The Jewish Press | April 3, 2020 | B7
The 5th Seder question: Was Max Baer Jewish or not? descent, on Christmas Eve of 1905. Jacob and OZZIE NOGG On June 8, 1933, at the age of 24, Omaha-born Dora eventually welcomed two daughters Max Baer entered the ring at Yankee Stadium and three sons, one of whom was Maximilian in the Bronx and — in front of 60,000 spectators Adelbert Baer, born on Feb. 11, 1909 in (30,000 of whom were reOmaha. Max’s younger ported to be Jewish) — faced brother, Buddy, said that off against German heavyJacob and Dora negligently weight and former world raised their children in the champion Max Schmeling. A Catholic faith, but allowed Star of David almost glowed them to practice whatever on Baer’s trunks, embroifaith they chose. dered by his Aunt Emma So fine. The Baer family Edelstein, and a small gold tree bore a mish-mash of Mogen Dovid hid in his left fruit. But back to Yankee glove. The fifteen-round Stadium and 1933. bout was billed as, “Nazi Bad Hitler had sent Max Guy against Wholesome Schmeling, Germany’s uberAmerican Jewish Boy Baer.” mensch, to the United Still, for many, Max Baer’s States to prove Aryan suclaim to Jewish ancestry was premacy. Baer was only half Max Baer, debatable. But why? Jewish, but he was Jewish Max’s grandfather, “The Butcher from Livermore” enough for Hitler. In Der Achille Baer, born in 1831, was an Alsatian Fuhrer’s mind, a Schmeling win over Baer was Jew from France. Family records claim the a win for the Third Reich. However, Jack Baer home and the synagogue Achille’s Dempsey, the fight’s promoter, made sure the mother (Max’s great-grand Bubbie) would American public saw “The Battle of the Maxes” have attended still stand in Alsace- Lorraine, as a crusade against right versus wrong, as a and a Jewish section of an area cemetery is fight between the United States and Jewish filled with Baer tombstones. Achille emi- people everywhere against Nazi Germany. grated to Wyoming Territory in 1864 and Jeffery Sussman, author of Max Baer and hired a matchmaker to find him a wife. A Barney Ross: Jewish Heroes of Boxing, wrote, photo of Frances ‘Fanny’ Fischl (a lovely, Jew- “During those years, Jewish boxers were seen as ess from Prague) caught his eye, after which symbols of courage and defiance, as gladiators the two married in Laramie in 1869. Relatives against anti-Semitism. The Star of David on suspect the couple could only communicate Baer’s trunks was a call to arms, a symbol of in Yiddish, since both came from different Jewish pugnacity, David’s shield against his encountries with different languages. emies. Jewish fans couldn’t wait to see their Fanny bore Achille seven sons and two handsome Jewish hero wallop the darling of the daughters. The sons, including Max’s father, Nazi fatherland.” During the fight, between Jacob (born in 1875), were named for the what sportswriters called “a blitzkrieg of tribes of Israel, and the children’s early educa- blows,” Baer reportedly snarled to Schmeltion was in Jewish schools. Jacob Baer mar- ing,“ That one’s for Hitler.” The referee finally ried Dora Bales, an Iowa girl of Scots-Irish See Max Baer page B8
You clean for Passover? Continued from page B5 out a parachute, diving deep into a river, and snaring a salmon bare-handed, as wild bears look on from the shore. In all three commercials the action scene abruptly ends and the viewer is returned to the opening scene, with Yossi saying: “Oh, nothing--can’t a guy ask a question.” (the third commercial ends slightly differently). Lior then wishes Yossi, “Happy Holiday,” and the commercials conclude with this voice-over: “Getting ready for Passover? No need to make a drama out of it. This holiday is ‘all’ Supersol’s” [playing on “kulo,” a key word of the beloved Mah Nishtana segment of the Passover Haggadah]. It’s hard to overstate the importance of such commercials for connecting Israeli identity with Jewish-holiday observance. In this case, the three commercials normalize cleaning and shopping for Passover in Israeli society. The incredible power of these commercials comes from playing off the surprise of “catching” Lior Raz preparing (or having prepared) for Passover with the imaginary “action” scenes. The punchline here is of an a fortiori nature: If in reality even the star of Fauda cleans and shops for Passover, then so should I. In a Jewish majority culture, the holidays of Judaism are the country’s national holidays. Because of this, business and advertising firms will utilize Jewish culture for their own interests, such as causing Israelis to feel that it is only natural to prepare for Passover. Not that Supersol or anyone else could convince Israelis that shopping and cleaning for Passover is fun (there are limits after all to advertising genius), but that Israelis are made to feel: this is what is done here. What a contrast to the diaspora Jewish experience. In most places in the diaspora, taking out a piece of matza in public can feel
unusual and sometimes even weird. In Israel, taking out a piece of matza on Passover is normal, and thanks to Supersol, Lior Raz, Fauda, and Yes TV, even cool. Teddy Weinberger, Ph.D., made aliyah in 1997 with his wife, former Omahan Sarah Jane Ross, and their five children, Nathan, Rebecca, Ruthie, Ezra, and Elie, all of whom are veterans of the Israel Defense Forces; Weinberger can be reached at weinross@netvision.net.il.
Carol Katzman Continued from page B6 the Holocaust, from founding a business or organization to participating in political campaigns or creating an original piece of art or music. Frankly, meeting what appeared to be ordinary people who told extraordinary stories was the best part of the job!” She’s proud of the amazing stories she’s been able to tell and, in the process, added a great story of her own: “The Press won a lot of awards when I was editor, not just from the Nebraska Press Association, and the American Jewish Press Association, but one from the University of Nebraska-Omaha, which included a $1000 prize. We won for special issues, individual stories, layout/design and special categories. There used to be a wall of awards opposite the bound volumes of the Press; I don’t know if they’re still there, but it did serve as a source of pride for all of us on the JP staff and board.” One last question: What is the most difficult thing about being an editor? “Haha. Not gonna answer that, and you can quote me!”