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Look to the rock from which you were hewn Vol. 28, No. 4, Fall 2004 chicago jewish historical society chicago jewish history IN THIS ISSUE Isaac Rosenfeld: Humboldt Park’s Jewish Book Month: Troubled Literary “Golden Boy” CJHS Publications and BY WALTER ROTH Books by Members of the Society he Humboldt Park neighborhood has given us at least two great Vera Caspary: Chicagoan Jewish writers—Saul Bellow and Isaac Rosenfeld. They were friends Wrote “Laura” and Much T in a group of intellectual boys who attended Tuley High School More in Hollywood during the Depression. Bellow is world-famous. In 1976 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. He has won the Pulitzer Prize, three National Marshall Sklare: Book Awards, and many other honors. Now, at age 89, he is a cultural icon. Chicagoan Studied Rosenfeld had some early successes; he won a prestigious literary award Jewish Identity on the from the Partisan Review, and a job at The New Republic. He wrote Suburban Frontier constantly—novels, short stories, poems, and many essays. Irving Howe Celebrate 350! called him the “golden boy” of the New York intelligentsia. But Rosenfeld Exhibitions at Jewish died young, and today he is all but unknown outside of academia. Historical Institutions Isaac Rosenfeld was born on March 10, 1918. His young mother, Around the USA Miriam, died when he was just 22 months old. His father, Sam, From the Archives: remarried, but the family tragedies Society Elects “My Kind of Town” continued. His second wife bore a Board Members retarded daughter; the wife died, Report on CJHS The CJHS open meeting on October 31 Meeting: and Sam married her much younger sister. They had a volatile relation- October 31 was preceded by a The Politics of Chicago brief business meeting. President Jewry, 1850-2004 ship, and the marriage almost broke up several times. Walter Roth offered a review of The family lived in a two-story the Society’s activities in 2004, apartment building near Humboldt noting our special May lecture Park. Isaac’s grandparents and his celebrating the 350th year of two unmarried aunts lived on the Jewish life in America, “Haym first floor. In a time of great unem- Salomon in Chicago.” ployment, Sam had a job and was He then conducted the able to provide for the family. He election of members to the took pride in his son’s intellectual Board of Directors. Edward H. achievements, but was domineering Mazur was elected to a three- and emotionally unavailable. Isaac, year term; current Board who suffered from frequent physical members Carolyn Eastwood, Clare Greenberg, David H. Caroline and Marcus Spiegel. ailments, would retreat, alone, to his room and his many books. Heller, and Burt Robin were re- See article on page 12. elected to three-year terms. ❖ continued on page 4 2 Chicago Jewish History Fall 2004 President’s Column Look to the rock from which you were hewn chicago jewish historical society I NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO EMBRACE AND KISS A CATHOLIC PRIEST Officers 2004-2005 until my recent trip to northern Italy in the first Walter Roth President week of September 2004. There, in the foothills Burt Robin Vice President of the Maritime Alps, on the border between Dr. Carolyn Eastwood Secretary France and Italy, I had that opportunity—and I Herman Draznin Treasurer acted on it. The priest in question was Don Directors Leah Axelrod Walter Roth Francesco Brondello. At the age of 84, Don Francesco, with the Harold T. Berc help of his assistants, had managed to bring himself to the foot of an Charles B. Bernstein Italian mountain path where sixty-one years earlier a group of Jews Rachel Heimovics Braun* Dr. Irving Cutler were crossing from Occupied France. They were seeking safety in Dr. Rachelle Gold Italy after the Badoglio government capitulated to the Allies in Clare Greenberg September 1943. However, in response to the Italian surrender, the Dr. Adele Hast* German Army invaded the north of Italy, and these Jews, after their Dr. David H. Heller perilous mountain crossing, would need help in hiding from the Janet Iltis Nazi invaders. Among the refugees were a mother and her two Marshall D. Krolick young daughters, Gitta and Chaya—my future wife. Roslyn Lettvin The crossing is commemorated annually with a Walk of Mark Mandle Remembrance. This year’s commemoration was special. Through Dr. Edward H. Mazur Chaya’s great efforts in securing the necessary papers, Don Francesco Seymour H. Persky had been awarded the title “Righteous Among the Nations” by Yad Muriel Robin Rogers* Vashem in Jerusalem for his courageous deeds in behalf of Jews Norman D. Schwartz* during World War II. He was too infirm to travel to Jerusalem, so Dr. Milton Shulman Dr. N. Sue Weiler the ceremony was being held in his own country. *Indicates Past President The scene was almost surreal; we were high enough that clouds surrounded us. Goats and cows with bells around their necks grazed Chicago Jewish History in the distance, while mountain streams could be heard rushing by. Chicago Jewish History is published And there sat the priest, a friendly smile on his face, welcoming quarterly by the Chicago Jewish Historical Society at 618 South Chaya and me, our children and grandchildren, Gitta and her Michigan Avenue, Chicago, family, and friends and relatives from America, Israel, and Germany. Illinois 60605. (312)663-5634. The trek up the mountain was difficult. I walked about halfway Single copies $4.00 postpaid. up. Others continued further, and a few reached the top. (Next year Successor to Society News. the walk will start in France, where it began in 1943.) Editor/Designer At that time the young Don Francesco was assistant priest in the Bev Chubat parish of Valdieri, a small town Immediate Past Editor in the Italian border province of SWITZER- Joe Kraus Cuneo. He was a flamboyant LAND figure, an excellent skier, who Editor Emeritus could be seen skimming across Milan Irwin J. Suloway G Editorial Board the Alps with his red hair and FRANCE black cape flapping in the wind. David Heller, Burt Robin, G As a member of the Italian Turin ITALY Walter Roth, Norman Schwartz, and Milton Shulman Resistance, he helped the Jewish Cuneo M G Send all submissions to: refugees by bringing them A Genoa R A L G Valdieri Bev Chubat I T P G winter clothes, providing false IM S papers and financial aid, and E 415 Fullerton Parkway, #1102 ➤ Chicago, IL 60614-2842 Nice G N E-mail: [email protected] continued on page 15 Chicago Jewish History Fall 2004 3 1654-2004 Celebrate 350 Years of Jewish Life in America! Visit these important American Texas Jewish Jewish Museum Jewish institutions via their web sites. You will find fascinating Historical Society of Maryland online timelines, virtual museums, P.O. Box 10193 15 Lloyd Street and lots of links. Better yet, visit Austin, TX 78766-0193 Baltimore, MD 21202 in person during this historic year. (713) 723-1406 (410) 732-6400 The Texas Jewish Historical Society, Weaving Women’s Words: Milwaukee Jewish the Texas State Historical Associa- Baltimore Stories: tion, and the Center for American Through 2004. Historical Society History at the University of Texas This unique exhibition presents oral 1360 North Prospect Avenue are in the initial stages of compiling histories by Baltimore Jewish Milwaukee, WI 53202 a history of the Jews of Texas, women with specially commis- (414) 390-5700 tentatively titled Lone Stars of sioned works of art by prominent As a service to the community, the David: The Jews of Texas. The book artists from across the nation and Milwaukee Jewish Federation that the Society helped underwrite, portraits by renowned photographer established the Milwaukee Jewish Jewish Stars in Texas by Hollace Joan Roth. Weaving Women’s Historical Society in 1986. All of Weiner, about rabbis who rose to Words is organized by the Jewish the materials in the Society’s vast prominence, is now available. Women’s Archive (Boston). and varied collections are available Ordering information can be found Lives Lost, Lives Found: for examination and research. on the Society’s web site. Baltimore’s German Jewish —www.milwaukeejewishhistorical.org —www.txjhs.org Refugees, 1933-1945: Through April 2005. This original JMM exhibition Jewish Museum Southwest Jewish breaks new ground in telling the of Florida Archives story of the German Jewish refugees who found haven in Baltimore 301 Washington Avenue 1052 North Highland Avenue during the Nazi era. The exhibition Miami Beach, FL 33139 Tucson, AZ 85721 brings to life a dramatic, compelling (305) 672-5044 (520) 621-5774 tale of dispossession and adaptation Located in a restored historic Art The Leona G. and David A. Bloom and explores how the local Jewish Deco building on South Beach that Southwest Jewish Archives at the community assisted the newcomers. was formerly an Orthodox University of Arizona Library —www.jewishmuseummd.org synagogue, the Museum collects, presents several educational exhibits preserves, and interprets the Florida confirming that pioneer Jews placed Jewish experience since 1763. a priority on maintaining their CORRECTIONS: On page 8 of MOSAIC: Jewish Life in Florida beliefs, values, and traditions amid CJH Summer 2004 we published an is the Museum’s core exhibit. the hazards of the nation’s frontier. incorrect street address, web site, and exhibition opening date. The Jews of Broward County: The Bloom Archives is also a Jewish Historical Society of Greater Through January 30, 2005. resource for historical research, such as the study of Crypto-Jews in the Washington is located at Historic photos, sweeping murals, U.S. Southwest. Between 1992 and 600 I Street NW, Washington, DC.