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OFFICIAL FAMILY AMBASSADOR
*The Yiddish word for “curious” is “naygerik.”
The word for “curiosity” is “naygerikayt” and “the visitor” is “der bazukher.”
Marjorie Gottlieb Wolfe
Syosset, New York
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Yes, Curious George, “di maple” (the monkey) who investigates his world because “altsding” (everything) fascinates him, is New York City’s official family ambassador. Since the ambassador program launched in 2009, family visitation has grown by 26.5 percent. NYC & Co. says that’s about 30.8% of the total number of city visitors. “Naygerik” George replaces last
year’s ambassador, “Where’s Waldo.”
The campaign includes travel material and guides to beaches, zoos, and museums. It will be featured in “oytobus” (bus) shelters and elsewhere and will encourage family travel and family-friendly activities and destinations.
Why my interest in Curious George? Yes, my 4-year-old grandson, Preston, loves his books and the hit television series which airs daily on PBS Kids. The series is designed to inspire kids to explore science, math and engineering in the world around them in a “humoristish” (humorous) way. With over 75 million books in print, George promises to be a “balibt” (beloved) ambassador.
However, I am fascinated with the thought that George MAY BE Jewish.
Q. What city does Curious George live in?
A. The cover of “George in the big city” depicts the Statue of LIberty,
so one could assume New York...however, the museum in which Prof. Wiseman works is very similar to the Field Museum in Chicago, down to the rex skeleton and whale hanging from “der sufit” (the ceiling) in the main hall. So, it could be either, take your pick...however, I’m inclined to believe it is a generic, made-up city, just like their country home near “Lake Wanna-Sink Lake.” Prof. Wiseman is full of great information about things. A good friend of The Man with the Yellow Hat, she runs the Museum of Science and gets pretty excited about George’s adventures.
Sources:
www.answers.com/mt/curious-george
www.pbs.org/parents/curiousgeorge/program/char_desc.html
But, let’s consider this. The authors, Hans Augusto Rey and Margret Rey, were living in Paris when they wrote the first of the Curious George books. Wanting to flee before the Nazis entered Paris, H. A. Rey built two bicycles from spare parts, and the two pedaled out of the city just two days before the Nazis entered France. They took with them some food, warm coats, and the manuscripts of five books they had written, including Curious George.
According to ynetnews.com, “they carried their favorite drawings during their four-month voyage from Paris to Spain, Portugal and Brazil before settling in New York. During their journey they were questioned “tsvey mol” (twice) by authorities due to their German accents but were exempted when officials learned they were creating children’s books. Upon their arrival in the U. S., they tried to sell the story of Fifi the monkey to American publishers, but were told Fifi was not a fit name for a male “khaye” (animal). So they changed his name to George...and the book went on to sell millions of copies. Curious George books have also been translated to other languages, including Yiddish and Hebrew.” FYI: In Israel, four-year-old George is known as “Choni Ha’Sakran.” (Note: The Yiddish words have been added to the quote.) (Source: Curious George and his Jewish creators” by Christal Gardiola ... and Shalom Life)
And, finally, was David Chack, President of the Association for Jewish Theatre, correct when he pointed out that the man’s hat could be a reference to the yellow stars Jews were forced to wear?
“Ver vaist?” (Who knows?) As Leo Rosten said (“Hooray for Yiddish”), “Who knows?” is also accusatory. Ex. “Why do you ask me for an answer to a question that is clearly unanswerable?”
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