Yeshiva University - Masmid Yearbook (New York, NY)

Text from Pages 1 - 128 of the 1950 volume:

MASMID Ismel The headstone of a pyramid of time ' s creation, Two thousand years bear a brilHant culmination As mounds of stone, and swamps, and sand Fuse, vibrant in life — a new-born land. Each mound of stone is born of man ' s right arm Well-muscled, resolute, strong against harm. Each swamp ' s conversion by a child ' s heart seared With memory of inhuman humanity to be feared. Each spectre of sand bought with blood-gushing stream A mangled limb ' s contribution to a dreamer ' s dream. Fusing these together Bending them forever. Not tens of torn veins Nor hundreds of mortal pains, Nor thousands of buried daughters and mothers Nor tens of thousands of executed brothers Nor countless myriads of death-defiled wives But — years of millions of consecrated lives. The headstone of a pyramid of time ' s creation Two thousand years bear a brilliant culmination Thus we chant of our new found elation Muted with knowledge of its awesome consecration As mounds of stone, and swamps, and sand Fuse vibrant in life — a new-born land Thus we 5ing exultation for our people ' s new-won land Praying for eternal aid from our Lord ' s most merciful hands. BY Charles N. Bahx Personnel of Masmid Et itor-in-C iiej Boris A. Rackovskv Managing Editor Paul Ritterbaxd Btisinefs Manager Joshua Hektzbekg Literary Editor William Frank Literary Editor Hernlxx Potok. Literary Editor A iuel Rosexfeld Technical Editor Morris Halperx P iotograp iv Editor Abraham Morcexstern Factdtv Aili ' isor Abraham Hirwitz GnititUiic lo Arthur Szyk for the use ol the dedication drawing. Tabic of Contents PAGE (Ircclini s 6 Stall 8 l alhul of ihc Faiulty lo Faculty 14 Classes 17 Sai a of the Seniors 21 Seniors 22 Class Hysteria 46 Literary Spinoza and Maimonides in Today s Worlii . Schoenfeld 60 This Troubled Word 64 Concerning the Judeophobic Tendencies of Ernest }. Renan Maurice Lamm 67 Franz Kafka — fos iiia Hertzberg 72 The Fifth Man — Hcnnan Potol{ 79 A Theory on the Hebrew Verb Stems — William Franl{ 87 Activities 94 Advertising 114 Dear Friends; During your college days you have received a three-fold education. First of all in the natural sciences which are primarily concerned with the world in which we have been placed, and in the hidden secrets of the universe which are constantly being discovered by the human intellect. Second, the social sciences and humanities which seek to convey to us a better understanding of our complex society, of which we are individual members, and an appreciation of the laws which bind society together. Third, in religion which endeavors to define the higher purpose and spiritual values of our own lives and daily experiences. The endless search after G-d ' s knowledge which helps us to orientate our- selves in the uncharted land of the spirit; the continuous desire to become acquainted with the discoveries of the human intellect, and the search for a deeper understanding of the people around us, create within us a harmonious perfection which may be characterized as the integration of knowledge. Remain firm in your convictions and hold yourselves responsible for translating your ideas into realities. Above all, we must seek knowledge of our own selves. Self knowledge, and self criticism are the essence and vital elements in the growth of personality and spiritual selfhood. Our sages often emphasize our duty to search within the inner chambers of our hearts, and Jewish students of antiquity have often spoken of taking account of our inner selves. This searching introspection, this turning of the searchlight into our hearts and souls will enable us to discover our real strength and weaknesses. It will teach us that before we criticize others we must be merciless in self-criticism. It will develop within us a spirit of modesty and humility. Self-knowledge and self riticism are great cleansing influences in our lives. I have abiding faith that you will govern your lives by the standards of the Torah and our American democracy, and that you will consider your education as a means to a greater end — towards consecrated service to G-d and our fellow-men. I congratulate you, and wish you well-being and well-doing. Samuel Belkin President June 1950 To The Graduates ot 1950: The graduates ot this year, frt)m all the colleges of the country, will he termed the Class of the Mid-century. The graduation of this class has been k)oked u wn with great e.xpectation by your predecessors and w ill be looked back upon by future classes for many sorts of comparisons. From both poiius of view, your class most ably represents a milestone of achievement in the progress of ' eshiva College in Yeshiva Universit . Statistically, you are graduating in the 21st year of the existence of ' Yeshiva College and you will swell the number of graduates to a figure approaching the 800 mark. In leaving, all of us who remain at Yeshiva Universitv give vou our heartiest congratulations and our very best wishes for individual futures till ed with happiness and prosperity. On your part, we hope that you will consider vour ties with Yeshiva College broken onl in the academic sense, but still strong in affection and good will. Sincerely, Moses L. Isaacs Dean Morris H.ilpcrn MA Boris Rackovsky Herman Potok 4 Al)r.ili;im Miir ;ciisicrii MID P.uil Ritterb.ind Azriel Rosenteld Ballad of the Faculty (AZRIEL RoSEM-ELD, 50) Hearkeiij children, unio mc Singing of the faculty; Alphabetic order, here Tells of those we love and fear: il is for Abel: the Social Mosaic; For Adler and Music; for Arfa (Hebraic); For Atlas, Biology ' s champion ever, And all the Assistants — those boys are so clever! m is for Belkin, who ' s head of our U., And for Block, Mathematics, who ' s listed here too; Yes, it ' s also for Braun and the French that he teaches, Besides being Brody ' s Historical speeches. U is Chernowitz (a Frenchman, you see), And it ' s also for Churgin, for Gershon and P.; And of course there ' s the Catalogue — now in the embers - Which gave me a list of the faculty members! ■I is for Damon, professor of Speech, And the Defects he finds in the language of each; Drazin ' s the next one — Philosophy Lect. On Foundations of Jewishness — am I correct? 10 H ' s llic I ' .iiili iivoi yiiiii |Mi(i IS |)( iiriii)4 ()iii mill I Ins work, wliiili In liii|i(s isn ' i Imriii ; Tlu I Lists lir ' s CUIling, lll IlliK lli.il In s|)l-ll(lill ;, ' I lir k.ir 111 llir |HiiIs wlinln lir lii.i lir (ilfriiilini,;. t is Jul I ' lrisjui, ill, II (iasliiiii; romaniic. Anil l ' ,ii;;lisli, Ins 1,11. course, lli.ii drives lis all Iraiitic; ■(.•l liirilur, liir I ' lucli .nicl Inr all ihiiij s Hellenic, Ami Inially I ' liiil, vvliosc idta ' s Hyj ienic. H L;ivcs us (iiiisluML; .nul liiylur Anili. Which, il seems, was inveiued u torture us with; Sociology (Cioldberg) and drinstein (T. 1.); And there ' s dross, s ' lin s in Physics, and ends the siipjiiy. II is for Hoenig, a Jewish Historian, Teacher of ancient events thai we glory in; Hurwitz, of course, who ' s known better as D(K, Is the man to whose classroom the students all flock. I is for Is.iacs, our capable Dean, He whose power o ' ersways us, though seldom he ' s seen • For his duties permit him to see only them Unto whom he ' s professor of Physical ( ' hem. W is for Joseph, of Chemistry Dept., He who sees in the Lab that good order is kept: And there ' s Jung, who has taught us the Jewish Ideal — Quite the least understood of our subjects. I feel. E is for Kisch, w lio ' s in Chem., and for Klein, A professor of English; yet further, the sign Education means Kraus, who is next on the list — Hut for want of another one, uuess I ' ll desist. L is for both of the men named Levine; For Linn and for Lisman; for Litman (he ' s keen); For Lookstein and Lowan and Luchins ' new station - I haven ' t the space for the rests ' occupation. M is for Margaliih, Poli-Librariaii; Matz, financier (who is not proletarian); Meyers of Physics, whose spcciahy ' s Optik, And Mirskv, Hchraisi. who ends this synoptic II gives us Nalhn and music ' s fair charms — It ' s the story of Symphonies, Haydn to Brahms — And there ' s No One beside him to fill up this letter And help me conclude this — the sooner the better! T s tor the Office Girls, long may they stay And attract us to visit the Office all day; What we need in this school is the feminine touch- And a pox on the men who ' d deny us all such! P is for Posen, at Physics a whiz — His Electrical Course is rtuoltmg ' — it is!! And it ' s also for Purvis, our Super so loyal, Whose staff keeps the buildings in splendor that ' s royal. B is the Question your poet must ask Of himself as he labors, bent over his task : Now just what in the world am I going to do When I get to such letters as ' X, ' ' V and ' Q ' f ' R is for Rackman ' s Political Sci. And for Rosenberg ' s dear old Gedanken Sind Frei ; Mr. Ryan, a Speaker, next calls our attention — His work on our accents deserves special mention. H ecjuals Saphire of Bio; Dean Sar; Drs. Sas and Savitsky — they ' re both up to par — . nd, respectively, Spanish and Psych are their fields While to Silverman, Registrar, History yields. is for Tauber, who rose from T. A. To assist us at Speechmaking — that ' s what they say; And there ' s Terkel, whose field is our bcjys ' Education — Which .seems like an awfully tough ficctijiation! V rcprcscnis Univcisiiy powers, I ' A|i;insion, cMciisinn, new buil(lin ;s, ami showers ()l ( xir.i il( p.iiiiiK Ills, whose meaninj s defy me — I ' m will I sii|i|ioii ilicni? You ' re askin)4? — Just iry mc!! V is iIk- V ' iiliiu; ins.UKlv lie i1iijiiu;1iI Hr ' l ,1 l.iU ' iil l(ir piicliy; now In- is (.iul;Ii| ' Vom ' l 111 I ' jil;Iis1i, Iktc idiniiiL; ilic li.nul. Hrinns iIk- cikI hI iIk- ,i1|i1i.iI)(.I .iIiikisi in h.ind. . w ? Wonderful, marvelous, great, And a dozen more adjectives, plain or orn.ite. Which wc use when describing beloved Yeshi — For they all are germane to the subject, you see. uvn A is the pseudonym I must assume Vov mv health, and in fear of reprisals which loom All around me, provoking a sigh and a moan And a fervent desire for remaining Unknown. •is.ij uiM J |)in; ' siiop 3aj a o_v — isaq aqi p si yr.K jno jnqj 3Pj8r 11 noX uinuM lu j puy ' siiiq in ( ' japr.ij juaiir Y Yeshiva — which really, be-emess is Not for Batlonim — in fact, it ' s their nemesis; Also here listed, completing the Y s Is one Young, head of Guidance and plugger for ties. ■ is for Zeides aaci textbooks and so on: The alphabet ' s over, or else I would go on Describing our staff, and, the meter permitting, Including some comments — but now I ' ll be quitrino L. to R: Mr. Wi-cl Dr. Sas Dr. Block Or. Flcislicr l)r. Linn Mr. W ' cinlrauh Dr. Klein Dr. M;irj;olith ])r. Hrody Dr. Grinstein Mr. CJoldberg liahbi Rackman Dr. Gkuzcr Dr. loscph Dr. FrcL-d Mr. Posen Dr. Lismaii Dr. Atlas Mr. Levinc Mr. Sar Mr. Aria Rabbi Bernstein Rabbi Siev Dr. P. Cburgin Mr. Hurwitz .. lo A ' .; Mr. Silvcnniiii Mr. I y:in Ml-. ' I ' iUllKT Dr. Diimoii l)i. KosfiilH-rj; I )r. lir.iiiii Dr. I ' loch Dr. l,ilin;m Mr. ' IVrkfl Dr. AIh ' 1 Dr. l.ooksk-in Mr. Orleans Dr. Jung Dr. Kisch Dr. Lcviuc Dr. Lovvan Dr. (jinsberg Mr. Hloch Dr. Hambcnrcr Uablii Katz RaWii Mirsky Dr. Wind Dr. Hocnii; Dr. Ci. Cluui2in Mr. Youns; IVl.ol.l! ViiuVr 111! iIr- IIMJl ' 111, It ' s iiotl by lliosc cniollcii W ' uliin iIk- great Yeshiva pale. . . . TW- nun wild ill the ( ' ollege have resideci, 1 Ik inol) (i| li) ly inipils wlm compose the masses; L ' hc stiulciu IkhK ' iiuo several scciions is divicied: CLASSES W ' e group together those whose limes ol Slav have coincided. Ami emphasize the Senioi-, who in rank surpasses; The one w ho eight semesters here has hided. Anil now has ended his travail. Turn on. m ' Iriend; be bold; Ami w.itch the tale Unlold. ... FRESHMEN L. to R., Seated: J. Kreitman, D. Miller, M. (irajovver, S. Schifl, D. Mostolsky, H. Mestel, P. Jacobs, D. Rogoff, M. Zyrl, M. Gordon. Standing: J. Harris, E. Jacobovitz, D. Edelman, B. Pshoter, S. Bahn, A. Jacobovitz, H. Spicra, I. Feuer, J. CJoldman, G. Blank, A. Shapiro, K. Bender, J. Zev, H. Schreiber. Standing third row: L. Burack, W. Millen, E. Steiman, W. Wanderer, H. Golner, H. Agress, D. Hadas, S. Tcitelbaum, J. Danishevsky, N. Wienberg, I. Klein, G. Rosenthal. 18 SOPHOMORES L. to R.. Scdtfii: M. Zalis, E. Frankcl. S. HclUrstcin. I. Kruiiil ciii. X. Shiilman. . Wealcatch, A. Mann. ]. Frankel. Standing: H. Ciiisburg, C!. Marcus. I. Alluxk. M. Enoch. X. M. Mostow. I. Ciuttenberg. B. lafte, F. Skirke. 19 JUNIORS L. to R., Seated: D. Feldman, J. Hertzberg, A. Mann, M. Ganz, CI. Krakowcr, R. (Jross, S. Botnick, M. Feldblum. Standing: W. Solomon, H. Dryspicl, D. Shoenfeld, A. Liberman, A. Weitz, R. Da idman, M. Stadtmauer, R. Heisler, A. Spear, N. Gordon, B. Wacholder, B. Wcinstcin. 20 Sa( a of I he Seniors I liuli scIkjoI Srinois, iiiikIi (lcj;r;i(lc(l. l ' rcslini;m- visc our li;ills iiiv;i(lc(l; Aimed l)i .()inin ; (lollcnc j ' ciiiry— ' I ' liii ' . llic sKidinls iii.kIc lliiir (iiiiy ' Iiu iiiiiiiii; I ' K sliiii.in, I unless your ;isi)ircrTn. ' nis; .Siin|il 111 mill .ill iIk- JMiiriincc Rfquircmcnts. . Wliai .- I ' m ,in.i|inil. ' Ah. l)r;ivo and vivn! I niiw ,im ,1 MLiilcni ,ii hikkI old Ycshiva! Imi,l;1isI, ,mil 1IiImm .mil llil.lc .md Spccth— Pily liic men who have l-rcslinicii to teach! History, Science and I.angiiaj;e and Math — The. -e are ihc hurdles hesellini; our p.illi! Sopliomore, Hlek al seleclinj; a major: .Viler ,1 year of il, .still he ' s no sagcr; I le.n- him compl.iimiii;: ' I ' hc system ' s defective! Wh.ii ' s .uoiiii; im- Not a single elective! Done with ihe worsi of il! ' Time to rejoice! Sul).sec]ueni SL-hediile a mailer fit choice: Half of our knowledge h.is now heen imhihed; Selection of ciairses no longer prescrihed! Further ye;irs: continuation (Periods of hihernation) — Classes just a time lor slumhers — Same old courses: Higher luimhcrs! Juniors are specialists: Math and the Sciences (Social and Natural) claim their alliances; Language and Lit. and the Finest of Artments Ending the list of the C ' oUege Departments! Hut lar from suhmerging in studies distractive, Otir Juniors are really exceedingly active. . . . Projects that range from sublime to ridiculous — Something in common: They ' re extra-curriculous! Senior supremacy, status of splendor — What does this noble position engender .- Editors ' work, intellectual, manual: Feverish labor, producing an Annual! Ultirnate ending: Horizons are aureate- Happy recipients, now Baccalaureate! Ribboned Diplomas and future uncloudy For radiant Graduates, Summa Cum Laude! Not the first of Seniors, true; Still, we feel we ' re something new — Something different, something nifty — Here it is: THE CLASS OF -50!! AZRIEL RoSENFELD ' 50 PHILIP ARIAN This short of the loiij; aiul shtirt ol Vcshi :i tiraniaiics liails from the city of brotherly love and has Ik-cii phiiuiiii; the seeds of ' love your fellow Shomeret like yourself in Yeshiva. Shragai is as concentrated a form of dramatic hitlahavut as there is to be found. Always seen on Class Nitc and Chagiga stages, Phil is otherwise mistaken for an approaching storm or a barrel rolling in the halls. The coryphaeus of the Tl-Hebraic |c ish philosophy, Phil is responsible for the Yeshiva sluiients ' awareness of TI. He is the father ol the Daber ivrit and Zionist Action campaign in Yeshiva. He was also one of the notorious 207-mates. Phil has had his impact felt in classes which he sometimes attends. His ambition is to put on class nite plays in Hebrew. SEYMOUR ARONSON With summa-thing to boast about, this New Britisher from Conn, observed the four years pass Irom his vantage point in the southeast corner of the Chem lab. His curricular activities were a silent career of assiduous brilliance. However, extra- curricularly, he might be heard letting a weight drop, raising a racket on the tennis coait or dribbling under his breath. He was chairman of the Chem Club and literary editor of Nir, TI undergraduate publication. His plans are graduate school in chemistry and making a Levin-g as a chemist or a chemical engineer. ZVI BAJTNER Zvi has lived a life of pioneering, which he intends to continue after graduation. He came to Peru Irom Poland, still in his youth, and later became active in Jewish youth activities in Lima. He helped to lay the foundations of the only Hebrew school in Peru, and worked in the Spanish-Jewish press, where he learned of Yeshiva. He is the pioneer of the South American students attending Yeshiva. Originally a Y ' eshiva Bochur, he transferred to TI, and was graduated two years later, hut not before becoming president of the TI student council. He majored in History. Due to the tradition of the Latin lover, impatient of bachelordom, he became engaged and shortly thereafter married. He was head of the Spanish Club and editor of their publication. He also Chugged in Ivrit. He hopes io continue as a Hebrew teacher after graduation, and dreams about Israel. mi;k i ' I!AKI ' .nii()i;i7, With his lic;i,l in iIk iliMi.h, ,iimI lir, iiniMl iii lli. •.,,l.ir sysl.-Mi, Mcrvili IS kiuiu ' ii 1(11 ini|iii ssiiij_; |i(ii|il( llii v. y lie lliiiiks Ik (Iocs. Coining originiilly lioni ( lan.id.i, Ik | iI(Ik(I Ins K nl in llu- Clu-in l;il), wIkic he rcin.iiiKil nil physics l.ihs .ind oiIki ihinj s :i hl(i( k H v;iy were |ii1iIk(I n)i. Moshc has ,i disliiKi unc()livi ' nli(in;ilily which linds rcndy expression. ' I ' his niKoii vcnlioniilily is .1 iiricuisoi ol h;il is iin|icndinj;, wlnih no one i.s to .su.spccl nnlil ils snddcn rcvckilion. lie hopes lo hcionic a Physics prolessor, siiue ( ' hcinisliy prolessois arc much helow him. lie has c (iiise(|nenily licen associaliiij; with a cxTlain elite j;i()np ol physics majors. I lis plans for the immediate future. ' A lall, dark secret. JACOB 15ECK. This psychology major, in scientific pursuit of his soul, is reported to have been seduced by the black magic of science laboratories and the speculation of mathematical philosophers. )akc came from Hartford, Conn, to New York, to TA and then to Ycshiva. As a psychology major he became an apostle of Dr. Luchins and an apostate of Dr. Litman. Seeing Ycshiva as a good source of material for psychological experimentation, he proceeded to set up his laboratory in one of the new build- ings, where he would invite all kinds of guests to undergo his experiments. Believing that the source of all philosophical evils is words, words, words, he joined the circle of logical positiv- ists, philosophical negativists and semantical nihilists associated with the Math Club and has spurned salvation ever since. He plans graduate school in psychology and research in experimental psych. ROBEllT BL.VU Little boy Hlaii came to Ycshiva to blow his horn. A sheepskin is his motto. Possessor of a stare that matches well with a sense of humor, Bobby is well known around town (Boro Park, that is). Bob originally intended to major in Psychology, until Psychology was cut out as a major. Bob, psychologically frus- trated, decided to major in History. In the Yeshiva, no one stopped him from majoring in Talniud. Rabbi Shatzkes guides his elTorts. Except for skipping clas.ses, he has a reputation as a good dancer. Bob might go into the Rabbinate. We are sure that whatever he aims for he ' ll win. Blau, Rlau. thou winner win. 23 MARt:US liRENNER This Spaniard has come a long way to Yeshiva and intends to go a long way after. Originally from Poland, Mark migrated to Peru, where he lived till he joined us in 1446. He attemled school in Peru, antl was a Hebrew teacher and vouth leader there lor many years. He was ollered a scholarship to YU, w hich he unhesitatingly accepted and philosophized about later. He also majored in History, and did secretarial work lor Dr. Bfody. He left his trade Mark on the Placement Bureau, w Inch he took over, and was otherwise active in La Tertulia. Aesthet- ically inclined but by no means ascetically inclined, he showed time and again that he knows his way around — the girls espe- cially. He intends to continue into the Yeshiva graduate school, go for Smicha, and, ultimately, become a college teacher. Well, he ' s had enough time to learn. BARRY BROWN A veteran of the Second World War, Barry found he was able to condition himself to Yeshiva life. Believing that united effort is always better than divided efTort, Barry joined with Danny Komsky to form the Brown-Komsky ' do or die, united we understand, divided we fail ' team. Ties may come and ties may go, but this tie remains as Young and fresh as ever. Barry has a car. Barry is also popular. They have however, been distracted by the charm of Dr. Fleisher, and they are majoring in English Literature. By a pact of mutual flattery, they have convinced each other that they can sing, and are in the TI Choir and the YL ' choral group. Incidentally. Barry owns a car. MAR ' IN BRUSSEL The possessor of a smile that can be ioldcd op n, Sprouts is Passaic ' s bundle of ambition. Marv left Passaic High School in his third year (there) to come to T.A and TL He entered Yeshiva. Overwhelmed by the smells of the Chem lab he majored in Chemistry. Four years later his rickety shape was still haunting the corner of the lab. (He was making up his incomplete in Chem 2.) After learning about moles and molars for four years, he thought he would do well in dentistry. He likes the legitimate theatre, cinema, good books, and science labs. He prefers blonds to brunettes (obviously the effect of chemistry). Alter carrying a heavy program in chemistry for four years, he now goes on to care for caries. 24 iVll ' .I.VIN liUNIM ( )iij;in:il(ir (il 111- liij|i :iii(l |i(iss(ssiir ol ,i |irilriily loiicli ' ss voice, AiiHis inij lil III ' Iu.ikI Mii iiij ' , II mil in llic li;iis Mc(lr:isli :my lime l ;il)lii l.ilsliil (U Mryi I Kuli is .im iiikI. An individual (il 11(1 sin. ill iiic:ins, Aiiins ciiiic Ici Y(sln .i ( ;(j||ij;( to (lis|ir()Vc Ihr iiill.ky c ' l Cdnsnviilivc Ind.nsin. II, in,i|nr(d in I ' olilicil Siiciuc :nid sliidicrl liinil Im dllui sn|i|iils. lie u.is :ulivc- in lllr Inlrinilllon.ll K I. Ms sn, Irly. .ind h .islnll.illv disMlss.d ihc hilnir ol Aiii.ru. Ill | u ' iy Willi K.ililii Lilsliil :ind Dr. Maig;ilidi. Till- I iiiiiniu .m Ki|inlilii s rcpa-.sciualivc at ihc iikkIc ' I UN . ss(iiil)l .11 Knimrs Uni crsiiy, In- is a spcaktr of no inc. in |irnp(isiliiiiis .mil liils lli;il lie mnirs simir (i};ht will i Ills |nililii. riuy :ilsii .srr c who sLind anil w.iil. I li dins nol .-.nv iiiikli lor uolil, allhoni li lir srillid lor Silvir .iiiii likc-s kiili lliiiii. ' ,s. Ill- ink ' iids 1(1 m.ii rv n|)iin L;iaiUial inn. k ZliLIAN ClI.XKl.Ol ' Descended Ironi a lainiiy ol Yichus, Ze|)ix:lin came la ' C where he found more dissension. Zliulun is a Bronx Iwy who atundcd Ycshiva D Bronx and TA, where he was active in a dramatic way. Back in the Bronx, he kept watch at Hashomer Hadati and was active in Hapocl Hamizrachi, of which he is at present a leader. However, his feehngs alx ut Zion were not confined to the thought stage, for he visited Israel in the sum- mer of ' 49. Charlop, Vass you dcrc. In the college Charlie majored in the Social Sciences, with an eye toward law school. tor a law career in Israel. He also plans Smicha. Smach Z ' nilun h tzesccha. H.VRRY COHEN (Mdcr brolhcr lo one ol the nifmhers ot our graduating class, Hanv did some travcllini; among the Yeshivos of New York before settling down in Veshiva. Hailing from East New York, he attended Yeshiva and Mesivta Rabbi Chaim Berlin. He shiftlessly shifted to Mesifta Torah N ' odaath and then to Yeshiva Chofetz Chaini. He then shitted to ' eshi a. where he started working full shift. His (de)tour through the Yeshivos pre- pared him adequately for his encounter with Professor G. Churgin. At Yeshiva he participated in Eranos and the Inter- national Relations Society. He majored in Political Science and intends to continue into graduate school. He also has an eve open on the Rabbinate. .All this is in pursuit of his ultimate ambition, to become a butcher. No one says you can ' t learn that here, too. SOL COHEN Close investigation has shown that Sol ' s true sympathies lie with his brother Israelites, notwithstanding his enthusiastic study of Arabic and Arabic culture, and his strong feelings for the Stern gang. Usually to be found learning CJemara from an Arabic dictionary, Shloymies ambition of becoming a Semitic scholar might get him Smicha, which he is interested in anyway. Sol hails from East New York, where he attended Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin and Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim. In the college he majored in languages, with a particular crush on Semitic languages. He Irec ucntly amuses himself by talking to others in Arabic, and amuses others. He hopes eventually to settle in Israel, and it is reported that he will begin studying Hebrew when he trets there. HOWARD DANZlCi . sometime official of Masmid, Howie was generally to be found playing on the Basketball Team (which he captained), or else telling someone about it. Curly came from way out in Tucson, Arizona, to our own dear Yeshiva, and has been con- valescing ever since. The Minnie half of the Mickey-Minnie team, Howie has nibbled some crumbs from Dr. Brody at some odd intervals during his stay here. Without ever really going through any trouble he managed to scrape himself some- thing of an education, but he got into other scrapes. As captain of the Basketball Team, others have seen to it that he, too, plays with the team. His plans for the future? He has any. ' SAMUEL DYEN With a name like his, no wonder Dyen impressed the professors as he did! Hailing from across the street from the Yeshiva, Sammy came to Yeshiva College through TA to receive an edu- cation and go out into the world. Across the street seems to be as far as he got. Sammy is athletically inclined, and was an ace man on the Basketball Team. A dead shot is Dyen. Sammy majored in History and attended most of his classes, particularly in Phys. Ed. He spent his time in class Broodyng over his shooting. It is believed he intenils to continue. . . 26 liAKNI-Y l-,N(.IJ. A Wililli|)i. ' j; in llu- Y(slii ;i (inlc. IJ.irjicy dciidcd hi ni;i|or in C-licniisli-y ;nul Imsn ' l luilliiicd ici Ihi-.mIk ' ever sinic. i i ' . intcrcslfd in nuclii nu-, nnd icmk die prescribed courses licri-. He could -.(iinilinus lie scrii slinking ;ir )Ulul tllc collcj c floor Ml llirc ' c in m ' niiiininii slndyin.i; lur one ol his daily exams. ()dKr ' isi- lu- iinild In seen Munl.nly sleepvvalkinj; on the Cliini l;il) scclidii (il du- lollcge lloor. At ' ler a number of years ni K.ihlii Arnc ' si ' s ihiss, lir was j endy aroused lo the fact that he Ui nil inid Kablii Shalzkcs ' class. Alter j;ra(luation he inlrnds j nin.U I • ' university which has a medical school. Marney is alrcud ol die InUnc. JOSEPH i-EDER Usually to be found doing Chemistry in the Bais Mcdrash or his room and giving Mussar on the tennis courts, Joe saw only two years of college life at Yeshiva. This might explain it all. loe comes from Brooklyn, goes to Brooklyn and spends some of his time in Yeshiva antl in the dormitory. Assistant .Vlash- giach and professional Mussarboy, he is one of those saner ones who doesn ' t talk to himself, although he ought to. Extra- curricularly he kept his eyes and ears ojien on audio-visual work and was busy on the tennis courts. He hopes to continue learn- ing and go to graduate school, and, ultimately, to do chemistry work in Israel. WILLIAM FERTIG Silent Bill lilushtd his way through Dr. Fleisher ' s literature courses. An ex-TA-er hailing from California, Bill decided to major in English when certain professors in that department would refer to him as WilliaM. This appealed to his sense ol manners. Honest Bill s (rank and innocent questions have embarrassed more people than himself. His search for Class landed him up the Greek. He is an active member of Eranos. His persistent political ventures convinced him that the scholar ' s place is not in politics. Instead he mixes in polite company, and is polite in mixed company. He is somewhat un- certain about his ambitions, although he ' s sure he has them. Well, Fertiir, now ist fertig. JACOB FISZMAN Shanghaied Irom liis birthplace in Polaiul, lacoh canu ' to Amer- ica anil lo Ycshiva lor Orientation ia C ' hina. This silent, pleasant chap has matle friends with everybody, including his chemistry professors. He majored in Chemistry, and in his senior year served as a lab assistant, where dishwashing chores kept him busy. He was active in the Chemistry Club ami the undergradua te pre-medical society. He intends going to a medical school upon graduating. SANFORD FRANK Guardian protector and great uncle to Prospective-Yeshiva- Collcge-Students-in-Training, Sanford has worked his way into the Sanctum Franktorum of the dormitory committee. He was born and lived most of his life in Cleveland. He Tels of a very uneventful life there until h came to Yeshiva, where, as he Tels, his life becomes more eventful. He was on the Clearing House of the college, in the French Club, on the editorial stafl ' of Masmid, and on the Mail Committee. He was active in SOY, where he was Secretary-Treasurer and Assistant Gabbai. In the college he majored in History and considers continuing into graduate school. He also considers the Rabbinate. The Yeshiva holds a great tuture for him. WILLIAM MORDECAI FRANls. Long acknowledged as the class ' s leading intellect. Modest William has always regarded the routine of classes and the tedium of academic discipline as mere means to the end of procuring a degree. Born in Brooklyn (it is su.spected that Williamsburgh is named in his honor), Willie entered YU after a few odd years of secondary education here and there, and immediately gravitated to the Math department. The corresponding section of the library proved that the attraction was mutual by gravitating right back. Variegated interests and an omnivorous capacity for assimilation have aided our all- around-genius in the pursuit of studies in Math, Physics, Math Club, Hebrew, Math Club, Literature, Comparative Philology, Philosophy, Abnormal Psychology, Talmud, Theosophy, Music, Necromancy, Photosynthesis, and related subjects. Meester Fronk is headed for a full-time research position in mathematics. 28 AUMIN IIAKK ' IKII-DMAN Tins hands liriilislavan has l.d a ( i r. kcicd .xisI.iim ' oI Iravc ' l and slihh ' . I Ir alK iidrd Visln a in t;zi.-i.h()slo akia ami (led Id l;nda| sl al ihr hc iinnn;; iil die war, where he allcndcil ' I ' cathci ' s (a)lkj;i ' . Dniinj; llic war he was in Dadian and Auschwitz, froin wlicrc he was lihciali-d. I li KHilnunil ni ihr Universily ol ' liralislava niidcr llu- hunhy ' il nuilianital cnui ncciiii . Ill- came In ihc I ' niiid Slairs in in|7 and llnally to Ycshi a, wlu ' ii- he su iuhcd his ina|rir hj psytliolony. A man ol iniuli t-xpeiiiiuc, hr easily .idnisiid himself to Yesliixa lilc 1 !(• was piililiially m v in Kahhi I ,ilsliil s class, whiili j .iinrd him aiti-ss U. )li ' s Shinr. As a hnhhy hr s|)(iids his lime in dark rnnins. lie h(i|HS In i;i) inin llu ' Kalihinalr and )Hissil)lv di Uradnalc work in psyi hiiliiL;y. VEKNIT (iEWUK , Althouj h he came to our class in his Junior year, it did nf t take long lor Gewurz to become Ycshiva-brokcn. Saarbruckcn at hirth. Werner spent his early days in Strasbourg and Paris, nnlil he mo ved to Canada. Canada provided his schooling through his second year at McCill University, when he came to Ycshiva. At Yeshiva he majored in Psychology, with vague ideas of using it some day. A |X)lyglot, Werner has lent his tongues and voices to the Choral Group. He also takes an interest in speaking and debating. He does not know what his future plans are. business or psychology or what have you. These arc the sorrows of Werner. inilLlP (.a.AL IIACH This Tl bin was razzed in ihc Bronx, where he still lives on Simdavs and holidays. The rest ot the time he boards and is bored there. His sensitive nose enables him to spot chcm labs and girls, which (once he hnds) he doesn ' t leave. He has received ample training in linguistics. He is affiliated with Y ' oung Israel in the Bronx. It may have been the great popu- larity that Glauber ' s salt brought him in Chem class that caused him to maior in Chemistry. He thinks of going to med school and making gold from baser metals. 29 MOSHE GOODMAN Cict out the maps, boys! Moilcsi Moshc starts lilc in Icrii.salcm, which he leaves at an early age lor Scotland. Alter live and a half years he gics it ae fond farewell and settles in London for two years, after which he moves to Memphis (Tenn. that is). He leaves them thar hills and goes to Mesifta Torah Vodaath. Next stop, Brooklyn College, NYU, Yeshiva college! Halt! All iti. Moshe rests up in Yeshiva by majoring in Philosophy and English. This explains the way he is sometimes. His interests lie in philosophy and philately. They say that summer romances never last long, But Moshava. . . Immediate ambitions are indefinite. However, he intends to eventually close the cycle and li ' c in Israel. Well, cheerio antl a ' th.at aiul a ' that. WILLIAM GORDON Billy was very active curricularly with his major, Phys. Ed., and consequently had almost no time for extracurricular activities. He comes from Trenton, New Jersey, and claims to major in Sociology. Billy is an old-timer in the Brody retinue, which makes its daily pilgrimages from the lecture hall to the History Office. He is a Life-guard and has fathered many Life-guards. Many students are indebted to him for his lifesaving, and in particular, he is indebted to many others. Ambition — he had ambition. MURRAY GREENFIELD Here I sit broken hearted, with his writeup barely started. What light through yonder darkness breaks, sudden vile thought my mind o ' ertakes. A Bio major to a degree, a medic sure we soon shall see. From cleaver to scalpel there ' s not a lot, Oh heavenly muse, quick a bon mot. Betar he joined at an early age, but time hath soothed the burning rage. Thanks dear muse for inspiration; our malady, cerebral constipation. 30 |, ;n|i I lAlil ' .KMAN You i;m ' l pnl iinylliiiif; over (1 I I.iIm i in.iii is ):itk-of-;ill- liadcs iiiicl in;isl( I (il one (};u ss uliiili-). I hilling from llic Scliwii ' ( ill nil. Ill In i :iii), lie i- iii lie loiuul sweating it oul over ;i cliiss j .iinc (ii ic.nliiij ;i di-fcctivc story. lie nwjorcil in i ' .nglish ;iiul (1;issii:il simliis. I ' ' lr.i(iirriciil:irly, lie l.ilks in syllogisnis, ;iiul vv:is |iicm(1ciiI hI I ' miki ' .. , s .hi ;is|iii.iiiI in law .scluKil, lu ' cxcuisis Ills l.ilrlils liv liyiiij; In ciiill:i Ills 1 1 r.) Mil .nil s ill Uslciisr ;irj iliii lils. ' I ' lu- liK k( i llic Ixllii. Ills nlliiii.il. iiinliilKiii is III cliiisc .iiiilnil.iiurs in Aiil.irc lii;i. MORRIS II.MJ ' HKN Morris Harry Joseph is Bedford Avenue ' s contribution to Yeshiva College. He was born (bis one fault) in tbc wild of the lower East Side, but at the age of two migrated to Williami- burg. He attended the Yeshiva and Mesifta Torah Vodaath. where he majored in politics. He was finally elected Mayor ol Bedford Avenue on the Toomany ticket. Curricularly, he majored in English Literature. Extracurricularly, he is a major in women (lie they major or minor), languages and basketball. Moish, following in the footsteps of his brother, intends to graduate. His ultimate ambition is to seek a career in-law. or in business. Whereupon the defense rests. ISAIAH HERTZBERG A bookie with .1 buili in stock, this Baltimoron hails from a room on the fourth fioor. Professor of a staimch class spirit, he vept (past tense of veep) for our class the past two years. He majored in M;uh curriLiiUirlv .iiid in numbers (telephone, that is) extraciirricul.irK ' . His held trips have made him a well- travelled and well-travailed man-about-town. He was graduated from Mcsivta High School. His extracurricular activities ranged from the dramatic (Math Club play 49) to the terrific (Math Club play 49). In addition, he served sentences on the French Club, the Math Club occasionally, and on the Dorm Social and Curriculum committees. He chaired the Junior Debating Society. He derives interest from books (dont we know it), stamps, and sports. He intends to continue learning for the Rabbinate, and go to graduate school in Mathematics, and also. . . . 31 1!aruc:h katsman Baruch came to Yeshiva to study the Matsav Hayahadut in Seattle. On the way he stopped oH in Mesivta Rabbi Chaim Berlin to graduate High School. This studious, quite restrained student frequently finds himself unrestrainedly arguing Yiddish- keit before totally sympathetic audiences. Prevented iTciin niajoring in Hebrew, Benedict majored in Physics ami studied Gemarra. He is on the SOY and also on the QT, Me reads the New York Post. He plans to continue in the ' eshixa for Smicha. He would like to settle down some day and do some tishini;. Ho-hum! HENRY KELLER This very earnest student did not let his lofty ambition to scholarship interfere with baser ambitions of student political activity. He hails from Long Island and reigns supreme at Yeshiva. He was graduated from elementary and high schools with honors in English and languages. He had his Hebrew education in Marshalia Hebrew High School, then came to TL and transferred to the Yeshiva. Henry has been active in many linguistic activities, among them the French Club, Intramural debating, dramatics, Eranos, and most active as president of the Student Council. He inclines scholastically to Talmud and language study. His ambition after he graduates is to become educated. This he probably learned at Yechiva College. i mm SIDNEY KLEIN Very becoming of a wrench and a wench, Sid, an ex-marine and DNI6 man, was fascinated by Math and majored in it. The Dean ' s man Sunday, Sid has gotten his way around the Yeshiva dark-rooms. Sid is also known for the stories he tells. They are of the before-after dinner type. Sid comes from Yonkers where certain other people come from. He has been going steady for three years and hopes to graduate the fourth. . mbition: He ' d like to take a vocation or teach it. 32 DANIIU. KO.VISKY Danny, I lie pcjssissDi ' il ,i st-nsc of lumior complex, li;is come ihroii li TA lo Ycslii ' :i In have everyl)0(ly enjoy his com|)any, Danny ' s lh(ini;hls ahoul hinisclf arc hy no means restricted to Yishiva hoys. Inn aku imhidc nunihds nl olher SCXCS. This sellslylrd ( ' asannva, I ' k.iii lln iic 1 ami Kdnieo decided to niajor- in l ' ni;lisli laUialmr Id IiihI (jnl slial it ' s all ahoul. lie is on ihc ISaskilliall Irani and is ircdileii with once ha in hfcn a noiid liaskilliall playi r. I le is a close friend of I ' .arry Urown and is an asscniak- of ihc cli(|ni-. I lis aniliilion ' |usl ask him. ALVIN KRASNA No, you ' re not seeing double, it ' s just the Krasna twins floating around. But lay ofT the stuff anyway. Alvin, the elder twin, was born on the same day as his brother (no!) grew up in Brooklyn with his brother (my gracious!) and attended the same schools as his brother (well, well, well!), finally ending up in Yeshiva College where he majored in Chemistry. During his stay in the College he was president of the Chemistry club, a member of La Tcrtulia, the Spanish Society, and photography editor of the Masmid for two years. His main interests arc chemistry and photography and his ultimate ambition is to receive a Ph.D. in Chemistry. How do you two guys go about eliminating confusion among your respective girl friends, huh. ' IRWIN KRASNA This is die second half of the team of Krasna Krasna, confu- sion Inc. Born in Brooklyn (poor fellow!) he went to the Yeshiva Crown Heights, then transferred to Torah ' odaath and was graduated from the Mesivta High School. After attending Brooklyn College for one term he came to Yeshiva College in 1946 where he majored in chemistry. His main interests are lab work, photograph)- and learning with Samuel Koppel Wohlgelernter. He plans doing graduate work in chem- istry and hopes some day to be a biochemist. Good luck, Irwin! By the Nay, how do you two guys go about eliminating confusion among your respective girl friends: I mean after all iS SAMUEL KRAUSHAR Hadoar ' s contribution lo ' 11 and l ast New fork ' s (.omrilnuion to Yesliiva, Shmool is an outspoken proponent ol all the Israeli political parties and considers himself well versed in Zionist and Israeli politics. He is majoring in Political Science, which he finds enlightening. His indifference towards matters sometimes leads one to suspect that his identical twin brother might be replacing him sometimes. Having learned of osmotic transfer in Chemistry, Shmool thought it would be in the best interests of a college career to do library work, and has been sitting in the library ever since. Shmool hopes to teach Hebrew some day, and eventually learn it. ROBERT KURTZMAN Forming the long part of the long and short of Yeshiva dramatics. Bob ( short man) is an ausgespielte veteran of Yeshiva dramatics and debating and TI chagigas. His political activities, ranging from one-time leader in Young Judea to active leader in Hashomer Hadali, were cast aside for participa- tion in Yeshiva College. He was vice-president of the Student Council. He majored in Sociology with an eye toward social work in Israel. Meanwhile he has not let down social work in America. He was also active in Chug Ivri, Cercle Francais, and Commie. His greatest ambition is to become a Commie reporter in Israel. Who can throw him out there. ' ' !ft •n HYMAN LEVINE Mickey Mouse as he is known (to Minnie Mouse and others) politely, is a Vilna boy who decided on Gaon to Yeshiva. At some early stage in his life, he settled in Springfield, Mass., where he remained till he was about to graduate High School. He then came to MTJ, and graduated with a Talmud award!! He majored in Chemistry. Condolences were extended. He has begun to understand why. In class, Hymie was f orced to study not to disgrace his namesake. After being locked two years in the Chem lab, he escaped and locked himself up in the Coop from which he is reported to crawl out at dawn. For this reason he is known as storekeeper among the philosophers. He served on the Clearing House, Ways and Means, and Awards committees, and on the Tennis team. He was also head of the dumb-bells for two years and active in Commie and Masmid. He plans to attend the graduate school of Com- munity Education and eventually teach Chemistry and Hebrew. 34 isMAK i.irsi.i II r Tliis liciy liny is ;i in.iii nl Ihiiniiiy, .iniliilKiri, iilr.il-, .iihI li.iir. Imiiiii lainc l.i V(slii :i liMiol nriiil..iri..l li.i. As lu.i.i ol llic Ajjiiclas Israel in Ytsliiva Uiiivcisily, Ismar li:is hccii aclivc in announcing; llu- cxislfmc- ol Al :incl wli.ii ii rmans to Jewry. ' I ' ll lliis (11(1, III Ixi.mu- cililiir anil Imu- contrii)Utor to Or ( :IkiiI:isIi, iiiiilrrni.iiliial ■ iiiiili ij rniMiil , j;utlas Israel pilhlica- lidii. Mis airiliaiiiiii wiili Al );avc Professor (j. ( Inirj;in rniitli roiucrii and lirniiulil him In I lie point of discussion. I Ic majoreil in Classical 1 .aiij;iia,ms and siimiI in I ' l.inns. Atli r speiulinj; two years alliiulinj; llie Slii ' inni nl Ins naiiKsake. he entered ihc ShIiir 111 kalilii Snlnvi ii Ink. w hnsc iiniosity he aroused with his naiiu-. lie sei rd on Cniiiinir .mil allended A;;udas Israel iiu ' (lini;s. Ills .imliilinn is ilic Rahl)inershi|i and his greatest hope is the ciinvei ' sinn ol the )e s — to Agudisni. JOSEPH LICHTHNSTEIN Jo-Jo has made himself popular through the clever device of telling jokes. He is sized up as one big riot. Banjo came from East New York and Mesivta Rabbi Chaim Berlin to Yeshiva to major in Physics. Perceiving his lack of rigor, he decided to wait a year before he took physics again. This lime rigor wasn ' t necessary. He joined the Math Club and then all was well. He is a member of B ' nai .Akiva, was active in the Math Club and was a mcinber of its entertainment committee. Joe looks forward to a bright future in which he can ' t imagine himself doing anything. . BRAHAM MARCUS Except lor a tew Chcm majors and Isniar Lipschutz who have gotten clo.sc to him. Abie has led a somewhat sheltered life at Yeshiva — sheltered by Chem lab smells. Abie descended froin Queens to ascend the Heights to attend TA and then conde- scended again to Chemistry and Dr. Levine. His four years at Y ' eshiva were spent talking over his professors ' heads. His morn- ings were spent in the Bais Medrash, talking to Rabbi Lifshitz or its consequences. His favorite extracurricular activities in the college were leaving ths Chem lab, playing basketball, and poking fun at Social Science majors. He is slightly mixed up about his future plans and considers getting Smicha in Chem- isirv and going for the Rabbinate in Graduate School. 35 NORMAN MATLIN Temperamatlin Norm has gone tlirougli much in his days. Coming originally from his home in New Jersey, he moved to Yeshiva and made his home variously in the Commie office, in the Chem lab, and in Room 404. He chose to major in Chem- istry and early became an active Commie man. His great preoc- cupation had already begun to take effect upon him, and, clearly ro be seen, he was becoming confused. His editorials started becoming explosive and his litmus paper would be read when it should have been blue. He spurned the Muse of Literature and the glamour of Fleisher and espoused Morpheus. As a consequence he majored in Survey English Literature. He was an outspoken Commentator on Yeshiva affairs. Norm intends to graduate and carry on in Graduate School. ABRAHAM MORGENSTERN This Beau Brummel of the East Side has a sense of humor that ' s killing (we mean it). A veteran of Yeshiva Rabbi Solomon Kluger, where he won a gold medal in a spelling contest, he went to TA, where he publicized his artistic talents and became art editor of the Elchanite. In the college he took part in dramatics, Masmid photography, and some classes. His interests lie in photography, music, and art. He could frequently be seen walking along the riversides of Washington Heights and the East Side, cultivating his sense of humor and the grass around him. His affirmed interest in water pistols might conceivably be part of this program. He is active in Young Israel, of which we can say he ' s known to miss (Miss) Young Israel. He majored in psychology, the most appropriate thing to do at Yeshiva. He wishes to do psychiatric work for the shocked and worn Jews of Europe. He loves to laugh. Ha ha ha ha! LUDWIG NADELMAN Lutz has gone through the heat and was tempered by TI. He was born in Berlin, and when things became hot he moved to Ecuador, where things were also hot, and then came to Yeshiva where he found things hotter. An active Commentator on school affairs, Lutz could be heard comparing and contrasting Yeshiva with certain other theological seminaries in America. His interest in school affairs prompted him to major in Philoso- phy and Dr. Litman. Otherwise Lutz is a very serious student who makes much of his time and dates. He plans to continue at Yeshiva, go into the Rabbinate and, ultimately, get married. Lutz of luck! 36 I.AWKI ' .NCI ' . NI ' .SIS Possessor of :in (iliiinsivi- li;in;_ ' , ul hiiii, L.irry has Icll his lair for many an :i(l ( iiiiiic in iln l.iliynnilniic inyslcrics of Uoro I ' aik w ' llh llif |inr|)(}sc ol licinnnnj; familiar wilh social lilt. lie- iillmdccl V(sln a f.l , ( iliaiin, Vi ' shiva Kahhi Israel Salanlcr (where he rcni (il a ;;ol(l scholarship award) anil then ' I ' A, when- he was Aeaileniy News editor and Inlerscholaslic Debat- ing; Team, flis next ste|) was Yeshiva. I le wrcile and presenied the C.hamika Cantata of ' 41J, for which he won a p i nxdal. I, any is also a nienilK r ol ihe e(illeL;e delialini; leani. I le was a ri ' porter on ( ' (imnunlaUir and lenl a Milial elenieiil In die Audio-visual pidniain, lie also lends Ins unioinons voice to the TI choir. I le pidlesses inleresi in ' Kjnisni, readinj;, dcjin nolhint; and ii ' wls. Amhition I le wants lo lie a success in lile anil he happy. Doinj; what. ' ' That he hasn ' t decided yel. EPHK.VI.M ()K. TZ Possessor of an inseparable briefcase, Eppy is one of our RfJ boys who came to TI and the college. Amho, as he is some- times known, majored in English and is one of the elite mem- bers of the English major coterie. He was early distinguished by the way certain professors imitate him. Eppy is a boy who has come a long way since his old days in RJJ — only to return there as a teacher. HEl MAN POTOIv Usually to be heard hawing and Heming away about his favor- ite author, 1 lerman is one of our self-educated specialists. ' hale er sp.ne time the abnormal Yeshiva student has for his own constructixe studying, Herm spends reading Hemingway. When he linishes reading him, he reads him again. Herm was born ami raised in the Bronx and attended Salanter Y ' eshiva. He received a scholarship award and went to TA and thence to Yeshiva. Considering his predilection, he majored in English. Dr. Fleisher pleasantly surprised him; he never imagined the wide range of topics included in English Literature. His initial narrow liking for English Literature grew into a general liking for everything Dr. Fleisher would discuss. This considerably broadened his outlook on life and livened his outlook on — oh well. He plans to go for a Master ' s degree at Harvard or Columbia. Well, Herm ' s leaving will surely be a Farewell to Qualms. BORIS RACKOVSKY Big Boss Boris is the Masmid ot our class. A I iologv major, Boris is kept busy dissecting, cutting classes, making deadlines and killing time. He is the possessor of a very KarlolTull per- sonality. This, of course, leaves iiini no time to live. Some of the students may have noticed this. However, his omnipresence at all deadlines is clear enough evidence contrariwise. Rocko is a native who emigrated to Miami Beach via Syracuse. Finding Miami too hot for him, he returned to New York and attended RJJ and then Yeshiva. Finding Yeshiva too hot for him, he is graduating. He was a prominent racketeer on the Tennis team, which he managed. He was also President of the Debating Society and a member of the French, Bio, and Chem clubs. He was also active in the SOY, on the library stafi, and co-chairman of the UJA drive. In consequence of all this he became editor of Masmid. He deserves the rest. Plans for the future? Law and the Rabbinate. His interests? Reading, art, music, and you guessed it — Masmid. ERNEST RAPP A Frankfurt-am-Maniac, Rapp came to Yeshiva from the Beth Hillel Hebrew Institute. A staunch supporter of TI in the non-existent Yeshiva-TI controversy, Ernest takes his Hebrew studies earnestly. In the college he majored in social work and seemed otherwise socially active. He left his impression upon the teachers and his stamp on the Commie. In fact, col- lecting stamps is his hobby. Ernest, it seems, will not part with his books upon graduation. He intends to become a printer professionally. Eventually he hopes to settle in Israel. PAUL RITTERBAND In the beginning was the sword. Possessor of a duel personality, Paul hails from Bethany College (Lord knows where that is). This Bronxite made good in the Bronx High School of Science, and spent two years in Bethany, deciding that he was going to end up in Yeshiva. Upon the advice of his conscience, he came to Yeshiva, where it still hasn ' t found its rest. Having started at the very nadir of Hebrew erudition but a short time ago, he progressed to TI and finally ascended to the Yeshiva. He is co-captain of the fencing team, which he popularized and became popular by, and was manag- ing editor of Masmid. Seeking the broadest participation in student activities, he had a voice (what a voice!) in the College Choir. He plans to continue in graduate school for Jewish Community work. III.KIll ' .K ' l ' KOSI ' .N ' lil.lJM This |)(issc ' SS(ii- j| ;iii ( )llirll(,i ' ,li 1 (]iii|il( ■•.11,11 li:r, cMriuil lor hiinscll III llii ' sccKl h, mills nl N ' csliiv:! ( iiiiyu luTC, tliat is) the iKiiiic lil.u kic. I Ic li i(l :i liiihcT iiiiL-vciilliil life except for :i fi ' w sionny yciiis :n TA mihI Yeshiva Collej;e. In this storm there w ' iis n;iliir;illy eiiduj h wind, hut not enough noise. It is siiiil lh:U he ihins not s|H:ik ilniiii his iriie life to anyone ai)ove a vvhisjier. It is hehcvcd ih.ii hiiujih his crilin exterior is a boiUng coiiiihoii (il llmiini; p.ission. In ihr nillege he majored in English, AUt ;is also :Kii r ill .11 hit Ins, in which he had an early interest. Undi r the iiilliuiuc nl his (ilnr.iiKin his interests grew. Now Ik ' is iiilcnslcd in llic ihicc R ' s Kciding, Riting and Kahliinatc. . ZKIHL ROSENFKLD Top graduate in Ramaz and TA high school, Arthur ha done it again in college, but this time as Azricl. A hrilliant and conscientious student, Azricl was one of those students who entered the college knowing that he was going to major in Mathematics and Physics. Accordingly, his programs were well integrated sequences of Math and Physics courses without much differentiation. Azriel ' s note-taking was notorious. His system of rapid longhand rivals any substitute device that the college can offer. He rarely falls short of his own standards of perfec- tion (which, as yet, no one understands). Extracurricularly. he was active in the organization of the Math Club and in a number of its extracurricular activities, including its choir and dramatic productions. He has contributed a number of anicles to a number of mathematical publications well known in Yeshiva circles. He is also the possessor of a Math-Club-typc sense of humor and an addiction to Science Fiction, and is a rhyiTiing dictionary poet. He is a JBer with designs on the Rabbinate. He plans graduate work and hojjes eventually to figure in mathematics. ALFRED ROTH Yuki, as he is know n to those who know, hails from Williams- burgh and is a niL-nibcr ot . gudas Israel. Yuki came to Yeshixa College from Chofetz Chaiin together with a number ot other well-known individuals, Yuki chose to major in his- tory, although bis more immediate concerns are with the present. He is also known to himself, and to those gullible enough to believe him, as Mayor of Rockaway. He attends the Yeshiva, ai d was in Rabbi Paleyefl ' s class until Fate (with a capital Z) named him for Rabbi Lifshitz ' s shiur, Yuki was active in Coop during his stay here, and intends to continue in the business world. 39 ERNEST RUCH We now paws as we come to the leatler ol the A and C (arts and crafts) movement in Yeshiva. This noble Shuster from Wuster, although an amateur, has the talent of a pro. He is an able teller of sea stories, having served a hitch in the Navy. A product of the Classical High School of Massachusetts and the Bais Medrash L ' Morim of Boston, Ernie readily acclimated himself to the synthesis of Yeshiva. One is oft amazed at what earnest Ernest can make ol a rai , a bone, a hank of hair. JACOB SCHONFELD lycob, possessor of an accent indicative of his humble begin- nings, hyles from England. His cockney cacophony amuses professors and students alike. His native superiority is manifest in his efficiency at throwing the Bull. Being in general a mis- understood chap, due to his accent, his espousal of Litmanian dialectics has only aggravated the matter. He chose to major in psychology. An individual story in this Tower of Babel called Yeshiva, Jake ' s tastes are by no means philistine. He plans constructing a cybernetic robot and continuing in graduate school in psychology. ALMN SCHWARTZ Another Baltimoron, this character escaped from the Mesifta and entered Yeshiva, assuming the alias Alvin Sonnel Schwartz. Sonny left Baltimore in 1943 to go to the Mesifta Torah Vodaath which he graduated in three and a half years, winning a character and integrity award at graduation. He sought integration and synthesis at Yeshiva, which he believes he found in Social Psychology. His undergraduate career saw him as vice-president of the class for one year and president for two. In his future he would like to see some Jewis h Community work. We would too. 40 AHKAIIAM r AAK SCI IWAinV-MAN AlnMh.-ini l ;i;iL (no );iik) Sc-lnv.-irl ,in:in groped his w;iy from I ' dhnid l(] Winnipeg, lo Ni-i ' Israel in i!;iilimorc, and iluii lo die Imi koning iicncon .-it Yc siii ;i. ( )im- iIktc, he coiilchi ' l think il ' h;il Id d(i. Ml he in;iiipi((l in i ' liilosopiiy. Slill not liaving louiid ciuiiigh III d(i, h( lucinu a donnitory counsellor and W ' cnl 1(1 sleep e:irl) ' . N ' liw lie Is kepi liiisy eiKHij li .ind was given a pri ale donii ickiiii llial he he ihiI dislurlied. lie gol in Denkli w ' iili Dr. J oscnhcrg ami heeanic stein bearer and hagcl heiuler liir die I )eutcher Vereiii. lie likes swimming, music, hantlhall, opera, ' laliiind and lilling weights. His amhilion is the Kahhinale and he intends to ln ' come leader of a community in spiiil. II Ik ' can do It, gcind. SHOLOM SCHWADRON Sholom means peace. Sholoni started his wanderings some years ago in Vienna, Austria. He hasn ' t lost his wanderlust yet and hojKS to continue in this effort after he graduates. He is primarily concerned with observing Jewish communities all over the world. Meanwhile, during his stay here he might have been found wandering over dapim of Clemara in his corner of the Bais Medrash, or poring over Jewish History sources in the library. Sholom also served in Eranos and in Rabbi Shatzkes ' class. Silent Sholom intends to visit Israel and go into the Rabbinate. Sholom Rav. INIERWIN SHAPIRO Merwin is one ol the Mesifta ' s contributions to Yeshiva College. Mcrwin is a quiet chap without an enemy in the world. He majored in psychology and otherwise showed general interest in the social sciences. He is a devoted member of the school orchestra (even getting up Minyan time for rehearsals) and his flddelity might be observed at any performance. He shows virtuosity in many ways. He was active in Cercle Francais. His hobby is studying people. e ' re glad he enjoyed his stay here. v i 41 STANLEY SCHNEIDER Hailing from Long Beacli, Stan, greatly interested in agricul- ture, came to Yeshiva College to study. Here he spent his stealthy stay almost unnoticed by the students and Dr. Brody. Inspired by Dr. Brody ' s provocative questions, Stan spent his time majoring in History and learning what is not so. He found much in his courses in common with agricultural ac- tivity. He attended National Agricultural School lor one year. Stan is a nice fellow who hasn ' t been known to refuse to lend anything that belongs to his roommate. He hopes to do agri- cultural work in Israel. We hope the change from Yeshiva to a barn and from culture to aijricultiirc is not too sodden! HERMAN SHULMAN This hie has adjusted himself to the urban and urbane type of life in Yeshiva. After having spent his youth on a farm, Chayim moved to Washington, D. C. and attended Ner Israel Yeshiva in Baltimore. Contrary to American custom, Chayim left Washington to seek political ambition in New York. At Yeshiva he became president of our Freshman class and grad- ually worked his way up through various SOY offices to the presidency. A three-year JBer with, as he claims, a sense of appreciation for good solid shiurim, Chaim devotes some of his time to his major. Math. He might be heard raving at SOY meetings, raising a racket in the Bais Medrash or on the tennis team which he captained. PHILIP SIEGEL This Litmaniac is Ontario ' s contribution to ontology. Philip came from Toronto to Yeshiva with a crush on Plato and plati- tudes. Despite all this he majored in Hi story, much to the surprise of certain professors. Philosophically speaking, he is a Philipsist, although of late, he has come to recognize the existence of entities in the supergartelian realm. Literature has also claimed some of his fancy. His stay at Yeshiva was inter- rupted by a brief interlude in which he attended the University of Toronto. He is a January 1950 graduate. He wishes to become a history teacher. This is Phil ' s road to synthesis — a future in the study of the past. And what of the present? AirmuK sii.vi.K Sili ' iuc is SIKcr. A |ii(i(nioiis (lialiit , 111 ' visilcd I ' ali ' slitic al ihc Mgc ol liiHi. I If jiuiiilcd ilu- Ycsliiva of Oowri I Icij;lits where he was nnlslaiKlinL; in M.iih, I li Km u, and Social Studies. Ill Yc ' shiva, he iliosr Id iiiajdi in ihi- (.Jiiccii of die Sciences. I ' ' .xlrai nil ii iilarly, lir iiiaionil in (|iiiiir., r ooks, and pawns, lie was |)rcsi(l(nl ol ihr Clu ss Chil) and a Icadini; nHinlu-r of the U ' .iiii. 1 K- w.is also a in. mix i ol llir la.iuli Clnl. aiwl .,n ihi- slalT of l,r I ' l.iniiican. In addilion lo Ins nil. i. sis in lusliops and horses, he plans llic Kalihinair and -ladnalc ((HIiscs. PHILIP SILVERSTEIN A Flemish without a hlemish, Phil comes from Belgium, but has heen through France. Spain, Portugal, and Ycshiva. He attended Yeshiva Eitz Chaim in Boro Park and was graduated with a character award. Phil then came to TI, TA, and then the college. Phil reckoned Mathematics would be a good major for him. He was active in the French Club and had a warm place in his heart for Le Flambeau. He is interested in the Hebrew language and wishes to teach it. He also plans grad- uate school. Phil is a harmoniac who entertains at bull s essions with his Philharmonica orchestra. AARON SITTXHR Possessor of a Divinity-Trinity complex, Sittner usually speaks of Himself as a third person. Aaron was horn in a crash, with a crash, and the cracks have been showing ever since. He attended RJJ and T. and was a calumnist for the Academy News. He gave up his unlucky chance for the City College School of Technology to come to Yeshiva. There He developed an affinity for English and English professors. His hobbies are radio, photography, and free-lance writing. He plans a career of journalisni. 43 CALMN SOLED A music fiend (a find for all we know), Cal came to Yeshiva where he expressed himself as the Concert Bureaucrat. The Yeshiva boys ' girl friends ' biggest benefactor, he is the one who obtained the reductions and discounts and free admissions to musical and theatrical events. On his report, the Concert Bureau has Soled many tickets and made much money. But for this, he kept himself ever so slightly busy majoring in Philosophy, but not in Litman. His ambitions are to finish TI and follow some musical field as a hobby. Professionally, he is going to be just a plain businessman (strange for a YU graduate, isn ' t it?). VICTOR SOLOMON Possessor of a singing voice since childhood, Chazan Avigdor has made himself heard around. Perhaps he should have been seen more often. Vic is a Bronx boy who came for his audition to Yeshiva. He is a faithful student of Rabbi Burack. This Peh Mapik Margalith chose to major in Political Science. He is a January, 1951 graduate. Vic also sports a mustache and is sporty in other ways too. Vic is also noted for the kinds of stories he tells. With a corner already on the Morning Journal Chazan page, Vic considers making a career of Chazanus. We ' ll be hearing from you! HERBERT WITKIN Herbert is Ohel Moshe ' s representative at Yeshiva. He left Ohel Moshe for TA and then Yeshixa. In Yeshiva he majored in psychology, and was a member of the later dissolved Psy- chology Club. He has, however, also humanized himself with Classical Languages, and atomized himself with Physiology. He was correspondingly a member of the Eranos Society and the Biology Club. Herb is a genuinely nice fellow without so much as a grudge against anyone, and for that matter no one has a grudge against him, either. He is a JBer who worked his way up all the way from Rabbi Steinberg ' s class. He plans for Smicha and graduate school, with the ultimate ambition of entering the field of psychology as a teacher or clinician-in-Israel. 44 SAMUI ' .I, KOI ' I ' l ' .l, VV()lli.(,l 1,1 KI ' .NTIvR A vc ' Icnin III ' , niiinlKT dl nliK .il imi.il .nul |inliiii.il vcnlurc-s, SMiiiiny K:iy li.r. Iiii.illy ■.(llhii ilcwii iii t ' c Jir, .1 .111. 1 di-ciclctl to hciciiiu ' well liiiriircl. I r sImiIciI IiIi- ;it V.iiu ' oiivcr, moved hi SiMllIc, ;mil u|Min j;r:iiln:il 1011 Irdin lii; ll school he atlcndcd ' I ' cls. Allcr ihnc yens l di.ii. he ..iiiic lo Ycshiva lo Kahhi Lifschit . ' s il.iss, :iiid ;i hah year (il ih.il saw him J o ofT lo Isi:r1, 1 i ihi- V(shi a al I hUrcm. Allcr spLMKhnj; a year at Kivrci Amis, he laiiu- hack In ihcir children at Yesliiva. Mis lime in V(shi a is iiHidcraulv iiriipiulidiud IkIwicii l ahhi Siil(i ciiiiik, Irwiii Riasna, and I )i-. I.iliiian. The u-si cil iiis linn- in Vishi a is s|K ' nl in (hissing; and in alUndiiij; SOY nu ' ilinL;s. I lis inltnsl is |c ish |ihil(isn|ihy, and he has ;;ivcii nnnh lime hi ihr |nr|iU inn piciMi-ni, Was iieisst Mcnscii? hnl ncil i|uik ' as nuuh as Ik- L;i cs In ( haya. Sdimuike naturally ( in )liiuls 111 hrccinu- a Kahhi. HARRY YANOFSKY A chess wizard with a nationwide reputation, Harry is an old- timer at Yeshiva. Harry, outstanding pawnpiratc, is a TI graduate with educational prohlems on his hands. He started out as a major in Chemistry. Finding himself proficient in languages, he dropped his flasks to bask in the classics. He ' s been taking his time ever since. This peg-winner from Winni- peg has put Yeshiva very high in intra-mural chess tournaments. He plans to teach and continue graduate work in langtiages. IRN ' IX VERES Possessor of a telephone operator ' s Hello, Irvin is Camden s operator at Yeshiva. Yerseyite Irvin has come to Yeshiva to practice the brotherly love that seems to have afted over the river from Philadelphia. One of the hovering spirits of the Yeshiva Sliel Maahloh, Irvin spirits his sprites to the daily prayer meetings. Little Bo Peep has lost his sheep and doesn ' t know where to find them. Look in the minyan, there are your minions to be found, is that not so! 45 Class Hysteria A class claiming hve summas and nu suicides, this jubilee class graced Yeshiva records and raced Yeshiva corridors for four years (so far). So good! From the far (4) corners of the earth, from the Brutes of Sluhovia to the Bratislavans,from the Dominican Republic to Winnipeg, from the pedantic to the prolific, there staggered a motley crew to compose the Class of ' 50. On a certain Monday afternoon we assembled for our first classes. . . . Uh, men, uh. . . Say! He called us men! This is English. Gee, we ' re getting smarter every minute! . . . Speech Class. Say, who ' s that fellow leering at us. ' Oh, that ' s Demon Damon . . . Danzig? Here! Dyen. Who ' s Dyen.-r . . . Oh, you ' re Dyen. Well, you sure look it! . . . Rapp watches chest motions of speakers. Wonder where he learnt that? . . . I ' m Ryan. This is speech. If you boys will please stop doing extracurricular speech work. . . . Everyone flocks to Chemistry or Biology, but FRANK and Rosen- feld take Physics. (Guess who ' s writing this . . .) Oh, there you are, Dr. Levine. Science? Oh, sure, that ' s the study of . . . Like if you take two things, say Oxygen and Hydrogen, what do you get ? Did you say water ? How many here had high school Chemistry ? ? ... Biologyisthestudyof- livingorganisms. Review!! Ah, that ' s Professor Jekuthiel Ginsburg, Editor of Scripta Mathema- tica, that internationally famous quarterly devoted to the philosophy, history and expository treatment of Mathematics. Matematics is a wery fercinating sobject. . . . We are excused from Freshman Orientation. This leads the students into hopeless confusion, a matter which the administration does not remedy until three years later. But we are told that every Freshman is to be given an upperclassman as a personal adviser. Fortunately, this never happens; why confuse the poor upperclassmen, who ' ve gone through it all once already ? . . . Hygiene is the study of what goes on don dere. Hey doc, does that have anything to do with the peristaltic action? . . . Sol Poupko asks cer- tain very embarrassing questions. . . . To be sure, this is History I. Isn ' t that so ? Peter Pan the Magic Man takes attendance and the class disappears. . . . Shulman and Beck are elected to Class efficiency. Perhaps reading the minutes of the meetings might be apropos here. The class decided to get special Freshman Hats which no one bought. . . . Dear Diary: I slept in the Dormitory last night. It ' s Wonderbarn! . . . Dear Dairy: I had supper at Stern ' s last night. . . . This year we don ' t read USA. We subscribe to the Nation (and don ' t read that, either) . . . We read Manhattan Transfer for Dr. Linn (ooh!), besides Bread and Wine and two other books which we don ' t read. The class discusses Matzo and Wine before Passover, and Bread and Wine 46 ilflcrwiirds. . . . We wrilc liiihKiiniis i ss.iv,. Inn I. inn docsii ' l luu ll. No sense ol ImiiKii? Sure lie li.is, Inn only win ii ii imi ' i liiimv. . . . Wc make liKnicy M ' lliiiL; niii .iindliinL;! .i| ilm ' . Wiicnldwsky wiilcs iiiiinullii iMc he iiikIcisI.iikIs. . . . I, inn Ims ;i Imli iinllcic ii|) ;nnl ( :( K sh Aidii . . . Mem Mm Im I l.il I )r( i 1.. l.c i 1 ' I Mil ( unirssKnis ni:i) azinc. . . . ni|insnM iis wlu( h I Jr. Linn iliinks .Hill , i c s ns 1 1,1;. US. . . . I ' m Liiilc I ' Irislin ilni.w ' s llic hook. . . .mil 1,1 .Snnilnrid ilc ' I ' rcs Picos . ' I he slndinls mli.iijic I )i . RoscnJK 1 ■■ inio givni); a parly insic ,( d (in m professor al Yeslii a. lesl. ' I ' lify ' (ilc- Inni IksI Dr. iiraiin ili.nnis his t l.iss wiih a diesis. W ' h.ii we missed l)y not underslandiiiL; i ' lriuh! . . . Scnne seek Class ,ind Mcnh in lie l,il in Kj die department. . . . Ren, Moreh! Ken, Moreli! IVvadai, Moreh! . . . ( Jee, if I only knew what he was talking ahont . . . Riishin ' to ( .zar ' s classes . . . ' I ' livia the Milksop and Menachem Mendel S.icks on his shoulder . . . Dr. (irinstein agrees with the hook. . . . Dr. Linn gives ns a Vocalnilary exam in nh-nh-nh-lngliss . . . Average .score in class, exckiding Rosenfelil, lof) out of 150; including Ro.senfeld, 120 out ol 150. . . . The lirst January class in the hisicn-y of ' eshiva enters. The real his- tory is yet to he made . . . The students coming in on the Spring shift arc accommodated with makeshift courses. They are allowed to choose their sixteen credits from a wide range of eighteen credits. As a result, a numher of courses suffer sudden popularity . . . The students are treated to English with Mr. Miller (retiiiired), International Relations with Dr. Margalith, and Philosophy of Science with Prof. Kisch. The class is im- pressed by the colorful Mr. Miller . . . Tiiey are taught the identity of Zionism and Communism (both of which oppose Britain). Much of the discussion and the debate is on [lolitical matters. Mr. Miller ' s analvses would invalidate most of what the students sav, although much was left of what the students said. In the cour.se, much is learned and much is read. Red Lipschutz, of course, makes out well . . . Dr. Margalith ' s lectures on International Relations have the class impressed. The students are shown how the minds of politicians work . . . Dr. Kisch gives the class a whiff of essences. The students are told of the Kischness of Kisch and the cour.seness of the course . . . Everyone takes speech with Damon. The marks were — Ha, ha! You guessed it! The new students are oriented at a Student Council assemblv, in which Earl Klein and Louis Bernstein do the speaking (particularly one of them). The alLiir was dramatic, and so was the topic . . . Thev were also briefed on the maturity in behavior expected of them. Y ' o-vos were distributed at the end of the meeting. This gave them a sense of impor- tance and belongingness in the college. They now had strings to pull, especially in Dr. Margalith ' s class, where thev did. . . . We freeze in the swimming pools. ' e are enruptured bv the hvpno- tists— not to mention the Burpee Exercise— and by Doc Hoarwits of the Seance Department. . . . There ' s nothing remarkable in the fact that a hvpnotist put some of us to sleep. hv. at the orientation assemblv the entire student body was put to sleep immediately by the mere mention of the word Synthesis. . . . We are tested by the Clinical Psych, class. The results must have frightened them, because we never heard from them again. We don ' t blame them. . . . Brody devotes a lecture to Henry X ' llI, Karl Marx and Clem Kadid- dlehoffer. . . . The students enjoy Dr. Savitsky ' s Philosophy of Science lectures at the expense of Herbert Spencer. ( How we ' ll tear that man apart . . . ) Litman rants about Plato, Socrates and Motke Boske. He can ' t tell you anything because he doesn ' t know anything ... It seems we ' re all subgartelians. As a consequence we are told that self-annihilation is the only honorable way out. Boy, philosophy is profound! . . . Prof. Kisch gives a Pesach Shiur on the true significance of Chamctz. . . . Mr. Silverman ' s ever-present pointed pencil ( You have a point there, Mr. Charlop ) supplies the only divergence from Webster. . . . Dr. Loran has been doing secret work for the government. Maybe that ' s why nobody knows what he ' s talking about? But FRANK claims he does. For this he gets the Physics Prize in his Freshman Year. . . . Gershinsky takes over Math II and overtakes the students . . . Luchins has a baby . . . Certain professors imitate Oratz ... A number of the initiate (Krasna Bros. Mersh Halpoin) transfer from Brooklyn College and condescend to drop their credits and start here with us at Yeshiva. Ponce de Rackovsky searches for the Fountain of Youth and Trudi in New York City Basketballers include Blackie Rosenblum, Sam Dyen, Danny Komsky. All kept busy on the Daily Dribble . . . Keller dons a mustache . . . Charles Kneal Bahn is around the college, but he isn ' t in our class. . . . Harry Cohen krechzes, while Mr. Miller corrects him . . . Zvi Beitner is bother- ing someone. Brener is still admiring himself (the others continue not to). . . . In the spring we have a taste of Class elections. The men behind the shovels crawl out from the smoke-filled caucus rooms to toss their yar- mulkas into the ring. Lou Lauer, Seymour Aronson and Moshe Cohen do the tossing. Sonny Schwartz and Sidney Basch do their running for the vice position. Lou and Sonnel prevail. ... In the January Class, D. Cohen becomes president and Leon Levy is carried in on a Betar tide to the vice-presidency. Cohen leaves, and Levy succeeds him to the presi- dency. Ernie Ruch competes with Nadelmann for the vice-presidency and cops it. (Nadelmann ' s Slogan : Remember Lutz — ze man of ze hour!). . . . Dramatics is put to a vote. Interesting how the freshmen opposed it two to one, and the seniors favored it by the same ratio . . . Who Louie Bernstein, anyhow? It turns out there is a Student Council, and Earl Klein is President. . . . The January Class participates in Class Nite, disregarding the fate of preceding Freshman Plays. They put on a play on the Koros of Happy Koroos. . . . The finals are here. Who ' s got ' em? — Who hasn ' t got ' em!?! . . . ANL hints away the Foozics final. BW helps, too, by giving us the questions. WF supplies the answers . . . Study headquarters is in BR ' s 48 (lonn ronni, wlinc ((i|)irs iiic .iv.iil.iMi mi nijiicsl . . . ' I lie IXmii iiivcsIi- j ak-s. All Air il(.ii((l, 1)111 N c K liini ' ., hoys! . . . l lc;isl not until lU ' Xl year. . . . I, inn warns lis: ' I ' lic S(i|ilininiirr Year is ilic liaidisl !! SIIM ' I ' .KMOKI: VI ' .AK ' I ' lic vi ' ii- llial Sanders allcnilcd llir Mm i ' Vislnva . . . ' I ' Ik- year ilial I ' Vank linally loiik Malli . . . ' I ' lial Mallin wcnl tlnuiii li l,n;4lisli Lit drrannUL; . . . ' Ilu ' year dial a iwcniy cciil iii y did duani was liilliilcd. . . . ' I lie yfar dial Mailiii was (.lianm-d l)V Miir|ilKiis, and ivcryonc else was charmed hy Idcislu i . . . ' i ' hai I ' lcishcr was charmed hy tlic office. . . . Gershon C.huryin and liir ikilti-morons lake Hehrew III. (iinky promises to colleci ilir Cdinposiiidiis . . . I lain rnian does the homework . . . Ismar lapsi. hiii . iiics lo cdiiveri ( ' hiii in id Aj;udism. ( hurgin fails Id Cdiu ' t II Red Id ( ' hiiri;inism. I ' ldiMislcni innlnlcs. All I line are excused Irom die Imal hir diis icasdii. . . . Rackovsky is advised Ui cdinmii suicide . . . Serl Saiidherj , iiricken- stein, Mansky and llisch leave us alier one vear. Wonder whal drove diem away ? Rabbi Gcrshinsky leaves us tor St. Joseph ' s Catholic College for Girls (! . ' ' 1) He is replaced by Henry Lisman, champion se)litairc play er of Boston, New England, Providence Plantations and JB s brother-in-law. The entrance of this Bostonian into the faculty causes some confusion in the Mashemasics and Philotophy Depts. Miller disappears in a cloud of red. The Thomas committee antici- pated! . . . Little Allen Mandelbaum unsuspectingly takes his place. Little does he realize that a similar fate awaits ; ;; (The Shadow knows! Heh-heh-heh!)... . Ginky promises to collect the compositions . . . Margalith articulates; Lowan particulates . . . Rabbi Meyer Berlin (Zal) visits our institution. All the important leaders of the school turn out . . . One of the Krasnas (we don ' t learn to tell them apart till about the end of this year) is Maspid Staff Photographer. . . . Sittner ' s imitations go well with a pillbox yarmulka . . . Phil Silver- stein harmonizes on his mduih organ . . . Dr. Ginsburg sets mood for class by coming into first lecture with scissors. From that day on, the students do their own cutting . . . He refers theological aspects of infinity to other departments. Which? After three weeks, word gets around that Fleisher has a sense of humor, only you have to watch for it. Fellows sit in on both sections to get all the jokes. But later they find out it ' s all rehearsed — he tells the same ones every year. Dr. Fleisher ' s lectures are versatile. Siamese monkeys. Dr. Litman, Zionism and the Dean, Dr. Litman, transmigra- tion of souls (cf. Robespierre — Mvron Kahn), Dr. Litman and (oh, yes!) English Literature. Fleisher ' s lectures on History of the Drama have con- temporaneous significance . . . Class Nite becomes an institution. It is believed that an institution becomes the players . . . Phil Arian and Joe Yoshor become Class Nite . . . The Play ' s the Thing. . . . Jake Singer talks Luchins into letting him teach Psych IL Luchins talks his way out by letting him . . . Singer (Kishmo Kenhu ) is heard 49 beret-ing in the halls . . . (uis Solomon enters YC This has a profound effect upon Seymour Aronsoii . . . Banjo Lichtenstein, after one false start, majors in Physics (as befits a lawyer). . . . W ' clbcr leaves. We ' re still waiting tor the rcliuul ol our breakage deposits . . . We cherish the memory of those Electronics Lab sessions that broke up with midnight supper in the Co-op . . . Mr. Gross, a Frenchman, assists in Physics Lab . . . ISIM!!! Gershon Cliurgin promises to collect the compositions . . . Rosenfeld ' s Hnglisii Lit notes pass the hundred-page mark . . . Margaliiii ' s Interna- tional Relations Society grows. So does his Family Relations Society. He becomes a proud papa (it ' s a girl!) Vie Geller marries (a girl!) . . . Rosen- berg voted best dressed German Professor. . . . The Sam Glaser Moral Society is founded. Why. ' . . . The Israel ' oung Molar Society is founded . . . The David Fleisher L ' amor Scjciety is founded (Why. ' ). . . . Elections are held again. Sonny Schuariz hits the presidency this time, while Hertzberg complements this all-Baltimore stafT as vice-presi- dent. In the January class, Levy defeats Lipschutz for prexy; Ruch edges out Brener for vice. YESHIXA ' S BUSTIN ' OUT ALL OVER . . . HOOTSTEIN AP- POINTS SELF DEAN . . . Corn Belt States As.sociation gives Geschmata an A rating (It passed all the qualifications for high-grade corn, includ- ing the proper shade of green on the outside) ... As a result, the college is also accredited (with a Nay (Neigh) rating) . . . But it was reported that the library could stand some improvement — Maybe because they over- looked the Williamsburgh branches at 204 Wilson St. and 91 Lee Ave . . . Margalith is appointed University librarian. . . . Prof. Lookstein is still talking. Z. Bruno Kisch, our full professor of chemistry, teaches two courses this year: A philosophy course and a new Bio course for non-science majors only (?) ... The guest lectures at Dr. Delatour ' s Sociology courses . . . The boys think they know everything about figures and shapes. Luchins tells them they have the wrong gestalt . . . Litman claims he ' s the only one who really understands Whitehead. We meant to ask him whether Whitehead does . . . Yuki gives a Wreck Course . . . Litman expounds Platonic ideals. We learn about the concept of Marxism with Das Kapital M . . . The Sol Poupko Detective Agency sends its two ace detectives, Charley Chan and Barley Bahn, to investigate certain sophistic activities in Columbus Circle. . . . Yeshiva opens a graduate school in Physics under Arnold N. Lowan . . . Oh, yes: Sol Roth asked us to mention his name. TED KALLNER!! J. Parnes, Azriel Vardi and Paul Teicher participated. So did Your Truly . . . THE WINDOWS ARE WASHED!! The Stern Gang (not to be confused with the Cafeteria C(r)ooks ' Association) defeats Siegel and Weiss in a battle of ambitions . . . Zim- merman wins the Jerome Robins contest, only to be condemned to Remedial Written English for punctuation not befitting a gentlemen . . . Art Silver and Sammy Rosenbloom are mates on the chess team . . . Dave Schudrich tries to establish a Z.O.A. chapter here, while Ismar Lipschutz undermines his efforts by trying to es tablish a branch of Agudas Israel 50 al Ycsliiv:i. ' Ilu- A iiDAII |jiii ' , oiii ,i ii( ' s|i;i|Hi (Or Clmdasti) which lie cdils, prinis, wi iHs ;ii l u Ic ' , lui .iml disi i iIhik ■. . . . I lirshkowitz assists ill lli - ( lluni l,;ili. . . . K;ukiivslsy .mil Sliiiliii.ni r.iisc .1 r:K iai on llic ' I riiiiis courl . . . I IitI Iht,i; cI.jI. |)r(ivc iluiiisclvcs iiirii ol ilr.iiiii . . . hi. l.fviiic teaches IJK ' hoys llu- (IcUiiLs 111 llir rilii;il i.ill( l Tci linik. Kcmcinhcr the he- liavior wliiili IS i |mU(l ol llic Vcsliiv.i liov: Von iiiiisl iioi s|)ill. Hold yonr icsi inlir wt ilic o|nn side I.kiiii; iK-avcn. Mold ilir ll.isks in your own hands. ' I ' Ir- hiakei die heller. Ily JAvinc, Barney lingel, Rrasiia K. Kr.isn.i (KRK), Norman Mailiii, Ahe Marcu.s, Marvin Hrus.sel, Seyniniii , ron,son and Mcrvin Haienholi . ho.iid in ihe ( ' .iuiii l.ih. I ' oi Miiiiiiy rca,sons, they always work hehiiul drawn hhnds. (li is rninored iliai a spy is watching them I ' roin SOI Wesi iS ih Si.) . . . They liave lo know llieir anions . . . l ' ' inegeller is the (lonsiani eoinpanion ol the l)o s in die j- ' oozix and Chcmysterv lahs . . . . luiniher ol ihinj;s were hrokeii in ihe Chem lab, anioiii; dieni die record lime lor liiiisliini; ( )iiaii (i.e., helore the end of the term), hv ilie KRK Kombiiiaiioii. . . . What ' s in a Chem? A dose by any other Chem smells just as dinky. Parlez-vous Francais. ' . . . Hymie is forced to study ( hem in order not to disgrace mv namesake . . . Abie Marcus is ijuiei when somebody ' s looking . . . Thv Chemisirv Department buys a new schmitchik . . . Rrasna is sii,ip[iy on the sluiiier in his spare lime. . . . Maspid pictures are taken, and pan ol ' the class actually shows up ... At this moment a new organizaiiou springs into existence and gets its picture taken. From these humble beginnings the Yeshiva College Math Club has grown to its present vast magnitude, scope and significance . . . President, William Frank; Secretary, Azriel (formerly Arthur) Rosenfeld . . . (N.B.:W.F. has asked that his name not be mentioned any more in the Sophomore Year Writeup, due to his great modesty. The rest of the class heartily agrees (They w-ant a chance to catch up in number of mentions)). . . . Henry Reller ' s Sfira beard stands out in T.I. He sacrifices his exclu- siveness and transfers to Yeshiva . . . Professor G. Churgin promises to collect the compositions . . . S.ANFORD Frank amuses Gershon with Tels of Cleveland . . . The Balti-morons (Schwartz, Hertzberg Co.) burn with jealousy . . . Dr. Rlotz makes his talents available to Yeshiva students in a course called Hebrew Syntax and grammar. Ma, Lau Shamata mayHaRaDaK.HaRav Doktor Rlotz.- Dr. Finkel teaches Mishli ... is a good man; Shlomo is a bad man . . . The professors will have to wear ties now. . . . Lou Lauer, Seymour Haber et. al. take debating under Fleisher. We debate against other colleges. Somebody wins . . . Bob Rurtzman takes notes like a madman . . . Achoo!! (Excerpt from Rosenfeld ' s notes) . . . Ruch, a vet who learned his drilling in the army, opens up an arts and crafts shop here. He does the advertising for student activities, but takes his time about it. Soled is kept Bizet in the Concert Bureau. For some odd reason, all the students take ill on Mav 16. i()4S, as predicted . . . Steinberg and Zucker, seeking a Betar life, leave us to visit n ■ f ' AE m. ! K k nc E E fife OR T T 51 Israel. The Lebanese welcome them with open arms and closed bars. (Prohibition?) The Government sends for them and brings them back to Yeshiva. Zucker, terrified at the prt)spect, hides in the Azores, but to no avail. He eventually returns, and is allowed to graduate. Morton Fclstein becomes Bar-Mitzva and goes back lnunc to liic palatial igloo of his parents in Little America . . . The T.I. Choir (Messrs. Brown, Komsky, Rabinowitz, Nesis, etc.) arc requested by Harvard Man Fleisher to render the Yale Senior Song . . . Yeshiva begins looking for a school anthem. This is anthem-a to Fleisher, who demands Don ' t do-ray me a kop . . . The Y.U. Orchestra is organized under Alex Petrouchka. Rehearsals are in the whee hours of the morn (Minyan time), while everyone is asleep . . . Students swoon at Fleisher ' s rcntlitions of ptietry, particularly at the Fairy Queen . . . That dis-Spensers viih that crack, but there are verse ones coming: The students were leading the life of Riley Before the arrival of Brother Young Israel sends Mr. Israel Young, the Yeshiva boy ' s best friend, to his long-dreamt of home at Yeshiva, where the Bear and the Ellenbug play — where seldom is heard an intelligent word, and the Summas cum Laude all day . . . He has always loved us, cherished us, adored us, even before he ever heard of us . . . Who is he.? Why, he ' s our own brother, our own keeper! Before his arrival we were an unruly mob of unguided, undisciplined, maladjusted and tieless vagrants. With him he brought the ready-made school anthem, My Tie Is Your Tie . . . Won ' t you PLEASE wear pants, bub ? Heisler enters the Yeshiva the same year as Mr. Young. They ' ve been going together ever since . . . Braun gives us an assignment. With tongue in cheek he tells us to do it in two days. No one believes him. Guess what happens. ' ' . . . Rabbi Leo Jung gives courses for all occasions — even an Ethics class on Saturday Night. . . . Benzedrine sales soar as the end of the year and Fleisher ' s Famous Final approach. Wits and drills are sharpened for the great event . . . Gym ropes are found hanging outside the English office (With no one on them. Heck!) . . . And the result of it all.? Ha, ha! You flunk! . . . Linn warns us: The Junior year is the hardest. . . . JUNIOR YEAR: This is a year of Major importance — especially for those who haven ' t yet. English Lit catches the fancy of a number of our young men, Messrs. Brown, Halpern, Komsky, Nesis, Oratz, Potok, Rosenblum et. al. . . . Arian and Kurtzman major in dramatics . . . Gordon specializes in Physi- cal Education (though he calls it Sociology) . . . Lauer majors in debating (or Philosophy: all one to him) . . . Yanofsky switches from Chem to classics . . . Wohlgelernter returns from Israel to drop into our class . . . JB has his third year of Shulman . . . And the voice of the Terkel is heard in the land. . . . The Dean of Men returns from South Africa to retake his Bibulous classes . . . The city extends its shack colony along i86th St. to Amsterdam Ave. Three are donated to Yeshiva College, making it Yeshiva University. The downtown branch of the University is located at iS5th St., corner 52 AiiisicKl.iin (ciop ' ,! vv inc:in inMiril.ii ii ) Avr. Tlic old dynamo in the |)(AV(iii(.ii,s( IS icpl.iird liy 1)1. iVl.ii .ililli . . , ' I Ik Clicm IX-|)t. of Y.U. anniiiiiuis lis inuiiiinn nl Imililin ,i Mcilic.il School hy 1952. Arthur Stlincur l ti.(inii. s iiikIci j;r,i(lii,ik- )ilii|;i;(i liu llic YU Med School. We ' ll l)C ' Sfiiioi! SIIAKl ' .UP IN ADMINISTRATION! ) . ' ,] ' ,Y LlvWliS!! I ' ltislKT, iiiiiiciM-, iiiin.s lo |)(niry . . . bl.iiius ilic l)(.iii lui ,ill his trouhles (P.sychol()j;ists, in wIkjih I ' liislur (lues nm Ixlitve, have an exiilanalion for all this). . . . Mollis Silverman is raised lioin iln laiiks in ilic Regi-stardom. . . . Munclreiis oi college sUiileiils ,111 (lis.i|)|iiiiiil(cl whin Yeshiva .i;oes and hires an ei na,i;eil secrelary, who lo lop 11 all oil ,i;( Is ni.iiiuii. The others aren ' i so sinari. . . . llashomer lladali 1 IQ eslahlished in ( illle C;ar 207. (;ome to the Shlible! . . . Poli-CA ' sindeiUs learn the Mart alith-Mar.x intcrprelaticjn of Jewish History. . . . The Math Depi. streamlines its program and gives its courses on the double. . . . Dr. Looksiein, who has sentenced so many celebrities to Yeshiva degrees, is given a third degree himself. . . . Double Deckers are introduced. Sleeping i]uaricrs in the Dorm become un- I5aeral)le. Ach! Vat is Zis? You Zleep in Ze Closet Ze whole night. ' . ' . . . A nuinber of interesting Fireside Chats are held in the Dorm Social Hall (which was opened especially for the occasion). Mr. Mandelbaum speaks about Satan. . . . Mashgiach holds rival meeting. . . . Sat.m turns up at neither, but is olTendetl at such familiarity, and begins plotting in secret. Eventually Job is lost. . . . Potok writes long stories for Dr. Linn ' s short story course. . . . Oh, Yes: Sam the Night Man asked us to mention his name. GRACE PURVIS!! For the third consecutive year (of our presence in the college) a conflict .schedule is perpetrated, wherein certain professors (who shall remain nameless) are scheduled to teach two different courses at the same time and in different rooms. Purvis dog slips up again! Why doesn ' t someone from the faculty ever make up the schedule ? . ' ... Who is DIM SAM.?? (Heps ti sdrawkcaB) Y. U. participates in chess tournaments. Yanofsky leads them, beats champs. . . . Jvkob Shynfeld enters school and is committed to Oral English Five (sometimes known as Speech 01 fer furriners) until it is discovered that he speaks Cockneyish. . . . Our pictures are taken again: Morguey does the shooting. . . . I hilosophy claims Goodman, Shmul-Koppel and Schwartzman as the Litmaniacs among us. . . . Hysteria strikes Ingenuous Sanford, Stradivarius Shapiro and Yereseyite Irvin. . . . Laxatives are taken by Benedict Katsman aiid Bulky Joe Lichtensiein (not to mention certain of the Editors of This Journal). . . . Morgenstern majors in Psych because he feels it ' s the most interesting way to spend four years at Yeshiva. . . . Jykob the Irrepressible, Jack Beck, Armin H. Friedman (et tu, Bratislava!) are also among the psychoiics. . . . Figures intrigue Ike Hoitzboig, Sherman Hulman and J. Grubsaig. . . . Rapp, Schwarz, Gordon, Schwadron are Social-minded. . . . Fertig, Haberman, Keller, Yanofskv are up the Greek. Some Class! (sic). . . . 53 Mr. Goldberg ' s course in Criminology familiarizes students with crime. Students, however, lose faith in Sociology when they learn that ilic (Hilv crime ' cshixa hoys are guilty of is clicaiing on exams. The nerve! . . . Nadelman makes Commie his immediate concern and Philosophy his meditative one. Soled also majors in Philosophy. Init not in Liiman. . . . Glaubach and M. Brener take attendance in Dr. Brody ' s class. . . . Sanford does it in all the rest of the classes. . . . Witkin came early to class!! Radar (Heps ti sdrawkcaB) continues the Methodical e.xpansion of the Grad School in Physics. Their Honors Zev Amiitai, Shmoo el Haber, Teddy Parnes, Ozzie Rosenfeld and J. JOEL GOLD i.ike this ,is a matter of course. . . . Others who take Physics are treated to Poisen. . . . Ever since the institution of the Cniidance Department, some ot the students have been behaving like Youngsters. . . . The Psychology Department has been co-operating with the Guidance Department. The Psychology Department gets in a supply of hamsters, for behavior study. . . . Rabbi Bernstein teaches us Bible. We learn that David Ha Melach means David the Psalter. . . . Rabbi Dave Mirsky takes after his father and teaches Hebrew. Mr. Milton Arfa also teaches Hebrew. He does collect the compositions. Li Arabic it ' s . . . Mar Sar titzes T ' hillim. Prof. Hoenig is mashgiach on the instructzia B ' Tanach. . . . Mor ' un Felstein comes of age in Samoa. Gus Solomon (who shall remain nameless) informs us that this class has fewer Apikorism than any other in the College. . . . Mr. Terkel teaches pedagogy. The students learn to become pedagogues. Mr. Goldberg teaches Demography. The students learn to become Demographers. The students make an experimental study of birth-rates. . . . Poupko (a devil) quotes Scriptures which missionaries throw to the dogs. . . . B. A. Renwood has been doing secret w ork for (SHH! RAH- MAN AL ZION may be listening!) . . . This news explodes into the open during one of the busy hours in the Organic lab. He is told to go back where he Chem from. ... A course in Phys Chem (synthesis) with the Dean enables Kallner to assist in the Chem Lab while attending Grad School (not Grade School!) in Physics. . . . Certain Masmid Staph mem- bers (not me!!) ask to have a course in Biochem or Therapeutic Chem- istry (Fizz Chem) given. The Dean, after baccilating a while, accepts the germ of their idea and gives a course in Bacteriology. For this they end up with Baccalaureate Sheepskittens (LammKatz). . . . Ismar Lipschutz does not take Bio ff)r religious reasons. Instead he takes Chem for religious rea,sons. . . . Mr. Tauber reappears in a cloud of white. . . . His master debating in a panel on Free Love sets an example for the whole class. . . . Dr. Litman says that the boys kiss of a girl and not the girl itself. Has he seen them? . . . Lutman descends to the realm of matter and motion and buys a four-wheeler, specially designed with an in-out, up-down, right-left gear shift. HALT! . . . Terkel has a point there (somewhere, we hope!) . . . Sunshine Schwartz is Class Prexy, Shy Hertzberg is Veep, and Lou 54 J.i-lir l,n klcs liind .1 iiHiii.il pKililriir., . , . ' I ' lu- (lv,iiii eel Mull SniiiJii ( I till Ijlii.iiy IS l.c|ii iiiidcT lock ;in l key. . . . When |. |. ( . iius lo iciiiiii sonic lioohs voluiiiiirily, tlicy lliiiik lie wiinis lo in.ikc .1 (lon.ilion. . . . Viiki is having llic TIMIi. of his LIF ' h. I ' ii|icrs all over the conniiv ijiioic hiiii as .saying Eel wc lake a noml cr such ih.ii • • ■ fcs a wciy ceiiieicsiiiij; sohjcci. . . . Sam liariMcin flfK:s a ).i(;. in (iiad Hall. . . . ' I ' Ik ' new buildin .s are ie|)a)icrcd wiih rcprinis. II. heniiius .1 |),i|Hr hansel. . . . I )i . I.isman amuses himself wilii soli- laire while umcIiiiil; his courses. . . . Marcus llreiur I. ikes ovir I ' l.ucincnl, .iiid il hecomes a |iollllcal aclivily. . . . l)ii|)| ' in.L;s ol wax .ire hmiid in Iron! ol olhi.e doors dtiriiij; linal week. ... A valuahle Physics hy[. Imk is disni.inl led. . . . The hoiirlh I ' loor is a heehive jI .iclivily ,11 ' A.M. lioys .ire iireparing for die fill. lis 111 die halls cerlain M.idi ckiss is diploinalically given a re exam. . . . C ,hem hoys invenl dieir own ei]iiipmenl and resnlls. 1 he Krasiuis invent a new, versaiile, all-doing, 110% edicicni hyperiurhoaudionuoro- dynacyclo.scope Schmitchik. Dr. Levine bring.s .some Hiiichics into ihc C ' hem lab. . . . The l ' s ' ch majors deem lis good material lor Psychological E.xpcri- nieni.uion. jack Heck, lamous Freudian Psychologist, tests his hypnothescs in the Psych Lab darkroom. (Experiments in photographic memory are pcilormed diere.) . . . Dr. Brain Poiipko has an idea. . . . Another mem- ber of JB s family, Samuel Soloveichik, eniers ' eshiv.i and takes charge of ihe Chem Lab C-hannka cantai.i is held in die auditorium. Only relatives may be invited. A black market in sisters suddenly springs up, .nid families start growing. . . . Hob Kurt man from Quincy, Mass., the home of two American Presidents, plays the role of the son of iVdam at T. I. Chagiga. . . . After resting quietly for a year in class office, Schwartz and Hertzberg inertly continue for another year. In the January class, Nadelman defeats Roth for the presidency, while Brener (unopposed except for write-ins) finally gets the vice-presidency. . . . Jake Beck wins the Jerome Robbins short story contest. . . . Ulcers, by Rolls Royce, is put on the Index by vote of the Legis- lait . Il a Mentalbim is thwarted. . . . Banning of Ulysses shows that Ike has no sense of Homer. . . . Menachem Beigin is sneaked into Yeshiva, uinler co er of darkness, to address a packed auditorium without a be.ird. . . . Chief Rabbi Herzog visits Yeshiva and talks about a topic dear to every Yeshiva boy: Smicha. . . . The Chem Club is organized under M. Barenholtz and the Krasnas. It holds a joint meeting with the Math Club, at which Kurt Eisemann lectures on Mathematical Short-Cuts. . . . Ginkv threatens to collect the compositions, unless we write them. . . . ' eshiva University plans a medical school for W52 and starts the acquisition of materials immediately. Despite the regulations about Coha- nim. thev have nobody problem. Thev have a problem with administra- tors. The Yeshiva claims already to have a plot of ground in Queens. This is the onl lewish undertakiui; of its kind. Yissjadal. The coroner- 55 stiHie will be laid in 1 )52. . . . Gullible Glaubacb sends in an apiilicatiim ui the Y. U. Metlical School. He TeLLs the prolessois just what he thinks, especially when the - are alone. . . . The Chemistry Dept. buvs a new Schmitchik. . . . The professor ot Optics is Meyer einei tahnitlim in a course of great scope. (Notice how his name lens itself to punning!) The boys are kept busy looking through a telescope. Wonder what they were looking at. ' ' (The Spectrum Knows! Heh-heh-heh!) . . . The Krasnas, Krakower, Fiszman assist in Chem next year (Ein Mukdam U ' M ' uchar Ba Torahi). . . . Versatile Dr. Chernowitz takes over French, Spanish and Fine Arts. Has secret admiration for his Parisian students. . . . Boys are in-struckted by Rabbi Drazin ' s Jewish Philosophy. . . . Prof. Rosenberg is voted best dressed German Professor in Yeshiva. . . . Sid Klein becomes assistant to the Dean. He does plumbing and darkroom work. . . . Y ' eshiva U. participates in the Model UN Assembly. Amos Bunim is appointed representative of the Dominican Republic. . . . Students are expelled from the Dorm under the Do-minyan of the new Dorm committee. Sr. Nadelman tells committee he will start getting up early Minyana. . . . COMES DER REVOLUTION and the boys all go to Hell-ry Kenner ' s Minyan. . . . Many rumors have been spreading about the haunted Commie office. It is believed that the staff meets secretly with certain spirits to decide Commentator policy. It is said that certain spirits were almost betrayed to the public. Someone spilled. . . . Mr. Mandelbaum is asked to leave. For security reasons, this information is to be withheld for a number of years. (Between you, me and the Lamport, he was fired for mental cruelty). . . . University is reborn under new constitution. Students are treated in corresponding manner. Students objected. Students subjected. The less said the bitter. Students and administration reach Great Com- promise. They ' d rather have right! Student Council appoints curriculum committee to propose improve- ments in the present curriculum (if such a thing were possible!) as of Spring ' 49. Unfortunately, chairman Al Hollander presents their sug- gestions at an unpropitious moment. Someone suggests to the Dean that an honor system be instituted during examinations. The Dean entertains the idea. He laughs every time he thinks of it. . . . Med School plans are under way. First operation is on student maintenance funds. Stipendous sums are saved in this way. . . . THE MOORS ARE COMING! See latest issue of Fraternalist for details! Mechitza U. breaks down all barriers, sets example for interfaith understanding in tolerance by letting in all-day students. . . . Mr. Young is promoted to Dr. Young. ... A fencing course is given by Mr. Tauber. Yeshiva ' s knights in shining armor learn poise and chivalry in this class. True synthesis is represented by this duel-ism between physical and mental gymnastic activity. . . . Henry Keller, Larry Nesis and the late Lou Lauer run for the presidency of the Student Council. Keller grazes Lauer on the second ballot as the first shows it ain ' t Nesis. Keller dons long pants for his campaign speech. . . . Boris is appointed Editor of the Maswid. We think he ' s Goudonov! 56 r:ink is asked to l.iiiii warns us: liiiil liiinscll soiiic- . Mom of us (lon ' i . . . IJoris is lulviscd lo ((iinmii simidc . . . Will wrilc die class hysk-rcsis (see .ilmvc mikI Ik lowj. ' I ' lii ' Senior Year is die IlikIim!!!! SIN I ' .AK Wc inur die lasi siiculi (jI oiii- loiii-ycaf race. We j iance l)ack in reir(js|)c( I. ( )iii iiid is in uw . . . One III ns IS slunk liy ilic hu I dial Ik 11 lia ( i diing else lo keep liiin busy alier he is ;;ra(Uiak(l. . feel |)arlicularly worried ahoui I his. We ' ll jiisi keep on doing what wc liaven ' l hcen doini iiiilil now. We all Icel dillercnl, liowexer. Morion I ' elsiein has tome ol age in Samoa. Jiisl a eoiiple more (.r( liis .ind we ' ll .ill lie educated. . . . It ' s not easy to hecome a senior; .ind il ii is, who knows it. ' ' (Who doesn ' t. ' ) . . . Jusi one more year .ind we ' re bachelors. . . . All except Maniis Bunim, who ' d rather have Silver than other kinds of Rich. We ' re sure he isn ' t Sairyl . . . Zvi Bcitner goes over the Riva and marries. . . . It takes a little time till we overcome the experience of becoming Seniors and we become Seniors. We are again invited to the Senior-Frosh smoker, Inii this lime .is Seniors. We smoke oiir cigarettes like Seniors (on the leli sitle.). . . . The lights are switched off in the Df)rm at 1:00 A.M. every morning. Why ilo that.- ' They sleep regularly in broad daylight! . . . Haber, alter Le ' in-g in die ( hem Lab for lour years, gets a fellow- ship to Syracuse in Math. . . . Seymour Aronson becomes key man, and peddles jewelry to the bachelors. . . . Otherwise cla.sses take place as scheduled, except for a number of unforgivable mixups, attributed by the administration to Purvis ' dog. (Wonder what her name is. ' ) . . . Dr. Glatzer teaches Jewish History. . . . Mr. Vogel, after becoming a bachelor at Brooklyn College, comes to Yeshiva and gets married. . . . He is in-Vogeled into assisting at registration. . . . He replaces Mr. Man- delbaum and has taken over his curse (Sorry! misprint!!). . . . Mr. Young becomes Professor Young of the Freshman Orientation Department. . . . Doc Luchins takes his leave and tries his luck at McGill U. . . . As a result, students can no longer major in Psychology, since it isn ' t a subject. . . . As a result, Mr. Orleans takes over Psychology ' . . . . BIM!!! Dr. Young is known in scholarly circles as the author of a textbook on Shorthand and as a proponent of the Brotherhood of Yeshiva Boys. His mastery of the subject enables him to be of such great use in the guidance ami aid ot the students and facultv members. . . . He is expected to become Professor of Fire-Drilling in the planned Y.U. School of Dentistry. Dr. Young claims to have personally countenanced the problem of a Dental School (See Isaiah III, ' ). . . . He wants some teeth put into this program. It will be under the supervision of a prominent canine. . . . Sifty Bogner enters school! He leaves shortly after. We take Bible again this year. . . . We are taught Isaiah, Daniel. Ezra. Nehemiah. . . . Those having Dr. Klein take Shakespeare. Dr. Klein ' s soliloquies rival Hamlet ' s. . . . Emanuel Rackman, the other halt of the Poll Sci Dept.. gives a new course in Jurisprudence. Aspirant lawvers, frustrated sociology majors, criminals in training and assorted prudes (among them our editor) flock to the course. . . . Prof. Rosenberg is voted best dressed German Professor at Yeshiva. . . . He removes miistaclie dcr hat zwei ecken. . . . Fine Arts sounds out an impressive array of new courses this year. A course in voice culture is instituted under Dr. Adler. To this there gather many ambitious singers and cantors who might otherwise not feel the Finer things in Jewish lite. . . . Dr. Flci.shcr isiis P.iris dtiring the summer, and does very much the same things there that he woukl have done in New York (he ckiims). . . . No one registers for Dr. Fleisher ' s Tennyson course. Dr. Fleisher thinks this ought to make him unhappy, which he thinks it does not. He raises no racket about it; instead, he gives a course in Romantic poetry. . . . Prof. Lookstein is still talking. How can someone his size hold so much in him? . . . He claims that Soc. 32 ought to be called Sociology of the Jews ratiier than Jewish Sociology (See Catalogue). . . . Dr. Jung claims that what he says isn ' t deep. . . . T. I. switches to the Sephardic standard. Profettor Pinkhot Churgin findt the going tough. . . . Dr. Grinstein gives a read-y made course in Jewish History. Dr. Grinstein does not like Nadelman. . . . The growing Chemistry Dept. grows two courses in the Philosophy of Science — one is given by Professor Kisch and the other by Professor Savitsky. There is a rumor to the effect that these are two different courses (but why split hairs. ' ). Another addition to the Chemistry Dept. is announced by Dr. Levine. The growing Chemistry Dept. announces that he is going to give two elementary Chemistry courses, one for science majors and one for nonscience majors. Dr. Joseph assists in Chemistry la. . . . The Chem lab gets in a Palestinian: Avraham, the proctor terror. . . . Dr. Ginsburg, outspoken proponent of Mathematics as a fine art, becomes head of the Natural Science Dept. . . . The Chemistry Dept. replaces an old Schmitchik. . . . Dr. Lowan throws up the government and convalesces at Yeshiva. This auto-emetic-ally makes him a full-time man. . . . He sheds light on one of the more fascinating branches of Physics by that name. . . . The students redeem themselves after an e.xam in Light by presenting Dr. Lowan with a goldfish in a spherical goldfish bowl of radius a filled with water of index of refraction 1.3. . . . Lowan behold! A new Dormitory building is opened. . . . This gives Yeshiva U. an East Side branch. ... It is said that if the University continues gaining students at the present rate, the new Dorm will soon be filled, and the extra students will be up the creek — where the next extension is expected to be built. . . . Boris Rackovsky replaces a faculty member for a couple of minutes. Dr. Grinstein puts an end to him, which is what he deserved for trying to get a head. . . . The late Soul Blumenfeld leaves us. This leaves Commie without an Editor. Norm Matlin of course refuses to accept the editorship; instead, he edits notices hung up on the door of the Commie office. Kigmies are hired to take over Cogmie. . . . They are part Stadt and part Mare, part Nadel and part Man. Sonny Schwartz makes his speeches ever so often. He wishes to express his thanks to the class for this. He is careful not to lose his head, 1)111 liol S(i (.ircliil wilh Ins li;iir, . . . ' ' v l.ilxr.il rls I ' liMii .111(111 111 Ycsliiv.i (■ illcj; , iiiicl i llic cdilnr- sliiii (il Willi, III! I ' i;iiik, liii.illy I Minis ciiil. We wi.mli I wli.n l.i pi l-r.iiil; awakr ,ill llic lime ' . . . (Ji.nky llalni is .slill aiiuind ihc (;oiicj;c, l)Ul siill isn ' t III (ini (I, INS. . . . ' i ' lic ll(ri i)crgs become Hookies. . . . Hy Lcviiif is (:i)(i|Hil ii|i in .1 Hull loom on llic I- ' oiinii Idfior. , . . I ' olok ofTcrs lo wrilc .i sliml sloiv liv I it iMiii;; s-,iy loi llir A ,;.«; V . . . . Morion lu-lsk ' in Klines lo i l.iss Willi Ins |i.iiiis on, lo everyone ' s surprise. . . . We ,111 ' eNaniiiuil by ilif llr,ilili Drpi lo scc if we have acijiiircd any communiialile diseases dniint; our slay here. One student is advised lo .see his doelor, lie doesn ' l li,i ' e a devialed .septum. Aspersions are easi on llie Jewishness ol his inceslry. . . . .No one seiins lo h.ivc ;;aiiied veiL;hl (hirinL; his slay here, dt-spile his ednc.ilion ll lliis j;oes lo show ihal man does nol li ' i ' on lire, id ,ilone ( l)c iileronoiny ' lll 3), as Mo,ses daily admonished us. . . , Dr. Kloi passes a v,iy, to the t;rcal sliock of all the students. . . , The lights fft on again all over the Dormitory . . . .ind the home of the brave. . . . POUPKO RETURNS and ail is well, . . . Dorm life becomes interesting with the coming of a nice cat into the corridor. . . . Rackovsky demands a class History. As a result, the writettp of tiie Senior ' ear is incomplete. ' eshi ' ,i Uiiixersity grows. R.itlier th.in being a small University. il begins to act like a large universilv with m.iny thous.mds of students. The college prepares for this situation (which is felt to be imminent). . . . The immanence is felt. Steps are taken in the gearing of the administrative policies and registration procedures. The problems of administration must be handled now inefficient ways. This is accomplished by the systematic process of departmentalizing the work. This involved a pro- gram of promoting departures. The adjustment is done by the systematic, boring process of making new ollices. By opening up these bureaus, Yeshiva has been able to give employment to people who might otherwise remain hopclcssK- unemployed and be a charge to eshiva. ' eshiva University cracks down on matters. Scholarships are with- drawn and a new dormitory is opened. The University is in great need of finances and can afford to hire only one special Yeshiva University guard in uniform to patrol the main floor. Meanwhile on the higher floors criminals, gangsters and wicked men lurk with whistles in their mouths, without anv control or bed-hours. The college cracks down and the students crack up. . 11 students found possessing keys not befitting ' eshiv.l ho s are not conducive to the best interests of the University. . . . The order of the Knights of P.ithos (of Damon-and-Pathos renown) is organized. Its members are expected to show unfailing respect for order, morality, personal honor and the lights of others, both inside and outside the University. . . . We a-summa (Correction : we expect seven of them) was graduated on schedule — the ONLY Class of 50 to graduate the ONLY Jewish University on 186th St. and Amsterdam Ave. How proud we are!! HAD ENOUGH.-- (WE DID!!) Spinozj JiiJ MjiiiioiiUt ' s in loJjv ' s WorlJ My mind to mc ii J{ini;(lom is; Such present joys therein I find, That it excels all other bliss That earth affords or throws by l{ind. Sir Edward Dyer. Baruch or, as he later called himself, Benedictus de Spinoza was born in 1632 and before he had reached his twenty-fourth birthday he was hounded out of society by his Jewish and non-Jewish brethren. Yet as time goes on he assumes increasing stature amongst the world ' s thinkers and it has even become a practice to discuss his theories now and again in orthodox circles, something which would have been unheard of a hundred years ago. We are tempted to inquire what it is that has raised him head and shoulders above his contemporaries and even later thinkers. How has it come about, we ask, that all subsequent philosophers saw through the glasses which Spinoza ground ? In our materialistic and disillusioned age, I would say that what strikes us most forcibly is his unshakable belief in man ' s reason and sanity, and his utter rejection of those chimeras on which we base our lives today. Not merely by his theories but primarily by his very life he clearly demonstrated that it is impossible to attain the true good while pursuing as ultimate ends those objects on which the majority of mankind fix their desires, such as wealth, power, pleasure, etc. These objectives being limited physically must lead those who choose them into strife and jealousy for their obtainment; into hatred and envy in order to keep them from others; and into fear and anxiety lest they lose them altogether. It was to obviate these passions that Spinoza constructed a geometrically formulated system of ethics. For despite the limitations of this method which removes the stress from a clarification of the propositions into their accurate demonstration, and assumes that G-d can be defined as precisely and as unambiguously as a Euclidean line; it is still the only method which is impersonal and dispassionate. It is only by this removal of our emotions that we can hope to gain an understanding of the universe and to obtain the insight with which to organise our lives on the basis of knowledge; thus choosing an end harmonious with our natures. This liberty to carry out one ' s innate choice constitutes the free man who knows that cosmically considered he is impressively insignificant. For are not human loves and hatreds, joys and sorrows the smallest of things in the face of the eternal and the infinite? So that for Spinoza true life is not a perpetual chase after objects of natural desire, but it is an elevation to a plane of being where Man — sub specia aeternai — sees how insignificant and unreal are the finite and fleeting things of sense, passion, and imagination. Having reached this plane of being we are able to dispassionately submit many cherished notions to the fiery test of reason. We are forced to reject all teleology and examine everything on its own merits and in its own environment. We are clearly shown that our conceptions of good and evil are not absolute ones, it is merely our insufferable anthropocentricity which considers Man as the center of the universe which makes his standards appear as the ultimate criteria for judgment. Free will appears as a piece of wishful thinking merely serving to inflate our egos to a respectable size. Yet we do not succumb to a fatalistic frame of mind for we see 60 iliiii licnlnin iiK.iir, .ili.nliiic sclf-dctcrmiiiism nnd is only opposed to ;ilicn ncccwity ;in,| .ilicii ,l(i( rininisiii, llius hy removing; the f;it;ilisiic dcicrmiiiism of ciuls and replacing ii liy .m I ' l ' n lc n iniiinsiii of im-.ins Spino a gives full opportunity U) man ' s cirinis. All iliis iiinr, liiiwcvtr, we niiisi lutp oiii led firmly on the ground, for .S|)ino7J ilcaiiy nilisid ili.ii mm is of nccissiiy nxiud in reality and can only be undcrsUKKl in its conuM. IK ' h nn iig.ird iIk- mulicci as an indcpcndcni jXiWcr which can sii|Hrini| isc (.iir (jii ,il iinpir.iiivrs iiiinii liuinan conduct hut rather as derivative ,111(1 (kiHii(Kiii upon iIk linn,:; ii c uinpn lirnds. As an empirical rationalist he use reason as an organising, not legislative, power to achieve his highest aim, namely knowledge of the universe. With this knowledge wc arc able to sec our world luiiiui .IS ilu lusi possible one, as Leibnitz would have us believe, nor as the worst, .is Scii(ipciiii;iiKi I lies to convince us, i)ut rather that wc are in a position to better our evil stale even if we c.innoi alter it completely. We are now in .1 posiiioii to examine the relationship between Spinoza and M.iimonides and see their points of similarity and difference. Usually Spinoza ' s thoudit is regarded, as hase.l upon, and as a logical development of the Cartesian sceptical cogito er ;o sum Inn it lias been pointed out more than once that there are a great rnany basic divergencies which separate Spinoza from Descartes. Professor Leon Roth has even gone so far as to say that Spinoza intended to refute his predecessor and compares their relationship to that prevailing between Maimonides and the Kallam five centuries previously. Without going to such extremes it is evident to every clear-thinking student that Spinoza utterly rejected the Cartesian use of God as an asvlum ignoratiae whose conception surpasses human under.standing. For him God is the immanent cause of the universe and we do not enquire what CJod can or cannot efl eci with his supreme power, rather we must judge concerning the nature of things from the laws which God has implanted in them. Again for Descartes mind is individual will, whereas for Spinoza it is impersonal intellect which is diffused throughout all the universe. The res cogitans is an active thing, not passive, of which the human mind is but a fragment. Further Descartes argued the validity of thought from the existence of God whereas Spinoza argued the existence of God from the validity of thought; it being also clear that God is con- ceived in a vastly different manner in either case. On the other hand the similarities between Spinoza and Maimonides are too evident to be explained as coincidences, despite the fact that Maimonides main inter- est was Man, not Nature, as it was tor Spinoza. For both of them reason was the supreme and ultimate standard by which to discover the universe.t Spinoza regarded superstition as based on ignorance but religion as based on wisdom; and for Mai- monides too the religious man i s not one who turns away from knowledge, to seek to understand is regarded as an ethical duty. Both rejected the theory that the best proof of God ' s existence is disorder, and that He is only needed to prevent chaos; since this would onlv .serve to preclude the possibility of a rational comprehension; and both were firmly convinced of the unity of the universe and of God. They were also et]uallv insistent that for a full understanding of God we need an adequate idea of Him, not an image which is merely a subjective phenomena. (However •Spinoza, Descartes and Maimonides. London 1923. tMaimonides. Guide for the Perplexed. Book III Chap. 15. Ibid. Book I Chaps 46. 75. 76. • lt.id. Book I Ch.ip 7;. Ibid. Book I Chap 73. Sc Spinoza ' s Ethics. Book II Prop 40 Note. 61 MaimDiiides questioned whether we could ever conceive pure form i.e. God, since we are composed of hoth matter and form, except perhaps in the World to Come when the righteous, in proportion to their knowledge, will perceive the ru ' D ' -Ti Vt ) So the highest kind of knowledge in which things are seen in their essence and tiimugh which man approaches closest to God is either Maimdiiides prdpliciic inicllcct or Spinoza ' s scientia intuitiva, which arc really only dilTcrcni names lor the same process. In addition to the above similarides, Maimonides strongly supported the basic postulates of Spinoza ' s system which were m ' entioned above. He clearly demonstrates the relativity of good and evil and equally denies any teleology in nature. The universe does not exist for man ' s sake but each being exists for its own sake: and further — we must accommodate our opinions to things, not things to our opin- ions. Finally, both conceived immortality in an intellectual light based upon the strength or weakness of man ' s connection with God, which in turn is dependant upon man ' s knowledge of Him. We must now face the problem of Spinoza ' s reputatif)n which was mentioned in the beginning of this article. How did it come about that such a mystic as Spinoza, such a Gottbetrunkener Mench as Novalis called him, was considered by his contemporaries and later generations as an avowed atheist. ' ' How could such a man, whose avowed purpose in writing the Tractatus Theologica-Politicus was to give people a true understanding of the Bible so that in living according to it they would avoid bitterness and strife; and who stated clearly that — unless I had known that my writings would advance the true religion I would have suppressed them, be attacked as a religious heretic? How is it that the man who showed logically that the only way to deny God is to deny our own existence, was attacked by Hume for his hideous hypothesis ? I believe that Professor Litman put his finger on the solution when he stated that Spinoza ' s atheism consisted only in his doctrine of Man, not in his doctrine of Nature. To have dethroned Man from his position as the hub of the universe whose hopes and wishes can alter the course of natural events and to have relegated him to the position of an infinitesmal portion of cosmic consciousness whose total actions are closely determined, is surely nothing less than a Copernican revolution to be condemned from every pulpit. But we who have seen the developments of science reach such fantastic proportions that they are getting beyond our control and threaten to engulf us willy-nilly, do not find Man ' s position so central or secure and are beginning to have grave doubts as to his continued existence. We can therefore feel closer to this man who believed that only by losing oneself in God can we escape the wretchedness of finitude and understand the eternal order of nature. We can begin to understand his theory that the human mind must think not merely in terms of here and now but also universally for all time, all places, and all men. We realise that the eternal verities are true because God willed them to be so; and that without God causa sui nothing can be conceived, not because He is absolute power but because He is absolute reason. J. SCHONFELD ' Maimonides. Guide for Perplexed. Book III Chap ••Ibid Book III Chap 13. •••Ibid Book I Chap 71. • Man ' s Value and Destiny. The American Scholar 1935. 62 A (lolcjiil rain i i!iiii. mi l ir d s inil street: A rushing tvitid sends sti ' irts against the door; A niurl{y grayness shrouds my souls defeat, As molten dar ness spreads o ' er walls and floor. A million monsters choice my tired heart. .hid thoughts lil{e lizards slither through my mind. I see the world as emptiness — to part From it is all the wish my limbs can find. Oh. God! Oh. God! Hoir lit{e the hea. ts am I That sliiil{ into their lairs to nurse their hurt! I listen to the rain in myself cry, And coiver a slat e to the tvorld ' s savage quirt. The spears of darl ness slash tvide paths through me And burn into my soul a hollow sea. Herman Potok 63 This Troubled Word It was another evening of editing, revising, and proofreading. Thai ' s liu- wav it started, but I had been worlcing for about an hour when the young w riicr walketi in. I was sitting back in my chair bemusedly gazing at the door marked Literary Editor — Masmid and at the shiny gold name plate on my large cluttered desk. Then, as I have said, my musing was interrupted b - the appearance of the young writer. Ii was his tierce mustachios that gave his face a courageous, somewhat sad appearance. This expression was one of philosophical resignation, cynical defensive- ness and soul-siirriiig sentimentality. Altogether he was, to my experienced editor ' s eye, a writer who had borne his share of pain in an unappreciative world. When he spoke, it was as Joyce or Stendahl might have — quietly, simply, and unaffectedly — perhaps too simply. I ' d like to submit a poem, he murmured. I sat back. My thoughts began to churn and foam. How many ollices had this young scrivener entered with these words.? How many editors had heard this casually simple statement. ' How many curses had it elicited. ' How many heartaches. ' How many bitter, bitter disappointments. ' Only the prematurely saddened face of this literary martyr could give any indication of the answers to these questions. I tried to show that I understood the world of meaning and emotion that lay behind his words. My brow furrowed, my eyes narrowed, I leaned forward and answered. Well, let ' s see it, son! There! The answer that was the key to a garden of wild flowering elation and joy. He was being given a chance. His mustache drooped much less as he replied. Here you are, sir. I ' d like to explain that I ' m not quite sure about the meter. A cue to a world behind a face! The sadly cynical, bravely mustached face that knew doubt, despair and destitude. How many long nights had been sacrificed to the domineering muse. ' How many painful hours of research. ' How much doubt about meter. ' How much despair about rhyme. ' How many destitute hours where thoughts fled like smoke at the mind ' s touch. ' Again, only that soulful expression hinted at the answers. Only in that single, hesitating phrase that a cab driver well might have used, I ' m not really sure about the meter, sir. I took the poem from him trying to be as tender in taking the paper as he was in handing it to me. It was a single sheet of loose leaf paper, creased over in one corner. I read : When I sit and think of the days gone by Of events of not so long ago I must cast a sigh and a troubled eye On a world that since has lost its glow. Not far in the past a war was waged And many acts were considered sin. We vowed should we win the heated rage That things would change and anew begin. 64 Hill iiiiw (IK li iMiinii ' .lull ' . Iicr |)lc(l);c.s ;m(l idcils Tij sill! ilic iniiiiiiiii .mil iMii ilic yciirs. ' I ' licy M .111 ill! II (111 Kill plans ;m(l sliiidy deals K.iilin ill. Ill ilii siKiii l( it;(iin-ii world of tears. Anil ,is I Ml .mil wiiir iliis iioiililiil s ' oi(l I pray lli.il (i il mi 1iil;1i will iii.il.c mi- licird. ' ' w scnsilivf rcaikr can iiii,ii;iiic wli.ii cllnl ilir, jiocm liad on me! ' I ' lie very fail iliai 1 nil wriliii ol these events is oi itsell an indication of the force of ihc slunk. I rue, my experienced editor ' s eye noticed a few flaws in the style, wording, grammar, meter, construction, rhyme, ideation, and expression. These, however, were precisely those minor points that I was supposed lo aid in correcting, without inrringing in any way on the province of the chcj ' d ' ociit re ' s intent. Lfxiking at the sorrowlul coiintcnaiKc ol the poet now hrightened at the chance of success, 1 firmly resolved noi in do a tiling Willi iliis poem ' s essence. 1 would not even change it by so mncli as an.ily ing il or exploring its existence. ' riiere were, however, iliose lew minor flaws — work for the next few months. Work, hard work that was lo he done hy long nights of consultation, discussion, perturbation and eonMcrnaiidii. li look liniirs of arguinents lo change a word, days ol discussion to revi.se a line, weeks of anguish to clarify a thought. Always, always though, the essentiae poetica of the work was zealously preserved. These intensive hours of revision were usually followed hy post midnight strolls through dim lit, misty city streets. We usually would head for an all nite restaurant and a cup of colTce. It was during these quiet walks thai 1 came lo know more (jf the poet. He would turn lo me suddenly during these strolls and say, You know, sir, it ' s difficult. I would nod and try to com prehend and sway forward in the darkness. It was about three months later when the work had begun to show the first glimmerings of realization. Late one evening, I believe it was about midnight or so, my scanning eye was halted by a sudden disruptive suspicion. It was actually a change or rather the shadow of a change in the countenance of the poet. His normally woeful expression was shaded with a look of uncomprehending doubt; then, I believe it was, that the awful thought occurred to me. Had I really understood this poem. ' Was it really its essentiae poetica I was preserving or merely some incidental factor or thought . ' ' What did some of the deceptively simple phrases portend: Or did thev really portend anything. ' ' Was I myself quite sure of the meter. ' Our stroll that night was longer than usual. I attempted, vainly, to find my answer in the words of the young author. In desperation. I finally asked him directly for certain lines ' meanings. His answer was enigmatic and simple. I don ' t know, sir — he lisped, I guess it depends on the way you look at it, probably. What solace could I draw from so profound an answer.- What answer was this. ' My search for clarification went on. The poem was submitted to a noted philosopher, a young energetic professor in one of our natron ' s greatest colleges. He returned the poem after a week. It ' s too highlv transcendental, he commented roughlv. The poet, confronted later with this demolishing criticism, turned to me, his eyes tilled with tears, and softly spoke: Too highly transcendental? How can that be? I am a relii;ious bov. 65 I nodded, and turned away, disappointed. What answer could be made to this obviously legitimate retort? His words were so barrenly simple and so starkly naive, that I was forced to desist. What h.nl 1 gained from ihc philosopher ' s foray of correction. ' ' How to present the poem? Doubts spread cancerouslv in my miiul. What was meant by the line Nations swerve from their ideals ? Why, that could even mean that savage cannibals no longer eat men ' s flesh! Was he objecting to this? Other lines also began to appear to me as vague and unspecific, and after five sleepless nights all the lines became so vague as to be almost meaningless to me. At last, however, came my salvation. Why not revolutionize poetry? Why not present the poem without understanding it? The author, when confronted by the profundity which had been unearthed in his poem, could do nothing but agree to our plea. Feverish activity once more was the earmark of our offices. Finally, we achieved our purpose — the troubled word was finally ready to be heard. Now, in all humility I beg you to think and imagine. I invoke the aid of the muse, the aid of fancy and the assistance of philosophical insight for those readers to whom we present this poem: Read on, then, and appreciate if you can — As now I pause to think of days gone by Recalling thoughts of not so long ago I breathe a sigh and pass a troubled eye Upon a world that since has lost its glow. ' Twas only yesterday in time ' s long flight When vicious deeds were looked upon as sin We pledged our hearts to build the world aright If just once more the course we could begin. But now each nation swerves from her ideals To suit the moment, not the endless years. They scan their current plans and shady deals While heeding not our eager hopes and fears. Yet as I sit and write this troubled word I pray that G — d on high will make me heard. The poetry herein contained was conceived by William Fertig quite independent of the article. — Ed. Note. 66 Conariini ll ' JiiJiVphobu I cihhiuus oj l:iih l J. Rduii lis |iiiiiy, siij(, .111(1 very |)rol);il)lc ' I li.ii lyis, ill. II .IK the frailest and softest tilings Who sluii ilnir coward gates on atomics Should In- (..illcd lyr.inis, hiiichcrs, murderers AS voi; IJKK IT ll IS a Usiimoiiy lo iIr- myopia oi I ' ' ih ccritury I- ' rantc that the idealistic, devoted .111(1 hid.id niin(i(.(l (.li.ii,i(.Ki (j| OIK- 111 iIr- most renowned intellects of the then i,(initiii|ior.iry Iuii()|k. slioiiKI lie L.ilkd Involoiis, elusive, pliant. Hedonist .111(1 .1 lioM ol other names unlit for even the most suj)er(icial dilettantes of the age. Oik- wonders why one of the rnost profound historians of religion and admirer of the Catholic ideals should hecome the anti-Christ in the eyes of orthodox Catholics. One is perplexed hy the cruel fact that one of the most distinguished Semitic scholars ill, It h.is ever lived should Ik- cidwiud with the (liiliiously honorable epithet, Judco- pholie. In 1M23, horn to poor hiu laiihlul p.ireius in the village of Treguier, Hritiany, Ernest Renan was placed in an intensely Catholic environment. In 1S 1 he first entered Issy to study philosophy for two years. Here the curtains opened for the n.iive voung Catholic, and being beset by unforeseen conflicts, there commenced his eclipse of faith. He resolved, in accordance with the maxims of Descartes, to take nothing for granted that w.is not clear and evident. At Issy he was in strict solitude. Reading was a devouring passion, and slowly but surely, after severing his strong and tight Catholic ties, he drifted out to sea. He was shocked at the raging of the waters outside of what he now realized was the peaceful haven at the church in Treguier, and he was dreadful of making a shipwreck of his existence ; but the doctrines of the church, and of Revelation in particular, were not clear to him as he reverted to the philosophy of Descartes and Malebranche. Unconsciously he maintained the principle of scientific atheism. The critic stood aloft on a heap of ruins. In the endeavor to find out why he believed, he had ceased to believe in anything. One should not infer, however, that Renan was violently opposed to all of Catholicism. In a letter to his sister, Henriette, he writes, I shall love it, I shall admire it always — its morality (I mean that of the Gospel) shall ever be my rule — Jesus, above all, shall be my God. Unlike Hugo, George Sand, de Musset. and others of their kind, Renan made a quiet, humble exit from the citadel of his childhood religion. He entered St. Sulpice at twenty, and beg;m the study of Hebrew under the Semitic scholar, Le Hir. At this time the previous uncertainties concerning religion now crvstallized into definite negations — The study of the Hebrew added to philo- sophic doubt positive evidence of the fallibilitv of the infallible Church. Le Hir fixed the pattern of Renan ' s life as a philologist. Renan embarked upon his literary career; after writing a dissertation on Hebrew grammar (later published in book form) wherein was contained his famous charac- terization of Semites, he was granted the chair of Hebrew by an imperial decree. His inaugural lecture, in which he expounded the theory that Jesus was an actually wonderful niciii instead of a Deity, created a disturbance which led to his suspension four days later. He published his ' ie de Jesus in 1S63. This work, his mac um 67 opus, provoked much heated debate and a somewhat obscurantist opposition to Renan emerging from the din of the polemics to dull the real significance of this classic. All through his literary career Renan contributed actively ui various magazines and periodicals. In 1S79 he completed his Origins of Chrisiianiix, and four years later wrote his Recollections. At 6S, his most cherished work, in his opinion, the Corpus Inscriptonium Semiticarum, appeared. Meanwhile Renan was finishing, volume bv dlumc, his History ol the Jewish People, which was publisiied after his death. Renan died peacefully in 1SQ2. That great intellect, says the Livrc tl ' Or, which had reflected so many aspects of human thought, expired in absolute negation. He was likened by Alphonse Daudet to a cathedral which has been desecrated to profane uses, but where amid the bay, straw, and stubble, while the choir is turned to a messroom, and the stalls are a stable for horses, it is impossible to forget that the building was once a church. With this slight but presently sufficient knowledge of the religious and literary career of this giant, we may proceed to consider his Judeophobic tendencies. Very early in his career does Renan embark upon an unmistakably racist course, in his general description of the Semites and their characteristic traits, which serves as an eternal reservoir for antisemites of every hue and color. The remarks made by Renan in his History of Semitic Languages are repeated in part in most of his other works. Je suis done le premier a reconnaitre que la race semitique, comparee a la race indo-europeenne, represente reellement une combinaison inferieure de la nature humaine. — Le monotheisme en resume et en explique tous les caracteres. — les grandeurs et les aberrations du polytheisme lui sont toujours restees etrangeres. — le desert est monotheiste; sublime dans son immen.se uniformite, il revela tout d ' abord a I ' homme I ' idee de I ' infini, mais non le sentiment de cette vue incessam- ment creatrice qu ' une nature plus feconde a inspire a d ' autres races. — les Semites n ' ont jamais eu de mythologie. L ' intolerance des peuples semitiques est la consequence necessaire de leur monotheisme. — Au monotheisme se rattache un autre trait essentiel de la race semitique: je veux dire le prophetisme. — L ' absence de culture philosophique et scientifique chez les Semites. — L ' inferiorite militaire des Semites tient a cette incapacite de toute discipline et de toute subordination. ' It is the purpose of this essay to attempt to exonerate the memory of Renan from the stigma attached to it by the intellectual antisemite. Renan is called the Father of scientific antisetnitisin. He produced an illegitimate child but never consciously sinned. In the course of this article will be shown that the passage quoted above referred strictly to those Jews in Palestine, a passage which does not smell of the epithet Judeophobe. It will be proven that even the opinion Renan I am then the first to recognize that the Semitic race, compared to the Indo-European race, really represents an inferior combination of human nature. — Monotheism summarizes and explains all its (i.e., the Semite race ' s) characteristics. — the grandeur and abberation of poly- theism always remained strange to it. — the desert is monotheistic; sublime in its immense uni- formity, it primarily revealed to man the idea of the infinite, but not the sentiment of that incessantly creative outlook which a more fecund nature has inspired to other races. — Semites never had a mythology. — The intolerance of Semitic peoples is the necessary consequence of their monotheism. — To monotheism there attaches itself another essential trait of the Semitic race; I mean that of prophetism. — The absence of philosophy and science among the Semites. — The military inferiority of the Semites is due to an incapacity of all discipline and subordination. Ik Id (]| ilinsr J( w ' s in l ' ,il( M iiK , lir l.iiii III Ins (,i.i)ius liiscripioniiitn Scmilicarum i(iiii((l .iniic{ii.ii l. Ii u ' lll Iniilu ' i lie sliowii ili;ii, unlike most other antiMrmitct, Ken, Ml li.ul .ilis(iliii( ly ii ' i iniliiniilly relations witli Jews. Ii is because of ihcic ri y I. II Is ili.ii wi ( .iiiDiii (iiiMilri Ki II. Ill .1 li.iici of ilii | vs. He is Hot a Jiidcophile, 1)111 iiciiIk I IS Ik .1 |i|(l( ciplmlii . Wiien one inleiids lo devote Ins tompiele life to a study of a certain |)CO|)lc, ilieir linj iiisiic leiideiuies and relij;i(uis beliefs, one must, of necessity, first depict ilu- mncriii (ii, II. 1(1(1 of iIk siil)|((is (OIK (UK (I, ii is as inescapable as it is helpful. ' I ' liiis, we lind iIkii Ken, in, in Ins liisioiy ol Semitic Lan ua es. makes the dicliotoiny Inlween llie Seiiiili .iiid tin . ry.in. in order tor one lo understand the Insloirc inleriiinc one Insi nnisi kno ' die Insioire exierieiire. We lind 111 Ins prif.icc lo iIk I lisiory of .Seinilit Lan uajics, that Kenan states clearly: Les caracteres esseniiels i|ue j ' ai altriliiie ' s a ccttc race et aux idiomcs (|u ' cllcs a paries ne coiivieiineni de loiii point iju ' aux Semites pur.s, tels c]uc Ics Terachitcs, les Arabes, les Arameeiis proprement dits, el ne se verificnt cpi ' imparfaitcment en Phenicie, a Babylone, dans rYemen, dans rivihiopic. ' - Renan, thereby sijjnifics that he does not intend to expound Ins ilieories wiili .i picture of a Jew in mind, and his glas.ses are certainly not colored with a blunt prejudice for Jews, but rather people who live in Semitic countries, not people of Semitic origin. Thus, automatically, he concerns himself rather with the Jew who lives in Palestine than with the one who resides in Halnion. This is not lypic.il ot the (.(immon Judcophobe. In con- sistency with the theory that Renan had a completely difTerent and higher opinion of the Jews outside Palestine we note in his Recollections, Germany, after devoting herself cntireK- to military life, would have had no talent left, if it were not for the Jews to whom she had been so ungrateful. Again, this certainly does not display Judeophobic tendencies on the pan of Renan. One would not deny, however, that the description by Renan refers also to the Jews. The phrase Le monotheisme en resume et en explique tons les caracteres is sutTicieiu to prove that. Constant application of these Semitic characteristics to les Juifs is found in a great number of his works. However, we must reassert the fact that he refers onlv to Palestinian Jews. We concludetl then, that this prototype which Renan paints for us is the Nomad, lord of the desert, monotheistic but unromantic, uninspired and unmoved by the finer forms of expression. But the oils which Renan uses to paint the Jews on the canvas of sociological history are colored by an ignorance of a major branch of learning, namely Assyriology. It mav be remarked that the absence of Assyrian and Babylonian is conspicuous in his treatment of Semitic languages. The inclusion of these two in the fabric of Semitic cultural life by de Saulcy was . ' till rejected by Renan as hue as 1S75, who, together with Gesenius, considered them Indo-Germanic. (It has been said that Renan erred in good company.) It was only later, in 1S91. that Renan in his Corpus of Inscriptions underwent a change of heart and bowed willingly to the powerful arm of scientific criticism. Indeed, if we include as legitimate members of the Semitic family the Ethiopians, . ssyrians, Phoenicians, and Babylon- ians, we discover that Semitic life is no longer Nomadic, uninspirational, and unesthetic, but rather a brilliant panorama of new and fresh details connected aiul contrasted b bold strokes of polytheism, mythology, militarism, epics, and art. Ttie essential characteristics w hicli I liave attributed to this race and to the idioms they lia c spoken apply in their entirety- only to the pure Semites, such as the Terachites, the . rabs, tlie . iameans, mainly, and apply only imperfectly to Phonecia. B.itiylonia. Yemen, and Ethiopia. 69 Dr. A. A. Roback in his Jewish Influence on Modern Thought, writes, It is quite apparent that some of Kenan ' s views on the psychology of the Semites had undergone a change for the latter part of his life; and his premature tiictum, The desert is monotheistic ' — was decisively refuted by evidence embodied in tiic Corpus of Inscriptions which he himself inaugurated. Dr. Roback contends that Renan, because of his youthful imagination, was inspired by the esthetical values of polytheism. He was thus inclined to consider monotheism unfounded, esthetically valueless, and the cause for inferior traits in men. This all. Dr. Roback says, is merely a youthful contention. However, when Renan was fully mature, there was a change of mind and a willing acceptance to acknowledge his mistakes in his characterization of the monotheistic Semites. As inviting as this explanation may seem, it cannot be accepted that Renan ' s evaluation of the Semites was shaped by the immaturity of his views. This would necessarily imply that, had Assyriology not appeared before Renan ' s death, he would anyhow have reverted to monotheism, with full cognizance of his previous error, because of his apparent maturity. This is probably untrue as we witness that till his very late years, till he was 68, Renan was reluctant to admit that his character- ization was antiquated. We also find countless reversions to his original description of the Semites in most of his works, i.e. — The History of the Jews, till that time. Although his characterization of the Semites and his high evaluation of polytheism may have been due to his immaturity, it must be remembered that the antisemitism of Renan is not identical with the popular brand of Judeophobia boasted of by such eminent intellects as Wagner, Chamberlain, Weininger, and Herder. It is not a blind, stubborn, vulgar prejudice towards a certain dispersed religious sect, but rather the intellectual attempt at the characterization of a people on an independent area of the earth ' s surface, an attitude which altho as unfounded as the more vulgar brand, is on a higher plane of criticism. One cannot argue that a historian of Semitic people and religions and a student of their languages can be no antisemite, just as one cannot claim that a biographer of Hitler can be no hater of the Nazis. However, we may say that the fact of acquaintance with Semitics would lessen the degree of antisemitism; that because Renan was a scholar and knew the history of the people concerned, he did not maintain so vulgar a prejudice as did Wagner. Still another factor would tend to minimize the already weakened hypothesis that Renan tended towards antisemitism. This concerns the peaceful relationships which Renan had with the Jews he knew. Not such is the case of Richard Wagner or Weininger who both had suffered bad experiences in their dealings with Jews. The foremost and most influential of Renan ' s Jewish friends was Michel Levy, his publisher. The relation between the two men was truly beneficial to both — to Levy for being able to publish some of the century ' s greatest works , and to Renan for acually being discovered by Levy. Renan portrays the meeting with Levy in great detail, and in his Recollections describes his attitude towards Levy in two sentences, M. Michel Levy avait du etre cree par un decret special de la Providence pour etre mon editeur. — M. Michel Levy et moi n ' eijmes ensemble que des rapports excellents. ' Consistent with his unprejudiced opinion of Jews he delivered two lectures, Judaism and Christianity, and Judaism As a Race and Religion, to the Societe des Etudes Juives. Mr. Michel Levy must have been created by a special decree from Providence in order to be my publisher. — Mr. Michel Levy and I together had only excellent relations. 70 Rcniin iii.icl( ,1 iiiDic iiiicnsivc si inly of the Jewish conirihuiions than of any other Stniiiic culiinr mid |)i()l):il)ly :is imitli .is the C.atliolic cuhurc. I n accordance with iImi, .ilirr liis ii.iiisl.iiKiii ul ilir hooks of Job and Ecclcsiasics, he collaborated wiih iIk- I liinj .iii.in Jew, Ailol|ili Nciiliniirr, ;mkI wrote the History of Fourteenth (k-iiitiry jiwisli K.il)l)is. Ills mI.iiioiis wiiii Ncubaucr were certainly of the hi fhcst iiUclk ' ciiuil ' r;i(lc ' . The j, ' re;ilesi l)icij;i;ipl)y wiiiuii .ilioiii l.riicsi Rcn:m ums ihc one by ilic Dar- nu-sirirrs, Jrws wlin knew liiiii iniiiniiicly. No relationship, sf far as wc know, lliai Ikis exisud lniwtcii .1 Jew ,iiul Ren. 111 li.is iiccn of an agitating nature. It is in complcic ohjcciive fairness to a great literary figure that we exonerate him from siicii iiarsh accusations and allow his memory to rest peacefully despite the unfortunate events which may have been indirectly caused by him. Maurice Lamm Durmg the Third Watch Stroll on, my friend, through dim, obscure dull night. Ignore the rains whose mist obscures the light; The hour is near to u al{ening gleams of morn The tingling bliss of midnight reuel gone. Can dancing feet notv pause to pace damp streets And ponder weal{ and worthless, time-lost feats? Can gay, quic hearts now stow their mirth away And turn anew to meet tomorrotvs da ? Or must they cower from sun rays clear and starl{ And hide in musty holes till after dari(? Charles X. Bahn 71 Fjwiz Kafka Oiih a little mure than twenty cars ago there tliccl in liiirope a comparatively young man who wrote some of the most extraordinary books of modern times, books of great daring, brilliance, and profundity. Although these books have been known and appreciated by only a few, they offer a rich experience to the many. Beautifully wrought and deceptively simple, the profundity of these works is unobtrusive. They please by their remarkable form aind their sensory stimulation. Their symbolism is comple.x, but its effect is emotional and psychological and does not depend on intel- lectual efforts. Franz Kafka was born in Prague on July 3rd, 1883 of well-to-do middle class Jewish parents. His father and mother together ran a wholesale business in cheap women ' s wear. They lived in an apartment near their garment store. Two younger brothers died in infancy, but Franz was followed by three younger sisters, the oldest born when he was six. His father ' s people were successful and commercial, his mother ' s were impractical, shy, dreamy, and delicate. The Kafkas were German speaking and Franz was educated in a German secondary school. He began to write in his chiklh(it)cl; while at school he wrote plays for his parent ' s birthdays, which were acted bv his sisters and directed by himself. In n)02 he entered the (icrman University in Prague, and after a taste of chemistry and a sip of German literature, he decided to study law. He got his law doctorate in 1906, and served the usual year of practical law training while attached without salary to a law court; then he accepted a minor position with an Italian Insurance Company. He still lived at home, but was no longer financially dependent on his father. In 1908 Kafka changed to a better job with a large insurance company administering the workmen ' s compensation acts of the kingdom of Bohemia. He was a model employee, devotedly conscientious, and retained his job until illness forced his retirement in 1918. His first appearance in print was with a long-short story, Description of a Struggle, which was published in 1909. He used to work from 8:00 A. M. to 2:00 P. M. at his office; then he assisted his parents in their store and wrote at night — sometimes all night. Overwork brought headaches and insomnia; to counteract these, Kafka took up athletics and became an excellent swimmer, rider, and oarsman. His friends dubbed him a fresh air fiend, and he frequented nudist colonies, becoming both a vegetarian and a teetotaler. In 1912 he fell in love with A wholesome, merry, robust young woman and became engaged to her. The same year he wrote The Stoker, which, though originally published separately in 1913 and awarded the Fontana Prize in 1915, became the first chapter of his only cheerful novel, America. In H)i2 Kafka wrote The Metamorphosis, possibly the best of all his long-short stories. Kafka first fell ill in the spring of 1913 and, significantly, drew up that summer a list of reasons for and against marriage. With his gentle acceptance of himself just as he was, he admitted to Max Brod, his friend and biographer, that perhaps his illness was psychological, offering as it did an escape from the necessity of marriage. Yet he remained, on and off, engaged to Miss F. R. until 1917. By 1914 he had saved 5,000 kroner, enough, he calculated, to live on for two years while writing. But the war came, and Kafka returned to his office and worked nights on The Trial, his second novel, during the years 1914 to 1916. In 1918 he published fourteen short stories under the title of The Country Doctor. By this time he was coughing blood, 72 ;ii„| ,1 ,. II. II ill (,l iIm liiiii; Ii.kI lire 11 (li;ign().sc«l, yet In- w;is al)lc lo rem a room oiiiM lc ,,| Ins liniiK wild, lir (uiihl n l ijuicily. I ' rom i i until his death he lived in s;in;iii n;i (Hi .1 mm. ill | lis , m Iiimii;; .my assistance from his parents. He was briefly ciii .i cd ,i,l;.iiii. 111 i ' )tn. I .iiMiiliri ;;irl, and in U)2(i there was a short-lived romance .11 Mn.iii. , iis!ii.i. Ii wMs iini iiiiiil Ills liisi summer that he met l ira Dyment, the oiu ' girl Willi wIk.iii Ik w.is Id liiiil li,i|)|)iness. She was from a Polish Chassidic family, and wlu n K.ilL.i .iiuiicl.,1 ( JmsskIk riles he said, lnokinj4 at it closely was likcd ' hscrviii,!; ,1 wiM . liu.iii uiIh. Crude mi|k rsi li i iii. Yet, after .settling; in a suburb (,l llnlin Willi Dor.i iluv 1hi;,iii Iiviii.l; loKulin .ilmosi at onte, though she was 19 and he was 40— he was hlissliiiiy hapjiy and in liit most idyllic circumstances. Kafka then wi.shed to marry Dora, hui her fatiicr ' s Kaiihi forl)ade it. The terrible jirivations caused by iiill.iiioii .nid ilu- very .severe winter of 192:5 increa.sed Kafka ' s illness, and he and Doi.i siilTrnd Ik. in cole! and iuingir. In the sprinj; of i ;24 Max lirod insisted (111 l)riii,i;in,t; iluiii k. K.ilk.i ' s l.iinily in I ' r.i.i uc: lidm thence he went by car to Vienna, wluic, alilKiii li ilc.niy dym.u, lie w.is sluutlcd .ilxuii from one clinic to another until ai hisi ,1 iilci.s.uii iddin wuh a view was found Inr limi .11 Klostereneuburj;. He s[xrnt liLs l.i.si weeks (.(irnitinu ilir pidnfs (if The Hun,i;iT Ariist, a collection of four stories whidi .ippcau-d sliorilv .ilur Ins (k.iili (.11 jime :;r(l, i(,24. He had told Max Hrod in wniiiii; ihai In wished everything he left behind, printed or in manuscript, to be burnt vime.id, but instead Max Brod gleaned everything he could find of Kafka ' s and was so successful a .scavenger that . ' ■ix Vdlnmes of Kafka ' s collected works were published between 1935 and 1937. II Cienius, wherever it cidp.s u[), is ,1 strange and .solitary plant: nor have we in literature had so many instances of it that we can alTord to neglect one as authentic as Franz Kafka. There was about his genius a lonely and almost nihilist quality. It .seems to have come from nowhere, to belong lo nothing, even perhaps to lead to noihiiiL;. Kafka is pan neither of the humanist nor the anti-humanist tradition into which we have come increasingly to divide the recent intellectual history of Eun . Yet, unmistakably, his books have left a .sc.ir upon our consciousness. During his lifetime Kafka made no great noise in the world. He never sought recognition and never received it. He grew up, sensitive and unhappy, in the shadow of bis father ' s dominant personality. The memory of that and the sense f)f inadequacy that went with it were to haunt and cripple him for life— make him set imiiossibly high standards for himself, make him reluctant ever to call a piece of work finished or to surrender a manuscript for publieation. ob.sess him with the search for a father and for justihcaiiou before him. He joined no movernents, whether literary or political, and seemed more .ibsorbed with the tempestuous voyage of the human spirit than with the turbulence of Europe in its chaotic war and postwar phases. Kafka is a philosophical and religious novelist. He is not a novelist who happens to be dealing with these themes or chooses to u.se religious characters. Katlca was absorbed with certain problems from an angle which made it impossible for him to treat them except through fiction, allegory, and parable. He was a philosopher groping for a form rather than a novelist groping for a theme. It is fairly clear that the writing of these novels was. as their reading may be. an act of religious explorat ' on. The term religion is used, of course, not in the sense of an institutional creed or a Ixxly of received dogma, but of a svstem of personal belief transcending experience. Rut while the thenu ' -. are erand themes. Kafka does not assault them in a 73 magisterial way. He approaches them indirectly, through stories that, for all their oppressive nightmare quality and their overtones of allegory, wear an aspect of innocence. America, for example, is in form almost a picaresque novel. It seems to be only a loose episodic narrative of what happens to Karl Rossman, a German boy of i6, v% ' hen he sets out to make his career in America — his meeting on shipboard with a stoker, his adoption and abandonment by a rich uncle, his adventures in a countrv house, his career as a lift-boy in a hotel, the misfortunes that befell him through two rascally knights of the road who later settled down in a menage with a laoulous mistress, his employment by the Nature Theater of Oklahoma. The Trial, less loosely wrought, is the story of Joseph K., who finds himself accused of a crime he did not commit and the nature of which he cannot even discover. He tries to get a hearing, deal with an advocate, find allies, reach the higher judges. He never succeeds. But he gets a warning of his sentence from a sermon preached in a cathedral to himself as a one-man audience: and in the end he is stabbed to death bv two officials of the court. The protagonist of The Castle, K., comes to the village thinking he has a summons from the castle as surveyor. But he receives from the castle only denial or evasion. He spends his energy on successive stratagems and devices for getting near the officials of the castle, particularly one called Klamm. There are adventures with women, with village inhabitants and castle retainers, with K ' s two assistants; there is a harrowing story within a story; there is a comic note of high diplomacy in the alliances and alignments K. seeks to form in order to get even the smallest foothold in the village. In the end. Max Brod tells us, Kafka planned to have K. wear himself out in his efforts; but as he lies dying, a messenger arrives from the castle to say he can stay in the village on temporary sufferance. Kafka in his works is dealing with the largest themes of the fate of man in a world whose meaning stretches beyond his experience. His starting point is the inadequacy of the empirical and the rational. The purpose of life becomes thus an endless quest for the meaning of life. This quest, whatever its form, is always a search for an organic relation with something beyond ourselves. It may be, as in America, only Karl ' s desire after his expulsion from the old world — he had been seduced in Germany by a servant girl — to find roots in a new world — a job, a career, a home, independence — and thus fulfill himself. It may be, as in the Cathedral scene, a desire to find what lies beyond the door of our unique personality. Joseph K., dissatisfied with the rational routine of his life, was accused — a marked man. He haunted the court where lay his fate, yet he could make no connection with it. K., in The Castle, also wanders beyond his accustomed locus; he wants a connec- tion with Klamm, even of the slightest and humblest. Even the agonizing rebuffs he receives do not make him think of retreat. His search for roots in the village, for a place near the castle, seems to come from a fatal inner necessity. But with the soreness of the necessity there is also the sureness of failure — absolute failure in The Trial, failure relieved in The Castle only by the grimly ironic concession at the end. The quest must continue, but the one certain thing about it is the massive inaccessibility of the goal. It is difficult to believe that Kafka was content with this, that meaning lay in process rather than in end, in the search for the Grail rather than the Grail itself. Kafka was bitter. And anyone who does not read his bitterness in his novels and stories misses half their quality. But the paradox from which grew bitterness yielded, by the same token, inexhaustible material for a sort of cosmic comedy. Kafka ' s attitude toward G-d was that of the Greeks, who constructed an entire theogony, but kept them with human frailities. 74 Kl:inini, ilu- diirl in.in nl ilir c jsilr, looks like a pnuncliy luiurfjcois aiul lias barmaids MS niisiicssi s. ' 1 111 conn oIIk ills in ' I ' lic Trial arc old, whcc .y and generally dec ic|iii ; ilir .ii icnil.ini s ;ni Ire In ions ,iii l s.idistic. ' i ' hc whole ilicmc of bureaucracy :is ). r ol ilic KisniK is .1 |hisisI(jii one ill Kafka, no doubt bccauic of his own (•x|KiieiKc- ill Ansiriin .i(lininisir.iiivi- officialdom. On shi|)board, in the hold, in the iKiinrc- ihiMirc, in loniiiooin, in vill.i e, and castle, red tape is king. Man is caught in ;i mcdianism noi ol lus own mni living — a mechanism, moreover, whose o|Kration arc gallingly slow, incllicicnt and even accidental. In fact, by a wild irony in this regime of order and law, it is accident that is decisive. Despite the oppressive anxiety of Kafka ' s protagonist to fiiliill his tjuest and come to terms with his universe, (lcs|)itc his desperate straining to inake even the slightest headway, he is ho| clcssly entangled in a network of casual incidents. The most irrelevant act may lead tf) the widest conset]uences; the trivial is canonized. This is, of (.oinsc, i1r- suiIT ol dnims; ind the most obvious thing about the Kafka world is that it is a drcain world. There hangs over it the heavy blanket of anxiety that we know ironi our own drc.ini existence. Will the protagonist make it. ' Will he, after roaming through corridor after corridor, find his way ofT the ship? — the passage that leads back to the living room of the cf)untry house. ' — the key that opens the door of escape from Brunelda ' s apartment. ' — the door, among all the myriad doors of the tenement house, that leads to the courtroom. ' — the way out of the cathedral before his name is called and the sermon starts. ' — the path in the snow that leads back to the inn before night falls? This nightmare world has also its comic aspect, and there is a Chaplinesque music-hall quality tf) Kafka that has several times been noted, l ut the other aspects are more persistent. As in a dream, events follow each other with the phantasmal logic of illogic. Granted the premises, the details have a certain cogency; but the premises are outrageous. Time plays tricks: K. starts out in the morning from the inn toward the castle; in a few hours night comes and it is dark. Space plays tricks: the more K. pre.sses toward the castle, the farther away it seems to get. There are changes of identitv. In fact, the whole Kafka universe seems to illustrate the principle of discontinuitv. You go from to C without passing through R. The uncertainty is underscored because Kafka ' s protagonist moves throughout in an atmosphere of intrigue and conspiracy. There is a crazv quilt of plot and counterplot, but with a wild subjectivism in it all: the dangers and malignancies that beset the path of Kafka ' s protagonists are seen onlv through their own eyes. Kafka means you to see that subjectivism. In The Trial for example, although Joseph K. is under arrest, he is not under detention. He is out on a sort of psychic bail, goes about his daily tasks in the bank and reports to court onlv from an inner necessity. And vet his world, like the world of K. and Karl Rossman, is none the less full of enemies and obstacles, like that of a savage in a jungle of his fears. In fact, the most important thing is that the enemv is never localized, and enemy and goal are one. The castle and court are not only inaccessible; they carry on in their own remote and complicated way a campaign not to be reached. And the very allies that Kafka ' s protagonists hope to use in attaining their goal turn out to wear the badge of the enemy-goal. What we seek with is part of what we seek. What we tight with is part of what we fight. This sense of being implicated in a dualistic world is a strong sense in Kafka. It is even stronger than the feeling of the alienation of the individual from his world which the critics have tended to stress. Loneliness is the great fact of our mechanized life and has become one of the great themes of our literature. Katlca ' s protagonists 75 are not lonelv because their social system is deadening — they are lonely because they are caught midway between a good and evil whose contradiction there is no way of resolving, although each is part ot the other. Kafka ' s religion is thus far from the religion nl consolation. He olTers no cheap and easv endings, no sate harbor tor tlic human vovagc. It is raiiicr a religion of unending exploration. It is, to be sure, heavily laden with a sense of guilt and a sense of determinism. The scene in The Trial in which the executioners come for Joseph K., find him waiting for them and link their arms in his, moves swittly and with sure fatality. Yet this is not characteristic. More so are the scenes in The ( astle in which K. holds his intricate and casuistical conversations with Olga and with the various functionaries on how things work in the castle. It has often been pointed out that Kafka was influenced by the Chassidic movement, and there is throughout the books that feeling for the folk-mind and its inherent symbolism which characterized the Chassidic revolt against theological hairsplitting. And yet there is also an enormous amount of hairsplitting in the unwearying discussions in Kafka of the ways of G-d to man. Kafka was (i-d-drunk; hut even in his intoxication, his subtle and powerful intellect did not stop working. Ill Before closing, there is one facet of Kafka which deserves short discussion. And that is — Was Kafka, as Max Brod would have him, basically a Jewish writer, describing and depicting in his novels the eternal struggle of the Jews for survival against exterior forces; or was he merely interested in the more general problems of human belief and human destiny as applicable to society as a whole. ' Much has been said concerning this, and the various critics are all vociferous in denying or approving one or the other side of the argument. Actually these conflicting opinions can be resolved bv considering Kafka as treatirig the problem of the conscious man. The verv problem of the conscious man is the everlasting conflict between his tendency to isolate himself and his desire to be like the rest. No less, this is the conflict of Jewry within this world, and it remains likewise insolvable. Jewry is only a group example of an otherwise individual problem of mind. Whatever Kafka wrote is therefore as much Jewish as it is generall y human. Thus it ought to be granted to Max Brod to interpret Kafka utterly from the Jewish point of view, whereas others may consider Kafka ' s Judaism only as a ferment of his work and may take him as an analyst of the human soul in general. The narrow interpretation is no less right than the broad one. This too makes Kafka an outstanding author. To Kafka Judaism was only the personification of his religiousness in general. His simple phrase, Writing is a form of prayer, may be considered the key to his works. The quality of his religiousness is shown by the following sentences: Man cannot live without an abiding faith in something indestructible in himself, even though this indestructible element as well as this faith may remain forever obscure to him. This obscurity finds its expression in belief in a personal G-d. The power of this G-d manifests itself mostly in the unpretentious and the small, in the unnoted and the despised. Everywhere and suddenly man may be summoned before G-d ' s tribunal. In Kafka ' s continual discussions between the .self-accusing defendant and the divine, for instance in The Trial, there certainly is a kind of modern Job-like attitude. He does not cease to cjuarrel with G-d, Who at the same time appears to be ultimately vindicated bv this quarreling. This is the substance of almost all Kafka ' s works. It is most obvious in The Castle, where the introspection of the 76 lurii is iiKisi |iicil( iiiiil wliilr Ik v.iiiily siriij jjlcs lo :iiiiiiii :i(lmili;incc U ilic caulc :iliil h.is In InlldW .111 c iiilK ss, 1 i,iii| jlu ;ilc l roiltl iil)(ilin lin), ' ill l)i .;irrc silliir.silicN .111(1 III iiiniiiiiri.ililc iiilcrn.il .mil rMirn.il iiii|i( ' (Iiiik ' I|Is. ■| I lie, I he ]vw .IS .1 sii.in|;( I, .mil I lie liiiiflincss of ;i Jew, ;irc cxjircsscd mil only i)y ilii ' liii I ilic r.isilc lull .iImi III Kafka ' s v;irious animal .stories, as for instance ill ' riic (ii.mi Mcilr, III Insi pliiiK ihc Singer, in Jackals and Aralvs, or even in iIk- Mri.mi(ir| li(isis ; l iii ilu c x.mipic of the- Jew. I)eiii){ the inost ohvious anrl |K-rfcct ca,sc, suj j;(si(il iiscll lo ilir .ml hoi .is .1 svmliol ol ihe ;cneral siranj;cnc.ss and lonc- lincs.s of ni.iii. lie |instnis iis siili ilu lumr.iMc means, cautious ex| erimcnis, deliherale umicriakings man has to invent and the fahulous hahitations, underjjround canals and lahyiinlhine .i a s to overcome the Mahel-like confusion, the incom- nuiisiii.ihiliiv ol iiIkiioiik n.i, ilic .iskrw loiiii.iposiiions of life, the lack of mutual iiiulcisl.mdiiii;. lie .shows us how 111,111 sLrLi j;les lor rej ions which lie beyond his lile and which cannot he reached by his soul. These, however, arc religious problems in ,i;eiu ' r.il and caiinoi with le.ison he confined within the walls of a purely Jewish aiiiuidc, notwiihM.miliiiL; ihc laci ih.ii 11 is ihis .iiiiiiuic which gave Kafka his standard of jiidgmcm and the principal maicri.il lor liis most im|)ressive symbols, together with certain formidable Talmudic weapons ol Ins style. In this re.s|)ect he reminds us of Spinoza, who also drew from Jewish .sources both deliberately and unconsciously, and who likewise achieved a far-reaching general elTect. IV It .seems curious that a writer with preoccupations of this sfjrt should today lie otie of the great influences in our literature. The rea.son lies in the state of that literature. We seetn to have come to a dead end. Among the younger writers the emphasis has been social, the method realistic. And Kafka challenges both. He goes beyond the probletn of man facing his .society with the problem of man facing himself and the unknown and inaccessible within him. He belongs thus, in a sense, to the tradition which, in Freud ' s words, has sought to explore the psychology of the depths. Yet always in his own way, for his is not the emphasis upon the irrational which is true of the Freudian group. What he has done has been to give the tradition of rationalism a tiew twist so radical as to transform it. Since the Seventeenth century our thinkers have believed that to suppress the barbarian in man and thus make civil society possible, tnen must enter into a social contract — a compact with each other to preserve the fabric of civilization and make law and order possible. But for Kafka social constructions and even social reconstructions are not enough. His protagonists are seeking always not a cotnpact with man, but a compact with G-d. Hence it is not surprising that so many of the speeches in Kafka seem exercises in ratiocination. Compacts are legalistic affairs, and Kafka s characters want to get their precise bearings in the universal frame of things. Yet whatever their motive speech, what they are drivitig at lies beyond the rational and irrational, but lies in the realtii of the non-rational. Similarly with Kafka s method. Realism as a method has been run to the ground. What Kafka does is to stand realism on its head. He understands that the hctive world tnust somehow be made real, and that this dej ends upon great par- ticularity of detail. But he applies this precision of method to a world of his own creating which has no correspondences to the world of our daily exf erience. Kafka has often been spoken of as an abstract writer, but that is to miss the whole point. He does not jee his truth, as the abstract arti.sts do. bv sjeneralizations and seometrical abstractions. He is nothing if not concrete. His people are so higliiv indivitluali cci as to often reach the comic. This combination — realism of detail within a Iramework ot symbolism — is Kafka ' s peculiar gift to fiction. One may answer that most good writing has overtones of symbolism. That is true even in the naturalistic fiction of Steinbeck whose tortoise crawling across the road in The Grapes of Wrath is not only a tortoise but the whole mass of plain people. But there is a distinction between a novel with symbolic overtones and a novel whose essential material is symbolism. Or perhaps it is better to sav that Kafka writes on several planes at once and the planes are interconnected. One plane is that of real people doing and saying work-a-day things, but in a dream world; the second plane is that of symbols and of the allegorical framework that furnishes a logic for the otherwise illogical actions of the people; the third plane is that of the philosophical implications of people and symbols tegether. It is this genuine complexity of Kafka and the enormous earnestness of his mean- ing that keeps his art from becoming what much expressionist art has tended to be — an escape from the ugliness of social reality. Not that Kafka was much of a social thinker. It is the complex, the non-rational and the symbolic in Kafka ' s vision that have so deeply influenced the younger writers. Kafkism is not in its inherent nature any sort of ivory towerism. It is not art for art ' s sake. It goes beyond the social, but it remains within the problematical; and the problems of human belief and human destiny that it plots out are as worthy of exploration as almost any in our time. Joshua Hertzberg Cry to Earth Cry aloud to heedless hills Weep long nights to placid seas Let thy sighs drift on the dew Dripping gently through the trees. Shrie defiance to the sk jes Mix thy voice with river ' s moan. Dim the moon tvith bootless cries. Bind dar thoughts to dar earths groan. Yet, no response to thee will fall Echoes blea will heed your call For do all these and now you must That earth, your solace, is herself unjust. Charles N. Bahn 78 The Fifth Man ' I ' lic livf ol ilicin, lyint; (ni iln ii sioniMclis in ilic- rubble and debris on the Ice side ol till- .sli:iiiirT(l w:ill, IhIcI iIkm hriMilis as ilic shell whined through the air, .sctiniiiL; in l)c Ik-.i(I -(1 sii:iiL;lii Im iIk in, and pressed closer against the cold stones wlitn ilir sIkII l.niikd ,i Irw yards away and exploded, its fragments twanging and ricochciinj; oil ilic |ir(jii.(.i iiig rocks, gray dust and stinging jiicces of |)avement falling all over them. Anodicr shell screamed ihrougii ihc air and landed, closer this time. The earth settled, thicU and choking. Let ' s get oui ol lun, one of the men said. They ' ve got our range. They ' ve also oi ihc street covered, another said in a tight, high voice. This one was nineteen years old. Look, said the third man, we mi,t;lu be able to make it to that house there if we run for it. What do you say? The boy, whose name was David, looked at the wide stretch of street that lay between liiem and the protective covering of an ancient stone building and said, We ' ll never rnakc it. How could anyone ever make it? Two of us can try it, said the third man, and the other two stay here and cover them. Then if those t ■o get there they give ilic other two cover while they try it. What do you think? There was no answer because just then they heard a shell coming and they flattened themselves against the ground. The shell landed a short distance away and the ground heaved upwards in a deafening roar; the concussion jerked the air from their lungs and lifted their bodies. Shrapnel splattered the rocks all around them. They ' re getting closer all the time, Shmuel. the first man, said. Let ' s do something! What do you say? the third man asked again. Do you want to try it? You talk like we ' ve got something to lose, the fourth man told him. Okay, then, the third man said. Me and Shmuel will try it first. David and Yaakov, you ' ll cover us. One of you take one side of the street and the other take the other side. The man and the boy who were to stay behind nodded their heads. The third man turned to the fifth man. Do you want to try it with us or with them? he asked in English. Does it make anv difference to you? No difference. I ' ll try it with you, then. All right. Then to the others, Atetn wiichanim? They nodded silently. The third man started to get up, then flattened himself quickly as he heard another shell approaching. It was closer this time, the shell, and the fourth man was cut on his right side by shrapnel. But the wound was superficial. It served only to frighten him but not to disable him. The three men who were supposed to make the run got up, crouching low against the wall. When you run, said the third man. twist and turn as much as you can and keep low. Ready? 79 Again they nodded. The boy called David nervdiisiv wiped ihc sweat uii u( his eyes with the dirty sleeve of his imiform. All right, said the third man. Achsluw ' . They scrambled over the shattered wall ant! Incikc Irtmi the proicxiiM-iicss ot the rocks into the nakedness ol liic street. Immedi.itely tiie two men left behind began firing at the windows in the buildings that lined both sides ol the street. The three running men were riniuini; .iway from these buildings idw.ird another building that stood about seventy yards in front of them. They ran swiftly, twisting and zig-zagging through the street, while from the buildings behind them rifles and machine guns flamed death at their backs. Puffs of pavement spurted up around them. The sound of firing became a steady, terrifying cacophony. They continued running toward the building; and then, when they were about halfway there, it seemed to come alive as rifles and Sten guns opened up from it, directed not at them but ,u the buildings behind them. Some of our men are there! the third man shouted to the two who were running with him. We can make it! The firing behind them became desultory. They raced ahead, entered the build- ing and stopped before a narrow stairway, breathing hard, their chests heaving. The air inside the building was thick with the acrid, nose-stinging odor of burnt gunpowder. They leaned against the wall near the stairway, catching their breaths. Two men appeared at the head of the stairway. One of them wore a blood-stained bandage around his left wrist. He was in his late forties, and he had sparse black hair, a deeply tanned face and a thin, clipped moustache. The other was about twenty-five with wild blond hair, fierce eyes and the tall, muscular body of the sabra. Are you men all right? the man with the bandage asked. They nodded in silence, still unable to speak. Get away from that doorway, the blond-haired one said loudly. You want to get killed. ' Some of them have learned to shoot straight. They started up the stairs. You men will come in handy, said the man with the bandage. I think they are going to start moving again very soon. We left two of our friends behind, the third man said. They ' re expecting us to cover them while they make a break for this building. We ' ll give them all the cover they will need, the man told them. In the mean- time you can take up positions on the second floor. You are badly needed up there. They went up another flight of stairs and into a bare room with cracked walls, a splintered floor and a large window which was no longer a window but a scarred rectangle cut into the stone wall of the building, looking out upon the street through which they had just ran. Shells were still falling in the street, and they wondered if their two friends were still alive. The two men who had accompanied them into the room went away n(nv, and a few minutes later Sten guns and rifles began firing from the floor below them at the buildings beyond the shattered wall from which their companions were now supposed to run. They went quickly to the window, and the two men who were carrying the light machine guns joined in the firing, at the same time watching anxiously the street through which their friends would come running, if they were still capable of running. They saw them after some seconds break from the gutted house, running low, twisting crazily along the cobbled street, bullets tearing through protesting air close 80 l(] iIk II liiidics. Two shells hmdcd hcliind ilum ;is liicy r;m, ;iikI ilic Uiy Mumhicd, 1(11, ilini insc (|iiic.kly .iiid kcpi riiiiiiiii;;, slower now, liis fate li lii with pain. riic nil sidi ilii liiiildiii;; i miiiiiiik(I liriiig iiiiiil (lie two riiiiniii)4 men ciiicrctl ilic liiiildiiiM, ' IIkii iIk liiiiii; iiiul.r olf sii ldei)ly, and diere was now only sporadic i-illr Ilic Iroin Miipcis iodised in die nlhc i liinldiii s and llle ottasional explosion of a slicll in die in. nil mi linn ul die ( il y. TIk n ilii in. Ill .iiid ilu litiy whn Ii.hI |nsi iii.id k- run tame niio the room where liny wiic .ill sl.iyiiii;, .k i ciin|i.ini( d l die in. in widi die handaj ed wrisl. The hoy was liin|iin.i; lic.ivily. Where .ire you liil .■ .Ahr.ims .isked Inin. Ahrams was the one who liad sug- gested ihal lliey run Inr die hiiilding. I ' m okay, ilie hoy s.iid. it ' s nothing. Just lore soine skin. His face was while .nul his voiie iremhled. 1 le h.id some diUkuliy unslinging hi.s Stcn gun. His paiiLs on his ri ;lil lh ii;li h.id heeii nun .ind ihroiigh ihc rip ihcy could SCC the (lark red g.ish whuh die llyin.u slir.ipiul li.ul m.ide. The wound was hiccding profusely, Inil the sliver of mei.il w.is not imhi-dded in die skin, li li.id struck him against the side ol his lhi,i;h and h.id inilicUil a det p .i .isli, dieii speiil ilself hurtling through the air ahe.id nf him. 1 loldiiij; Ins wc.ipiin in Ills li.iiid no ' . he hopped over to a s|X)t near the window, sal down with a soti groan, and le.ined h.iek against the wall, his eyes closed, his right leg looking stilT and liieless. Another man came into the room, carrying a first-aid kit. He went over to the wounded hoy and hegan to clean and hind the wound. The hoy hit his lips until they hied. Large globules of swe.ii stooil olii on his face and forehead. Me.mwhile the man with the bandaged wrist was talking to Abrams in a low voice. 1 think they will throw all they have into the next one, so we ' ve got to be very careful. It will probably begin after nightfall. They will come stiaight through the street in a charge, and we must break that charge before it reaches this building or it will mean room to room fighting, and we do not have enough men for that. What if they use tanks. ' Abrams asked. I do not think they will. The streets are too narrow for tanks to maneuver in. But suppose they do. ' ' We have two bazookas and we may be able to stop them with those. But your job is not to worrv about tanks or armoretl cars, ' nu are to concentrate on their men. Le.ue the tanks to those downstairs. Abrams nodded in understanding. In case the shelling becomes too heavv. the man went on quietly, you will hear a whistle from downstairs. That is the signal for you to get out of this room and down to the cellar as tjuickly as vou can. Their men will not attack while they are shelling. 1 know, . branis saitl. This is nothing new. Fine, said the man. He t.dked like a college professor. In ca ' e vou need anything, 1 am in die room direcilv below this one. Good luck. He went out. Abrams turned to the wounded boy, -ho lay stifHy against the wall surrounded by the others, his right thigh swathed in bandages. The man who had done the bandaging stood up, took a last look at the thigh, then picked up the first-aid kit and went out of the room. The wounded bov looked up at his companions and grimaced. I ' m sorry, he said quietlv. I ' m sorry this had to happen. 81 The others were quiet. It wasn ' t vKLir fault. Davit!, ' . brams said, looking at him. Yon don ' t have to feel bad. You ' ll put me near the window if they attack, won ' t you. ' the boy asked. Abrams said nothing. I can still use mv gun. said the boy. You ' ll need another gun when they attack. How do you know they ' ll attack. ' Shmtiel said. Don ' t worry, they ' ll attack, all right, Yaakov said. You can never tell with them, Shmuel said. I can tell, said Yaakov. I can tell by now. You will use me, won ' t you.- the boy asked Abrams. We ' ll see, Abrams said quietly. Let ' s not worry about it now. Now you should just rest your leg. We ' ll see what happens later on. The boy said nothing. He looked at his bandaged thigh and said nothing. Abrams sat down close to the wounded boy and put his weapon down on the floor. The others did the same, sitting down on the floor and leaning against the cold stone wall and closing their eyes. Somebody better stand guard at the window, Abrams said. Shmuel? The man called Shmuel stood up and went over to the window. Keep your head away from the window or you ' ll get it blown off, Abrams told him. Shmuel nodded and remained near the window, peering out of it every minute or so at the long street that stretched away into the distance. The shelling directed at them had stopped, and he could see no movement in the houses that stood on both sides of the narrow street. Ofl in the distance there was still the occasional staccato rattle of machine guns and the sharp, angry reports of rifles. Cannon thudded in the northern part of the city, but around them there was a thick, oppressive silence. The men inside the room tried to sleep but couldn ' t. They fidgeted nervously on the floor and kept glancing at the window. They were all smoking cigarettes, sucking in the smoke in long puf?s and sighing it out through dry, cracked lips. There was no talking; just the whispery sounds of smoking and breathing. The fifth man, the one who had accompanied the two soldiers on the first attempt at running for the house, was not trying to sleep. He was a foreign correspondent for an important American newspaper, and now, taking advantage of the temporary lull in the fighting, he was scribbling some notes in his pad, intending to use them as the basis for a news story he would write if he ever got out of this mess alive. He wrote with an automatic lead pencil, holding the pad in one hand and writing with the other. After a while, he lay down on the floor, put the pad down and continued writing like this, lying on his stomach now, finding the writing much easier because of the unyielding hardness of the floor on which the pad rested. A long time later, he finished writing and sat up, feeling cramped and a little dizzy. He put the pad and pencil in his shirt pocket, making certain to button the flap of the pocket securely. Then he leaned back against the wall and glanced at the window. He saw that it was almost dark outside. The original guard had been replaced, and now another of the four soldiers stood next to the window, his eyes straining every few seconds into the semi-darkened street below, his uniform soaked with sweat and hanging about his body as though pasted on. The other three men were no longer smoking but were wide awake, staring nervously at the window, 82 (.•x.iiiiiiiin ilicir vvc-.i|ions .ij jiii .iiid .i .nii, iii.il;iii ctTijin iioiliin would j;o wrong ;ii ilic l.iM niiniiic. ' I ' lic icioiii wMs ili ' il.rd Willi i( iiMMji, .111(1 sDiiK- f)f this tension was inadvcrtcnily ir.iiisiiiiiicil Id I he I 111 i(s|i(iiiil(iii, Ml 1 1 1.1 1 .ilicr a while lie gradually became CMii.sciousi 111 .111 (iii|iiy, cl.iiiiiiiy Miis.iiidii 111 ilir |iii III his siomacli, a sensaiioii which he recog- nized a.s li.ii. I li liicamc con.sciou.s, too, of ihc fact that he had begun to sweat profu.sciy .iiiil ill, II liis .sc-nscs had sharpened suddenly, making him acutely aware luiw III i ' ( ly liiijc movcmeiii :iiiiiiiiil linn: the soft breathing of the men, their iniilllid niii ' ciiuiiis ,is ilicy iN.iiniiicd iluir weapons, the terrible, shrieking silence of ihc- I. is! .ippriiiuliiii ' ,; iiiL;lii. Silling there, his back against the wall, he could actually Icil ilu ' knsiiin iiuic;i.sc and L;row steadily more ojiprcssivc. He wiped the sweat Iroin his liicc with a diriy li.iiidk(.iciiiel, ilicn closed his eyes and tried to stop think- inn. Hni ii did nn Ljiind. ] xn wiili liis eyes closed he could still sense the awful unsicin iIkiI uripptd llie nun in llie inoin. Onlsidc, the nigiil grew darker, and a bright, full moon rose after a while and iuiiig in the heavens, cutting the street into clear fragments of light and dark. The sky was cloudless and flecked with stars, and a warm, lazy wind blew gently along the street and into the room where they were waiting. Still sitting on the floor with his back against the wall, the correspondent gritted his teeth and clenched his lists. He felt his insides tighten like the tensing coils of a great snake. And tiien, with a savage abruptness that left him hollow with fear, the guard at the window whispered herceiy, thinl{ they ' re starting! The men leaped to their ieet, clutching their weapons. Abrams went over to the window and carefully looked out at the street. Then he turned. They ' re starting, all right, he said in a quiet voice. I think they ' re grouping. Are there any tanks. ' ' one of the men asked. I don ' t think so, said Abrams. They could still bring them up, another of the men said. Never mind about the tanks, Abrams told them. If there are any tanks the ones downstairs will take care of them. They have some bazookas. We ' re supposed to concentrate on their men. How long do we need to hold them. ' ' the man called Shmuel asked. Five hours at least, said Abrams. Our men will need about that much to dig in behind us. We ' ve got to hold them here and keep them from going through or we ' re all finished. Five hours is a long time, Shmuel said. It ' s got to be done. I ' m not complaining, Shmuel said. I just said it w as a long time. Abrams said nothing. He looked out the window for some seconds, then tensed suddenly and snapped, Here they come! Shmuel and David, on vour knees in front of the window. Me and Yaakov will take the sides. Can you make it, David.- Yes! said the boy with passionate eagerness. Yes! Yes! He pushed himself across the short space that lay between him and the window, then, with Shmuel ' s help, twisted around and got up on his knees before the window, gritting his teeth at the wound, which had stiffened and become very painful. Are you okay. ' . brams asked him. He nodded without speaking. Okay. Abrams said. Let ' s get ready. The men quickly took up their assigned positions. 83 They advanced slowly across the first few y; rds. then .a .i sii n.il thai wcin iiiihcard The correspondent stood up. went over to tlic winilow and Uiukctl oui. Ahi)Lii one hundred yards up the street he muld sec dark fisjiires coming together helore the buildings. There were easily over two hundred of them, all standing in small groups, waiting for the signal that would start them moving. In the pale moonlight they took on a freakish, ghostlike appearance. He found it difficult to believe that a handful of men in a battered building could break up a charge of more than two hundred trained soldiers. You boys are going to have a rough time, he s.uil (.[uietly. They ' ve got a hell of a lot of men out there. Men can be killed, Abrams said. The correspondent said nothing. Here they come! one of the men said. The correspondent took another look out the window . The men opposite them had begun a slow advance. As they advanced they merged and became a single unit. Soon they were almost in plain view of the men in the building. Don ' t fire until those downstairs fire first, Abrams whispered. And when you fire make sure you ' re firing at someone. Don ' t waste your ammunition. They ' re pretty close, said one of the men quietly. I see them, Abrams said. Let ' s be quiet now. The men they were soon going to try to kill continued slowly through tiic street. They came on in a half crouch, looking peculiarly formless in the moonlight. They advanced slowly across the first few yards, then at a signal that went unheard by the men in the building they broke into a run. Remember what I said, Abrams whispered. Hold your fire. The men did as they were told. The charge continued ahead unbroken, and then when it was about halfway through the street the si lence was suddenly and completely shattered by the sound of machine guns that came from a room somewhere below the one in which the five men stood crowded around the window. Now! Abrams shouted. Fire! Fire! The room seemed to explode as the four machine guns came alive almost simultaneously. A thudding, pounding, screaming blare of deafening sound strangled the silence and tore the quiet night into shreds of horror as streams of bullets ripped through flesh and bones and brains, as men fell, shrieking, to the ground and others dropped their weapons, clutching gaping stomachs or bleeding chests and still others fell without a sound and lay still. Under the concentrated fire from the building huge gaps were torn into the front line and the center of the front line dissolved, cut to pieces. The charge wavered, stopped, then broke up completely. But the advance continued, no longer in a single group but in a number of smaller units, each coming slowly toward the building, using the other buildings and the bodies of their dead comrades as protection. The breaking up of the central charge into small groups made it difficult for the men in the building to concentrate their fire. At first they cut into some of the larger groups, but then when even these broke up, they centered their fire on the small clusters of men which were closest to them. Despite this the advance was not broken and those in the street continued to move closer to the building. Then there was a sudden rush through the street by about thirty men, who, 84 1)( Ml low and firiiij as llicy ran, ilic mnon outlining; their uiiifurmcd ImkIics and sinning dully olT llicir riliis which ihcy firt-d from ilic hip wiihoui i.ikin ; aim, j ,,i ;is l.ir as iwciiiy l ci .iw.iy Iroin iIk liiiildin) hcforc half of ihcm were killed ,111,1 ijic jiIhi li.ill iiiincil .111,1 i.in I). 1(1,. ' I ins hrokc the advance, and the remainder III ilir iiKii v( III li.uk (|iii(kly iliiiMiuli ill ' - sirei-i . m disappeared into the darkncM , l llu ' ,lisl,inl hiiiicliiigs. A heavy siknce sdilcl over everything. The shootinj; ha l Mopped, but now the (|iiiei was piiiKiii.ind hy ilie soft, sohhin ; moans of the wounded men who lay ill I he si reel. The 111. Ill Willi iIk- l),mcl.i ;iil wrist emu iiiiu ilic rcKim after a few minutes and spoke 1(1 Ahi.mis 111 .1 iiiw (iKr, iIkii kit. . lir.inis returned to his iX)sition near iIk window .111(1 slid iiothiiij;. The men were silent. The corrcs|K)ndeni jotted sdiiuiliinj; down in Ins pad, writinj; hy the moonlij ' ht that came in through the window, llu-n put iIr ' p.id .md pencil hack in his shin |)ocket. , l)(iiii liliccn niiniiUs l.iici, .i man c.imc out ol one oi the huilditij;s u|) ahead ind went iiiio the street, c.nryini ,i Red Cro.ss haniier. He waved the banner at the huilditij; which h.ul just luen .iiiacked. He stayed in the middle of the street for a few seconds, ilien iiirned .ind w.ilked slowly away. Minutes later, a group of men came out of the same huildtnj; .ind walked straight ahead through the street, their arms raised over their heads to show that they were unarmed. They were watched carefully hy the men in the room. They stopped walking when they reached the place where the fallen soldiers lay, stood c]uietly for a moment, then began to carry aw. IV the de.id and woLinded. Three ijuarters of .in hour later, the street w.is once .ig.iin empty. They charged twice alter that, e.ich time heiiig forced t,i kill hack, then return- ing to carry away their dead and wounded. That made three charges all together. In the second charge four of them managed to get as far as the entrance t i the buikling before they were stopped. In the third charge . brams was killed by a rifle bullet that struck him in the forehead about an inch above his right eye. After the third charge, the shelling began, with .in unc.inny accuracy that left them stunned and confused. The Hrst four shells landed simultaneously about seventy feet away. The second round of shells landed twenty feet away, and the third round struck the building squarely, killing everyone except the correspondent, who between the second and third rounds had decided to wait out the shelling in the cellar and had gone out of the room in search of it. When the third round of shells landed, he was on die stairway between the first and second floors of the building. The concussion of the blasts shook the house and hurled him down the stairs to the bottom, where he struck his head against the stone floor and lay there, unconscious, while the shelling continued. The building was hit three times after that: then the shelling stopped. The correspondent tinally regained consciousness and staggered to his feet. There as a deep gash across his right temple, and his head throbbed painfully. He looked around him dazedly, remembered what had happened, saw he was on the first rtoor of the building, then walked unsteadily toward the room where he thought the man with the bandaged wrist and his men were staying. The door to the room had been blown oH its hinges. He stepped inside and lixiked around. What he saw made him feel like throwing up. He turned quickly, went out and climbed the stairs to the second floor. He went to the room where the four men were, entered 85 it and glanced around. He saw that it had not been hit as hard as the one below, but the remaining three men had been killed nevertheless by shrapnel. He shuddered suddenly and looked out the window and felt himself go cold. There were over a hundred men grouped before the distant buildings, preparing to charge again. He looked at his watch and saw that more than six hours had passed since the fighting had begun. Then he remembered the pad in his shirt pocket. Hell of a good story there, he said to himself. Wonder if I ' ll ever get it out of here. God. what a mess! He shrugged then and went out of the room. He went down the stairs to the ddcirwav and stood there waiting, watching them advance slowly through the street. When they were about twenty yards away from the building he stepped out of the doorway, his hands over his head, and started forward. They stopped suddenly and waited for him. Walking toward the soldiers, he wondered what it felt like having a bullet tear through his insides. But nothing happened. He stopped before the soldier nearest him and said loudly, speaking the soldier ' s language, I ' m an American newspaper correspondent. Everyone inside the building is dead. Take me to your commanding officer. For a moment there was silence. Then the soldiers began to cheer. The correspondent stood there, ' atching them. Herman- Potok Avar Remembrance haunts our barren hour Implying what we might have been Defying our incipient sin Stalking past reveals its power. Reflection blights tomorrows hope Reviving doubts of fruitless past Poor victim, man, by flaws dotvncast Notv writhes as foil of inem ' ry ' s scope. So! Must we then delimit thought. Confine it to a narrow pale? Must sense alone, in turn, be sought, Must present dreams alone prevail? Or will dar mem ' ries rest in rhyme To mellow tvith the flight of time. Charles N. Bahn 86 A Theory on the Ilebreiv Verb System y lili(iiiL;li ilir I IrldTw 1, 11)1411, i c is cuirciuly lic ' iii;; .stutlicd all over the wf rld, .ilinosi s(j|rlv III conii( iinn wiili its revival as ilic language of a national group and wiili ilu- iitiinv |)rnl)l(nis involved in ad.ipiing it to modern linguistic requirements, ii sreins ill. it ilic l.isi winds li.ivc noi vei Ikcii said on the ancient language in its own liylii. New ilieiiiies anil cx|)lanaii()ns ol matters pertaining to the grammar and syniax nl llie lanL;uaL;e are still being reported. One such contribution is the develop inenl ol a ilKdiv liv a inemlier ol our own faculty here at Ycshiva. Dr. le aiuler I ' leed, |)idlrssor of Hygiene and Yeshiva University Medical Diieeior, is an I lebraisi ol loni; siandinu and considerable renown. His long, intensive sUidy ol the Hebrew lan,i4LiaL;e lias led liini lo a very inlcresiinu ' ilieorv on what he believes to be ibe true flebrew verbal sieni. l hc classical literature of Hebrew grammar and syntax, i.e. as lormulated by the Rishonim from Saadia to Hayyuj, claims that the Hebrew onomatorrhem stem is essentially three-lettered. This almost unanimou.sly held theory is the basis of all modern instruction in Hebrew grammar. Dr. Freed, as a result of his observations, takes exception to this theory, and advances the concept that the original and basic Hebrew stem is two-lettered. This idea does appear in Rishonim; see in particular Threni I 4, where Rashi tiuotes Menahem ben Saruk to the effect that the word njlJ derives from the single letter 3! Aside from this single example of a one-lettered stem, Menahem also admitted the existence of two-lettered stems. His theory, the closest to be found in the Rishonim to w hat Dr. Freed proposes, asserts the existence of stems of one, two and three letters. But Dr. Freed says that all stems are basically biliteral. The theory appears to have been suggested by a number of Acharonim, but none seems to have fully investigated and developed the idea. Thus, Malbim mentions it incidentally in Ayeletli Hailiachar, as does Shlomo Poppenheim in Yereotli Shlomo, while Urim and First also give it only passing mention in their works. The actual detailed investigation and construction of grammar on this basis is being done by Dr. Freed in a three-volume work which he hopes to finish soon. This article will attempt to outline and summarize the evidence, arguments and theon.- advanced by Dr. Freed. Any cursory examination of the Hebrew verb reveals the peculiar phenomenon of the nom ' n:. These verbs lose part of their stem in the process of conjugation. and behave like two-lettered stems. In contrast to the Nachim vaChaserim there is the predominant normal Hebrew shoresh, the Shlewim. which have a full three-letter stem throughout conjugation. To reconcile the existence of both of these classes of verbs, three hypotheses may be considered. The first is that all verbs are basically three-lettered, and the reason for the unique and atypical behavior of certain verbs lies in the peculiarities of the dropped letters. This is the theor ' accepted by practi- cally all Rishonim. though many merely accepted it as the simplest ad hoc explanation hich could be found. Others, like Ibn Kaspi, insisted that it must be so. These Rishonim drew strongly from the similarity to Arabic. The second idea is that there reallv is no stereotyped structure to the verb, but that it mav reallv consist of anv number of letters: one, two. three or even four, as we find upon occasion. This is the theory held by Menahem lien Saruk. But the over- whelming predominance of the triliteral form, and the extreme rarity of one- and four- letter forms, are very valid objections to this theory. In addition, even two-lettered 87 forms behave in the future conjugation like tlircc-lcitcrei! fi rnis. These dhjections make the raw theory, as it stands, quite weak. The third theory states tliai all verbs are orii;inalK (in ihe historical sense) ami basically two-lettered. Naturally, it is the task of such a theory to explain, first, the existence, and second, the prevalence of three-lettered forms. After such a task is done, the theories might be considered as unified interpretations of the Hebrew verb. The final decision, if one will ever be forthcoming, as to which of these theories is the most logical and acceptable one, will have to take into consideration whicii of these theories is the most comprehensive, which sheds the most light on other linguistic problems, and which gives the best critical and historical evaluation oi the origins of the language. Some of these matters will onlv be touched upon very slightly in this article, for they are very comjilex. Moreover, the tiieorv is not vet developed in every detail. But its temporary incompleteness should by no means disqualify its positive values. A verb like DP .D ' J ' or riD manifestly has two letters in its stem. The additional 1 or ' in the forms aiP .Q ' ' ,n ' ' D is really not a third letter, for the added letter is actually a vowel mark. This constitutes the first bit of evidence for this hypothesis. The second point arises from the observation of certain sequences of words which have two letters in common. Take, for example, the words ds; ,Dy ,nj;! ,V :i ,y V .jy ' .nv ' Ti all of which have the two letters V ' ? in common. There is an obvious semantical affinity among these words, which we are tempted to link up with their literal affinity. All of the words, in one way or another, mean or involve the idea of swallowing. Another example is the .series P2T , I3T , 2 .nl ' aT ,m3T all of which have in common the idea of connection, adherence or adhesion. The list includes such names as rn3T,the bee, because of its association with honey (which is very adhesive — a very natural and significant observation for the primitive as well as the nonprimitive mind), and 3T.the bear, because of its known liking for and attachment to honey. Further examples are N: ,TtJ ,Tt: ,Vti , all having in common the notion of cutting; ?PV , ffPV ,DPV ,1PV ,npy ,nPV(asinnpyD), having in common the notion of bending, curvature, crookedness and as a result the notion of wickedness and deceit (crooked- ness of behavior or of the path followed), a metaphor only too common in Tanach. Considering the letters which we know are interchanged by linguistic habit, such as 2 ,; and P, we have from he same stem the words ' ?iV , ' iV , i3V . Further I ' VQ S ' D ,yi ' S ,DS3 ,nva ,nV2 embody the obvious idea of opening, and its correlative ideas of uncovering and wounding. Through nvniN fil n we get words like nyi2 ,ny2K and lys, where the V has changed into an V (see Rashi, Ex. I 15). As a final example, the wordsnn ,DnD ,nnnall have in common the idea of finishing. Thus we see that Hebrew semantems are two-lettered, even in the supposedly perfect three-lettered form, the Shlemim. This raises two important problems: why do these two-lettered stems appear in a three-lettered form, and what is the meaning of the third letter. The answer to this two-fold problem can best be illustrated by i number of examples. Consider the word J P, as in Isaiah XIX 33,i ' ' DP f ilDl njp,wher it means to cut down a growth. The idea of cutting in the word derives from ? meaning to cut, as in n?D ,? DX ,??D ,n ' ' 0 This is the principal root of the word. Where, then, does the P come from ? ?0 , which means cutting, is a very indefinite semantem. There are many kinds of cutting, considering the many types of things which are cut and the difTerent ways in which they are cut, in addition to the various abstract ideas which pragmatics has shown that people associate with the idea of cutting and separation (e.g., the idea of speaking is known to be linguistically related fd ili.ii (il (iiiiiiiL;, III ilii lliliiiw Words n Ouiul O ), ' I ' o express ilic idea of culling (!(i vM soiiK iliiiii; will. Ii r, ' .Miidinj;, then, one would sayf ' O DP, a Mantling iliin ; i cut, ;iih1 lliis Ijctonics OP . Aniiilicr siicli exam ple is ihc word on:, meaning lo slioui, wliinc, roar (I ' rov. V ii; Is. V 21;). VVc know ili.iion mt-aiis noise, as in non ( 0 ) n ' iDH .HDino .nj cxpicsscs ilic kIc.i uI sliiiiii 111);, and .IS a coiisc()ucncc the idea (il mdiiminj;, ;is in nnj CHj) ,?r,: ,?K} .md tvcn n; ,3n:, meaning ir) direct, Icatl. ' I ' liis IS 1)11. Musf ol lis (iri;;in;il nic.inini;, lo lead an animal, where nj meant to shout, and jn 1(1 iiiUT, as in n:n, ' luiur lui cilur ilic-y signified to shout a command. Thas QI J mc.ins 1(1 1(1. n- and sIkuii i oiii inn. illy, i.e. produce a continuous noise. One really very inlcrcstinj; c. aiii|)lc is the word Ptn , mcaninj; to j rah, to hold. The hiliteral radical PT means bond, conncctif)n, as inPPT ,P1t ,D ' Pt .tn, on the other hand, means to hold, as in llic word TnN . Tims Ptn mi an to hold in a hond, i. e. to hold an ohjeci firmly, hence lo gr.il) 11. I lie word tnN jnsi nKiiiioncd derives also fromHK. meaninj; unity, union as in iriK ,nn« ,ninK. The radical tn mcaninj; to hold is also related toHtn, to ,scc, as in inn .nrno , ' nnn and the Aramaic ' tn . for seeiii); means to hold the (ihjcci in si,L;lu. (Tliiis we li.ivc ilu i ' .nglisli word l)cli(il(l. .ind the Latin observfj I S(.-c; servo, 1 hold.) This pr(ic(. ' ss must be earned mil lor .ill ibrcc-lciter stems. Dr. Freed has com- piled extensive Usts ol the derivations of triliteral forms from hiliteral radicals; this work is still being done. Incidentally, such an explanation is used in one place by IVV miVD. The wordnti ' P (Is. LXIII 17. Job 11 15) is translated bv the Rishonim to mean to harden one ' s heart to something, to turn away and ignore. This, Meisudos explains, lies in the origin of the word, which he traces to the two word.s iPPand nc (no has a similar use in the common Hebrew term nynn nO ' ii). The idea is seen directly in Tanach itscll. Thus, Noah was called nj because, as the verse tells us, UI ircyoD Mny nt. Similarly, Joseph was called DV because ' nc-.n D ' Pf ' X ' ' DK: Babylon was named ! 33 because ' n ' ?2 ql ' . The theory is also of interest because of the light it sheds on other linguistic phenomena. We know that there are a number of words in Hebrew which have more than one meaning, and sometimes even contradictory meanings. Dr. Freed has been able to explain these with great success. Thus, several words with antonymous con- notations are D P .trit; ' ,XDn ,pm. Let us consider first the wordo P. meaning at once to curse arid to praise. The explanation is quite simple. The word meaning to curse comes from the hiliteral radical 5p meaning to curse, as inT ' P orP P (from n P). On the other hand, the word meaning to praise is derived fromDf, meaning to raise, since praising is raising someone in your estimation — as the word n y,in3 P i nf ' Pt ' , also means to praise. That C?]} also means to raise is seen from such verses as j- r D ' ?Vi Q ' jji (Job II 13) and a-3nx3 no ynj (Prov. VII iS), where O V means to be happy, or its equivalent as the text indicates, to be spiritually elevated. In particular. this interpretation of the meaning of Q ' ?V shows the text in Job just mentioned to be a play on words. The radical might conceivably also be related to the hapax legamenonD 3 found in Amos ' II 14.a 2PL D i2, where it matches the context in its meaning of raising and causing to grow. Similarly, we have the wordc ' Tj ' , meaning to take root, plant, and at the same time to uproot, pull out. ' iCmeaning to plant derives fromitr, meanitig to connect. attach (as iniC ' P ,i:; ' 3 ,m:; ' iL ).t meaning to uproot, on the other hand, derives from nc, meaning to detach, make separated e.g.. ' (l :£: r; cmx ' C . ' 2 P ' s ' Deut. XVIII 12) !•-; ,L-D. Another such interesting example is the word x;; . which means both to sin and 89 to cleanse (sometimes from sin). This is explained quite ingeniously by Dr. Freed as follows :The word meaning to cleanse derives from KD, as in the wordNDXUrr, meaning a broom (found in Is. XIV ' 2:;, and explained in Rosh Hashana 26b), and is also related to the word iriD, meaning to cleanse from impurities. The word meaning to sin is related, strangely enough, to the word meaning string. It seems that the ancients closelv related the ideas of deforming and twisting with those of sinning and doing evil. Thus we find four words in Hebrew for string, all meaning to sin or destroy. The wore nf ns, wick, means wicked, sinful, as in n ' nsi L py in (Deut. XXXII 5) or in friann tl ' py QV (Psalms XVIII 27). ' PV itself means twisted, distorted, as in Is. XLII 16 and LIX 5, and it means evil or sinful, as in Job IX 20, Proverbs IV 24 and XI 20. The word Ili ' J ' , shoelace (Genesis XIV 23) means to make the path crooked, in a context of evil, as found in Jeremiah II 23. The word 2n, rope (as in Joshua II 15, : 2 2 DTiini,or in Hosea XI 14) also means to destroy (as a ' tsis D ' ' f ' 2no, Cant. II 15, orf ' n? n ' riC ' D TiST .Is. LIV 16). Much more can be said about this intei esting word, which has no fewer than seven meanings. Finally, the word Din, thread (related to Diio, needle, bv an obvious connection) which is the root of Xtiiias men- tioned above. One last example of a word with two opposite connotations is Pm, to tie together, connect ( iDD niPin iora ' ' Pt3 Ipm, Nahum III 10), and also to rip apart (lD3n ;5 ' 2n priT ' N Eccl. XII 6). The explanation here, too, is quite simple. The word meaning to tie together derives from m(as innm ,Micah I i3,B ' 3-| nnsion Dm); the word meaning to rip apart derives from PD (as in pn:, in the verse Pnj ' mna2 N? tl ' f ' lt ' Dn Dinm). Many Biblical verses whose meanings are obscured by uncommon words have been very reasonably explained by Dr. Freed on the basis of his theory. Thus, consider the well-knownPias, lov nrvn 21V,m Ex. XXIII 5. We know from many places that 2ty means to leave, but the context does not allow this here, for it would have an antonvmous effect. The Rishonim say that here 3tymeans to help, likelty. The nat- ural conclusion from this is that 21V and irv mean the same thing by virtue of the biliteral stem ' V which they both contain. Conceivably, the word tlV (meaning strength) is related to 2ty and nil? , meaning to aid. The 3 in 2rj; comes from the stem It, meaning to tie together, connect (as imE X • ' : ' ?:iV ayan ,31t3 nnt TilN D ' P X ' n2t. Gen. XXX 20) ; and the context of STVn aty is one of helping put together. The word 21V m ' ' n ' ' tJ ' ' V nnrys (Job X 11), the Rishonim say, is related to3tV in mv 2ivn nrv; this seems quite plausible, since in Job we find the context of putting words together. Another example of this is the word n ' ?J2, meaning salt, and having the additional meanings of rotten, worn out, barren (DTi Ol Ml m, Jer. XXXVIII 11, and ' -iD nx nni ' D ' ' , Psalms CVII 34) and of sailor (Jonah). This is quite simply explained, for nfio meaning barren, cut off, derives from ? (which has those meanings, as previously mentioned), while the word with nautical reference derives from u ?, meaning liquid. In fact, in the explanation of the verse B ' lIP linti n lOO (Ex. XXX 35), Rashi takes R5 1DDto mean well mixed, as does the Targum Onkelos. This, Rashi says, is related to D ' n on isn l (Jonah I 5), where n Dmeans sailor, because the sailors of a boat would be its oarsmen, and in the process of rowing they would stir and mix the water with their oars. This is quite reasonable if we understand the word ni O as derived from n ? meaning liquid, whose fundamental property is fluidity. On the other hand, a verse like 2: V2 n O ' 3 contains n D in the sense of destruction and annhilation which its radical ? ' 3 would suggest. A final example is the word ' V , which in two consecutive sentences means naked 90 and keen, sliicwd, clever, rcspcciivcly. The cx|)liin;iijoii ;i(Tor(lc l f«r ihis liy the ilRory IS iHaiiiiliilly .sirn|)lc-. The word meaning; midc derives from V.to uncover (widi paiiKiilai n Icrciice to tile body, as in m V;.The word meanin ; shrewd, clever diiivis Ironi on, as in , ' ' NDn ri ' O , to deceive hy shrewd dealings (as in ihc context o( □ny n n cnim, (iciu-sis III i). Ii seems iliai when ilie Rislmnnn eneonniered obscure words in the tcM, they wiaild iranslak- iluin ad lim In Mill ilic eoiiiexi, very often havinjj no way to sub- sianiaie ilie use (il a pariuiilar wnvil in iliai sense in the Hebrew lan uajjc. As wc have seen, Dr. I ' reed has lieeii alile In do iliis with many such words. At limes, the Kishoiiim wiiiild disai ret nil ilie meaning of such words; Dr. Freed has been able to add evideiRi in views nn many of these matters. Thus there is an cxjircssion mp DntODl(J()b XXXVl 9) which tiie Rishonim translate variously as stars, streams winds, and a number of oilier meaninjjs. Dr. I ' reed favors the view that it means winds (ill |iaiiieul,ir ilie eveliaie, a Kii.iimi; wind) and that it derives from t, nu ' anin, to ciiciKlc. . similar woid .ippcars in the verse iny3 nnio K ' Vinn (Job XXXVIII 52), where there is no full ai reemeiii on the meaning, but which is gen- e-rally translated to mean siar nr ediisicllaiinii. Dr. Freed says that it may refer to planets, which as wc know i n aruiind ilie sun. The ancients observed that they went through (inc more epicycle than the stars. It may akso refer to the twelve Zf diacal con- stellations, possibly since they measure the sun ' s rotation, as expressed by the root t. Certain other words appear in complex or conjugated forms only, and at times one finds it difficult to retrieve the root, or if one does find the root he is uncertain as to its true meaning. Tims, the word na:D (Habakkuk I 9), which the Rishonim are not agreed upon, but which is currentlv used in the sense of hope and aspiration as the verse itself suggests, has been related to its iruj source by Dr. Freed. The root of this word is D3, meaning to swallow or breathe in (as in Hi ' JS ' Ojn, Genesis XXIV 17, and in the word nV ' OJ, which the Mishnah uses in the sense of swallowing). As is well known, in Hebrew as well as in many other languages the words for desire and for breathing are closely related; the words for breathing and swallowing would obviously be related. Thus the Hebrew words isc, cc:, n2n manifest these various meanings. One can even see this in English, where aspire means to hope, desire and also to inhale; and in the imnhcr language. Latin, sperare means to wish, while spirare means to breathe. This also enables us to explain the common meanings of many word pairs which are sometimes artificially explained by metathesis. There exist a number of words of common meaning, metathetically related, but where metathesis between the individual letters seems unlikely on the basis of our study of the linguistic habit of metathesis. Thus there are two words meaning to be or to become weak, ' and ' ' ' . We have no evidence of the metathesis of letters like ' and ■?. Dr. Freed explains the words as being derived from two different stems with the same meaning. Thus t: ' derives from ' to be sick (and in fact the context of K ' H is always one of sickness and infinnitv). ' ' - ' . on the other hand, meaning to weaken, has the context of loosening from contact, weakening the connection or tying force — as is evident from f ;. which has the same two-lettered stem with the same meaning, and from the contexts in which it appears (viz. Deut. XX ' iS and Daniel II o), where this meaning is specifically indicated. Another such example are the words ; • and ' 2 w . which are explained to be metathetically related. There seems, however, to be more to the change than simple metathesis, for their vowel structure is also different. Dr. Freed savs that the words 91 come from different stems, nof ' t; ' is derived from 2 , ui cdvcr (:is in liu- worcis d : and .ND ' J. a suit). From the same stem we also h.i c u ' 2, ui lie ashamed, since one who is ashamed is one who ought to hide himself and cover himself from public notice. This idea is also seen in the word u ' 2 ,to dress, as related va ' ' - meaning to be ashamed; so also it is that the words meaning to deceive, used with shameful refer- ence, are lJ3and f ' yo, words which are also the names of articles of clothing. When- ever these words are used in ihe sen.se of deception, ihcv .ire used with the connotation of a hidden act, as v-.s; -j-s -i:nj yne (Micah II m) and ' -yo n vni inti ' N noc-n ' D (Numbers ' 12). The won] nr OL is derivetl troin the same source as the word n3 ' ' OL (Judi;, I ' iN), me.iiting ,1 thick cover, and used in current Hebrew to mean blanket. . t times this analysis is useful in accounting, through one principle, for many linguistic phenomena or word meanings. Thus in Proverbs (VIII 6) we find the word Q ' Tj: used as a parallel to the word Dnc ' D, which we know means right things (King James version). But IJJ, as far as it appears in Scriptures, does not possess a meaning which in any sense parallels D ' ' iti ' ' ' 0. Some wanted to compare it with the Talmudic term I ' J, referring to an important and respected man (as in the name T ' Jjn NId:. ); but even if we should admit to such a meaning, the par- allelism will not obtain. If we look three sentences further in the book of Proverbs, we find the word D ' na being used as a parallel to the word DnB . Dr. Freed says that Q ' TiJ and DTIDJ reallv have the same meaning, and derive together from the two-lettered radical 3J. (The 3 changes to i, as we know to be true for letters of the group i Ti,e.g. in the exmple of IDOand JTD quoted by Ibn Ezra.) Their common meaning is straight. As a result, they are used to mean just, upright, right, smooth, line path and related concepts. Hence both mean opposite (with reference to spatial position) in the sense of lying on a straight line. This meaning, by a slight generalization, becomes facing, and thus the word n3J comes to mean present (as opposed to absent ). The word 103 meaning grandson derives from the same root, and is a result of the sense of lineage in descent. The word IJN meaning plumbline has an obvious derivation. Even the word riDJ, meaning to deduct (in the sense of deducting money paid from the value of a debt in order to obtain the balance), is a result of the meaning of the stem 2: ; for in the process of deducting one evens out the value of the debt after taking into account the partial repayment. (This is the same idea as the English word balance. ) Then again, the word TJn (rs jn nx PIM, Gen. XIV 14) means soldier, and derives from J.. where the reference is to the linear troop formation. The word IJn, to teach, is derived from the same stem and means to set the path for, to direct, to make straight. The word nsDJ (Gen. XXXVII 25) is translated variously; the Midrash interprets it to mean wax. Dr. Freed claims that this too is derived from 3J, and is related to it semanti- cally in the sense of smoothness, for this is an obvious feature of wax; so too does the word Jjn, also meaning wax, derive from this stem. The word 3J, to deceive, is also derived from the same two letters. Deceit is expressed in Hebrew by the idiom pti ' n np ' ' ?n (Psalms V 10), where P?n as is well known means smooth. So then does ?3j mean to deceive, conspire, beguile, as iii Gen. XXXVII 18 or in Numbers XXV iS. We have in this reference the verse from Psalms (LV 22),tDB ' 0 mm IDn, nfi aipl VS nXDnti 1P?n. Here we seeP n used in reference to smoothness of the tongue, as the rest of the sentence implies. What is also interesting is the parallel with I3 i, which also means smooth, soft, and which one finds associated with 3:v (delicate) in the e.Kpression nJIJVni nain (Is. XLVII i), where the word JJV itself derives from the stem j:. (It may be that 3 i itself is derived from 3J through the change of 1 to 1, 92 ;is ill -iVJiDnj, Ti ' i2i::j or lou, OU, since tlicsc ;iro Iwiih Ii(|iii(l, coniinuous v un k.) Ill ilic Miiiu v;iy (iiK ( 111. mis Iroiii this ilic word 3D , jncMiiinf; grinding Mono, iKcausc (il ilu-i;ir.ii Miii](]iliin ss (il ilic siniic, (Ol (oiirsf, it i.s s;iitl I li;ii 331 derives from 33 , lo ride, siiiK il is ilu ii|i|h i sUiiic- (il ilic: j rinding pair; this may be « . Hrjwcver, there is Mnoiliir word for yriiidsioiic, iiamelynfiD, which Dr. Freed says would be lehikil In n , ine;ining Hal, sinnoih, and related metathelically to ?n ! n). So one sees ihe word n ' ?, ineanin), ' ht]iiid (sec aliovc) as also related to this, and similarly I he w(]i(ls Ri ' .mil in ' t; ' , where die n!? .serves as a semaniem to suggest flatness. The word I ' n ' , iikmiiiiil; to |ir(ss, would also he related to this. 1 li.ive |ii(seiiuil .1 liiu I oiiiliiH ol ilii development of the theory as carried out liv l)r. I ' leed. Oik t.innoi driiv I lie .u liiiAeineni of this ihef)ry in pointing to the iwo- leiiereil radical as sij niJHani m iIk word sirinuire ol die Hebrew language. One also c.miioi deny dial die analyses and mediods utilized may have in them elements of lai-leicliedness; all linguistic study, however, involves this type of analysis, for it is in the nature ol ilu iliing studied (the linguistic habits of men and the pragmatics of language loriii,iiion) that caprice and unscrutinous iinagination are the forces and iaclors in the creation and formation of the language, . nalysis must consequently consider them in its unravelling prficess. The theory runs against the authority of the gre.it Rislioniie grammarians, but as is well known, they themselves admitted iheir perplexity over the problems of Hebrew grammar, and all their formulations were incomplete. New ide.is must be considered and evaluated per sc, and these arguments certainly cannot be overlooked. No great authority of former times has officially closed the book of Jewish Scholarship. Chochmas Yisrael, like any other study, is still growing and may yet hope in these late days to solve the problems which have concerned Jewish scholars for thousands of vears. Wm. Frank 93 STUDENT Rohert Kurtzmaii The Student Council of 1950 has faced a unique series of problems which make this year of administration one of significance in the history of student government at Yeshiva. The novel situations facing Student Council this year were problems basic to the principles of student government and which proved the worth of the student body and their leaders (as well as the administration). The new Student Council came into office under the burden of the new Uni- versity Constitution of May 15, 1949- The new constitution had made indis- criminate and, the students felt, unjustified encroachments on the rights of students, without apparent appropriate cause. The Executive Council in its capacity as representative of the students discussed the issues with the adminis- tration and obtained concession to independent student control over Commentator and an independently functioning Student Council. The Executive Council was to assume full responsibility for Commen- tator. The summer vacation saw the dismissal of the new Commentator editor and Murray Stadtmauer, a Junior, was selected to fill the vacancy. He has done a praise- worthy job. Henry Keller, president of the Council, followed through a campaign pledge and helped to organize the Intra- Yeshiva Uni- versity Student Council (otherwise known as Hoo-Ha). This organization was to act as a coordinator between all our Uni- , k versity-wide student activities. The various student placement bureaus were united H h under auspices. A university-wide K H U.J.A. drive was planned. The Intra- M ' Kn l University Student Council was composed H JK H o( t he Executive Councils the T.I. and the S.O.Y. council. The theme of unity for the sake of efficiency characterizes the merger of the different student purchase cooperatives into the combined Student Cooperatives, comprising the old Coop, the Book Store, and the Concert Bureau. The Book Store was managed by the Hertzberg brothers, the Senior supervising and Harry Raschbaum. The concert bureau of the new cooperative was managed by Herman Potok who took charge of records and Calvin Soled in charge of tickets. The General Appliances store is managed by Hymie Levine, Alfred Roth and Si Auster. The Candy Room is managed by Jacobowitz, Fleischman, Stadtmauer and George Marcus. The supervisors of the new co-op are Hyman Levine and Isaiah Hertzberg. Social events characterized this year as usual. A successful Senior-Frosh Smoker was held, directed by Sonny Schwartz. Shragai Arian, Bob Kurtzman, Bill Solomon and Kadish Goldberg (now in Israel) put on a novelty quartet routine, which was quite a hit. Jack Glickman and Willie Frank put on magic routines. Sports went along according to schedule with 17 games played against places like Fordham and Brooklyn. Yeshiva won 7 out of these games. The . lumni-Nite Sports program included a presentation of the novelty act done Irlenry Keller Aaron Landes COUNCIL ,■11 llic Sinicir I ' losli siii(ik -r, plus ;i j;,iiiic ui wiiicli llii s;irsily won. This was held al tlu- (Arilr,il I lij li Si liool ol ' Ncccllc Track-s. IVhisniid ol under way with lioris l ickovsky as I ' .chlcjr in (;hiil. The hlcrary MafT incliKlcs William I ' lank, A rlcl Koscniilil ;ini| llcini.in I ' olok as the literary editors. Charles Hahn also assisUil on llic literary stall. . li( i a lunnUT of resignations the liusiness StafT was givt-n over to Joshua Ilertzhcrj; and Paul Kittcrhand hecame Manaj;iiij; K lilor. The cluhs iciKwiil their charters and resumed activity. The International Relations Society under MeUin IJnniin represenied Ycshiva University at (Jeorgetown University. Eranos under Jacoli I lain rman held a ninnher ol well attended student and faculty lectures. Ccrcle Fran(;ais held its aili ilies under I )o ls.ra it uiili tlu active participation of the French-Canadiens ami other hreneh (Ailturists. Terlulia went its way under Nadelman and Dcutschcr Verein had a merry time at heer and pret el parties. The Math Club held its regular weekly mectinj;s. It set a precedent hy inviting a girl graduate student at Columbia as its guest speaker. The Debating Society under Dave Rosenhan made Yeshiva well known along the eastern seaboard. I ' hree teams were sent out bclorc Purim to different sections of the country, debat ing such schools as Harvard, M.I.T., Johns Hopkins, Syracuse, Princeton, Reuben Cross had members of the Faculty deliver Fireside Chats which drew excellent attendance. All varsity and intramural athletics, including chess, were run by Y.U.A.A. Flashing sabres and darting epees initi- ated fencing as a varsity sport in Yeshiva. A Fireside Fantasia progratii of music and dratnatic readings was presented by Bill Solomon. The program was a suc- cess. The second annual Music for YU Concert was held Jan. 2 in the Lamport Auditorium. Larry Nesis, again wrote, directed and produced a cantanta entitled No Longer the Pariah with musical background provided by the Y.C. chorus under Wally Orenstein. The orchestra performed under the baton of Alexander Petruska. Isadore- Singer and Morton Kula rendered vocal selections. There were also instrumental solos by Alex Petruska, Stan Schneider and George Marcus. Representing Yeshiva College, at a television College night. Alex Petruska at the kyboard, Isador Singer, tenor, and alumnus Sonnv Sklar. pantomimist, gave an excellent performance. The perennial question of Class Nite came again this year. The Council voted in favor of it. Henry Keller tendered his resignation from the presidency on principles. He believed that a Class Nite is not in the fullest accord with the principles of Orthodox Judaism. This led to much heated discussion on the part of the students. In an emergency meeting of S.C. his resignation was accepted and Bob Kurtzman. vice-president under Henry Keller, became president. The Student Council voted a referendum on the issue from which many students on the advice of their Roshei Y ' eshiva abstained. The result was 156 to 43 in favor of Class Nite. The council as a result plans the afi ' air on L ' ag B ' Omer. as scheduled. BOB KURTZMAN 95 Lib vz iry L. m K.. ScMcl: R. Ikisl r thai, S. Warner. J. Freed. The gcKil of the Ycshiva College Lilir;iry has been, as in the past, to serve the stmlcnl body ' s needs with the utmost efficiency, . ' l concentrated effort has been made to acquire any source material the student might require in the course of studies. It has made available a representative collection of periodicals for the students enjoyment and enlightenment. The administration has been most generous in the allocation of funds for the improve- ment of the physical condition of the existing volumes and has made numerous additions to meet the changing student needs. Many books, not available in the past for circulation, have been rebound and made available for circulation. A student volunteer library staff composed of Eli Greenwald, Gilbert Rosen- thal, Ira Wolfish, Barry Eckstein, Jack Friedman, Stanley Wagner, Irvin Yeres, Izaak Winograd, Samuel Kraushauer, David Mogilner, Harry Weinstein, Jack Adelman, and Hugo Eichelborscht has helped greatly in enlarging the library holdings and services. In January 1950 Among the Shelves, the library bulletin, made its appearance. This bulletin, published by the library staff, introduced the student to the library and attempted to explain the use of the various library facilities. It included reviews of current magazine articles of Jewish import and book reviews, in addition to general library tidbits. The library, cognizant of its responsibility to the student body, has made a genuine attempt to improve its facilities and hopes to improve year after vear. Chess Club The Yeshiva College Chess Club was one of the most actne organizations in the school. It is located in Room 230, Graduate Hall. The members of the club spend their free periods playing chess. The daily activities of the group consist of round robin tournaments, tandems, blitz, ten second matches and occa- sional blindfold exhibitions by members of the team. The chess club was fortunate to possess all the ec]uipment necessary to function well. In addition to many sets and boards, it has demonstration boards, chess clocks, an up-to-dale library and subscriptions to leading chess journals. The team of the club is one of the top collegiate teams in the country haxing captured fourth place in the National Individual Inter-Collegiate Tourna- ment, and third place in the National Inter- Collegiate Speed Tournament. The members of this year ' s squad in order of their rank: Harry Yanofsky, brother of the master Abe Yonafsky, David Steinberg ' 51, who has made a very impressive record in all the tourna- ments, Arthur Silver ' 51, captain of the team, Bernard Koenigsberg ' 51, president of the club, Bob Rosen ' 53, David Scheinfeld ' 51, and B ob Millen ' 53. Other than the National Tournaments, the team has engaged with much success such leading teams as The Metropolitan Inter- Collegiate Champions and Columbia, chess champions of the Ivy League, in private matches. L. to R., Seated: I. Rosen, B. Koenigsberg, D. Shcinfcld, A. Silver, D. Steinberg, A. Yanofsky. Slcindii)g: W. Fertig, L. Edelni.nn, C. Berkowitz, W. Millen. Malb Club Tlif Yi-sliiv:i Univcrsily M.mIi Clnl., olluT wise klii) VM ;is ( :lu-slil)(iiKiiin or Mil , l|ili.i ' I ' licl.i, w;is IoiiikIiiI ciiiy in ri),(.S, Uy iiiciii licis (il lliis j;r;i(lii,iliii|; d.iss, In salisly tilt inincsi 111 III. my nl iln ' M:iili Mini Physics inajdis ill inallu ' iii.ilii s. Il I iiiii I iuikcI llii ' ()il};li llu- iiKsiiil.ilidii III ' i( kly liiliiirs liy the sliidciils llunisil (s nil I(j|i|(S in iii:i||hiii:iI it s. ■riiKiiiuh tins pioKss it h.is c-|U(Hiiai;c-(l stu- (Ifiil inuirsl in inal lu nialit s, ami has given ihcan llu- (i|)|iiiriiiiiil y Ici |)ii|ian ' and deliver liiliucs (111 Malluinalual ami Physical topics. Diirlnn ihr pasi ■ Irinis, ihc C lllb has sponsiinil (ivur lilly ktliin-s hy its members and hy guest speakers. Other activities in- chukd a play presented at Class Nite; the collective solution of many problems in the American Mathematical Monthly, and the fabrication of dozens of eye-catching meeting notices which have decorated Yeshiva halls and bulletin boards. Past terms have been devoted to the exposition ol various mathematical themes, such as Fundamentals of Mathematics, Mathematical Physics, (Jeometry, and Algebra. The founders of the Club were William Frank, sn, and A .riel Rosenfeld, ' 50, who for three terms held the offices of president and secreury, respectively. President during the fall ' 49 term was Seymour Haber, ' 50; the current officers arc .Azriel Rosenfeld, prcsiilcnl; (lusta e Solomon, ' ti, vice-president; and Simon Hellerstein, ' 52, secretary. .. 10 K., Sealed: J. Lichtcnticin, . Sxlomon, A. K vnicl i, W. i-rank, S. Hcllc tcin. Standing: I. Hcrizl)cr r. J. Krumbicn, I. Wcngcr, W. Wiclcalcli, S. Ar inson. Interimtioiml ReLitions Society At the beginning of the fall semester, Norman Twersky was chosen vice-president in the place of Sey- mour Zahn whose position was left vacant by his graduation in June 1949. The International Relations Society had a most fruitful season beginning with an interesting talk by Rabbi Emanuel Rackman of the Yeshiva College Faculty. Mr. Povolny, a young refugee from communist-dominated Czechoslovakia, talked to them about conditions existing in that land under totalitarian domination. Dr. John Kernemy. of the faculty of Princeton University, delivered an interesting and informative address on the prospects of World Federalism. The society, in the person of Mr. Bunim, the society president, delivered an important address at the convention of International Relation Clubs held at Georgetown University. The subject under dis- cussion was the Growth of Israel. The society later attended the Model United Na- tions . ssembly which was held at the Cit) ' College of New York at which time they represented the South . merican republic of Uruguay. The Yeshi a ' s delegates were present at all sessions. The work of the so- ciety has borne fruit in that many of its former members are active participants in the field of law. Thanks are due to Dr. Aaron Margalith. professor of Political Science at the College, for his unselfish devotion to the societv. L. 10 k.. Seated: H. Cohen, S Krau ' ihcr. N Twcrslsx, M Hunini. A. Wcitz, N. CHirilon, M. ti.ins. Standing: Godcr S Situcl, S Halxnii.in. R. Hcisler, V, Fcrtl , A. R.itli. Leon Lew Tlic Commentator, official undergradu- ate newspaper of Yeshiva College, con- cluded its filtcenth year of publication maintaining its traditionally high standard of news and feature coverage. Revitalized by the receipt of an AU-American Honor Rating from the Associated Collegiate Press, the first in its history, Commentator went on to record faithfully another year in the history of Yeshiva. Opening the season with a three-man Governing Board (an early editorial explained what happened to the rest of it) and lacking an editor, Commentator made a splendid comeback. Under the editorship of Murray Stadtmauer, a six-man Governing Board was appointed and the various stafis of the paper were reorganized. Living up to its name as a student newspaper, Commie continued the policy of giving top priority to student activities. At the same time, news coverage was extended to include all the departments of the University and outside affairs and conventions of the University. Editorially, the paper echoed student opinion on such ital issues as dormitory and library conditions, curriculum changes, and extracurricular activities. The Jerusalem problem was also commented on in several issues. Considerable space was allotted to the Letters to the Editor column, in w hich students expressed opinions and registered complaints concerning existing situations at the University. The feature staf? turned in a highly commendable job throughout the year. In addition to the standard Meet The Senior and Meet The Faculty columns, Commentator devoted feature write-ups to the Jewish communities of Surinam and Harlem, to the American Jewish educational scene, and to books and theatrical productions of particular interest. Mtirrav Stackmaucr i}t (ton Official Undergraduate L. to R., Seated: M. Mostow, A. Solonion, G. Marcus, N. Gordon, M. Gordon. Standing: J. Krum- Hillel Dryspiel I.iulwi ' ' N.ulclin.Mi ewspaper «i Yeshiva College In-ill. I-. Biirack. L. Kcs1imi1);iiiiii. S. AXiUy. R. Heisloi. W. W oal- latch. M r in K.ikowii . Tlie sports |)a;;c gave complete covcr- ,ij;c ol iiilcT-colltjiiale and intramural ;;aiiifs. liaskclliall games were more tiior- ouglily covered than in previous years, each vvriU ' -up being accompanied by a box score. Such recent additions to Y.C. athletics as Uiicinn and wciglu-lifting were adetjuately pnsiiilcd. Diirinj; llic second semester of the school year, The Commentator published three special six-page issues. The first of these was the traditional Purim i suc of which the Associated Collegiate Press has remarked in the past to have shown flashes of classical wit. The Chag Ha-Smicha, held on March 12, was commorated in the second special issue. (Jn that occasion, Commentator published the results of a Commentator- conducted survey that reported on the activities of Yeshiva graduates. The sur -cy revealed some interesting facts on their positions, geographic mobility, family size, and role in communal life. The third special issue was published on the occasion of Commentator ' s fifteenth anniversary. A complete review of the newspaper ' s history, which actually was i.uuamount to a history of events at Yeshiva as recorded in Commie over the past hi teen years, was presented. The other members of the Coverning Board were Ludwig Nadclman, . fanag- iiig Editor; Leon S. Levy and Myron E. Rakowitz, News Editors; Hillcl Dryspici, Sports Editor; and Philip Rabinowitz. Business Manager. Phil Rabinowitz Le Circle Fninans This year, as in the past, Lc ( xrcle Francais coiuiiictcd a successful rouiul ot activities. Nhiny students turneti out lor the Cercle ' s lectures, moving pictures, ami I ' rench speak- ing groups. The first lecturer this year was Professor Mihvitzky, who lived in France at the time of the Dreyfus trials, and spoke on The Dreyfus Affair. Professor Milwitzky was followed by Professor Vial, head of the French department at the Fordham University Grad- uate School, who discussed Voltaire as a strategist and diplomat. The lecture scries was brought to a successful conclusion with lectures by Professor Tricand of Lycee Fran- cais and Professor Chernowitz of our own Yeshiva University. French movies dealing with the history and geography of France were shown every two weeks. These presentations, under the able direction of Nisson Shulman, were well attended by the members. The climax to the year ' s activities was the publication of Le Flambeau, the annual literary journal of the French students. This magazine has in the past been well received and warmly praised throughout the country for its high literary standards and has been termed one of the best French undergraduate pub- lications in the United States. This year Le Flambeau saw the light of day with Philip Silverstein as editor. The officers of the Cercle this year were Dov Kravetz, president; Nisson Shulman, vice-president; and Edmond Frankel, secretary. In conclusion, the Cercle wishes to thank our advisor, Dr. S. Braun, who helped make this a successful season for the group. L. lo K.. ScilcJ: A. Silvi-r. E. Fr.mkil. D. Krcvclz, P. Silverstein, J. Frankel. S. Klein. Stcimliiig: W. (lewurz, H. Sliai iru, J. CJuttenberj;, N, Shulman, V. Fertij;, X. GoKlzweii;. H. lolTe, W. Wealcatch. H. Golner L( Tertulm L. to R., Seated: M. Brener, W. Solomon, L. Nadclman, B. Eckstein, R. Gross. Standing: R. Hcislcr, M. Halpcrn, L. FIcischman, M. Fulda, W. Fertii;, D. Steinnietz. During the academic year 1949-50, La Tertulia, the Spanish Club of Yeshiva College, innovated a num- ber of activities which increased largely the student ' s interest in the club. Among those activities were intra- mural debates in Spanish and a siesta party at the end of each term at which the students dressed up in typical Latin-American costumes, drank a bit of chi:ha, ate a bit of tortillas, all to the music of Pues somas los buenos muchachos and Dos gardenas para ti. The intra-mural debates centered around the topics of Pan-Americanism and The Economic Impor- tance of Latin America in its Relation to the U. S. The Spanish Club tried to arrange for inter-collegiate debates in Spanish which did not materialize because other colleges failed to cooperate. Mark Brener acted as chairman of the intramural debates, with members of the Spanish Department of Y.C. serving as judges. Other functions sponsored by the club were a series of lectures, delivered by Y.C. faculty members and outside speakers on Outstand- ing Representatives of Spanish and Latin- American Culture. For the first time, in the club ' s history, two lectures on Ruben Dario, the noted Guatemalan-Chilean poet, were de- livered by students of the Spanish department. The officers of the club were Ludwig Nadel- mann, president, and Ludwig Fleischinann, vice-president. Dr. Luis Furman Sas, Professor of Spanish at Y.C, served as faculty advisor. Deutscher Verein Till ' |)(iil ' .( III ] N ' crciii, (.isliii); .r.iili llii- ;ilili ' IViildiiu n.ilKiw niiliilcd |iir|iii|h ( ■, lli.il illlli,! siiliic hill, III. |rw-, .livnl.-l il ' .rll ;r, IIMial III llii :iil ;iiii rinilil .mil il|ilinlilHi)_; iil I ' aii ( p( I iniMiii Kniliii il Yi sliiv.i. ■j ' lu ' ciniilKlsis :is, .is ilslLiI, (ill llir ir.issly physical side. Niil Id ihc I lrlil (il 1 1 ;ilri lil .i lion vvilli till- l ' ' r;iiil(iiis, (il ((nirsc, liiil tin- amount of Hiir unci Pretzels tliat was con- sumed was simply slagfjcring. Nothing like llu- looil in a ( ' (iiistipation camp! ' I ' liiisr whose classes adjoin the- (lenii.in Imichii know wli.il il is to liy doiiij; one ' s homework lo I he iiKess.iiil strains ol ' Deutschland Unl.a , lles, Siille Nadu, Heiligc Nacht and (oh, yes!) Mein I liil I ' .r Hat Drci Ecken. ni of course Rosenherg is no tyrant ( lter all, hasn ' t he shaved olT Adolfian iipp shtrainer.= )— hut WHY t ' o they keep voting him the best-dressed Cjcrman Professor at Ycshiva. ' ' ? It is presumed that the vast student interest in the Cernian C;luh has some explanation in the annals of mass psychology. . t any rate, the students have always flocked (despite the admission charge) to the Bierfests, douhtless under the influence of some Aryan Socity Fuehrer ' s hypnotic ranting. Sailed: , . M ir ;cn lcrn, R. lUislcr, A. Rolh. N. Twcnky, . .llcr, M. (;.nnz. Eranos L. to R.. Sealed: V. Fcrtii:. S. Sic.ccl. S. Sc Standing: A Spear, S. Cohen. D. Stavsk . Under the auspices of the Eranos Society, there was conducted this year a highly successful scries of popular monthly lectures, the highlights of which were the lecture on, Moses and Plato, by Rabbi Dr. Leo Jung and the lecture on Coethe and the Spirit of Greece, by Professor Kahn of the City College of New York. If these lectures hail any one common denominator, it was the emphasis on a new interpretation of the classics. According to these lectures, the classics are not to be regarded as works of perfection, eternal models to be imitated and emuLited (although books that have maintained such a steady popularity and are still a source of constant delight even after two-thousand years are certainly in a sense models lo be copied), but rather that the authors of these classics were the first of modern men. They were discussing questions that we are still discussing; they were struggling with the problems that confront us yet today. This year ' s lectures emphasized the view that the study of the past is ot vital importance for an understanding of ou rselves, our society, and the world we live in, and that the essence of the classical genius is no mean pan of that study and no small contributor towards an overall understanding of what is the essence of life. Officers of the Eranos were: Jacob Haber- nian, 50, president; Melvin Bunim, 50, vice- president; Sholum Schwadron, ' 50, secretary- treasurer. Dr. Bernard Floch, professor of Classical Languages, served as faculty advisor. Under the expert guidance of Dr. David Fleisher, Associate Professor of English and advisor to the tenm, the Yeshiva College Debating Society had one of its most successful seasons. The largest working society in its history coped successfully with its toughest and longest debate schedule. The season opened in late October, 49, when Yeshiva sent its teams to compete in the Metropolitan Practice Debate Scries. Among the participants in the Series were teams from Columbia, N.Y.U., Brooklyn College, Ford- ham and C.C.N.Y. Yeshiva took first place in the tournament with ten victories and no losses. The tour schedule was the largest in Yeshiva ' s debating history. Speaking on the topic: Resolved: ih:it the United States shall nationalize the basic non-agricultural industries, the Yeshiva teams went up and down the east coast to meet some of America ' s most formidable debating units. Included among these were Princeton, Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins, Howard, Harvard, Tufts, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston University. Smith College, Syracuse, Colgate, and others — twenty-three in all. Their success brought requests from many colleges for debates at Yeshiva, and an invitation to the West Point National Invitational Tournament. At home, the Debating Society was host to such teams as Rutgers, Johns Hopkins, U. S. Naval . cademy, Colgate, N.Y.U., Columbia, Howard, University of Pennsylvania, Fordham, and others. To handle the enlarged schedule, the society increased the Executive Board from three to six members. David Rosenhan ' 51, presided over the society; with Aaron Landes ' 51, vice-president; Robert Kurtzman ' 5O, general manager; Perry London 52, secretary; Nisson Shulman 52, campus manager; and Marc Brenner 51, foreign language manager. ' arsity members, other than the executive council, were Jacob Schoenfeld ' 5O, William Fertig 50, Stanley Siegel 52, Joseph Erushalmy ' 52, Robert Rosen 52, Barry Exkstein 52, and Gilbert Rosenthal 53. DEBATING L. to R.. Seated: W. Fertig, R. Rozcn, S. Siegel. M. Brenner, ). Schoenfeld, U. Etkitein. Stmii nig: R. Hei,sler, A. Lande ■r ' ' ; KK , JUL ' 1 B 1 In ;.. A. ,.. ,s , ,, , I, , .i ilia: M. Sli.i|.ir,.. II, K cells J., l; K.KkuVsk . .S7, «r - 1k ' traiisk-rrcil Irom one Icnuilc Biolo y ( .liih Uiuli-r ilic gtiiil. ' incc rjf Dr. Atlas, a newly formed liiolo y ( lub lx:(;an to function this year. Unlike previous years, the main func- tion of the ){roup was not discussion and lecture, hut rather orjjaiiizcd research svork. In view of the |)rc! cnt trend in liiolo fical research away from the use of rats in favor of the more easily mana);cahlc hamsters, the group elected to work with hamsters and, upon the suj;gcstion of Dr. Atlas, cx|Kri- incnlation was l c};un in artificial insemina- tion. Under the direction of the club presi- dent, Simon Auster, each student was as- signed one female for which he was to be in full charge, and was to attempt to determine its cstrus cylcc by gauging the relative activ- ity of the animal at different times. Once this was ascertained, the animal was to be to another to ascertain whether fertilization lu ' ftl and spcini w ' oiilil occur. To date, no results have liccn obtainLil liccansc ol the complexity of the problem and the time required by nature to run it:s course. However, vc hope in the very near future to obtain very definite results. Other members of the aggregation are Marvin Brussels, vice-president; Boris I ackovsky, secretary; Aaron Mann, David Kosenhan, Jack ■ ' Kdler, lUiben Starreshevsky, . rthur Schneir, Samuel Dershowitz, Murray (ireenheld aiul Michael Rock. Chemistry Club L. to K.. Seated: D. Edclman, J. Adlcr. D. Roscnham. . . Schneir, . . Mann, R. St.irrcshev ky, M. Brussels. During the second year of its reorganization, the chemistry club featured numerous lectures intended to satisfy the interests and needs of both chemistry and not chemistry students. The lectures enabled the students to see, graphically presented, many of the industrial methods of preparation and techniques of analysis which could not be gotten from the theoretical consideration afforded them in the text book. Movies were shown illustrating a number of these processes. Mechanisms of chemical reactions, and the theoretical basis for these topics were by no means neglected. Chemical reactions at a distance, resonance (T) effeas, inductive (I) eftects, polarity, dipole moments, and many more mechanisms were discussed. Whenever possible, the lectures were made popular rather than technical so to enable the non-science majors, and students of sciences other than chemistry to benefit from them. With the increase in the size of the fresh- man chemistry class, and the number of pre- medical students, interest and membership in the chemistry club was increased. Past experience has shown that a large group working on a single project is rarely successful. Small groups were organized to carry out work on different projects. The preparation of DDT. penicillin, perfuines, whiskey, and other products were undertaken. Under the faithful direction of Dr. Eli M. Levine, the club adviser, and the able leader- ship of Alvin Krasna 50, the club president, it was able to carr y on its w ork with increas- ing success. The merger ot the Coop and the Book Stores was by far the most important move towards centraHzing all business enterprises run under the auspices of the Student Council. Merger enabled the lower- ing of prices on many items and thereby offered greater savings to the students. Unification also reduced many technical and operational difficulties previously encountered under separate accounts. Shortly afterwards, the activities of the Concert Bureau were incor- porated into the program of the Coop-Book Stores. This was the final step in the completion of ih: now renamed Yeshiva College Cooperative Stores. This three-fold unification was made possible by the able leadership of Hy Levine and Isaiah Hertzberg, managers, and Al Roth and Harry Rashbaum on the Managing Board. The stores were divided into the following departments: I. Candy and School Supplies. CO-OPERA L. to jR., Seated: J. Hertzberg, L. 1 R. Heisler. Standing: M. KrantzL C. Soled, H. Krantz. IVE STORES 2. (iciicrnl Appliances anil )cwclry. 1,. P)Ook Store and liook Exchange. 4. Records and Concert Bureau. Ill order to facilitate the acquisition of books, the Book Department ir.mslerred its quarters from the basement to new and more spacious quarters on the fourth floor of the college building. A permanent Book Exchange was organized for the purchasing and selling of used books. An Information Bureau was established as a service to stu- dents in quest of information pertaining to articles not carried in the stores. A price list containing the prices of all articles available in the Cooperative Stores was distributed to all students and faculty memlxrrs. The members of the staff are: A. Roth. H. Rashbaum, R. Hcislcr, H. Potok, L. Fleishman, J. Hertzberg, M. Krantzlcr. C. Soled. S. Auster, I. Tennenberi;, . . lacobowitz, S. Karen and . l. Stadtmauer. hn an. I. llortzl)ov i. H. Lovinc. A. Roth. Tannonhcr!-. A. Jacobowitz. S. Auster. Isaiah Herczbers Pre-MeJ Society The Pre-Mcdical Society was founded a year ago with the specific aim and purpose ot aiding all those students interested in the held of medicine in planning their pre-med- ical program so to improve their chances of being admitted to the presently over-crowded medical schools. The tremendous expansion program which is at this very moment under way at the Yeshiva promises to make avail- able to the Yeshiva student the facilities of a Medical school under its own auspices in the very near future. Numerous lectures on topics related to medicine were delivered by mem- bers of our own faculty, as well as a number of outside speakers. Thanks to the courtesy of Dr. Frank, the director of the Beth Israel Hospital, members of the society were enabled to visit the hospital at the end of the spring term of 1949, where they were shown the various facilities of the Hospital. The visit proved a very interesting and valuable experience. The pre-medical society is indebted to the administration for the great expansion of and improvement of the science facilities at the Yeshiva. Appreciation is also due to Dean Isaacs and the science faculty for their counsel and cooperation. The society ' s activities were ably led by Arthur Schneir, Pres., and David Rosenhan, Vice President. L. to A ' .. Scii ccl: S. Sclinciilcr, X. (Jcirdun B. Miiiilal, L. liMra. i ,,«, ,Hf;; Student Placement Service to A ' .. Si tltC( ; N. Twcrsk y, M. Bri-nnc tc-nbau m, H. Krui ilxin. . (;rthcrinas. .■ . Scliniir. Sldiifliiifi: L. In order to fulfill the need of many students for part time employment, the Student Placement Service was organized. This bureau is now concluding its third year of existence. Mark Brenner ' 51, was chair- man; Arthur Schneier ' 51, public relations; Norman Twersky ' 51, secretary-treasurer; Alvin Lieberman ' 52, and Seymour Tanner ' 53, served as interviewers. Advertisements were inserted in local Jewish and English newspapers and letters were sent to every type of Hebrew school and educational institution to acquaint them with our service. Funds for the support of the placement service were allocated by the Inter-University Student Council. During its existence, the Student Placement Service has given out over three-hundred positions, includ- ing such positions as Hebrew School teachers, private instructors, in Hebrew as well as in secular subjects, summer positions, club lead- ers and many other types of work. The service is now making an attempt to obtain all kinds of summer positions for students and graduates. Plans are being formulated to eventually establish a permanent branch of the Placement Service for the Graduate School. With the growth of this service, all students will be able to look forward to an efficient active agency for facilitating student employment. Drcjiihilic Society ' I ' hc )x: mauc Society, under ihc leadership ol l ' rc ii(lcnt Wilfred Solomon :ind Secretary (Jcorjjc M;ircu4, Malted a comeback llii year after several years of op|KJsition. Small, homey proj rams were presented intermit- tently throu);hoiii the year. The pro);rams included readinj s of |)lays, stories and |Kjctry: theatre jiarties and dramatic seminars, at well as a technical workshop embracing set -design- ing, make-up, and lighting. The Thespians got off to a sizzling start with the presentation of Fireside Fantasia the afterglow of which still warms the hearts of the school ' s drama enthusiasts. By the light of a roaring fireplace in RIETS Hall a very receptive Yeshiva audience thrilled to Shragai Arian ' s Sister , lice and Lew Burack ' s Tell-Talc Heart (a la Peter Lorre). The listeners were charmed by the masterful |Kx:tic rendi- tion of Perry London, who recited Benet ' s The Mountain Whipporwill, and Eli Horowitz ' s interpretation of Lindsay ' s Congo and Kipling ' s Gunga Din. Stanley Schneider delighted all with his .Marimba selections. Bill Solomon emceed and led community singing. The Dramatic Society helped arrange the Senior-Freshman Smoker. Alumni Nile, the T.I. Chanuka and Purim Chagigas, and the Second Annual Concert. The club is especially proud of its new quartet, whose repertoire is rich with original numbers. TTie members of this group are Phil Arian, Lew Burack, Bob Kurtzman and Bill Solomon: a former member. Kaddish Goldberg, is now on leave of absence in Israel. Work on the college ' s traditional class night is at the time of this writing actively under way. Shiiii iiif;: A. Millie nsk in, R. Kiin Y. U. Orchestra The third year of its existence was the most successful in the hi.story of the Y. U. Orchestra. A number of enjoyable performances were presented, including Music for Y.U. (sponsored by the Stu- dent Council), a concert program for the Bnos Agudah and one for the High School graduation, and a perlorniancc lor a synagogue in Yonkers. The increasing interest of musically talented students in the orchestra has brought its membership up from six to thirteen, with . lexander Petrushka as conductor; Pinchos Brener, Merwin Shapiro. Elliot Dardik Itmar Rosen and Donald Rothman playing the violin; Stanley Schneider on the marimba; Yitz- chok Spear and Joseph Mogilner, the saxophone; George Marcus, the clarinet; and Martin .Merwin and Joseph Sadler, playing the trumpet. The success of the Y. U. orchestra can doubtlessly be attributed to two basic factors. The first: the able and conscientious guidance of . lexander Petrushka, its conductor. Mr. Petrushk i has labored tirelesslv in the crea- tion of a harmonious musical aggregation out of a group of amateur musicians. The second factor: the students wholehearted response to the example set for them by their conductor. The rehearsals have been well attended: this fact was made evident by tlie performances of the group. This year particular attention was payed to the works of Tchaikowsky. . mong those performed were the Dance of the Flowers and Marche Slav. TENNIS The team ' s prospects for a good season were strengthened by the addition of several neophyte racqueteers to the existing nucleus of four lettermen from last year ' s team, Joseph Feder, Samuel Wohlgelernter, Herman Shulman and Jacob Schoen feld. Captained by Herman Shulman, who along with the other three letter men is playing his last year, the netsters battled such stalwart opponents as Drew, Upsala and Queens. This year marked the official emergence of the tennis team as an inter-collegiate team. The schedule, which included six matches, was drawn up for the first time by the Y. U. A. . . Among the more outstanding members of this year ' s team, were Joseph Feder, Ted Parnet, Herman Shulman and S. K. Wohlgelernter. The team ' s affairs were ably managed by Hymie Levine and Jerry Lipsitz, co-managers . Practise matches were held weakly during the spring term; there was a good turnout present at all the practise sessions. The Yeshiva home courts are The Riverview Tennis Courts. L. to A ' ., Scaled: J. 1-cdcr, H. Lcvinc, H. Shulman, J. Li| Slandina: S. Stigcl, J. . dlc li, K.. I. M. ■|ok;ivii-, M ■sun, M. Si l.|.sl W. Millin, Kii.k, N. nd. I). Mosh.fsky, S. Fcdcr, N. Slnilm TiilKirovsky, S. Sicgcl, Coach Taulxr FENCING This year lins seen the hroadening of the Ycshiva inter-collegiatc program through llic addition of fencing to the roster. The team scheduled tilts with New York University, Hunter College veterans, Columbia University, Cooper Union and Center Fencing Club, and made an excellent showing. This success can be attributed to the able coaching of Mr. Arthur Tauber and the conscientious efforts of all the squad members. Members of the squad arc Wolf Helmreich, Nisson Shulman, William Millen, Morris Stadtmauer, foil; Isaac Moseson, Da id Mastovsky, Paul Ritterband, Samuel Fedcr, cpec; Max Epstein, Norman Toporovsky, Paul Tokayer, Stanley Sigel, saber. The team was captained by Max Epstein. ' 52, and Paul Ritterband, 50, and was managed by Perry London. The Y. U. A. A. has been most cooperative in every aspect, and was instrumental in the securing of equipment. The team has attempted to justify the trust placed in it by the student body. Mr. Arthur Tauber Basketball sained a new lease on lite at Ycshiva as the arsily was slightly below the .500 mark, winning 7 while dropping 9 heart-breaking struggles, during the 1949-1950 season. The Yeshiva University . ' thletic . ssociation, headed by Athletic Director, Hyman Wcttstein. made important progress, scheduling games and publicizing the varsity 10 a degree unmatched in Yeshiva history. . n overflowing crowd witnessed the tense battle against the Brooklyn College Kingsmen in Ycshiva ' s first intercollegiate contest of the hoop campaign. One thousand spectators watched Yeshiva hold a lead for 32 minutes by dint of superior marksmanship and expert ball- handling. Although the Mites wilted in the final moments to go down before the powerful Kingsmen, they gained the season-enduring respect of the many fans and opponents who showed high regard for the aggressiveness and excellent calibre of the indi iilual ■cshi ■a ballplayers. Mr. Bernard Sarachek YESHIVA UNIVERSITY 105 — .-Mumni 43 49 — Brooklyn 69 45 — Queens 51 57 57 86 56 54 — Panzer 60 — . delphi 69 — John Marsh.Tll 50 — Pace 60 — Cathedral . . 42 — Fordham . 76— Drew 77 — Hunter . . 59 — Cathedra! . 54 37 — New York State Maritime 57 66 — Panzer 77 52 — Dre« ' 46 65 — Upsala 67 92 — Cooper Union 89 1058 — Totals 104N Howie Danzit Aaron Mann Faced ith the toughest schedule in Yeshiva ' s hoop history, the Mighty Mites of Washington Heights surprised many preseason pessi- mists with an inspiring exhibition of power. Plagued by an inability to finish strongly the Mites lost more than their share of close contests. The Mites renewed court relations with Brooklyn and Fordham, two of the highly-touted quintets in the metropolitan area. The Quinthooplets regained their mastery over Cathedral, defeating the blue and gold, 60-58, following up with a thrilling 59-54 overtime victory. The scoring attack assumed powerful proportions as the Heighters canned 965 points, compared to the 933 garnered by the opposition. The Yeshiva average per contest was a mighty 63.1 points. Capturing the fancy of opponents, team mates, and spectators was newcomer, Marvin Hershkowitz, a former City College Freshman star. Sporting a dead one-hander and an accurate hook Marv, standing at an even six feet, led Yeshiva ' s scorers with a total of 269 points. Hershkowitz reached his peak in the Hunter game, as he sparked the Quinthooplets with 32 torrid points. BASKETBALL ' I ' hc lirilliiHii u ' i-! ' iiriicr, Ariii- Siciii, ,ij4:iiii diil yeoman service for Ycshiva rclxjund- iiiH will .mil sKiiiiij; 257 poinls. The hi}; pivoi in.in scrvctl a dual purjxjMr, for as; op|x n- cnls (IciuliK UjiihcI liiiii, I krslikowil ,, imjjiiardcil, was afforded an opportunity to icorc r(|ir;Hicll) . AiKiilui |iiiiini, i rowd |ilr:isin)4 Mile was Duvvy I larlman. An cx|Kricnccd .. () K.. .s ,i (n ' ; I ' n.uh S.M.ulKk, II. Sluvnn, S. 1 i.lni.in. K. D.ividman, M. Mayer. A. Slcin. N. Kreigcr. M. Hcrshkowil ,, . l- ' in-erluitt. IX H.uinuin. H. Tcpptr. 1). Kmiisky, H. Danzig. E. Novocllcr, H. Dryspid. ball-liandler, Neoph ' tc Duwv thrilled everyone with remarkably accurate passing, and ■■set-shooting. Stein, Hershkowitz, and Hartman assumed most of the team burden, supplemented by Mayer, Davidman, Captain Danzig, Ivrieger. and a sprinkling of Freshmen and Soph- omores. . lthough losing the services of the graduating Seniors, Captain Danzig, and Romskv. Coach Bernard Sarachek foresees a rosy future for his Yeshiva Collesie basketeers. Ill Advertisements In Loving Mennory of RABBI BENZION CHADABY and MRS. REBECCA CHADABY Grandparents of AZRIEL ROSENFELD Class of ' 50 THE CHADABY FAMILY 114 C.,ri.|r.ih.l.,h n 1 , EPHRAIM ORATZ (,.,.1, Benjamin Marinbach Complimnnl-. ..1 . . . Morton Rubenstein, Photographer thO OKANIJ jIKI LI Scrlptd Mathematica Complirrxjril-, ' ,f . J. Rosenthal and Family P. FELDHEIM Tho Largoit Soloction ir. JUDAICA HEBRAICA Hoadquortors for Rabbinical Bookt 45 Essex St., N. Y. 2, N. Y. GRamBfcy 3-5093 Compliments of . . . Ladies Auxiliary of Agudas Achim Congregation Baltimore, N (d. Mrs. Koonigsberg, Pros. Congratulations . . . Yeshiva University Women ' s Organization Brooklyn Division MRS. JOSEPH S. GREENBERG President Congratulations to . . . 1 ISAIAH HERTZBERG UPON HIS GRADUATION i ! HENRY ' S MARKET KOSHER MEATS, POULTRY, DELICATESSEN 636 McLean Avenue Yonkers, N. Y. BERK ' S RESTAURANT STRICTLY KOSHER Under Supervision of Rabbi Dr. J. Breuer 87 Cabrini Bcu ' evard WAdswc ' h 3-9077 Compliments of . . - Gutmann and Mayer 1508 St. Nicholas Ave. 4229 Broadway Compliments :■ . Victor Hotel I2th and Ocean, M ' ar-: Eeac- Fa. Delicacy Shop, Inc. 93 EAST PARK AVENUE Long Beach, N. Y. Compliments of . . . A Friend 115 Congratulations . . . Compliments of . . . Yeshiva University Mr. and Mrs. Women ' s Organization HARRY SILVER Manhattan Division and Sons MRS. ABRAHAM WOUK 201 CROWN STREET President Brooklyn Compliments from the Compliments of . . . Family of HENRY KELLER 1 A. COHEN SONS 116 COMPLIMENTS - of - MR. and MRS. S. MESTEL and Fannily MONTREAL. CANADA Rabbi Mitchel S. Eskolslty Compllmont-, i , Rabbi Hernnan J. Zwillenberg Comr limor ' -, of . . Rabbi William A. Orentlicher Compiim.jnv Rabbi Jerenriiah Cohen Compliments of . . . Yeshiva University Women ' s Organization Bronx Chapter MRS. LILLIE KADEN, President Compliments of . . . FREDMAN BROTHERS PEORIA, ILLINOIS Compliments oT . . . A. Foladare Dairy Store 2551 AMSTERDAM AVE. Congratulations to . . . HARRY and SOL COHEN frc CHICAGO BEEF CO., Inc. 441 WEST 13th STREET New York 14. N. Y. Compliments of . . . Pullman Schllian Bakery 1566 ST. NICHOLAS AVE. Best of Luck to ISAIAH HERTZBERG from Leo Storch i Compliments ot . . . Lee Stein Congratulations to the KRASNA BROTHERS from ! M. Mrs. Max Auster Family YONKERS MEAT CO., Inc. 54 RIVERDALE AVENUE Yonkers 2, N. Y. In Memory of My Beloved Son, JAY JOSHUA a True Masmid, by Rabbi Robert S. Marcus Compliments to Your . . . CO-OP STORE MANAGERS Hy Levine Isaiah Hertzberg OUR FOUNDER Mr. Samuel Levin Of Blessed Memory Bequested to Us a Tradition to Respect the Torah and the Men of Torah SINAI KOSHER SAUSAGE CORP. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 1 Compliments of . . . Hi+tleman ' s Bakery LONG BEACH, N. Y. FARMFOOD RESTAURANTS Vegetarian and Dairy 142 W. 49th St. 104 W. 40th St. Congratulations to AL ROTH from Roth and Diamond 243 BROOME STREET, N. Y. C. 2 YOnkers 3-3795 GOLDRiCH LIVE POULTRY MARKET Morris Goldrich, Prop. 175 Riverdale Avenue, Yonkers, N. Y. 118 Charles Brandes Scientific Cleaning — Same Day Service 2553 Amilordam Avo. Bot. 186 187 Stj. ' )r ti l«fIon • JO ' .EPH Mr. and Mrs. Max Feder and Family Complindonts of . . . Mr. and Mrs. Leo Unger and Family MAZLL TOV TO VELVEL Mr. and Mrs. H. Frank, Irving, Ida, Ivrla and the Family Complimanfi of , . . Mr. and Mrs. H. Glass Compiinnonti of . . . Mr. and Mrs. H. Maimer and Family Compliments of . . . MR. and MRS. JOSEPH RITTERBAND and Barbara CONGRATULATIONS to WERNER MR. and MRS. i JUDAH GEWURZ and FAMILY i COMPLIMENTS - of - A FRIEND - of - ALFRED SOLOMON COMPLIMENTS - of - ! ARLAN SHOULDER PAD CORP. 256 WEST 38th STREET New York City Compliments cf . . . Mr. and Mrs. Harry Frank Cc-c-e.-s r; . . . Mr. and Mrs. Louis Shiff and Family Compliments of . . . Rabbi Samuel Dralarsh Compliments of . . . Rabbi Nathan Drazin Compliments of . . . Rabbi Herschel Schac+er Comolimerts cf . . . Rabbi Arthur J. S. Rosenbaum 119 MEETS YOUR FRIENDS PROMENADE DAIRY RESTAURANT 846 SEVENTH AVENUE Between S4th 55+h Streets Compliments of MR. and MRS. JOSEPH GOLDFARB RELIABLE THREAD CO. 502 BROADWAY, N.Y.C. BEST WISHES TO ALVIN and IRWIN KRASNA BEST WISHES TO SONNY SCHWARTZ UPON HIS GRADUATION The TRAYMORE MIAMI BEACH Direct ' y en the Ocean a ' 24th Street HOTEL, POOL AND CABANA CLUB PRIVATE BEACH, COCKTAIL LOUNGE SOCIAL STAFF A. Halperm, Pres. Moderate Rates Compliments of . . . BERNIE SARACHEK LOU EISENSTEIN CIRCLE ATHLETIC EQUIPMENT 865 FRANKLIN AVENUE NEvins 8-2548 Brooklyn, N. Y. GOOD LUCK ALVIN AND IRWIN KRASNA ■from MR. Mrs. Benjamm Katz EDEN TEXTILES 25 WEST 26th STREET Compliments of . . . MR. MRS. JUDAH FALIK Compliments of . . . STERN ' S CAFETERIA FOR SUMPTUOUS MEALS LUdlow 8-6610- 6611 Zerenowitz Zeren Dietary Laws Observed ELSMERE HALL, Inc. EXCLUSIVE CATERERS FOR ALL SOCIAL FUNCTIONS 284 EAST 170th STREET Bronx, N. Y. 120 Compllmont ' , .( Mr. and Mrs. A. Katsman and Family American Press 36 WtSI 20ih ST., NtW YORK CH 3-7177- 7178 EAT AT THE College Luncheonette M.,in. a Harry, I ' rop. RobcTf Hdgonow Fdmily Compliment-, oi . Deiges Clust Complimanlt of . . Jack Press PHILIP AMIN COMPANY INSURANCE 401 BROADWAY New York 13, N. Y. Dl 9-3090 BEST WISHES MR. and MRS. S. BENDHEIM WILLIAM 1. RICE OFFICIAL Y. U. JEWELER 35 EAST 176th STREET Bronx, N. Y. Compliments of . . . Dr. and Mrs. N. T. Brussel PASSAIC, N. J. Henry ' s Vegetarian Dairy Restaurant 102-35 QUEENS BLVD. at 68th AVE. Forest Hills, N. Y. Compliments of . . . Variety Furniture Co.. Inc. 518 WEST 57th STREET New York City Compliments of . . . Academy Employment Agency 77 WARREN STREET Compliments of , A FRIEND ALFRED SOLOMON Compliments cf . . . Rabbi Emanuel Rackman Congratulations tc JOSEPH Mr. and Mrs. D. Lichtenstein Greetings from . . . Jehuda Krausher and Family Greetings from . . . Abraham Krausher RICHMOND, VA. Compliments of . . . Max Gross Compliments of . . . A FRIEND of AL ROTH 121 Compliments of . . . Adelson and Segall 96 CANAL STREET. N. Y. C. Mountainside Dairy Products 619 CHRISTOPHER AVENUE Brooklyn 12. N. Y. Compliments of . . . Joseph Bogin Caldwell Farms, Inc. 57-19 FLUSHING AVENUE Maspeth, L. 1. Compliments of . . . Mr. Mrs. Morris Silverman Queens Farms Dairy 103-45 - 9Bth STREET Ozone Park. L. 1. Compliments ot . . . Mr. Mrs. Max Shapiro Grand View Dairy, Inc. 70-71-79 Metropolitan Avenue Brooklyn, New York COMPLIMENTS - of - MOSES SCHONFELD i Washington Heights Federal Savings and Loan Association 1390 ST. NICHOLAS AVENUE Near 130th Street 275 WEST 231st STREET Near Broadway New York City 1 BEST WISHES TO THE GRADUATING CLASS Mr. Mrs. Herman Blumenkranz Mr. Mrs. Nathan Kamelhar Mr. Mrs. Oscar Stadtmauer Mr. Mrs. Simon Stadtmauer COMPLIMENTS - of - MR. and MRS. ALEX FRUCHTHANDLER and FAMILY S. M. Dairy Co., Inc. Wholesale Dealers 1 85 Monroe Street. New York 2, N. Y. Compliments of . . . A Friend of the KRASNAS Isidore Sens Butter and Eggs 148 Reade Street, New York City Compliments of . . . Pincus Appetizing LONG BEACH, N. Y. Alfred P. Seligman, Inc. Wholesale Veal - Lamb 416 W. 14th Street, New York 14. N. Y. Best Wishes to . . . Stanley Schneider 1 Compliments ot . . . Mr. Mrs. Nathan Hausman Hebrew National Restaurant and Delicatessen 1437 Washington Ave., Miami Beach 122 MAZEL TOV to Moshe Y. Goodman from Mr. Mrs. Abraham M. Stavisky Rabbi Mrs. Isadore Goodman Mr. Mrs. Meyer J. Stavisky Dr. Mrs. Arthur B. Hyman Rabbi Mrs. Murray S. Penkower Rabbi Mrs. Emanuel Applebaum i MAURICE LAMM 1 HARRY SARAH WANK For Umbrollat of R«r l 1 Call Harry Wank COMPLIMENTS OF BARTON ' S BONBONNIERE FAMOUS FOR CONTINENTAL CHOCOLATES 32 Retail Shops Located in Greater New York ANDRON ' S LOON LAKE HOTEL AND COTTAGES DAVID S. ANDRON MANAGEMENT Loon Lake, Franklin Co., in the Adirondacks, New York; 3500 acies; 1800 feet up; pollen--free. Golf. Tennis, Riding, All Sports Entertainment, Dance Orchestras; Famed Andron Cuisine, Dietary Laws. New York Office: PARK-SHERATON HOTEL 56th AT 7th CONGRATULATIONS TO ZBULUN CHARLOP from MR. MRS. HYMAN LEVINE COMPLIMENTS OF i EASTERN MUSIC COMPANY 34 THIRD AVENUE. N. Y. C. COMPLIMENTS OF RABBI MRS. CHARLOP COMPLIMENTS OF RITA ' S LONG BEACH, NEW YORK COMPLIMENTS OF CHARLEY MAYO COMPLIMENTS OF THE ROYAL RESTAURANT OF LONG BEACH 123 Printed by The Comet Press, Isc, 200 Varick St., New York 14, N. Y.