leonardcohenforum.com

Jarkko ~

This was posted by ahasuerus as his first and only thread/comment in the Comments & Questions section. It's extremely interesting and relevant, and no matter where you may decide it rightfully goes, it warrants greater visibility than just sitting there. And 1964!!! Before it was even possible for him to be publicly introduced as a singer-songwriter-musician. I love the timing of its coming out... as his very and most recent album being heralded as, perhaps, the greatest of his career. This runs a few minutes over one hour. And, boy, does it go fast! So, for those serious Leonard Cohen fans, particularly from a literary perspective, this is as ahasuerus introduced it:

You may be interested in listening to a digitized audio file of a symposium that took place in the library where I work, with Adele Wiseman, Melech Ravitch, Ruth Wisse, and Leonard Cohen.

At the link, it is described as:

Symposium for English Language Jewish Writers (June 7th, 1964) Part 1 with Adele Wiseman, Jewish Public Library of Montreal, Ruth Roskies-Wisse, Melech Ravitch and Leonard Cohen

These perspectives... what a treasure for all that has followed in Leonard's career. Being spoken of here as a writer [only]; at that time, no references available for introducing him as a songwriter. Leonard, self-effacing and humourous, as always. Delightful! Listen to those preceding him, to appreciate his comments in a context that makes them even more enjoyable! Even more so, Leonard's observations are expressed poetically and profoundly with keen intellect. With such a broad sense of history and the world and the personal, as well as the eternal, so unlike how the three others expressed their views.

Leonard's words bear listening to multiple times. He's brilliant. Now, and then, as now. As always, his profound comments and views. His portion bears listening to multiple times.

https://archive.org/details/SymposiumFo ... 4Part1With

Thanks for sharing this--I will need to listen a few times--and I skipped over the others due to time constraints. Imagine being able to listen to
this recording from 50 years past. What a find Lizzy!

I KNOW, Theresa! That's how I felt, too.
The person who posted it in Comments & Questions works in that very library

I'm glad you are enjoying the recording. LC obviously has deep history here in Montreal. We also have an autographed (not LC's but his grandfather's)copy of his maternal grandfather's book "A Lexicon of Hebrew homonyms", and a lot of philanthropic work from his paternal father's family funded immigrant aid organizations.

Thanks for coming here and commenting, ahasuerus. We're enjoying it VERY much. Thanks for bringing it to us.

I was aware of Leonard's grandfather's book; however, for whatever reason, was not aware of "a lot of philanthropic work from his paternal father's family funded immigrant aid organizations." I love that. Is there any more that you can tell us about it?

Thanks... and good to see you back here !

Yes, gladly. My library is currently closed for the last cycle of Jewish holy days but when I get back next week, I'll follow this up.

That would be wonderful. Thanks! Hope you enjoy your week off, too

Don't forget to listen to part 2 of the symposium! 45 minutes of questions from the audience to the group with a good deal of it directed in LC's direction.
https://archive.org/details/SymposiumFo ... 4Part2With

I didn't see that! I just expected that Part 2 had yet to be put out.
Thanks, bigdee
Not at ALL surprized that much was directed in Leonard's direction

Portraits of LC's paternal grandfather and great-grandfather:

http://www.cjhn.ca/en/explore.aspx?q=lyon+cohen

http://www.cjhn.ca/wpp-images/ShaarHash ... nettes.pdf


As I mentioned, his maternal grandfather was a rabbi and scholar (http://onthemainline.blogspot.ca/2012_0 ... chive.html) but I will have to look deeper into our collections to find a portrait if one in fact exists.

What interesting, beautiful photos and information! And what a beard Leonard's great-grandfather had! Esther Goldenberg sure was a beautiful woman, too. And all the flowers inside the synagogue... wow. Thanks so much for these! It would be equally wonderful if you were able to get something from Masha's side of the family... here's hoping!

Thanks, again