Strange to Relate Philip R. Alstat

the photo of alstat accompanied hundreds of newspaper articles.

for 40 years, 1938 through 1976, year of death—in 1500 weekly columns – alstat wrote strange relate, column revealed little-known information judaism, people, history, , faith, , intersection american , world events. columns appeared in both english , yiddish papers, including american examiner, , new york jewish week. quoting poetry, literature, , latest news stories, ranging scientific discoveries international events, wrote articles surprising , unanticipated jewish connections in news. fact story of jewish festival of hanukkah recorded in catholic bible s book of maccabees, not in hebrew bible; way ancient jewish prayer new moon had changed after first lunar moon landing—taking out phrase, have never touched ; fact that, after world war ii, german money helped print 17-volume edition of talmud – when survivors talmud (also known u.s. army talmud, because dedicated u.s. army) published, based on realization many jews in displaced persons camps hungry jewish books food; scientific theories offered russian way unusual alignment of planets caused splitting of red sea; way talmudic rabbis, not benjamin franklin, invented lightning rod, articles read lay people , jewish leaders alike.

these few examples of titles of columns reveal wide range of topics:

jewish aspects of moon exploration
jewish aspects of benjamin franklin
president lyndon johnson, through jewish eyes
golda meir recalls rosh hashanah in moscow

his columns quoted rabbis throughout country in sermons , columns. additionally, in letters editor , personal correspondence, readers write indebtedness him revived interest in torah , people of israel. . columns reprinted in works of others during lifetime, , long after death. example, story of 13th century jewish philosopher, abraham abulafia, included in 1995 collection, treasury of jewish anecdotes:

in summer of 1280, abraham abulafia went rome convert pope judaism. wanted meet pope nicklaus iii on eve of jewish new year , persuade leader of world s roman catholics become jew. pope, @ summer house, heard of plan, , ordered abulafia burned @ stake. abulafia arrived @ gate of papal residence, not arrested. pope had died result of apoplectic stroke during preceding night. abulafia jailed 28 days , released.

in addition column, wrote frequent book reviews, including 1 of first earth lord s, abraham joshua heschel. additionally, worked behind-the-scenes support work of many colleagues, acknowledged in book s preface, after death, in 1992 study, economic analysis in talmudic literature: rabbinic thought in light of modern economics.