Tailor Shimon Rosenberg - Turx (...and Advisor) to Presidents The Incredible Story of Martin Greenfield

Martin Greenfield is a legend in men’s clothing. He has hand-tailored suits for Presidents from Eisenhower to Obama, as well as for famous celebrities. But if Martin’s suits are famous, his personal story is less well-known. Martin came to America with nothing, started as a floor boy in a suit factory and worked his way up to be one of the most celebrated tailors in the world. Now, in a dramatic interview with Zman, Greenfield goes back to the beginning of his life, to his childhood in and his time in Auschwitz and Buchenwald, to his start in the American garment industry and career as a master tailor (…and advisor) to Presidents.

152 | ZMAN • March 2015 ZMAN • Adar 5775 | 153 f you want to end the Suez Crisis, A Jewish war survivor and tailor named you’ll send [Secretary of State] John and its Arab neighbors. England had openly “IDulles on a two-week vacation.” favoredneutral inthe the Arab ongoing side, conflictat least betweenin action Israelif not world events from his tailor shop in the That was the note President Dwight D. Eisen- in open speech. Yet, now the three united WilliamsburgMartin (Moshe) section Greenfield of Brooklyn followed in New the hower found hidden in his breast pocket to confront the pan-Arab nationalist Nasser York City. He was very upset by America’s one pleasant morning in 1956. He had just and the danger his presidency presented to involvement. He believed that the United donned a brand-new, custom suit, specially the world order. States was best off staying neutral and sewn by one of America’s best tailors. When On October 29, Israeli forces invaded allowing matters to run their natural course. the Egyptian-controlled Sinai Peninsula. On Undoubtedly, there were many in November 5, the military forces of England Brooklyn that had sage advice to offer the USS America (CV-66), an American aircraft carrier in the Suez Canal. dollars.he looked in the mirror he felt satisfied. He and France joined them in a frontal assault President of the United States. Only one of felt Thenmore thanhe put satisfied. his hand He feltinto like the a millionbreast against Egyptian forces. Across the ocean, them, though, found a way to reach him. pocket and felt something that did not in Washington, Eisenhower was furious belong. It was a small note. He took out the that the two European powers had not even president’s tailor. slip of paper and read the message—which bothered to notify him of their intentions. GreenfieldNot only could that, but do sohe felt because a special he wasconnec the- left him in shock. Who dared offer unsolic- Clearly their intervention was nothing but a tion with the president. To him, Dwight D. ited advice to the President of the United pretext to regain control of the canal. Eisenhower was the heroic general who States by smuggling a note into his pocket?! Eisenhower immediately sent US Secre- saved his life, the commander of the forces Even before reading the note, Eisen- tary of State John Foster Dulles to exert who liberated the Buchenwald concentra- hower was feeling incensed, as if a friend pressure on Britain and France to withdraw. tion camp where he and thousands of other had betrayed him. His allies in Europe, the The US was so adamant that the aggression Jewish prisoners were interned and living leaders of Great Britain and France, had stop, it even threatened to block oil ship- under the unimaginably inhumane Nazi SS. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles and President turned their backs on him just as he was ments to Europe, a move which threatened He was certain Eisenhower would appreci- Dwight Eisenhower in the Oval Office, August 1956. preparing for reelection. Eisenhower—the to trigger an economic tsunami in Europe. ate his advice…. great war hero, the former Commander-in- front page of one European newspaper. Over Chief of Allied Forces during World War II and the incumbent President of the United 100-Year History headlines of major newspapers more often States—was expecting a landslide victory. It was a freezing winter day when we thanthe years, most ofMartin the people Greenfield we have has interviewed. been in the War-weary Americans were happy with His reputation as the world’s best tailor is their warrior-turned-politician who had Clothiers at 239 Varet Street in east well deserved. He is a one-of-a-kind success Williamsburg.visited the factory That ofbuilding Martin is Greenfieldhome to story; a living lesson that, if it is so decreed and peace. Everything was going perfectly… almost 100 years of history. It is the building in Heaven, anyone can succeed. Barely 70 finallyAnd deliveredthen war broke them out years in the of Middle prosperity East. where the fanciest and most expensive suits years ago, he was a famished, tortured youth in America have been produced. Since 1917, who had suffered in Auschwitz and Buchen- the Middle East. It teamed the State of Israel, wald. Who would have dreamed that such EnglandThis wasand noFrance ordinary against conflict, Egypt. even The for A damaged Egyptian tank, after the British and French invaded. presidents and prime ministers, statesmen a person would one day become a frequent turmoil began on July 26 when Egyptian andthe mostmillionaires, important rising world stars figures, and other including VIPs guest at the White House? A man who would President Gamal Abdel Nasser stunned the become a brand name among generals and world by seizing control of the Suez Canal company’s predecessor, GGG. wealthy magnates alike? from its French and British owners. Neither have been outfitted by Greenfield and his England nor France was willing to sit quietly arrived in America as a teenager with noth- master of his art, a man who can transform and allow Egypt to wrest control of this ing Headingto his name. the operation, His entire Martin family Greenfield had been Martin Greenfield is the consummate strategically important waterway. They wiped out by the Nazis. Determinedly, he He symbolizes perfectionism, someone who worked out a secret agreement with Israeli learned a trade at a world-renowned Brook- cananyone’s tell at image a single with glance his magnificent what material suits. a leaders under which the IDF would attack lyn tailor shop and quickly rose through the suit is made of. (“Cheap Chinese material” Egypt, allowing France and England to was his immediate response when he took a intervene under the guise of restoring order tailor, then a supervisor and then an execu- quick look at what I was wearing.) and driving the upstart Nasser tive…ranks. until From he a bought simple out floor the boy entire he becamebusiness! a “In August, I will be 87,” he tells us. “If from power. “The President’s Tailor” is how he became the Aibishter will grant me to reach then,” It was a strange alliance from Nasser observing the Suez front with known to many people. “Best Tailor in the he adds humbly. Yet, he is not even consider- the beginning. France had remained Egyptian officers during the 1968 War of Attrition. World!” was the headline screaming on the ing retirement. He arrives every day at his

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