The antisemitic play “The Dybbuk” in an issue of the weekly Le Charivari. February 1928

The antisemitic play “The Dybbuk” in an issue of the weekly Le Charivari. February 1928

The satirical weekly Le Charivari (a French expression meaning a jarring noise that causes a headache), dated February 18, 1928 – featuring at its center an antisemitic play titled “The Dybbuk”, mocking Jews, along with additional antisemitic segments denouncing Jews. In French.

In the center pages of the issue, under the headline “In the Armchair of the Studio des Champs-Élysées”, appears a short story and caricature inspired by the play “The Dybbuk”, filled with overt mockery of Judaism, the concept of reincarnation, and Jewish presence in Parisian culture. The writer recounts how “Bib”, a recurring character in the magazine’s cartoons - persuades him to attend the Jewish version of “The Dybbuk” staged at the Studio des Champs-Élysées. He provides background, explaining that, according to Judaism, the soul attains complete purity only after undergoing many reincarnations. In the play, a young woman named Leah is possessed by a dybbuk and begins telling strange, unexpected stories. Her family summons a rabbi known for performing exorcisms, who is asked to expel the dybbuk from the unfortunate girl. The rabbi succeeds, but in the process, Leah dies upon the spirit’s departure. The writer adds, mockingly: “It’s not that I’m antisemitic. But, between us, haven’t we had enough living Jews without having to take in the dead ones too?” He notes that the theater was packed with a “prestigious audience” and lists numerous historically recognizable Jewish names from French public life, such as: “Mr. and Mrs. Lévy, Mr. and Mrs. Lévy-Lévy, Mr. and Mrs. Lévy-Bloch, Mr. and Mrs. Lévy-Braham, Mr. Jeroboam Mendel, Mr. Saher, Mr. and Mrs. Dreyfus, Mr. and Mrs. Lévy-Stern and their children, Mr. Léon Mayer, Mr. Léon Blum, Mr. and Mrs. Ullmann, Miss Kahn, Mrs. Dushnock, Miss Spinoza, Baron Samuel Rothschild, Baron Nathan Rothschild, Baron Job Rothschild, Baron Jacob Rothschild, Baron Abraham Rothschild, Baron Isaac Rothschild, Baron Eliezer Rothschild, Baron Ezekiel Rothschild, Baron Judah Rothschild – and Mr. Dupont, ” with one of them volunteering to “receive” an additional wandering soul. On the facing page appears a large caricature, portraying the rabbi during the exorcism scene, flanked by two stereotypically drawn Jews in tallitot, and the young girl as the dybbuk is being cast out. The audience is depicted with heavily caricatured Jewish features. The word “Dybbuk” is written in Hebrew letters.

Also in this issue appears an antisemitic jokes section, including the following piece: “Are there such things as foolish Jews?” Le Journal (as quoted) tells of a Jew in New York named Levy Everett, who was about to marry a young woman strongly averse to being called “Mrs. Levy.” He petitioned the Supreme Court for permission to adopt a different surname. The presiding judge granted the request, but felt compelled to express his opinion to the embarrassed Jew, adding a few rather scornful remarks—since the judge himself was named Levy. The article continues mockingly: “The insolent Jew deserved all of it, first and foremost because he is a fool; once a Jew, always a Jew. Gentiles are so naively stupid that it gives them a superiority above all others… Unless now that he’s calling himself Leroy (for that is the name this Levy chose), he thinks people will be less suspicious! … Ah, these Levys!... And to think half the tribe was wiped out...”. Another piece, titled “The General of Geneva, ” attacks Jewish involvement in French politics.

Le Charivari was founded by Charles Philipon and Honoré de Balzac (who wrote for the paper early in his career), and gained notoriety for its sharp caricatures that targeted the government, the Jews, the bourgeoisie, and the Church. It was one of the first periodicals to use caricature as a political weapon. Among its most famous contributors were Honoré Daumier, Cham, and Gavarni, considered founding figures of modern visual satire.

26 pages. Very good condition.