William Frankel | Joseph Witriol's Writings

Can hardly realise have been back to school in the old train-train – and living only to finish the next 9½ working days, when there will be a week’s mid-term break.

Have concocted a mish-mash for the “Jewish Humour” thing. Mum did have Royte Pomerantzen [YIDDISH HUMOUR Royte Pomerantsen, or How to Laugh in Yiddish ed. I Olsvanger, review published in J.C. 11/03/1966], although she had insisted she hadn’t. I had ordered a copy, meanwhile, from Foyles, but have received nothing from them.

I flogged a number of review-copy book, incidentally, to Foyles, for £2, for which I got from them a new Cassell’s French-English, English-French dictionary, 36/-. One of the books I flogged was Chaim Bermant’s Jericho Sleep Alone, which might have helped me in my humour article. Some time ago I had flogged – to Sulzbacher – a review copy of a book by one Salcia Landmann on Der Jüdische Witze, in which she said Anglo-Jewry had not evolved any Jewish humour – this too might have come in useful. I asked Sulzbacher if he still had this book, and he sent me a paper-back by her – Jüdische Anekdoten – which I have been able to make use of.

Frankel [Editor of Jewish Chronicle] has given me an idea. If he accepts my article, I think I will try to keep one notebook like this going to provide materila for some such articles as Anglo-Jewish humourists, Anglo-Jewish humour and Yiddish humour. Incidentally, Frankel has technically commissioned my article, but muggins-like, I suppose, I told him not to worry if he couldn’t use it – to regard it as a submission.

To shool this morning with Philip and Susannah. Got off on the wrong foot because, as always, had gone to bed after midnight last night, which would not matter if the kids would let us sleep till nine, but they won’t. Had told Edith I wanted the boys to go to Bnei Akiva in the afternoon. One Stanley Lerner – of the “Group” [ a social gathering for synagogue members] – is trying to organise this. Seems tragic – about only eight or ten kids go. Should have thought that many parents would have been glad, like me, to get rid of the kids for a couple of hours, though against this has to be balanced the inconvenience of taking them and collecting them.

E. had agreed to take them – though it was obviouse she was unwilling, we had Alf & Doreen coming. Susannah started her screaming – I want-to-be-in-on-this act, and, as I feared, E. was not ready to take them until 2.45, when D & A turned up with Helen. She took them along, and then came back with a their-Aunty-Doreen-doesn’t-ge-a-chanc-to-see-them line – so I had to take them along. Well, well.

Somewhat despondent. Day after birthday. Least said, better. Went last night to see “Beyond the Fringe” at Mayfair Theatre. Small, comfortable theatre, good sophisticated entertainment. Four young men holding stage in series of brilliant sketches.

Have been asked by William Frankel, editor of Jewish Chronicle, to write article on Jewish humour as reflecting social and religious attitudes for magazine called Quest – “for which a fee will be paid”. Can’t think what on earth I would write. Had thought Royte Pomerantzen, a book of Yiddish (in Latin characters) jokes which I reviewed for J.C. could just enable me to get by - but now can’t find the book - hence, largely, the despondency.

It all seems wrong. W.F. writes to me that he “can think of no one better qualified (or words to that effect) to write such an article”; a couple of years ago Vallentine, Mitchell wrote to me as “the only one” who could translate some Yiddish book they wanted translated. I ought to be turning out a steady stream of article, ought always to have some translating in the pipe-line…above all, not dreading – perhaps that’s too strong a word – but facing the return to school with great reluctance.

Perhaps the mood will pass, but am becoming if anything more degenerate. In bed till 10, 10.30am. It’s true I don’t get to bed till 12.30 or 1am but E gets to bed even later, and is up by 8.30. Even when I do get up, tend to doze off after lunch.