Category: News

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A Yiddish Playwrite

Levenberg

FRANKLY SPEAKING
Zev Amiti
Yiddish Play Premieres in Wilmington!

It was the first of its kind ever in the 50 year history of the Wilmington Drama League; and without doubt, the first of its kind ever, outside of the Jewish community in Delaware.

A one act play with a strictly Jewish theme, written and directed by a Jewish resident of our state was presented Feb. 3 and 4 in the Drama League near 40th and Market Street before enthusiastic audiences but I suspect it was seen by not more than a half dozen Jewish residents of our city.

“So? What’s all this about?” you may ask.

So — I’ll tell you. It’s basically about my nephew, Moishe, whom many of you know better as Morris Levenberg, known more formally as His Honor, Justice of the Peace Morris Levenberg.
I know, it’s not always kosher to write about one’s kith and kin but believe me, this is different.

Here is a Jewish resident of our state and city — a native, too; actually born on the second floor of a house that stood at Second and Shipley Streets many years ago — who has taken on a hobby of writing, directing, and participating in plays.

Maybe you remember when Reb Morris Levenberg used to direct plays in the old Jewish Community Center that used to be on French Street, between Fifth and Sixth, just below the old Adas Kodesch synagogue?

And I recall once when he staged a play on the bimah of Beth Emeth. Yes, right there on the bimah on a Friday night! It was the dramatized story of Bontche Schweig and what happened to him when he appeared before the throne of the Almighty.

Well, getting back now to my story:

The Drama League had decided to enter a play in the national one act play contest and so it offered four one act plays on Feb. 3 and 4 with the audience helping officials of the Drama League to select the one to be entered in the national contest.

So Reb Morris Levenberg wrote a one act play, based on a story by Isaac Mordecai. He helped to cast it and he also directed it. It was named “Strike of the Poor People” and it involved an old Yiddish legend that once upon a time a wealthy man decided to marry off his daughter and in accordance with Galitzianer tradition (you see, Reb Levenberg’s grandparents and mother came from Galicia), the father had to invite the poor people to the wedding.

And according to tradition, if the poor people of the village did not attend the wedding and participate in the festivities, there just could not be a wedding.

However, on this occasion, the poor people of this particular village in Galicia, went on strike. They sent a negotiator to inform the father of the bride-to-be that they would not “honor” the wedding until they were assured of a raise in donations of money, their own selection of the food, served by caterers of their own choosing.

At first, the father, Reb Yitzchock, refused to agree to the demands but finally he had to give in. Here was the point of the play: Rabbi Menasha who was scheduled to perform the wedding ceremony, advised Chaim, the negotiator for the beggars’ union that according to Talmud and Jewish law, any one who receives charity is bound to share that charity with others, particularly with the shul.

The role of the father, Reb Yitzchok, was played with great skill by Joe Halloran, a veteran member of the Drama League, whose Yiddish mannerisms and accent were superb, thanks to the direction of Reb Levenberg.
Others in the play were Clyde Hess as Rabbi Menasha; Victoria Prober as the bride and Steve Porno as the negotiator for the beggars.

The acting was so wonderful, with add due respect to Reb. Levenberg, you would have thought it had all been directed by Menasha Skulnick or Boris Thomashevsky.
Anyway, the play did direct the audiences to a fundamental Jewish law!

Even beggars who receive charity are required to share that charity with the less fortunate.

Maybe someone can persuade Reb Moishe Levenberg to restage his play in the Jewish Community Center or even in a shul.

This article by columnist William P. Frank appeared in the Jewish Voice on February 24, 1984.

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Arthur M. Blatman, Second Lieutenant, U. S. Army

Arthur M. Blatman
Artie and Lena Blatman
Artie Blatman with his mother, Lena Blatman.

Handsome, outgoing and popular, Artie Blatman was a well-known member of the Jewish community and the Second Street neighborhood where his mother, Lena, ran the family’s bakery. Joseph Blatman, Arthur’s father, had died December 26, 1938, at the age of 54.

Here are some pictures of Arthur Blatman from the 1930s

Arthur Blatman enlisted on April 29, 1941. He was 24 years old.

One of the first letters published in The “Y” Recorder
 column, “Word from the Front,” later renamed, “Dear Mollye” was this one from Artie.

Word From the Front column in The Y Recorder, December 12, 1941.
Word From the Front column in The Y Recorder, December 12, 1941.

Dear Mollye:
Fort Bragg, at last, after four and one-half days walking from Troy, N. C. some 75 to 80 miles away, and what pleasant sight these sand hills are. After grooming our four legged pets, we heard a familiar, and long awaited word, DISMISS. We then started our own stampede to the barracks and showers. Hot water to bathe in, the first hot shower we took since leaving Fort Bragg two months and a half months ago. A haircut, shave, hot shower using two cakes of soap, clean clothes and looking forward to sleeping in a bed, we are beginning to feel like human beings again.

This morning we learned that the Blue Army was victorious, and we found that out from the newspapers. I was in the Blue Army and didn’t even know who won the war. If the umpires were as good as some I’ve seen around, I can understand why we won. I guess everything the Blue Army did, was a strike. They must have been homers. Gus Reissman should have been in the stands watching these maneuvers, and I bet the umpires would have caught plenty H__. You don’t get as much heck from the coach (or officer) or Gus Reissman. Sorry I have to pick on you Gus, but I can picture you at the “Y” every Sunday letting the guys have it. By the way, Mollye, who is he picking on this year? Sometimes I think I’m better off in the Army.
I expect to be home in three weeks. We are getting fifteen days for Christmas furlough, and that is a swell present. Well that seems to be about all at present. Regards to the gang at the “Y” and I’ll be seeing you all soon (I hope).

Love,
Artie.

Artillery Observer Orders Fire on Self to Clean Out Enemy

A case of a man willing to sacrifice his own life to aid the advance of his unit is the story of Lt. Arthur Blatman of Lt. Col. Roger Lilly’s armored field artillery. Acting as forward observer, Lt. Blatman crossed the river, dismounted with his men, carrying a portable radio, located enemy units and had fired a mission before he was captured. Just before the enemy marched in upon him with guns at the ready, Lt. Blatman flicked off his radio, but while being questioned, he surreptitiously turned on his radio with his foot and told his captors: “If I hadn’t been captured, I’d call for fire upon this position 20 times —20 times 20 times!”

Hearing the message, his battalion commander plotted fire of three battalions upon the position, “annihilated” the enemy and Lt. Blatman.

Bronze Star Medal awarded to Second Lt. Arthur M. Blatman,
The Bronze Star Medal has been posthumously awarded to your son, Second Lieutenant Arthur M. Blatman, Armored Field Artillery. For meritorious service in connection with military operations against the enemy in Germany on 7 and 8 March 1945. Lieutenant Blatman, as forward artillery observer, continuously moved forward for better observation despite heavy artillery fire. He carried out his mission without consideration for his own safety and gave continuous support to the infantry. He continued his mission until fatally wounded. Lieutenant Blatman’s courage and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the Military Forces of the United States.
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The Greatest Generation

The Jewish Historical Society of Delaware is pleased to announce its 2018 Annual Meeting program, Remembering Jewish Delaware’s Greatest Generation. 

Join us on Sunday, April 29, 2018 at the Siegel Jewish Community Center at 101 Garden of Eden Road, Wilmington, DE 19803.  The annual meeting will begin at 1 o’clock PM and the program will follow.  Light refreshments will be served at the conclusion of the program.  The event is free and open to the public.

Take an inside look at the “Dear Mollye” collection with the Jewish Historical Society of Delaware’s archivist, Gail Pietrzyk.  We’ll tell the story of Mollye Sklut, who wrote to hundreds of men and women serving during WWII and go beyond to pay tribute to the many other heroic Delawareans who served and sacrificed for the war effort.  Learn about the Gold Star Mothers, who lost their sons in battle.  Honor those who earned Silver Stars, Purple Hearts, Distinguished Flying Crosses, and many other citations for bravery and courage.

Discover how letters and photographs stored for 75 years can come to life and the stories of long ago can inspire and enrich us today.

Post card from Leonard Cooper to Mollye Sklut, Under the K.P. tree
Post card from Leonard Cooper to Mollye Sklut, Under the K.P. tree

“These letters have everything,” says archivist Pietrzyk, “romance, humor, courage, and if you count KP duty, even the kitchen sink! “

This introduction will launch the JHSD’s web-exhibit for the “Dear Mollye” collection.  We hope visitors will share their memories, stories, and photographs to help us all preserve and remember the Greatest Generation.

 

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Teaching the Holocaust

Space is still available for this workshop.  please reserve a space today.
The Delaware Historical Society
and the Jewish Historical Society of Delaware presents

Free Teacher WorkshopTeaching the HOLOCAUST
Echoes and Reflections

Saturday, March 18, 2017
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Copeland Room I Delaware History Museum
504 N. Market Street, Wilmington, DE 19801
Light snacks and refreshments provided | Lunch on own

Stimulate student engagement, critical thinking skills, and an understanding of the relevance of the Holocaust through workshop exercises.

Every participant receives a free, comprehensive Teacher’s Resource Guide.

Aligns with National Standards.
Professional credits available through the Delaware Teacher Center.
Registration required rfay@dehistory.org or 302-295-2388, for more information. dehistory.org

Echoes and Reflections is a comprehensive Holocaust Education program that delivers professional development and a rich array of resources for middle and high school teachers.

Delaware Historical SocietyJewish Historical Society of Delaware

A joint program of the Anti-Defamation League USC Shoah Foundation, and Yad Vashem

ADL USC Shoah Foundation Yad Vashem

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AUTHOR TALK: KOSHER USA

Dr. Roger Horowitz, Director of the Center for the History of Business, Technology, and Society at the Hagley Museum and Library

Dr. Roger HorowitzAUTHOR TALK: KOSHER USA

NEXT DATE: September 22, 2016  |  7 p.m.  |  Thursday
CATEGORY: ACADEMIC PROGRAMS, FEATURE ON HOME PAGE, AUTHOR TALKS, ADULT PROGRAMS  |  LOCATION: LIBRARY, SODA HOUSE

This lecture is open to the public.

Those planning to attend should r.s.v.p. to Carol Lockman, clockman@Hagley.org or call (302) 658-2400, ext. 243.

In his talk, Kosher USA, Dr. Roger Horowitz will follow the journey of kosher foods through the modern industrial food system. He will examine how the producers of iconic brands such as Coca-Cola and Jell-O attempted to make their products kosher and how kosher-specific products, such as Manischewitz wine, won over non-Jewish consumers (principally African Americans). Along this journey, there were contentious debates among rabbis over the incorporation of modern science into Jewish law, the techniques used by Orthodox rabbinical organizations to embed kosher requirements into food manufacturing, and continued difficulties encountered by kosher meat and other kosher foods that fell outside the American culinary consensus.

Roger Horowitz is a historian of American business, technology, and labor and an expert on the nation’s food. He has written widely about the consumption and production of meat in America. Most recently, his research has turned to kosher food, incited by powerful personal connections and intellectual curiosity. Dr. Horowitz is also the Director of the Center for the History of Business, Technology, and Society at the Hagley Museum and Library.