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erkson, isaac baer
but noting his limitations. A later generation dealt with the
relationship between naturalism and realism in his work (Y.
Keshet), emphasized the central psychological dilemma in his
work, which confronts the little man with a situation beyond
his control (D. Sadan), and described the alienation of his intellectual
heroes (S. Halkin). The young Israeli critics have
not devoted much attention to his work. Some have stressed
the sociological aspect in his work (i.e., the breakup of the
home – G. Katznelson) and others have studied in detail his
technique in story and playwriting (G. Shaked). He has had
little influence on the writers of his own and the subsequent
generation or on the young Israeli writers. A list of his works
translated into English appears in Goell, Bibliography.
Bibliography: I. Holt, Isaac Dov Berkowitz, Voice of the
Uprooted (1972); Ḥ.N. Bialik, Iggerot, 1 (1938), 263; idem, Devarim
she-be-al-Peh (1935), 188–90; Kol Kitvei J. Ḥ. Brenner, 2 (1960), 380;
D.A. Friedman, Iyyunei Perozah (1966), 143–60; S. Halkin, Arai va-
Keva (1942), 95–112; D. Sadan, Bein Din le-Ḥeshbon (1963), 163–8; J.
Fichmann, Benei Dor (1952), 226–53; Y. Koplewitz (Keshet), Be-Dor
Oleh (1950), 13–24; G. Katznelson, in: Gilyonot, 30 (1954), 239–43;
G. Shaked, Al Arba’ah Sippurim (1964), 11–33; idem, ‘Oto ve-Et Beno’
ve-ha-Maḥazeh ha-Re’alisti: Al Sheloshah Maḥazot (1968), 9–38; A.
Komem-Kominkovsky, in: Me’assef le-Divrei Sifrut, 4 (1964), 243–53;
R. Wallenrod, Literature of Modern Israel (1956), 162–6, 169. Add.
Bibliography: G. Shaked, Ha-Sipporet ha-Ivrit, 1 (1977), 327–41.
[Gershon Shaked]
BERKSON, ISAAC BAER (1891–1975), U.S. educator and
philosopher. Berkson, who was born in New York, began his
teaching career at the Central Jewish Institute in New York,
of which he was appointed director in 1917. From 1918 until
1927 he supervised the schools and extension program of the
city’s Bureau of Jewish Education. In 1927 he began teaching
education at the Jewish Institute of Religion (later merged with
the Hebrew Union College), and in the same year accepted
the invitation of Henrietta Szold, who headed the Palestine
Executive’s department of education, to survey Jewish schools
in Palestine. After completing his survey, he remained in Palestine
from 1928 to 1935 as superintendent of the Jewish school
system. In 1938 Berkson began lecturing in the philosophy of
education at the City College of New York (professor, 1955).
Though a follower of the progressive education ideas of John
Dewey and W.H. Kilpatrick, Berkson only partially accepted
their pragmatic-instrumentalist philosophy. His merger of
these views with his own, which were a reflection of the ideals
and values of his Jewish heritage, was given expression in
his book The Ideal and the Community (1958). In dealing with
the specific problems of Jewish education he advanced the
“community theory.” According to him, the Jewish communities
of the world constitute the “Knesset Israel,” which has
its own “heritage of cultural, social, and spiritual values.” The
cultivation of the individual’s Jewish personality must therefore
combine loyalty to his own community – the “Knesset
Israel,” including the State of Israel – and sharing with his fellow
men in the “realm of universal ideals.” Berkson’s Theories
of Americanization (1920) was an important influential state-
ment of the American theory of cultural pluralism which he
applied specifically to the problems of Jewish education. Berkson’s
other works include: Preface to an Educational Philosophy
(1940), Education Faces the Future (1943), Ethics, Politics
and Education (1968), and The Ideal and the Community: A
Philosophy of Education (1970).
Bibliography: S. Dinin, in: Jewish Education, 32 (1962), 134;
E. Schwarcz, ibid., 29 (1958), 56; J. Pilch (ed.), Judaism and the Jewish
School (1966), 42.
[Ernest Schwarcz]
BERL, EMMANUEL (1892–1976), French author. A relative
of *Bergson and *Proust, Berl was a passionate political
essayist and critic of the French bourgeoisie. His works
include Mort de la pensée bourgeoise (1925), La politique et
les partis (19322), Discours aux Français (1934), La culture en
péril (1948), and Nasser tel qu’on le loue (1968). Berl was chief
editor of the weekly, Marianne (1933–37). He also wrote short
stories and novels including Sylvia (1952) and Rachel et autres
grâces (1965), notable for their insight and an incisive style.
Deeply affected by World War I after serving for two years,
Berl, a convinced anti-fascist, adopted pacifist views that led
him in June 1940 to write some of future Vichy leader Pétain’s
speeches. He quickly put an end to this cooperation when he
became aware of the antisemitic direction of the new regime.
After the war, he left politics and devoted himself exclusively
to literature. In 1967, he was awarded the French Academy’s
Grand Prix de Literature.
Bibliography: B. Morlino, Emmanuel Berl: Les trbulations
d’un pacifiste (1990); L.-A. Revah, Berl, un juif de France (2003).
[Dror Franck Sullaper (2nd ed.)]
BERL, ERNST (1877–1946), Austrian-U.S. chemist. Berl
was born in Silesia and worked at the Zurich Polytechnicum
(1898–1907) and in a Belgian artificial silk factory (1910–14). In
World War I he directed an Austrian explosives factory. Berl
was professor of chemical technology and electrochemistry,
Technische Hochschule, Darmstadt (1919–33); he emigrated
to the U.S.A. and became research professor at Carnegie Institute
of Technology, Pittsburgh. He worked on lead chamber
process, nitration of cellulose, and combustion problems and
was coauthor of Chemisch-technische Untersuchungsmethoden
(4 vols., 1921–23) and Chemische Ingenieur-Technik.
BERLE, MILTON (formerly Mendel Berlinger; 1908–2002),
U.S. comedian, known as “Mr. Television” and “Uncle Miltie.”
Born in New York, Berle played in nightclubs, films, and
Broadway shows, including the Ziegfeld Follies of 1943. From
1948 to 1956 he did a weekly variety show on television in
modern slapstick style. In the 1960s he also appeared in serious
parts, including a role in the film The Loved One.
Berle’s career began when he was five years old and
spanned more than 80 years on stage, film, radio, and television.
At the age of five, Berle won a Charlie Chaplin lookalike
contest. And as a child he appeared in the silent films The
442 ENCYCLOPAEDIA JUDAICA, Second Edition, Volume 3