Letters To The Editor – The Jewish Press – JewishPress.com

More on Fiddler

I enjoyed Saul Singers article on some of the history of Fiddler on the Roof (Feb. 4).

Fun fact: In the original Yiddish, If I were a rich man was Ven ich bin a Rothschild (If I were a Rothschild), based on an actual monologue by Tevye in the book.

In the movie, a common device put into the mouth of the Tevye was as the good book says. and then he makes a nonsensical statement whereas, in the book, Tevye often quotes (or misrenders) popular biblical quotes, completely missing the point of the quote, in an effort to sound more educated than he is.

I do not speak Yiddish, so I read a translation of Fiddler. The translator would leave the quote (or misquote) in the original Hebrew (or whatever). In a footnote, the translator would translate into English, explaining the malapropisms that Tevye made, including how he was misusing the quote, sometimes even explaining the wordplay used by author Sholom Aleichem.

There was even an instance where Tevye uses an as the Talmud says and then says something thats complete gobbledygook (but meant to sound like Aramaic).

Ive heard, theres plenty of other Yiddish wordplay in the original that gets lost in translation.

Another fun fact that was touched upon in the article: Why Zero Mostel wasnt in the movie. Zero defined the role of Tevye on Broadway, but director Norman Jewison (not actually Jewish) knew of Zeros reputation as being impossible to deal with. He also figured that Zeros personality was too large and would eclipse the other characters.

Chaim Topol had played Tevye in a Hebrew Fiddler in Israel. When they were looking to bring Fiddler to England, they cast Topol, who didnt speak a word of English back then and actually memorized the score to learn English. Topol was highly acclaimed as Tevye. Although he was quite young at the time, he played a very convincing middle-aged man (which he had previously done in the 1964 Israeli comedy Sallah Shabati).

This is how they came to cast Topol as Tevye in the movie. His Tevye was so highly acclaimed in England that Jewison was told to consider him for the role. Jewison was blown away, and controversially cast Topol over Mostel.

I had heard that when Topol played Sallah Shabbati, he was so convincing that he showed up to the hotel he was booked at in character and they threw him out, thinking he was a schnorrer. Topol was a master at his craft.

Its also worth noting that Topol was even younger in that earlier role, but played an elder Mizrachi oleh which was another factor in Jewison casting him.

Michael FishmanManhattan, NY

A Kindness Remembered

Sarah Pachter had a very special article in last weeks Jewish Press, about saving face, making sure not to embarrass anyone. This reminded me of an incident that happened many years ago when I was the Shabbos guest at the home of the late great chazzan Binyamin Glickman, ah. I accidentally spilled some of my bright red wine on the sparkly white tablecloth. I was horrified, but then a minute later, the chazzan accidentally spilled his wine all over the table as well.

Nothing was said, but I never forgot his kindness in minimizing my embarrassment.

Amy SchwartzVia email

Preparing Teens For Campus Antisemitism

Todays antisemitism is a litany of lies about Israel, which are lies about Jews. The most common antisemitic buzzwords on campus are: Arabs are the lands indigenous people/Jews stole the land; ethnic cleansing; genocide; occupation; apartheid.

It is every congressional rabbis responsibility to make sure our teens go off to college knowing how to stand up against the Big Lies. We are urging our rabbis to make sure his/her teens know how to easily stand up against the slanders and blood libels. Rabbis can call teens in for a get-together, and/or e-mail material stressing that it is important information to know before entering university.

Rabbis must prepare teens to fight campus antisemitism. This is their obligation. Otherwise they are leaving our teens open to being bullied on campus, to cowering, hiding their Jewish identity, or worse, believing the lies, losing their Jewish pride, and even becoming anti-Israel activists a la the anti-Semitic J Street and Jewish Voice for Peace.

Rabbi Dr. Bernhard RosenbergVia email

View post:

Letters To The Editor - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com