Wednesday, April 4

:
SoFlo: "NOTHING LEFT" -

Dorothy Downer sends you
sour regards to ruin your holiday...


Rick from Stuck on the Palmetto Blog points us to an article at the NYTimes about Jewish culture in Miami Beach. I have come to dislike that publication, and increasingly so in recent years; consequently, I do not read it generally. The article was written by Abby Goodnough and, we have to presume, it was supervised and authorized by a senior editor there. Here's how the article ends:

Filmmakers and writers still call her to say they want to document Jewish culture in Miami Beach, Ms. Zerivitz said.

"I get calls like that all the time, especially from California and up east," she said. "I say: 'Sorry, you’re many, many years too late. There’s nothing left.'"


Just because the NYTimes states something as fact, does that make it true? Most certainly not.

There are two points I wish to address here:
-1) Is this true?
-2) And what is the purpose of this article?

First, it is not true that "there's nothing left." One of the most eminent Jewish writers of the past generation which has died was Isaac Bashevis Singer who lived for many years in New York City and then moved in his later years to Miami Beach. He left many novels, interviews, and other works behind which are immortal. They still exist in public libraries and book stores and in many institutions. He taught at the University of Miami and has left former students behind as part of his legacy. Among other things, he was awarded a Nobel Prize for Literature. His work does not constitute "nothing." Every generation lives, gets old and dies in the natural course of events. But to contend that the previous generation which has died, has left nothing behind as far as culture, is counterfeit history and a twisted form of revisionist history.

Second, what possible purpose does this article have? It is designed to make Jewish people feel bad at the beginning of the Passover celebration. And it is a despicable lie.

Just disregard their malicious gesture; and have a happy holiday anyway.

Incidentally, if you're looking for contemporary novels to read this spring of that genre, there are two scheduled to debut soon which have been touted as outstanding: The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Chabon and The Ministry of Special Cases by Englander. Accuracy of spelling and details for them, not guaranteed off the top of my head.

:: Stuck on the Palmetto /perma ::
-- Shtetl by the Sea --

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