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Some thoughts on Netanyahu’s speech before Congress – and the Jewish Federation allocations to agencies
By BERNIE BELLAN After just having watched Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech to Congress, I’m left wondering – as are probably most pundits, just who it was that Netanyahu was trying to reach?
There certainly wasn’t anything new in what he had to say. He offered his oft-repeated litany of warnings about the dangers posed by Iran and its surrogates in the Middle East and insisted that Israel will continue its war in Gaza until it has achieved its aims.
By now though, Netanyahu has backed down from his initial goal of “totally eradicating” Hamas to instead pressing for the removal of Hamas from power – to be replaced by some sort of Palestinian civilian administration (of course, without even giving a hint of which Palestinians could be expected to form that administration).
The timing of Netanyahu’s appearance before Congress was indeed strange. No doubt, he expected to be coming to America when President Biden was still determined to continue his hopeless quest to defeat Donald Trump, so Netanyahu was for sure anticipating that he could coddle up to a soon-to-be-elected President Trump by issuing heaps of praise in his speech for how much Trump had done for Israel.
There have been many reports that even Netanyahu – who has bent over backwards to flatter as supreme a narcissist as Donald Trump, had angered Trump when he issued congratulations to President Biden over his winning the 2020 election. (Anyone who refused to go along with Trumpโs insistence that the election was stolen ended up on the wrong side of Trump.) Netanyahu’s coming to the US was meant largely to patch up those damaged feelings – especially when until Sunday, July 20, it seemed all but certain that Trump was headed to victory this coming November.
Then that darned Biden had to go and throw all of Netanyahu’s calculations into the dumpster. Now, instead of being able to offer a non-stop series of remarks intended to flatter the man who was all but certain headed to a sweeping victory in November, Netanyahu had to modulate his speech to also thank President Biden for the strong support he had shown Israel since October 7. Better to keep one foot in the Democratsโ camp too, Netanyahu realized.
Still, will Netanyahu’s speech make any difference at all in the coming US election? Not at all. Anyone who knows Trump understands that he really could care less about the Middle East – unless there’s money to be made for the Trump organization there.
What about Trump’s much ballyhooed “deal of the century,” which he kept talking about back when he was President – and on which his son-in-law Jared Kushner was working (quite constructively, I’ll admit) to bring about a larger peace deal that would have included Saudi Arabia, but which also got stuck on the thorny issue of creating a Palestinian state? Is there any likelihood that a Trump administration would want to revisit that plan? Not while Netanyahu and the right-wing fanatics who are keeping him in power are still calling the shots.
While the Republican Party is sure to give staunch support to Israel – no matter who is in charge in Israel, what can be said about the Democrats?
Kamala Harris is likely to try and steer clear of enunciating any kind of clear policies when it comes to providing support for Israel. Sure, she’ll repeat the standard mantra of America standing behind Israel, but when it comes to translating that policy into concrete action, I expect that Harris will bob and weave. The mere announcement that Biden was dropping his determination to remain in the presidential race – thus leaving the floor clear for Harris to step into the role as candidate, led to a huge torrent of support from among American Jews for Harris.
So, if Harris can count on the roughly 80% of American Jews who voted for Biden in 2020 to come around again – what does that mean for her working to gain back some other constituencies who had lost interest in voting for Biden? Are Arab Americans in Michigan – where they form a sizeable group of voters, now likely to return to the Democrat fold? We’ll have to wait for polls to tell us how likely that is – and just how much Harris’s entering the race instead of Biden will have narrowed the fairly large gap that existed between Trump and Biden. I rather tend to think that Harris will be able to continue building momentum and that the 5% of Americans who, to this point, have remained undecided about which presidential candidate they will vote for will largely swing her way. On top of that, large numbers of voters who indicated they would vote for Trump – largely because they found him less unattractive than Biden, will begin to switch over to Harris.
And, where does that leave Netanyahu and his Machiavellian calculations? Based on what has happened to date, when he has consistently torpedoed deals that would have led to a cease fire, he is likely simply to procrastinate – which will keep him in good stead with those two right wing fanatics who are propping him up: Smotrich and Ben Gvir.
Switching gears – there will be many interesting stories in the days to come on this website about different members of our Jewish community – both current and former – in particular, stories that Myron Love has written about relatively young members of our community who have stepped up to assume leadership roles, including brothers Harley and Bradley Abells, Jonathan Strauss, and Elena Grinshteyn. (So, if you’re reading this on July 24, keep an eye out for new stories soon to appear.)
I have to add a note of caution though – which I’m prone to doing when it comes to discussing the long term health of our Jewish community. And that note emanates from my own report on allocations to the beneficiary agencies of the Jewish Federation in this issue.
As I observe in my story about those allocations, while the total amount to be distributed has remained fairly constant the past two years, it is somewhat lower than what it was three and four years ago, and when inflation is taken into account, it is far less than what it was 10 years ago.
While the Combined Jewish Appeal has been successful in realizing its goals each year for the past many years, again, when inflation is taken into account, what the community is raising relative to what it raised 10 years ago is far less.
But, as I’ve also noted in my reports about the Jewish Foundation each year that it announces the total value of grants it has distributed, it is the Foundation that has been very much stepping into the breech between what the needs of the community are and what has been raised by the Combined Jewish Appeal.
This past year the Foundation distributed just under $7 million in grants. That was also approximately how much the Foundation distributed the previous year, but it was a huge increase from just two years prior (2020) when the Foundation distributed a little over $5 million in grants.
And, as I reported in the July 3 issue, the Foundation is now committed to distributing 5% of the total value of its investment portfolio next year. Considering that the portfolio is now valued at over $160 million, that means the Foundation is likely to distribute over $8 million in grants in the coming year. Add to that the fact that the Foundation continues to receive a very large number of contributions each year ($5.8 million this past year), and the Foundation has become the bedrock of the financial sustainability of our Jewish community. Where would be without the Jewish Foundation? I’d hate to think.
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Brooklynโs new โlard bagelโ is not kosher. But it is delicious.
Bagels have long been a staple of the Jewish diet, even if theyโre not exactly health food. But the latest addition to New Yorkโs bagel scene achieves the impressive feat of inviting both your doctor and your rabbiโs scorn: the โlard bagel,โ made with rendered pork fat.
The decidedly unkosher offering is on the menu at Caputo Bagels, which opened Monday in Brooklynโs Park Slope neighborhood. The bagel shop is the successor to the once-popular Caputo Bakery in Carroll Gardens, which closed in April after five generations of operation.
At the now-shuttered Caputo Bakery, โlard breadโ was a bestseller. Caputo Bagels seeks to recreate the lard bread experience, but in bagel form. Lard, salami, provolone cheese, salt and pepper are all folded into sourdough, hand-rolled, then boiled and baked at 425 degrees. The Italian-Jewish mash-up is the product of a partnership between James Caputo and Rafi Hasid, who also runs the Israeli restaurant Miriam next door.
Eager to try this bagel novelty, I stocked up on Lactaid pills and trekked to Park Slope early Friday morning. There, I met Caputo himself, who said the lard bread was a family recipe and an Italian-American specialty. Lard, he explained, was โa couple levels above adding butter to your bread.โ
โA lot of people who went to the bakery are now rushing here to try the lard bagel,โ Caputo said, adding that he did โfeel badโ that kosher customers wouldnโt be able to eat the signature item.
I reassured Caputo that I did not keep kosher and was eager to taste the lard bagel myself.
But before digging in, I wanted to know what to expect. The first customer I spoke with had ordered an everything bagel, explaining that she hadnโt known the lard bagel โexisted.โ The second, visiting New York City from Spain, had opted for banana bread.
I asked her if she had considered ordering the lard bagel. โAt this hour in the morning?โ she asked.
I was starting to get worried. If nobody orders the lard bagel, does it make a sound?
Fortunately, I soon met Kristin Stoller, a local who used to frequent Caputo Bakery. She had ordered both a lard bagel and a plain one, with a side of scallion cream cheese, to bring home for herself and her boyfriend.
โHeโs anxious about the lard bagel,โ she told me, but she was hoping to convert him.
I asked if she would do a taste test. โJust like the bread!โ she said after taking a bite. โThis is perfection.โ
Her enthusiasm seemed to be contagious. The first customer Iโd spoken with came up to me, this time with a lard bagel in hand. Iโd piqued her curiosity. โItโs a savory explosion,โ she said.
Outside, I found a customer named Kendra Koch sitting on a bench with her dog, Pom Pom. She, too, had ordered the lard bagel, topped with olive cream cheese.
โIt tastes like pizza,โ she said as Pom Pom angled toward the bagel, seemingly longing for a bite.
I summoned my courage and ordered one sans toppings, figuring it had enough going on flavor-wise to stand on its own. One bite revealed a cheesy, peppery richness. I wasnโt sure I tasted the lard, but I also wasnโt sure if I was supposed to. My official verdict: delicious.
It was just too bad that my kosher friends couldnโt try it. Iโm holding out hope that the schmaltz bagel will catch on next.
The post Brooklynโs new โlard bagelโ is not kosher. But it is delicious. appeared first on The Forward.
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Yiddish Modernism and the political tumult in the 1930s
ืืื ืื 1920ืขืจ ืืื 1930ืขืจ ืืึธืจื ืืึธื ืืขืจ ืืฉืืจื ืึทื โืืื ืืืโ ืืขืืื ื ืฐื ืึท ืืจืืืื ืข ืคึฟืึทืจ ืืึธืืขืจื ืืกืืืฉืข ืขืงืกืคึผืขืจืืืขื ืื ืืื ืืขืจ ืึทืืขืจืืงืึทื ืขืจ ืืึดืืืฉึพืืืืขืจืึทืืืจ. ืฆื ืื โืืื ืืืืืกืืโ ืืึธืื ืืขืืขืจื ืืขืงืึฟ ืืืึทืืฉืืฒื, ืึทืืจื ืืืึทื ืฅึพืืขืืขืืขืก, ื. ืืฒืฐืืง, ืฉืืื ืฉืฐืึทืจืฅ, ืืืืื ืืฒื ืืขืืขืจ ืืื ืึทื ืืขืจืข.
ืฐื ืืขื ืงืขื ืืจืขืคึฟื ืคึฟืื ืขื ืืฉืืจื ืึทืืก ื ืึธืืขื, ืืฒึทื ืขื ืื ืืึธืืืงืข ืืืืขืจืึทืื ืืขืฐืขื ืคึฟืึทืจืืึธื ืืื ืฉืขืคึฟืขืจืืฉืข ืืงืืจืืช ืึทืจืื ืืขื ืืฒืืขื ืขื โืืืโ. ืืื ืืึทืงืข, ืืื ืื 1920 ืืึธืจื ืืึธื โืืื ืืืโ ื ืื ืืขืืึทื ืงืฒื ืืื ืืขืจืขืก ืฆื ืื ืคึผืึธืืืืืฉืข ืืืืืชึพืืืื.
ืึธืืขืจ ืืึธืก ืืึธื ืืื ืืขืืืื ื ืึธื 1934, ืฐืขื ืืืึทืืฉืืฒื ืืื ืืขืฐืึธืจื ืืขืจ ืจืขืืึทืงืืึธืจ ืคึฟืื ืขื ืืฉืืจื ืึทื. ืืขืจ ืืึธืืืงืขืจ ืชึผืงืืคึฟื ืืื ืืขืฐืืืืขื ืืึธืก ื ืฒึทืข ืืื ืคึฟืื ืืืชื ืืืืจื (ืืื ืืฐืขืจืกืืืขื ืคึฟืื ืืึทื ืืืึธืืึท, ืงืึทื ืึทืืข) โืืื ืืืืืื: ืืึดืืืฉึพืืืืืื ื ืืื ืื ืืึดืืืฉืข ืืืืขื ืืืืขื ืืื ืึทืืขืจืืงืข ืืื ืื 1930ืขืจ ืืึธืจืโ.
ืืืึทืืฉืืฒื ืืึธื ืคึฟืึทืจืืฒืืืงื ืื ืฉืขืคึฟืขืจืืฉืข ืืฑืืึธื ืึธืืืข ืคึฟืื ืขื ืืืืืขืจ ืงืขืื ืื ืึทื ืืึทืืฉืืจืืข ืงืึธืืื ืืกืืืฉืข ืงืจืืืืงืขืจ ืฐื ืึทืืึผืกื ืืจ ืคึผืึธืืขืจืึทื ืฅ, ืฐืึธืก ืืึธืื ืืขืคึฟืึธืืขืจื, ืึทื ืืืืขืจืึทืืืจ ืืึธื ืืื ืขื ืื ืืื ืืขืจืขืกื ืคึฟืื ืื ืคึผืจืึธืืขืืึทืจืืฉืข ืืึทืกื.
ืึทืืฑ ืืื ืืืึทืืฉืืฒื ืก ืืฒืืขื ืข ืคึผืึธืขืืืฉืข ืฉืึทืคึฟืื ื ืืขืฐืึธืจื ืึท ืืื ืคึผืึธืืืืืฉืข ืคึผืึธืืืฆืืข. ืื ืืึธืืืงืข ืคึผืึธืืืืืง, ืืึทืื ืืืืจื, ืืึธื ืืฉืคึผืืข ืืขืฐืขื ืืืืฃ ืืฒึทื ืืืืขืจืึทืจืืฉื ืกืืื ืืื ืืขื ืกืืื ืคึฟืื ืึทื ืืขืจืข ืืืืจืื ืคึฟืื โืืื ืืืโ.
ืืืึทืืฉืืฒื ืืึธื ืืขืขืคึฟื ื ืื ืืฒึทืื ืคึฟืื โืืื ืืืโ ืคึฟืึทืจ ืคึผืึธืืืืืฉืข ืฐืืึผืืืื. ืขืจ ืึทืืฒื ืืื ืึทืจืฑืก ืืื ืึท ืคึฟืึธืจืฉืืึธื ืฆื ืฉืึทืคึฟื ืึท ืคึผืึทืจืืฒ, ืฐืึธืก ืืึธื ืืฒึทื ืื ืคึผืึธืืืืืฉ ืจืึทืืืงืึทื ืื ืืึดืืืฉืืกืืืฉ, ืืื ืงืฒื ืคึผืจืึทืงืืืฉืข ืคึผืจืึธืืจืึทื ืืึธื ืขืจ ื ืื ืคึฟืึธืจืืขืืฒืื.
ืืืืคึผืื ืฆื ืึทื ืืขืจืข ืจืึทืืืงืึทืืข ืคึผืึทืจืืฒืขื, ืงืืืึพืึผื ืืขืจ ืงืึธืืื ืืกืืืฉืขืจ, ืืื ืืขืจ ืืฑืคึผืืฆืื ืคึฟืื ืืืึทืืฉืืฒื ืก ืคึผืึทืจืืฒ ืืขืฐืขื ืฆื ืคึฟืึทืจืืฒืืืงื ืืึดืืืฉืข ื ืึทืฆืืึธื ืึทืืข ืืื ืืขืจืขืกื. ืืึธืก ืืื ืืขืฐืขื ืกืคึผืขืฆืืขื ืฐืืืืืง ืืื ืืขืจ ืฆืฒึทื ืฐืขื ืืขืจ ืึทื ืืืกืขืืืืืื ืืึธื ืืขืืึทืืื ืืื ืืฒื ืฐืึทืงืกื ืืื ืืฒืจืึธืคึผืข.
ืืืึทืืฉืืฒื ืืึธื ืคึฟืึทืจืืขืื ืืึดืืืฉืข ืืืืขืจืึทืื ืึทืจืืืฆืืจืขืื ืืฒึทื ืคึผืจืึธืืขืงื ืืฑืฃ ืื ืืฒึทืื ืคึฟืื ืขื ืืฉืืจื ืึทื. ืืจืืึฟ ืืฒึทื ืขื ืืฒ ื ืื ืืขืฐืขื ืืฒึทื ืฉืืืืืง ืืื ืืืึทืืฉืืฒื. ืืขืจ ืขืืงืจ ืืฒึทื ืขื ืืฒ ืืขืฐืขื ืงืขืื ืืขืจ ืืืืฒ, ืึทื ืื ืืื ืืขืืขืงืืืึทืื ืืึทืจืคึฟื ืฐืขืจื ืคึผืึธืืืืืฉืข ืึธื ืคึฟืืจืขืจ ืคึฟืื ืื ืืึทืกื.
ืืืฅ ืืขื, ืฐื ืขืก ืืึธื ืืึทืืขืจืงื ืืืื ืืฉืืืืึธืฐืกืงื, ืืฒึทื ืขื ืฉืฑื ืืึธ ืืขืฐืขื ืืขื ืื ืคึผืึธืืืืืฉืข ืคึผืึทืจืืฒืขื ืืื ืฐืขืืืข ืืึดืื ืืึธืื ืืื ืึทืงืืืฐ ืืึทืืฒืืืงื. ืฆื ืฉืึทืคึฟื ื ืึธื ืึท ืคึผืึทืจืืฒ ืฐืึธืื ื ืื ืืขืืึธืืคึฟื ืฆื ืคึฟืึทืจืืขืกืขืจื ืืขื ืืฆืึฟ ืคึฟืื ืืึดืื.
ืืขืจ ืืื ืืืืืื, ืืึทืื ืืืืจื, ืืื ืืืึฟืข ืืขืฐืขื ืขืงืืขืงืืืฉ ืกืฒึท ืคึผืึธืขืืืฉ ืืื ืกืฒึท ืคึผืึธืืืืืฉ. ืืขื ืืึธื ื ืื ืืขืืึทืืื ืคึฟืื ืืจืึทืืืฆืืึธื ืขืืข ืืฉืึทื ืขืจืก ืืื ืกืืืื.ย ืึธืคึฟื ืืึธื ืืึธื ืืขื ืขืงืกืคึผืขืจืืืขื ืืืจื ืืื ืืืฉื ืคึผืจืึธืืข ืืื ืคึฟืขืจืื.
ืืื ืื 1930ืขืจ ืืึธืจื ืืึธืื ืื ืืืืขืจืึทืจืืฉืข ืขืงืกืคึผืขืจืืืขื ืื ืืึทืงืืืขื ืึท ืคึผืึธืืืืืฉื ืึทืงืฆืขื ื. ืกืฒึท ืืื ืืขืจ ืงืื ืกื ืืื ืกืฒึท ืืื ืืขืจ ืคึผืึธืืืืืง ืืึธืื ืื ืืื ืืืืืกืื ืืขืืืื ืึทื ืขื ืืคึฟืขืจ ืืฑืฃ ืืขืจ ืขืืงืจึพืคึฟืจืึทืืข: ืฐืึธืก ืืื ืืขืจ ืขืฆื ืคึฟืื ืขื ืืึดืืืฉื โืืืโ ืืื ืึทืืขืจืืงืข ืืื ืืขืจ ืืึธืืขืจื ืขืจ ืชึผืงืืคึฟื?
ืืขืจ ืืื ืืืืืื ืืื ืืขืฐืึธืจื ืึท ื ืฒึทืขืจ ืืื ืืึดืืืฉืืื: ืึท ืงืืืืืจืขืืข ืืื ืคึผืึธืืืืืฉืข ืืืืขืึธืืึธืืืข, ืฐืึธืกืขืจ ืฆืื ืืื ืืขืฐืขื ืฆื ืคึฟืึทืจืืฒื ืืงื ืคึฟืึทืจืฉืฒืืขื ืข ืคึผืึธืืืืืฉืข ืฉืืจืขืืื ืืขื ืืฑืคึฟื ืกืื ืคึฟืื ืืขืจ ืืึดืืืฉืขืจ ืฉืคึผืจืึทื ืืื ืืขืจ ืืึธืืขืจื ืขืจ ืฐืขืืืืขืืขืจ ืืึดืืืฉึพืงืืืืืจ.
ืืืึทืืฉืืฒื ืืึธื ืืขืืืฑืื, ืึทื ืฐืขืจืืขืจ ืืึทืจืคึฟื ืืจืึธืื ืืขื ืฐืืจืงืืขืื ืืืช, ืืคึฟืจื ืืื ืื ืฆืฒึทืื, ืฐืขื ืึผืืขืจืืฒ ืืึธืืึทืืืืึทืจืืฉืข ืจืขืืฉืืืขื ืืึธืื ืคึฟืึทืจืฉืคึผืจืฒื ืืืื ืก ืคึฟืึทืจ ืื ืฆืฐืขืงื ืคึฟืื ืืฒืขืจ ืืขืจืืขืจืืฉืขืจ ืคึผืจืึธืคึผืึทืืึทื ืืข.
ืืื ืขื ืืื ืืืืขืจ โืืึดืืืฉืืฒึทืืฉืโ, ืฐืึธืก ืืื ืึทืจืฑืก ืืื ืฐืึทืจืฉืข ืืื 1937, ืืึธื ืืืึทืืฉืืฒื ืืขืคึผืจืึผืฐื ืืขืจืืจืฒืื ืื ืืืคึฟืกืืข ืคึฟืึธื ืขืืืฉืข ืืื ืืขืงืกืืฉืข ืฐืึธืจืฆืืขื ืคึฟืื ืืขืจ ืืึดืืืฉืขืจ ืฉืคึผืจืึทื.
ืืื ืืย ืฉืืจืืช โืึทืืืขืจ ืืฑื, ืคึฟืขืืื ืืื ืฉืืึทื / ืืณืงืื ืฆื ืืืจ ืืื ืืจืฑื ืืื ืืจืึทืโ ืืจืืงื ืืืึทืืฉืืฒื ืืฑืก ืืฒึทื ืคึผืึธืืืฆืืข ืืืื ืืขืจ ืืึดืืืฉืขืจ ืงืืืืืจึพืืจืืฉื. ืขืจ ืงืืื ืืื ืืฒึทื ืึทืืขืจืืงืึทื ืขืจ โืืจืฑื ืืื ืืจืึทืโ ืฆื ืืขื โืึทืืื ืืฑืโ ืคึฟืื ืืึดืืืฉ ืึผืื ืฆื ืฉืขืคึผื ืฉืคึผืจืึทืืืขืกืข ืื ืืงื ืคึฟืึทืจ ืืฒึทื ืคึผืึธืขืืืข.
ย ืืืืจื ืึทื ืืคึผืืขืงื ืืื โืืึดืืืฉืืฒึทืืฉืโ ืกืึทืืืจืืฉืข ืืื ืืขืจืืขื ืขืจ, ืฐืึธืก ืืึทืื ืืืืงย ืกืฒึท ืคึฟืื ืื ืคึฟืึทืฉืืกืื ืืื ืงืึธืืื ืืกืื ืืื ืกืฒึท ืคึฟืื ืื ืึทืืขืจืืงืึทื ืขืจ ืึทืกืืืืืึทืืึธืจื.
ืื ืฆืฐืฒืืข ืฆืขื ืืจืึทืืข ืคึฟืืืืจ ืืื ืขื ืืื ืืืืืื ืืื ืืขืฐืขื ืืขืจ ืืืืืขืจ, ืงืจืืืืงืขืจ ืืื ืืฉืืจื ืึทืืืกื ืึทืืจื ืืืึทื ืฅึพืืขืืขืืขืก. ืืื 1937, ืืฒื ืฆืฒึทืืืง ืืื ืืืึทืืฉืฒืื ืก โืืึดืืืฉืืฒึทืืฉืโ, ืืื ืึทืจืฑืก ืืืึทื ืฅึพืืขืืขืืขืก ืืื ืืืืขืจ โืคึฟืึทืืืืก ืืื ืโ.
ืืื ืืกืึผื ืืื ืื ืขืกืืขืืืฉืข ืคึผืจืื ืฆืืคึผื ืคึฟืื ืขื ืืื ืืืืืื ืืื ืืึธืก ืืึธืืืงืข ืืื ืึท ืืืฉืืึทืฉ ืคึฟืื ืกืืืื, ืืฉืึทื ืขืจืก ืืื ืฉืืึทื ืืคึผืื ืงืื, ืฐืึธืก ืืฒึทื ืขื ืคึฟืึทืจืงื ืืคึผื ืืืจื ืืขืจ ืคึฟืืืืจ ืคึฟืื ืขื ืืฑืคึผืืืขืื. ืืึธืก ืืื ืึท ืคึผืึธืขืืืฉืขืจ ืกืึพืืึผื ืคึฟืื ืขื ืืื ืืืืืกืืืฉื ืคึผืขืจืืึธื ืืื ืืขืืขืืขืกืขืก ืฉืึทืคึฟืื ื, ืืึทืื ืืืืจื.
โืคึฟืึทืืืืก ืืื ืโ ืืึธื ืืึทืงืืืขื ืืชืืืึฟืืชืืืงืข ืึธืคึผืจืืคึฟื ืืฆื ืื ืงืจืืืืงืขืจ. ืืืึทืืฉืืฒื ืืึธื ืืขืืึทืืื ืืึธืก ืืื ืคึฟืึทืจ ืืขืจ โืขืจืฉืืขืจ ืืจืฑืกืฉืฐืึผื ืืืงืขืจ ืืื ืืจืฑืกืฉืืึธืืืฉืขืจ ืคึผืึธืขืืข ืืื ืืขืจ ืืึดืืืฉืขืจ ืคึผืึธืขืืืขโ, ืืื ื. ืืฒืฐืืง ืืึธื ืขืก ืืขืืฑืื ืคึฟืึทืจ ืืฒึทื โืึธืจืืึทื ืืฉืขืจ ืืึทื ืฆืงืฒืโ.
ืื ืคึฟืืืืจ ืคึฟืื ืคึฟืึทืืืืก ืืื ื ืืื ื ืื ืงืฒื ืืฑืืึธืืืึธืืจืึทืคึฟืืฉืข. ืืืืจื ืืึทืื ืึท ืคึผืจืึผืฐ ืฆื ืึทื ืืคึผืืขืงื ืื ืคึฟืึทืจืคึผืืึธื ืืขืจืืข ืืึทืฆืึดืื ืืขื ืฆืฐืืฉื ืืขื ืืืืจ ืึทืืจื ืืืึทื ืฅึพืืขืืขืืขืก, ืืฒึทื ืคึผืึธืขืืืฉืขืจ ืคึผืขืจืืึธื ืึท. ืืขืืขืืขืก, ืืื ืืฒึทื ืืฑืกืืขืืจืึทืืื โืึทืืืขืจ ืขืืึธโ โ ืคึฟืึทืืืืก ืืื ื.
ืืื ื ืคึฟืืืืจืืจื ืืื ืขื ืืื ืฐื ืึท ืฆืขืฉืคึผืึธืืืขื ืข ืคึผืขืจืืขื ืืขืืงืฒื: โืคึฟืึทืืืืก ืืื ื ืคึฟืื ืืขืื ืก ืคึฟืืจื ืขืจโ. ืขืจ ืืื ืกืฒึท ืึท ืคึผืจืึธืืืงื ืืื ืกืฒึท ืึท ืงืจืื ืคึฟืื ืืฒึทื ืชึผืงืืคึฟื.
ืืื ื ืืึธื ืกืคึฟืงืืช ืฐืขืื ืึผืืขืจืืฒ ืคึผืจืึธืืขืงืื ืฆื ืืฒืื ืื โืืึดืืืฉืข ืคึฟืจืึทืืขโ, ืืื ืขื ืกืึธืฐืขืืืฉื ืืืจืึธืืืืืฉืึทื ืึธืืขืจ ืืื ืขื ืืขืืจืขืึดืฉึพืจืขืื ืืืงื ืืึดืฉืืึฟ ืืื ืืจืฅึพืืฉืืจืื.
ืืืฅ ืืืืขืจ ืืึธื ืืืึทื ืฅ ืืขืฉืจืืื ืคึผืึธืืืืืฉืข ืงืึธืืขื ืืึทืจื ืืื ืืขืจ ืืืืขืจืึทืืขืจ ืฆืฒึทืืื ื โืืขืจ ืืึธืโ. ืืืืคึผืื ืฆื ืืืึทืืฉืืฒื ืืึธื ืขืจ ื ืื ืคึฟืึทืจืืจืึทืื ืงืฒื ืืฒืืขื ืข ืคึผืึธืืืืืฉืข ืคึผืจืึธืืขืงืื. ืืฒึทื ืคึผืึธืืืืืฉืขืจ ืฉืืึทื ื ืืื ืืขืฐืขื ืืื ืืกืึผื ืืืื ืคึผืจืึธืืจืขืกืืฐื ืืฑืคึผืืฉืืจืึธื ืคึฟืื ืคึฟืจืึทื ืงืืื ืจืืืฐืขืืืก โื ืื ืืืโ.
ืืขืจ ืืขืฆืืขืจ ื ืืืขืจ ืคึฟืื โืืื ืืืโ ืืื ืึทืจืฑืก ืืื 1940, ืฐืขื ืืฒืจืึธืคึผืข ืืื ืฉืฑื ืืขืฉืืึทื ืขื ืืฑืคึฟื ืฉืฐืขื ืคึฟืื ืขื ืืืจืื. ืืขืจ ืงืึธื ืคึฟืืืงื ืฆืฐืืฉื ืึทืืฐืขืืืืขืืงืฒื ืืื ืืึดืืืฉืงืฒื, ืฐืึธืก ืืื ืืขืฐืขื ืื ืฆืขื ืืจืึทืืข ืืขืืข ืคึฟืื ืื ืืื ืืืืืกืืืฉืข ืืงืืจืืช, ืืื ืืขืืฒืื ืืขืฐืึธืจื ืืืืึฟืช ืืึดืืืฉืงืฒื.
ืืืึทืืฉืืฒื ืืึธื ืคึผืจืึธืงืืึทืืืจื: โืึท ืืืืข ื ืึทืื, ืืจืฒืืข ืฐืขืื. [โฆ] ืืฑืฃ ืืฒึทื ืืฒืืขื ืขื ืืขืืึธื ืืื ืืื ืฆืืจืืง ืืื ืืขืืึธโ. ืืึธืก ืืื ืืขืฐืขื ืืขืจ ืกืืฃ ืคึฟืื ืขื ืืึดืืืฉื ืืึธืืขืจื ืืื, ืคึฟืึทืจืกืึพืืึผืื ืืืืจื.
ืื ืคึผืึธืขืืืฉืข ืงืืืืืจึพืืจืืฉื ืคึฟืื ืื ืืื ืืืืืกืื ืืื ืคึฟืึธืจืืขืฉืืขืื ืืขืฐืึธืจื ืคึฟืึทืจื ืขื ืืืืฉึพืฉืคึผืจืึทืืืงื ืขืืื ืืื ืืขืจ ืคึผืจืขืืืืงืขืจ ืฆืฐืฒึพืฉืคึผืจืึทืืืงืขืจ ืึทื ืืึธืืึธืืืข โืึทืืขืจืืงืึทื ืขืจ ืืึดืืืฉืข ืคึผืึธืขืืืขโ, ืฐืึธืก ืืื ืึทืจืฑืก ืืื 1986 ืืื ืืขืจ ืืขืจ ืจืขืืึทืงืฆืืข ืคึฟืื ืื ืืืื ืืื ืืึทืจืืึทืจืึท ืืึทืจืฉืึทืฐ.
ืืื ืืขืจ ืืงืืื ืืึธื ืื ืืืื ืืึทืจืฉืึทืฐ ืคึผืจืืืืืืง ืึทื ืึทืืืืืจื ืื ืคึฟืึธืจืืขืืข ืืื ืกืืืืืกืืืฉืข ืืืืืฉืื, ืฐืึธืก ืื ืืื ืืืืืกืื ืืึธืื ืึทืจืฒึทื ืืขืืจืึทืื ืืื ืืขืจ ืืึดืืืฉืขืจ ืคึผืึธืขืืืข ืืื ืื 1920ืขืจ ืืึธืจื, ืึธืืขืจ ืขืจ ืืึธื ืงืฑื ืืึทืจืืจื ืืฒืขืจ ืคึผืึธืืืืืง.
ืืืืจืืก ืืื ืืึทืืจืึทืื ืื ืืื ืืืืืกืืืฉืข ืฉืขืคึฟืขืจืืฉืงืฒื ืืื ืืขืจ ืึทื ืึทื ืืขืจื ืงืืงืฐืื ืงื. ืืื ืื 1930ืขืจ ืืึธืจื ืืฒึทื ืขื ืคึผืึธืืืืืง ืืื ืคึผืึธืขืืืข ืืขืฐืึธืจื ื ืึธืขื ื ืฆืื ืืืคึฟืืขืคึฟืืึธืืื ืืื ืื ืฐืขืจืง ืคึฟืื ืขื ืืขืฆืื ืืืจ ืึทืืขืจืืงืึทื ืขืจ ืืึดืืืฉืขืืึธืืขืจื ืืกืื.
The post Yiddish Modernism and the political tumult in the 1930s appeared first on The Forward.
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I never saw myself in Barbie. Would โHanukkah Barbieโ have changed that?
I wasnโt really a Barbie kid. While I occasionally played with my sisterโs hand-me-down Barbies, I preferred American Girl dolls. They were Barbieโs chunkier, cherubic counterparts, each representing a girl from a different period in history and accompanied by a series of historical-fiction books about her life. I devoured those books, including the story of Rebecca Rubin, a 9-year-old Russian-Jewish immigrant living on the Lower East Side in the early 1900s.
So when Mattel released its first Hanukkah Barbie last week โ officially marketed as the โBarbie Holiday Sweater Dollโ โ I wondered whether she would have appealed to me when I was growing up. Would her Jewishness have made her feel more relatable than that blonde-haired, blue-eyed, impossibly proportioned bombshell?
As it turns out, I wasnโt the only one thinking about what it means for Barbie to look Jewish. Shortly after her release, Hanukkah Barbie set off a spirited debate over her appearance. Her nose seemed slightly more prominent than the default Barbie button nose, raising questions about whether Hanukkah Barbieโs face reinforced Jewish stereotypes, or if her distinctive nose reflected a good-faith effort to give the doll recognizably Jewish features.
It was at least clear that Mattel did its homework about the Festival of Lights. The hanukkiah on Barbieโs sweater has the correct number of candleholders, and the dreidels bear accurate Hebrew lettering โ which is more than can be said about a lot of Hanukkah merchandise. If sales are any indication, Hanukkah Barbie is resonating. The doll, which originally retailed for about $30, is sold out, with third-party sellers now asking for as much as $345.
There have previously been Barbies modeled after Jewish celebrities, including Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman, Israeli Olympic surfer Anat Lelior and fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg. But Hanukkah Barbie is the first Barbie whose identity is simply Jewish โ which means she will have the impossible task of representing Jews of all kinds. Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jews, religious and secular Jews all have to somehow find themselves in the same doll.
Complicating matters, the original blonde Barbie has arguably been Jewish all along. Ruth Handler, the daughter of Polish-Jewish immigrants, invented Barbie in 1959, naming โBarbieโ after her daughter, Barbara, and โKenโ after her son, Kenneth. โBarbie is a matrilineal Jew? Love it!โ one Reddit user joked last month.
But Barbie was always a little too Aryan-coded to feel Jewish to me. Her origins go back to the postwar German ideal of blonde, white femininity. Handler drew inspiration for Barbieโs look from a German toy named Bild Lilli, marketed toward men as a gag gift and sold in bars and tobacco shops. That doll, in turn, was based on the comic-strip character Lilli, characterized by Barbieโs unofficial biographer M.G. Lord as โa golddigger, exhibitionist, and floozyโ who worked as a secretary while looking for a wealthy husband. Bild Lilli was manufactured by O.M. Hausser, a toy company that had produced Adolf Hitler figurines during the 1930s.
No wonder stereotypically Ashkenazi-looking Jews like me, not to mention everyone else who also didnโt fit the Barbie mold, felt left out of Barbie-land. (Which is literally everyone, given that scaled up to human size, a traditional Barbie dollโs proportions would make her unable to survive; thereโd be no room for her organs in her tiny waist, and sheโd have no choice other than to walk on all fours.)
Over the years, Barbie has become far more inclusive. After the debut of the โColored Francieโ doll in 1967, Barbie expanded to include dolls of different races, body types and abilities, including dolls with prosthetic limbs and wheelchairs and, in 2016, the long-awaited introduction of โcurvy,โ โpetiteโ and โtallโ Barbies. Mattel introduced career-themed dolls in the 1960s, evolving from fashion designer, nurse, and flight attendant to a presidential candidate Barbie in 1992.
The American Girl doll, which Mattel acquired in 1998, was part of a similar response to the limitations of the traditional fashion doll. Created by teacher Pleasant Rowland in 1986, American Girl was designed to help girls see themselves in their dolls while making history feel personal and engaging.
Of course, little kids arenโt thinking so much about the sociological implications of their toy choices. For my part, my mom bought me an American Girl look-alike doll with my brunette hair and choppy bangs, hoping that seeing myself reflected in a doll would help build my self-esteem. But I also gravitated toward a blonde-haired, blue-eyed American Girl doll that looked more Barbie-esque, which I begged my mom to buy.
Looking back, I wonder how much of the Barbie beauty standard I had subconsciously absorbed, even with an array of representative dolls at my disposal. Hanukkah Barbie may more closely resemble women like me. But changing the default cultural image of Barbie will take more than a doll with a light-up Hanukkah sweater.
The post I never saw myself in Barbie. Would โHanukkah Barbieโ have changed that? appeared first on The Forward.
