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We read it because it's a classicle
Bel Kaufman has died. Her maternal grandfather was Sholem Aleichem. Her other grandfather was my great-great-uncle—my great-great-grandfather's older brother, Jacob Kaufman. She was still teaching at 100, writing at 101. I grew up knowing about her, but I never read any of her Yiddish stories, only the famous novel. It's a good novel.
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That's wonderful. I think I read it in my grandparents' house.
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That novel made a huge impression on me--made me see the possibilities of a story told through memos, notes, reports, letters, etc. I only found out the connection to Sholem Aleichem reading the obits.
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That's fair.
That novel made a huge impression on me--made me see the possibilities of a story told through memos, notes, reports, letters, etc.
So she's one of the ancestors of Pen Pal.
I only found out the connection to Sholem Aleichem reading the obits.
I grew up knowing we were connected somehow to Sholem Aleichem—it turned out we were in-laws, but Bel Kaufman always felt like a cousin of my grandmother's. If their grandfathers were brothers—Jacob and Moses—then their parents were first cousins—Michael and Sofy—and they were second cousins themselves. More closely related than me and
. . . I didn't put enough greats in my original post. I'll amend that.
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What a strange reality! But then life is like that.
And yes, definitely, re: Pen Pal.
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“We study myths like Orpheum & his girl friend because it takes place in the Greek Underground...”
Nine
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I knew she was three years ago, because of coincidental timing. I liked knowing that she was still writing and teaching at her advanced, undiminished age. It is what I wish for all the artists I know.
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Yes!
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*snerk*
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That is when you know you've become a legend.