such
‘ rn as Bre t Harte, Mark Twain and
raving about her. Here was
man, who can point to love af-
h prize pugilists and prize
literateurs. She left her Jewish hus
band, Alexander Menken, who was re
sponsible for her conversion to Ju
daism, but Ada Isaacs Menken never
left Judaism. She never could erase
the influence of the Hebrew prophets
from her flaming soul. On Yom
Kippur, many Jews born to the faith
might forget, but not Ada Menken.
The theatre in which she played was
always dark when the solemn notes
of Kol Nidre were being intoned in
the synagogue.
FANNIE MUST BE IMAGINING
I don’t believe it myself but Fannie
Brice tells it. She was watching out
at Hollywood, the making of a picture
dealing with the Civil War.
The Jewish movie magnate eyed the
man who was to portray General
Grant.
“I won’t have him,” he said. “I
won’t have any man with beards.”
“But,” said the director, “we were
looking for a man, who looked like
General Grant, and he is the nearest
resemblence we could find.”
“He can’t wear no beards on my
lot,” said the magnate, and “what is
more, even Napoleon couldn’t.”
DID YOU KNOW?
That a Hebrew Book-of-the-Month
Club has been launched in Palestine.
That Herman Bernstein in spare
moments is working on a biography
of Ivan the Terrible.
That Lew Brown, famous author of
popular song hits complains that
whereas of yore, he had a big appetite
but no money, now he has the money
but a bad stomach.
That Irving Berlin, who can only
play the piano in one key, has a
specially piano adjusted to suit this
condition.
That Samuel Golding, banker, re
cently threw a Bar Mitzvah party, for
his son spending more than $00,000
for decorations and professional tal
ent. Yes, it was held at the Ritz.
That Lester Markell, just turned
thirty, is Sunday editor of the New
York Times at a salary above twenty
grand.
WHEN FANCY FAILS
Even a man whose forte is humor—
a manufacturer of humor, so to speak
—sometimes has his fancy fail him.
Now here Harry Horshfield, of Abe
Kabibble fame, is springing this one:
It is the story of a Scotchman who
was delegated to break the news of her
husband’s death to Mrs. MacPherson.
“Be diplomatic—don’t shock her,”
his friends cautioned. So Sandy
knocked on the door; and when the
lady answered he doffed his cap and
inquired: “Are ye the widow Mac
Pherson?”
“Indeed, Pm nae such,” she replied
indignantly. “Pm Mrs. MacPherson.”
“Is that so?” bristled Sandy. “And
how much will ye wager that you’re
not a widow?”
Harry, we’re surprised at you for
springing such a whiskered nifty!
We suppose that your excuse is the
same as the one we have—when one
is in that lazy, good-for-nothing mood
those ancient stories help fill space.
l)o You Know?
that attractive home furnishings
and modern home conveniences
add to the joy and pleasure of liv
ing. the tranquility of your dis-
position, make home work easier
and quicker?
—that it's far easier than you
think to own these pleasures and
conveniences? That you do not
have to have the ready cash to buy
them, nor is it necessary to disturb
your savings?
that “the world’s largest store”
has perfected an improved month
ly payment plan that enables you
to enjoy your purchases while you
pay for them out of your income,
—easily and over periods extend
ing up to 18 months?
—that you buy at the consistently
low prices for which we are fam
ous, strictly first quality mer
chandise?—that you are assured
of getting the best service at the
lowest cost?
Have You Visited the Store Near You to See the
Outstanding Values Offered Everyday at
Famously Low Pricers?
Atlanta Birmingham Nashville Knoxville
Chattanooga Greensboro Asheville
Charlotte W inston-Salem Greenville
Columbia Charleston Savannah Macon
Columbus Augusta
Sears, Roebuck
AND CO.
RETAIL DEPARTMENT STORE
-v Ponce de Leon at Glen Iris