The Best Herman Wouk Story (Almost) No One Has Read by Steve North, JTA It Was a Hot July Day There Will Be Countless Well-Deserved Trib- This Year
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THE JEWISH LEADER, JUNE 5, 2015 13 The best Herman Wouk story (almost) no one has read By Steve North, JTA It was a hot July day There will be countless well-deserved trib- this year. In a statement issued by his publish- of a 100-Year-Old Author,” will be released later at Camp Ramah in Palm- birthday. in 1969, and everyone utesThe on Pulitzer May 27 Prize-winning to Herman Wouk American on his Jewish100th er,the Simon readers & who’veSchuster, stayed Wouk with said me “I’ve for lived the long to a stayed up late the night great age, and for that I thank Providence. To er,before Massachusetts to watch history had being made. We had author will be celebrated for his classic works,- pull,Amid my warmall the affection, praise for and the I hopememorable you’ll enjoy lit- seen Neil Armstrong such as “Marjorie Morningstar,” “The Caine the light-hearted memoir about my writings.” take that one small step Mutiny,” “The Winds of War” and “War and Re membrance.” In 1959, when I was 6 years old, erature Wouk has created, I would like to pay his first work of nonfiction, “This is My God: The tribute to him for a short story — an extremely for a man, one giant Jewish Way of Life,” assumed a prominent place short story — that he wrote 46 years ago. It leapwith forrabbit mankind, ears anten on a- on my parents’ bookshelves, and I have it in my wasI shouldn’t never have.published, and it’s likely that only tiny black-and-white TV- home today. Remarkably, he is still writing, and one person other than myself ever read it. And, en chair on the porch of his new book, “Sailor and Fiddler: Reflections na,our percheddining hall. on a wood IRAN SANCTIONS ISSUE CONT. FROM PAGE 1 But now we were between Iran and six world powers including back to our normal rou- reinforced a belief by the international com- to oversee a nuclear program focused on energy munityThe USthat president Israel is saidnot committedthat Netanyahu to peace had to pick up the day’s mail thewhile US. reducing The deal the would number place of inspectorscentrifuges in in Iran op- when he said there would be no Palestinian tine,for the and three I was bunksassigned of eration in the Islamic Republic. state on his watch - a statement he has since boys in my division. backtracked on. During my walk back Herman Wouk, pictured here in Jerusa- lem in 1955, turns 100 on Wednesday. Israel losing its ‘credibility’ as a peacemaker from the camp post of- - not believe that Israel is serious about a two- (Wikimedia Commons) cades of negotiations on Palestinian statehood state“Already, solution. the The international statement thecommunity prime minis does- started sifting through bearingThe president any fruit offeredduring thea bleak 18 months outlook hefor has de ter made compounded that belief that there’s fice across the field, I - the various items, looking to see if I’d received anything that day, left in office. notby being a commitment intransigent there,” on the the possible president establish said. - andme. one postcard caught my eye. Dated July 16, it was from Her do “Iwe don’t create see some the buildinglikelihood blocks of a offramework trust and Israel, he said, risked losing its “credibility” man Wouk to his son Joey, who was in the next bunk over from agreement,” Obama said. “The question is how While Obama has acknowledged the geo- mentthat it ofis nota Palestinian realistic to state,think thatwith those Netanyahu condi- Wouk and his wife had been invited to the Kennedy Space progress.”graphical and ideological divisions among Pal- having “so many caveats, so many conditions, CenterI recall forbeing the captivatedblastoff of byApollo the evocative11, and he language described he the used event to - inconvey vivid thedetail intensity to his son.and Iexcitement don’t remember of that his profoundly exact words, moving but tions will be met anytime in the near future.” estinians that have bedevilled peace efforts, in in fact“It’s we not want only a Jewishthe immediate homeland fear and of a terrorJewish theNetanyahu’s interview policies. - taped in the White House on ism that should concern Israel,” said Obama. “If moment at 9:32 a.m., when the spacecraft cleared the tower and Friday - he focused on Prime Minister Benjamin roared towards the heavens. He spoke of the flames and smoke,- democracy, this issue of the Palestinians has to- therated immense to be privy sound, to and this how meant-to-be-private the earth shook below paragraph. his feet. And “Netanyahu is someone who loves Israel- berael’s resolved.” immediate security was non-negotiable. Knowing of Wouk’s towering reputation, I was quite exhila deeply,”cal about he the said, capacity adding ofhowever Israelis that and he Palestin saw the- Having said that, the president stated that Is someone else’s mail. prime minister as “someone who is been skepti away its security for the prospect of peace. I being a good Jewish boy, I also felt deeply guilty that I’d read- - “Iconsider have never it a moralsuggested obligation that Israel for us should to support trade ians coming together for peace.” andSo, thank very you belatedly, for writing I’d like the to best say topostcard Joey: I’m I have sorry. ever And read. to Her that“I peacethink Netanyahu is naïve; to is see someone the worst who possibiliis predis- man on his 100th birthday, I’d like to say: Until 120, Mr. Wouk, posedties as toopposed think of to security the best first; possibilities to think perhaps in Arab a Jewish homeland,” said Obama. Nominating Committee report partners or Palestinian partners. And so I do “It is more difficult for me to say to them, ‘Be patient, wait, because we have a process here.’” At the May 28 Board Meeting of the Jewish Federation, the thinkObama that, continued. right now, those politics and those Israelis and Palestinians both, Obama said, NominatingAnnual Meeting Committee on June offered18. the following individuals up for fears are driving the government’s response,” shouldsituation work and withmove the it backUnited towards States ato hopeful “move electionNew Directorsto the 2015-16 for a Board. three The year election term: willLeonard take placeCohen at and the off what appears right now to be a hopeless Alan Ruditzky saidHe could voiced stand concerns in the wayover of Israel peace havingwith the a Current Directors renominated for three year terms: El- “politicsPalestinians. that’s motivated only by fear,” which he situation”.The AP & AFP contributed to this report. Current Officers renominated for a two year term: MENTION lenRomana DeLeon, Primus Ron Leeser, - President Jerome Schwell, Marcia Wolman CONT. FROM PAGE 2 ANNUAL MEETING CONT. FROM PAGE 1 Rosa Goldblatt, Secretary, Campaign Co-Chair well as on relevant technolo- Ronald Leeser, Campaign Co-Chair Jewishgies and genetic ethical component, issues. Reg as- Dan Bendor - VP Middle Eastern Affairs ister ti and Shannon Saglio will be presented with the Federation’s Steven Daren - VP Education/P2K/YE lesson Yad ‘b Yad, Hand in Hand Award for their participation in the HelenKen Abrahms Elperina - Treasurer- VP Community Programs (for free!) to access full- Federation’sFollowing Encounteringthe meeting everyone Survivors is program,invited to andstay in for enhancing a dessert NewGabe OfficerStern - VP nominated Long Range as PlanningAssistant Committee Treasurer for a two sons emerge.content, and to receive Holocaustreception ineducation honor of for our their Emissaries entire high and schoolawardees. community. year term: Maier Fein notificationsREMEMBER TOwhen REMEMBER new les There will be a supper at 6:00 PM to bid farewell to our emis- MENTION FOR GRADU- saries Noa and Ron and to express our appreciation to the host Remember to send ATIONS, RETIREMENTS, in your subscription... DEAN’S LIST, NEW BABIES - AND ENGAGEMENTS!!! families. If you wish to join the supper group, please contact it helps support the Leader Mimi Perl at 860-442-8062 or [email protected]. Cost to at tend the supper is $10 per person and is payable at the door. .