BOOK SPARKS PROTEST : JEWISH GROUP CALLS FOLK TALE BIGOTED.Byline: Jeanne Mariani-Belding Daily News Staff Writer A centuries-old folk tale republished as a part of a program to restore works that have gone out of print is drawing fire for its anti-Semitic overtones. The American Jewish Congress
The American Jewish Congress describes itself as an association of Jewish Americans organized to defend Jewish interests at home and abroad through public policy advocacy, using diplomacy, is urging Barnes & Noble booksellers to pull ``Gypsy Folk Tales'' from its stores' shelves because it contains a tale of a simpleton sim·ple·ton n. A person who is felt to be deficient in judgment, good sense, or intelligence; a fool. [simple + -ton (as in surnames such as Chesterton, Singleton). who is repeatedly cheated by an unscrupulous innkeeper An individual who, as a regular business, provides accommodations for guests in exchange for reasonable compensation. An inn is defined as a place where lodgings are made available to the public for a charge, such as a hotel, motel, hostel, or guest house. - repeatedly referred to as `the Jew', said Marc Stern, legal director of the American Jewish Congress, a national civil liberties organization based in New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. . ``One of the great myths that fueled anti-Semitism through this century is that Jews were always cheating people. This is not a book on history or sociology and to describe a Jewish person this way is harmful,'' Stern said Friday. ``This reinforces a popular stereotype that, although it is much diminished, still exists,'' he said. ``We don't think Barnes & Noble should sell it anymore until it's recast re·cast tr.v. re·cast, re·cast·ing, re·casts 1. To mold again: recast a bell. 2. without religious stereotypes.'' But in a letter sent to Stern on Friday, Leonard Riggio, chief executive officer for Barnes & Noble, said the company has no intention of pulling the book. ``Like all of the books we sell, we do not take an editorial interest, nor, of course, do we do anything which would constitute censorship,'' Riggio said in the letter, adding that he has not read - nor does he intend to read - the book. Riggio said in the letter that while he does not like the references Stern mentions, nor any other type of anti-Semitic references, ``Nevertheless, we are not in the business of removing books from our shelves because of insensitive references. Our position on this issue is not subject to interpretation.'' ``Gypsy Folk Tales'' - comprised of 18th and 19th century folklore - is one of thousands reprinted by the company as part of a program to reissue re·is·sue v. re·is·sued, re·is·su·ing, re·is·sues v.tr. To issue again, especially to make available again. v.intr. To come forth again. n. 1. works that have gone out of print, Riggio said, and Barnes & Noble does not use its own editors or copy writers on these types of projects. The folk tale recounts the story of a simpleton who is thrice thrice adv. 1. Three times. 2. In a threefold quantity or degree. 3. Archaic Extremely; greatly. cheated by a Jewish innkeeper. The simpleton is bilked out of a magic tablecloth which provides an endless spread of food, a mystical loaf of bread which replenishes itself when sliced and a lamb which magically drops ducats and francs on command. But in a fourth encounter between the simpleton and the innkeeper, the innkeeper and his wife are beaten and their two young children killed by a cudgel with magical powers. The simpleton and his wife - after regaining their magical possessions - live happily ever after The term happily ever after is used in association with many works of children’s fiction and romantic fiction. It describes a happy ending, often a cliché in which all the good characters have emerged victorious and all the evil characters have been punished. . Stern said that while he believes that Barnes & Noble did not intend by reprinting ``The Lucky Simpleton'' to offend anyone, the bookseller must still react responsibly. ``Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from responsibility,'' Stern said. ``Barnes & Noble is responsible for what it does, and it's important to remind book publishers of that from time to time. ``This calls attention to the fact that there are nooks and crannies Noun 1. nooks and crannies - something remote; "he explored every nook and cranny of science" nook and cranny detail, item, point - an isolated fact that is considered separately from the whole; "several of the details are similar"; "a point of information" of our culture with lingering pieces of older prejudices that, if they are not dealt with and exposed, can nurture another generation,'' he added. Stern did not say Friday what further action, if any, the American Jewish Congress would take. The American Jewish Congress, formed in 1918, focuses on matters regarding the separation of church and state
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