Tag Archive: Adar
Jewish Comics and Cartoons Part II
In continuation of this post, it has just come to my attention thanks to the Lookstein Institute’s Bookjed Email the release of From Krakow to Krypton: Jews and Comic Books, by Arie Kaplan with a Foreword by Harvey Pekar and JT Waldman.
Below is an excerpt of the description the email provided:
Since their creation in the 1930’s, comic books have become a part of our nation’s vocabulary, forever changing the way Americans think about stories, pictures, and what makes a hero. Jews have been at the
forefront of this medium from the beginning: they created the first comic book, the first graphic novel, the first comic book convention, the first comic book specialty store, and they helped create the underground comics (or “Comix”) movement of the late ’60s and early ’70s. Many of the creators of the most famous comic books, such as Superman, Spiderman, X-Men, and Batman, as well as the founders of MAD Magazine, were Jewish.
In From Krakow to Krypton industry insider Arie Kaplan uncovers the Jewish subtexts of these popular stories and showcases the unique contributions Jews have made to this American art form. From Krakow to
Krypton features original interviews with legendary figures such as Will Eisner, Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Al Jaffee, Neil Gaiman, Jerry Robinson, and Art Spiegelman, giving fans an inside look at the story behind their favorite stories.
The Ramat Eshkol Song!
As many of my faithful readers know, we live in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Ramat Eshkol. Indeed, while we have not lived in this area for several decades like some of the original Anglo-Saxon Olim who established the Beit Yaakov Synagogue founded by the late Rabbi Dolgin, we still have seen it change, and drastically at that.
Case in point:
- I remember when there weren’t any Sukkah Porches on the buildings.
- I remember when the only Mehadrin restaurant on Paran was Nina’s.
- I remember when there weren’t yeshivas and minyanim on Ramat HaGolan!
Anyways, the list can continue, but on to the song below which is a funny spoof on how Ramat Eshkol is nowadays…
And so, out of all the months to share some humor, there isn’t a better one then the month of Adar!
The Holy Niggun of “Lead Belly”
Some children grow up memorizing tunes from Barney, SpongeBob, and so on and so forth. Others memorize the tunes of Professor Green and The Simcha Machine (a personal favorite because we share last names!) and The Amazing Torah Bike (which frankly I still think brings to life the story of the Exodus).
That said, in my formative years, I never heard of the great Blues musician (and oft-pardoned convict) Huddie Ledbetter, popularly known as “Lead Belly,” nor did I think I knew any of his tunes.
I was wrong.
Ever since I can remember, my favorite holiday growing up was Purim. The festive atmosphere, the exchange of treats and gifts, topped off by the final mitzvah of the day, the Purim Seudah, is what makes this a day that every child continues to mark off on his or her mental calendar and looks forward to each year.
While I have spent Purim in many locations throughout the world, and while the people and the atmosphere may differ from year to year, the songs never seem to change. To that end, year after year I must sing countless times the catchy tune of: M’She, M’She M’Shenechnas Adar, Marbim, Marbim, Marbim B’Simchah. That said, only several years ago was it brought to my attention that the person who brought this niggun down to us was not The Amshinover or another such Chassidic Master?
Who was the bal m’nagen, the composer of this song, that is sang in all the yeshivas, from Merkaz HaRav to The Mirrer…?
The answer may surprise you!
It is none other then a musician known to the world as, “Lead Belly.” Enjoy watching him in action below!
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