That's a good one. Here's an Irving Berlin story that was really true, much repeated when Sir Isaiah Berlin, also Jewish, died.
During WWII, Sir Winston Churchill was so delighted with Sir Isaiah's reports on current events from the DC embassy that when someone told him Berlin was back in London briefly, he decided to invite him to dinner at 10 Downing Street. Unfortunately, someone got their signals crossed and invited Irving Berlin, also on a brief visit to London, instead. Dinner is going smoothly although Izzie is a bit baffled by some of the turns of the conversation. Finally, Winston asks him what he's working on and when the PM can expect to see it. Berlin answers, "I'm writing something called White Christmas and it should be done soon." And it's Sir Winston's turn to be confused. As Lenny Bruce would say, "Emmes." g "To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." --Theodore Roosevelt ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "World music from a Jewish slant" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2003 6:54 PM Subject: Re: Cohan: not a Jew. > Thank you for this thread. I am delighted with the twists and turns everyone > is taking. > > One of my favourite Irving Berlin tunes is SUPPERTIME, written for the Black > actress/Jazz singer Ethel Waters. I believe Berlin was able to dig deep into > another culture's pain because of our own history. > I agree that many of the popular tunes were less then masterful and I am > reminded of how disappointed I am that he or other great American songbook > composers never turned their attention to writing a really fabulous Chanukah > tune for example. > Never the less > this fabulous discussion of Irving Berlin's less then masterful compositions > through Cohen reminds me of one of my favourite jokes. > > With your indulgence.... > A man walked in to a Rabbi and announced he was prepared to make a sizable > donation of $15,000 to the congregation if the Rabbi could make him a Kohain. > > The rabbi answered that he wasn't sure that was possible. > > Determined the man said "Allright, alright $25,000. I'll be back in two weeks > with a cheque. I am sure you will find a way." > > Two weeks later the man entered the Rabbi's study waving a cheque made out > for $25,000 and asked "well Rabbi, can you make me a Kohain or not?" > > The rabbi sighed and agreed "Well, actually I found a very obscure Tract and > I believe I now will be able to do it. But please, you must tell me, why is > it SO important for you to become a Kohain?" > > The man answered "My father was a Kohain, My grandfather was a kohain" > > > Theresa Tova > check out my website > http://www.theresatova.com > <A HREF="http://theresatova.com/";>www.theresatova.com</A> > > > > ---------------------- [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------------------+ Hosted by Shamash: The Jewish Network http://shamash.org A service of Hebrew College, which offers online courses and an online MA in Jewish Studies, http://hebrewcollege.edu/online/ * * FREE JEWISH LEARNING * * Shamash invites you to join MyJewishLearning.com, a comprehensive, objective, authoritative and interactive learning resource in all areas of Judaism. Free membership via http://www.myjewishlearning.com/shamash ---------------------- [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------------------=
