Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Louis Armstrong: the Jewish Link


 "At the beginning of last century, in the emotional hotbed of New
Orleans
, a child slave of the ghetto was born of a prostitute mother
and "missing" father.

He somehow stumbled into the attention of a financially poor but
loving Russian Jewish immigrant family, the Karnofskys.  This little
fellow, with an appreciative, magnetic personality, attached himself
to the father, to help him with his horse-and-wagon hauling business.

The Karnofskys loved the child, took him in for dinners, including
Shabbat, and provided more than bed and shelter.
They provided him with the love he needed, and his first musical
instrument that led this confused, hungry youngster onto worldwide
fame - as a jazz performer, music innovator and worldwide ambassador
for humanity. 

Louis Armstrong proudly spoke fluent Yiddish, from his
childhood through his whole life, and always wore a Star of David
around his neck.

[Here is the link to verify -ed]


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