BellaOnline Forums Travel and Culture Polish Culture When Shlemiel Went to Warsaw

I mentioned this story sometime ago, but I had a chance to go to my old school today and find the author. It is written by the Polish author Isaac Bashevis Singer.

Isaac Bashevis Singer

Scroll down to the Wise Men of Chelm.

Those who leave Chelm . . . End up in Chelm.
Those who remain in Chelm . . . Are certainly in Chelm.
All roads lead to Chelm. . . All the world is one big Chelm. Isaac Bashevis Singer

Isaac Bashevis Singer was a Jew writing in jidish. He got Nobel prize in 1978 and all his works were translated into polish from english. He used to work for Warsaw Jewish newspapper for some time before the war. It's a strech to call him "polish author" but he was born in Poland and also probably had polish passport <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Oh my oh my!
Hi! Sorry that I haven't shown up for such a long time <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
Yesterday I came to the board and what do I see?
I'm coming from a town of fools.. :| Oh my!
I didin't know about this :|
I asked my mom if she knew about it and her answer was like:
"Of course I did, we even have to books with jokes about the Chelm Jews" <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
I can only say that fortunately all those anecdotes are about the Jews that lived here before the WWII. On those times over 80% of Chelm's population were Jews <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
But still, I can't say that it is a nice thing to hear about one's hometown :|

Hello Mikolaj,

I am glad to see you back again! When you first came to the forum, you showed us some nice pictures of Chelm, so we know it is a beautiful place. Are you home for the summer?

Nancy

Yeah, I am. I mean, I will. I'm currently in Che&#322;m but tomorow I'm going back to Warsaw for my two last exams this year: the German history and culture, and the second one is the History of Philosophy.
Wish me luck, especially for the second one <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Good Luck!

How did the famous essay turn out?

It has been accepted. I had a second one to make, about an important battle in polish history.It had to be a survey report so I had to make a questionnaire. Now that I think about it, I could have asked you to answer the questions <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
Anyway, I passed the course, and there will be no stupid essays for me anymore! At least for now.. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />