 H a r o l d F i s c h — M y P a t r o n S a i n t 127 Harold Fisch Patron Saint — My Sporting a goatee that sprouted from a face covered with stubble, he strode he stubble, with covered face a from sprouted that goatee a Sporting the Fundamentally, evil that hunted me down and hustled me into cattle Archival documents report that after a day’s slaughter of men, women the campus grounds projecting a contemplative aura. When in mood, he a turned thespian the class floor into a stage upon whichdramatis personae heat hand. With the open text serving acted as a Fisch stage prop, out the would simulate the scene in which the transform stooped could he Lear wand, lugs magic ifa Cordelia’s corpse As with whimper. dying a amidst offstage facial shaped, language body modulated, voice moment: dramatic a into text a expression delineated–all working in tandem to take on the role play of the moment. Macbeth, shuffling hisfeet across the floor, mumbling, “Out, out brief brought home the futility of candle,” ambition and the unalterable fate of man. He was ap at doing sent mistress, his from supposedly comedy letters the reading while floor struttingthe as well as tragedy; Fisch’s Malvolio, the class into bursts of hilarity. Sometimes I came to his classes exhausted after working a nightshift at the radio station, but by his histrionics, kept me analyses, awake. I burnished made up for my sleep deprivation in other classes, where I vacillated between a nod and a wink. Indeed, theatre’s loss gain. academe’s was cars that hauled me into a penned land absent of cause and effect same — evil, that in different permutations, drives the characters of the plays. Jacobean They are mostly fuelled by irrational Duchess impulses. of Ferdinand Malfi,” of for instance, is “The stirredby jealousy and blue fearblood, the family’s and has his the sister, killed. ofDuchess, But on seeing tainting strangea ofin mixture line famous the utters he body, dead and her remorse eyes dazzle.” her face; my regret: “Cover and children, the Nazi killers were plied with alcohol to calm their shattered nerves. I am not comparing the conduct of the Jacobean dramatis persona Parallel to pursing the emergence of the Jewish Christian movement, inspired movement, Christian ofemergence the Jewish pursing the to Parallel I signed up charismatic by personality, for Jesus’ a class on English literature with an emphasis on Elizabethan and Jacobean drama, taught by Harold Fisch. A espoused Cambridge He graduate worlds. both and straddle elegantly a to seemed scion Fisch offamily, rabbinical an Orthodox Jewish the Creation as described in Genesis without rejecting the Big Bang theory, holding that both appealed to different human Thoughfacets. not engaging in missionary pep talks either in class or on campus, he would nevertheless to Heaven. to see their way his students liked have 128  H a r o l d F i s c h — M y P a t r o n S a i n t must have intuited that I’d had an intimate rendezvous with evil. As Fisch As evil. with rendezvous intimate an had I’d that intuited have must personality,my Fisch of aspects other or action in personae dramatis the of and Eliot, T.S.I saw hats. theskullinsigniaattached tomy SStormentors’ quote to skin, the beneath skull the saw Cyperstein, like Fisch, Harold Professor kindness. human of milk the into evil convert perhaps and impulses aggressive their thwart will that humans in gene new a The optimistic futurists may predict that bio-scientists may be able to implant television. on news evening the watching by dissipated easily is delusion the history,and from learn people that believe to It’sdelusion Again.” “Nevera twentieth century and the at the the dawn twenty-firstof century putof to mockerydecades the slogan two last the in continents African and European stood clergymen genocide.in the The killings docksraging on accused the of trials, which scientists,Denazification at physicians,Frankfurt defrocked and from degeneration,” RabbiCypersteincontinued, “ismy faithintheTorah.” museshis listeners.aloud to the “What shields astonishment myof humanity he done,” has Eichmann as atrocities committing of capable therefore and normal myself consider I because me, frightens this “and says, he normal,” is Eichmann that established have psychiatrists “The mood. despondent a in class to comes he day One York,questions. these New in interest in an takes University Yeshivanaturally at time same the at Talmud in teaching course is a who scholar, Talmudic known human a of Cyperstein, incapable psychopath Rabbi a sympathy? he is Or machinery? death the of part into shoved corpses being to admit he does and emaciated regrets, he Has normal? clinically pits,collective of piles showing newsreels the watching booth, the in man this is inquiries: psychiatric of subject a mind of state his Toronto, isacaseinpoint. of socio- contributing when Brumur Rabbi by me to society story,followingtold occur.The conditions political afflicts species malediction human this the that in views ingrained my reinforced globally happening events the and encounters life everyday My camp. concentration a to of back intimations brought me play Jacobean a viewing token, same the by mortality; of intimations evokes naturally which procession, funeral a to attending comes is that mind analogy The condition. human the of side dark the namely same the from muddy source as the one sprang that the motivatedJacobean the plays,charactersme of stalked that evil the that is suggesting I’m what with my those tormentors, of either the SS men or their collaborators. Rather, Whether Whether it was the emotional immediacy of my responses to his presentation so-called the by validated was reasoning deductive Cyperstein’s Rabbi Eichmann is on trial in , year is 1961 or thereabouts.The Adolf

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For For all his seriousness and depth, he had a mischievous side to him, The Jewish tradition observes two Dionysian festivals: One is Simchat Purim also provided an occasion to take on the who, in the and I drew closer, thanks also to our shared love of the sea, I was tempted to tell him about my malediction, encounter but with inhibitions Man’s held me back. I wanted to be judged on my own merits and not on the basis of my experiences. If the experience factored into the sum of my merits subsequently and afforded me insights into the human psyche, I considered it a by-product. Fisch undoubtedly influenced many of many influenced undoubtedly Fisch me on by-product. but a students, his he left a lasting impression. He present would an issue, generating questions that invited answers which in turn stimulated new questions. This made for a ofdiscourse inquiry intellectual of that led to new levels He had discovery. inspiration and challenge. a gift that combined Torah, Torah, which celebrates the giving of the Torah to the Israelites at course of the year, enjoyed immunity from structure parody of due universities. The to girls the in the hierarchal English department took it themselves upon to organize the Purim party and asked me whether I would do Fisch. “His outstanding physical characteristics pointed out, “make and for good eccentricities,” parody.” This was they true, and I felt deserved that a Fisch gentle dig, but prudence weighed in against the opportunity show offto “But my thespian there skills. are other students whose body build a trait often manifested in class and outside of it. In class, he often to the played gallery, so to speak, and at parties entertained his listeners. But a gift he passed on to me which was has the invaluable proved knowledge of how to formulate When questions. the spirit took him he could spice his analysis of a text with subtle ironies, sardonic comments and a colourful I humour. still rangeremember one ofof his gibes aimed at curbing my flight of the imagination in interpreting a certain Pfefferkorn text. is “Mr. often original,” he enunciated, sprinting a couple of steps onto a low pedestal, “but equally often wrong.” The chuckles of my fellow students indicated approval. The an ofacknowledgement ears, to music my like gibe was presence; others, my however, smarted under them. And then came my opportunity to have my expense. little jest at Fisch’s own Mt. Sinai; the other one is Purim, which celebrates the saving of Consuming liquor dancing from in persecution abundance, in ancient Persia. the Jews both mark enthusiasm full-throated with ofsinging and point dizziness the to festivals. These are times of merriment. Purim is also a allows the celebrants mask to masquerade and festival do parodies. Its that counterpart would be Halloween. 130  H a r o l d F i s c h — M y P a t r o n S a i n t making his second entry: making hissecondentry: Banquo’sghost notices Macbeth that moment the scene Macbeth’sbanquet back, I was standing at the podium, text lying open on my palm, reciting from istherightclass.”students shoutedinunison:“No!No!This “I’m of line: group rehearsed a which one class,”to wrong the uttered be must this and sorry, awfully eyes my lifted musings, in up wrapped all and small the papers into of pile walked a carrying stride, Fisch’s and mimicking I inflection auditorium evening, angst-inducing that on And intonation. and mannerism psyche,body, Fisch’spersona, into myself moulded and it, had cant fashionable the as character, into went I it. take might Fisch how sun. Ifinallysuccumbed,butnotwithoutapprehension. spring early the in squinting flattery eyes playful their such maidens, pretty to from coming indifferent remain would mortals Few this.” for natural a “you’re efforts, persuasive their into tone flirtatious a inserting insisted, they his.”no,”“No,resemble that goatees and stubble grow even them of some and height are more similar to Fisch’s than mine,” I argued halfheartedly, “and nugd n ogei-he psie, n I a dlgtd o respond to delighted was I and in kind. pastimes, often tongue-in-cheek Fisch Shul.” in other the indulged to go usually “I replied, I transgression, Shul my the in you saw I yesterday,” think a a sardonic shade smile don’tof on forming his lips. Without admitting “I casually, customary remarked of he exchange pleasantries, short a After to. from belonged far he not that him synagogue met the I afternoon, Sunday late One other. each into run feathers. show, “Good thespian my earned finally murmured, had I show,”ears.my shoulder,good delighting wordsEli, the on lightly me patting and, crowd the through way his threaded Fisch it, took parody my of subject the how of peals wondered fans, congratulating amidst of strides ring a by long surrounded Fisch’sI, as Even in laughter. podium the left I and ovation an received sketch The choice. felicitous a was it play.And the teaching when I turned on my heels and walked out. Lights off! When the lights came lights the When off! Lights out. walked and heels my on turned I sure not was and line the on was reputation thespian my that knew I e ie i te ae uubn egbuho ad ol sometimes would and neighbourhood suburban same the in lived We performance its in excelled Fisch because scene charged this chose I Which thoudostglarewith! hastnospeculationinthoseeyes Thou Thy bonesaremarrowless, thy bloodiscold; Avaunt! hidethee! Andquitmy sight! lettheearth

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Fisch’s strict Orthodoxy matched his radical politics. A founding member member founding A politics. radical his matched Orthodoxy strict Fisch’s I encountered a similar reaction to redemption many decades later in religious, or secular creed, offervourany millenial abhors me in Something of the movement “The Greater goalsIsrael,” political his which pursued he claimed River, Jordan the the to Sea Land Mediterranean the from of with the same passion that he held for his faith. In both politics and religion, I diverged from him. But whereas his politics multiple of glorification His repetitious in The God were me. intrigued Orthodoxy intolerable to me, his attributes of ubiquity, omnipotence, omniscience, compassion other — endowments among — immediately conjured images when the when thirst had hunger, blunted time at the then, It was cars. cattle of being trucked in biological instinct to go on had given in to despair — it was then that I had cried out for His redemptive powers to make their presence. The emerging place, same the in prayed Whenwe meaningless. prayers the images rendered I would give Fisch a sideways look. Wrapped in the traditional prayer shawl and attended by a rhythmic sway, he wholly submerged himself in prayer. where Toronto, we lived in an ethnically mixed neighbourhood. culinary own My my to me family leaving marvels, Renaissance the in taking Italy, in was devices. On a hot Friday afternoon, I went to the supermarket to the finish get to time some have would I so weekend the for over me tide to items food As I came out from the supermarketwriting. I was play carrying one meagre holding weather, the for dressed unseasonably woman, young a noticed I bag, a bunch of pamphlets and greeting Jewish? Are you Jewish?” shoppers After having identified the with religion of a the person question: “Are you in question, she thrust a pamphlet into his or her hand, accompanied by be this The Coming of the Messiah, The Second Coming, or Communism. I envied him. I too wanted to gain him. I too wanted I peace ofenvied mind through acceptance of the Divine and submission to His decrees, but the past weighed too heavily on time of did not help me in my attributes God’s me. need. turn my When coming.” is He Messiah, the about “Read voice: commanding a came she gave me a quick glance and ask, didn’t declaring in the affirmative with stress on the “you,” Jewish.” “You’re She stuffed a pamphlet into my hands and without much ado immediately turned to the next shopper. She seemed to be in a hurry, presumably heralding coming the not Messiah’s far ahead of his intended arrival. (I should like to note that the of the Second took Temple Messianic tidings with a grain ofdemonstrable self-righteousness salt, to underlined use by out an the self-assuredness mischief understatement.) in This brought me. I woman’s obviously look Jewish. In the season of lights 132  H a r o l d F i s c h — M y P a t r o n S a i n t ldmr n Etao ta ecpuae te eso bten atn and coming, promiseandbreach: waiting between tension the encapsulates that Estragon between and exchange Vladimir an is Here hope. and despair between and dangle Vladimir Estragon Consequently, time. next come to promises continually but messenger,boy a through meeting impending the off putting on Godot, keeps who Mr. a for waiting are play, the of characters two the for Vladimir, and yearning religious a on drew Messianic redemption Beckett and transformed it into a dramatic Samuel metaphor. Estragon psyche, human the to Attuned departments. drama university at study of subject a became swiftly Paris,in season, captivated1952-3 worldwideplayhad the audiences the and chord a deep inmy memory.It struck Messiah’smessenger. the to reaction his by overwhelmed emotionally was I what do people know?” I “People, wouldresignation. in have shoulders his wanted to shrugged continue He the Messiah. conversation,the but of coming the to wouldreact people how hear to curious was he that me told he there, I need Him for now?” In answer to what my had question made of him stand didn’tHe Him, prayedfor Him, waited for Him, neededdo come.what I So “When arm. his on tattooed numberAuschwitz big unusually an to pointed I understood Yiddish and, turning his to arm the inside and saying “it’s here,” I noticed that same man catching up with me. He asked me in English whether scene. the observing shade the in standing man a noticed I eye, my of corner the me “Shabbat Shalom,” the Israeli customary salutation on Sabbath eve. From wished she me,toward feelings bad no had she that show to And Shul.” for ready get up,and wash home, Go Messiah. the of coming the back holding you, like “it’s more me, on fixed eyes her intoned, she kind,” your know “I lines: memorable these pronounced Hebrew Israeli colloquial in and fury of full me at look a darted What She unpredictable. totally was question myfollowedSabbath?” the supersedes her also askedMessiah the I — of Lawscoming “the Sabbath whether the breach to allowed is one that meaning life-threatening“aSabbath”— indicatedsituationwhichthatsupersedesthe the time that you were Jewish,” she said. Quoting a Talmudic ruling in Hebrew forbid.” The “God God forbid” trailer wasBuddhism, a signal that or I kept the Christianity faith. “I knew to all converted have could I but Jewish look she why her asked may “I added: I complicated, more it making Jewish,and I was I that thought appearance, Jewish visibly my “joyful never Despite Hanukah,” Christmas.” “Happy with greeted always am I goodwill, and tagl nuh a hnigo of thinking was I enough, Strangely Even as I walked away from the place pondering this bizarre exchange, bizarre this pondering place the from away walked I as Even “Waiting for Godot.” Godot.” for “Waiting First staged in staged First

 H a r o l d F i s c h — M y P a t r o n S a i n t 133 ,” and and ,” “Waiting for Godot for “Waiting prominante, as an extension, though twisted, of Jerusalem and Albion: The Hebraic Factor in and SeventeenthJerusalem Albion: CenturyThe Hebraic Factor , as well as his other published indicates scholarship, his intellectual Estragon: Oh, yes, let’s go far away from here. go far away let’s Estragon:Oh, yes, can’t. Vladimir: We Estragon: not? Why tomorrow. back to come have Vladimir: We Estragon:What for? for Godot wait Vladimir: To ……………………………. Unless (Pause.) tomorrow. hang ourselves Vladimir: We’ll Godot comes. Estragon: And ifhe comes? be saved. Vladimir: We’ll I wish I had seen the implicit connection between between connection implicit the had seen I wish I A friend of mine, who prodded me to commit my experiences to paper, has paper, to experiences my commit to me prodded who of mine, friend A Estragon and Vladimir sound like two dropouts from the Habbad-Hassidic Habbad-Hassidic the from dropouts two like sound Vladimir and Estragon what was known as normal society. Ultimately, what we are depends on where on depends are we what Ultimately, society. normal as known was what stand we in the order pecking of Thus the homeless person bundled society. up sleeping on a steaming grill views life differently from his fellow creature who sleeps through the night in the comfort of the his or her bed. Similarly, ghetto resident looking over the fence had a perspective darker than that of And occupation. under lived both though streets, the roaming freely Pole the the concentration camp inmate reduced to a tattooed cipher felt differently from both. given given the manuscript form of intellectualizing. called this book he minutely critical what His reading. major by flow narrative offthe cut I that was criticism He conceded, however, that my occasional philosophical digressions allow me to gain a perspective that enables me to view the Holocaust within the wider context of the human condition. From this point of I could see view, the concentration camp and the behaviour of the SS as well as the inmates, notably the elite inmates, the movement movement masquerading as buffoons; the movement’s founders made the coming of the Messiah an inconvertible article of faith. “Even if He tarries, in frenzy. they sing He shall come,” the eschatological implication that informs this play, as well as other plays of the Theatre of the Absurd, while still have studying liked the under idea ofFisch. He the would Judeo-Hebrew influence on modern sensibilities. His seminal book, Literature inclination. He identified the presence of the “HebraicFactor” in literature, most as notably, indicated in the subtitle, in the literary seventeenth century sensibility.