While researching thousands of We Jews, every once in a while I’d come across an MOT whose fame may now be modest, but whose “story” is heroic or fascinating and keeps wafting around the corners of my mulching mind. Each one added a unique stitch to our design and became yet another fact I stored. At the very time I’m losing brain cells, I’m gaining enough material to risk brain burst. My only hope is to “share” – and what a mechaye [pleasure] it is!
The first "stand-up" may have been a Jew, Menophilus (“Take my idol, please!”).
Aliturus, Menophilus, Resh Lakish
Alright, ok. They may have had to do a little name “adjusting” in the 1950s Borscht belt and TV. But ... the three above had “stage presence,” which was unusual among early pious Jews. In the first century, the audience, however, wasn’t filled with Cohens and Goldsteins. They performed for Mr. and Mrs. “Pagan.” In Rome, among Nero's favorite was the Jewish actor Aliturus , and the first "stand-up" may have been a Jew, Menophilus (“Take my idol, please!”). In century three, Resh Lakish (prior to becoming a rabbi) had worked as a circus strongman.
Abraham Farissol
Farissol was fascinated by exploration. But using his Yiddishe kop, realized that before shlepping, it was a good idea to know where. So in 1524, he created the first description of the New World in Hebrew literature (also translated into Latin), called Iggeret Orhot Olam (A Tract on the Paths of the World), which was a crude shield-like "map" of the New World, which he called, "New Land" in Hebrew. Farissol also wrote of unknown places where Jews reside -- the borders of the Land of Israel.
Eliezer Ben-Yehuda
Hebrew ceased be a spoken language around 250 B.C.E. A forward thinker and early Zionist, Lithuanian-born Ben-Yehuda (1858-1922) realized that Jews returning to their homeland would need to farshtaist one another. In Hebrew. How do you revive a language? Write an updated dictionary! So he became the Hebraic Webster! Not a small task, he got the family involved. After moving to Jaffa in 1881, not only did the Ben-Yehudas run a Hebrew-speaking household, they worked tirelessly on the first modern Hebrew dictionary. All 16 volumes were completed by his wife and son after his death, and published in 1959, with over 4,000 new words from biblical Hebrew roots.
Penina Moise
One of our marvelous ethno-traits is persistence, especially in the face of adversity. Penina Moise was nothing if not persistent, but such is the nature of talent! The fledgling poet, the sixth of nine children, was the daughter of French Jews who fled to South Carolina. Forced to quit school after her father’s death, at age 12, she became head of the household, caring for her family and her ailing mother. Yet she persisted, writing verses by moonlight. Her work was first published in 1830, making her the first Jew to publish poetry in the U.S. Her prolific poetry around Jewish themes can still be found in current hymnals. She died in 1880, leaving a rich legacy for Jewish women to emulate: smashing glass ceilings against all odds.
Sir Moses Montefiore
His name? Sir Moses Montefiore (1784-1885). His game? Sheriff of London in 1873. Wyatt Earp he wasn’t, but a Jewish humanitarian he was. Sheriff Moses supported Jews in England, projects in Israel and Jewish interests worldwide. As President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews (1835-1874), he wore his badge with Jewish pride. He went from Sheriff to “Sir” when honored with both a knighthood and a baronetcy. Now there’s one Sheriff even Robin Hood (who definitely had Yiddishe kop potential) might have split fish and chips with!
Louis Rubin
Although matches made by passion instead of pros, was the major M.O. in America, as late as 1916, thousands of Jews still used shadchans (and some still do), to find the perfect mate. Originally, these matchmakers were learned elders, but the “business” of love “yenta-sized” the profession (think, Hello Dolly). The “deal?” Five per cent of the dowry plus a fee. In “modern times,” Louis Rubin held the distinction of being a legendary matchmaker. In a 1938 interview with the New Yorker, he claimed he’d arranged 7,000 marriages, and never took less than $100 a case. According to Rubin, “In most cases it’s just as well not to have [pictures]– unless the subject is unusually attractive.” Even if the “Net” existed back then, he’d no doubt see downloading photos as a downer and deal-breaker, which would also, no doubt, be the fate of a “Rubin Romances Online.”
Morris Berg
A Jew who went from catcher to spy? The mysterious Morris (Mo) Berg, a Columbia Law School graduate, linguist, and not-too-terrific catcher with the Brooklyn Dodgers, among other teams, was better at the spy game. Berg, the son of Russian-Jewish immigrants, in deference to his father, left the game the day his papa died in 1942. Better at Japanese, German, and stealing “bomb info” than bases, the Office of Strategic Services (later, the CIA), sent him overseas in 1943 to assess how to deal with Werner Heisenberg, head of Nazi Germany’s atom-bomb project. When his extraordinary “game” ended at age 70 in 1972, Mo, who was laid to rest in Israel, was a winner.
Harvey Bernstein
And while we’re on the subject ... “Get Bernstein?” was the cry of FBI agents from J. Edgar down during WWII. Harvey Bernstein was the only FBI agent at the time who could farshtaist oral and written Yiddish and Hebrew. Should a suspicious “Aleph” or “Oy” appear in a document, the FBI geshreid (screamed) “Get Bernstein!” Once, when Bernstein was “gotten” to de-code the contents of a container found on Fifth Avenue, the “ominous” container was found to be ... a mezuzah! The message? The Shema. The Feds could quit the shvitzing, thanks to Bernstein, who received the highest commendations from the Bureau when he resigned in 1954.
Fred Lebow
Alas, We Jews know from running – but not as a sport, never mind a competition. But an MOT turned it into one of the greatest. The King of Marathons, was Orthodox Jew Fred Lebow, born Fischl Lebowitz in Transylvania in 1932. What Lebow started as a local run with 127 participants in 1970 became the New York City Marathon, the world’s largest with 30,000 runners. He was not only president of the New York Road Runners Club for over 20 years, Lebow competed in 1992, two years after he was diagnosed with cancer and given just months to live. He died in 1994, after running the greatest race – a life of courage up to the finish line.
(18) lois jaffe, December 20, 2009 7:46 PM
SO NU?
Love this series! Have forwarded the first two to my mailing list. We're looking forward to the next installment. These deserve special recognition for being mitzvot to Jews everywhere! Thank you! Lo and family
(17) tova wald, November 23, 2009 10:05 AM
A Wealth of Information for Today
"We Jews" have always performed important roles wherever we existed. It's in our genes. Obviously inherited from our forefathers, Abraham, Yitzhak and Yaakov. Some became "BIG NAMES"and some "not so big." But thanks to Marnie who deserves a big hand of applause the "not so big" made it to this article. They finally rose in stature.and in our estimation. Excellent reading for all ages. Worth saving.
anthony wald, June 1, 2017 10:10 AM
tova Wald
Hi Tova.
My name is anthony wald i live in south africa
i am trying to get our family tree going
my great great granmother was Tova Wald ( tauba?) born in lithuania. she was married to simon wald . they had three sons simon, phillip, harry. Just thought maybe theres a link .. if so please let me know. thanks Anthony
(16) Frost, November 18, 2009 2:46 AM
More women
Delightful to read about so many accomplished yet little known Jews. I would love to read more about accomplished women. Jewish history and non-Jewish history is already rich with the accomplishments of men. Please don't forget the ladies.
(15) Philip, November 16, 2009 6:55 PM
Wow!!!
Marnie, How many more can you discover? You are a mind boggler. Comment about farshtayen is essentially correct.
(14) Andy, November 15, 2009 11:37 PM
Who Knew?
We hear the same old songs on top 40 radio with the same old playlists. So refreshing to hear the "unsung" ones that slip through the cracks, as in here. Well done!
(13) craig, November 15, 2009 12:27 AM
An Appreciative Gentile
A friend steered me to this article, as I'm a history buff. I'm saving, filing, and using all. I am amazed at the research and these lively facts. My appreciation. Craig
(12) Aryeh, November 13, 2009 4:31 PM
Please get your Yiddish right
At the risk of being a bit picky, farshtaist would be (do) you understand, it would have been correct to write farshtay
(11) Anonymous, November 13, 2009 3:04 PM
Just think that a people such as we Jews have turned out some of the greatest in every profession know to man, is still detested by so many.
(10) marnie, November 11, 2009 7:05 PM
To Julia ... a wonderful researcher!
Mazel tov, sweetie. What a wonderful accomplishment! And you're correct. My primary error here was lack of specificity which is NOT excusable. I was referring to her first book of poetry, and yes, the year was 1833. According to the Jewish Historical Society, Moise's first published poem appeared in a Charleston newspaper in 1819. There is also so much more about her ....... her extraordinary background, the obstacles she had to overcome ... which I had to cut down due to size restraints. Thank you for pointing these out. And, for adding more information about this remarkable lady. But more ............. how wonderful to see this remarkable lady recognized by you, a remarkable lady-on-becoming! Shalom, Marnie
(9) Adam Neira, November 11, 2009 11:21 AM
Bertha Pappenheim
Aish.com should do a special report on Bertha Pappenheim. She was an incredibly righteous woman. Unfortunately not many people including Jews know anything about her. She had courage, faith, energy, dynamism, honesty and intelligence at a time when such qualities in women were often suppressed.
(8) Anonymous, November 11, 2009 1:24 AM
Moses Montefiore
A statue of Moses Montefiore was erected in Kingston Jamaica to commemorate his aid to the Country and the Jewish Community after the 1903 earthquake and fire which destroyed Kingston.
(7) Julia M. Miller, November 10, 2009 11:57 PM
Some Corrections about Penina Moise
My name is Julia Milelr and I am 13 years old. For my bat mitzvah, I wrote a book about Penina Moise and I want to tell you that there are some things in your paragraph that need to be corrected. Penina Moise's poetry was first published in 1820, not 1830. Her poem "To Persecuted Foreigners" was published in the Southern Patriot newspaper on February 23, 1820. Penina Moise was not the first Jew to publish poetry in America, but she was the first Jewish person to publish a book of poetry in the United States. Her book is called "Fancy's Sketchbook." It was published in 1833. Penina Moise published the book under her own name. Most women writers at that time used a made up name. But Penina believed in her words so she used her real name. Penina Moise was also a very important teacher in Charleston, South Carolina and was superintendent of the second Hebrew school in the United States. She continued to write and teach even after she became completely blind in her 60s. If you want to read my book about Penina Moise and learn more about her amazing life, please visit the website www.discoveringpeninamoise.com.
(6) stella rosen, November 10, 2009 7:06 PM
A WORD OF THANKS
In a world filled with anti-Semitism, this series emerges as a flower in the desert! Without "self-congratulations" argumentation or debate, Ms. Macauley has managed to simply, inform while entertaining , and in so doing, showing our remarkable achievements through telling these remarkable stories. THIS is a wonderful achievement! On behalf of myself, my family, and those I've shared this with, thank you, thank you, thank you. Eagerly awaiting the next! Stella and Richard Rosen
(5) Stewart Perry, November 10, 2009 5:23 PM
New Doors Opened
Marnie has scored again shedding new light on historical events that happened many years ago. She is not only a brilliant and funny writer when she wants to be, she is an innoivative historian also. Congratulations on a new concept based on old information. Stewart Perry
(4) Anonymous, November 9, 2009 5:41 PM
Marnie's done it again !
Old stuff new again,I
(3) Zack Metzkoff, November 8, 2009 8:07 PM
A Well Researched and Informative Read
Also a very enjoyable read. I have come to have faith in this site for exactly this reason. Bookmarking now.
(2) eli lazar, November 8, 2009 7:42 PM
MALA WAS RIGHT
Who is Mala? A member of my Book Club.Last Thursday eve, she mentioned thiscolumn at our meeting.As a lover of history, I made a note, and got to it this morning.I also saw the newest article. I was,needless to say, amazed.Amazed over the concept, the content and the quality.I've rarely read facts so meticulously researched, edited, and entertainingly written, particularly this second article.I, too, am now hooked.As a reader and as a Jew who is not really observant, I find these inspiring.This is a remarkable example of making researched material available, while exciting one's imagination.I'm eager to see the next installment! Many congratultaions to Ms.Macauley, She and your site has a new fan! (I've already phoned and thanked Mala!:) and will recommend Jewlarious and this author to our group, and others. Eli, a book "maven."
(1) josh, November 8, 2009 6:59 PM
WE JEWS is a RAVE and MUST READ AT OUR HOME!
We can't rave enough about this unique, brilliant series! A masterpiec!! Not only is the research spot on, but wonderfully written. WHY ISN'T THIS A BOOK or a documentary??? We'd love to see this in one booklet so we can have it all at once. Mazel tov! to the author, AISH and JEWLARIOUS! This proves why your site is superior to all others! We're forwarding this to everyone we know -- Jew and Gentile. Such a gift you've given us! Yehoshua and family