STOP WORK TOMORROW MORNING – COME TO SHOLEM ALEICHEM’S FUNERAL.
________________________________________________________________
SHOLEM ALEICHEM’S BODY WILL LATER BE FLOWN TO RUSSIA
________________________________________________________________
The great Yiddish writer passed away yesterday morning, surrounded by his family and friends. – The entire city is shocked by his passing. – The funeral will be tomorrow morning from his house to the Cypress Hills Cemetery. – His body will be carried through the Jewish streets, passing Jewish institutions and newspapers. – Memorial service at the Educational Alliance. – The honor guard of writers.
________________________________________________________________
Yesterday morning, a special Forverts announced to the world that Sholem Aleichem passed away; the announcement made a noticeable impression. With the newspaper in one hand and tears in the eyes, people from all over came to the streets and spoke about the great writer, about his talent, about his belovedness and about his unexpected end.
The Jewish people have witnessed two big funerals in this year of the war and during the war.
The funeral of Peretz in Warsaw a year ago and now the funeral of Sholem Aleichem here in New York.
These two tragedies played a big role in the fears of this year. If the tragedy hadn’t happened, we wouldn’t have lost them so quickly.
When we will walk after the casket this Monday, we will know that together with our grieving hearts are the hearts of all the millions of Jews from all of Russia, Galicia, Romania, from everywhere where Yiddish is a living language.
This funeral tomorrow should be a big one, that is fitting for our dear Sholem Aleichem’s brilliance!
Sholem Aleichem was the artist for the masses. He not only created for our thoughts – aristocracy, only for everyone, everyone – for the entire Jewish people.
Jewish workers, this is your Sholem Aleichem! Stop your work, to go commemorate our great man! Stop your work to go to Sholem Aleichem’s funeral!
All of America should be in misery over this, Jewish workers!
Should one ask: “Why is the Jewish population making such noise?” The answer should be: “A great Jewish author passed away and the Jewish working masses know how to value their talents.”
Come to Sholem Aleichem’s funeral!
________________________________________________________________
Sholem Aleichem (his true name was Sholem Rabinovitch) passed away today at 7:30 in the morning in his residence, 968 Kelly Street in the Bronx. At his death he leaves his wife, his three daughters and his only son, a 15 year old boy, (the deceased also had a married daughter in Russia), and his close friends, writers and doctors.
As we announced in our last issue of the “Forverts”, the doctors who took care of the deceased said that his situation was dangerous. One would have assumed the worst. The family and friends hoped for the best the entire time. The famous author was found surrounded by his family and closest friends until his last breath.
Sholem Aleichem suffered from tuberculosis, and later, from diabetes. He also had weak lungs and despite that, he was a one in a million.
This had Sholem been Sholem Aleichem’s second time in America. Ten years ago he had temporarily come. Two years ago he returned with his family and settled here.
The funeral will be tomorrow morning, 9:30 in the morning from the deceased’s residence, 968 Kelly Street.
The thousands of mourners will arrange themselves in lines, and will walk without stopping until 116th Street. That is where the Ohab Zedek shul is located, and that’s where they will stop. And they will say the Eyl Mole Rakhmim prayer for the deceased. They will then walk through Third Avenue to Tenth Street, through 61st Street to Park Avenue, until 11th Street. Then they will continue on First Avenue until 23rd Street, and then through 23rd Street to Second Avenue, until Houston, through Houston and Eldridge until Canal, through East Broadway, where the Yiddish newspaper office is located, then to the Educational Alliance, where a memorial service will be held. From there will they go to Hakhnoses Orkhim, and from there through Clinton Street over the Williamsburg Bridge to Mount Nebo Cemetery, in Cypress Hills.
Writers, actors, professional people and workers will walk behind the casket. Workers will stop their work in order to pay their respects to the man who wrote for them and about their troubles. Thousands upon thousands will be at his funeral.
Amongst the mourners will be students from the uptown and downtown schools. They will sing sad songs. When he is laid to rest in the cemetery, Shmarya Levin, [Leon] Khazanovich, and […]intchevsky will deliver eulogies. Yossele Rosenblatt will sing the Eyl Mole Rakhmim prayer.
[………] The writer will not be buried at the cemetery.
The famous author had announced that he should not be buried here. He was born in Russia, and wanted to be buried there as well. His body will be embalmed and will be placed in a casket. Afterwards, his body will be flown to Russia, where he will be laid to eternal rest.
To the thousands and thousands of admirers of this great writer, who are thinking of traveling to the cemetery: one can travel there with the Brooklyn Elevator. Stop at Wyckoff Avenue, get a transfer for the Cypress Hills car, which travels straight to the cemetery.
Translation of a section of the front page of the “Forverts,” May 14, 1916
