AN INTERVIEW WITH
NST RESIDENT
RUTH ZUCKERBROD
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9,
11:00 AM, CHANNEL 995
BY DEE-DEE GOIDEL
The Migdal Chapter is excited to bring
this special presentation to NST residents.
Ruth Zuckerbrod of Building 2 is the
daughter of Samuel Isban, a prolific jour-nalist
and the author of “’Illegal’ Jews Part
the Seas.” In this special presentation on
Channel 995, Ruth will give a personal,
behind-the-scenes account of what it was
like to be a daughter of such a talented
writer and will discuss her father’s book.
It is noteworthy that the book was
originally published in Yiddish in 1948-
-10 years before Leon Uris’s “Exodus.”
Ruth and her brother, Elliot, had it
translated into English in 2020, so that
now everyone can learn about this fas-cinating,
true story.
ABOUT “’ILLEGAL’ JEWS PART
THE SEAS”
The year is 1947. Samuel Isban is a
journalist at the New York newspaper,
Der Morgn Zhunal, and accepts an
undercover assignment to report on
Aliyah Bet, the code name given to ille-gal
immigration by Jewish refugees to
Mandatory Palestine between 1934 and
1940 in violation of the restrictions put
forth in the British White Paper of 1939.
The Migdal Chapter
of Hadassah Presents…
The White Paper was
a reneging of the Balfour
Declaration 1917, which called
for a homeland for Jewish peo-ple
in Palestine. These British
policies and promises made
to the world and to the Jewish
people became a betrayal when
the British began to blockade
refugee ships from entering
Palestine referring to them as
“illegal.”
First written as a series of installments
for his undercover newspaper assign-ment,
Isban’s exposé might have set the
climate that led to an independent Israel,
having evolved into a book in 1948
before the United Nations recognized
Israel as a Jewish State.
AN AMAZING, COMPELLING
TRUE STORY
If you have the opportunity to read
the book, I can assure you that you will
not be disappointed. While reading the
pages, you feel you are an undercover
eyewitness aboard that ramshackle ship,
The Hatikva (The Hope), packed with
human cargo of 1,500 Jewish refugees.
Isban has the ability to get into the
head and figuratively the shoes of others,
giving you, the
reader, the deep
understanding of
the refugees’ plight
and the crew that
was manning
the ship.
His description
of the changing
sky and sea as the
ship makes the
journey first calms you, and
then sometimes makes you as
anxious as anybody on board.
You become concerned and worried for
the foreshadowing that awaits.
A GRANDDAUGHTER’S
INSPIRATION
Samuel Isban also inspired his
granddaughter, Nancy Zuckerbrod
(Ruth’s daughter), to pursue a career
in journalism. Nancy shares her
thoughts about the book and what it
means to her:
“The English translation of “’Illegal’
Jews Part the Seas,” by my grandfather,
Samuel Isban, moved me in many ways.
It tells a captivating and beautiful sto-ry
with universal messages of bravery,
belonging, and survival.
As I read the book, I found
myself wrestling with ques-tions
such as: What compels
someone to break laws to
create a safe home for them-selves
and their family? How
did survivors of the Shoah
find the strength and courage
to make such a dangerous
journey? And what risks are
worth taking as a journalist to
tell urgent stories the world
needs to hear.
This last question is quite
personal. My grandfather inspired me
in many ways, including to follow his
path as a writer and journalist. But this
story is relevant to us all. And within the
pages of this remarkable book, you’ll no
doubt find yourself wrestling with big
questions that come to mind and even
bigger feelings that touch your heart. “
~ Nancy Zuckerbrod
HOW TO PURCHASE THE BOOK
If you wish to read the book before (or
after) seeing the 995 program, you can
purchase it by giving a donation of $20
made out to Hadassah. Contact Dee-Dee
Goidel, Bldg. 2, Apt. 29N, phone 718-
423-2986 if you are interested.
ZOOM BOOK DISCUSSION:
WEDNESDAY,
OCTOBER 27, 4:00 PM
“The Yellow Bird Sings” by
Jennifer Rosner
Arlene Augenbraun and Bern
Rosenthal will lead a discussion of
Jennifer Rosner’s debut novel, “The
Yellow Bird Sings,” which was a
National Jewish Book Award finalist.
As Nazi soldiers round up the Jews in
their town, Róza and her 5-year-old
daughter, Shira,
flee, seeking shel-ter
in a neighbor’s
barn. Hidden in
the hayloft day
and night, Shira
is a musical prod-igy
and struggles
to stay still and
quiet, as music
pulses through her and the farmyard
outside beckons. A yellow bird sings
whatever the girl composes in her
head: high-pitched trills of piccolo;
low-throated growls of contrabassoon.
In this make-believe world, Róza can
shield Shira from the horrors that
surround them. But the day comes
when their haven is no longer safe, and
Róza must make an impossible choice:
whether to keep Shira by her side or
give her the chance to survive apart.
"Rosner’s exquisite, heart-rending debut
novel is proof that there’s always going to
be room for another story about World
War II....This is an absolutely beautiful
and necessary novel, full of heartbreak
but also hope, about the bond between
mother and daughter, and the sacrifices
made for love." The New York Times
How to Register for the Zoom
Register for the Zoom by October
20 with Judy Paris, our Zoom maven,
at judyparis@twc.com . Judy will send
you an invitation with the Zoom link
and instructions. If you need further help,
you can call her at 718-819-8293.
As you are aware, you can Zoom on a
computer, iPad, smartphone (iPhone or
Android) as long as you have a personal email.
Please note if you are not a member
of Hadassah, contact Marcia Jacobson,
Membership Chair, at 718-631-1067
to join.
HIGH HOLIDAY APPEAL
CONTINUES
MIGDAL THANKS YOU!
Migdal Chapter of NST wishes to
thank the donors who responded to
the Special High Holiday appeal by
giving Tzedakah to celebrate the Jewish
New Year.
One example of where your contribu-tions
go: A Hadassah HMO delegation
made up of doctors and nurses traveled
to several countries in need of guidance
and advice on running COVID-19
intensive care units. I am sure you
recall that Israel was the first country
to be ahead of the curve in their ability
and organized method of vaccinating
its citizens.
Your continuing important and gen-erous
support of Hadassah helps you to
join the organization to “Heal the World”
and helps us reach our High Holiday goal.
If you have not yet made a donation, we
will gratefully accept your contribution.
For information on how to contribute,
contact Eva Kessner at 718-631-7637.
Thank you in advance. ~ Dee-Dee
Don’t Forget!
Samuel Isban’s
original 1948
publication
October 2021 ¢ NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER 11
link
