YIDDSH 10 Chapter Notes - Chapter Film: Hear Music, Marusha, Rabbi
Prompt: Contrasting the reading from the Asch novel with the film, is it clear in the chapters from
the novel and in the film how Uncle Moses sees himself? How Masha sees him? In what ways
does the film convey this interior information to the viewer?
● Uncle Moses is a “benevolent despot” and self-made patriarch among his landsmen
○ Owns a clothing store and employs many employees
○ Provides jobs, though works his employees hard
○ Often makes contributions to the community
■ Rabbi comes to see uncle moses
○ Sees himself very highly: “He came for a donation. Everyone comes to Uncle
Moses in America”
○ Issue with polish woman? “I never laid a hand on her… that’s what my lawyer
told me to say”
■ Uncle moses has fathered an illigitimate child?
■ womanizer!!
○ Fire aaron melnick because he made fun of his belly: prideful
■ Upon meeting melnick’s daughter, Masha takes a liking and rehires him
with $5 raise
● Aaron melnick’s daughter despies him (a beast, a dog, etc); he is
so cruel to her dad
○ This only makes UM like her more
● Masha loves a man who wants to eventually marry her
● Uncle Moses’s dad: “Kuznim lives on
● Uncle Moses’ dad treats him in a “who do you think you are” sort of way
○ Tells him to send him back to Kuznim (send the jews away from egypt)
● Implies th in America”
○ Dancing around the shop
○ Moses speaks to Aaronn that he likes his daughter and should visit the family
sometimeat Uncle Moses is pharoh, overworking the Jews
● Ironic because of Uncle moses’s name
■ Dad ries to “liberate” them: “I’m moses and I’ll lead you to the sea!”
● Aaron’s family prepares for Uncle Moses’s visit
○ Charlie’s (masha’s lover) mother insists that her charlie would be a better match
for Masha than Uncle Moses and that her eldest (daughter) would be a better fit
for Uncle Moses; Charlie’s mother and Masha’s mother argue
■ Also, charlie believes in marxism (socialism) rather than capitalism
■ And tells masha that uncle moses wants her
○ Apparently the whole street is making a commotion over uncle moses’s expected
arrival; he’s that big
■ Everyone crowds around him, asking for jobs and donations; he’s almost
treated like a god
○ Moses arrives; gives Masha chocolates (which she drops) and bracelet and gold
pieces for her parents
■ Tries to appeal to family with his wealth and gain sympathy
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Document Summary
Uncle moses is a benevolent despot and self-made patriarch among his landsmen. Owns a clothing store and employs many employees. Provides jobs, though works his employees hard. Sees himself very highly: he came for a donation. I never laid a hand on her that"s what my lawyer told me to say . Fire aaron melnick because he made fun of his belly: prideful. Upon meeting melnick"s daughter, masha takes a liking and rehires him with raise. Aaron melnick"s daughter despies him (a beast, a dog, etc); he is so cruel to her dad. This only makes um like her more. Masha loves a man who wants to eventually marry her. Uncle moses" dad treats him in a who do you think you are sort of way. Tells him to send him back to kuznim (send the jews away from egypt)
