Page 4 - The Reporter May 8-14, 2020 Off the Shelf Hollywood and Jewish refugees RABBI RACHEL ESSERMAN Before I read the press release for “The Sun and Her husband 43 – was based on financial rather than political connected to people of interest to the House Un-American Stars: Salka Viertel and Hitler’s Exiles in the Golden Age reasons. Unsure of whether or not they would be staying Activities Committee. Viertel, who was not a communist, of Hollywood” by Donna Rifkind (Other Press), I’d never in the U.S., they left their three sons in Europe. However, had not been concerned with the politics of her friends heard of Salka Viertel. While I knew that many Jewish the boys soon joined them and they made a permanent during the war because she had more important worries. and non-Jewish refugees who were actors, writers and home in California. Her fears were personal: she didn’t know the status of her directors worked in Hollywood or New York, her name Unfortunately, Viertel could not find work as an actress family in Europe – those who lived in territories conquered was completely unfamiliar. Yet, Viertel not only wrote and began writing treatments and screenplays. Among her by the Nazis. Were they alive or dead? But any connection successful treatments and screenplays, but turned her best-known films were “Anna Karenina” (1935), “The to communism in the post-war years could destroy a career. California home into a European-style salon – creating a Painted Veil” (1934) and “Queen Christina” (1933). At In additional to writing about Viertel’s life, Rifkind talks safe and comfortable place for those who felt rootless in one point she was so successful, she was one of the highest about those who frequented her open houses. The most a country far different from their own. paid screenwriters in Hollywood. She often worked with famous were the Mann brothers, Heinrich and Thomas. Rifkind feels that women’s accomplishments during and, for a long time, the two were so close Although both were well known in Europe, Thomas was the Golden Age of Hollywood have either been lost or that Garbo spent a great deal of time in Viertel’s home, more successful in the U.S. Many of the other writers ignored. She notes that, while women worked in every especially when she wanted to escape the press. It was in are less familiar. For example, writer Bruno Frank, who studio department, histories of those times rarely mention that home that Viertel held her Sunday open houses to which left Europe in 1937, worked on such films as “A Royal them. She also found something similar occurs in the books came not only European refugees, but many successful Scandal” (1945), “Northwest Passage” (1940) and “The about European refugees: they so focus on men that one Hollywood writers, directors and actors. As more refugees Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1939), sometimes as a named might believe no women suffered the pain of exile. As tried to escape from Europe, Viertel worked with different writer and other times without credit. Viertel was also for Viertel, Rifkind not only wants her accomplishments groups to raise money for them, in addition to helping friends with , the British writer acknowledged but to restore her reputation. She writes them find work in Hollywood. She did this while being of the short stories “Goodbye to ” (which were that Viertel has been called a number of unpleasant names, the major source of income in the household. Her husband, later adapted into the play “I Am a Camera,” and then including gossipmonger, fraud, moneygrubber and witch, who was often away working on projects, usually didn’t the Broadway musical and film “Cabaret”). He lived in to name just a few. Part of Rifkind’s task is to show the make enough money to support himself so Viertel had to her garage apartment and often entertained Garbo when true Viertel: the one who worked hard to create a home send him funds while he lived in another city or country. Viertel was busy working. for her family and tried to help other refugees in need of The Viertel marriage had its ups and downs. Both spous- “The Sun and Her Stars” contains a great deal of detail work or solace. es had affairs, including some that lasted years. They still in its more than 400 pages. Not all the details were of equal In order to understand Viertel, Rifkind places her life remained close to each other for decades even with these interest, particularly some of the very personal facts about in context. Viertel was born to an affluent Jewish family affairs, although Berthold finally asked for a divorce in Viertel’s marriage. At times, the book’s focus was uneven: on the outskirts of the Austro-Hungarian empire. After order to marry someone else. Viertel’s longest romance did the story of sun (Viertel) was eclipsed by that of her stars deciding to become an actress, she lived in a variety of not end in marriage: her lover wanted children and finally (those who visited her salon). However, Rifkind does an cities in Europe, including Weimar-era Berlin. She married broke it off to marry someone younger. excellent job not only bringing Viertel’s accomplishments , a writer and director for stage and film, Viertel never planned to leave the U.S., but after World to light and proving she was a remarkable woman, but and gave birth to three children. The decision to move to War II, she had difficulty finding work and moved to portraying the lives of those refugees who felt lost in the the United States in 1928 – when Viertel was 39 and her in the 1960s. That’s because her name became New World and those who found success.

Resources Continued from page 1 ‹ Lilith Magazine’s blog writers continue to add new Thrive, a project of the Jewish Teen Education and En- more.” For more information, visit www.facebook.com/ material, some about dealing with COVID-19. The blogs gagement Funder Collaborative, Collective Compassion events/663576081059631/. can be found at www.lilith.org/blog/. is a national response to the growing wellness needs ‹ The Yiddish Book Center now has a web page ded- ‹ The Hadassah-Brandeis Institute is offering images from of teens. “Dozens of events and experiences, many in icated to its almost weekly virtual events. Most events its current exhibition at www.brandeis.edu/hbi/artist-pro- partnership with artists and organizations, draw on the will be available to a little number of people on Zoom, gram/exhibition.html. power of Jewish creativity, culture, learning and values to but open to all on the center’s Facebook page. For more ‹ Jewish community organizations are bringing the support teens – and the adults that care about them,” ac- information, visit www.yiddishbookcenter.org/visit/ power of “Collective Compassion” to National Mental cording to the Collective Compassion website. For more calendar-events. Health Awareness Month. Created by Jewish Teens information, visit www.collectivecompassion2020.com. ‹ Limmud, https://limmud.org/, is holding a variety of ‹ The Center for Jewish History offers a “Genealogy Cof- virtual event. The site says its mission is to “make acces- fee Break” on Facebook on Tuesdays at 3:30 pm. The ge- sible some of the world’s most dynamic Jewish educators, Moving any time soon? nealogy discussion is led by a librarian from the Genealogy performers and teachers, working in a variety of educa- Or just leaving town for a few months? Institute at the Center for Jewish History. Videos of previous tional styles – lectures, workshops, text-study sessions, meetings are also available for review. Visit www.facebook. film, meditation, discussions, exhibits and performance.” Whether you’re moving across town com/watch/centerforjewishhistory/501317183869918/ to Events take place across the world. To learn more, click or across the country, please let The Re- take part in the live program or view the videos. on events and pick events by region. porter know so you can stay up to date on ‹ Pardes scholars and Ramah Darom educators will hold For more resources, see the last six issues of The Reporter community news and quickly receive the a Pardes Beit Midrash B’Darom Yom Iyun (Day of Learn- or visit www.thereportergroup.org/Article.aspx?aID=5484, paper at your new (or temporary) address! ing) on Sunday, May 17, from 11 am-3 pm. The theme www.thereportergroup.org/Article.aspx?aID=5499, www. E-mail [email protected] with “Reporter this year is “Holy Relationships: Exploring Our Spiritual thereportergroup.org/Article.aspx?aID=5502, www. Address change” in the subject line, or call Identity.” Pardes says, “We will examine the current state thereportergroup.org/Article.aspx?aID=5512, www. 607-724-2360, ext. 254, to let The Reporter of our relationships with the Divine, what it means to in- thereportergroup.org/Article.aspx?aID=5519 and www. know about your new address. habit holiness and how to own our spiritual identities and thereportergroup.org/Article.aspx?aID=5527. LEGAL NOTICE

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