The 'Yiddish Voice' Podcast

Leybl Botwinik on Israel at War for Yom Hazikaron & Yom Haatsmaut

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 20:44:53 +0000

HIGHLIGHTS

On the day of Israel Independence Day (Yom Haatsmaut) and one day after Israel's Memorial Day (Yom Hazikaron), we welcome back Leybl Botwinik to talk about life in Israel while at war against Iran. Leybl Botwinik is a writer of science fiction, poetry and songs (in both Yiddish and English) who grew up in Montreal's vibrant Yiddish cultural scene. He is the son of the late Dovid Botwinik, a composer of Yiddish songs, music educator, and Yiddish activist, and the brother of Sender Botwinik, a Yiddish educator, choral director, and music producer. We reached Leybl by phone at his home in Natanya on Wednesday, Apr. 22, 2026.
From our archives (2008): Hasia Segal ז״ל talks about a relatively unsung hero of Israel, and a Bostonian, the late Dewey Stone, who made significant contributions to the establishment of the State of Israel.
Music
- Dovid Esheth: Yerusholayim Shtot fun Gold
- Barry Sisters: Exodus
- Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: April 22, 2026

Joe Szwarcberg; Pesach 2026; Rabbi Teitelbaum

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 06:27:56 +0000

We wish all our cohosts, sponsors and friends a Happy and Kosher Pesach.

מיר ווינטשן אַלע אונדזערע אונטערשטיצער, פֿרײַנד און באַטייליקטע אַ פֿריילעכן און כּשרן פּסח

HIGHLIGHTS:

We welcome back Rabbi Yitzchok-Boruch Teitelbaum, known in his Monroe, NY, community as der Pshischer Rebbe, for Pesach greetings and words of wisdom. We reached Rabbi Teitelbaum by phone at his home in Monsey, NY, on Mar. 25, 2026.
We hear Holocaust survivor Joe Szwarcberg (יוסף שװאַרצבערג) tell his story of survival in his own words. Joseph Szwarcberg was born in 1930 in Kozienice, Poland. He survived the Holocaust, including Buchenwald, where he was liberated by the US Army on April 11, 1945. At age 17, he emigrated to Australia, where he built a life and was active in the “Buchenwald Boys,” a group originally comprised of 45 young survivors liberated on that same day. Today, he is the only surviving member. We reached Joe via WhatsApp at his home in Melbourne, Australia, on Mar. 18, 2026. Special thanks to Jiri Kluc, Holocaust historian in the Czech Republic, for help producing this interview.
Pesach greetings from many of our cohosts, friends and sponsors, as follows:
- Israel Book Shop (Eli Dovek ז״ל recorded Mar 28 2007).
- American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors of Greater Boston (member and Holocaust survivor Tania Lefman, and member and Holocaust survivor Mary Erlich), co-sponsor of Boston's 2026 Commemoration of Yom HaShoah, Sunday, April 12 at 10:00 AM Eastern. We reached them at their homes in Greater Boston by phone on March 25, 2026.
- League for Yiddish, New York, NY, (Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath, Chair of the Board). Recorded at her home in Teaneck, NJ, on March 25, 2026.
- Leah Shporer-Leavitt, Newton, MA, co-host of The Yiddish Voice / דאָס ייִדישע קול (recorded at her home in Greater Boston on March 24, 2026).
- Dovid Braun, Leonia, NJ, co-host of The Yiddish Voice / דאָס ייִדישע קול (recorded by phone at his office at YIVO on March 25, 2026).
- Yankele Bodo, Tel Aviv, Israel, actor and singer (from 2016).
- Eli Grodko, New Millford, NJ, friend of the show. Recorded at his home in Teaneck, NJ, on March 25, 2026.
- Boston Workers Circle, Brookline, MA (Yiddish committee member Linda (Libe-Reyzl) Gritz), recorded at her home in Greater Boston on March 24, 2026.
- Sholem Beinfeld, Cambridge, MA, co-host of The Yiddish Voice / דאָס ייִדישע קול, co-editor of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary and Professor of History, emeritus, Washington Univ., St. Louis, with extended remarks on Pesach 5786. We recorded Sholem at his home in Cambridge, MA, by phone on March 25, 2026.
- Hy Wolfe, Director of CYCO Yiddish Book Center, Long Island City, NY. We recorded Hy by phone at his home in Manhattan on March 25, 2026.

Music:

Mark (מאָטל) Murstein: Mi Yodea (Recorded at his Brookline, MA, home for the Yiddish Voice, Pesach, 2019)
Moishe Oysher: Kiddush for Pesach
Lori Cahan and Meyshke Alpert: Zog, Maran
Lori Cahan and Meyshke Alpert: In Dem Land Fun Piramidn
Malavsky Family: Ho...

Miriam Udel on Yiddish Children's Literature; Sholem Beinfeld on World Events

The Yiddish Voice — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 20:42:42 +0000

Highlights:

Yiddish Voice co-host Sholem Beinfeld shares his commentary on the latest world events, including the Iran-Israel-USA war and the Russia-Ukraine war, from a Jewish perspective. Sholem spoke to us by phone from his home in Cambridge, MA, on Mar. 11, 2026.

Emory University professor Miriam Udel (מרים אודעל) discussed her book Modern Jewish Worldmaking Through Yiddish Children's Literature (Princeton Univ. Press, 2025) with Yiddish Voice co-host Lillian (לאה) Shporer-Leavitt, who is a Boston-based Yiddish teacher and translator. We reached Miriam on Zoom at her home in the Atlanta area on Feb. 26, 2026. Publisher info for Miriam's book: https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691254371/modern-jewish-worldmaking-through-yiddish-childrens-literature

Music:

Fish Street Klezmer: Russian Freylekhs Medley

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: March 12, 2026

Avremi Zaks on Iran Israel US War

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 19:18:45 +0000

This week, Avremi Zaks, presenter for Israel's Kan Yiddish (כאן יידיש) radio show, covers Israel's current military operation "Lion's Roar" and related matters. We reached Avremi in Jerusalem via WhatsApp on Purim, March 3, 2026, Boston time, and Erev Shushan Purim, after sundown in Israel, the same date. To hear Kan Yiddish, featuring Avremi and others, visit: https://www.kan.org.il/content/kan/kan-reka/p-10820/

Music:

Chava Alberstein Avreml der Marvikher

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: March 4, 2026

Dovid Fishman: The War in Ukraine: Jewish News

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 04:50:58 +0000

Dr. David E. Fishman (דוד-אליהו פֿישמאַן), historian and writer, talks about his substack "The War in Ukraine: Jewish News" (davidfishman.substack.com). Coming out about every two weeks since November 2024, this substack has covered the brutal Russia-Ukraine war, which began four years ago, from a Jewish perspective. Fishman is Professor of Jewish History at the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) in New York City and is the author of several books, notably, The Book Smugglers: Partisans, Poets, and the Race to Save Jewish Treasures from the Nazis (ForeEdge, 2017), which won the National Jewish Book Award for a work on the Holocaust. We reached Dovid in New York City via Zoom on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026.

Music:

Aaron Lebedeff: In Odess

Bronya Sakina: Di Sapozhkelekh (from the album Live from KlezKamp! The Staff Concerts 1985-2003, recorded 1985; the singer was from Ukraine)

The Alibi Sisters: Yuh Mein Liebe Tochter (the singers Anna and Angelina Zavalsky are based in Ukraine)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: February 11, 2025

International Holocaust Remembrance Day with Survivor Adela Dagerman

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 06:18:42 +0000

In observance of International Holocaust Remembrance Day we're airing an interview with Holocaust survivor Adela Dagerman. Adela (born Adela Kraus) grew up in Nyírbátor, Hungary. In 1944, as a 16-year-old, she and her family were deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. She and her sister Rose survived. After her liberation, Adela returned to Hungary where she met and married her husband Jack. The couple immigrated to the United States in 1949, settling in Kansas City. We met Adela at her home in Overland Park, KS, on Oct. 13, 2025.

From our archive: interview with Holocaust Survivor Itel Landau (maiden family name: Brettler), a Holocaust survivor originally from Vișeu de Sus (Felsővisó in Hungarian, אויבערווישעווע in Yiddish), a shtetl in Transylvania (prewar Romania, Hungary during WWII, now Romania), discussing her life — before, during, and after the Holocaust. Previously aired June 19, 2024. Additional details and archived podcast recording: https://podcast.yv.org/episodes/itel-landau

Music:

Sarah Gorby: Zog Nit Keynmol (Ne Dit Jamais)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: January 28, 2026

Alex Dafner on the Massacre at Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 04:08:12 +0000

Happy Hanukkah ! אַ פֿרײלעכן חנוכּה

Our normally happy Hanukkah programming was overshaddowed by the horrific massacre of Jews at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, Australia's Bondi Beach. We spoke with Alex Dafner, Australia's main Yiddish radio presenter the past 40 years and a leading Yiddish and Jewish cultural activist and teacher based in Melbourne, about the horrible massacre and about the situation of Australian Jewry in general. Also heard are short excerpts from the funeral of Rabbi Eli Schlanger, who was murdered in the massacre. Alex Dafner is host of the Kadimah Yiddish Show, a radio show and podcast produced by Melbourne's J-Air Jewish radio station. To listen to the live show and podcasts, go to their website: https://www.j-air.com.au/kadimah-yiddish-show-2/ Follow Alex on social media at Twitter/X: @AlexDafner or Facebook: facebook.com/YiddishRadio. We reached Alex Dafner via Zoom at his home in Melbourne, Australia, on Tuesday, Dec. 16, in the evening, Boston time, and Wednesday, Dec. 17, in the morning, Melbourne time.

Music for Hanukkah:

Cantor Pierre Pinchik (פּינחס פּינטשיק): Maoz Tsur (מעוז צור)

Cantor Sidor Belarsky: Haneros Halolu

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS from Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: December 17, 2025

Sender Botwinik on New CD and Hanukkah Songs

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 08:00:21 +0000

Happy Hanukkah ! אַ פֿרײלעכן חנוכּה

Highlights:

Sender Botwinik (סענדער באָטװיניק), music and Yiddish teacher, chorus director and Yiddishist, discusses the new CD he produced and publishedZumer iz Shoyn Vider Do – זומער איז שוין ווידער דאָ featuring the music of his late father Dovid Botwinik, the Vilna-born music composer, music teacher, songwriter, chorus director and Holocaust survivor. Info here: https://botwinikmusic.com/new-album/ We reached Sender Botwinik in Philadelphia via Zoom on Dec. 8, 2025.

Music from CD Zumer iz Shoyn Vider Do – זומער איז שוין ווידער דאָ:

Anna Reisner, Tessa Pearlstein:Vider brent dos alte lempl

Mackenzie Sherman and Chorus (Anna Reisner, Joelle Pearlstein, Kendall Gold-Rappe, Laney Gold-Rappe, Skylar Zachian, Tessa Pearlstein): Shtoltse likhtelekh

Chorus: Nem in hant dos kleyne dreydl

Chorus: Dreydele

Skylar Zachian, Tessa Pearlstein and Chorus: A khanike-nes

Dina-Malka Botwinik: Dreydele

Other Music for Hanukkah:

Avram, Elisha and Sarah Mlotek: Lesht nit di likhtlekh oys

Yossi Desser: Dreidelech

Jordan Wax: Khanike iz Freylekh / Spin Around Like a Dreydl

Moishe Oysher: Blessing of the Candles

Klezmer Conservatory Band (soloist: Judy Bressler): Chanuka, Oy Chanuka

Lori Cahan-Simon: Kinder haynt iz khanike

Arbeter-Ring Kinder Khor: Hanukkah song medley

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS from Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: December 10, 2025

Mikhl Yashinsky, Translator of Max Spitzkopf, the Yiddish Sherlock Holmes

The Yiddish Voice — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 07:02:57 +0000

Highlights:

Mikhl Yashinsky (מיכל יאַשינסקי), a multifaceted actor, playwright, director, lyricist, translator and Yiddishist, discusses his new English translation of Adventures of Max Spitzkopf: The Yiddish Sherlock Holmes by Jonas Kreppel, published by White Goat Press in October 2025. Publisher’s page: https://www.yiddishbookcenter.org/about/white-goat-press-0/jonas-kreppel More on Mikhl: https://yashinsky.com

The interviewer, Lillian ("Leah") Shporer-Leavitt, is a frequent cohost of The Yiddish Voice and an experienced Yiddish translator and teacher. She has taught Yiddish for many years at various institutions in the Boston area, including Workers Circle and Gann Academy.

Music:

Moishe Oysher: Blessing the Chanukah Candles

Ikh Bin a Kleyner Dreydl

Pripetshik Singers: Kh'Bin a Dreydl

Marthe Schlamme: Chanuke o Chanuke

Pripetshik Singers: Akht Likhtelekh

Sidor Belarsky: O, Ir Kleyne Lichtelech

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS from Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: November 19, 2025

Zach Golden: Yiddish Activist in Los Angeles

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 06:38:36 +0000

Highlights:

Rabbi Zach Golden (זכריה גאָלדן) was ordained at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies in Los Angeles in 2020. He is the co-founder of Der Nister Downtown Jewish Center and previously served as Deputy Editor at the Forverts Yiddish newspaper. He is the co-founder of Los Angeles Yiddish Day 2025, which takes place Sunday, November 23, 2025, on the campus of Hebrew Union College near Downtown Los Angeles. For information and registration, visit: LAYiddish.org We interviewed Zach in person at a meeting of the West Hollywood Yiddish Shmues-Krayz in Los Angeles on Sunday, November 9, 2025.

From our archive: Rukhl Schaechter (שׂרה-רחל שעכטער), editor of Forverts (a/k/a the Yiddish Forward, פֿאָרווערטס), online at forward.com/yiddish, reflects on 25 years with this Yiddish institution, originally as a writer and now as its editor. She spoke with us on Zoom from her home in Yonkers on Nov. 24, 2024. The Forward celebrated her anniversary with a Celebrate Our Rukhl event in New York, NY, on Weds., Dec. 4, 2024. Info: https://www.pages.forward.com/rukhl-celebration (A longer version of this interview originally aired Nov. 27, 2024.)

Music:

Sidi Tal:Nokhemke Mayn Zun

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS from Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: November 12, 2025

Remembering Ben Lesser

The Yiddish Voice — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 15:31:33 +0000

As our show aired Erev Yom Kippur, we again presented excerpts of our past interviews on The Yiddish Voice/דאָס ייִדישע קול with Holocaust survivors who died during the past year. Since our previous episode, we've lost Ben Lesser, who died the first day of Rosh Hashona, so we were unable to include this in our previous week's show. The remainder of the show is a repeat of the previous week's show.

Ben Lesser (died September 23, 2025, age 96) - Ben was a Holocaust Survivor, Author, Lecturer, and visionary founder of The ZACHOR Holocaust Remembrance Foundation. He was known around the world for his courageous testimony, tireless advocacy and unwavering commitment to education and remembrance. Born in Krakow, Poland in 1928 to Shari Segal and Lazar Leser. Ben was the second youngest of five children, Moshe Leser, Lola Lieber-Schwartz, Goldie Leser and baby brother Naphtali Leser. At age ten his life as a boy was forever changed. He endured four concentration camps, a seven-week death march, and two death trains, one of which was the notorious ill-fated death train from Buchenwald to Dachau where of the 6,000 inmates that walked on, only 18 walked off. Ben was the last living survivor from that train. We reached him by Zoom on Apr. 17, 2023. Originally aired April 19, 2023.

NOTE: MEMORIAL SERVICE OCT 19 2025: https://templebethsholomlv.shulcloud.com/form/ben-lesser-memorial

(for additional show notes, see show notes for last week's episode: https://podcast.yv.org/episodes/remembering-aron-bell-bielski-natan-gipsman-judy-altmann-zoli-langer)

Air date: October 1, 2025

Remembering Aron Bell (Bielski), Natan Gipsman, Judy Altmann, Zoli Langer

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 20:39:18 +0000

We are again airing excerpts of interviews with Holocaust survivors, past guests of The Yiddish Voice/דאָס ייִדישע קול who died during the past year. Since our previous episode, we've lost Ben Lesser, who died the first day of Rosh Hashona, so we were unable to include this in our previous week's show. The remainder of the show is a repeat of the previous week's show.

Aron Bell (Bielski) (died September 22, 2025, age 98) - born in the village Stankiewicze, near Navaredok (now in Belarus), he was the last of the famed Bielski brothers, who led the Bielski Partisans, which collectively saved more than 1,200 Jews from the Nazis during the Holocaust. We reached him by phone at his home in Palm Beach, FL, on Jan. 12, 2009. Originally aired Jan. 14, 2009.

Natan Gipsman (died the night of September 10th, 2025, age 100) - born in Hindenburg (Upper Silesia, Prussia), Germany (now Zabrze, Poland), he was confined in the Będzin (Yiddish: בענדין) Ghetto and survived six concentration camps, including Buchenwald. We interviewed him at his home in Los Angeles on Jan. 26, 2024. Originally aired Feb 15, 2024.

Judy Altmann (died April 30, 2025, age 100) - born in Jasina, Czechoslovakia (Körösmezö, Hungary during WWII; now Yasinya, Ukraine), she survived Auschwitz and death marches. We reached her by phone at her home in Stamford, CT, on Aug. 18, 2018. Originally aired Apr. 25, 2019.

Zoli Langer (died February 28, 2025, age 98) - born in the village Minai, near Uzhgorod, Czechoslovakia (Ungvar, Hungary during WWII, now Uzhhorod, Ukraine), he survived Auschwitz and death marches. We interviewed at his home in Los Angeles on Oct. 31, 2019. Originally aired Apr. 22, 2020.

‫אַ גמר חתימה טובֿה!

Featured Announcements for Rosh Hashona/Yom Kippur:

Greetings on behalf of the American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Descendants of Greater Boston, featuring members Tania Lefman (Treasurer), Mary Ehrlich and Rosalie Reszelbach. Recorded Sept. 9 and 10, 2025.

Hy Wolfe, manager of CYCO Books, Hebrew Actors Foundation and the Yiddish National Theatre. Recorded Sept. 21, 2025.

Greetings on behalf of the League for Yiddish / די ייִדיש-ליגע by Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath, Board Chair. Recorded Sept. 9, 2025.

Greetings from Eli Dovek ז״ל, late proprietor of our sponsor Israel Bookshop, Brookline, MA. Recorded in 2009.

Greetings on behalf of the Boston Workers Circle / דער באָסטאָנער אַרבעטער-רינג by Libe Gritz. Recorded Sept. 17, 2025.

Greetings by The Yiddish Voice co-hosts Leye Schporer-Leavitt, Sholem Beinfeld and Dovid Braun. Recorded Sept. 17, 2025.

Music:

Sholom Katz: Zochreinu L'Chayim

Sholom Katz: Kol Nidre

Jan Peerce: Ovinu Malkeinu

Shalom Katz: El Moleh Rachamim

Leibele Waldman: Der Nayer Yor

Goldie Malavsky: Zochreinu L'Chayim

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: September 24, 2025

Shmuel Bak, Painter and Holocaust Survivor from Vilna

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 16:03:28 +0000

Shmuel Bak (Samuel Bak), the internationally renowned artist and Holocaust survivor, presented in a lengthy conversation with his friend, The Yiddish Voice co-host Sholem Beinfeld. Excerpts from Pucker Gallery's page about Bak:

*Samuel Bak was born in Vilna, Poland in 1933, at a crucial moment in modern history. From 1940 to 1944, Vilna was under Soviet, then German occupation. Bak’s artistic talent was first recognized during an exhibition of his work in the Ghetto of Vilna when he was nine years old. While he and his mother survived, his father and four grandparents all perished at the hands of the Nazis. At the end of the war, he fled with his mother to the Landsberg Displaced Persons Camp, where he enrolled in painting lessons at the Blocherer School in Munich. In 1948, they immigrated to the newly established state of Israel. He studied at the Bezalel Art School in Jerusalem and completed his mandatory service in the Israeli army. In 1956, he went to Paris to continue his education at the École des Beaux Arts.... Bak has exhibited extensively in major museums, galleries, and universities throughout Europe, Israel, and the United States. He lived and worked in Tel Aviv, Paris, Rome, New York, and Lausanne before settling in Massachusetts in 1993 and becoming an American citizen. Bak has been the subject of articles, scholarly works, and over twenty books, most notably a 400-page monograph entitled Between Worlds. In 2001, he published his touching memoir, Painted in Words, which has been translated into four languages, and a biography entitled Art & Life: The Story of Samuel Bak was published in 2023. Related links:

Wikipedia page for Samuel Bak: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Bak

Pucker Gallery page for Samuel Bak: https://www.puckergallery.com/samuel-bak

Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center (Omaha, NE): https://www.unomaha.edu/samuel-bak-museum-the-learning-center/

Sholem Beinfeld is co-editor-in-chief of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary and Professor of History, Emeritus, Washington University, St. Louis. He translated The Rudashevsky Diary, which was published as the November, 2024, issue of The Jewish Quarterly.

אַ כּ‫תיבֿה וחתימה טובֿה!

Featured Announcements for Rosh Hashona:

Greetings on behalf of the League for Yiddish / די ייִדיש-ליגע by Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath, Board Chair. Recorded Sept. 9, 2025.

Greetings on behalf of the American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Descendants of Greater Boston, featuring members Mary Ehrlich, Rosalie Reszelbach and Tania Lefman (Treasurer). Recorded Sept. 9 and 10, 2025.

Greetings from Eli Dovek ז״ל, late proprietor of our sponsor Israel Bookshop, Brookline, MA. Recorded in 2009.

Greetings on behalf of the Boston Workers Circle / דער באָסטאָנער אַרבעטער-רינג by Libe Gritz. Recorded Sept. 17, 2025.

Greetings by The Yiddish Voice co-hosts Leye Schporer-Leavitt, Sholem Beinfeld and Dovid Braun. Recorded Sept. 17, 2025.<...

Matty Mendlowitz: Multisingual on YouTube

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 00:22:01 +0000

Matty Mendlowitz runs the YouTube channel Multisingual, featuring Yiddish-language vlogs of her travels, deep dives into world languages (especially Yiddish and its history and grammar, with a focus on contemporary Chassidic Yiddish), Disney clips dubbed into Yiddish, and much more engaging content. In this interview Matty talks about her background, including growing up speaking Yiddish, and what caused her to embrace Yiddish and learn many other languages and about her travels and other content she presents on her YouTube channel. Several excerpts of her YouTube content are presented during the show. We reached Matty via Zoom in Helsinki, Finland, on September 5, 2025. Related links

Matty Mendlowitz's Multisingual YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@multisingual1241

Featured Multisingual videos

Disney Frozen’s Let it Go sung in Yiddish: https://youtu.be/QnIYfnHmyfc?si=BVakMguPCV5od7Mj

Hannukah Story in Yiddish: The Festival of Lights Explained: https://youtu.be/brF2Xqmx4Ng?si=J_Y-4XRLtm4cWkZ-

Synonyms in Yiddish: Expanding your Yiddish Vocabulary with Like Words: https://youtu.be/TKp5QRcrSC8?si=4WRPgGbtkp1K3ip8

Frieda Vizel's recent (Aug., 2025) interview with Matty (in English): https://youtu.be/OhEuezMqyaE?si=5jq1vfGjAjPL_COs

אַ כּ‫תיבֿה וחתימה טובֿה!

Featured Announcements for Rosh Hashona:

Greetings on behalf of the League for Yiddish / די ייִדיש-ליגע by Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath, Board Chair. Recorded Sept. 9, 2025.

Greetings on behalf of the American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Descendants of Greater Boston, featuring members Mary Ehrlich, Rosalie Reszelbach and Tania Lefman (Treasurer). Recorded Sept. 9 and 10, 2025.

Greetings from Eli Dovek ז״ל, late proprietor of our sponsor Israel Bookshop, Brookline, MA. Recorded in 2009.

Music: (Partial List)

Sholom Katz: Zochreinu L'Chayim

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: September 10, 2025

Marc Caplan: A Complete Unknown and Bob Dylan; Yiddish Charlie on the MTA

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 02:38:19 +0000

Charlie on the MTA in Yiddish is performed by Yiddishists from Boston’s Arbeter Ring and exclusively recorded for The Yiddish Voice on Labor Day, Sept. 1, 2025, in Medford, MA. All of the following sang, with additional contributions noted:

ליליע װײַצמאַן — Lily Weitzman · איבערזעצונג און נײַע סטראָפֿע (translation, introduction and new verse)

יונה סידמאַן — Jonah Sidman · גיטאַר (guitar)

עמאַ ברעסלאָװ — Emma Breslow · טשאַרלי צאָלט זײַן דײַם (“Charlie pays his dime”) verse

שׂרה־לו האַרטמאַן — Lou Hartman · הערט אויס בירגער פֿון באָסטאָן (“Citizens of Boston, hear me out”) verse

ליבע גריץ — Linda Gritz

Marc Caplan in conversation with Yiddish Voice host Mark David (Meyer) about the recent Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown. The film traces Dylan’s formative years, culminating in his landmark performance of Like a Rolling Stone at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival in a mostly-Jewish band of blues-rock musicians — Bob Dylan (guitar and vocals), Michael Bloomfield (guitar), Al Kooper (bass), and Barry Goldberg (organ). (Drummer Sam Lay was the non-Jewish member.) Marc Caplan is a Yiddish literature and Bob Dylan expert, currently Visiting Professor of Jewish Studies at Dartmouth. We reached Marc at his home in the Dartmouth College/Hanover, NH, area via Zoom on Sept. 3, 2025.

CORRECTION: Murray Lerner, who filmed the Newport Folk Festivals (including Dylan’s 1965 performance), is incorrectly identified by Meyer as “Lerman” in the interview.

Related links:

Marc Caplan's article in Afn Shvel #351-350 Winter-Spring 2006: באָב דילאַן: פֿאַרנומען מיטן געבױרן װערן: https://docs.leagueforyiddish.org/mark-brukhes-artikl.pdf

Marc Caplan's academic website: https://dartmouth.academia.edu/MarcCaplan

Wiki page for the film: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Complete_Unknown

Mike Bloomfield's Final Interview - Part Two (1981): https://youtu.be/K7cKLr6tOdE

Bob Dylan - Like A Rolling Stone (Live at Newport 1965): https://youtu.be/a6Kv0vF41Bc (from Murray Lerner's film The Other Side of the Mirror)

Music:

Kingston Trio: M.T.A. (A/K/A "Charlie on the MTA") (from YouTube: https://youtu.be/S7Jw_v3F_Q0)

(Yiddishists in Boston - see credits above): Charlie on the M.T.A. (in Yiddish translation, with added verse)

Bob Dylan: Like a Rolling Stone (recorded live at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS from Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: September 3, 2025

Deborah A. Green: Jews Who Fought in the Spanish Civil War

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 16:05:07 +0000

Deborah A. Green (דבֿורה גרין)— author, historian, translator, Yiddishist and retired litigator — discusses her translation of the late Yiddish journalist S. L. Schneiderman's book קריג אין שפּאַניען about the Spanish Civil War, with an emphasis on the outsized role of Jews among the International Brigades who took part. Deborah's new translation into English is Journey Through the Spanish Civil War. We reached Deborah by Zoom on Aug. 7, 2025.

The interviewer Sholem Beinfeld is co-editor-in-chief of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary and Professor of History, Emeritus, Washington University, St. Louis. He translated The Rudashevsky Diary, which was published as the November, 2024, issue of The Jewish Quarterly.

In the second half of our show, we present two recordings from our archive in memory of 12 August 1952 and the execution of leading Jewish figures by the Soviet authorities: (1) Yosef Lakhman (in memory of the victims of 12 August 1952, originally aired in 2010) and (2) Interview with Gennady Estraikh about the 12 August 1952 events and their memorialization in the years since (originally aired in 2012).

Related links:

About page at Fighting Fascism: https://jewsfightingfascism.com/about/

Book: Journey Through the Spanish Civil War

Music:

Emil Gorovets: Ikh Bin a Yid

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS from Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: August 13, 2025

Riki Rose

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 14:21:49 +0000

Riki Rose (ריקי רױז) — who works as a singer, songwriter and comic in both Yiddish and English — discusses her life and career. She's built up a substantial following over the past several years through concerts and social media performances. Her latest recording, גלות Blues, has just been released on YouTube, Spotify and most other platforms. We reached her by phone at her home in the New York City area on Aug. 6, 2025. Related links:

Home page: https://rikirose.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riki_rose

X (Twitter): https://x.com/Riki_Rose

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@therikirose

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@riki_rose

Upcoming performance Aug. 24 in NYC/UWS: https://www.instantseats.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.event&eventID=F6B95EE0-ABD8-F36E-F1507EED3192742C

Music:

Riki Rose: Galus Blues

Riki Rose: Utem Arein Utem Arois

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS from Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: August 6, 2025

Marvin Zuckerman: A Revisit Since LA Fires

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 02:44:14 +0000

This week, we present our second interview in the past year and a half with Marvin Zuckerman. Our first took place in his warm and welcoming home in LA’s Pacific Palisades, where the walls were adorned with beautiful paintings and lined with bookshelves holding thousands of volumes. Unfortunately, that house was destroyed in the LA fires of January 2025. Marvin and his wife, Kathy Kohner Zuckerman, have since relocated to a rental apartment in Santa Monica, where we conducted this follow-up interview on June 26, 2025. In this conversation, Zuckerman reflects on the devastating fire and shares further insights from his remarkable and multifaceted life.

Zuckerman was raised in the Yiddish-speaking milieu of the Jewish Labor Bund in the Bronx, New York. He later became a professor of English at a Los Angeles college and co-authored the well-regarded Yiddish textbook Learning Yiddish in Easy Stages as well as several other works in the field of Yiddish. He also translated the memoir of prominent Bundist Bernard Goldstein, Twenty Years with the Jewish Labor Bund: A Memoir of Interwar Poland (Purdue University Press, 2016). His latest book is Dickinson in Yiddish & Other Essays & Translations (Brass Tacks Press, 2024).

Music:

Sveta Kundish & Patrick Farrell: Ikh un di Velt (words by Avrom Reyzen)

Ida Gillner & Livet Nord:Mayn heym – Mitt hem (words by Anna Margolin; Swedish translation by Beila Engelhardt Titelman)

Levyosn: Fisher-Lid (words by Aliza Greenblatt)

Levyosn: Fun der Khupe / Moh Rabu / Kleyne Printsesin

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS from Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: July 15, 2025

Adi Mahalel: Yiddish Language & Literature Scholar; Avremi Zaks: Latest on Israel's Wars

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 12:50:12 +0000

Adi Mehalel (עדי מהלאל) talks about teaching Yiddish language and literature at Univ. of Maryland and Yivo Summer Program and discusses the writers I. L. Peretz, the subject of his book The Radical Isaac: I. L. Peretz and the Rise of Jewish Socialism, and Hanan Ayalti, whose book Boom and Chains: A Yiddish Novel Set in Israel/Palestine is forthcoming with Mehalel's translation and introduction. Interviewed in New York City via Zoom on July 2, 2025. Book links:

Boom and Chains: https://wsupress.wayne.edu/9780814351802/

The Radical Isaac: https://sunypress.edu/Books/T/The-Radical-Isaac

Avremi Zaks (אבֿרהמי זאַקס), host of the Kan Yiddish (כאן יידיש) radio show in Israel, discusses Israel's recent war with Iran and its ongoing war with Hamas. Interviewed in Jerusalem via Zoom on July 2, 2025. Archive of Kan Yiddish: https://www.kan.org.il/content/kan/kan-reka/p-10820/

Music:

Yiddish songs about America, in honor of the July 4th Independence Day holiday:

Mandy Patinkin: American Tune

Aaron Lebedeff & Alexander Olshanetsky Orchestra:Vot ken you makh? Es iz Amerike!

Yiddish Philharmonic Chorus, directed by Binyumin Schaechter: Amerike di Prekhtike

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS from Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: July 2, 2025

Leybl Botwinik, Sholem Beinfeld, Avremi Zaks on Israel Iran War

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 06:07:19 +0000

Sholem Beinfeld (in Cambridge, MA, recorded by phone, June 26, 2025)

Leybl Botwinik (in central Israel, recorded via Zoom, June 26, 2025)

Avremi Zaks (recorded June 20, 2025, courtesy of Kan Israel radio (https://www.kan.org.il/content/kan/kan-reka/p-10820/))

Music:

(Yiddish music performed by various artists)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS from Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: June 25, 2025

Leybl Botwinik, Yetta Kane (Pt. 2)

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 04:01:53 +0000

Leybl Botwinik is a writer of science fiction, poetry and songs (in both Yiddish and English) who grew up in Montreal's vibrant Yiddish cultural scene. He is the son of the late Dovid Botwinik, a composer of Yiddish songs, music educator, and Yiddish activist, and the brother of Sender Botwinik, a Yiddish educator, choral director, and music producer. Now living in Israel, Leybl has passed on the Yiddish language and culture to his children. In this episode, he shares stories from his Yiddishist upbringing as well as personal experiences and reflections on the October 7 massacre. The interview was conducted via Zoom on May 30, 2025 (Erev Shabbos/Shvues).

Rebbetzin Yetta Kane, a Holocaust survivor, grew up in Miadziol (Yiddish: Miadl – מיאַדל), a small town in Belarus. She recounts memories of her childhood and how her family survived the Holocaust by hiding in the forests of Belarus with the partisans. Yetta and her late husband, Rabbi and Cantor David Kane, co-authored the memoir How to Survive Anything: The Life Story of David and Yetta Kane. This is Part 2 of our interview, recorded at her home in the Los Angeles area on April 8, 2025. Part 1 aired on April 23, 2025.

Music:

Chava Alberstein: Friling

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS from Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: June 11, 2025

Samuel Kassow on Rokhl Auerbach's "Warsaw Testament"

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 15:25:32 +0000

Samuel Kassow is interviewed by Sholem Beinfeld about Rokhl Auerbach and her book Warsaw Testament („וואַרשעווער צוואָות“), which Kassow translated into English. The interview was by Zoom on May 30, 2025, with Kassow and Beinfeld at their homes in Connecticut and Cambridge, MA, respectively.

Samuel Kassow is the Charles H. Northam Professor, Emeritus, of History at Trinity College, and is recognized as one of the world’s leading scholars on the Holocaust and the Jews of Poland. Kassow was born in 1946 in a DP-camp in Stuttgart, Germany and grew up speaking Yiddish. Kassow attended the London School of Economics and Princeton University where he earned a PhD in 1976 with a study about students and professors in Tsarist Russia. He is widely known for his 2007 book Who Will Write Our History? Emanuel Ringelblum, the Warsaw Ghetto, and the Oyneg Shabes Archive (Indiana University Press). He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy for Jewish Research, has won numerous awards, and has lectured widely.

Sholem Beinfeld is co-editor-in-chief of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary and Professor of History, Emeritus, Washington University, St. Louis. He translated The Rudashevsky Diary, which was published as the November, 2024, issue of The Jewish Quarterly.

Additional info on Warsaw Testament:

Publisher White Goat Press's page: https://www.yiddishbookcenter.org/about/white-goat-press-0/rokhl-auerbach

Distributor page: https://www.ipgbook.com/warsaw-testament-products-9798988677390.php

Music:

Hélène Engel: Yeder Ruft Mikh Zhamele from Voices Of The Ghetto (Voix Du Ghetto): Warszawa, 1943

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS from Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: June 4, 2025

Avremi Zaks: Israel Analysis and Opinions; Miriam Libenson (z"l): Lag B'Omer

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 15 May 2025 03:42:32 +0000

Highlights:

On Lag B'Omer by Miriam Libenson ז״ל from our archive from the 1990's.

A report from Israel by Yiddish radio presenter Avremi Zaks, host of the Kan Yiddish כאן יידיש radio show in Israel. We reached Avremi in Jerusalem via Zoom on May 8, 2025.

Music:

Tova Ben-Zvi: Lag B'Oimer

Tova Ben-Zvi: Arum dem Fayer

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: May 14, 2025

Yom HaShoah 5785 with Arthur Schneier, Yetta Kane

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 21:20:54 +0000

This week's show is in observance of Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. Highlights:

Rabbi Arthur Schneier, Holocaust survivor, world-renowned human rights activist, and senior rabbi of Manhattan's Park East Synagogue for more than fifty years, shares his wartime memories of the Carpathian town Yasinia (Ukrainian: Ясіня; Hungarian: Kőrösmező; Czech: Jasiňa; Yiddish: Yasin (יאַסין)). He recalls his grandfather, the town's rabbi, Moyshe Bergmann, and describes his narrow escape from the 1941 Kamenets Podolsk Massacre. We reached Rabbi Schneier at his Manhattan office via Zoom on Feb. 20, 2025. See also Rabbi Arthur Schneier's page at Park East Synagogue: https://parkeastsynagogue.org/about-us/clergy/rabbi-arthur-schneier/

Rebbetzin Yetta Kane is a Holocaust survivor who grew up in Miadziol (Belarusian: Мядзел; Yiddish: Miadl (מיאַדל)), a small town in Belarus. She shares memories of her childhood and her family's survival during the Holocaust, including hiding from the Nazis in the forests of Belarus with the Partisans. Yetta and her late husband, Rabbi and Cantor David Kane, are authors of the´ memoir How to Survive Anything: The Life Story of David and Yetta Kane. We interviewed her at her home in the Los Angeles area on April 8, 2025.

Music:

Norbert and Rochelle Horowitz, Rita Karin: Farvos Iz Der Himl Geven Nekhtn Loyter

Norbert and Rochelle Horowitz, Rita Karin: Yisrolik

Nikitov: S'dremlen Feygl Af Di Tsvaygn

Sarah Gorby: Zog Nit Keynmol

Chava Alberstein: Unter Dayne Vayse Shtern

Chava Alberstein: Friling

Hélène Engel: Yeder Ruft Mikh Zhamele from Voices Of The Ghetto (Voix Du Ghetto): Warszawa, 1943

Shalom Katz: El Moleh Rachamim

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: April 23, 2025

Pesach 5785 with Yitzchok-Boruch Teitelbaum, Moshe Moskovitz

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 02:37:17 +0000

This week's highlights:

We welcome back Rabbi Yitzchok-Boruch Teitelbaum, known in his Monroe, NY, community as der Pshischer Rebbe, for Pesach greetings and words of wisdom.

We meet Chazan Dr. Moshe Moskovitz, the High Holiday cantor at Los Angeles’s Congregation Shaarei Tefila, to discuss his background, his yiches (he’s the grandson of two post-war Carpathian cantors), and his journey into chazones (the musical art of leading Jewish prayer in the Ashkenazi tradition), as well as Pesach from a cantorial perspective — guiding us through several cantorial recordings along the way.

Pesach greetings from many of our cohosts, friends and sponsors, as follows:

Israel Book Shop (Eli Dovek ז״ל recorded Mar 28 2007)

American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors of Greater Boston (member and Holocaust survivor Tania Lefman, and member and Holocaust survivor Mary Erlich), co-sponsor of Boston's 2025 In-Person and Virtual Community Holocaust Commemoration of Yom HaShoah, Sunday, April 27 at 10:30 AM Eastern. (Registration required.) We reached them at their homes in Greater Boston by phone on April 9, 2025.

Yetta Kane, Holocaust survivor and rebbetzin in Los Angeles with whom we just completed an interview to be aired a little later this year. Recorded at her home in Long Beach on April 8, 2025.

League for Yiddish, New York, NY, (Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath, Chair of the Board). Recorded at her home in Teaneck, NJ, on April 9, 2025.

Leah Shporer-Leavitt, Newton, MA, co-host of The Yiddish Voice / דאָס ייִדישע קול (from 2024)

Dovid Braun, Leonia, NJ, co-host of The Yiddish Voice / דאָס ייִדישע קול (from 2024)

Yankele Bodo, Tel Aviv, Israel, actor and singer (from 2016)

Eli Grodko, New Millford, NJ, friend of the show. Recorded at his home in Teaneck, NJ, on April 8, 2025.

Boston Workers Circle, Brookline, MA (Yiddish committee member Linda (Libe-Reyzl) Gritz)

Sholem Beinfeld, Cambridge, MA, co-host of The Yiddish Voice / דאָס ייִדישע קול, co-editor of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary and Professor of History, emeritus, Washington Univ., St. Louis, with extended remarks on Pesach 5785. We recorded Sholem by phone on April 9, 2025.

Verterbukh.org, the online Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary, Greater Boston (Khayem Bochner, co-editor and director of the online dictionary)

Hy Wolfe, Director of CYCO Yiddish Book Center, Long Island City, NY (from 2020)

We wish all our cohosts, sponsors and friends a Happy and Kosher Pesach.

מיר ווינטשן אַלע אונדזערע אונטערשטיצער, פֿרײַנד און באַטייליקטע אַ פֿריילעכן און כּשרן פּסח

Music:

Moishe Oysher: Chad Gadyo

Moshe Stern: Uvchein Yehi Ratzon

Leibele Glantz: Tfilas Tal

Moshe Ganchoff: Btses Yisroel

Leibele Glantz: Ma Nishtono Nusach

Moshe Koussevitzky: Fir Kashes

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: April 9,...

Purim 5785 with Londner, Baker, Segal, Lakhman, Libenson, Hollender, Friedman

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 05:54:48 +0000

Happy Purim ! אַ פֿריילעכן פּורים

Highlights:

Sholem Londner: 2 jokes for Purim

Shane Baker: Yiddish story for Purim: Drunk All Year, Sober on Purim אַ גאַנץ יאָר שיכּור, פּורים ניכטער

Used with the permission of Shane Baker and the Congress for Jewish Culture, originally released on YouTube in 2023.

From our archive:

Hasia Segal (2010): Purim greetings from FL

Iosif Lakhman (2010): Purim greetings from Brighton (Boston), MA

Miriam Libenson (1999): The Story of Purim

Morris (Moyshe) Hollender (2011): Kiddush for Purim and short interview

Matele Friedman (2016): Ikh Bin Geboyrn Simkhes-Purim (Born on the Joyful Purim Holiday)

Music:

Emmanuel Fisher: Shoshanas Yakov

Leahke Post: Purim

Tova Ben-Zvi: Haynt Iz Purim Brider

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: March 12, 2025

Beinfeld (New): Trump 2; Schaechter (Encore): 25 Years at Forverts

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 06:42:28 +0000

Highlights:

Sholem Beinfeld, regular co-host of The Yiddish Voice and professor emeritus at Washington University, St. Louis, shares thoughts on the new Trump administration as of March 5, 2025, one day after President Trump's first speech to Congress of his second administration.

Rukhl Schaechter (שׂרה-רחל שעכטער), editor of Forverts (a/k/a the Yiddish Forward, פֿאָרווערטס), online at forward.com/yiddish, reflects on 25 years with this Yiddish institution, originally as a writer and now as its editor. She spoke with us on Zoom from her home in Yonkers on Nov. 24, 2024. (Previously aired Nov. 27, 2024)

Music:

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: March 5, 2025

Benyomen Moss: An Unchosen People

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 23:45:37 +0000

This week on The Yiddish Voice / דאָס ייִדישע קול, we featured an in-depth conversation with historian Benyomen Moss (Kenneth B. Moss), the Harriet and Ulrich E. Meyer Professor of Jewish History at the University of Chicago. He spoke with Sholem Beinfeld, professor emeritus at Washington University, St. Louis, about his book An Unchosen People: Jewish Political Reckoning in Interwar Poland (Harvard University Press, 2021). We reached Moss in Chicago via Zoom on Jan. 19, 2025.

What future did Poland's Jews imagine for themselves in the years between the world wars? As antisemitism intensified and liberalism faltered, some Polish Jews sought new ways to understand their community’s place in an increasingly hostile world. Moss explores how these Jewish thinkers grappled with diasporic vulnerability, the forces of nationalism, Zionism’s promises, and the difficult political choices ahead.

Moss, an acclaimed historian of modern Jewish thought, is also the author of Jewish Renaissance in the Russian Revolution (Harvard University Press, 2009) and co-editor of From Europe’s East to the Middle East (2023). His work has been recognized with prestigious fellowships and awards, including the Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature.

Related links:

Publisher page for Unchosen People: https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674245105

Review of Unchosen People in Forverts (March, 2022), in Yiddish, by Mikhail Krutikov: https://forward.com/yiddish/483574/did-prewar-jewish-socialists-believe-that-jews-had-a-future-in-poland/

Kenneth Moss page at U. of Chicago: https://history.uchicago.edu/directory/Kenneth-Moss

Music for Tu Bishvat

Victor Berezinsky: Tu Bishvat

Henry Carrey: Tu Beshvat (Music and Lyrics by Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: February 12, 2025

80th Anniversary of Auschwitz Liberation: 4 Survivor Interviews from Our Archive

The Yiddish Voice — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 21:32:26 +0000

In honor of International Holocaust Memorial Day, which this January 27, 2025, marks 80 years since the Soviet Red Army liberated the Auschwitz death camp, we present interviews in Yiddish from your archive with four survivors of Auschwitz. As of the broadcast date all were alive and well to the best of our knowledge. The interviewees are:

Joseph Alexander, originally from Kowal, Poland, who survived Auschwitz. In his interview he recounts his Holocaustr experience and other aspects of his long life. (Recorded May 17, 2022; originally aired May 18, 2022)

Itel Landau, originally from Vișeu de Sus (Felsővisó in Hungarian, אויבערווישעווע in Yiddish), a shtetl in Transylvania (prewar Romania, Hungary during WWII, now Romania), who survived Auschwitz, discussing her life — before, during, and after the Holocaust. (Recorded June 6, 2024; originally aired June 19, 2024)

Zoli Langer, originally from Minai, a village near the small town of Užhorod, Czechoslovakia (now Ukraine). He, his parents, and 5 siblings were deported to Auschwitz in the spring of 1944. He was the only one to survive. He describes his life before and during the war and ultimately his liberation in April 1945. (Recorded in November, 2019; originally aired April 22, 2020)

Rochel Zicherman, originally from the small village Tybava in Carpathian Ruthenia part of Czechoslovakia (now Ukraine), who survived Auschwitz. In her interview she both talks about her life and sings songs related to the Holocaust. (Recorded in 2019; originally aired May 1, 2019)

Please note: This is a special extended-length episode, over 2 hours and 40 minutes.

Music:

Rokhl Zicherman: In Auschwitzer Lager, Holocaust 'Dem Milners Trern' (Singer is a Carpathian Auschwitz survivor. This is a Yiddish Voice exclusive recording.)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: January 22, 2025

Sholom Ber Diskin, Shulem Londner on LA Fires; Kolya Borodulin on Winter in Yiddishland; New Yiddish Music

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 04:48:53 +0000

Episode Highlights

Air date: January 15, 2025

Rabbi Sholom Ber Diskin

A shaliach at Chabad of Pacific Palisades, Rabbi Diskin shares his first-hand experience of surviving the Los Angeles wildfires that destroyed his home. He discusses the ongoing relief efforts he and his team are leading. We reached him at his temporary residence in the Pico Robinson neighborhood on Jan. 15, 2025.

➡️ Learn more about fire relief efforts: Chabad of Pacific Palisades Fire Relief
➡️ Support individuals directly:

Help My Elderly Parents Rebuild After Fire—Ruby Elliot Zuckerman's fundraiser for her grandparents, the Yiddish scholar Marvin Zuckerman and his wife Kathy Kohner Zuckerman a/k/a Gidget

Help the Diskin Family Rebuild from the Palisades Fire—to support Rabbi Sholom Ber and Nechama Diskin and their family, who lost their home last week in the wildfire.

Shulem Londner

A community member from the Fairfax neighborhood of Los Angeles, Shulem shares insights from the Yiddish literary world and reflects on the wildfire crisis. We reached him by phone at his home on Jan. 15, 2025.

Kolya Borodulin

Join Kolya for a discussion on the Workers Circle’s upcoming online event, Winter in Yiddishland. We reached him by phone at his Arbeter Ring office in New York on Jan. 15, 2025.

New Yiddish Music

This episode features songs by rising stars on the Yiddish music scene:

Jordan Wax: Makht and Keler fun Ash
➡️ Listen on Bandcamp

Hershy Bleich: Yene Second
➡️ Listen on Mostly Music

Mendy Shapiro: Kivinu
➡️ Listen on Mostly Music

Moshe Milstein: Lichtele
➡️ Listen on Mostly Music

🎵 Intro Music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Arele Schaechter Viswanath: Harry Potter un di Kamer fun Soydes

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 07:13:57 +0000

Arele Schaechter Viswanath, the translator of the Harry Potter book series into Yiddish, was interviewed about, and read excerpts from, his translation of the second book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, which was recently published by Olniansky Press (Sweden, 2024) under the Yiddish title הערי פּאָטער און די קאַמער פֿון סודות. Arele works in the field of strategy and analytics at tech companies in New York City, while "moonlighting" as a Yiddish translator. His previous translations include the first Harry Potter book (הערי פּאָטער און דער פֿילאָסאָפֿישער שטיין); Do you know Pippi Longstocking? (צי קענסטו פּיפּי לאַנגשטרימפּ); and Uh-oh! (געוואַלד). To purchase the latest Harry Potter book in Yiddish in the US we suggest you either email CYCO Yiddish Book Center at cycobooks@aol.com or visit the League for Yiddish Store's Harry Potter book 2 page. For non-USA orders, we recommend purchasing directly from the publisher Olniansky Press's Harry Potter page.

Lillian Shporer-Leavitt (לאה), co-host of The Yiddish Voice, led the interview with Arele, as she previously did for the first book in 2020. Lillian grew up in Boston in a Yiddish-speaking home and has been teaching and translating Yiddish in the Boston area for several decades.

Our show ended with a selection of Hanukkah recordings. Happy Hanukkah! אַ פֿריילעכן חנוכּה

Music:

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

John Williams: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: Complete Motion Picture Score (excerpts)

A series of Hanukkah in performed by various singers and musicians, including Moishe Oysher and the Pripetshik Singers.

Air date: Dec 11, 2024

Moyshe Hoffman: Hoffy's Restaurant

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 08:58:19 +0000

Highlights:

Moyshe Hoffman, proprietor of Hoffy's Kosher Restaurant in Antwerp, Belgium, where you can "enjoy Yiddish traditional cuisine". He talks about his restaurant, some personal and family history, and a bit about Yiddish life in Antwerp. We interviewed Moyshe Hoffman at Hoffy's on Nov. 14, 2024. Hoffy's website: https://hoffys.be

Richard Fein (רובֿן-יעקבֿ פֿײַן) reads the poem "To My Father" in English, and Sholem Beinfeld reads the Yiddish. This was recorded at Fein's home in Cambridge, MA, on Sept. 20, 2024, as a bonus when we recorded Fein's translations of Avrom Sutzkever's poetry, but it could not be included in that program, so we are now airing it for the first time. (Our podcast with Fein's translation of Sutzkever poems: https://podcast.yv.org/episodes/erev-rosh-hashona-with-sutzkever-poetry-translated-and-read-by-richard-fein-and-sholem-beinfeld)

From the archives: Jake Turx (אבֿרהם-יעקבֿ טערקלטויב) - Take a walk back in history to the early days of the first Trump administration with our 2017 interview featuring Turx, senior White House correspondent and chief political correspondent for Ami magazine. Listen to the original podcast here: https://podcast.yv.org/episodes/jake-turx

Music:

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Abe Moskowitz: Vu Iz Dos Gesele

Chava Alberstein: Vilna

Air date: Dec 4, 2024

Rukhl Schaechter: 25 Years at the Forverts

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 20:43:12 +0000

Highlights:

Rukhl Schaechter (שׂרה-רחל שעכטער), editor of Forverts (a/k/a the Yiddish Forward, פֿאָרווערטס), online at forward.com/yiddish, reflects on 25 years with this Yiddish institution, originally as a writer and now as its editor. She spoke with us on Zoom from her home in Yonkers on Nov. 24, 2024. The Forward is celebrating her anniversary with a Celebrate Our Rukhl event in New York, NY, on Weds., Dec. 4, 2024. Info: https://www.pages.forward.com/rukhl-celebration

Music:

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Intermittent music: Itzhak Perlman, Dov Seltzer, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra: Afn Veg Shteyt A Boym (instrumental)

Outro music: Dudu Fisher: Afn Veg Shteyt A Boym

Air date: November 27, 2024

Abraham Friedman from Di Tzeitung; Unaired Outtakes: Prof. Shmuel Kassow (2017), Kutzik, Forman (2021)

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 22:10:14 +0000

Highlights:

Abraham Friedman (אבֿרהם פֿרידמאַן), publisher of Di Tzeitung (די צייטונג), a major weekly newspaper in the Chareidi world, especially among the Chassidic community in New York. In this interview he talks about what his newspaper offers, discusses current events recently covered by his newspaper, and a little about himself. We reached him by phone at his home in Brooklyn on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. Website of די צייטונג: http://ditzeitung.com/

From our archive, outtakes from previously aired interviews that were not previously aired due to time limitations.

Samuel Kassow (שמואל קאַסאָוו), professor of history, Trinity College: outtake from an interview originally aired Nov. 1, 2017, on the theme of the Russian Revolution of 1917 and on the occasion of Yivo Institute's Conference on Jews in and after the 1917 Russian Revolution. Original podcast: https://podcast.yv.org/episodes/samuel-kassow-elissa-bemporad

Jordan Kutzik of Kinder-Loshn Publications, and David Forman, translator of the book Dos Kluge Shnayderl/The Clever Little Tailor: outtake from an interview originally aired in November, 2021. Original podcast: https://podcast.yv.org/episodes/jordan-kutzik-david-forman-dos-kluge-shnayderlthe-clever-little-tailor

The above two interviews were conducted by Sholem Beinfeld, a regular contributor to The Yiddish Voice, co-Editor in Chief of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary, and Professor of History, Emeritus, Washington University, St. Louis.

Music:

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Intermittent/outro music: Itzhak Perlman, Dov Seltzer, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra: Afn Veg Shteyt A Boym (instrumental)

Air date: November 20, 2024

Erev Yom Kippur with Teitelbaum + October 7 Anniversary with Zaks, Galay, Trinh

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 06:39:29 +0000

אַ גמר חתימה טובֿה! און אַ גוט געבענטשט יאָר!

Highlights:

Rabbi Itzik-Boruch Teitelbaum (Monroe, NY), known as Der Pshiskher Rov, with a vort for erev Yom Kippur. We reached him by phone at his home in Monroe on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024

Interviews with Israelis about Oct. 7, one year on.

Avremi Zaks the host and producer of the weekly Israeli Yiddish radio program "Kan Yidish." He also teaches Yiddish. He was born in Israel and lives in Jerusalem with his wife and children. We reached him by phone in Jerusalem on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024.

Daniel Galay is a composer, playwright, Yiddish activist, educator, and writer, and Chairman of Leyvik House Yiddish Cultural Center in Tel Aviv. We reached him by phone in Tel Aviv on October 8, 2024. Additional info online: https://www.leyvik.com

Miriam Trinh is the editor-in-chief of Afn Shvel, teaching Yiddish language and literature at Hebrew University and online platforms like Workers Circle and YIVO. She has written for the Yiddish Forward (Forverts), including the interview with Tzili Venkert described on our show and a recent article published post-show, "לכּבֿוד יום-הזכּרון זאָל דער געדענק־פּלאַקאַט פֿון קיבוץ בארי נישט לאָזן פֿאַרגעסן." Trinh moved to Israel after high school and resides in Jerusalem with her family. We reached her by phone in Jerusalem on October 9, 2024.

Greetings on behalf of the American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Descendants of Greater Boston, featuring members Tania Lefman (Treasurer), Mary Ehrlich, Rosalie Reszelbach and Miriam Modricamin.

Greeting from Dovid Braun, co-host. Recorded Oct. 2, 2024, by phone.

Greetings from Eli Dovek ז״ל, late proprietor of our sponsor Israel Bookshop, Brookline, MA.

Greeting from Lillian (Leye) Leavitt, co-host. Recorded Sept. 25, 2024, by phone.

Music:

Cantor Joseph Shapiro: B'Rosh Hashona

Leibele Waldman: Der naier yuhr

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: October 9, 2024

Erev Rosh Hashona with Novershtern, Sharfstein, Teitelbaum, et al

The Yiddish Voice — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 20:36:00 +0000

אַ כּ‫תיבֿה וחתימה טובֿה!

Highlights:

Avrom Novershtern (Israel) Professor Emeritus of Yiddish Literature, Hebrew University, Jerusalem. We reached him by phone on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024.

Eli Sharfstein (Israel) writer and poet. We reached him by phone in Greece, where he was stranded due to cancelations of flights to Israel, on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024.

Rabbi Itzik-Boruch Teitelbaum (Monroe, NY), known as Der Pshiskher Rov. We reached him by phone at his home in Monroe on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024.

Greetings on behalf of the American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Descendants of Greater Boston, featuring members Tania Lefman (Treasurer), Mary Ehrlich, Rosalie Reszelbach and Miriam Modricamin.

Greeting from Dovid Braun, co-host. Recorded Oct. 2, 2024, by phone.

Greetings from Eli Dovek ז״ל, late proprietor of our sponsor Israel Bookshop, Brookline, MA.

Greeting from Sholem Beinfeld, co-host. Recorded Sept. 18, 2024, by phone.

Greeting from Lillian (Leye) Leavitt, co-host. Recorded Sept. 25, 2024, by phone.

Greetings on behalf of the League for Yiddish / די ייִדיש-ליגע by Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath, Board Chair. Recorded Sept. 18, 2024.

Greetings on behalf of the Hebrew Actors Foundation and CYCO Yiddish Book Center by Hy Wolfe. Recorded via Zoom Sept. 18, 2024.

Music: (Partial List)

Cantor Joseph Shapiro: B'Rosh Hashona

Malavsky Family: Kevah Kures

Sholom Katz: Zochreinu L'Chayim

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: October 2, 2024

Erev Rosh Hashona with Sutzkever Poetry Translated and Read by Richard Fein and Sholem Beinfeld

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 23:20:30 +0000

This week, greetings for Rosh Hashona from friends, participants, and sponsors of The Yiddish Voice / דאָס ייִדישע קול, combined with a poetry reading by Richard Fein and Sholem Beinfeld.

אַ גוט, געבענטשט יאָר אַלע אונדזערע צוהערער - לשנה טובֿה

Highlights:

Author and translator Richard J. Fein (Yiddish name: Ruvn-Yankev), along with his friend, collaborator, and regular Yiddish Voice cohost Sholem Beinfeld, read from Fein's book The Full Pomegranate: Poems of Avrom Sutzkever (SUNY Press, 2019), which features Sutzkever's poems in their original Yiddish along with Fein's English translations. Avrom Sutzkever (1913–2010) is widely regarded as one of the greatest Yiddish poets of the 20th century. Richard J. Fein is Professor Emeritus of English at the State University of New York at New Paltz and the author, editor, and translator of many books, including With Everything We’ve Got: A Personal Anthology of Yiddish Poetry. Sholem Beinfeld is Professor Emeritus of History at Washington University in St. Louis, and is perhaps best known as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary (Arumnemik Yidish-English Verterbukh), as well as a translator of Yiddish texts and creator of new subtitles for classic Yiddish movies. For further information on Fein's book The Full Pomegranate, see the publisher's web site: http://www.sunypress.edu/p-6690-the-full-pomegranate.aspx We recorded this at Fein's home in Cambridge, MA, on Sept. 20, 2024.

Greetings on behalf of the American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Descendants of Greater Boston, featuring members Tania Lefman (Treasurer), Mary Ehrlich, Rosalie Reszelbach and Miriam Modricamin.

Greetings from Eli Dovek ז״ל, late proprietor of our sponsor Israel Bookshop, Brookline, MA.

Greeting from Sholem Beinfeld, co-host. Recorded Sept. 18, 2024, by phone.

Greeting from Lillian (Leye) Leavitt, co-host. Recorded Sept. 25, 2024, by phone.

Greetings on behalf of the League for Yiddish / די ייִדיש-ליגע by Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath, Board Chair. Recorded Sept. 18, 2024.

Greetings on behalf of the Hebrew Actors Foundation and CYCO Yiddish Book Center by Hy Wolfe. Recorded via Zoom Sept. 18, 2024.

Music:

Cantor Joseph Shapiro: B'Rosh Hashona

Malavsky Family: Kevah Kures

Sholom Katz: Zochreinu L'Chayim

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: September 25, 2024

Erev Rosh Hashona with Moshe Waldoks, Henry Slucki, et al

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 01:31:47 +0000

This week, greetings for Rosh Hashona from friends, participants, and sponsors of The Yiddish Voice / דאָס ייִדישע קול, combined with an exciting new interviews with Rabbi Moshe Waldoks and Holocaust survivor Henry Slucki.

אַ גוט, געבענטשט יאָר אַלע אונדזערע צוהערער לשנה טובֿה

Highlights:

Interview with Rabbi Moshe Waldoks, whose biographical one-man show "You Can Live If They Let You" recently debuted in Boston, amid much acclaim (including a Boston Globe feature article) to sold-out audiences. Recorded Sept. 18, 2024, by phone. Info on Moshe Waldoks on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moshe_Waldoks

Interview with Henry Slucki, a Holocaust survivor, professor of psychology at USC, cultural and political activist. Recorded Sept. 18, 2024, via Zoom.

Greetings on behalf of the American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Descendants of Greater Boston, featuring members Tania Lefman (Treasurer), Mary Ehrlich, Rosalie Reszelbach, and Miriam Modricamin.

Greetings from Eli Dovek ז״ל, late proprietor of our sponsor Israel Bookshop, Brookline, MA.

Greeting from Sholem Beinfeld, co-host. Recorded Sept. 18, 2024, by phone.

Greetings on behalf of the League for Yiddish / די ייִדיש-ליגע by Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath, Board Chair. Recorded Sept. 18, 2024.

Greetings on behalf of the Hebrew Actors Foundation and CYCO Yiddish Book Center by Hy Wolfe. Recorded via Zoom Sept. 18, 2024.

Music:

Cantor Simcha Koussevitzky: Zochreinu L'Chayim

Pesachke Burstein: Men ken leben nor men lozt nit (Composer: Joseph Rumshinsky)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: September 18, 2024

Perl Teitelbaum, Teacher and Singer; Hy Wolfe, Actor and Singer

The Yiddish Voice — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 04:00:37 +0000

This week, interviews with Perl Teitelbaum and Hy Wolfe. We spoke with them in person at 2024 Yugntruf Yidish-Vokh in Copake, NY, on Aug. 21, 2024.

Paula (Perl) Teitelbaum is a Yiddish language at Arbeter Ring, Yivo Institute, and elsewhere. She talked about a new technique she's been using for teaching Yiddish by watching films. A Yiddish singer who has performed on several album, she also shared memories of creating the popular song Vaserl along with co-writer Rukhl Schaechter.

Hy Wolfe is a Yiddish singer and actor, as well as an activist involved in managing several important Yiddish organizations: Hebrew Actors Foundation, Sholem Aleichem Culture Center, and CYCO Yiddish Book Center. He talked about those organizations, and also shared some personal memories from his career on the Yiddish stage.

Music:

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Philip (Fayvl) Yucht, Shifee Lovitt: Vaserl וואַסערל (Arrangement by Andy Statman and his ensemble)

Meilech Kohn: Mein Held מײַן העלד

Air Date: August 21, 2024

Dovid Braun, Zumer-Program Academic Director; Miriam Libenson z"l (1995): Tisha B'ov

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 17:26:07 +0000

This week, an interview with Dovid Braun, talking about the Yivo Bard Zumer-Program and a few related matters. Dovid serves as Academic Director for the summer program, which recently concluded, and year-round as Yivo's Academic Director for Yiddish. And we hear from our archive (1995) Miriam Libenson on Tisha B'Ov , which falls this year on the night of Monday, Aug. 12.

Music:

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: August 7, 2024

Arieh Hecht: Patient Advocate; Nokhem Lerner: Zumer-Program Teacher

The Yiddish Voice — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 16:15:21 +0000

This week, Arieh Hecht, a patient advocate in Los Angeles, talks about his life as a child of Holocaust survivors originally from Transylvania (Hungary during WWII) and his work as a patient advocate. We spoke with Arieh in person in Los Angeles on July 4, 2024. We begin with a report from the Yivo-Bard Zumer-Program by Nokhem Lerner, who's been a Yiddish teacher there the past two years. We reached Nokhem by phone in the New York area on July 29, 2024.

Music:

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Outro instrumental music: Itzhak Perlman, Dov Seltzer, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra: Afn Veg Shteyt A Boym

Air Date: July 31, 2024

Pnina Sharf: Survivor from Poland, Marek Gaysinskiy: Zumer-Program Report

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 22:50:13 +0000

Highlights: Mark ("Marek") Gaysinskiy reports from the Yivo-Bard Zumer-Program; Pnina Sharf, a resident of Los Angeles and a Holocaust survivor from Poland, talks about her life experiences; from Boston's Yiddish past: a performance by the late Cantor Gregor Shelkan, performing a song about what will happen when Meshiekh (the Messiah) comes (recorded in 1999 at the Cantorial concert in honor of Cantor Simon Kandler).

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: July 17, 2024

Beinfeld, Glasser, Turner: The Jewish-Communist Milieu in Post-war Poland; Tara Neuwirth: Yivo's 2024 Zumer-program

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 10:17:16 +0000

Highlights:

A report from the Yivo-Bard Yiddish Summer Program by student Tara Neuwirth, who has attended several times beginning in 1983. This year's Zumer-program kicked off last week and seems off to a good start. We spoke to Tara by phone on July 10, 2024. We hope to hear more from other students and teachers from this and other Yiddish summer courses around the world. Info on the Yivo-Bard Yiddish Summer program here: https://summerprogram.yivo.org

Prof. Sholem Beinfeld, professor emeritus of history at Washington University, St. Louis, gives a brief lecture on Dovid Sfard, Hersh Smolar, and the Yiddish-Communist Milieu in Poland after WWII, and then discusses the topic with Hershl Glasser and Reyze Turner, who translated the book A citizen of Yiddishland: Dovid Sfard and the Jewish Communist Milieu in Poland (Nalewajko-Kulikov, Joanna; Peter Lang International Academic Publishers, Bern, 2020) into English. Book info: https://www.peterlang.com/document/1114288 We recorded the lecture and discussion via Zoom on June 17, 2024. A book by Hersh Smolar, originally in Yiddish, is about to come out this August 2024, translated into Yiddish by Ruth Murphy. Info here: https://www.benyehudapress.com/books/jews-without-yellow-stars/

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: July 10, 2024

Itel Landau

The Yiddish Voice — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 23:25:31 +0000

Meet Itel Landau (maiden family name: Brettler), a Holocaust survivor originally from Vișeu de Sus (Felsővisó in Hungarian, אויבערווישעווע in Yiddish), a shtetl in Transylvania (prewar Romania, Hungary during WWII, now Romania), discussing her life — before, during, and after the Holocaust. Itel was born into a Hassidic family, the Brettlers, who sold manufacturing materials. In 1940, Transylvania was taken over by Hungary. Among other changes, her school days were ended. In the spring of 1944, the Germans occupied Hungary, and soon after she and her family were deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. She, her mother, and two sisters were among the few survivors from her large extended family. After the war, she endured years of recovery from Tuberculosis in a sanitarium in France. She eventually married and moved to Bogota, Colombia, where she raised her family. After her children began to attend Yeshivas in New York, she and her family relocated there. She now lives in Manhattan.We reached Itel for this interview by phone on June 6, 2024. For more information, see also Itel's 1988 interview with the US Holocaust Memorial Museum. Thanks to Reb Yisrael Brettler, coproducer of this episode, who is also Itel's first cousin once removed.

Music:

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: June 19, 2024

Sarah Moskovitz: The Song Remains

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 23 May 2024 15:08:58 +0000

This week, Yiddish poetry lovers are in for a treat: an interview with Sarah Traister Moskowitz with her reading of poems in the collection „דאָס ליד איז געבליבן“ ("The Song Remains") along with her English translations. Sarah is the translator of the collection of poems Dos Lid is Geblibn, or The Song Remains, on the new website thesongremains.org, an anthology of Yiddish poems with English translations from the Nazi German occupation of Poland. The collection is taken from the book of the same name in Yiddish, edited by Binem Heller and originally published in Poland in 1951. In the interview Sarah talks about her life and her connections to Yiddish, the Holocaust, and this collection of poetry. She also reads three of the poems from the collection in Yiddish along with her English translation:

Kapital (Das Kapital) -Sh. Zhirman

Aktualie (Actually) -Misha Troyanov

Lodzh (Łódź) -M. Goldshteyn

Sarah worked for years with child-Holocaust-survivors in Los Angeles and helped produce the book How We Survived: 52 Personal Stories by Child Survivors of the Holocaust, including writing its forward, which she reads from in the Interview. Read more about Sarah Moskovitz at the new website: https://thesongremains.org/translator-sarah-traister-moskovitz/

Also on this week's show: Miriam Libenson ז״ל's presentation for Lag B'Oymer from our archive (originally recorded and aired in the 1990's). Miriam was a poet in her own right, whose poetry often graced our airwaves, as well as such publications as דער טאָג-מאָרגן-דשורנאָל and פּיאָנערן פֿרויען (Der Tog-Morgn-Dzhurnal and Pionern-Froyen).

Music/recordings:

Sarah Gorby: Zog Nit Keynmol

Raasche: Arum Dem Fayer

Tova Ben-Zvi: Lag-B'Oimer

Wolf Krakowski: Yeder Ruft Mikh Ziamele

Wolf Krakowski: Varshe

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: May 22, 2024

Marvin Zuckerman: Yiddish Language and Culture and Bundism

The Yiddish Voice — Mon, 20 May 2024 07:47:06 +0000

This week we have a new interview with Marvin Zuckerman, who grew up in the Yiddish-speaking milieu of Jewish Labor Bund in Bronx, New York. He became a professor of English at a Los Angeles college and co-authored the well-regarded Yiddish primer Learning Yiddish in Easy Stages and several other books in the field of Yiddish. He translated from the Yiddish the memoir of the prominent Bundist Bernard Goldstein (Twenty Years with the Jewish Labor Bund: A Memoir of Interwar Poland, Perdue University Press, 2016). In the interview he talks about his childhood in his secular-socialist-Yiddishist milieu of the 1930's and 40's; about Bundism's history and place in Jewish history; the bundist perspective, past and present, and in contrast to Communism and Zionism; about his translation of Bernard Goldstein's Bundist memoir; about teaching Yiddish and his Yiddish-language primer; and about Yiddish language and culture generally. The interview was conducted at Zuckerman's home in Pacific Pallisades, CA, on February 22, 2024.

Music/recordings:

Klepfisch Folkskhor: Di Shvue (anthem of the Jewish Labor Bund)

Lazar Weiner and Workmen's Circle Chorus: Di Shvue

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: May 15, 2024

Yom HaAtzmaut with Burstyn, Trinh, Sharfstein, Zaks

The Yiddish Voice — Sat, 11 May 2024 01:12:21 +0000

This week we observe Yom HaAtzmaut (Israel Independence Day) talking with Mike Burstyn, Miriam Trinh, Eli Sharfstein and Avremi Zaks.

Mike Burstyn is a distinguished actor and singer known for his roles in Yiddish, Hebrew, and English theater and film across Israeli, American, and international stages. Recently, he starred in the German comedy drama The Zweiflers, awarded Best Series at the 7th annual Canneseries festival in April 2024. Burstyn first gained prominence in Israel as a child actor with his family's troupe, The Four Bursteins, and later through significant roles in The Megillah of Itzik Manger (1965) and Two Kuni Lemel (1966).

Miriam Trinh is the editor-in-chief of Afn Shvel, teaching Yiddish language and literature at Hebrew University and online platforms like Workers Circle and YIVO. She has written for the Yiddish Forward (Forverts), including the interview with Tzili Venkert described on our show and a recent article published post-show, "לכּבֿוד יום-הזכּרון זאָל דער געדענק־פּלאַקאַט פֿון קיבוץ בארי נישט לאָזן פֿאַרגעסן." Trinh moved to Israel after high school and resides in Jerusalem with her family.

Eli Sharfstein is a contemporary poet and writer living in the Israeli kibbutz Ma’agan Michael. Born in Vilna and moved to Israel in 1972, he is a veteran of the Yom Kippur war. He has published two books of Yiddish poems, פּלוצעם ייִדיש and מײַן ווילנער זאַוווּליק.

Avremi Zaks the host and producer of the weekly Israeli Yiddish radio program "Kan Yidish." He was born in Israel and lives in Jerusalem with his wife and children.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Beit HaLochem (Los Angeles): https://www.israeliwoundedveterans.org

The Zweiflers TV series starring Mke Burstyn, home page

League for Yiddish: https://leagueforyiddish.org

Afn Shvel Issue #400-401 at League for Yiddish

Yiddish Forward (Forverts): https://forward.com/yiddish/

Forverts Article on Interview with Tzili Venkert, grandmother of hostage Omar Venkert

Yiddish Branzhe: https://yiddishbranzhe.com

Kan Yiddish (כאן יידיש) archive (Avremi Zaks's Yiddish radio show)

Music/recordings:

Dovid Esheth: Yerusholayim Shtot fun Gold

M...

Yom HaShoah: Hungarian (Carpathian) Holocaust Survivors Mel Mermelstein (2008), Zoli Langer (2019), Rokhl Zicherman (2019)

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 03 May 2024 21:12:33 +0000

This week, for Yom HaShoah, which falls this year on May 6, we present past interviews with survivors of the Holocaust in Hungary as we mark the deportation of Hungarian Jews to Auschwitz in the spring of 1944, 80 years ago. After a brief intro and announcement of Boston's 2024 community Hazkure, we hear:

Mel Mermelstein ז״ל

We had a short but memorable interview with Mel in 2008. Mel lived in Munkacs until May 1944, when he was deported to Aushwitz. He passed away in January 2022 at age 95. See also: Mel Mermelstein Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Mermelstein

Zoli Langer and Rokhl Zicherman: repeat of our 2020 Yom HaShoah broadcast: Zoli lived in Ungvar and Rokhl in Tybava until they were deported to Auschwitz in the spring of 1944. A long interview of Zoli is presented with a short interlude of Rokhl singing songs about the Holocaust. Both were interviewed in 2019 and currently (2024) reside in the Los Angeles area.

Pesach with Kesselman, Teitelbaum, Deutsch

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 22:28:32 +0000

This week, Pesach greetings and words of wisdom from Rabbi Yitzchok-Boruch Teitelbaum, Rabbi Moshe Kesselman, and Holocaust survivor Naftali (Tuli) Deutsch, as well as greetings from many of our cohosts, friends, and sponsors, as follows:

Israel Book Shop (Eli Dovek ז״ל recorded Mar 28 2007)

American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors of Greater Boston (member and Holocaust survivor Tania Lefman, and member and Holocaust survivor Mary Erlich), co-sponsor of Boston's 2024 In-Person and Virtual Community Holocaust Commemoration of Yom HaShoah, Sunday, May 5, 2024, at 10:30 AM Eastern. (Registration required.)

League for Yiddish, New York, NY, (Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath, Chair of the Board)

Leah Shporer-Leavitt, Newton, MA, co-host of The Yiddish Voice / דאָס ייִדישע קול

Dovid Braun, Leonia, NJ, co-host of The Yiddish Voice / דאָס ייִדישע קול

Yankele Bodo, Tel Aviv, Israel, actor and singer (from 2016)

Eli Grodko, New Millford, NJ, friend of the show

Boston Workers Circle, Brookline, MA (Yiddish committee member Linda (Libe-Reyzl) Gritz)

We wish all our cohosts, sponsors, and friends a Happy and Kosher Pesach.

מיר ווינטשן אַלע אונדזערע אונטערשטיצער, פֿרײַנד און באַטייליקטע אַ פֿריילעכן און כּשרן פּסח

Links for this episode:

JCRC Boston's registration for Yom Hahoah 2024: jcrcboston.org/register-for-yom-hashoah-2024

Israel Book Shop: israelbookshop.com

Rabbie Moshe Kesselman's Neros Lehoir website: neroslehoir.org

League for Yiddish: leagueforyiddish.org

Boston Workers Circle: circleboston.org

Music:

Malavsky Family: Ho Lakhmo Anyo and Fir Kashes

Moyshe Oisher: Dayenu, Chad Gadyo, and Kiddush for Pesach

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: April 17, 2024

Cantor Herschel Fox

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 04:56:29 +0000

This week, Cantor Herschel Fox, long-time chazzan at Valley Beth Shalom Synagogue in Los Angeles and veteran of the Cantorial world as well as the Yiddish stage, and even Yiddish radio. The interview is filled with stories and anecdotes covering many aspects of his life and his illustrious career, including close working relationships with such legends as Molly Picon, Cantor Dovid Koussevitzky, and many others. He also treats us to many insights into Yiddish song and khazones, with many demonstrations featuring his still-strong voice, with wonderful musical phrasing and beautiful Yiddish and Hebrew diction.

The interview was recorded at the home of Herschel and Judy Fox on Mar. 21, 2024. Special thanks to Judy Fox for audio technical assistance.

Links related to Cantor Fox:

Honorary Doctorate fitting cap to cantorial career of Herschel Fox", article in Canada's Jewish Post and News

Judy & Herschel Fox at FAU Sound Archive, digitized versions of commercial recordings of Herschel Fox, as well as his wife, fellow cantor, Judy Fox

Herschel Fox's Oral History, interview by Christa Whitney from 2018 for the Wexler Oral History Project of Yiddish Book Center

Music:

Moshe Koussevitzky: Sheyiboneh Beys Hamikdosh

Herschel Fox: Sheyiboneh Beys Hamikdosh

Herschel Fox: Dem Milners Trern

Herschel Fox: Abi Gezunt

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: April 10, 2024

Purim with Viswanath, Pollak, Wolfe, Londner, Beinfeld, Lieberman-Reich

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 06:54:48 +0000

Happy Purim !! אַ פֿריילעכן פּורים

Part 1: Jokes and humor for Purim told by Libby Pollak, Sholem Beinfeld, Sheila (Sheyndl) Lieberman-Reich, Sheldon (Shulem) Londner, and Hy Wolfe.

Part 2: Arele Schaechter Viswanath discusses his Google Doc "אַ בלעטל פּורים־מאַטעריאַלן", which the פֿאָרווערטס/Forverts/Yiddish Forward described as "Lively Yiddish Purim materials for teachers, students and parents".

All guests were recorded, by phone or Zoom, Mar. 19-20, 2024.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Arele's Google Doc: אַ בלעטל פּורים־מאַטעריאַלן פֿאַר עלטערן פֿון ייִדיש־רעדנדיקע קינדער און פֿאַר ייִדיש־לערערס און תּלמידים

Music:

Di Purim Shpiler [Spotify]: Mishpokhe Lustik, Tsu Feter Aron,Khelemer Rov

Megilla of Itzik Manger (The Bursteins/Israeli cast album) [Spotify]: Der Nigun Fun Der Megille

Mine-Lifshe Viswanath: Purim Iz A Shpil Aza [Youtube]

Bina Landau: Purim Lid

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: March 20, 2024

Nathan Gipsman, Survivor; Biskowitz, Bach: Farbindungen 2024; Borodulin: Yiddish Classes

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 19:33:16 +0000

This week, interview with Holocaust survivor Nathan Gipsman, originally from Będzin (Bendin), who recently celebrated his 99th birthday; Alona Bach and Sarah Biskowitz cover Farbindungen 2024, the third annual Farbindungen Yiddish Studies Conference, taking place online from February 18 – 19th, 2024; Kolya Borodulin announces the Yiddish classes offered by Workers Circle/Arbeter Ring, starting next week; and a little -ליבע (love-) related music in honor of Valentin-Tog (Valentine's Day).

Important links mentioned in this episode:

https://circle.org

https://farbindungen.com

Music:

Masha Roskies: Kum Leybke Tantsn (from CD accompanying book Yiddishlands by David Roskies)

Mayya Korsunskaya: Ikh Hob Dikh Tsu Fil Lib (piano acc. by Hankus Netsky)

Dudu Fisher: Sheyn Vi Di Lovone

Dudu Fisher: Bay Mir Bistu Sheyn

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: February 14, 2024

Remembering Dovid Lenga: His 2023 Interview

The Yiddish Voice — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 19:50:46 +0000

Last week, we learned the sad news that David (Dovid) Lenga has died at the age of 96. He was buried in Los Angeles on Jan. 28, 2024. Los Angeles survivor and community leader Harry Davids said of him, "David was a survivor of Dachau and Auschwitz. He frequently spoke at the museums, synagogues and schools, and his presentations were known for their oratory and inspirational style."In his memory, we're airing his interview recorded and originally aired on Jan. 4, 2023. Link to original podcast. כּבֿוד זײַן אַנדענק!‬

Music:

Wolf Krakowsky: Yeder Ruft Mikh Ziamele

Leahke Post: Yidish Redt Zikh Azoy Sheyn

Yugntruf: Youth for Yiddish: Yiddish (Vaserl)

Tzimmes: Oyfn Pripetshik

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: February 7, 2024

Vicky Ash-Shifriss on "Silent Tears" CD

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 22:53:41 +0000

In observance of International Holocaust Rememberance Day (Jan. 27) we're listening to and discussing Silent Tears: The Last Yiddish Tango, the acclaimed 2023 CD with new music and songs based on poetry and other writing by several women who are, or were, Holocaust survivors in Toronto. These songs recall their terrible and traumatic experiences during the Holocaust, including sexual abuse and torture. Some of the songs were collected and adapted by Dr. Paula David, a social worker, from a group of survivors in the Terrace Holocaust Survivors Group at the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care in Toronto who wrote poetry together to deal with their trauma. Others were adapted from the diary of Molly Applebaum, a Holocaust survivor in Toronto. The music, which is mostly new for this CD, is performed by Toronto's Payadora Tango Ensemble along with several soloists. Our guest to discuss Silent Tears is Vicky Ash-Shifris. She lives in Jerusalem and works as a Yiddish teacher and translator. She translated four of the songs on the CD into Yiddish. For additional info on Silent Tears, visit Executive Producer Dan Rosenberg's website: https://danrosenberg.net/silent_tears_the_last_yiddish_tango_info_and_press or, to audition and purchase the CD, visit its Six Degrees Records album page: https://payadoratangoensemble.bandcamp.com/album/silent-tears-the-last-yiddish-tango

Music:

Aviva Chernick with Payadora Tango Ensemble: Silent Tears (Words: Terrace Holocaust Survivors Group, Paula David, Dan Rosenberg; Music: Rebekah Wolkstein)

Aviva Chernick with Payadora Tango Ensemble: The Numbers on My Arm (Words: Terrace Holocaust Survivors Group, Paula David, Dan Rosenberg; Music: Rebekah Wolkstein)

Aviva Chernick and Olga Avigail Mieleszczuk with Payadora Tango Ensemble: Don't Let Us Starve (Words: Molly Applebaum, Dan Rosenberg; Music: Artur Gold)

Lenka Lichtenberg: A Victim Of Mengele (Words: Terrace Holocaust Survivors Group, Paula David, Dan Rosenberg; Music: Rebekah Wolkstein)

Henry Carrey: Tu Beshvat (Music and Lyrics by Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: January 24, 2024

Remembering Avrohom Fuchs: His 2015 Interview; Miriam Libenson: Tu BeShvat (Replay)

The Yiddish Voice — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 07:01:37 +0000

Last week, we received via Facebook the sad news that Avrohom Fuchs has died at the age of 99. He was buried in Jerusalem on Jan. 15, 2024. In his memory, we're airing part of an interview recorded in Jerusalem on Jan. 2, 2015, and originally aired Jan. 21, 2015. Fuchs, who survived the Holocaust, including Auschwitz and Ebensee, was a scholar of the Jewish history of the Carpathian Mountains, as well as a travel agent and guide who led over 35 tours to the Carpathians for former residents and their descendents. He wrote a book on the city of Chust (now Khust, Ukraine) and surrounding towns, as well as a book on his hometown Shandriff (now Oleksandrivka, Ukraine) and numerous articles. ‫כּבֿוד זײַן אַנדענק!‬

From our archives: Miriam Libenson Z"L: a talk in honor of the holiday Tu Bishvat, the holiday of the trees, originally broadcast in 1994.

Music:

Cantor Bela Herskowitz: Szól A Kakas Már (Der Hun Kriet Shoyn)

Victor Berezinsky: Tu Bishvat

Ruth Levin: A Hoykher Boym (Lyrics Shike Driz, Music by Leibu Levin)

Hilda Bronstein: Afn Veg Shteyt A Boym (Lyrics by Itzik Manger)

Dudu Fisher: Unter Beymer (Lyrics by Alexander Olshanetsky, Music by Moishe Oysher)

Pharaoh's Daughter/Basya Schechter: Mayn Lid (My Song) and Ikh un Du (Lyrics by Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, Music by Basya Schechter)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: January 17, 2024

Mikhl Yashinsky: Di Psure Loyt Khaim

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 23:07:58 +0000

Highlights:

Mikhl Yashinsky discusses his new Yiddish-language plan די בשׂורה לויט חיים (The Gospel According to Chaim / Di Psure Loyt Khaim), which is based on the true-life figure Chaim Einspruch, who translated the New Testament into Yiddish. When Einspruch tried to publish his book during the early 1940's, he was refused by every Yiddish printer, so learned how to do his own printing and published his work himself in 1941. The play is being performed under the auspices of New Yiddish Rep and is set to run through Jan 7, 2024. Tickets and info: https://www.newyiddishrep.org Yashinsky was previously interviewed on the The Yiddish Voice when he performed in Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish in 2018. That interview is available here: https://podcast.yv.org/episodes/daniel-kahn-michael-yashinsky-yiddish-fiddler-on-the-roof See also Yashinsky's website and Twitter/X

Sholem Beinfeld, cohost of The Yiddish Voice and Professor of History, Emeritus, of Washington University, St. Louis, gives an analysis of Israel's war with Hamas in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 massacre. (Note: repeated from previous broadcast of The Yiddish Voice, Dec. 21, 2023)

Highlights from Kann Yiddish, the Israeli national broadcaster's weekly Yiddish radio show, presented by cohosts Avremi Zaks and Mikhoel Felsenbaum. Thanks to Kann Yiddish. Visit Kann Yiddish / כאן יידיש for archived broadcasts. You can also subscribe to their podcast via their RSS feed.

Music:

Moshe Stern: Undzer Eygn Land

Moshe Stern: A Gezang Tzu Yisroel

Rina Gordon: Far Nakht In Yerusholayim (words: Zalman Shazar)

Moshe Stern: Ver Bistu Mentsh

Uri Zifroni: A Briv Fun Tel Aviv

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: December 28, 2023

Sholem Beinfeld: Analyzing Israel's War; Remembering Hershl Hartman: His 2021 Interview

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 01:34:42 +0000

Highlights:

Sholem Beinfeld, cohost of The Yiddish Voice and Professor of History, Emeritus, of Washington University, St. Louis, gives an analysis of Israel's war with Hamas in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 massacre.

Hershl Hartman passed away last week, Monday, December 11, 2023, a few days after his 94th birthday. In his memory we are reairing our interview with him, discussing his work as a Yiddish journalist, an educator in secular Yiddish-oriented schools, and a translator from Yiddish to English. Hershl Hartman was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1929. The interview was originally aired July 28, 2021. For the original broadcast/podcast, including more extensive notes, visit: https://podcast.yv.org/episodes/hershl-hartman

Music:

Moshe Stern: Undzer Eygn Land

Moshe Stern: A Gezang Tzu Yisroel

Rina Gordon: Far Nakht In Yerusholayim (words: Zalman Shazar)

Moshe Stern: Ver Bistu Mentsh

Uri Zifroni: A Briv Fun Tel Aviv

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: December 21, 2023

Berele Messinger: ZAKA in Israel in the aftermath of Oct 7

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 03:02:59 +0000

Interview with Berele Messinger, an Israeli member of ZAKA who was on the scene in Kibbutz Be'eri the day after the October 7 massacre. We reached him by WhatsApp on Nov. 29, 2023.

Music:

Moshe Stern: A Gezang Tzu Yisroel

Rina Gordon: Far Nakht In Yerusholayim (words: Zalman Shazar)

Moshe Stern: Undzer Eygn Land

Moshe Stern: Ver Bistu Mentsh

Moyshe Oisher: Broches far Khanike

Pripetshik Singers: S'iz Khanike Haynt

Essential Voices USA: Borukh Ate Zingt der Tate

Pripetshik Singers: Kinder, Haynt Iz Khanike

Seymour Silbermintz & The Boys: Haneiros Hallolu - Chanuko

Martha Schlamme: Khanike Oy Khanike

New England Conservatory Chorus: Al Hanisim

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: November 29, 2023

Survivors Cycowicz, Deutsch, Zisblatt, Altmann on Israel & Antisemitism; freygl gertsovski

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 10 Nov 2023 22:39:40 +0000

Highlights of this week's show:

Interview with freygl gertsovski, who founded Queer Yiddish Camp, on the upcoming cabaret fundraiser to benefit Queer Yiddish Camp taking place Sun., Dec. 3, 2023, 2 PM Eastern, on Zoom. Info and tickets online here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/radyiddish/1025964 We spoke via Whatsapp on Nov. 6, 2023.

Interviews with four Holocaust survivors about Israel and antisemitism in the wake of the Oct. 7 terror attack and the current war in Israel.

Gitu Cycowitz, Jerusalem

Naftali Deutsch, Los Angeles

Irene Zisblatt, Boca Raton, FL

Judy Altmann, Stamford, CT

All happened to be born in Subcarpathian Ruthenia in Czechoslovakia before WWII. We spoke with them all by phone on Nov. 8, 2023.

The interviews are interspersed with Yiddish song recordings from and mostly about Israel from various performers. (See credits below.)

Music/recordings:

Dovid Esheth: Yerusholayim Shtot fun Gold

Dovid Esheth: Tsu Sholem Mir Shtreben

Richard Inger: Israel

Leo Fuld: Vi Ahin Zol Ikh Geyn

Yakov Sandler: Tel Aviv

Dovid Esheth: Shrayb a Brivl Mayn Kind

Dovid Esheth: Adurkh in Oysgus fun Tiran

Richard Inger: S'vet Zayn Gut

Dovid Esheth: Der Krigs-Shofer

Dovid Esheth: Halt Mir dem Finger Mazldik

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: November 8, 2023

Sharfstein, Bryks-Klein, Shifris, Trinh: Massacre and War in Israel

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 17:42:39 +0000

‫מיר טרויערן נאָך די מער ווי 1,400 מענטשן שוידערלעך אומגעבראַכט פֿון דער טעראָר-גרופּע כאַמאַס אין ישׂראל דעם 7טן אַקטאָבער 2023. מיר זאָרגן זיך זייער וועגן די פֿאַרוווּנדעטע, זאָלן זיי אַלע האָבן אַ רפֿואה־שלמה, ווי אויך וועגן די פֿאַרכאַפּטע, זאָלן זיי אַלע צוריקקומען אַהיים בשלום.‬‬

‫ ‫הערט אינטערוויוען מיט ישׂראלים וועגן דער טעראַר-אַטאַקע און דער איצטיקער מלחמה אין ישׂראל:‬

אלי שאַרפֿשטיין Eli Sharfstein (Spoke by WhatsApp Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023)

בעלאַ בריקס-קלײַן Bella Bryks-Klein (Spoke by phone Monday, Oct. 30, 2023)

וויקי שיפֿריס Viki Shifris (Spoke on Zoom Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023)

מרים טרין Miriam Trinh (Spoke on Zoom Monday, Oct. 30, 2023) ‫

We mourn the more than 1,400 people horribly murdered by the terror group Hamas in Israel on October 7, 2023. We are deeply concerned for the wounded -- may they all be restored to health, and the captives -- may they all get home safely.

Hear interviews with Israelis about the terror attack and the current war in Israel.

Music:

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: November 1, 2023

Daniel Galay: Massacre and War in Israel

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 16:21:05 +0000

‫מיר טרויערן נאָך די מער ווי 1,400 מענטשן שוידערלעך אומגעבראַכט פֿון דער טעראָר-גרופּע כאַמאַס אין ישׂראל דעם 7טן אַקטאָבער 2023. מיר זאָרגן זיך זייער וועגן די פֿאַרוווּנדעטע, זאָלן זיי אַלע האָבן אַ רפֿואה־שלמה, ווי אויך וועגן די פֿאַרכאַפּטע, זאָלן זיי אַלע צוריקקומען אַהיים בשלום.‬‬

‫ ‫הערט אַן אינטערוויו מיט דניאל גלאי וועגן דער טעראַר-אַטאַקע און דער איצטיקער מלחמה אין ישׂראל. גלאי איז אַ קאָמפּאָזיטאָר, דראַמאַטורג,כּלל-טוער פֿאַר ייִדיש, ייִדיש-פּעדאַגאָג און -שרײַבער, און פֿאָרזיצער פֿון לייוויק-הויז אין תּל-אָבֿיבֿ. ווײַטערדיקע אינֿאָ אָנלײַן:‬ https://www.leyvik.com Leyvik House on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leyvikmail/ FORUM 21 On behalf of the Ashkenazi Heritage and Identity - English

‫רעקאָרדירט דורך טעלעפֿאָן און וואָטסאַפּ דעם 25סטן אָקט׳ 2023.‬

We mourn the more than 1,400 people horribly murdered by the terror group Hamas in Israel on October 7, 2023. We are deeply concerned for the wounded -- may they all be restored to health, and the captives -- may they all get home safely.

Hear an interview with Daniel Galay about the terror attack and the current war in Israel. Galay is a composer, playwright, Yiddish activist, educator, and writer, and Chairman of Leyvik House Yiddish Cultural Center in Tel Aviv. Additional info online: https://www.leyvik.com Leyvik House on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leyvikmail/ FORUM 21 On behalf of the Ashkenazi Heritage and Identity - English

Recorded via phone and Whatsapp on Oct. 25, 2023.

The interview is interspersed with Yiddish recordings from and mostly about Israel from various performers. (See credits below.)

Music/recordings:

Dovid Esheth: Yerusholayim Shtot fun Gold

Dovid Esheth: Tsu Sholem Mir Shtreben

Richard Inger: Israel

Leo Fuld: Vi Ahin Zol Ikh Geyn

Yakov Sandler: Tel Aviv

Dovid Esheth: Shrayb a Brivl Mayn Kind

Dovid Esheth: Adurkh in Oysgus fun Tiran

Richard Inger: S'vet Zayn Gut

Chana Rovina: Kh'hob Zikh Yorn Gevalgerts in der Fremd (reading of poem by Itzik Manger)

Dovid Esheth: Yerusholayim Shtot fun Ayzn

Dovid Esheth: Der Krigs-Shofer

Dovid Esheth: Halt Mir dem Finger Mazldik

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: October 25, 2023

Sholem Beinfeld, Avremi Zaks: Massacre and War in Israel

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 07:38:29 +0000

‫מיר טרויערן נאָך די מער ווי 1,200 מענטשן שוידערלעך אומגעבראַכט פֿון דער טעראָר-גרופּע כאַמאַס אין ישׂראל דעם 7טן אַקטאָבער 2023. מיר זאָרגן זיך זייער וועגן די פֿאַרוווּנדעטע, זאָלן זיי אַלע האָבן אַ רפֿואה־שלמה, ווי אויך וועגן די פֿאַרכאַפּטע, זאָלן זיי אַלע צוריקקומען אַהיים בשלום.‬

‫ הערט אַ קאַמענטאַר פֿונעם היסטאָריקער פּראָפֿ׳ שלום ביינפֿעלד, אַ באַריכט פֿון ישׂראל פֿונעם ייִדיש-ראַדיאָ פּרעזענטירער אבֿרהמי זאַקס און אַ דיסקוסיע וועגן דער טעראַר-אַטאַקע און דער איצטיקער מלחמה אין ישׂראל.‬

We mourn the more than 1,200 people horribly murdered by the terror group Hamas in Israel on October 7, 2023. We are deeply concerned for the wounded -- may they all be restored to health, and the captives -- may they all get home safely.

Hear commentary by historian Sholem Beinfeld, a report from Israel by Yiddish radio presenter Avremi Zaks, and a discussion about the terror attack and the current war in Israel.

Music:

Sholom Katz: Shalom Shalom Yisroel

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: October 11, 2023

Chol Hamoed Succos with Yitzchok-Boruch Teitelbaum, Kolya Borodulin, Hy Wolfe

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 22:34:59 +0000

This week, greetings for חול המועד סוכּות (Chol Hamoed Succos) from friends, participants, and sponsors of The Yiddish Voice / דאָס ייִדישע קול, combined with Succos Vort and two interviews, and then a great deal of music appropriate for Yom Tov days of Succos/Shemini Atseres/Simchas Torah!

אַ גוט, געבענטשט יאָר אַלע אונדזערע צוהערער

אַ גוט קוויטל און אַ גמר חתימה טובֿה

Highlights:

Greetings from Judy Altmann, Holocaust survivor originally from Jasina, Czechoslovakia.

Greetings from Leyzer Maimon, Holocaust survivor originally from Bilgoray, Poland, and leader of Young Israel of Mill Basin (Brooklyn, NY).

Featured Vort for Chol Hamoed Succos by Rabbi Yitzchok-Boruch Teitelbaum, Kiryas Joel, NY, also known as the Pshisker Rebbe.

Dovid Lenga, Holocaust survivor originally from Lodz, Poland.

Greetings on behalf of the American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Descendants of Greater Boston, featuring members Tania Lefman (Treasurer), Mary Ehrlich, Joyce Levin, Rosalie Reszelbach, and Janet Stein (President).

Greetings from Eli Dovek ז״ל, late proprietor of our sponsor Israel Bookshop, Brookline, MA (from 2009).

Featured interview with Kolya Borodulin, discussing the latest Arbeter-Ring Yiddish classes, starting soon. Info here: circle.org/yiddish.

Featured interview with Hy Wolfe, discussing latest happenings at Yiddish organizations he's involved with, namely, Hebrew Actors Foundation, Sholem Aleichem Cultural Center (Bronx), and CYCO Yiddish Books, not to mention his own career as a singer and actor in both Yiddish and English.

Music:

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Numerous songs for Yom Tov days of Succos/Shemini Atseres/Simchas Torah

Air date: October 4, 2023

Greetings and Music Erev Succos; Best of Succos, etc. (2019)

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 17:38:02 +0000

This week, greetings for גמר חתימה טובֿה (Gmar Chassima Toyve, a good final sealing) from friends, participants, and sponsors of The Yiddish Voice / דאָס ייִדישע קול, combined with an excellent "Best of Succos" program from our archive (2019) with various presenters and lots of Succos music.

אַ גוט, געבענטשט יאָר אַלע אונדזערע צוהערער

אַ גוט קוויטל און אַ גמר חתימה טובֿה

Highlights:

Greetings from Judy Altmann, Holocaust survivor originally from Jasina, Czechoslovakia.

Greetings from Leyzer Maimon, Holocaust survivor originally from Bilgoray, Poland, and leader of Young Israel of Mill Basin (Brooklyn, NY).

Greetings from Rabbi Yitzchok-Boruch Teitelbaum, Kiryas Joel, NY, also known as the Pshisker Rebbe.

Dovid Lenga, Holocaust survivor originally from Lodz, Poland.

Greetings on behalf of the American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Descendants of Greater Boston, featuring members Tania Lefman (Treasurer), Mary Ehrlich, Joyce Levin, Rosalie Reszelbach, and Janet Stein (President).

Greetings from Eli Dovek ז״ל, late proprietor of our sponsor Israel Bookshop, Brookline, MA (from 2009).

Best of Succos (2019) - highlights our archive of past Succos programs with various guests, including Miriam Libenson, Myer Loketch, and Izchak Kin, and music.

Music:

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: September 27, 2023

Greetings and Music Erev Yom Kippur; Rabbi Moshe Kesselman: Rosh Hashona, etc. (2022)

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 22:22:05 +0000

This week, greetings for Rosh Hashona from friends, participants, and sponsors of The Yiddish Voice / דאָס ייִדישע קול, combined with an excellent interview from our archive with Rabbi Moshe Kesselman (2022).

אַ גוט, געבענטשט יאָר אַלע אונדזערע צוהערער

אַ גוט קוויטל און אַ לײַכטן תּענית - גמר חתימה טובֿה

Highlights:

Greetings from Judy Altmann, Holocaust survivor originally from Jasina, Czechoslovakia.

Greetings from Leyzer Maimon, Holocaust survivor originally from Bilgoray, Poland, and leader of Young Israel of Mill Basin (Brooklyn, NY).

Greetings from Rabbi Yitzchok-Boruch Teitelbaum, Kiryas Joel, NY, also known as the Pshisker Rebbe.

Dovid Lenga, Holocaust survivor originally from Lodz, Poland.

Greetings on behalf of the American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Descendants of Greater Boston, featuring members Tania Lefman (Treasurer), Mary Ehrlich, Joyce Levin, Rosalie Reszelbach, and Janet Stein (President).

Greetings on behalf of the League for Yiddish / די ייִדיש-ליגע by Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath, Board Chair.

Greetings from Eli Dovek ז״ל, late proprietor of our sponsor Israel Bookshop, Brookline, MA (from 2009).

Greetings from Leah Shporer-Leavitt, co-host.

Greeting from Sholem Beinfeld, co-host.

Interview with Rabbi Moshe Kesselman, spiritual leader of Congregation Shaarei Tefila of Los Angeles. From our archive: originally aired September 21, 2022.

Music:

Music for High Holidays, including Cantor Simcha Koussevitzky: Zochreinu L'Chayim, and many more.

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: September 20, 2023

Erev Rosh Hashona with Avrohom Marmorstein, et al

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 21:58:22 +0000

This week, greetings for Rosh Hashona from friends, participants, and sponsors of The Yiddish Voice / דאָס ייִדישע קול, combined with an exciting new interviews with Rabbi Avrohom Marmorstein as well as an encore presentation on the High Holidays by Miriam Libenson ז״ל from the archive of our predecessor show די ייִדישע שעה from 1992.

אַ גוט, געבענטשט יאָר אַלע אונדזערע צוהערער לשנה טובֿה

Highlights:

Greetings on behalf of the American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Descendants of Greater Boston, featuring members Tania Lefman (Treasurer), Mary Ehrlich, Joyce Levin, Rosalie Reszelbach, and Janet Stein (President).

Interview with Rabbi Avrohom Marmorstein, director of Mehadrin Kashrus and spiritual leader of Kehal Minchas Chinuch, both in Manhattan.

Greetings on behalf of the League for Yiddish / די ייִדיש-ליגע by Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath, Board Chair.

Greetings from Eli Dovek ז״ל, late proprietor of our sponsor Israel Bookshop, Brookline, MA.

Greetings from Leah Shporer-Leavitt, co-host.

Greeting from Sholem Beinfeld, co-host.

Miriam Libenson ז״ל: Rosh Hashona/Yom Kippur - from the archive of our predecessor show די ייִדישע שעה. Originally recorded and aired on WBRS 100.1 FM (Waltham, MA) in 1992.

Music:

Cantor Simcha Koussevitzky: Zochreinu L'Chayim

Goldie Malavsky: Zochreinu L'Chayim

Leibele Waldman: Der Nayer Yor

D. Meyrowitz: L'Shonoh Toivo

Leibele Waldman: Shofar Shal Moshiach

Samuel Malavsky's Family Choir: L'el Orech Din

Moishe Oysher: Hayom Haras Olom (Rosh Hashana After Shofar Blown)

Josef Rosenblatt: Melech Rachamon (Rosh Hashana Musaf)

Mordechai Hershman: Al Chet

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: September 13, 2023

Mordechai-Tzvi Solomon, Eli Grodko, Rosh Hashona

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 13:14:37 +0000

This week, greetings for Rosh Hashona from friends, participants, and sponsors of The Yiddish Voice / דאָס ייִדישע קול, combined with exciting new interviews with Rabbi Mordechai-Tzvi Solomon and Eli Grodko!

אַ גוט, געבענטשט יאָר אַלע אונדזערע צוהערער לשנה טובֿה

Highlights:

Greetings on behalf of the American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Descendants of Greater Boston, featuring members Tania Lefman (Treasurer), Mary Ehrlich, Joyce Levin, Rosalie Reszelbach, and Janet Stein (President).

Interview with Eli Grodko, son-in-law of host/producer Mark David, talks about his path to Yiddish, intertwined with his former search for a wife, and shares advice for single people searching for a life partner.

Greetings from Eli Dovek ז״ל, late proprietor of our sponsor Israel Bookshop, Brookline, MA.

Greetings from Leah Shporer-Leavitt, co-host.

Greeting from Sholem Beinfeld, co-host.

Greetings on behalf of the League for Yiddish / די ייִדיש-ליגע by Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath, Board Chair.

Interview with Rabbi Mordechai-Tzvi Solomon, world-renouned mohel, on the institution of Bris Millah. Info: http://brityy.org

Music:

Sholom Katz: Zochreinu L'Chayim

Jennie Goldstein: Avinu Malkeynu

Mordechai Hershman: Al Chet

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: September 6, 2023

Lilye Weitzman & Yoyne Sidman: New Yiddish Songs from Boston

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 14:26:08 +0000

Interview with Lily (ליליע) Weitzman and Jonah (יונה) Sidman, who recently led a workshop to teach songs created by them and others active in Yiddish language and culture activities around the Boston Workers Circle. The Yiddish Voice was on hand to record four songs sung by participants in the workshop they led, titled נײַע לידער פֿון באָסטאָן (New Songs from Boston), presented at the 2023 Yidish-Vokh, which took place earlier in August in Copake, NY, and was sponsored by the organization Yugntruf-Youth for Yiddish. These songs, as well as selected highlights from the workshop, were presented on this show. The four songs are (1) Levone-Mol by Lily Weitzmann; (2) In Hartsn Zol Undz Akhdes Zayn, Yiddish lyrics by Jonah Sidman, a translation of Let Union Be in All Our Hearts (traditional); (3) A Bletele Vert a Bletl by Adah Hetko; and (4) Eyn Kol, Yiddish lyrics by Linda Gritz, based on One Voice by Ruth Moody of The Wailin' Jennys. Weitzman and Sidman's creative Yiddish activities are an outgrowth of Di Nest, an incubator for Yiddish creative projects. For more information, visit https://circleboston.org/yiddish-community-informal-learning/#dinest.

Music:

Ben Zimet: Summertime

Levyosn: Fisher Lid

Daniel Kahn & The Painted Bird: Arbeter Froyen

Mandy Patinkin: American Tune

Leybele Waldman: Der Nayer Yor

Aaron Lebedeff & Alexander Olshanetsky Orchestra: Vos Ken Yu Makh Es Iz Amerike

Seymour Rexite: Battle Hymn of the Republic (in Yiddish)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: August 30, 2023

Nick Underwood: Yiddish Paris; Dovid Braun: Yiddish Studies at YIVO: an Update

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 02:20:48 +0000

This week, interviews with Nick Underwood and Dovid Braun!

Interview with Nick Underwood on Yiddish Paris and Nick's book Yiddish Paris: Staging Nation and Community in Interwar France (Indiana University Press, 2022), which describes the rich Yiddish-speaking culture of emigrants from Eastern Europe in Paris during the interwar years. The interviewer is Sholem Beinfeld, cohost of The Yiddish Voice, co-chief editor of Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary, and Professor of History, Emeritus, Washington University, St. Louis.

Interview with Dovid Braun, Academic Advisor in Yiddish Language, Pedagogy, and Linguistics at the Max Weinreich Center at Yivo and academic director of YIVO’s summer program, who gives an update on recent and upcoming opportunities for Yiddish studies at YIVO. See YIVO.org's website for classes starting in early September, 2023.

Music:

Songs loosely related to the theme Yiddish Paris:

Vira Lozinsky: In Pariz (À Paris) (Yiddish lyrics by Mikhoel Felsenbaum, translated from Francis Lemarque's original lyrics in French)

Dave Cash: Paris New York

Ana Vinocur: Dos Libn fun Pariz

Dave Cash: Dave Cash fun Pariz

Ludmila Shapira: Der Parizer Tango

Dave Cash: S'faln di Bleter (Autumn Leaves) (Les Feuilles Mortes)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: August 23, 2023

12 August 1952 Remembered, with Yelena Shmulenson and Boris Sandler

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 02:02:01 +0000

This week, interviews with Yelena Shmulenson and Boris Sandler in memory of the August 12, 1952 tragedy known as Night of the Murdered Poets, when thirteen Soviet Jews, all leading intellectuals, five of whom were top Yiddish writers, were executed in the Lubianka Prison in Moscow on false charges of spying and treason. The charges were reexamined and admitted to have "no substance" by the Soviet authorities less than four years later. For more information on August 12 1952 and the history and tradition of its memorialization, see Rokhl Kafrissen's excellent 2019 article in Tablet Night of the Murdered Poets.

Yelena Shmulenson discusses her theater piece "Night of the Murdered Poets", being presented in New York City on Thursday, August 10, 2023, sponsored by https://congressforjewishculture.org/, and how it relates to the tragedy of August 12, 1952, a/k/a the Night of the Murdered Poets

Boris Sandler discusses his personal connection to the tragic events of August 12, 1952, as well as his main project, the monthly Yiddish journal Yiddish Branzhe. Links two of Sandler's books discussed in the interview:

דער ענין נומער 5390: (פון די ק.ג.ב. ארכיוון)

With a Mission to Moscow (Yiddish Edition)

Music:

songs with lyrics by some of those executed August 12, 1952, performed by Emil Gorovets, accompanied by Zalmen Mlotek, from the album Ikh Bin a Yid

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: August 9, 2023

Encores: Nathan Kasdan (2013-2014) and Miriam Libenson (1990's)

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 04:22:27 +0000

from our archive: Nathan Kasdan (נחום קאָזשדאַן), who died one year ago (JULY 14, 2022), gave us an extraordinary interview in 2013, which we've previously aired in 2013 and 2014 as well as in 2015. We recently learned that Nathan passed away, about a year ago. Considering Nathan's yahrtzeit, as well as the fact that it's erev Tisha B'Ov, we're re-airing our interview with Nathan again.

from our archive: Miriam Libenson, our late-great resident poet and Yiddish presenter extraordinaire, discusses Tisha B'Ov, which occurs next week, as we're now in the 9 days from the beginning of the month of Ov.

Music:

Sholem Katz: Keil Molleh Rachamim

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: July 19, 2023

Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath on Words for Armed Uprising; Rav Izchak Kin on Personal History

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 21:25:00 +0000

This week, Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath and Rabbi Izchak Kin.

Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath is chairperson of the League for Yiddish. She discusses the League for Yiddish's Words of the Week, specifically the recent week devoted to the armed uprising in Russia. We reached her by Zoom on June 9, 2023.

Rabbi Izchak Kin talks about various memories of his personal life, starting with memories of Pesach in his childhood. Rav Kin is a Modzitzer chossid who now lives in Los Angeles but grew up in Israel. This previously unaired recording was made when we recorded Rav Kin's presentation for Pesach 2023.

Music:

Ben-Zion Shenker: a series of songs of the Modzitzer chassidim

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: June 12, 2023

Sholem Beinfeld: Uprising in Russia; Avremi Zak and Meyer Hirshman: Israeli Society and Politics

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 18:36:37 +0000

This week, Sholem Beinfeld discusses the recent uprising in Russia, and Avremi Zak and Meyer Hirshman discuss Israeli society and politics. Sholem Beinfeld was recorded on the day of broadcast (July 5, 2023). The first interview with Avremi Zak was by The Yiddish Voice on April 26, 2023. The second interview of Meyer Hirshman by Avremi Zak was by Kan Yiddish and originally aired on Israeli radio on June 30, 2023 -- thanks to Kan Yiddish, Avremi Zak, and Meyer Hirshman for this interview.

Music:
Michael Gaysinsky (Михаил Гайсинский): A Zemerl fun Haynt

Michael Gaysinsky (Михаил Гайсинский): Figaro (by Rossini, adapted for Yiddish)

Michael Gaysinsky (Михаил Гайсинский): Kinder Zaynen Mir Geven

Jacqui Sussholz: Belts

Jacqui Sussholz: Vu Nemt Men a Bisele Mazl

Jacqui Sussholz: Yankele

Jacqui Sussholz: Vos Geven Iz Geven

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: June 5, 2023

Avrom Novershtern: Yiddish in Literature and His Personal Life

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 19:16:22 +0000

The Yiddish Voice was in Israel earlier in June 2023 and had the opportunity to interview Avrom Novershtern, who is professor emeritus from the Yiddish Program at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and currently serves as the director of Beit Sholem Aleichem in Tel Aviv, a cultural center devoted to Yiddish and the Eastern European Jewish Heritage

Topics discussed:

About Beys Sholem Aleykhem - history, accomplishments, current activities (בית שלום עליכם) (Find on Facebook; Find on the Web).

Yiddish writer Chaim Grade - an introduction.

Women Writers Controversy - in 2021, Novershtern gave two lectures for YIVO, which resulted in some controversy with two online discussions in response. See links below.

Novershtern's early home life in Argentina, and what brought him to Israel.

Novershtern - Women Writers Controversy - Timeline and Links:

Monday Jul 12, 2021: YIVO Yiddish Civilization Lecture:
Yiddish Women Writers (Part 1) with Avraham Novershtern (In Yiddish)
https://youtu.be/3wl81swZO2A

Monday July 19, 2021: Vaybertaytsh podcast episode:
Episode 54: Re: "Yiddish Women Writers" | ייִדישע שרײַבערינס / July 19, 2021
http://www.vaybertaytsh.com/episodes/2021/7/18/episode-54-re-yiddish-women-writers-hjhes

Monday Jul 19, 2021: YIVO Yiddish Civilization Lecture:
Yiddish Women Writers (Part 2) with Avraham Novershtern (In Yiddish)
https://youtu.be/66iydt6dzg0

Thursday Jul 22, 2021: YIVO Yiddish Civilization Lecture:
Women Writers in Yiddish Literature with Anita Norich and Karolina Szymaniak (In Yiddish)
https://youtu.be/p2p_gt0EBIQ

Music and Comedy Recordings, mostly in honor of July 4th, America's Independence Day:

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Mandy Patinkin: American Tune (Words&Music by Paul Simon)

Seymour Rexite: Battle Hymn of the Republic in Yiddish

Cantor Ari Brown: America Medley

Yiddish Philharmonic Chorus: Amerike di Prekhtike

Michel Rosenberg: Getzel at a Baseball Game

Clara Gold: Telebende Furt Kein Amerika

Moishe Oysher & Florence Weiss: Chasidic in America

Air Date: June 28, 2023

Mary Ehrlich, Survivor from Gedrevitch, Part 2; Kolya Borodulin on Arbeter-Ring Yiddish Classes

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 17:52:55 +0000

Highlights:

interview with Kolya Borodulin, Director of Yiddish Programming at Arbeter Ring (circle.org), talking about the Summer 2023 Yiddish course offerings currently starting or about to start online now.

interview, part 2, with Mary Ehrlich, a Boston-area Holocaust survivor originally from Gedrevitsh (Giedraiciai in Lithuanian), a shtetl near Vilna (and closer to the Vilkomir). In Mary Ehrlich's first interview she talked about her childhood years up through the arrival of the Germans in 1941. In this, her second, interview Mary spoke of her later life, starting with the German takeover of Lithuania, including the lifesaving role played by a Lithuanian mother and her children, who hid Mary and her parents for most of the war, saving their lives. About ten years ago, Mary reunited with two of these children whose mother had saved her life, which was widely covered in the press. Here's a NY Post article: https://nypost.com/2011/11/24/holocaust-survivor-reunites-with-lost-friends-at-jfk/ Here's a Jerusalem Post article: https://www.jpost.com/jewish-world/jewish-features/holocaust-survivor-to-be-reunited-with-her-saviors For this interview we reached Mary by phone at her home in the Boston area on June 20, 2023.

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Outro instrumental music: Itzhak Perlman, Dov Seltzer, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra: Afn Veg Shteyt A Boym

Air Date: June 21, 2023

Encore: 2019: Nechama Netali-Gonen (2019)

The Yiddish Voice — Sun, 18 Jun 2023 20:19:01 +0000

Encore from our archive, from 2019, but enhanced for 2023 with Fathers Day music at the end.

See original show notes here:

https://podcast.yv.org/episodes/nechama-netali-gonen

Air date: June 14, 2023

Daniel Galay: Yiddish in Israel and Other Topics

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 09 Jun 2023 05:22:47 +0000

interview with Daniel Galay (דניאל גלאי), an Israeli composor, musician, translator, writer, educator, and Yiddish community leader and activist. He is chairman of Leyvik House, which publishes and sells books, in Yiddish and other languages, and serves as a Yiddish cultural center in Tel Aviv, housing Israel's Yiddish Writers Union. Born in Argentina in 1945 and raised in a Yiddish speaking home, Galay moved to Israel in 1965. In this interview, he talks about many of his life experiences and achievements as well as current interests and projects, including his recent Yiddish Intonation Youtube series, teaching Yiddish intonation for English-speaking Yiddish students, and about the "Ashkenazi Identity movement" he promotes in Israel and online. He also discusses Yiddish in Israel and offers comments on the recent book Yiddish in Israel, whose author, Rachel Rojanski, discussed the book on The Yiddish Voice/דאָס ייִדישע קול in 2021. This interview took place in Tel Aviv on June 4, 2023

Music:

Michael Gaysinsky (Михаил Гайсинский): Es keytlt zikh di tsayt (lyrics by Boris Sandler, music by Alex Meif and Michael Gaysinsky)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: June 7, 2023

Encore: 2019: Esia Friedman (Part 2)

The Yiddish Voice — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 19:43:52 +0000

Encore from our archive, from 2019, but enhanced for 2023 with an announcement from our sponsor Boston Workers Circle: Boston Workers Circle presents FREEDOM IS A VERB: 25TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT: A Besere Velt Chorus with special guest Daniel Kahn. June 10, 2023, 7:30 PM ET - virtual and in person. Details at: circleboston.org/arts/

See original show notes here:

https://podcast.yv.org/episodes/esia-friedman-part-2

Air date: May 31, 2023

Encore: 2017: Rabbi Itzchak Kin: Shvues, Yom Yerusholayim; Shulman and Cycowicz: Trump in Israel

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 26 May 2023 01:46:58 +0000

Encore from our archive, from 2017, but enhanced for 2023 with an announcement from our sponsor Boston Workers Circle: Boston Workers Circle presents FREEDOM IS A VERB: 25TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT: A Besere Velt Chorus with special guest Daniel Kahn. June 10, 2023, 7:30 PM ET - virtual and in person. Details at: circleboston.org/arts/

See original show notes here:

https://podcast.yv.org/episodes/itzchak-kin-shvues-yom-yerusholayim-shulman-and-cycowicz-trump-in-israel

Air date: May 24, 2023

Elena Luchina, U. Mich. Yiddish Teacher (new); Miriam Libenson Z"L on Shvues (archive)

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 19 May 2023 01:38:46 +0000

Interview with Elena Luchina (עלענאַ לוטשינאַ), who is the Yiddish instructor at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI, discussing her interesting background and current career at one of the leading Yiddish-language and Jewish-studies programs in the United States. Originally from Moscow, Yelena received her PhD in linguistics from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. She has taught Yiddish at U. Mich. since 2019. For more info, see Elena's U. Mich. faculty page or follow Elena's Instagram, @SimpleYiddish. The interview took place over Zoom on May 9, 2023, and was led by Sholem Beinfeld, regular contributor to The Yiddish Voice, co-Editor in Chief of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary, and Professor of History, Emeritus, Washington University in St. Louis.

From our archive: Miriam Libenson ז״ל discusses the upcoming holiday Shvues. Recorded and originally aired on The Yiddish Voice in the 1990's.

Music:

Chava Alberstein: Afn Pripetshik

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: May 17, 2023

Yom Haatsmaut with Avremi Zaks

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 02:58:32 +0000

We observe יום העצמאותּ Yom Haatsmaut with Avremi Zaks, whom we reached in Jerusalem, Israel, today:

Avremi Zaks is the host of Kan Yiddish, which is sponsored by the National Authority for Yiddish Culture in Israel, and which is broadcast in Israel on public radio at frequencies 104.9 FM and 105.3 FM every Friday at 4 p.m. and on 101.5 FM at midnight from Saturday to Sunday. Audio archives of the Kan Yiddish radio show can be accessed online here: https://www.kan.org.il/radio/program.aspx/?progid=1136 See also their Facebook group: Yiddish Radio ייִדיש ראַדיאָ.

Music:

Barry Sisters: Exodus

Dovid Eshet: Yerusholayim Shtot fun Gold (lyrics and music by Naomi Shemer)

Shloimele Rothstein: In Erets Yisroel (music and lyrics by J. Rumshinsky)

Air date: April 26 2023

Ben Lesser, Holocaust Survivor and Educator, for Yom HaShoah

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 08:38:11 +0000

Ben Lesser, a Holocaust survivor born in Cracow in 1928, describes his many ordeals and nearly miraculous survival of the Holocaust as a boy, from the beginning of the war in 1939 to liberation in 1945. Ben founded and runs, with his family, the The ZACHOR Holocaust Remembrance Foundation, dedicated to preserving the memory and spreading awareness of the Holocaust. He published his memoir Living a Life That Matters: from Nazi Nightmare to American Dream in 2012, and it's available for purchase in various formats at his foundation's website. Now in his mid-90's, Ben is still very active as a Holocaust educator, telling his story for groups around the world, mostly on Zoom in recent years.

Music:

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Norbert Horowitz: Shtil di Nakht

Khane Cooper: Shtiler, Shtiler

Norbert Horowitz: Farvos Iz Der Himl Geven Nekhtn Loyter

Chava Alberstein: Zog Nit Keynmol, words by Hirsh Glick, music by Dimitri Pokrass

Matele Friedman ז״ל:Es Brent (Words and music by Mordkhe Gebirtig; recorded byThe Yiddish Voice on Jan 1, 2020)

Abraham Brun: Vos Darfn Mir Veynen

Dudu Fisher: Vu Ahin Zol Ikh Geyn

Air Date: April 19, 2023

Yitzchok-Boruch Teitelbaum (new) for Shvii-Achron Pesach, Warsaw Ghetto Survivor Pinchas Gutter (2022)

The Yiddish Voice — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 20:14:59 +0000

Happy Passover! ‫אַ זיסן און כּשרן פּסח!‬

Happy Passover and thanks to friends, participants, and sponsors of this show:

Israel Book Shop (Eli Dovek ז״ל recorded Mar 28 2007)

American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors of Greater Boston (member and Holocaust survivor Mary Erlich), co-sponsor of Boston's 2023 In-Person and Virtual Community Holocaust Commemoration of Yom HaShoah, Sunday, April 16, 2023, at 2:00PM Eastern. Info and registration here: https://www.jcrcboston.org/event/annual-yom-hashoah-commemoration/

League for Yiddish, New York, NY, (Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath, Chair of the Board)

Leah Shporer-Leavitt, Newton, MA, co-host of The Yiddish Voice / דאָס ייִדישע קול

Sholem Beinfeld, Cambridge, MA, co-host of The Yiddish Voice / דאָס ייִדישע קול

Dovid Braun, Leonia, NJ, co-host of The Yiddish Voice / דאָס ייִדישע קול

Yankele Bodo, Tel Aviv, Israel, actor and singer (from 2016)

Leser Maimon, Brooklyn, NY, Holocaust survivor and leader of Young Israel of Mill Basin

Eli Grodko, New Millford, NJ, friend of the show

Boston Workers Circle, Brookline, MA (Yiddish committee member Linda (Libe-Reyzl) Gritz)

Hasia Segal ז״ל, late co-host of The Yiddish Voice / דאָס ייִדישע קול (recorded in 2012)

Iosif Lakhman ז״ל, late co-host of The Yiddish Voice / דאָס ייִדישע קול (recorded in 2014)

Featured speakers:

Rabbi Yitzchok-Boruch Teitelbaum, Kiryas Joel, NY, also known as the Pshisker Rebbe, gives a greeting for Pesach and a short and interesting bit of Torah learning. Recorded Chol Hamoed Pesach during the day of Apr 11, 2023.

Pinchas Gutter, Toronto, Canada, gives his account of surviving the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and Majdanek. Previously aired on The Yiddish Voice in 2022.

Music:

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Cantor Moyshe Koussevitsky: Chad Gadyo

Cantor Sholom Katz: El Moley Rachamim

Norbert Horowitz: Shtil di Nakht

Khane Cooper: Shtiler, Shtiler

Norbert Horowitz: Farvos Iz Der Himl Geven Nekhtn Loyter

Chava Alberstein: Zog Nit Keynmol, words by Hirsh Glick, music by Dimitri Pokrass

Podcast release date: April 11, 2023

Air Date: April 12, 2023

Pesach with Rav Izchak Kin, Gitu Cycowicz, et al

The Yiddish Voice — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 06:59:11 +0000

Happy Passover! ‫אַ זיסן און כּשרן פּסח!‬

Happy Passover and thanks to friends, participants, and sponsors of this show:

Israel Book Shop (Eli Dovek ז״ל recorded Mar 28 2007)

American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors of Greater Boston (member and Holocaust survivor Mary Erlich), co-sponsor of Boston's 2023 In-Person and Virtual Community Holocaust Commemoration of Yom HaShoah, Sunday, April 16, 2023, at 2:00PM Eastern. Info and registration here: https://www.jcrcboston.org/event/annual-yom-hashoah-commemoration/

League for Yiddish, New York, NY, (Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath, Chair of the Board)

Leah Shporer-Leavitt, Newton, MA, co-host of The Yiddish Voice / דאָס ייִדישע קול

Sholem Beinfeld, Cambridge, MA, co-host of The Yiddish Voice / דאָס ייִדישע קול

Dovid Braun, Leonia, NJ, co-host of The Yiddish Voice / דאָס ייִדישע קול

Yankele Bodo, Tel Aviv, Israel, actor and singer (from 2016)

Leser Maimon, Brooklyn, NY, Holocaust survivor and leader of Young Israel of Mill Basin

Eli Grodko, New Millford, NJ, friend of the show

Boston Workers Circle, Brookline, MA (Yiddish committee member Linda (Libe-Reyzl) Gritz)

Featured speakers:

Rabbi Izchak Kin, Los Angeles, CA: a Modzitzer chossid, born in Jerusalem, he taught Torah and Talmud in Yiddish in Los Angeles for more than 40 years

Gitu Cycowicz, Jerusalem: Gitu -- a/k/a Giselle (Gita) Cycowicz (née Friedman) -- who was born in 1927 in the town of Chust in the Carpathian Mountains, then part of Czechoslovakia, now in Ukraine, survived Auschwitz and other camps, later starting a new life in the USA, and eventually getting her PhD in psychology. In her later years, she moved to Israel and then worked for decades for AMCHA (https://amcha.org), helping with the psychological needs of her fellow survivors.

Music:

Moishe Oysher: Got Iz Eyner (Mu Asapru)

Lori Cahan-Simon and Meyshke Alpert: Zog Maran

Sidor Belarsky: Shvimt dos Kestl Afn Nil

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Podcast release dates: April 3 and 4, 2023

Air Date: April 5, 2023

Pesach with Hy Wolfe, Naftali Deutsch, Myer Loketch z"l, et al

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 21:00:26 +0000

Happy Passover! ‫אַ זיסן און כּשרן פּסח!‬

Happy Passover and thanks to friends, participants, and sponsors of this show:

Israel Book Shop (Eli Dovek ז״ל recorded Mar 28 2007)

American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors of Greater Boston (member and Holocaust survivor Mary Erlich), co-sponsor of Boston's 2023 In-Person and Virtual Community Holocaust Commemoration of Yom HaShoah, Sunday, April 16, 2023, at 2:00PM Eastern. Info and registration here: https://www.jcrcboston.org/event/annual-yom-hashoah-commemoration/

League for Yiddish (Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath, Chair of the Board)

Leah Shporer-Leavitt, Newton, MA, co-host of The Yiddish Voice / דאָס ייִדישע קול

Sholem Beinfeld, Cambridge, MA, co-host of The Yiddish Voice / דאָס ייִדישע קול

Dovid Braun, Leonia, NJ, co-host of The Yiddish Voice / דאָס ייִדישע קול

Yankele Bodo, Tel Aviv, Israel, actor and singer (from 2016)

Leser Maimon, Brooklyn, NY, Holocaust survivor and leader of Young Israel of Mill Basin

Eli Grodko, New Millford, NJ

Hy Wolfe, New York, NY, Professional actor, singer, and director; Executive Director of CYCO (Central Yiddish Culture Organization); Co-President of Hebrew Actors Foundation

Naftali (Tuli) Deutsch, Holocaust survivor originally from Kimyat, a village in the Carpathian Mountains, author of A Holocaust Survivor: In The Footsteps Of His Past

Rabbi Myer Loketch ז״ל, then of Brookline, MA, and in the clergy of Young Israel of Brookline, MA, from the Yiddish Voice archive: Pesach, Yiddish, and Bikur Cholim -- visiting the sick (originally recorded and aired in 2007)

Music:

Malavski Family: Ho Lachmo Anyo and Ma Nishtano/Di Fir Kashes

Moishe Oysher: Dayenu

Moishe Oysher: Kiddush for Pesach

Yosef Moshe Kahana: L'Chaim Kindergarten

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: March 29, 2023

Sholem Beinfeld: war in Ukraine; Morris (Moyshe) Schwartz: his personal history and activities

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 05:44:42 +0000

Sholem Beinfeld , Professor Emeritus of the Department of History at Washington University in St. Louis, and a co-host of The Yiddish Voice, talks about the Ukraine war after one year

This week's featured interview is with Morris (Moyshe) Schwartz, a child of Holocaust survivors, a computer scientist, who speaks a very good Yiddish, talks about his personal and family history and his current life

Thanks to our Pesach sponsors: Israel Book Shop, the League for Yiddish, the American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors of Greater Boston, presenting the 2023 Yom HaShoah observance April 16, 2023, 2pm, at Faneuil Hall

Music:

Various songs for Passover by various performers

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: March 22, 2023

Perla Karney: from DP Camps in Bavaria to Los Angeles

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 04:26:38 +0000

This week's featured interview is with Perla Karney, discussing her journey from childhood in the Jewish displaced persons community around Bavaria, Germany, to finally settling as a young woman in Los Angeles, where she studied at UCLA and had a career as a theater producer before taking on her current role as artistic director of the Dortort Center for Creativity in the Arts at UCLA Hillel. A fluent Yiddish speaker, Karney recently produced and co-starred in a video on the Yiddish Forward (Forverts)'s YouTube channel. Starring the famed Yiddish actor Mike Burstyn, it's titled "A Jewish deli experience with actor Mike Burstyn – in Yiddish!", and features unscripted Yiddish-language dialog as the two enjoy and discuss Jewish dishes together at Factor's Deli in Los Angeles. To find out more about Perla Karney, see her bio at UCLA Hillel: https://www.uclahillel.org/perla_karney_bio

For Pesach: exclusively from The Yiddish Voice archive:

Hasia Segal z"l: sings several Yiddish Pesach songs

Myer Loketch z"l: radio talk on Pesach from 2008

Music:

Sidor Belarsky: several songs from the album Seder Nights with Sidor Belarsky

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: March 15, 2023

Mary Ehrlich, Survivor from Gedrevitch (near Vilna); Miriam Libenson for Purim (from archive)

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 22:16:42 +0000

Highlights:

interview with Mary Ehrlich, a Boston-area Holocaust survivor originally from Gedrevitsh, a shtetl near Vilna. She talks about her childhood years up through the arrival of the Germans in 1941. We reached Mary by phone in late February, 2023. We plan to continue with a second interview with Mary in the next few weeks.

from our archive: Purim with Miriam Libenson ז״ל, originally recorded and aired in the 1990's.

Music related to Purim:

Binah Landau: Purim Lid

Leyke Post: Purim, accompanied by Rubin Ossofsky

Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman: A Gutn Purim

Kapelye: Gut Purim, Yidn

Lillian Lux: Vashtis Kloglid

Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman: Purim-Shpilers

Gadi Yagil: Di Elegye fun Fastrigose

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: March 1, 2023

Naftali Deutsch, Auschwitz Survivor, for International Holocaust Remembrance Day

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 15:34:34 +0000

Tonight's show aired just a couple of days before International Holocaust Remembrance Day. We present our second interview with Naftali (Tuli) Deutsch, an Auschwitz survivor. The interview was recorded at his home in July, 2022. The previous interview is available here: https://podcast.yv.org/episodes/naftali-deutsch-auschwitz-survivor-for-yom-hashoah Naftali Deutsch was born in 1931 in the Carpathian mountain village Kimyat, Czechoslovakia, which is now in Ukraine. He is the author of A Holocaust Survivor: In The Footsteps Of His Past [Amazon link], his auto-biography. See also Naftali "Tuli" Deutsch, his page at Yad Vashem.

Songs of the Holocaust, Partizans, and Ghettos to close:

performer: song

Rochelle Horowitz: Yisrolik

Shomon Yisraeli: Zog Nit Keynmol

Norbert Horowitz: Shtil di Nakht

Norbert Horowitz: Farvos Iz Der Himl Geven Nekhtn Loyter

Khane Cooper: Shtiler, Shtiler

Wolf Krakowski: Varshe

Chava Alberstein: Friling

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: January 25, 2023

Dovid Lenga, Holocaust Survivor in Los Angeles, Originally from Lodz

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 05:11:27 +0000

Our featured interview this week is with David (Dovid) Lenga, who recently turned 95, is originally from Łódź, Poland (לאָדזש), and now lives in Los Angeles. He survived the Lodz Ghetto as well as Auschwitz. He recently wrote an Op-Ed in the Los Angeles Times on anti-semitism: As a Holocaust survivor, the most important thing I can do is share my story He frequently talks about his history as a survivor of the Holocaust at Holocaust Museum LA and the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles. We spent a time talking about these activities, as well as about many aspects of his very long and very interesting life.

Music:

Wolf Krakowski: Yeder Ruft Mikh Ziamele

Leyke Post: Yidish Redt Zikh Azoy Sheyn

Shifee Lovitt: Yiddish/Vaserl

Tsimmes: Oyfn Pripetshik

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: January 4, 2023

Jeffrey Shandler: Yiddish: Biography of a Language

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 04:39:10 +0000

Interview with Jeffrey Shandler, discussing his book Yiddish: Biography of a Language (Oxford University Press, 2020), which describes Yiddish from its origins to the present. Shandler is Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies at Rutgers and holds a PhD from Columbia University. He has had a big influence on Jewish studies, particularly for his concept of Yiddish as a "post-vernacular language", that is, despite the fact that Yiddish is no longer the everyday language of large numbers of Jews, except for certain Chassidic groups, it's widely taught, studied, and translated, and is generally the object of lively interest and affection. For further info on Shandler's book Yiddish: Biography of a Language at Oxford University Press: https://academic.oup.com/book/33481 For Shandler's academic home page at Rutgers: https://jewishstudies.rutgers.edu/people/core-faculty/jeffrey-shandler The interview took place over Zoom on November 4, 2022, and was led by Sholem Beinfeld, regular contributor to The Yiddish Voice, co-Editor in Chief of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary, and Professor of History, Emeritus, Washington University in St. Louis.

Music:

Leyke Post: Yidish Redt Zikh Azoy Sheyn

Shifee Lovitt: Yiddish/Vaserl

Tsimmes: Oyfn Pripetshik

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: December 7, 2022

Gennady Estraikh on the War in Ukraine, 2nd Interview

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 25 Nov 2022 17:54:15 +0000

Our second interview with Gennady Estraikh (first interview aired in March, 2022) discussing the war in Ukraine. Estraikh, who was born in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, is a professor at NYU who specializes in Jewish intellectual history, Yiddish language and literature, and Soviet Jewish history. He has written numerous books, academic papers, and journal and newspaper articles in English, Russian, Ukrainian, and Yiddish, notably for the Yiddish Forverts. He served as managing editor of the famed Yiddish literary journal Sovetish Heymland from 1988 to 1991. His books include Yiddish Culture in Ukraine (Kyiv: Dukh i Litera, 2016, in Ukrainian) and Transatlantic Russian Jewishness: Ideological Voyages of the Yiddish Daily Forverts in the First Half of the Twentieth Century (Academic Studies Press, 2020). The interview took place over Zoom on Wednesday, November 23, 2022.

In honor of the Thanksgiving holiday we present Interview with the Turkey, a monologue by Boston's late, great Yiddish radio host Ben Gailing, originally aired on his show Der Freylekher Kabtsen in the 1980's. Thanks to Hankus Netsky, Ben's producer and co-host, for supplying this recording.

Music:

Loyko: Yoshke fun Ades

Mandy Patinkin: Take Me out to the Ball Game and God Bless America

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: November 23, 2022

Rokhl Zicherman, Tsirl Kuznitz

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 06:43:08 +0000

Prof. Cecile (Tsirl) Kuznitz talks about the upcoming "Schaechter Conference", which she is chairing, sponsored by the League for Yiddish, JTS, and Columbia University. Info: League for Yiddish

Rokhl Zicherman, a survivor of Auschwitz who grew up in Tybava, a small village in the Carpathian Mountains which was in Czechoslovakia before WWII, part of Hungary during the war, and is now in Ukraine, discusses her early life as well as deportation and survival in Auschwitz. She now lives in Los Angeles with her husband, also a Holocaust survivor.

Music:

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Outro instrumental music: Itzhak Perlman, Dov Seltzer, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra: Afn Veg Shteyt A Boym

Jessica Kirzane

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 17:51:49 +0000

Jessica Kirzane discusses her recent recent translations from Yiddish into English. She is perhaps best known for her translations of the late Yiddish writer Miriam Karpilove: Diary of a Lonely Girl, or the Battle Against Free Love (Syracuse University Press, 2020) and Judith: A Tale of Love and Woe (Farlag Press, 2022). Kirzane is a professor at the University of Chicago, teaching Yiddish language and literature. And she is the Editor-in-Chief of In geveb: A Journal of Yiddish Studies. For further information see her website: jessicakirzane.com The interview took place over Zoom on October 6, 2022, and was led by Sholem Beinfeld, regular contributor to The Yiddish Voice, co-Editor in Chief of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary, and Professor of History, Emeritus, Washington University in St. Louis.

Music:

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Outro instrumental music: Itzhak Perlman, Dov Seltzer, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra: Afn Veg Shteyt A Boym

Air Date: October 26, 2022

Borodulin, Teitelbaum, Succos Simchas Torah

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 21:41:01 +0000

אַ גוטן מועד Happy Succos! For Chol Hamoed Succos, we present two very special guests:

Rabbi Yitzchok-Boruch Teitelbaum of Monroe, NY, the Pshischer Rebbe, a descendant of several Polish Chassidic masters including the Yid Hakodesh of Peshischa, gives a shiur for Succos and also shares a nigun he composed himself.

Kolya Borodulin, director of Yiddish classes at Arbeter Ring, talks about the latest Yiddish classes, with registration open now for classes starting October 19, 2022, as well as as some other things he's knowledgable about, such as his home town, Birobidzhan.

We also share, for the last time this season, greetings from our friends and sponsors:

Holocaust survivor Tania Lefman, on behalf of the American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors (AAJHS) of Greater Boston.

Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath, on behalf of the League for Yiddish - די ייִדיש-ליגע

Eli Dovek ז"ל, proprietor of Israel Book Shop (from 2009)

Sholem Beinfeld, cohost of the Yiddish Voice and co-chief editor of Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary

Leye Shporer-Leavitt, cohost of the Yiddish Voice, Yiddish teacher and translator

Music:

Itzhak Perlman/The Klezmatics: Simkhes Toyre Time

Ben Zion Shenker: Sisu V'Simchu

Suki Berry, et al: A Sukele

Mordechai Hershman: Af Bri, Fun Geshem Kayn Gelt Iz Nishto

Moyshe Ganchoff: Geshem

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: October 12, 2022

Dovid Braun on Yiddish Education at YIVO and Generally

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 16:49:02 +0000

Feature interview: Dovid Braun, academic director of Yivo Institute's Uriel Weinreich Summer Program in Yiddish Language, Literature, and Culture, discusses the ZumerProgram, Yiddish courses at YIVO, and Yiddish education generally, including the topic of "Chassidic Yiddish".

Happy New Year! אַ גמר טובֿ! אַ גוט יאָר

Greetings from our friends and sponsors

Holocaust survivor Tania Lefman, on behalf of the American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors (AAJHS) of Greater Boston.

Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath, on behalf of the League for Yiddish - די ייִדיש-ליגע

Eli Dovek ז"ל, proprietor of Israel Book Shop (from 2009)

Sholem Beinfeld, cohost of the Yiddish Voice and co-chief editor of Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary

Leye Shporer-Leavitt, cohost of the Yiddish Voice, Yiddish teacher and translator

Music:

Sholom Katz: Zochreinu L'Chaim

Leibele Waldman: Der Nyer Yohr

Moishe Oysher: Hayom Horas Olam (for Rosh Hashona after shofar blown)

Mordechai Herschman: Al Chet

Joseph Feldman: Der Nayer Yor

Benjamin Siegel: A Din Toyre Mit Got (a/k/a Kaddish of Rabbi Levi-Yitzchok of Berditchev)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: September 28, 2022

Rabbi Moshe Kesselman, et al: Rosh Hashona, etc.

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 19:43:23 +0000

Feature interview: Rabbi Moshe Kesselman of Congregation Shaarei Tefila in Los Angeles reflects with host Meyer on Rosh Hashona.

Happy New Year! אַ גוט יאָר

Greetings from our friends and sponsors

Holocaust survivor Tania Lefman, on behalf of the American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors (AAJHS) of Greater Boston.

Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath, on behalf of the League for Yiddish - די ייִדיש-ליגע

Eli Dovek ז"ל, proprietor of Israel Book Shop (from 2009)

Max Gelerman ז"ל, late proprietor of The Butcherie (from 2005)

Sholem Beinfeld, cohost of the Yiddish Voice and co-chief editor of Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary

Leye Shporer-Leavitt, cohost of the Yiddish Voice, Yiddish teacher and translator

Music:

Sholom Katz: Zochreinu L'Chaim

Leibele Waldman: Der Nyer Yohr

Moishe Oysher: Hayom Horas Olam (for Rosh Hashona after shofar blown)

Mordechai Herschman: Al Chet

Joseph Feldman: Der Nayer Yor

Benjamin Siegel: A Din Toyre Mit Got (a/k/a Kaddish of Rabbi Levi-Yitzchok of Berditchev)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: September 21, 2022

Hy Wolfe, et al: Rosh Hashona, etc.

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 03:10:37 +0000

Feature interview: Hy Wolfe chats with host Meyer about various things, including Yidish-Vokh 2022, Meyer's recent trip to Germany for a dedication of Stolpersteine for his father's family, and Hy's experience of 9/11.

Happy New Year! אַ גוט יאָר

Greetings from our friends and sponsors

Holocaust survivor Tania Lefman, on behalf of the American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors (AAJHS) of Greater Boston.

Eli Dovek ז"ל, proprietor of Israel Book Shop (from 2009)

Max Gelerman ז"ל, late proprietor of The Butcherie (from 2005)

Sholem Beinfeld, cohost of the Yiddish Voice and co-chief editor of Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary

Leye Shporer-Leavitt, cohost of the Yiddish Voice, Yiddish teacher and translator

From our archive: Rosh Hashona remarks by our late Yiddish Voice contributors:

Hasia Segal ז״ל (from 2007)

Miriam Libenson ז״ל (from 1990's)

Music:

Sholom Katz: Zochreinu L'Chaim

Leibele Waldman: Der Nyer Yohr

Moishe Oysher: Hayom Horas Olam (for Rosh Hashona after shofar blown)

Mordechai Herschman: Al Chet

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: September 14, 2022

Judy Altmann: prewar life in Karpatorus and Auschwitz; Gitu Cycowicz: look back at Biden visit

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 02 Sep 2022 17:15:32 +0000

Part 1: Last July 13 we aired a quick interview with Gitu Cycowics just hours after her meeting with President Biden at Yad Vashem to get her first impressions, and she made us promise to let her come back to look back when she was not so tired and had time to think about things. We reached her by phone at her home in Jerusalem on Aug. 25, 2022.. Gitu -- a/k/a Giselle (Gita) Cycowicz (née Friedman) -- who was born in 1927 in the town of Chust in the Carpathian Mountains, then part of Czechoslovakia, survived Auschwitz and other camps, later starting a new life in the USA, and eventually getting her PhD in psychology. In her later years, she moved to Israel and then worked for decades for AMCHA (https://amcha.org), helping with the psychological needs of her fellow survivors. On Weds., Jul. 13, 2022, she was one of two Holocaust survivors invited to meet President Joseph Biden at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. Here is a YouTube from the live stream of Gitu meeting Biden: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q96DZT4qMXs&t=731s Here is Gitu's page at Yad Vashem: https://www.yadvashem.org/blog/i-have-to-tell-my-story-giselle-cycowicz.html

Part 2: Judy Altmann, born and raised in Jasina, Czechoslovakia, fondly recalls her home and family life in her town at the eastern edge of Karpatorus, which belonged to Czechoslovakia from 1918 to 1939, Hungary during WWII, and now Ukraine. She worked in her family's general store, which served the lumber industry workers from the tiny surrounding villages. She recounts her mother's cooking talents and describes the dish known locally in Yiddish as ריפּינייִק Ripinyik, probably closest to Potatonik. (She sometimes refers to potatoes as ריבלעך (riblekh).) At the end, she summarizes her Holocaust experiences. In 1944, she and her parents and practically all Jews of the town were taken to Auschwitz. In her family's case, they were first made to stay for several days without shelter in the Jewish cemetery. From there they were taken to a ghetto in Mateszalca (Hungary ) for several weeks. Finally, they were deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. She survived, but her parents and most of her family were killed. We reached Judy by phone at her home in Stamford, CT, on Aug. 31, 2022.

Air date: August 31, 2022

Happy New Year! אַ גוט געזונט יאָר

Please patronize our sponsors! Enjoy these vintage greetings from our sponsors:

Eli Dovek ז"ל, late proprietor of Israel Book Shop (from 2009)

Max Gelerman ז"ל, late proprietor of The Butcherie (from 2005)

Eleanor Reissa on The Letters Project

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 03:58:57 +0000

Interview with acclaimed performing artist Eleanor Reissa discussing her recently published memoir The Letters Project: A Daughter's Journey. In 1986, after her mother's death, Reissa discovered fifty-six letters written by her late father. She set them aside for forty years before finally having them translated, which led to set her on a journey to her father's history during the Holocaust, which had been largely hidden from her. The book can be found in bookstores and online, including Eleanor Reissa's website eleanorreissa.com and Amazon. An audio version of the book, with Reissa's own narration, is also available through Audible. Eleanor Reissa is an American actress, singer, theatre director, playwright, librettist, choreographer, translator, and author based in New York City, who performs in both Yiddish and English. For more information on Eleanor Reissa and The Letters Project visit: eleanorreissa.com

The interview is conducted by Yiddish Voice co-host Lillian Shporer-Leavitt, a daughter of Shoah survivors who grew up speaking Yiddish and graduated from the Boston Workmen's Circle Yiddish Shule. A former computer business analyst and software trainer, she is an experienced Yiddish teacher and translator, having taught at the Workmen's Circle, Gann Academy of Greater Boston, Boston University Hillel, and Brandeis University. In addition, she has subtitled Yiddish films for the National Center for Jewish Film and translated Yizkor (memorial) books for the Jewish Genealogical Society.

Music/Spoken Word recordings:

Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman: Zumerteg

Zvee Scooler: Vakatsye in di Berg

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: August 17, 2022

Encore: ESTRAIKH, MAZURKIEWICZ-MEISAROSH, BEINFELD: "AUGUST 12, 1952"

The Yiddish Voice — Tue, 02 Aug 2022 18:18:15 +0000

We continue our summer rerun season with a panel discussion of the tragic events of August 12, 1952, in Moscow, with Gennady Estraikh, Jana Mazurkiewicz Meisarosh, and Sholem Beinfeld, which was originally aired August 12, 2020.

Air date: July 27, 2022

PS: you can still find the original podcast in our archive:

https://the-yiddish-voice-podcast.zencast.website/episodes/estraikh-mazurkiewicz-meisarosh-beinfeld-august-12-1952

Gitu Cycowicz on Meeting President Biden (new); Diego Rotman: Dzigan & Schumacher (replay)

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 14 Jul 2022 06:10:56 +0000

Part 1: We took a temporary break from our summer rerun season to bring our dear listeners breaking news, of a sort, from the real world: we reached friend of the show Gitu Cycowics hours after her meeting with President Biden at Yad Vashem to get her first impressions. Gitu -- a/k/a Giselle (Gita) Cycowicz (née Friedman) -- who was born in 1927 in the town of Chust in the Carpathian Mountains, then part of Czechoslovakia, survived Auschwitz and other camps, later starting a new life in the USA, and eventually getting her PhD in psychology. In her later years, she moved to Israel and then worked for decades for AMCHA (https://amcha.org), helping with the psychological needs of her fellow survivors. Today (Weds., Jul. 13, 2022) she was one of two Holocaust survivors invited to meet President Joseph Biden at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. We are thankful for sharing with us her first impressions of that experience hours after it took place. Here is a YouTube from the live stream of Gitu meeting Biden: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q96DZT4qMXs&t=731s Here is Gitu's page at Yad Vashem: https://www.yadvashem.org/blog/i-have-to-tell-my-story-giselle-cycowicz.html

Part 2: We continue our summer rerun season with an interview of Diego Rotman, interviewed by Sholem Beinfeld, discussing the famed Yiddish actors and comics Shimon Dzigan and Yisroel Schumacher. The interview was originally aired in March, 2022.

Air date: July 13, 2022

PS: you can still find the original podcast containing the Diego Rotman interview aired on Mar. 2, 2022, in our archive:

https://the-yiddish-voice-podcast.zencast.website/episodes/diego-rotman-dzigan-schumacher

Zvi Gitelman on Jews of Russia and the former Soviet Union (from 2018)

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 13:33:49 +0000

This week we listen back to our February 2018 interview with Zvi Gitelman, Professor Emeritus of Political Science and Judaic Studies at the University of Michigan, author and editor of numerous books, including A Century of Ambivalence: The Jews of Russia and the Soviet Union, 1881 to the Present (2001) and The New Jewish Diaspora: Russian-speaking Immigrants in the United States, Israel and Germany (2016), speaking with Sholem Beinfeld.

Air date: July 6, 2022

PS: you can still find the original podcast containing this interview aired on Feb. 7, 2018, in our archive:

https://the-yiddish-voice-podcast.zencast.website/episodes/zvi-gitelman

Elissa Bemporad on book Legacy of Blood (from 2020)

The Yiddish Voice — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 18:39:59 +0000

This week we listen back to our March 2020 interview with Elissa Bemporad, author of the book Legacy of Blood: Jews, Pogroms, and Ritual Murder in the Lands of the Soviets (Oxford University Press, 2019), interviewed by Sholem Beinfeld. Today we're re-airing the entire interview. It was originally aired in two parts in amid the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, and may have gotten a bit lost in the shuffle. But in case you missed it or just want to relisten, it's still as interesting and relevant today, if not more so, considering today's war between Russia and Ukraine in the news.

Air date: June 29, 2022

PS: you can still find the original podcasts containing this interview aired on Mar. 18 and Mar. 25, 2020, in our archive:

Part 1: https://the-yiddish-voice-podcast.zencast.website/episodes/covid-19-with-berger-schaechter-plus-author-elissa-bemporad

Part 2: https://the-yiddish-voice-podcast.zencast.website/episodes/covid-19-avremi-zak-author-elissa-bemporad-cont-eli-rosen-unorthodox-s-yiddish-consultant

Mike Burstyn: The Megillah and Mike Burstyn (Part 1) (from 2021)

The Yiddish Voice — Wed, 29 Jun 2022 01:36:02 +0000

This week, we're listening back to a favorite Yiddish Voice interview from the past: our interview with famed American-Israeli actor and singer Mike Burstyn, discussing the streamed production Megillah Cycle as well as many aspects of Yiddish theater and his history with it, originally aired in February 2021.

Air date: June 22, 2022

PS: you can still find the original podcast containing this interview, and the original podcast with part 2 of this interview, in our archive:

Part 1: https://the-yiddish-voice-podcast.zencast.website/episodes/the-megillah-and-mike-burstyn

Part 2: https://the-yiddish-voice-podcast.zencast.website/episodes/the-megillah-and-mike-burstyn-part-2

Rachel Rojanski: Yiddish in Israel (Part 1) (from 2021)

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 17 Jun 2022 20:26:34 +0000

This week, we're listening back to a favorite Yiddish Voice interview from the past: our interview with Rachel Rojanski, author of Yiddish in Israel: A History. This is part 1 of the interview, originally aired in May, 2021. This podcast includes a current (June 2022) announcement:

Event announcement: Linda (Libe) Gritz announces the forthcomingBostoner Arbeter Ring Chorus concert, featuring Lorin Sklamberg and Paulina Shepherd. Info: https://circleboston.org/peace-freedom A Besere Velt Yiddish Chorus: Singing For Peace & Freedom Concert: June 18, 2022

It removes a dated interview and adds as a bonus several fantastic Yiddish-in-Israel-realated commercial recordings at the end that you won't want to miss. Enjoy!

Air date: June 15, 2022

PS: you can still find the original podcast containing this interview and some other dated stuff, and the original podcast with part 2 in our archive:

Part 1: https://the-yiddish-voice-podcast.zencast.website/episodes/rachel-rojanski-yiddish-in-israel-part-1-dovid-braun-yivo-summer-program-2021

Part 2: https://the-yiddish-voice-podcast.zencast.website/episodes/rachel-rojanski-yiddish-in-israel-part-2-and-comprehensive-english-yiddish-dictionary

Sheldon (Shulem) Londner from Los Angeles Yiddish Leyenkrayz

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 09 Jun 2022 05:00:31 +0000

Interview with Sheldon (Shulem) Londner, discussing growing up speaking Yiddish as the child of Holocaust survivors, and later joining and eventually leading the Los Angeles Yidish-Leyenkrayz (Yiddish reading circle), which started in the 1990's and, under his leadership, has met on Zoom practically every week during the Covid Pandemic.

Event announcement: Linda (Libe) Gritz announces the forthcoming Bostoner Workers Circle Chorus concert, featuring Lorin Sklamberg and Paulina Shepherd. Info: https://circleboston.org/peace-freedom

Music:

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Outro instrumental music: Itzhak Perlman, Dov Seltzer, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra: Afn Veg Shteyt A Boym

Air Date: June 8, 2022

Sheva Zucker: The Golden Peacock

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 26 May 2022 19:21:37 +0000

Dr. Sheva Zucker presents her new bilingual audio album The Golden Peacock: The Voice of the Yiddish Writer, which she edited and produced. It was originally published in 2001 in an all-Yiddish CD format. In 2021, it was released as a revised bilingual edition, making it available either as MP3 files or as two audio CDs. The set now includes the voices of twelve Yiddish writers and a 138-page book that contains the work of each writer in Yiddish with parallel text in English, a biography of each writer in English and Yiddish as well as notes in English about each selection. Hear the voices of Celia Dropkin, Yankev Glatshteyn, Rokhl Korn, Aron Glanz-Leyeles, H. Leivick, Kadya Molodowsky, Itzik Manger, Avrom Sutzkever, Sholem-Aleichem, Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman, Yekhiel Shraibman and Elie Wiesel. English is read by Sheva Zucker and Trudie Kessler, Professor Emeritus of Voice and Acting at The Theatre School/DePaul University, Chicago. Sheva Zucker served as the executive director of the League for Yiddish and editor-in-chief of its publication Afn Shvel from 2005-2020. She is the author of the textbooks Yiddish: An Introduction to the Language, Literature & Culture, Vols. I & II, and has taught Yiddish language and literature for over two decades in the Uriel Weinreich Summer Program in Yiddish Language, Literature and Culture. For more info: https://shevazucker.com

The interviewer, Lillian ("Leah") Shporer-Leavitt, is a frequent cohost of The Yiddish Voice and an experienced Yiddish translator and teacher. She has taught Yiddish for many years at various institutions in the Boston area, including Workers Circle and Gann Academy.

Music:

Sidor Belarsky: Babi Yar (lyrics by Shike Driz, music by Rive Boyarska)

Theresa Tova: Mayn Khaverte Mintsye (lyrics and music by Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: May 25, 2022

Joseph Alexander, 99-year-old survivor from Poland (new); Lag B'Omer with Miriam Libenson (repeat)

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 19 May 2022 02:23:46 +0000

Joseph Alexander, a 99-year-old Holocaust survivor now living in Los Angeles, originally from Kowal, Poland, talks about his Holocaust experiences. We recorded this interview with him via Zoom on May 17, 2022.

Miriam Libenson ז״ל: Lag B'Omer (from our archive, originally recorded and aired in the 1990's)

Music:

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Outro instrumental music: Itzhak Perlman, Dov Seltzer, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra: Afn Veg Shteyt A Boym

Air Date: May 18, 2022

Yehuda Neufeld, Israeli War Veteran, for Yom HaZikaron & Yom HaAtsmaut

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 06 May 2022 08:34:30 +0000

Tonight's show aired on the night after Yom HaZikaron and on the eve of Yom HaAtsmaut. We present a new interview with Yehuda Neufeld, an Israeli war veteran, now living in Los Angeles, who was wounded in Israel's war with Egypt arising out of the Suez Crisis of October 1956.

We also heard from our archives: Hasia Segal ז״ל on the Boston Zionist hero Dewey Stone.

We also heard music related to Israel and mothers, in honor of Mother's Day, which falls the following Sunday.

Music:

Barry Sisters: Exodus

David Esheth: Yerusholayim Shtot fun Gold (music Naomi Shemer, origin Hebrew lyrics Naomi Shemer, Yiddish translation Dovid Esheth)

Barry Sisters: Vu Ahin Zol Ikh Geyn (lyrics: Igor S. Korntayer)

Dudu Fisher: A Yidishe Mame

Marilyn Michaels: Mamele

Moishe Oysher: *Afn Veg Shteyt A Boym" (Lyrics: Itsik Manger)

Dudu Fisher: Mamenyu

Dudu Fisher: A Brivele Der Mamen

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: May 4, 2022

Naftali Deutsch, Auschwitz Survivor, for Yom HaShoah

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 03:07:07 +0000

Tonight's show aired on the eve of Yom HaShoah. We present a new interview with Naftali (Tuli) Deutsch, an Auschwitz survivor, as well as recordings of three others from past years. They are Al (Zoli) Langer, Rokhl Zicherman, and Matele Friedman ז״ל. All of these survivors were born in Carpathian Ruthenia, then in Czechoslovakia, now known as Zakarpatska Oblast, in the western part of Ukraine.

Naftali Deutsch is the author of A Holocaust Survivor: In The Footsteps Of His Past, his auto-biography. Info here: https://holocaustsurvivorbook.com

Announcement: The American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors of Greater Boston invites you to Boston's 2022 Virtual Community Holocaust Commemoration of Yom HaShoah, Sunday, May 1, 2022, at 2:00PM Eastern. Info and registration here: https://www.jcrcboston.org/yh2022/

Music:

Shimon Yisraeli: Zog Nit Keyn Mol (lyrics: Hirsch Glick)

The following sung by Matele Friedman, recorded by The Yiddish Voice on January 1, 2020:

Es Brent (Words and music by Mordkhe Gebirtig)

The following sung by Rokhl Zicherman, recorded by The Yiddish Voice in January 2019:

In Auschwitzer Lager

Holocaust 'Dem Milners Trern'

Abraham Brun: Why Need We Cry?

Dudu Fisher: Vu Ahin Zol Ikh Geyn (lyrics: Igor S. Korntayer)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: April 27, 2022

Pinchas Gutter, Holocaust Survivor, and Last Days of Pesach

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 04:47:39 +0000

Happy Passover! ‫אַ זיסן און כּשרן פּסח און אַ גוטן מועד!‬

Happy Passover and thanks to friends, participants, and sponsors of this show:

Israel Book Shop (Eli Dovek recorded Mar 28 2007)

The Butcherie (Max Gelerman ז״ל recorded Mar 28 2007)

Cheryl Ann's Bakery, featuring kosher and pareve breads and pastries

American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors of Greater Boston (Tania Lefman, Treasurer, co-sponsor of Boston's 2022 Virtual Community Holocaust Commemoration of Yom HaShoah, Sunday, May 1, 2022, at 2:00PM Eastern. Info and registration here: https://www.jcrcboston.org/yh2022/

League for Yiddish (Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath, Chair of the Board)

Dovid Braun, Leonia, NJ

Sholem Beinfeld, Cambridge, MA

Leah Shporer-Leavitt, Newton, MA

Motl Murstein, Brookline, MA

Boston Workers Circle Yiddish Committee, (Linda Gritz, Somerville, MA)

Fishl Kutner, from Der Bay, IAYC, and Fishl's Yiddish Group

Featured Interview: Pinchas Gutter, Warsaw ghetto & Majdanek survivor; author: MEMORIES IN FOCUS; USC Shoah Foundation hologram witness (https://iwitness.usc.edu/dit/pinchas). For additional info see Shoah Foundation's info page on Pinchas Gutter: https://sfi.usc.edu/survivor/pinchas-gutter and Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinchas_Gutter

Music:

Moishe Oysher: Chad Gadyo

Moishe Oysher: Got Iz Eyner (Mu Asapru)

Michael Silverman: Dayenu (instrumental)

Sholom Katz: Keil Moleh Rachamim

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: April 20, 2022

Dov-Ber Kerler re Ukraine, and Pesach

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 21:20:48 +0000

Happy Passover! ‫אַ זיסן און כּשרן פּסח!‬

Happy Passover and thanks to friends, participants, and sponsors of this show:

Israel Book Shop (Eli Dovek recorded Mar 28 2007)

The Butcherie (Max Gelerman ז״ל recorded Mar 28 2007)

Cheryl Ann's Bakery, featuring kosher and pareve breads and pastries

American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors of Greater Boston (Tania Lefman, Treasurer, co-sponsor of Boston's 2022 Virtual Community Holocaust Commemoration of Yom HaShoah, Sunday, May 1, 2022, at 2:00PM Eastern. Info and registration here: https://www.jcrcboston.org/yh2022/

League for Yiddish (Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath, Chair of the Board)

Dovid Braun, Leonia, NJ

Sholem Beinfeld, Cambridge, MA

Leah Shporer-Leavitt, Newton, MA

Motl Murstein, Brookline, MA

Boston Workers Circle Yiddish Committee, (Linda Gritz, Somerville, MA)

Fishl Kutner, from Der Bay, IAYC, and Fishl's Yiddish Group

Hy Wolfe, from CYCO Yiddish Bookstore and Publishing House

Featured Interview: Dov-Ber Kerler, writer and poet, professor at Indiana University, co-director of the AHEYM project, with his thoughts on the war in Ukraine. He also read out a short poem of his, a kind of response to the Hebrew poem They Say There's A Land (אומרים ישנה ארץ) by Shaul Tchernichovsky. Kerler frequently publishes his poetry under the pen name Boris Karloff (באָריס קאַראַוו) here on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/berkale For more info on Kerler and AHEYM: https://aheym.com/contact/

Music:

Moishe Oysher: Chad Gadyo

Moishe Oysher: Got Iz Eyner (Mu Asapru)

Michael Silverman: Dayenu (instrumental)

Barry SIster: Chad Gadyo (in the style of Moishe Oysher)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: April 13, 2022

Hy Wolfe from CYCO, and Pesach

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 20:52:26 +0000

Happy Passover! ‫אַ זיסן און כּשרן פּסח!‬

Happy Passover and thanks to friends, participants, and sponsors of this show:

Israel Book Shop (Eli Dovek recorded Mar 28 2007)

The Butcherie (Max Gelerman ז״ל recorded Mar 28 2007)

Cheryl Ann's Bakery, featuring kosher and pareve breads and pastries

American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors of Greater Boston (Tania Lefman, Treasurer, co-sponsor of Boston's 2022 Virtual Community Holocaust Commemoration of Yom HaShoah, Sunday, May 1, 2022, at 2:00PM Eastern. Info and registration here: https://www.jcrcboston.org/yh2022/

League for Yiddish (Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath, Chair of the Board)

Dovid Braun, Leonia, NJ

Sholem Beinfeld, Cambridge, MA

Leah Shporer-Leavitt, Newton, MA

Motl Murstein, Brookline, MA

Boston Workers Circle Yiddish Committee, (Linda Gritz, Somerville, MA)

Fishl Kutner, from Der Bay, IAYC, and Fishl's Yiddish Group

Hy Wolfe, from CYCO Yiddish Bookstore and Publishing House

Featured Interview: Hy Wolfe, executive director of CYCO Yiddish Bookstore and Publishing House, talks about the organization's campaign to survive and thrive as New York City's last secular Yiddish book store, helped by Friends of CYCO Books, a new organization and web site, and thanks to recent publicity such as the New York Review of Books article The Joy of Yiddish Books. Besides heading up CYCO, Wolfe is a veteran actor, director, and singer, both in English and Yiddish. More info at HyWolfe.com.

Music:

Moishe Oysher: Got Iz Eyner (Mu Asapru)

Hy Wolfe: Es benk zikh nokh di kinder yorn (Childhood Years)

Marthe Schlamme: Zog Maran

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: April 6, 2022

Pesach with Gitu Cycowicz et al (new); Dovid Braun re YIVO Summer-Program (replay)

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 31 Mar 2022 18:35:37 +0000

Happy Passover! ‫אַ זיסן און כּשרן פּסח!‬

Happy Passover and thanks to friends, participants, and sponsors of this show:

Israel Book Shop (Eli Dovek recorded Mar 28 2007)

The Butcherie (Max Gelerman ז״ל recorded Mar 28 2007)

Cheryl Ann's Bakery, featuring kosher and pareve breads and pastries

American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors of Greater Boston (Tania Lefman, Treasurer, co-sponsor of Boston's 2022 Virtual Community Holocaust Commemoration of Yom HaShoah, Sunday, May 1, 2022, at 2:00PM Eastern. Info and registration here: https://www.jcrcboston.org/yh2022/

League for Yiddish (Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath, Chair of the Board)

Leah Shporer-Leavitt, Newton, MA

Gitu Cycowicz, Jerusalem

Sholem Beinfeld, Cambridge, MA

Motl Murstein, Brookline, MA

Interviews

Mrs. Gisel (Gitu) Cycowicz, Holocaust survivor originally from Chust, Czechoslovakia, and now living in Jerusalem, discussing recent events Erev Pesach.

Motl Murstein, Holocaust survivor recalls his home towns of Pyesk and Volozhin, and sings a Yiddish song (we'll try to name that tune presently: watch this space)

Dovid Braun discusses forthcoming Yivo Summer-Program (repeat from previous week). More info here: https://summerprogram.yivo.org

Music:

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: March 30, 2022

Dovid Braun-YIVO Summer Program; Lilly Segelstein - Survivor from Klitsherkes

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 17:25:32 +0000

Hear all about the upcoming 2022 YIVO Summer Program from Dovid Braun, the summer program's academic director. There's still time to register, for in person or online classes. For more info, check out their web site: https://summerprogram.yivo.org

Hear an interview with Lilly Segelstein, an Auschwitz survivor who was born in Klitsherkes (קליטשערקעס), then in Czechoslovakia, and today's Kliucharky, a village in Ukraine, near Mukacheve in Zakarpattia Oblast. Lilly is the mother of Cookie Segelstein, who assists her mother on this interview. Cookie is the acclaimed Klezmer violinist of Veretski Pass, whose music is featured in the latter part of the show.

Hear greetings for Pesach from sponsors and friends!

Motl Murstein, Holocaust survivor in Brookline (from 2020)

Max Gelerman ז"ל, proprietor of The Butcherie (from 2005)

Cheryl Moore/Moore Family/Cheryl Ann's Bakery

Eli Dovek, proprietor of Israel Book Shop (from 2009)

Music:

Veretski Pass: Veretskier Kolomeyke

Veretski Pass: Segelsteins Geveyn

Veretski Pass: Papir is Dokh Vays

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: March 23, 2022

Gennady Estraikh: Ukraine

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 03:46:44 +0000

Interview with Gennady Estraikh discussing the war in Ukraine. Estraikh, who was born in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, is a professor at NYU who specializes in Jewish intellectual history, Yiddish language and literature, and Soviet Jewish history. He has written numerous books, academic papers, and journal and newspaper articles in English, Russian, Ukrainian, and Yiddish, notably for the Yiddish Forverts. He served as managing editor of the famed Yiddish literary journal Sovetish Heymland from 1988 to 1991. His books include Yiddish Culture in Ukraine (Kyiv: Dukh i Litera, 2016, in Ukrainian) and Transatlantic Russian Jewishness: Ideological Voyages of the Yiddish Daily Forverts in the First Half of the Twentieth Century (Academic Studies Press, 2020). The interview took place over Zoom on Friday March 4, 2022, and was led by Sholem Beinfeld, regular contributor to The Yiddish Voice, co-Editor in Chief of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary, and Professor of History, Emeritus, Washington University in St. Louis.

Music:

Emil Gorovets: Reyzele

Tatiana Vayntraub: Gitara

Sidi Tal: Nokhemke

Emil Gorovets: Ikh Bin a Yid

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: March 9, 2022

Diego Rotman: Dzigan & Schumacher

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 05:38:48 +0000

Diego Rotman, author of The Yiddish Stage as a Temporary Home: Dzigan and Shumacher’s Satirical Theater (1927-1980), discusses the famed Yiddish comedy duo Shimon Dzigan and Yisroel Schumacher in an interview with Sholem Beinfeld, Professor Emeritus of the Department of History at Washington University in St. Louis, and a co-host of The Yiddish Voice. For further info:

Home page for this book's English translation at the publisher, De Gruyter

Home page for this book's Hebrew original, הבמה כבית ארעי: התאטרון של דז'יגאן ושומאכר (1980-1927) , at the publisher, Magnes Press

דזשיגאַן און שומאַכער: אױף דער בינע פֿונעם ייִדישן גלות (Review article in Yiddish by Michael Krutikov, published in the Yiddish Forverts, April 16, 2021)

Diego Rotman's home page at Hebrew University's Department of Theatre Studies

Yivo Encyclopedia page on Dzigan and Schumacher

Music:

Wolf Krakowski: Yeder Ruft Mikh Zhamele

Intro and Outro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: March 2, 2022

Eddie Hoffman, Auschwitz Survivor from Seylesh

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 05:53:38 +0000

The show presents an interview with Eddie (Avrum) Hoffman, who survived Auschwitz, slave labor at a Krupp factory in Breslau (Wrocław), a death march, and the last days at Ebensee, the brutal Mathausen subcamp.Eddie Hoffman was born in February, 1929, in Sevluš, Czechoslovakia, one of three brothers. The town was in the Subcarpathian Ruthenia part of Czechoslovakia and was also known in Yiddish as Seylesh (סעליש) and in Hungarian as Nagyszőlős. It is now called Vynohradiv and is in Ukraine. His father ran a small shoe manufacturing business, and his mother ran a small general store. In 1944 his father left the family to join the partisans fighting against the Nazis, never to be heard from again, and he and his mother and brothers were deported to Auschwitz. He was the only immediate family member to survive the Holocaust. He eventually settled in Los Angeles, where he owned and managed several bars and restaurants. He now resides with his wife in Orange County, near Los Angeles. The interview took place at his home in October, 2021.

The interview with Eddie is dedicated to the memory of Arthur Machlovitz ע״ה, also an Auschwitz survivor from Subcarpathian Ruthenia, from the town of Iza. He was long-time friends and a former business partner with Eddie and was friendly with Yiddish Voice host Meyer Dovid, and so he introduced them in a way: they met at Arthur's funeral in the summer of 2021.

Also on this show we sadly announced the passing of Mrs. Margaret (Matele) Friedman ע״ה, who died just two days earlier (Feb. 21, 2022). She was friends with Yiddish Voice host Meyer Dovid, had been featured on several of our broadcasts over the years, and was known in the community for her wonderful singing ability, especially in Yiddish. Also an Auschwitz survivor from Subcarpathian Ruthenia, after the way she returned to the area and married and started a family in Seylesh, and lived there for more than twenty-five years under the Soviets, before the family moved to the US in the 1970's. ‮געבענטשט זאָל זײַן איר אָנדענק!‬

Music:

The following were sung by Matele Friedman and recorded by The Yiddish Voice on Jan 1 2020:

Fraytik Tse Nakhts (Composed by Shuli Hollender, Matele's first cousin, who died right after the liberation.)

Vu Nemt Men A Bisele Mazl

Af Dem Pripetshok (Oyfn Pripetchik) (Words and music by Mark Warshawsky)

Intro and Outro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Extended episode: this episode is slightly longer than 1 hr 23 minutes. Thanks to the generosity of our radio station WUNR 1600 AM (Brookline, MA) for allowing us to exceed our usual one-hour time slot.

Air Date: February 23, 2022

Efraim Kessler, 105-year-old born and raised in Bilgoray

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 05:26:28 +0000

This show features an interview with Efraim (Froyim) Kessler, who, at age 105, is the oldest person ever interviewed on The Yiddish Voice. In the interview Kessler, who was born in Bilgoray, Poland, in 1916, recalls various aspects of his youth, including encounters with the Nobel Prize-winning author Isaac Bashevis Singer and Rabbi Aharon Rokeach, the Belzer Rebbe. He also recalls surviving the Spanish flu. (We learned after the interview that he also survived Covid-19.)

Efraim Kieslowicz was born and raised in Bilgoray (Polish spelling: Biłgoraj) on July 27, 1916, one of nine siblings. His father was a rabbi and also ran a grain mill and grocery store. He became an electrician in prewar Poland. He spent the war years in various places in the Soviet Union, including Chukotka in the Russian Far East and Samarkand and Tashkent in Uzbekistan. After the war, he spent several years in a DP camp in Ebensee, Austria. He arrived in the USA in 1952, spending several years in New York and elsewhere before arriving in Los Angeles, where he has lived until now. Along the way, he anglicized his name to be Fred Kessler. In 1960, he started his own electrical contracting business, Fred Kessler Electric, later called Robert Kessler Electric when his son took over the business. He was for decades a member of the shtibl known as "Rabbi Moskovitz's shul" on Fairfax St. in Los Angeles, and has been a member of Young Israel of Los Angeles for over 40 years. He now resides with his son Michael in Los Angeles. The interview took place in September 2021.

Also on tonight's show, Kolya Borodulin, director of Yiddish Programming at Workers Circle in New York, talks about the upcoming virtual program, Vinter in Yidishland. We'll also hear the Yiddish Voice debut of a new Yiddish version of the Dolly Parton song Jolene, performed by the Israeli singer and actress Ronit Asheri. Finally, to observe Tu Bishvat, which fell two days ago, from our archives: Miriam Libenson Z"L: a talk in honor of the holiday Tu Bishvat, the holiday of the trees, originally broadcast in 1994, followed by music related to Tu Bishvat and/or to trees, generally.

Music:

Ronit Asheri: Jolene (Music and original English lyrics by Dolly Parton, Yiddish lyrics by Leyzer Burko)

Victor Berezinsky: Tu Bishvat

Ruth Levin: A Hoykher Boym (Lyrics Shike Driz, Music by Leibu Levin)

Hilda Bronstein: Afn Veg Shteyt A Boym (Lyrics by Itzik Manger)

Dudu Fisher: Unter Beymer (Lyrics by Alexander Olshanetsky, Music by Moishe Oysher)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: January 19, 2022

Izzy Arbeiter Shloyshim Memorial

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 14:49:14 +0000

This show is a special Shloyshim program in memory of Israel (Izzy) Arbeiter ז״ל, Holocaust survivor and founder and former long-time president of the American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors of Greater Boston, who passed away Oct. 29, 2021, at the age of 96. This show is sponsored by The American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors of Greater Boston and Descendants.

The first part features remarks in memory of Izzy, while the second contains excerpts of his recordings for The Yiddish Voice.

Remarks:

Janet Stein Calm, President The American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors of Greater Boston and Descendants (with remarks read in Yiddish by Dovid Braun);

Tania Lefman, Holocaust survivor, long-time friend of Arbeiter's, and treasurer of the American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors of Greater Boston;

Rabbi Moshe Waldoks of Temple Beth Zion, Boston, who officiated at Arbeiter's funeral; and

Dovid Braun, a co-host of The Yiddish Voice and director of the YIVO Yiddish Summer Program

Recordings of Izzy Arbeiter for The Yiddish Voice:

excerpt of Izzy's interview in 2005 discussing early life and family in Plock, Poland;

excerpt of Izzy's interview in 2019 discussing one episode of nearly miraculous survival in 1942 in the midst of the Holocaust;

excerpt of Izzy's interview in 1995 discussing the opening of the New England Holocaust Memorial and his personal history as a survivor;

excerpt of Izzy's greeting for Passover in 2020 (recorded March 31, 2020)

Music:

Shimon Yisraeli: Zog Nit Keyn Mol (lyrics: Shmerke Kaczerginski)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: December 8, 2021

Jordan Kutzik, David Forman: Dos Kluge Shnayderl/The Clever Little Tailor

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 19:45:39 +0000

David Forman and Jordan Kutzik are interviewed about the recently published children's book The Clever Little Tailor/דאָס קלוגע שנײַדערל. The book was written by Solomon (Shloyme) Simon and originally published in the 1930's. This new edition of the book features a translation into English side by side with the Yiddish original. David Forman, the author's grandson, did the English translation. Jordan Kutzik, who is also chairman of the Yugntruf - Youth for Yiddish organization, led the project to publish this book. For additional info on the book, visit: https://yiddishchildrensbooks.com/products/the-clever-little-tailor-by-solomon-simon

The interview is conducted by Sholem Beinfeld, a regular contributor to The Yiddish Voice, co-Editor in Chief of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary, and Professor of History, Emeritus, Washington University, St. Louis.

Music:

Intro/outro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Izzy Arbeiter (Replay of 2005 Interview by Iosif Lakhman)

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 01:20:57 +0000

The Yiddish Voice/דאָס ייִדישע קול lost a great friend. Izzy Arbeiter passed away this past Friday, Oct 29 2021, at the age of 96. To mark this sad loss, we are replaying our 2005 interview that was led by our late cohost Iosif Lakhman.

See also:

Boston Globe: Israel Arbeiter, 96, Holocaust survivor who believed ‘there is never enough remembering’

Forward: Remembering Izzy Arbeiter, the Holocaust survivor honored by Germany, by Linda Madchan

Legacy.com obituary: ISRAEL "IZZY" ARBEITER

Music:

Anna Monka: Zog Nit Keymol (The late singer, a former member of the famed Bielski partisans, recorded this song, also known as Partizaner Lid, exclusively for The Yiddish Voice in 2009.)

Wolf Krakowski:Yeder Ruft Mikh Zhamele

Wolf Krakowski: Varshe

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Sosye Fox (Vaybertaytsh), Meyer Dovid (Dos Yidishe Kol) Interview Combo for In Geveb

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 17:24:24 +0000

Sosye Fox (Sandy Fox) of Vaybertaytsh interviews Meyer Dovid (Mark David), host of The Yiddish Voice / דאָס ייִדישע קון, and vice versa. Thanks to In Geveb for putting this together. See also/related:

Yiddish Podcasts in Conversation: Vaybertaytsh and Dos Yidishe Kol -- article about this interview in In geveb

Episode 59: ?דער ייִדישער פּאָדקאַסט – װוּהין | The Yiddish Podcast Today /October 13, 2021 -- version of the same interview for the Vaybertaytsh / װײַבערטײַטש Podcast

This feels very meta. In a great way. -- Tweet by Miriam Udel

Music:

Ladytron: Blue Jeans (Vaybertaytsh intro, excerpt)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: October 13, 2021

Succos – Simchas Torah, Best Of (5782) + Miriam Libenson z"l: Babi Yar (Encore)

The Yiddish Voice — Sat, 25 Sep 2021 00:09:00 +0000

Yom Kippur - Succos, Best Of (5782)

The Yiddish Voice — Sat, 25 Sep 2021 00:02:09 +0000

Ruth Kohn, Libby Pollak, Dovid Braun Telling Jokes, and Best of Rosh Hashona

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 00:52:22 +0000

Recorded at Yugntruf's Yidish-Vokh in Copake, NY, in August 2021: Ruth Kohn, Libby Pollak and Dovid Braun telling jokes in Yiddish

Best of Rosh Hashona - Announcements and well-wishes for the new year from sponsors and friends and a High Holidays mix of recent and past audio highlights. Enjoy!

Eli Dovek, proprietor of Israel Book Shop (from 2009)

Holocaust survivors Tania Lefman and Mary Ehrlich, on behalf of the American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors (AAJHS) of Greater Boston. Note: the annual Hazkore (Holocaust Memorial) will be virtual only at 11 AM on Sun Sep 12, 2021, at 11 AM; for details, consult JCRC Boston.

Sholem Beinfeld, cohost of the Yiddish Voice and co-chief editor of Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary

Dovid Braun, cohost of the Yiddish Voice and Academic Director of [YIVO Summer Program] (https://summerprogram.yivo.org/)

Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath, chair of the board of the The League for Yiddish/די ייִדיש-ליגע

Cheryl Moore/Moore Family/Cheryl Ann's Bakery

Leyzer Maimon, Holocaust survivor and Rabbi at Young Israel of Mill Basin, Brooklyn, NY (from 2020)

Motl Murstein, Holocaust survivor in Brookline, sings Afn Pripetshik and Hobn Mir a Nigndl (from 2019)

Hasia Segal ז"ל, late cofounder and cohost of the Yiddish Voice (from 2007)

Max Gelerman ז"ל, late proprietor of The Butcherie (from 2005)

Iosif Lakhman ז"ל, late cohost of the Yiddish Voice (from 2007)

Avrom Cohen ז"ל, late bal tefila from Boston's North Shore, chants Rosh Hashonah/Yom Kippur tefilas and talks about his life and about being a bal tefila (from 1997)

Mordkhe Schaechter ז"ל, late Yiddish scholar, discusses Yiddish-language idioms and greetings tied to holidays Rosh Hashonah, Yom Kippur, and Succos (from 1997)

Music:

Cantor Simcha Koussevitzky: Zochreinu L'Chaim

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: September 1, 2021

Zelda Polofsky

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 20:35:06 +0000

Highlights:

Zelda Polofsky, a Holocaust survivor from a shtetl near Vilna, interviewed by Dovid Braun, discussing her early life, both before and during the Holocaust.

Announcements and well-wishes for the new year (Rosh Hashona) from sponsors and friends.

Music:

Goldie Malavsky: Zochreinu L'Chayim

Shmuel Malavsky and Family: B'Rosh Hashonah"

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: August 25, 2021

Live from the Yidish-Vokh - Schaechter-Tekhter, Dovid Braun, Christa Whitney, et al

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 02:41:23 +0000

Listen to the Yiddish Voice recorded live at the annual Yiddish Week (Yidish-Vokh) in Copake, NY, in the foothills of the Berkshire mountains. There, every year, the organization Yugntruf - Youth for Yiddish creates summer colony, where Yiddish-speaking people from all parts of the world gather each year to enjoy a week of summer vacation entirely in Yiddish. We played a game show-type game, listened to jokes told by Ruth Kohn, and heard a musical performance by the famed Schaechter-Tekhter duo (sisters Reyna and Temma Schaechter), accompanied on piano by their dad, the highly accomplished musical director and composer Ben (Binyumen) Schaechter. Guests on the show, in approximate order of appearance: Eli Grodko, Dovid Braun, Christa Whitney, Ruth Kohn, Yankl-Peretz Blum, Perl Teitelbaum, Meylekh Viswanath, Reyna Schaechter, Temma Schaechter, Binyumen Schaechter (piano), Isaac Bleaman.

In addition, we heard many announcements and well-wishes for the new year (Rosh Hashona) as well as some holiday music.

Music:
Sholom Katz: Zochreinu L'Chayim

Theo Bikel: Di Yontevdike Teg

Leybele Waldman: Der Nayer Yor

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Special thanks to Yugntruf: visit yugntruf.org

Recording date: August 15, 2021 Air date: August 18, 2021

Hershl Hartman

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 16:57:55 +0000

Interview with Hershl Hartman, discussing his work as a Yiddish journalist, an educator in secular Yiddish-oriented schools, and a translator from Yiddish to English. Hershl Hartman was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1929. He has been a leader at the Sholem Community in Los Angeles for more than fifty years, serving as Education Director/Vegvayzer since 1967. Between 1967 and 1985, he was also the school’s principal. Hartman holds degrees in Secular Jewish education and in Yiddish journalism. As a younger man, he became the first American-born Yiddish newspaper reporter, having written for the Morgen Freiheit when it was a New York City daily with a print run in the thousands. In recent years, he has worked as a professional translator from English to Yiddish, translating both literary works, including poetry, and personal documents and correspondence. His literary translation work has appeared in the online Yiddish studies journal In Geveb (https://ingeveb.org/people/hershl-hartman), and he contributed to the translation of the book The Jews of Felshtin (https://felshtin.org/). The interview was recorded via Zoom on July 9, 2021.

Music:
Lillian Lux: Vashtis Kloglid (with Mike Burstyn as narrator; lyrics by Itzik Manger)

Chava Alberstein Rabeynu Tam (lyrics by Itzik Manger)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: July 28, 2021

Cycowitz, Posner 2013-07-24 Encore

The Yiddish Voice — Sun, 25 Jul 2021 02:49:36 +0000

From our archive: The Yiddish Voice from July 24 2013, with Gitu Cycowitz (Jerusalem) and Rabbi Shmuel Posner (Boston).

Air Date: July 21 2021 (originally aired July 24 2013)

Irene Zisblatt ('The Last Days'); Dovid Mermelstein Z''L (from archive)

The Yiddish Voice — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 18:00:17 +0000

Interview with Irene Zisblatt, who was one of the participants in the film The Last Days, released in 1998, about the Holocaust in Hungary. The Yiddish Voice spoke to Irene recently (late June 2021) via Zoom. Irene was born in Polena, Czechoslovakia, which was in Hungary during WWII and is now in Ukraine. Irene survived the Holocaust, including Auschwitz, as she describes in the film and to some degree in the interview. The film The Last Days, was originally released on DVD in 1998. It was rereleased in 2021 in a restored print on Blu-Ray disk and also through Netflix. Info:

The Last Days (1998) on Netflix

The Last Days (1998) Wikipedia page

From our archive: 2015 interview with Dovid Mermelstein, who died the previous day (Tuesday, July 6, 2021). The Yiddish Voice spoke to Dovid in Miami, FL, in August 2015 and aired the interview shortly thereafter. Dovid was born in Kivjazd, Czechoslovakia, which was in Hungary during WWII and is now in Ukraine. He survived the Holocaust, including Auschwitz and Ebensee. In recent decades, he was a leader of the survivors in the Miami, FL, area and an internationally known activist on behalf of survivors in order to get restitution from the US government for property looted from Hungarian Jews during the war, as well as serving as a vocal critic of the Claims Conference on behalf of his fellow survivors. Info:

Times of Israel article: David Mermelstein, Holocaust survivor and restitution champion, dies at 92

Miami Herald obituary (via Legacy.com): David Mermelstein 1928 - 2021

Forward article: David Mermelstein, Holocaust survivor who fought Nazi-era insurance companies, dies at 92

Music:
Cookie Segelstein (violin), Pete Sokolow (piano): Hora Serba (instrumental, excerpt)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: June 7, 2021

Rachel Rojanski: Yiddish in Israel (Part 2); and Comprehensive English-Yiddish Dictionary

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 04 Jun 2021 02:41:14 +0000

Most of this week's show was taken up with the second part of our interview with Rachel Rojanski, discussing her book Yiddish in Israel: A History, published in English by Indiana University Press in 2020. The discussion is in Yiddish. Last week's show (May 26 2021) presented the first part of the discussion. The second part aired this week on Wednesday, June 2, 2021. Rachel Rojanski is Associate Professor of Judaic Studies at Brown University. She is author of Conflicting Identities: Labor Zionism in North America 1905-1931 (in Hebrew) as well as many articles on political and cultural history of East European Jewish immigrants in the U.S. and Israel. About the book (blurb):

Yiddish in Israel: A History challenges the commonly held view that Yiddish was suppressed or even banned by Israeli authorities for ideological reasons, offering instead a radical new interpretation of the interaction between Yiddish and Israeli Hebrew cultures. Author Rachel Rojanski tells the compelling and yet unknown story of how Yiddish, the most widely used Jewish language in the pre-Holocaust world, fared in Zionist Israel, the land of Hebrew. (Additional publisher info here: https://iupress.org/9780253045140/yiddish-in-israel/)

The interview was led by Sholem Beinfeld, professor of history emeritus at Washington University, St. Louis, and co-chief editor of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary.

Also, from our archive we heard an excerpt of our 2016 interview with Gitl Shaechter-Viswanath and Hershl Glasser, editors of Comprehensive English-Yiddish Dictionary. (Interviewed by Dovid Braun and Iosif Lakhman ז״ל) Additional info here: https://englishyiddishdictionary.com

To close, we aired a series of songs with words by the late poet Itzik Manger, whose 120th birthday was observed by lovers of Yiddish literature the world over this past Sunday, performed by various singers and musicians.

Music:

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Molly Picon and Simche Fostel: Yidl Mitn Fidl

Gadi Yagil: Di Elegye fun Fastrigose

Rosalie Gerut and Betty Silberman: Sarah's Lullabye and Hagar's Lament (Sores Viglid Hogers Kloglid)

Chava Alberstein: Dona Dona

Moyshe Oisher: Afn Veg Shteyt A Boym

Itzhak Perlman, Dov Seltzer, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra: Afn Veg Shteyt A Boym (instrumental)

Air Date: June 3, 2021

Rachel Rojanski: Yiddish in Israel (Part 1); Dovid Braun: Yivo Summer Program 2021

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 27 May 2021 05:51:03 +0000

Most of this week's show was taken up with the first part of our interview with Rachel Rojanski, discussing her book Yiddish in Israel: A History, published in English by Indiana University Press in 2020. The discussion is in Yiddish. This week's show (May 26 2021) presented the first part of the discussion, with the second part set to air the following Wednesday, June 2, 2021 (and later be made available via podcast). Rachel Rojanski is Associate Professor of Judaic Studies at Brown University. She is author of Conflicting Identities: Labor Zionism in North America 1905-1931 (in Hebrew) as well as many articles on political and cultural history of East European Jewish immigrants in the U.S. and Israel. About the book (blurb):

Yiddish in Israel: A History challenges the commonly held view that Yiddish was suppressed or even banned by Israeli authorities for ideological reasons, offering instead a radical new interpretation of the interaction between Yiddish and Israeli Hebrew cultures. Author Rachel Rojanski tells the compelling and yet unknown story of how Yiddish, the most widely used Jewish language in the pre-Holocaust world, fared in Zionist Israel, the land of Hebrew. (Additional publisher info here: https://iupress.org/9780253045140/yiddish-in-israel/)

The interview was led by Sholem Beinfeld, professor of history emeritus at Washington University, St. Louis, and co-chief editor of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary.

Also, we heard from Dovid Braun, Summer Program Academic Director at the Yivo Institute, giving an overview of the upcoming 2021 incarnation of the venerable Uriel Weinreich Summer Program in Yiddish Language, Literature, and Culture. Info online here: https://summerprogram.yivo.org/

Music:

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Outro instrumental music: Itzhak Perlman, Dov Seltzer, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra: Afn Veg Shteyt A Boym

Air Date: May 26, 2021

Avremi Zaks on Israel News; Rav Izchak Kin: Shvues

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 13 May 2021 16:25:51 +0000

Online Concert Announcement: May 15, 2021: Arbeter Ring's A Besere Velt chorus with special guests - see: https://www.circleboston.org/abetterworld

Avremi Zaks, Jerusalem-based radio journalist and host of Israel's weekly Yiddish radio show Kan Yiddish, speaks about recent news in Israel, including the latest war and the Miron tragedy this past Lag Baomer.

Rav Izchak Kin talks about the Shavuos holiday (from our archive, originally recorded and aired in 2017).

Music:
Louis Danto: Shavuos Iz Gekumen

Lori Cahan-Simon and Michael Alpert: Peysekh Avek

Cindy Paley: Shvues

Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman: Shvues-Lid

Moshe Kusevitsky: Korutz M'chomer

Louis Danto: Shabbos, Yontev un Rosh Chodesh

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: May 12, 2021

Duolingo Yiddish Team - Viswanath, Polasaks, Yosi, Sholem; Lag Ba'omer with Miriam Libenson

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 08:55:58 +0000

Interview with developers of the Yiddish course on the language-learning app Duolingo: Meena Viswanath, brothers Isac Polasak and Israel Polasak; Sholem; and Yosi (@MudnerParshoyn on Twitter). The interview was recorded on April 11, 2021, over Zoom and is entirely in Yiddish. Participating in the interview are historian Prof. Sholem Beinfeld, along with regular host Mark David. For more info, here are several links:

Home page of Duolingo

Duolingo's Yiddish course announcement

Forverts article in Yiddish: ייִדיש־„דואָלינגאָ‟ דיאַלעקטן־קשיא רופֿט אַרויס טיפֿן אינטערעס

Miriam Libenson z"l: a talk on the Holiday Lag Ba'Omer by our dear late collaborator, from our archive, originally recorded and aired on May 24, 2000.

Music:

Martele Friedman: Afn Pripetshik

Tova Ben-Zvi: Arum Dem Fayer

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Miriam Trinh: Yom Haatsmaut 2021 (Bonus)

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 16 Apr 2021 05:38:11 +0000

Extended version of interview with Miriam Trinh, which was shortened due to time limitations on the original broadcast.

Avremi Zaks: Yom Haatsmaut 2021 (Bonus)

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 16 Apr 2021 05:35:11 +0000

Extended version of interview with Avremi Zaks, which was shortened due to time limitations on the original broadcast.

Yom Haatsmaut with Gitu Cycowitz, Avremi Zaks, Miriam Trinh

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 07:56:32 +0000

We observe יום העצמאותּ Yom Haatsmaut with three guests who all currently reside in Jerusalem, Israel:

Mrs. Gisel (Gitu) Cycowicz, Auschwitz survivor originally from Chust, Czechoslovakia, discussing her personal history and reflections on this year's Yom Hazikaron/Yom Haatsmaut.

Avremi Zaks is the host of Kan Yiddish, which is sponsored by the National Authority for Yiddish Culture in Israel (https://www.yiddish-rashutleumit.co.il/), and which is broadcast in Israel on public radio at frequencies 104.9 FM and 105.3 FM every Friday at 4 p.m. and on 101.5 FM at midnight from Saturday to Sunday. Audio archives of the Kan Yiddish radio show can be accessed online here: https://www.kan.org.il/radio/program.aspx/?progid=1136 See also their Facebook group: Yiddish Radio ייִדיש ראַדיאָ. Note: shortened due to time constraints —the full-length interview will be released presently as a bonus podcast.

Dr. Miriam Trinh is Editor-in-Chief of Afn Shvel, organ of the League for Yiddish (ייִדיש-ליגע) and a lecturer in Yiddish language and literature at Hebrew University in Israel, as well as at various intensive Yiddish programs internationally. In 2018 she and her husband Eliezer Niborski jointly created a new center for Yiddish culture in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv called יאָ (“yes”) — ייִדיש-אָרט (Place for Yiddish). Featuring Sholem Beinfeld as interviewer. Note: shortened due to time constraints —the full-length interview will be released presently as a bonus podcast.

Music:
Dovid Eshet: Yerusholayim Shtot fun Gold (lyrics and music by Naomi Shemer)

Dovid Eshet: Yerusholayim Shtot fun Ayzn /Yorusholayim Shal Barzel (lyrics: Meir Ariel, Music: Naomi Shemer)

Dudu Fisher: Vu Ahin Zol Ikh Geyn (lyrics: Igor S. Korntayer)

Air date: April 14 2021

Pinchas Gutter Interview (Part 2), Yom Hashoah

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 22:36:32 +0000

In this show we observe Yom HaShoah with part 2 of a fantastic new interview with Holocaust survivor Pinchas Gutter, discussing his experiences as a boy growing up in Lodz, Poland, later relocating to Warsaw, surviving the Warsaw Ghetto as well as deportation to the Majdanek death camp. This week's show the second part of the discussion, with the first part having aired the previous Wednesday, March 31, 2021. Pinchas Gutter is well known as a Holocaust survivor, and frequently serves as a speaker and educator in various forums around the world. He was the first survivor to create a lifelike hologram of himself for the USC Shoah Foundation's Dimensions in Testimony project. For more info on Pinchas Gutter visit:

Wikipedia Page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinchas_Gutter

Shoah Foundation Page: https://sfi.usc.edu/survivor/pinchas-gutter

We also played an extended selection of Holocaust-related songs as part of today's broadcast.

Music:
Shimon Yisraeli: Zog Nit Keyn Mol

Avrom Brun: Vos Darfn Mir Veynen

Chava Alberstein: Friling

Avrom Brun: Shtiler, Shtiler

Margaret (Martele) Friedman: Es Brent

Chava Alberstein: Unter Dayne Vayse Shtern

Henry Sapoznik: Itzik Vitnberg

Dudu Fisher: Vu Ahin Zol Ikh Geyn

Adrienne Cooper: Shtiler, Shtiler

Michael Alpert: S'Iz Geven a Zumertog

David Waletzky: Yisrolik

Josh Waletzky: Yid, Du Partizaner

Josh Waletzky: Shtil Di Nakht

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: April 7, 2021

Pinchas Gutter Interview (Part 1); Shvii & Acharon Shal Pesach

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 01 Apr 2021 19:31:34 +0000

In this show we finish out Pesach and transition to Yom HaShoah with a fantastic new interview with Holocaust survivor Pinchas Gutter, discussing his experiences as a boy growing up in Lodz, Poland, later relocating to Warsaw, surviving the Warsaw Ghetto as well as deportation to the Majdanek death camp. This week's show presents the first part of the discussion, with the second part airing the following Wednesday, April 7, 2021. Pinchas Gutter is well known as a Holocaust survivor, and frequently serves as a speaker and educator in various forums around the world. He was the first survivor to create a lifelike hologram of himself for the USC Shoah Foundation's Dimensions in Testimony project. For more info on Pinchas Gutter visit:

Wikipedia Page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinchas_Gutter

Shoah Foundation Page: https://sfi.usc.edu/survivor/pinchas-gutter

Happy Passover! א כשרן און געזונטן פסח!

Happy Passover and thanks to friends, participants, and sponsors of this show:

Israel Book Shop https://www.israelbookshop.com/ (Eli Dovek recorded Mar 28 2007)

The Butcherie https://www.butcherie.com/ (Max Gelerman ז״ל recorded Mar 28 2007)

Cheryl Ann's Bakery http://cherylannsbakery.com/

AAJHS of Greater Boston http://www.generationsafterboston.org/ (Mary Erlich recorded Mar 17 2021)

Leah Shporer-Leavitt, Boston (recorded Mar 17 2021)

Music:

Meshugga Beach Party: Dayenu

Malavsky Sisters: Tayere Malke

Moishe Oysher: Eliahu Hanovi

Sholom Katz: Mole Rachamim

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: March 31, 2021

Pesach, Mrs. Gitu Cycowitz, Mrs. Esti Shnek

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 03:23:47 +0000

Happy Passover! א כשרן און געזונטן פסח!

Happy Passover and thanks to friends, participants, and sponsors of this show:
Israel Book Shop https://www.israelbookshop.com/ (Eli Dovek recorded Mar 28 2007)

The Butcherie https://www.butcherie.com/ (Max Gelerman ז״ל recorded Mar 28 2007)

Cheryl Ann's Bakery http://cherylannsbakery.com/

AAJHS of Greater Boston http://www.generationsafterboston.org/ (Mary Erlich recorded Mar 17 2021)

Leah Shporer-Leavitt, Boston (recorded Mar 17 2021)

Gitu Cycowicz, Jerusalem (recorded Mar 17 2021)

Sholem Beinfeld, Cambridge, MA (recorded Mar 23 2021)

Esti Shnek, Haifa (recorded Mar 24 2021)

Dovid Braun, Leonia, NJ (recorded Apr 1 2020)

Motl Murstein, Los Angeles (recorded Apr 7 2020)

Interviews
Mrs. Gisel (Gitu) Cycowicz (part 2), Holocaust survivor originally from Chust, Czechoslovakia, discussing her personal history and current doings today in Israel erev Pesach.

Mrs. Esti Shnek (nee Jahr) Holocaust survivor originally from Jasina, Czechoslovakia, discussing her personal history and current doings today in Israel erev Pesach.

Also featuring extended remarks on Pesach by
Sholem Beinfeld, midway through the first hour. Prof. Beinfeld is cohost of The Yiddish Voice, co-editor-in-chief of Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary, and Professor Emeritus of history at Washington University in St. Louis.

Dovid Braun, from 2020, in middle of 2nd half-hour. Braun is YIVO Summer Program Academic Director and co-president of the Sholem Aleichem Cultural Center (Bronx, NY).

Music:
Meshugga Beach Party: Dayenu

Malavsky Family: Ho Lakhmo Anyo and Fir Kashes

Moishe Oysher: Chad Gadyo

Richard Tucker: Tal Bo

Richard Tucker: Tal Tein

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: March 24, 2021

Pesach, Rabbi Moshe Kesselman, Mrs. Gitu Cycowitz

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 22:15:06 +0000

Happy Passover! א כשרן און געזונטן פסח!

Happy Passover and thanks to friends, participants, and sponsors of this show:
Israel Book Shop https://www.israelbookshop.com/ (Eli Dovek recorded Mar 28 2007)

The Butcherie https://www.butcherie.com/ (Max Gelerman ז״ל recorded Mar 28 2007)

Cheryl Ann's Bakery http://cherylannsbakery.com/

AAJHS of Greater Boston http://www.generationsafterboston.org/ (Mary Erlich recorded Mar 17 2021)

Leah Shporer-Leavitt, Boston (recorded Mar 17 2021)

Gitu Cycowicz, Jerusalem (recorded Mar 17 2021)

Rabbi Moshe Kesselman, Los Angeles (recorded Mar 17 2021)

Interviews
Rabbi Moshe Kesselman talks about various topics regarding this year's Pesach.

Mrs. Gisel (Gitu) Cycowicz (part 1), Holocaust survivor originally from Chust, Czechoslovakia, discussing her personal history and current doings today in Israel erev Pesach.

Music:
Barry Sisters: Passover Medley

Meshugga Beach Party: Dayenu

Sidor Belarsky: In Dem Land Fun Piramidn

Sidor Belarsky: Der Seyder

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: March 17, 2021

The Megillah and Mike Bursty‪n‬ (Part 2)

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 18:50:38 +0000

Interview (part 2) with Mike Burstyn, discussing the recently released stream of Megillah Cycle, which premiered February 21. The first part aired the previous Wednesday, February 24, 2021.

Burstyn directed Megillah Cycle and performed three of its roles. The show is his adaptation of Itzik Manger’s famed Megile-Lider (Poems of the Megillah), a book published in Warsaw in 1936 as a playfully anachronistic version of the Book of Esther and the traditional Purim-shpil. Burstyn's connection to this material is long and deep, having begun his career as a child actor in the famed Burstein family of Yiddish singers and actors who staged the original Megillah of Itzik Manger, a Yiddish-language musical that became an overnight sensation in Israel in the 1960s, and eventually came to Broadway. From that success Burstyn went on to stardom in Israeli film and TV/film/theater internationally in English, Hebrew, Yiddish and other languages, as well as being a singer with a great many recordings to his credit, also in English, Yiddish, Hebrew and other languages. For more info on Mike Burstyn, visit: https://www.mikeburstyn.com

Besides Burstyn, the cast of Megillah Cycle features Shane Baker (Tevye Served Raw), Yidlife Crisis performers Eli Batalion (Stage Fright) and Jamie Elman (California Dreamin’), Avi Hoffman (Too Jewish?), Daniel Kahn (Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish), Lia Koenig (Shtisel), Noah Mitchel (My Favorite Year), Eleanor Reissa (Those Were the Days), Joshua Reuben (Shakespeare in Yiddish), Allen Lewis Rickman (A Serious Man), Yelena Shmulenson (Orange Is the New Black), and Suzanne Toren (From Door to Door).

The streamed production of Megillah Cycle, presented in Yiddish with English-subtitled translation, also features interspersed English rhymes written by the late Joe Darion (Man of La Mancha). Original artwork is by Adam Whiteman, with music, editing and technical supervision by Uri Schreter. It was produced by Shane Baker, executive director of the Congress for Jewish Culture. For more information and to view the stream, visit CongressforJewishCulture.org.

Participating in the interview are historian Prof. Sholem Beinfeld and Yiddish scholar Dovid Braun, along with regular host Mark David.

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Other music:
Soundtrack excerpts from Megillah Cycle, composed by Uri Schreter, featuring Abigale Reisman on violin

Mike Burstyn:Fastrigoses Elegye, from The Megillah of Itzik Manger (Israeli cast album)

Mike Burstyn: Flits Feygele, from The Megillah of Itzik Manger (Israeli cast album)

Cast:Gevald, from The Megillah of Itzik Manger (Israeli cast album)

Mike Burstyn and Cast: Di Goldene Pave, from The Megillah of Itzik Manger (Israeli cast album)

Lillian Lux: Fastrigoses Mame, from The Megillah of Itzik Manger (Israeli cast album)

Air date: March 3, 2021

The Megillah and Mike Burstyn

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 00:30:12 +0000

אַ פֿריילעכן פּורים!

Interview (part 1) with Mike Burstyn, discussing the recently released stream of Megillah Cycle, which premiered February 21. The second part will be airing the following Wednesday, March 3, 2021.

Burstyn directed Megillah Cycle and performed three of its roles. The show is his adaptation of Itzik Manger’s famed Megile-Lider (Poems of the Megillah), a book published in Warsaw in 1936 as a playfully anachronistic version of the Book of Esther and the traditional Purim-shpil. Burstyn's connection to this material is long and deep, having begun his career as a child actor in the famed Burstein family of Yiddish singers and actors who staged the original Megillah of Itzik Manger, a Yiddish-language musical that became an overnight sensation in Israel in the 1960s, and eventually came to Broadway. From that success Burstyn went on to stardom in Israeli film and TV/film/theater internationally in English, Hebrew, Yiddish and other languages, as well as being a singer with a great many recordings to his credit, also in English, Yiddish, Hebrew and other languages. For more info on Mike Burstyn, visit: https://www.mikeburstyn.com

Besides Burstyn, the cast of Megillah Cycle features Shane Baker (Tevye Served Raw), Yidlife Crisis performers Eli Batalion (Stage Fright) and Jamie Elman (California Dreamin’), Avi Hoffman (Too Jewish?), Daniel Kahn (Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish), Lia Koenig (Shtisel), Noah Mitchel (My Favorite Year), Eleanor Reissa (Those Were the Days), Joshua Reuben (Shakespeare in Yiddish), Allen Lewis Rickman (A Serious Man), Yelena Shmulenson (Orange Is the New Black), and Suzanne Toren (From Door to Door).

The streamed production of Megillah Cycle, presented in Yiddish with English-subtitled translation, also features interspersed English rhymes written by the late Joe Darion (Man of La Mancha). Original artwork is by Adam Whiteman, with music, editing and technical supervision by Uri Schreter. It was produced by Shane Baker, executive director of the Congress for Jewish Culture. For more information and to view the stream, visit CongressforJewishCulture.org.

Participating in the interview are historian Prof. Sholem Beinfeld and Yiddish scholar Dovid Braun, along with regular host Mark David.

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Other music (excerpts):
Soundtrack excerpts from Megillah Cycle, composed by Uri Schreter, featuring Abigale Reisman on violin

Cast: Excerpt of Dos Lid Funem Loyfer, from The Megillah of Itzik Manger (Israeli cast album)

Air date: February 24, 2021

Rukhl Schaechter on "Women in the Shtetl"

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 06:11:39 +0000

A discussion between Forverts editor Rukhl Schaechter and historian Prof. Sholem Beinfeld on the topic of the powerful role of the woman in the Eastern European shtetl.

Schaechter argues women in Jewish traditional life are often stereotyped as passive and invisible particularly in the public sphere, while they were in fact highly respected and relied upon within the family, and, because they were often the primary breadwinners, they wielded financial power as well. She notes the matrilineal character of traditional Jewish society and that Ashkenazi Jewish last names are often based on matriarchal first names.

This program is part of the Dr. Thomas Zand Forward Event Series.

Music

Shoshana Ron:Kum Leibke Tantzn (lyrics by Mordkhe Gebirtig)

Chava Alberstein: Rabeynu Tam (lyrics by Itzik Manger)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: February 17, 2021

Slepovitch and Lurje: Songs from Testimonies

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 07:47:31 +0000

Tonight's show is an interview with Sasha Lurje and Zisl Slepovitch, who discuss the Songs From Testimonies project, which collects and records songs and poems discovered in the testimonies of the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies at Yale University. The songs are sung in a variety of languages, including Yiddish, Polish, and French, from both the prewar period as well as from the ghettos and camps during the war. All were found among individual testimonies recorded by survivors for the Fortunoff Archive. The Archive's musician-in-residence, Zisl Slepovitch, took the songs, conducted research about their origins, and then arranged and recorded versions with his ensemble, featuring singer Sasha Lurje. The project has resulted in two albums, Where Is Our Homeland? Songs From Testimonies in the Fortunoff Video Archive, Vol. 1, released in 2019, and שרײַ, הערצעלע, שרײַ! Cry, My Heart, Cry!, Songs from Testimonies, Volume 2, which was just released in 2021 for streaming and download and is soon to be available on CD and vinyl.

This past week, on Jan 27, Slepovitch and Lurje streamed live to debut and introduce the most recently recorded songs, along with video recordings of the musicians performing, COVID-style in video boxes. The live-stream replay is available now on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/101650124837284/videos/530750214557627/

For additional information and to hear the music from the Songs From Testimonies project, visit: https://fortunoff.library.yale.edu/education/songs-from-testimonies/

Zisl Slepovitch, producer and artistic director of the recordings, arranged all the tracks and also contributed as composer, lyrics translator, additional vocalist, and musical instrumentalist on most of the tracks. A native of Minsk, Belarus, he is a musicologist (Ph.D., Belarusian State Academy of Music); a multi-instrumental klezmer, classical, and improvisational musician; a composer and poet; and a music and Yiddish educator. He is a founding member of the critically acclaimed bands Litvakus, Minsker Kapelye, and Zisl Slepovitch Trio. Additional info at his web site: http://dmitrislepovitch.com

Sasha Lurje, the main vocalist of the recordings, is an internationally renowned Yiddish singer, born in Riga, Latvia, and now based in Berlin, Germany. She is the featured singer of several Yiddish music bands and projects, including Forshpil, Litvakus, STRANGELOVESONGS with Daniel Kahn, Semer Ensemble, and You Shouldn’t Know from It. Additional info at her web site: https://sashalurje.com

Music:

Zisl Slepovitch Ensemble featuring Sasha Lurje: In Dinaverke

Lily M. (Fortunoff interviewee/survivor): In Dinaverke

Liubov K. (Fortunoff interviewee/survivor): In Dem Kleinem Dorf Von Smiltschenz

Zisl Slepovitch Ensemble feat. Sasha Lurje: In Dem Kleinem Dorf Von Smiltschenz

Zisl Slepovitch Ensemble feat. Sasha Lurje: Walc François

Zisl Slepovitch Ensemble feat. Sasha Lurje: W Pociągu Jest Tłok

Peretz H. (Fortunoff interviewee/survivor): W Pociągu Jest Tłok

Zisl Slepovitch Ensemble feat. Sasha Lurje: Shtubuneltsto

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Je...

Ellie Kellman: Radical Yiddish Press; Holocaust Remembrance Day

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 02:55:28 +0000

Professor Ellie (Elke) Kellman of Brandeis University discusses her research on the radical Yiddish press in the America of the late 19th and early 20th century. Ellie Kellman researches and writes about modern Yiddish literature and literary history, specializing in the history of the Yiddish periodical press and publishing industry. Her book-in-progress is entitled Reading the New Country: Abraham Cahan and the Invention of American Jewish Popular Culture. She is Associate Professor of Yiddish at Brandeis University, where she teaches Yiddish language and literature and modern Jewish literature. The interview is conducted by Sholem Beinfeld, a regular contributor to The Yiddish Voice, co-Editor in Chief of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary, and Professor of History, Emeritus, Washington University, St. Louis. Our friend and cohost Dovid Braun provided an announcement after the interview, namely, the following links to the Ellie Kellman lecture of July 13, 2020, for the Uriel Weinreich Summer Program in Yiddish Language, Literature and Culture of the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research and Bard College. Prof. Ellen Kellman: Abraham Cahan's Early Experiments in Yiddish Journalism / אַב. קאַהנס ערשטע ליטעראַרישע עקספּערימענטן

https://yivo.org/YCLS2020-Kellman

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KhAJY3wSPFA

To observe International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we played three recordings of Holocaust survivors from the Yiddish Voice archives:

Rochel Zicherman, a survivor originally from a small village in Carpathian Ruthenia in Czechoslovakia, who survived Auschwitz (recorded in 2019);

Dovid Lenga, a survivor originally from Lodz, Poland, who survived the Lodz Ghetto as well as Auschwitz (recorded in 2020); and

Anna Monka ע״ה, a survivor originally from Lida, Poland, a former Bielski partisan, who sings the partisan song Zog Nit Keymol (recorded 2009)

Music:

Music: Di Shvue, anthem of the Bund, performed by a youth choir led by Zalmen Mlotek

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: January 27, 2021

Beinfeld, Berger, Rapaport, Wolfe on DC Meshugas

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 07:22:08 +0000

On this day of President Trump's second impeachment (Jan 13 2021), following last week's historic 2021 storming of the United States Capitol, we discussed DC Meshugas (Washington craziness), with

Sholem Beinfeld, co-host of The Yiddish Voice, co-chief-editor of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary, and Professor Emeritus, Washington U. in St. Louis;

Dr. Zackary (Sholem) Berger, Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, an active primary care doctor in the Baltimore area, author of Talking to Your Doctor: A Patient's Guide to Communication in the Exam Room and Beyond, as well as a Yiddish writer, poet, and translator;

Yosef Rappaport, @YosefRapaport on Twitter and commentator for hotline broadcaster Kol Mevaser (http://Yiddish24.com); and

Hy Wolfe, actor, singer, and director of the Hebrew Actors Foundation and CYCO Books

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: January 13, 2021

Extended Interview: Katz, Zaks, Beinfeld: Current Events Roundtable (Bonus Podcast)

The Yiddish Voice — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 00:07:16 +0000

Roundtable discussion of current events, including the American and Israeli elections, COVID-19, and antisemetism in Eastern Europe. Participating in the discussion are Professor Dovid Katz, a Vilna-based Yiddish scholar and activist in the field of Holocaust history and human rights; Avremi Zaks, radio journalist and host of Israel's weekly Yiddish radio show Kan Yiddish; and Sholem Beinfeld, a regular contributor to the Yiddish Voice, co-Editor in Chief of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary, and Professor of History, Emeritus, Washington University, St. Louis.

A shorter version of this interview was originally aired on the Yiddish Voice radio show aired December 23 2020 in episode 224 of The 'Yiddish Voice' Podcast with title "Katz, Zaks, Beinfeld: Current Events Roundtable".

The first 43 min. 6 sec. are the same as in the originally aired radio show/podcast. There follows an additional 2 min. 18 sec. about COVID-19 impact in the Chareidi communities, followed by the final originally aired segment, followed by 18 min. 43 sec. of the previously unaired end of the interview, mostly expanding on the theme of antisemitism in Eastern Europe, with a few minutes of wrapping up the whole interview at the end.

Katz, Zaks, Beinfeld: Current Events Roundtable

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 03:05:14 +0000

Roundtable discussion of current events, including the American and Israeli elections, COVID-19, and antisemetism in Eastern Europe. Participating in the discussion are Professor Dovid Katz, a Vilna-based Yiddish scholar and activist in the field of Holocaust history and human rights; Avremi Zaks, radio journalist and host of Israel's weekly Yiddish radio show Kan Yiddish; and Sholem Beinfeld, a regular contributor to the Yiddish Voice, co-Editor in Chief of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary, and Professor of History, Emeritus, Washington University, St. Louis.

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: December 23, 2020

Miriam Udel: Honey on the Page

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 06:22:47 +0000

Interview with Miriam Udel, editor and translator of Honey on the Page: A Treasury of Yiddish Children's Literature (NYU Press, October 2020). Additional info from publisher: https://nyupress.org/9781479874132/honey-on-the-page/

Miriam Udel is associate professor of Yiddish language, literature, and culture at Emory University, where she studies the Jewish encounter with modernity. She holds an AB in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from Harvard University, as well as a PhD in Comparative Literature from the same institution. For more information visit her web site: http://miriamudel.com

Udel was interviewed by regular Yiddish Voice contributor Lillian ("Leah") Shporer-Leavitt, who prepared by reading the English translation as well as the Yiddish original from scans of old books. Leavitt is an experienced Yiddish teacher and translator, and is currently offering Yiddish language classes on "Zoom" at Boston Workers Circle (https://www.circleboston.org/yiddishclasses).

From our archive: for Hanukkah: Miriam Libenson gives a tribute to Ben Gailing (http://www.yiddishvoice.com/gailing/), reading excerpts from his book Git A Shmeykhl. Originally recorded and aired in 1993 on Di Yidishe Sho (WBRS 100.1 FM/Waltham, MA).

Music:

Sidor Belarsky: Oy Ir Kleyne Likhtelekh

Jacob Barkin: Chanuko oy Chanuko

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: December 2, 2020

Khanedank / Thanksgivukkah 2013! Special rebroadcast!

The Yiddish Voice — Sun, 29 Nov 2020 17:56:12 +0000

Khanedank / Thanksgivukkah 2013! Special rebroadcast! We rebroadcast/restreamed our 2013 special live broadcast from Weds Nov 27 2013, which that year occurred on the eve of both the USA Thanksgiving holiday and the first day of Hanukkah.

Here's part of our press press release for that show:

"Erev Thanksgivukkah" Live! Wednesday Night on the Yiddish Voice WUNR 1600-AM/Boston 11/27/13 7:30 PM

Internationally renowned Yiddish music master Hankus Netsky joins several musical friends live in-studio on "The Yiddish Voice" (WUNR 1600-AM, Boston) on Wednesday, November 27, 2013, at 7:30 PM, to celebrate "Erev Thanksgivukkah", the eve of both Thanksgiving and the first day of Hanukkah, an extremely rare occurrence in Jewish and American calendars. Hanukkah music, as well as music giving thanks for America, will be played live.

Dr. Hankus Netsky, chair of the Contemporary Improvisation Department at the New England Conservatory, founder and director of the Klezmer Conservatory Band, and musical director, producer and arranger for "Eternal Echoes," Itzhak Perlman's acclaimed Jewish music project, featuring cantor Yitzchak Meir Helfgot. He has composed extensively for film, theater, and television, and has also collaborated on projects with such artists as Robin Williams, Joel Grey, and Theodore Bikel.

Besides Netsky, additional anticipated musical guests include Henry Carrey, Linda Gritz, and Dina Ressler.

Henry Carrey is a veteran Yiddish actor and singer, as well as the son of Leah Carrey, known on the Yiddish stage as Leyke Post, the late longtime Boston Jewish radio celebrity.

Linda Gritz is a founding member of the Boston Workmen's Circle Yiddish Chorus, and leads monthly Yiddish singalongs in Brookline.

Dobe (Dena) Ressler is bandleader, cofounder, and clarinetist of Di Bostoner Klezmorim (yiddishmusic.com).

Air Date: November 25, 2020

Eleanor Reissa Discusses Holocaust Podcast

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 02:26:08 +0000

This week's Yiddish Voice presents an interview with Eleanor Reissa, narrator of Those Who Were There, a new podcast from Yale University’s Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies. Survivors and witnesses of the Holocaust are the subjects of the podcast, which just released its second season featuring witness interviews conducted by New York's Museum of Jewish Heritage. Eleanor Reissa is a singer, actress, director, and writer, on both the English and Yiddish stages. In the interview Reissa discusses not only the podcast and her role in it, but also her own connection to the Holocaust as the daughter of Holocaust survivors, as well as a look back and an update on her work as an actress and singer. Eleanor Reissa's website: http://www.eleanorreissa.com/

For more information on THOSE WHO WERE THERE: VOICES FROM THE HOLOCAUST, visit thosewhowerethere.org or visit Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/those-who-were-there-voices-from-the-holocaust/id1479564642

Music:

Eleanor Reissa: Zol Zayn

Eleanor Reissa: Der Nayer Sher

Eleanor Reissa: Yidl Mitn Fidl

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: November 18, 2020

Extended Interview with Luzer Twersky on the 2020 Election (Bonus Podcast)

The Yiddish Voice — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 20:10:05 +0000

Luzer Twersky, actor in Yiddish and American Theatre and Film (on Twitter as @Twersky). Twersky grew up speaking Yiddish in a Chassidic home in Boro Park but left that life behind as a young adult, cutting most ties with his family and community. He now works as an actor in film, television, and theater, performing both in Yiddish- and English-speaking roles. Twersky appears as one of the three subjects of the recent documentary One of Us, recently released on Netflix, which chronicles his and two others' break from Chassidic life. Recently, he performed on the Yiddish stage in New York in the role of Sam Feinschreiber in Awake and Sing! (Yiddish title: Vakh Oyf Un Zing), which was presented by the New Yiddish Rep theater company at New York's 14th Street Y in Union Square.

A shorter version of this interview was originally aired on the Yiddish Voice radio show aired October 28 2020 and in episode 218 of The 'Yiddish Voice' Podcast with title "2020 Election Discussed by Holocaust Survivors et al".

The first 11 min. 1 sec. are the same as in the originally aired radio show/podcast. The remainder is new, previously unreleased audio.

Extended Interview with Jake Turx on the 2020 Election (Bonus Podcast)

The Yiddish Voice — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 02:37:23 +0000

Jake Turx, senior Whitehouse correspondent for Ami Magazine (on Twitter as @JakeTurx)

A shorter version of this interview was originally aired on the Yiddish Voice radio show aired October 28 2020 and in episode 218 of The 'Yiddish Voice' Podcast with title "2020 Election Discussed by Holocaust Survivors et al".

The first 11 min. 17 sec. are the same as in the originally aired radio show/podcast. The remainder is new, previously unreleased audio.

2020 Election Discussed by Holocaust Survivors et al

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 01:29:06 +0000

Holocaust survivors and several others discuss the 2020 United States presidential election. Guests include:

Bronia Brandman, a survivor originally from Jaworzno, Poland, not far from Auschwitz (Oświęcim);

David Lenga, a survivor originally from Lodz, Poland;

Carol Stulberg, a child of survivors and Senior Advisor for Leadership Giving at United States Holocaust Memorial Museum;

Jake Turx, senior Whitehouse correspondent for Ami Magazine (on Twitter as @JakeTurx);

Luzer Twersky, actor in Yiddish and American Theatre and Film (on Twitter as @Twersky); and

Sholem Beinfeld, cohost of The Yiddish Voice and Professor of History (Emeritus) at Washington University (St. Louis) as well as Co-Chief Editor of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary.

The Yiddish Voice (Dos Yidishe Kol / דאָס ייִדישע קול), Boston's weekly Yiddish-language radio show, is heard in the Boston area every Wednesday on WUNR 1600 AM from 7:30 to 8:30 PM (Eastern) and live-streamed on the Internet at www.yiddishvoice.com.

Air date: October 28, 2020

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Myer Loketch z'l, Hasia Segal z'l, Iosif Lakhman z'l: Best of Succos, Shemini Atseres, Simchas Torah

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 18:16:46 +0000

In this time Chol Hamoed, between Succos and Shemini Atseres/Simchas Torah, we hear and remember three late great participants in the Yiddish Voice:

Rav Myer Loketch z'l: on Succos, from our archive, originally recorded and aired in 2006

Hasia Segal z'l and Iosif Lakhman z'l: Rosh Hashonah greetings from our archives

Lovely New Year's greetings from friends, supporters, and participants in The Yiddish Voice:

Tanya Lefman/American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors (AAJHS) of Greater Boston

Eli Dovek/Israel Book Shop

Cheryl Moore/Moore Family/Cheryl Ann's Bakery

Max Gelerman z"l/Gelerman Family/The Butcherie

Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath, chair of the board of the League for Yiddish/Yidish-Lige

Hy Wolfe, director of the Hebrew Actors Foundation and CYCO Books

Kolya Borodulin, director of Arbeter Ring-Workers Circle Yiddish Program

Sholem Beinfeld, cohost and co-chief editor of Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary

Dovid Braun, cohost and Director of YIVO Summer Program

Motl Murstein, friend and frequent guest

Leah Shporer-Leavitt, cohost and Yiddish teacher at Boston Arbeter Ring-Workers Circle

Rabbi Leyzer Maimon, Young Israel of Mill Basin, Brooklyn, NY

Music:

Yiddisher Orchestra: Simchast Torah (instrumental)

Choral Society Hasomir: Die Sukele

Sidor Belarsky: Sisu V'Simchu B'Simchas Torah

Sholom Katz: Moleh Rachamim

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

We wish you all the best for a healthy, happy New Year. Wishing you much joy of Succos!

לשנה טובֿה - אַ גוט געזונט יאָר - גמר חתימה טובֿה

אַ פֿריילעכן יום-טובֿ סוכּות, שמיני עצרת און שמחת תורה

Thanks to our 2020 High Holiday sponsors!

American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors (AAJHS) of Greater Boston

Workers Circle https://www.circle.org/

Israel Book Shop https://www.israelbookshop.com/

The Butcherie https://www.butcherie.com/

Cheryl Ann's Bakery http://cherylannsbakery.com/

League for Yiddish http://www.leagueforyiddish.org/

Hebrew Actors Foundation http://hebrewactorsfoundation.org/

CYCO Books https://www.facebook.com/groups/307415619354386

Air Date: October 7, 2020

Avremi Zaks (Cont), Miriam Libenson z'l on Succos & Simchas Torah

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 16:53:56 +0000

Highlights:

Israeli Yiddish radio host Avremi Zaks's interview with Sholem Beinfeld continues and concludes.

From our archive, from the 1990's, Miriam Libenson talks all about Succos and Simchas Torah, reads an article about Succos by Ben Gailing, sings the song A Sukele, and is briefly interviewed about Succos, sharing somewhat mixed feelings she'd had as a child.

Lovely New Year's greetings from friends, supporters, and participants in The Yiddish Voice:

Tanya Lefman/American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors (AAJHS) of Greater Boston

Eli Dovek/Israel Book Shop

Cheryl Moore/Moore Family/Cheryl Ann's Bakery

Max Gelerman z"l/Gelerman Family/The Butcherie

Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath, chair of the board of the League for Yiddish/Yidish-Lige

Hy Wolfe, director of the Hebrew Actors Foundation and CYCO Books

Kolya Borodulin, director of Arbeter Ring-Workers Circle Yiddish Program

Sholem Beinfeld, cohost and co-chief editor of Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary

Dovid Braun, cohost and Director of YIVO Summer Program

Music:

Leibele Waldman: Der Nyer Yohr

Yiddisher Orchestra: Simchast Torah (instrumental)

Malavsky Family: Zachor and Tefilas Geshem

Suki Berry, et al: A Sukele

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

We wish you all the best for a healthy, happy New Year. Wishing you much joy of Succos!

לשנה טובֿה - אַ גוט געזונט יאָר - גמר חתימה טובֿה

אַ פֿריילעכן סוכּות

Thanks to our 2020 High Holiday sponsors!

American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors (AAJHS) of Greater Boston

Workers Circle https://www.circle.org/

Israel Book Shop https://www.israelbookshop.com/

The Butcherie https://www.butcherie.com/

Cheryl Ann's Bakery http://cherylannsbakery.com/

League for Yiddish http://www.leagueforyiddish.org/

Hebrew Actors Foundation http://hebrewactorsfoundation.org/

CYCO Books https://www.facebook.com/groups/307415619354386

Air Date: September 30, 2020

Kolya Borodulin, Avremi Zaks (Cont), Gitu Cycowicz, et al: Rosh Hashona-Yom Kipur amid COVID-19

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 22:08:13 +0000

Rosh Hashona and Yom Kipur, the Jewish new year holidays, as well as COVID-19, are a constant theme throughout this show, which features two terrific interviews, along with greetings and announcements by sponsors, friends, and participants in The Yiddish Voice.

Highlights:

Interview with Kolya Borodulin, director of Workers Circle/Arbeter Ring Yiddish programming, now registering for Fall 2020 classes, all available via interactive audio/video over the Internet! Info: https://circle.org/what-we-do/yiddish-language/

Interview (continued from last week) with Avremi Zaks, presenter for the Yiddish-language radio program of Kan, the Israeli public broadcasting corporation, interviewed by Sholem Beinfeld, regular contributor to the Yiddish Voice. For Israeli Yiddish radio program announcements, visit the "Yiddish Radio" page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/181106619326190/

Gitu Cycowicz, a Holocaust survivor originally from Chust, Czechoslovakia, and now an Israeli, gives an extended greeting from her home in Jerusalem

Lovely New Year's greetings from friends, supporters, and collaborators:

Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath, chair of the board of the League for Yiddish/Yidish-Lige

Hy Wolfe, director of the Hebrew Actors Foundation and CYCO Books

Tanya Lefman/Holocaust Survivors of Greater Boston

Eli Dovek/Israel Book Shop

Max Gelerman z"l/Gelerman Family/The Butcherie

Cheryl Moore/Moore Family/Cheryl Ann's Bakery

Kolya Borodulin, director of Arbeter Ring-Workers Circle Yiddish Program

Rabbi Leyzer Maimon, Young Israel of Mill Basin, Brooklyn, NY

Leah Shporer-Leavitt, cohost and Yiddish teacher at Boston Arbeter Ring-Workers Circle

Sholem Beinfeld, cohost and co-chief editor of Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary

Dovid Braun, cohost and Director of YIVO Summer Program

Music:

Leybele Waldman: Der Nayer Yor

Goldie Malavsky: Zochreinu L'Chayim

Josef Rosenblatt: Kol Nidre

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

We wish you all the best for a healthy, happy New Year.

לשנה טובֿה - אַ גוט געזונט יאָר - גמר חתימה טובֿה

Thanks to our 2020 High Holiday sponsors!

Workers Circle https://www.circle.org/

Israel Book Shop https://www.israelbookshop.com/

The Butcherie https://www.butcherie.com/

Cheryl Ann's Bakery http://cherylannsbakery.com/

League for Yiddish http://www.leagueforyiddish.org/

Hebrew Actors Foundation

Simon Jacobson, Avremi Zaks, et al: Rosh Hashona amid COVID-19

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 06:45:20 +0000

Rosh Hashona, the Jewish new year, as well as COVID-19 are a constant theme throughout this show, which features two terrific interviews along with greetings and announcements by sponsors, friends, and participants in The Yiddish Voice.

Highlights:

Interview with Rabbi Simon Jacobson, founder of the Meaningful Life Center (https://www.meaningfullife.com/) and publisher of Algemeiner Journal, both an English-language Jewish news website (https://www.algemeiner.com/) and a Yiddish-English weekly newspaper.

Interview with Avremi Zaks, presenter for the Yiddish-language radio program of Kan, the Israeli public broadcasting corporation, interviewed by Sholem Beinfeld, regular contributor to the Yiddish Voice. For Israeli Yiddish radio program announcements, visit the "Yiddish Radio" page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/181106619326190/

Lovely New Year's greetings from friends, supporters, and collaborators:

Tanya Lefman/Holocaust Survivors of Greater Boston

Eli Dovek/Israel Book Shop

Max Gelerman z"l/Gelerman Family/The Butcherie

Cheryl Moore/Moore Family/Cheryl Ann's Bakery

Kolya Borodulin, director of Arbeter Ring-Workers Circle Yiddish Program

Rabbi Leyzer Maimon, Young Israel of Mill Basin, Brooklyn, NY

Leah Shporer-Leavitt, cohost and Yiddish teacher at Boston Arbeter Ring-Workers Circle

Sholem Beinfeld, cohost and co-chief editor of Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary

Dovid Braun, cohost and Director of YIVO Summer Program

Music:

Leybele Waldman: Der Nayer Yor

Goldie Malavsky: Zochreinu L'Chayim

Sholom Katz: Zochreinu L'Chayim

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

We wish you all the best for a healthy, happy New Year.

לשנה טובה - א גוט געזונט יאר

Thanks to our 2020 High Holiday sponsors!

Workers Circle https://www.circle.org/

Israel Book Shop https://www.israelbookshop.com/

The Butcherie https://www.butcherie.com/

Cheryl Ann's Bakery http://cherylannsbakery.com/

Air Date: September 16, 2020

Leybl Melamed on Futures Past; Sholem Beinfeld on Yiddish Proverbs (cont)

The Yiddish Voice — Sat, 12 Sep 2020 00:44:44 +0000

Highlights:

Interview with Leo (Leybl) Melamed, Chairman Emeritus of CME Group, better known by its former name The Chicago Mercantile Exchange, discussing the recent film Futures Past, made by his son, the film maker Jordan Melamed, partly documenting the end of an era in financial futures trading and partly documenting the relationship between a father and son. Further info: http://www.futurespastmovie.com/

Sholem Beinfeld continues his discussion of Yiddish proverbs collected by Ignats Bernshteyn.

Miriam Libenson z"l, our beloved former colleague, with excerpts from her presentation for Rosh Hashonah/Yom Kippur from the 1990's.

Professor Mordkhe Schaechter z"l, the great linguist and Yiddish expert, with excerpts from a discussion of Yiddish greetings for the High Holidays, originally recorded and aired in the 1990's.

Music:
Shmuel Malavsky and Family: Unesanneh Tokef (Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur Musaf)

Theo Bikel: Di Yontevdike Teg

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

We wish you all the best for a healthy, happy New Year.

לשנה טובה - א גוט געזונט יאר

Thanks to our 2020 High Holiday sponsors!
Israel Book Shop https://www.israelbookshop.com/

The Butcherie https://www.butcherie.com/

Cheryl Ann's Bakery http://cherylannsbakery.com/

Air Date: September 9, 2020

Dovid Braun on 2020 YIVO Summer Program Amid COVID-19; Sholem Beinfeld on Yiddish Proverbs

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 04 Sep 2020 00:16:06 +0000

In the first part of our show, hear Dovid Braun talk about the amazing 2020 YIVO Yiddish Summer Program, interviewed by Sholem Beinfeld. And in the last part of the show, hear Sholem Beinfeld read and interpret selections from the book יידישע שפּריכווערטער און רעדענסארטען (Yidishe Shprikhverter un Redensartn), by Ignats Bernshteyn, originally published in Warsaw in 1908, likely the largest collection of Yiddish proverbs ever assembled.

Dovid Braun is the Academic Director of the intensive U. Weinreich Summer Program in Yiddish Language, Literature and Culture of the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research.

Sholem Beinfeld is Professor of History (Emeritus) at Washington University (St. Louis) as well as Co-Chief Editor of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary.

Music:

Leibele Waldman: Der Nyer Yohr

Theo Bikel: Di Yontevdike Teg

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

We wish you all the best for a healthy, happy New Year.

לשנה טובה - א גוט געזונט יאר

Thanks to our 2020 High Holiday sponsors!

Israel Book Shop https://www.israelbookshop.com/

The Butcherie https://www.butcherie.com/

Cheryl Ann's Bakery http://cherylannsbakery.com/

Air Date: September 2, 2020

Summer Programs Amid COVID-19 with Trinh, Matut, Schmitges, Viswanath, Wolfe

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 01:44:53 +0000

We wish you all the best for a healthy, happy New Year.
לשנה טובֿה - אַ גוט געזונט יאָר

Hear a roundtable discussion of three 2020 Yiddish summer programs and how they've managed with the COVID-19 circumstances. Our particpants:

Hy Wolfe / חיים וואָלף - we're delighted to welcome Hy on board as guest co-host of this week's show! Hy Wolfe is an actor, head of the Hebrew Actors Union Foundation, head of CYCO Yiddish Book Center, multi-decade participant in Yidish-Vokh [New York]

Miriam Trinh / מרים טרין - head of Yidish Ort, Yiddish teacher at both Yidish-YO and YIVO 2020 summer programs, Yiddish lit and language teacher at Hebrew U., editor of Afn Shvel [Jerusalem]

Andreas Schmitges / אַנשיל שמיטקעס - Curator and Board member of Yiddish Summer Weimar (and of Other Music Academy) [Weimar]

Diana Matut / דינע מאַטוט - one of the Yiddish teachers of Yiddish Summer Weimar [Weimar]

Meena-Lifshe Viswanath / מינע ליפֿשע ווישוואַנאַט - Treasurer of Yugntruf, lifelong attendee of Yidish-Vokh, an active particpant in the planning of Yidish-Vokh in her role as member of Yugntruf's board [Maryland]

Music:

Leibele Waldman: Der Nyer Yohr

Theo Bikel: Di Yontevdike Teg

Shmuel Malavsky and Family: Unesanneh Tokef (Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur Musaf)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Thanks to our 2020 High Holiday sponsors!

Israel Book Shop https://www.israelbookshop.com/

The Butcherie https://www.butcherie.com/

Cheryl Ann's Bakery http://cherylannsbakery.com/

Air Date: August 26, 2020

Estraikh, Mazurkiewicz-Meisarosh, Beinfeld: "August 12, 1952"

The Yiddish Voice — Sat, 15 Aug 2020 03:11:06 +0000

This show recalls the tragic events in the USSR of August 12, 1952. Popularly known as "Night of the Murdered Poets", the event itself, as well as associated themes -- such as Yiddish language and culture in the Soviet Union, Soviet Bloc, and in leftist circles -- is being remembered on this special broadcast by two distinguished guests, Gennady Estraikh and Jana Mazurkiewicz Meisarosh.

The so-called Night of the Murdered Yiddish Poets took place on August 12, 1952, when thirteen leading Jewish political, cultural, and intellectual figures of the Soviet Union, among them five highly distinguished Yiddish writers, were executed in the Lubyanka Prison in Moscow, after having been arrested, imprisoned, and falsely accused of espionage and treason, part of a broad anti-Jewish campaign in the postwar USSR.

Gennady Estraikh is the Rauch Clinical Professor of Yiddish Studies at New York University, where he teaches and writes about Yiddish intellectual history. He is the former managing editor of Sovetish Heymland and writes regularly for the Yiddish Forward (Forverts). He has been the author or editor of numerous scholarly works. His books include Yiddish in the Cold War (Routledge, 2008); Uncovering the Hidden: The Works and Life of Der Nister (Routledge, 2014); and his latest Transatlantic Russian Jewishness: Ideological Voyages of the Yiddish Daily Forverts in the First Half of the Twentieth Century (Academic Studies Press, 2020). He spoke to us from his summer residence in Oxford, England, via Zoom.

Jana Mazurkiewicz Meisarosh is the founder and CEO of YAAANA (yaaana.org), and a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Michigan. She is working on her dissertation on Yiddish Theater in Communist Warsaw. Originally from Poland, Jana holds a Master of Arts degree in Polish Philology and Jewish Studies from the University of Wrocław. She spoke to us via Zoom from her home in San Diego.

Sholem Beinfeld, regular contributer to the Yiddish Voice, joins as co-host to lead the interview and provide additional commentary. He is Professor of History (Emeritus) at Washington University (St. Louis) as well as Co-Chief Editor of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary. He spoke via Zoom from his home in Cambridge.

Music:

Emil Gorovets: In Vinter Farnakhtn, words by Dovid Hofshteyn, music by Emil Gorovets, musical arrangement and piano accompaniment by Zalmen Mlotek

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: August 12, 2020

Diana Cohen; Dovid Braun, Shane Baker: #Beyle100

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 03:36:24 +0000

Meet Diana Cohen (a/k/a Dina Godiner). She is the first cousin of a famous journalist, the late Daniel Schorr. She's also the first cousin of a not-so-famous violinist, the late Semyon Godiner. In 2008, Diana and Daniel had not met nor heard of their cousin, who grew up in the former Soviet Union and was now living in Israel. The Yiddish Voice got them together! How? Well, to find out, listen to that amazing story, told by Dina, and find out more about her interesting life. You'll also hear some of Semyon's voice and music, as well as an excerpt from Daniel Schorr's historic journalistic coup: interviewing Nikita Khrushchev! To hear even more from Dina (in English), here's her Wexler oral history video: https://www.yiddishbookcenter.org/collections/oral-histories/interviews/woh-fi-0000320/diana-cohen-2012

#Beyle100: Dovid Braun and Shane Baker discuss their connections, as two of the dozens of participants, to the upcoming international online concert Beyle 100, celebrating a century of the Yiddish songs, poetry, and artistic vision of the late Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman, Sunday Aug 9, 2020 at 1:30pm (New York time). For info, and to register to watch it live on Zoom, go here: yivo.org/beyle100

Music:

Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman: Zumerteg, words and music by Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman, musical arrangement by Binyumen Schaechter, violin accompaniment by Alicia Svigals, guitar accompaniment by Meyshke Alpert

Janet Leuchter and Meyshke Alpert: Harbstlid, words and music by Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman, musical arrangement and piano accompaniment by Binyumen Schaechter

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: August 5, 2020

Rav Moshe Kesselman on Tisha B'Ov; Anita Garlick; Larry Lester

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 30 Jul 2020 18:09:28 +0000

Rav Moshe Kesselman is the rabbi of Congregation Shaarei Tefila in Los Angeles. He talks about Tisha B'Ov, the Jewish day of fasting and communal mourning that begins the same evening (July 29) as this show goes out on the radio. He was interviewed via Zoom the day before the show from his home in Los Angeles.

The late Anita Garlick was interviewed at her home in Brookline, MA, in September 2019. She later passed away in March of 2020. Born in 1924 and raised in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, NY, she raised her family in the town of Monticello, NY, in the Catskill Mountains, where her husband was a funeral director and the mayor. In the interview she recalled, among other things, her and her family's encounter with the famous Woodstock Music Festival of 1969, 50 years earlier, and how it had surprised, fascinated, and nearly overwhelmed her small town and the surrounding region. An extensive obituary is online here: https://josephngarlickfuneralhome.com/tribute/details/1621/Anita-Garlick/obituary.html

The late Larry Lester was interviewed at his home in Los Angeles in April 2019. He later passed away in January 2020. In the interview he talks about various phases of his long and interesting life. Born in 1928 in Iršava, Czechoslovakia (now Irshava, Ukraine), he survived the Holocaust, including Auschwitz, as a teenager, but lost his parents and most siblings. He came to America in 1946 to join a surviving brother, served two years in the US Army, and eventually settled in Los Angeles, where he got married, had children, and established Lester Carpet, a successful area business still run by his family. His obituary from the LA Times is online here: https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/latimes/obituary.aspx?n=larry-lester&pid=195138541

Music:
Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Outro instrumental music: Itzhak Perlman, Dov Seltzer, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra: Afn Veg Shteyt A Boym

Air Date: July 29, 2020

Bonus - Miriam Libenson for Tisha B'Ov from 1995

The Yiddish Voice — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 19:43:21 +0000

This is Miriam Libenson's 1995 talk for Tisha B'Ov. This is a supplementary bonus podcast of the Yiddish Voice.
This was originally recorded for and aired on the Yiddish Voice (ייִדיש קול) on Aug 2 1995. Miriam Libenson (מרים ליבנזון ז״ל) was born in Aniksht, Lithuania, in the early 1910's. She moved to Palestine in the 1930's, and moved to the US after the war, settling in Boston. She was a Jewish studies and Hebrew language teacher in the Boston area for over forty years. Her poetry in Yiddish was published in such publications as the Tog Morgen Dzhurnal and the journal of the Pioneer Women (Na'Amat). She was a regular contributor to the Yiddish Voice and its predecessor, the Yiddish Hour (ייִדישע שעה) throughout the 1990s. She moved back to Israel around 2000 and died there in 2004.

Arele Viswanath, Yiddish 'Harry Potter' Translator

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 07 May 2020 16:00:00 +0000

This week's Yiddish Voice presents an interview, in Yiddish, with the creator of the recently published Yiddish translation of the first of theHarry Potter book series, Arun ("Arele") Viswanath (אַרעלע ווישוואַנאַט).

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is the wildly popular first novel in the Harry Potter series, written by British author J. K. Rowling. The book was first published in 1997. The Yiddish edition, with the title הערי פּאָטער און דער פֿילאָסאָפֿישער שטיין (Harry Potter un der filosofisher shteyn), was published by Olniansky Tekst in 2020 and immediately sold out its first print run. A second printing has since sold out as well. A third printing is planned but delayed due to COVID-19. The publisher web site for information and future purchases is here: https://harrypotter.olniansky.com

Arun “Arele” Schaechter Viswanath is the grandson of the prominent Yiddish linguist and professor Dr. Mordkhe Schaechter. He grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey, in a Yiddish- and Tamil-speaking home. He has stated that his desire to translate Harry Potter grew from a strong feeling that a translation of such a popular children’s novel into Yiddish would be a boon and a resource for Yiddish students and teachers, Yiddish-speaking children and parents, and the Yiddish world more broadly. Arun lived for a time in the Boston area as a Harvard undergrad majoring in linguistics, and he now resides in New York and works in high tech as an operations strategist and data analyst.

Viswanath was interviewed by regular Yiddish Voice contributor Lillian ("Leah") Shporer-Leavitt, who prepared by reading the entire Yiddish translation, having already read every Harry Potter book in the series with her children. Leavitt, a daughter of Shoah survivors, grew up speaking Yiddish and graduated from the Boston Workmen's Circle Yiddish Shule. A former computer business analyst and software trainer, she is an experienced Yiddish teacher and translator, having taught at the Workmen's Circle, Gann Academy of Greater Boston, Boston University Hillel, and Brandeis University. In addition, she has subtitled Yiddish films for the National Center for Jewish Film and translated Yizkor (memorial) books for the Jewish Genealogical Society.

Excerpts of Harry Potter in Yiddish! (and English) In addition to short readings by Arele Viswanath during the interview, the show presented excerpts of his longer reading of the entire first chapter of this book. The full recording has been produced and made available by the League for Yiddish (ייִד׳יש-ליגע), who received the blessing and permission of author JK Rowling's organization as well as the publisher Olniansky Tekst. The recording is the first in the new League for Yiddish series of audio recordings called געהערט אַ מעשׂה / Have you heard. Our thanks to Arele and the League for Yiddish for letting us use these excerpts on our show. We also played a brief excerpt of Daniel Radcliffe's recent reading the original English version of the same text, available on web here: https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-the-boy-who-lived

Music:
Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone movie soundtrack (short excerpts), composed and conducted by John Williams

Intro instrumental music: ...

Esti Shnek, Michoel Felsenbaum, Miriam Trinh: 72nd Yom Haatzmaut Amid COVID-19

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 01:49:30 +0000

Thanks to tonight's wonderful guests! They were all recorded on Wed Apr 29 2020, during the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, during the day of Yom Haatzmaut in USA and Motzei (night after) Yom Haatzmaut in Israel.

יום העצמאות בשעת דער מגפֿה Yom Haatzmaut Amid COVID-19:

Esti (Jahr) Shnek - a Holocaust survivor living in Haifa, originally from Jasina, Czechoslovakia. In the interview Esti recounts that around this day 75 years ago she was in a subcamp of Dachau, and a few days later was finally liberated on May 1, 1945 by American soldiers.

Miriam Trinh - the new Editor of "Afn Shvel", the journal of the League for Yiddish, teacher of Yiddish through numerous institutions, including Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and founder and director of "YO - Yiddish-Ort", the new Yiddish cultural organization in Israel, which is preparing to teach an international Yiddish summer course through Zoom this summer of 2020.

Michoel Felsenbaum - editor of the Yiddish literary journal Yidishland, cohost of the national Israeli Yiddish radio broadcast, and writer, including for the Yiddish Forverts. See also: Facebook public group page for "ישׂראלדיק ראַדיאָ אױף ייִדיש - רדיו ישראלי ביידיש - Israeli radio in Yiddish - Израильское радио на идиш" - https://www.facebook.com/groups/181106619326190/ See also Yidishland subscriptions through Olniansky: http://olniansky.com/store/yidishland-subscription/

Historian, and regular Yiddish Voice cohost, Sholem Beinfeld interviewed Felsenbaum and Trinh.

Music:

Barry Sisters: Exodus

Dovid Esheth: Yerusholayim, Shtot fun Gold (music Naomi Shemer, origin Hebrew lyrics Naomi Shemer, Yiddish translation Dovid Esheth)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: April 29, 2020

Yom HaShoah: Zoli Langer (new), Rokhl Zicherman (repeat)

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 12:26:27 +0000

To mark this year's Yom HaShoah and the 75th anniversary since liberation we hear from two survivors:

Zoli Langer, who lives in Los Angeles, was born in 1927 in Minai, a village near the small town of Užhorod, Czechoslovakia, (now Ukraine). He, his parents, and 5 siblings were deported to Auschwitz in the spring of 1944. He was the only one to survive. He describes his life before and during the war and ultimately his liberation in April 1945, 75 years ago this month. Recorded November, 2019.

Rokhl Zicherman lives in Los Angeles and is an Auschwitz survivor from Carpathian Czechoslovakia. She loves to sing with her two sisters who don't live very close, but they often talk by phone. Here she sings In Auschwitzer Lager, describing a fate common to many the many teenagers from this region who were deported to Auschwitz in 1944: being separated from their mothers who were killed at Auschwitz, often due to holding on to younger children of theirs. She also sings a Holocaust 'Dem Milners Trern', a Holocaust version of the song Dem Milner's Trern, written by Mark Varshavski around the turn of the 20th century. Recorded in January 2019. Originally aired May 1, 2019.

Music:

Shimon Yisraeli: Zog Nit Keyn Mol (lyrics: Hirsch Glick)

Rokhl Zicherman: In Auschwitzer Lager, Holocaust 'Dem Milners Trern' (Singer is a Carpathian Auschwitz survivor. This is a Yiddish Voice exclusive recording.)

Emma Lazaroff Schaver and Chorus: Zog Nit Keyn Mol (lyrics: Shmerke Kaczerginski)

Dudu Fisher: Vu Ahin Zol Ikh Geyn (lyrics: Igor S. Korntayer)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: April 22, 2020

Shvii and Acharon Shal Pesach - Amid COVID-19

The Yiddish Voice — Wed, 15 Apr 2020 23:44:25 +0000

Happy Passover and thanks to friends, participants, and sponsors of this show:

Israel Book Shop https://www.israelbookshop.com/ (Eli Dovek recorded Mar 28 2007)

The Butcherie https://www.butcherie.com/ (Max Gelerman ז״ל recorded Mar 28 2007)

Cheryl Ann's Bakery http://cherylannsbakery.com/

Friends and Sponsors of the Show

Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath wishes a happy Pesach and tells of the wonderful work being done by League for Yiddish http://leagueforyiddish.org/, including their new online English-Yiddish dictionary https://englishyiddishdictionary.com (recorded Apr 7 2020)

Hy Wolfe gives us an "ear-witness" account of the daily 7 PM cheering for the health workers from NYC apartment and then, half to the tune of Dayenu, promos our show and wishes the listeners a happy Pesach on behalf of CYCO Books http://www.cycobooks.org/ and Hebrew Actors' Foundation http://hebrewactorsfoundation.org; see also http://www.hywolfe.com (recorded Apr 7 2020)

Yiddish Voice Participants - Regular Contributors, Cohosts, Writers

Leah Shporer-Leavitt, Boston (recorded Apr 1 2020)

Sholem Beinfeld, Boston (recorded Apr 1 2020)

Dovid Braun, New York (recorded Apr 1 2020)

Holocaust Survivors

Izzy Arbeiter, Boston, for AAJHS of Greater Boston http://www.generationsafterboston.org/ (recorded Mar 30 2020)

Note: Virtual Yom HaShoah Remembrance and Reflection - Sunday, April 19th, 2020 at 2pm - Registration by April 17th is required. Go to http://jcrcboston.org to register by Apr 17 2020.

Motl Murstein, Boston (recorded Mar 25 2020)

Gitu Cycowicz, Jerusalem (recorded Apr 1 2020)

David (Dovid) Lenga, Los Angeles (recorded Apr 7 2020)

In Memoriam:

Khasye Segal ז״ל (recordings from 2006)

Iosif Lakhman ז״ל (recording from 2010)

Music:

For Pesach:

Malavsky Family: Fir Kashes - Peysakh

Pripetshik Singers: Mu Asapru

Barry Sisters: Passover Medley

Moyshe Oisher: Kiddush for Pesach and Dayenu

For Yom HaShoah:

Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman: Mayn Khaverte Mintsye

Khane Cooper: Shtiler, Shtiler

Cantor Sholom Katz: Kel Moleh Rachamim

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Pesach Amid COVID-19

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 01:04:31 +0000

Happy Passover! א כשרן און געזונטן פסח!

Happy Passover and thanks to friends, participants, and sponsors of this show:
Israel Book Shop https://www.israelbookshop.com/ (Eli Dovek recorded Mar 28 2007)

The Butcherie https://www.butcherie.com/ (Max Gelerman ז״ל recorded Mar 28 2007)

Cheryl Ann's Bakery http://cherylannsbakery.com/

League for Yiddish http://leagueforyiddish.org/ (Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath recorded Apr 7 2020)

CYCO Books http://www.cycobooks.org/ (Hy Wolfe recorded Apr 7 2020)

AAJHS of Greater Boston http://www.generationsafterboston.org/ (Izzy Arbeiter recorded Mar 30 2020)

Motl Murstein, Boston (recorded Mar 25 2020)

Leah Shporer-Leavitt, Boston (recorded Apr 1 2020)

Sholem Beinfeld, Boston (recorded Apr 1 2020)

David (Dovid) Lenga, Los Angeles (recorded Apr 7 2020)

Gitu Cycowicz, Jerusalem (recorded Apr 1 2020)

Dovid Braun, New York (recorded Apr 1 2020)

Khasye Segal ז״ל (recordings from 2006 and 1991)

Iosif Lakhman ז״ל (recording from 2010)

Myer Loketch ז״ל (recording from 2008)

Presentations for Pesach (excerpts) by: Myer Loketch ז״ל and Khasye Segal ז״ל

Music:
Malavsky Family: Ho Lakhmo Anyo and Fir Kashes - Peysakh

Pripetshik Singers: Mu Asapru

Barry Sisters: Passover Medley

Moyshe Oisher: Kiddush for Pesach and Dayenu

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: April 8, 2020

Full Interview – COVID-19 with Jake Turx, Yosef Rapaport BONUS PODCAST

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 02:09:45 +0000

COVID-19: a roundtable discussion of the novel coronavirus, aka "Covid-19", with special guests Jake Turx, @JakeTurx on Twitter and Whitehouse correspondent for Ami Magazine (http://www.amimagazine.org); and Yosef Rapaport, @YosefRapaport on Twitter and commentator for hotline broadcaster Kol Mevaser (http://Yiddish24.com).

Recorded in the late afternoon of Weds. Apr 1 2020, just before the live broadcast.

Note: a shortened version of this appeared in the first quarter-hour of the broadcast; this bonus podcast contains the full interview. Joining in the full interview is regular co-host Sholem Beinfeld, Co-Chief Editor of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary and Professor of History, Emeritus, at Washington University, and Mark (Meyer) David, host and producer of The Yiddish Voice.

Air Date: April 1, 2020 (Partial)

COVID-19 with Jake Turx, Yosef Rapaport; and Eli Rosen, 'Unorthodox' Yiddish Actor & Consultant

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 01:42:01 +0000

Happy Passover! א כשרן און געזונטן פסח! Hear ads/greetings from our sponsors Israel Book Shop, The Butcherie, Cheryl Ann's Bakery -- Thanks to our sponsors! And hear from friends of the show, both near and far, Izzy Arbeiter, Motl Murstein, Leye (Shporrer) Leavitt, Sholem Beinfeld, Gitu Cycowicz (Israel), and Dovid Braun

We present discussions on two timely topics, all in Yiddish:

(1) COVID-19: a roundtable discussion of the novel coronavirus, aka "Covid-19", with special guests Jake Turx, @JakeTurx on Twitter and Whitehouse correspondent for Ami Magazine (http://www.amimagazine.org); and Yosef Rapaport, @YosefRapaport on Twitter and commentator for hotline broadcaster Kol Mevaser (http://Yiddish24.com).

Recorded in the late afternoon of Weds. Apr 1 2020, just before the live broadcast.

Note: this has been shortened for time for the broadcast; full interview will be made available presently as a bonus podcast. Joining in the full interview is regular co-host Sholem Beinfeld, Co-Chief Editor of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary and Professor of History, Emeritus, at Washington University, and Mark (Meyer) David, host and producer of The Yiddish Voice.

(2) Eli Rosen, actor (in the role of the Rebbe) as well as Yiddish translator, coach, and cultural consultant for the new Netflix miniseries Unorthodox, which deals with life in a NY Chassidic community, and features dialog mostly in Yiddish by an international cast of actors, mostly non-Yiddish speaking -- it's coming out released this week on Netflix! Info: Eli Rosen: http://elirosen.net/ Unorthodox: https://www.netflix.com/title/81019069

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Incidental Music: Malavsky Family, Pesach Music: Ho Lakhmo Anyo and Fir Kashes

Air Date: April 1, 2020

COVID-19 with Avremi Zaks; Author: Elissa Bemporad (cont.); Eli Rosen, Unorthodox's Yiddish Consultant

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 17:54:25 +0000

We present discussions on three timely topics, all in Yiddish:

(1) COVID-19: a roundtable discussion of the novel coronavirus, aka "Covid-19", with special guests Avremi Zaks, the host and producer of the Israeli Yiddish radio show Kan Yiddish (info on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/181106619326190/)

Joining in the discussion is regular co-host Sholem Beinfeld, Co-Chief Editor of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary and Professor of History, Emeritus, at Washington University, and Mark (Meyer) David, host and producer of The Yiddish Voice.

We also get a special report on COVID-19 from Alex Dafner, Yiddish presenter for Australia's SBS Hebrew and Kadimah radio shows.

(2) (Continuation from last week:) LEGACY OF BLOOD: Elissa Bemporad, author of the new book Legacy of Blood: Jews, Pogroms, and Ritual Murder in the Lands of the Soviets (Oxford University Press, 2019), is interviewed by Sholem Beinfeld. This is the first half of a 2-part interview, and begins at approximately the midpoint of the show. Elissa Bemporad is the Jerry and William Ungar Chair in East European Jewish History and the Holocaust and an associate professor of history at Queens College and The Graduate Center - CUNY. Her previous book, Becoming Soviet Jews: The Bolshevik Experiment in Minsk (Indiana University Press, 2013), was the winner of the National Jewish Book Award and the Fraenkel Prize in Contemporary History. (Publisher info: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/legacy-of-blood-9780190466459)

(3) Eli Rosen, actor (in the role of the Rebbe) as well as Yiddish translator, coach, and cultural consultant for the new Netflix miniseries Unorthodox, which deals with life in a NY Chassidic community, and features dialog mostly in Yiddish by an international cast of actors, mostly non-Yiddish speaking -- it's coming out released this week on Netflix! Info: Eli Rosen: http://elirosen.net/ Unorthodox: https://www.netflix.com/title/81019069 (NOTE: this is a preview excerpt of a longer interview to be aired in a future program.)

Greetings for Pesach: thanks to Motl Murstein of Brookline, MA, who recorded his bagrisung for Pesach, with a wish for the end of this mageyfe; and, from our archive: the late Max Gelerman of our sponsor The Butcherie in Brookline. Wishing you a kosher Pesach - Good Yontev! אַ כּשר׳ן פּסח!

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Outro instrumental music: Itzhak Perlman, Dov Seltzer, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra: Afn Veg Shteyt A Boym

Air Date: March 25, 2020

COVID-19 with Berger, Schaechter; Plus: Author: Elissa Bemporad

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 05:09:17 +0000

We present discussions of two important and interesting topics, all in Yiddish:

(1) COVID-19: a live roundtable discussion of the novel coronavirus, aka "Covid-19", featuring special guests:

Dr. Zackary (Sholem) Berger, who teaches at Johns Hopkins medical school, is an active primary care doctor in the Baltimore area, and is the author of Talking to Your Doctor: A Patient's Guide to Communication in the Exam Room and Beyond; and

Rukhl Schaechter, editor of the Forverts (Yiddish Forward) newspaper, which is providing extensive coverage of the coronavirus, especially in the Jewish community, on a daily basis.

Joining in the discussion is regular co-host Sholem Beinfeld, Professor of History, Emeritus, at Washington University, and Mark (Meyer) David, host and producer of the program.

(2) LEGACY OF BLOOD: Elissa Bemporad, author of the new book Legacy of Blood: Jews, Pogroms, and Ritual Murder in the Lands of the Soviets (Oxford University Press, 2019), is interviewed by Sholem Beinfeld. This is the first half of a 2-part interview, and begins at approximately the midpoint of the show. Elissa Bemporad is the Jerry and William Ungar Chair in East European Jewish History and the Holocaust and an associate professor of history at Queens College and The Graduate Center - CUNY. Her previous book, Becoming Soviet Jews: The Bolshevik Experiment in Minsk (Indiana University Press, 2013), was the winner of the National Jewish Book Award and the Fraenkel Prize in Contemporary History.

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Outro instrumental music: Itzhak Perlman, Dov Seltzer, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra: Afn Veg Shteyt A Boym

Air Date: March 18, 2020

Purim - Best of, with Hollender, Friedman, Wex, Lebovits, Post, Glasser

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 06 Mar 2020 22:42:51 +0000

Happy Purim!

אַ פֿריילעכן פּורים!

Highlights from past Yiddish Voice shows for Purim:

Moyshe Hollender ע׳׳ה - sings Kiddush far Purim (recorded and first aired 2016)

Martele Friedman צו לאַנגע יאָר singsTomer Her Ikh Muzik Shpiln, with words and music by a member of the singer's family (recorded and first aired 2020)

Michael Wex interviews for Purim from 2014 and 2019 - well-known educator, author, and entertainer. Info: http://michaelwex.com/

Yoely Lebovits - interview for Purim from 2014 - well-known Jewish humorist and entertainer. Info: http://badchen.com

Leahke Post ע׳׳ה, accompanied by Rubin Ossofsky - Purim - recording date unknown, but believed circa 1930's. Thanks to her son Henry Carrey for supplying the recording.

Hershl Glasser - interview for Purim from 2014 - Forverts columnist and former Dean of the Max Weinreich Center at YIVO

Other music:
Binah Landau: Purim Lid

Malavsky Family Shoshanas Yakov

Perl Teytlboym + Henry Carrey: Purim Lid (words and music by Beyle Shaechter-Gottesman)

Ruth Rubin: Hop Mayne Homentashn

Kapelye: Gut Purim

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: March 4, 2020

Benny Mer, Kolya Borodulin

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 17:09:29 +0000

Today's guests:

Benny Mer, author of recent book, written in Hebrew, Smocza: A Biography of a Jewish Street in Warsaw (סמוצ׳ה: ביאגרפיה של רחוב יהודי בוורשה, בני מר https://www.magnespress.co.il/en/book/Smocza-4170)

Kolya Borodulin, Director of Yiddish Programming at Workers Circle (https://circle.org/what-we-do/yiddish-language/), 2020 Spring Yiddish Classes starting soon -- info: https://theworkerscircle.salsalabs.org/nonmemberyiddishregistrationspring2020/index.html

Both interviews are by Sholem Beinfeld, co-chief-editor of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary.

Music excerpts:
Chava Alberstein: Mayn Shvester Khaye (My Sister Khaye) (Words and music by Binem Heller)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: February 12, 2020

Auschwitz 75: Martele Friedman, Dovid Lenga, Izzy Arbeiter

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 05:45:28 +0000

This week we observe Holocaust Rememberance Day as well as the 75-year anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, by hearing from three survivors of Auschwitz.
Historian and Yiddish Voice cohost Sholem Beinfeld provides introductory remarks with a brief historical overview.

Margaret (Martele) Friedman, originally from Groys-Kinyat (גרויס-קיניאַט), now Великі Ком'яти (Velyki Kom'yaty), Ukraine, who was deported to Auschwitz with her family from the Munkacs (Hungary) ghetto in spring 1944, sings lovely Yiddish songs that she learned as a child before the Holocaust.

Izzy (Yisroyl) Arbeiter, originally from Plotsk (פּלאָטסק), now Płock, Poland, a survivor of Auschwitz and past president and cofounder of the American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors of Greater Boston, talks about his survival and liberation (interviewed by Iosif Lakhman ע״ה for and originally broadcast by The Yiddish Voice in 2005).

David (Dovid) Lenga, originally from Łódź, Poland (לאָדזש), who survived ghettos around Lodz, as well as Auschwitz, talks about his survival as well as his upcoming trip from Los Angeles to Poland, with over 200 former Auschwitz prisoners and Holocaust survivors, to attend the Auschwitz Memorial during the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, where they will sit in the first rows inside a tent that will be built over the historical gate of the former Auschwitz II-Birkenau camp

Music:
The following sung by Martele Friedman, recorded by Yiddish Voice on Jan 1 2020:

Vi Nemt Men (Words and music by Ben-Tsion Whittler)

Lib Hobn un Tsuzogn (On the 78 it's credited to Morris Rund and Aaron Lebedoff (Lebedoff is most likely the lyricist))

Az Ikh Bin a Kabtsn (We would like to know: lyricist?, composer?)

Fraytik Tse Nakhts (Composed by Shuli Hollender, Martele's first cousin, who died right after the liberation.)

Harey At (We would like to know: lyricist?, composer?)

Af Dem Pripetshok (Oyfn Pripetchik) (Words and music by Mark Warshawsky)

Es Brent (Words and music by Mordkhe Gebirtig)

Tomer Her Ikh Muzik Shpiln (Words and music by a member of the singer's family)

Intro and Outro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: January 22, 2020

Avrom Sutzkever's 10th Yahrtzeit with Beinfeld & Fein; Christa Whitney on Beyle Film

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 16 Jan 2020 19:41:19 +0000

In honor of Avrom Sutzkever's 10th Yahrtzeit: Richard Fein and Sholem Beinfeld read from and discuss the book The Full Pomegranate: Poems of Avrom Sutzkever (SUNY Press, 2019), which presents Sutzkever's poems with Fein's English translations.
Remarks on Sutzkever's 10th Yortsayt by Beinfeld

Interview with Fein about his book. (Previously aired on the Yiddish Voice in September 2019)

Readings of Sutzkever's poems in English translation and Yiddish original by Fein and Beinfeld (recorded at their reading at Harvard Hillel in September 2019)

Interview with Beinfeld about Fein's book. (Previously aired on the Yiddish Voice in September 2019)

From our archive: Rivka Basman Ben-Hayim: remarks for Sutzkever's Shloyshim (previously aired on the Yiddish Voice in February 2010). Basman Ben-Hayim is a world-renowned Yiddish poet living in Israel but originally from Vilkomir (Lithuania) who was a good friend of Sutzkever's. Info: https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/basman-ben-hayim-rivka

Chista Whitney is interviewed about her film Beyle: The Artist and Her Legacy about the life of Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman. The film was recently completed and is now being screened around the world. Info: https://www.yiddishbookcenter.org/language-literature-culture/wexler-oral-history-project-presents/beyle-artist-and-her-legacy-film Christa Whitney is director of the The Yiddish Book Center's Wexler Oral History Project. Info: https://www.yiddishbookcenter.org/tellyourstory

Dovid Braun talks about the upcoming program in memory of Peysakh Fishman at the Sholem Aleichem Culture Center (Bronx, NY). Info: https://www.facebook.com/pg/Sholem-Aleichem-Cultural-Center-Bronx-238579126233379/events/

Air Date: January 15, 2020

Rav Moshe Kesselman - Hanukkah

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 26 Dec 2019 07:02:13 +0000

Happy Hanukkah!אַ פֿריילעכן ליכטיקן חנוכּה

Interview with Rav Moshe Kesselman, rabbi of Congregation Shaarei Tefila in Los Angeles.

From our archive: חנוכּה greetings from current Yiddish Voice participants and supporters, tsu lange yor, Dovid Braun, Sholem Beinfeld, and Motl Murstein; and, in their memory from our dearly missed late participants: cohost and cofounder Hasia Segal ז״ל; cohost Iosif Lakhman ז״ל; and frequent contributor Rav Myer Loketch ז״ל.

Excerpt from beginning of the radio show "Der Freylekher Kabtsen", with host Ben Gailing, originally aired Aug 18 1993.

Music excerpts:
Moishe Oysher: Drei Dreidele - Spin the Dreidle

Klezmer Conservatory Band (soloist: Judy Bressler): Chanuka, Oy Chanuka

c, soloist, accompanied by Hankus Netsky: Khanike (from the Ben Gailing o"h 120th birthday tribute in Waltham, MA, in December 2018)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: December 25, 2019

Motl Didner, Berish Goldstein

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 02:00:57 +0000

Interview with Motl Didner, Artistic Director of the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene, Director of The Sorceress (די כּישוף־מאַכערין), and Associate Director and Dialect Coach for the smash-hit production of Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish (פֿידלער אויפֿן דאַך).

As Yiddish coach for Fiddler, Didner was the main person responsible for training the mostly non-Yiddish-speaking cast to mount the USA's first-ever Yiddish-language production of Fiddler on the Roof, resulting in a smash hit (winner of Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Lucille Lortel awards) that is still running off-Broadway at Stage42 (info: https://fiddlernyc.com).

The Sorceress (Di Kishef-Makherin), which is being presented by the Folksbiene for a limited run in Yiddish with English and Russian subtitles, is an operetta written by Avrom Goldfadden, considered the father of modern Jewish theatre, in 1878. It is one of the earliest works of Yiddish theater and the first formal Yiddish theatrical production introduced in America by the celebrated Thomashefsky family. It's being performed through Dec 29 2019 at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in Lower Manhattan -- info here: https://nytf.org/the-sorceress

Interview with Barry Goldstein, whose Yiddish translations of The Wind in the Willows (די װינט אין די װערבעס) and The Colour of Magic (דער קאָליר פֿון כּישוף) were recently published.

Goldstein is active in the Yiddish literary scene, both at home in Boston and internationally: besides his translations, Goldstein was Associate Editor of the very highly regarded Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary (Indiana University Press, 2013), and his Yiddish writing has appeared in the Yiddish literary journal Yidishland (ייִדישלאַנד), as well as others, in recent years. For info and links to all of Goldstein's translations, visit his web site: https://bgoldstein.org/

Goldstein's interview is by Sholem Beinfeld, a regular contributor to the Yiddish Voice, co-Editor in Chief of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary, and Professor of History, Emeritus, Washington University, St. Louis. Dr. Beinfeld served as principal consultant on the film Partisans of Vilna (credited as Solon Beinfeld). He was senior consultant and historian to the Kovno Ghetto Exhibition project of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and consultant to the Museum on the Ghetto archive holdings in the Lithuanian State Archives in Vilnius.

Music excerpts:
Orchestra conducted by Zalmen Mlotek (soloists: Stephanie Lynne Mason, Racheel Zatcoff, Rosie Jo Neddy): Shadkhnte, Shadkhnte (Matchmaker, Matchmaker), from the CD Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish: The 2018 Cast Recording

Klezmer Conservatory Band (soloist: Judy Bressler): Chanuka, Oy Chanuka

Moishe Oysher: Drei Dreidele - Spin the Dreidle

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: December 25, 2019

Josh Waletzky, Dovid Braun on Yiddish New York; Meet Harry Schneider, a Child Holocaust Survivor

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 02:47:10 +0000

Yiddish New York preliminary events start this week, and our first two guests are here to talk about it!

Josh Waletzky is on the organizing committee of Yiddish New York and is leading many sessions. He is a leading contemporary Yiddish songwriter and an award-winning documentary filmmaker. He co-produced the Grammy-nominated album of Jewish songs of resistance, Partisans of Vilna (1989), and performed his own Yiddish song compositions on his albums Crossing the Shadows (2001), and PASAZHIRN / Passengers (2017). His notable film credits include director of Image Before My Eyes (1981), Partisans of Vilna (1986), and Yonia Fain: With Pen and Paintbrush (2017), and editor of the Emmy Award-winning documentary Itzhak Perlman: In the Fiddler’s House (1995).

Dovid Braun, specialist in Yiddish language and linguistics, is a regular participant in Yiddish New York’s language and folklore offerings. He is currently Academic Director of the intensive U. Weinreich Summer Program in Yiddish Language, Literature and Culture of the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research. He is teaching Yiddish at Columbia University and previously taught at Harvard, U. of Penn., Hebrew U. of Jerusalem, and elsewhere. A long-time regular contributor to the Yiddish Voice radio show, he also serves as Co-President of the Sholem Aleichem Cultural Center (Bronx).

Harry (Hershl) Schneider, a resident of Squirrel Hill (Pittsburgh), PA, born in Lomzhe, Poland, in 1937, talks about his childhood in Poland and Russia during the Second World War, and also a bit about his Pittsburgh Jewish community. (Recorded in West Palm Beach, FL, at the 2018 conference of the World Federation of Jewish Child Survivors of the Holocaust & Descendants.)

Nechama Netali-Gonen

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 05:03:06 +0000

Nechama Netali-Gonen talks about her childhood, first as a happy child in the city of Khelm (Chełm in Polish), and then about her family's perilous survival and escape from the Holocaust in Poland, and their eventual settlement in wartime Soviet Union. (Recorded in West Palm Beach, FL, at the 2018 conference of the World Federation of Jewish Child Survivors of the Holocaust & Descendants.)

Israeli Yiddish radio hosts Michael Felsenbaum and Avremi Zak discuss current events in Israel and around the world. Thanks to them and to Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation's Kann Yiddish for this abridged segment, which was aired in its entirety earlier today on the radio in Israel and on Facebook Live (archived video: https://www.facebook.com/yiddish.kolisrael/videos/565356737580295/)

We aired the following PSA near the very beginning of the show:

אַ מעלדונג פֿון אַרבערטער-רינג אין באָסטאָן:

טײַערע צוהערערס,

זײַט אַזוי גוט און קומט צום ערשטן ״קאַפֿע ייִדישקייט״, אַ נײַער ייִדישער קאַבאַרעט וואָס ברענגט צונויף אַ גרויסע גרופּע קינסטלערס פֿון דער באָסטאָנער סבֿיבֿה, צווישן זיי די באַרימטע שטערן פֿון דער ייִדישער מוזיק סצענע, ווי אַנטאָני מרדכי צבֿי ראָסעל, דזשודי ברעסלער, און שפּילערס פֿון

Ezekiel's Wheels Klezmer Band.

דערצו וועט מען האָבן אַ שיינע קאַוועהויז קאַפּעליע וואָס וועט שפּילן אַן אָפּקלײַב פֿון פֿריילעכע לידער און טאַנץ־מוזיק.

דער קאַבאַרעט קומט פֿאָר דעם 11טן דעצעמבער, 7 אַ זייגער, אין דער באָסטאָנער שיל, אָדער

Boston Synagogue

55 Martha Road

באָסטאָן

נאָך ווײַטערדיקע פּרטים קען מען זיך ווענדן צום וועבזײַטל פֿון אַרבערעטער-רינג:

circleboston.org -> programs -> Yiddishkayt -> Yiddish Events

Café Yiddishkayt

Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019 7:00 pm

קומט זיך צוהערן, און ברענגט אײַערע טאַנץ־שיך!

Music
Klezmer Conservatory Band (soloist: Judy Bressler): Chanuka, Oy Chanuka

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: December 4, 2019

Dovid Katz , Esther Kampler

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 14 Nov 2019 04:08:31 +0000

Dovid Katz talks about the Ukraine scandal from a Jewish and human rights perspective. Katz edits the web journal Defending History (www.DefendingHistory.com), which counters the Eastern European movement to obfuscate, without denying, the Holocaust. An internationally renowned expert on Yiddish, he is now working on a new online Yiddish dictionary (www.YiddishCulturalDictionary.org). His personal website: www.DovidKatz.net

Esther Kampler is a Holocaust survivor originally from Czernowitz, Romania (today's Chernivtsi, Ukraine), who now lives in Brookline, Mass. We got to hear a bit about her younger years before and after the Holocaust, which claimed the lives of her parents and a brother.

From our archive, previously aired October 18, 2017: Christa Whitney interviewed by Dovid Braun about the film Beyle, about the life of Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman, the late Yiddish activist, poet, and artist.

Announcement: the film Beyle will be shown this Sunday, Nov 7, 2019, at 4:00 PM at Workmen's Circle in Brookline, with Christa Whitney at reception/talk-back following the screening. Info: http://www.circleboston.org/calendar/beyle-film-screening

Announcement: Hankus Netsky and Eden Macadem-Somer will appear in a concert of Yiddish and Klezmer music Sunday, Nov 7, 2019, at 3 PM at All Newton Music School, 321 Chestnut St., West Newton, MA. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased in advance at the following link: https://www.allnewton.org/tickets/klezmer MA 02465

Music
Lillian Lux: Yiddishe Mama

Hankus Netsky and Eden MacAdam Somer: Vu Bistu Geven and Uncle Shloyme's Improvisation (on "Pfiyoys" from the Second Day of Rosh Hashono Musaf Amidah)/Hollender Friday Night Tune (Klezmer instrumental)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: November 13, 2019

Best of Succos: Itzchak Kin, Myer Loketch z"l, Miriam Libenson z"l (Repeat)

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 12:38:31 +0000

NOTE: essentially a repeat of Oct. 4, 2017, and Oct 11, 2017, with host intro by host Mark David and Cafe Europa event notice by Tania Leffman. For additional Cafe Europa info:

Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Boston Waltham, Massachusetts Telephone: (781) 647-5327 Email: RZelfand@jfcsboston.org Website: https://www.jfcsboston.org/Our-Services/Older-Adults

Gut Yontef, Gut Yor! גוט יום-טובֿ, גוט יאָר

We thank those who have pledged or made financial contributions to the Yiddish Voice during the past year (2016-17).

We recall the names of Yiddish Voice friends, supporters, and participants who died during the past year.

Rav Itzchak Kin: a few questions about Succos. (Excerpt repeated from last week.)

Rav Myer Loketch: Succos: Di 4 Minim (The 4 Species) (Repeated from 2007.)

Miriam Libenson z"l: Succos and Simchas Torah (Repeated from the early 1990's)

Music: Suki Berry, et al: A Sukele; Mordche Kershman: Fun Geshem Kayn Gelt Iz Nito; Itzhak Perlman and the Klezmatics: Simkhes Toyre Time; Malavsky Family: Hoshano

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS from Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Additional background/incidental music: Cantor Gershon Sirota: "Keil Moleh Rachamim" ("God full of compassion", remembrance prayer for the departed)

Air Date: October 9, 2019

Best of Rosh Hashonah and Yom Kippur

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 04 Oct 2019 22:16:57 +0000

A High Holidays mix of recent and past audio highlights. Enjoy!

Holocaust survivor Motl Murstein gives this year's New Year's greetings and sings a Yiddish song, Afn Pripetshik. Recorded at Murstein's Brookline home on Sept 18, 2019, and previously aired the same day.

Archive: Eli Dovek, proprietor of Israel Book Shop: new year wishes (from 2009)

Archive: the late Max Gelerman ז"ל, proprietor of The Butcherie: new year wishes (from 2005)

Holocaust survivor Tania Lefman announces upcoming Greater Boston-area Holocaust survivor events. Anna was recorded during the Sept 18, 2019, broadcast speaking by phone live from Wellesley, MA.

Archive: frequent Yiddish Voice contributor Dovid Braun: new year wishes (from 2004)

Archive: late cohost of the Yiddish Voice, *Iosif Lakhman ז"ל: new year wishes (from 2007)

Archive: late cofounder and cohost of the Yiddish Voice, Hasia Segal ז"ל: new year wishes (from 2007)

Archive: late shamus and bal-tefila of Lynn and Beverly, MA, Avrom Cohen ז"ל: chants Rosh Hashonah/Yom Kippur tefilas and talks about his life and about being a bal tefila (from 1997)

Archive: late Yiddish scholoar Mordkhe Schaechter ז"ל: discusses Yiddish-language ideoms and greetings tied to holidays Rosh Hashonah, Yom Kippur, and Succos (from 1997)

Archive: late chairman of the Yiddish Culture Club in Boston, Zalmen Srebro ז"ל: new year wishes (from 2003)

Yiddish Voice cohost Sholem Beinfeld: new year wishes (from 2011)

Music
Leibele Waldman: Der Nyer Yohr

Shmuel Malavsky and Family: Unesanneh Tokef (Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur Musaf)

Mordechai Hershman: Ovinu Malkeynu (Yiddish)

Sholom Katz: Kol Nidrei

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Ads/Greetings: Israel Book Shop, The Butcherie, Cheryl Ann's Bakery -- Thanks to our sponsors!

Air date: October 2, 2019

Leye Shporer-Leavitt, Motl Murstein, Tanya Lefman, Anna and Izzy Arbeiter

The Yiddish Voice — Wed, 25 Sep 2019 22:36:02 +0000

Leye Shporer-Leavitt joins regular host Mark David live in studio at WUNR in Boston.

Holocaust survivor Motl Murstein gives New Year's greetings and sings a Yiddish song, Afn Pripetshik. Recorded at Murstein's Brookline home earlier the same day.

Holocaust survivor Tania Lefman talks with Leye about Boston survivor community, past and present, and about upcoming events. Anna was speaking by phone live from Wellesley, MA.

Holocaust survivors Anna Arbeiter and her husband Izzy Arbeiter talked about how they met during the Holocaust. Recorded at the Arbeiters' home in Newton earlier the same day.

Music
Leibele Waldman: Der Nyer Yohr

Shmuel Malavsky and Family: B'Rosh Hashonah"

Barbra Streisand: Avinu Malkeinu

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: September 18, 2019

Anna Rozenfeld, Shoshke-Rayzl Juni

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 23:56:46 +0000

Anna Rozenfeld talks about Polish Yiddish radio and discusses Celia Dropkin and reads some of her Yiddish poetry. Rozenfeld is an artist, an independent researcher, and a teacher and translator of Yiddish, as well as a former Yiddish radio journalist and presenter. Until 2012 she hosted the Yiddish radio program Naye Khvalyes, broadcast by Polish Radio External Service. In the mid-2010's, she presented her own research on Yiddish-language programming on Polish radio, 1945-1958. Her translations into Polish of Yiddish poems by Celia Dropkin (1887–1956) appears in the just-published tri-lingual (Yiddish, German, Polish) book Alef-Bejs der Liebe (2019, Arco Verlag). Publisher info here: http://www.arco-verlag.com/buecher/titel/97-alef-bejs-der-liebe-alef-bejs-milosci.html Note: in this segment we present an excerpt of a Polish Yiddish radio program courtesy of the Max and Frieda Weinstein Archive of YIVO Sound Recordings.

Shoshke-Rayzl Juni is a Yiddish activist who was living and working in New York City a short distance from the World Trade Center towers on September 11, 2001. In this interview, recorded exactly 18 years later, she describes the experience of seeing the towers collapse before her eyes on September 11, 2001, and reflects on that experience with 18 years' hindsight.

From the archive: Rav Avrohom Marmorstein: a discussion of the High Holidays, and also a little about the rabbi, his background, and about Yiddish. Rav Marmorstein is the director of Mehadrin Kashrus on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. For info: http://www.vaad.org/new-york-manhattan/mehadrin-kashrus/. (Note: shortened, edited version of an interview recorded and first aired on the Yiddish Voice in 2015.)

Music
Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman: Di Balade Funem 11tn September

Leibele Waldman: Der Nyer Yohr

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: September 11, 2019

Richard Fein: The Full Pomegranate: Poems of Avrom Sutzkever

The Yiddish Voice — Wed, 11 Sep 2019 02:34:22 +0000

Author and translator Richard J. Fein (Yiddish name: Ruvn-Yankev), along with his friend, collaborator, and regular Yiddish Voice cohost Sholem Beinfeld, discuss Fein's recently published book The Full Pomegranate: Poems of Avrom Sutzkever (SUNY Press, 2019), which features Sutzkever's poems in their original Yiddish along with Fein's English translations. Fein and Beinfeld also present three short poems from the book in both languages. Avrom Sutzkever (1913–2010) is widely regarded as one of the greatest Yiddish poets of the 20th century. Richard J. Fein is Professor Emeritus of English at the State University of New York at New Paltz and the author, editor, and translator of many books, including With Everything We’ve Got: A Personal Anthology of Yiddish Poetry. Sholem Beinfeld is Professor Emeritus of History at Washington University in St. Louis, and is perhaps best known as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary (Arumnemik Yidish-English Verterbukh), as well as a translator of Yiddish texts and creator of new subtitles for classic Yiddish movies. For further information on Fein's book The Full Pomegranate, see the publisher's web site: http://www.sunypress.edu/p-6690-the-full-pomegranate.aspx

Update from Sara Feldman, Yiddish teacher at Harvard, who was our guest recently (on our Aug 14 2019 broadcast). She talks about her recent arrest at a protest against ICE raids.

From the archive: High Holidays with Miriam Libenson ז״ל, originally recorded and aired in the 1990's.

Music
Theo Bikel: Di Yontevdike Teg

Malavsky Family: Rosh Hashona

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: September 4, 2019

Sara Feldman (New); Fun arkhiv: Iosif Lakhman: 12 Aug 1952

The Yiddish Voice — Tue, 27 Aug 2019 21:44:34 +0000

Interview with Sara Feldman, who is the Preceptor in Yiddish at Harvard University. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in Near Eastern Studies in 2014 and now teaches Yiddish language at Harvard at the beginning, intermediate and advanced levels. The interviewer, Sholem Beinfeld, is Professor Emeritus of History at Washington University in St. Louis, and is Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary (Indiana University Press).

From our archives: 2008 presentation by Iosif Lakhman : 12 August 1952

Music
Mordechai Hershman: V'yo V'yo Ferdelach

Shifra Lehrer: A Shod Mayne Trern

Yakov Sandler: Tango Margarite

Itzhak Perlman, Dov Seltzer, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra: אויפֿן וועג שטייט אַ באום (Afn Veg Shteyt A Boym)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: August 14, 2019

Gilles Rozier: Paris Yiddish Scene

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 05:49:00 +0000

Today's show continues our series of interviews with activists on the Yiddish scene around the Paris Yiddish Center-Medem Library, which began Wednesday June 12 2019. We previously presented interviews with Ri J. (Reyze) Turner and Yitskhok Niborski.

Gilles Rozier was born in France in 1963. He began to learn Yiddish in 1987. From 1994 until 2014 he served as Director of the Paris Yiddish-Center/Medem Library. He wrote his Doctoral Dissertation about the Yiddish writer Moyshe Broderzon. He is also a translator from Yiddish, Hebrew, English, and French. In 2016, he and Anne-Sophe Dreyfus created "Les Editions de l’Antilope", a French-language publisher devoted to Jewish literature, which has now published 20 books, either in translation from Yiddish, Hebrew, English, and Polish, or originally written in French.

The interviews are conducted by Sholem Beinfeld, who is Professor Emeritus of History at Washington University in St. Louis, and is perhaps best known as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary (Arumnemik Yidish-English Verterbukh), as well as a translator of Yiddish texts and creator of new subtitles for classic Yiddish movies. The Dictionary is based on the Yiddish-French Dictionary edited by Yitskhok Niborski and published by the Medem Library/Paris Yiddish Center. Sholem's connection with the Medem Library goes back many decades, beginning with his Fulbright Fellowship in Paris as a graduate student.

See also: Medem Library-Paris Yiddish Center home page: http://www.yiddishweb.com

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: July 24, 2019

Binyumen Schaechter, Motl Murstein, Tanya Lefman, Sosye Fox

The Yiddish Voice — Sun, 18 Aug 2019 15:31:38 +0000

Live show with Binyumen Schaechter, award-winning composer, arranger, conductor, musical director, and performer, live in studio; Motl Murstein (phone interview), holocaust survivor; Tania Lefman (live phone interview), holocaust survivor, and Sosye Fox (phone interview), host and producer of Vaybertaytsh: A Feminist Podcast, in Yiddish. Various topics discussed, including the JPPC, 4th-of-July, and the forthcoming season of Vaybertaytsh.

Yitskhok Niborski: Bonus Podcast 3

The Yiddish Voice — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 18:35:52 +0000

khsidish Yiddish .... and good-byes

Bonus for June 26 2019 broadcast - interview with Yitschok Niborski

Yitskhok Niborski: Bonus Podcast 2

The Yiddish Voice — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 18:33:09 +0000

Yiddish dictionaries

Bonus for June 26 2019 broadcast - interview with Yitschok Niborski

Yitskhok Niborski: Bonus Podcast 1

The Yiddish Voice — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 18:30:46 +0000

Bonus 1 - using computer, especially Google Books, for research

Bonus for June 26 2019 broadcast - interview with Yitschok Niborski

Yitskhok Niborski: Yiddish at Medem, Paris; Leana Jelen: Yidish-Vokh

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 27 Jun 2019 03:31:35 +0000

Yitskhok Niborski was born in Buenos Aires in 1947 and raised in a Yiddishist, secular family. He attended the Yiddish schools that then thrived in Buenos Aires and the Yiddish teachers' training academy (Lerer-Seminar), specializing in Yiddish literature. He moved to Paris in 1979 to take up a position as Director of the Medem Library while also teaching at the prestigious Ecole Nationale des Etudes Orientales. He remained at the head of the Medem Library for over thirty years, helping to turn the Medem Library-Paris Yiddish Center into one of the most active Yiddish institutions in the world. He has devoted his entire adult life to Yiddish education: in elementary schools, in classes for adults, and in universities. He participated in publishing several Yiddish dictionaries and textbooks, nobably the Verterbukh fun Loshn-koydesh Shtamike Verter in Yidish (first edition 1997) and the Dictionnaire Yiddish-Français (Yiddish-French Dictionary) (2002), both published by the Medem Library-Paris Yiddish Center. He has also written and published over twenty poems in Yiddish. See also:
Medem Library-Paris Yiddish Center home page: http://www.yiddishweb.com/

The interviews are conducted by Sholem Beinfeld, who is Professor Emeritus of History at Washington University in St. Louis, and is perhaps best known as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary (Arumnemik Yidish-English Verterbukh), as well as a translator of Yiddish texts and creator of new subtitles for classic Yiddish movies. The Dictionary is based on the Yiddish-French Dictionary edited by Yitskhok Niborski and published by the Medem Library/Paris Yiddish Center. Sholem's connection with the Medem Library goes back many decades, beginning with his Fulbright Fellowship in Paris as a graduate student.

Today's show continues our series of interviews with activists on the Yiddish scene around the Paris Yiddish Center-Medem Library, which began Wednesday June 12 2019 with an interview with Ri J. (Reyze) Turner. Tonight's guest: Yitskhok Niborski

Other interviewees in this series are Ri J. (Reyze) Turner, whose interview was aired on June 12 2019, and Gilles Rozier, whose interview will be aired on an upcoming program, to be announced.

Note: watch for bonus podcast soon: we ran low on time, so not all of Niborski's interview could be aired at this time, so we'll put out the remainder in a bonus podcast.

Also: a talk with Leana Jelen, the Activities Coordinator for Yidish-Vokh, the annual summer Yiddish immersion summer camp organized by Yugntruf - Youth for Yiddish. See also:
Yidish-Vokh: https://yugntruf.org/yvokh/

Music
Leyke Post: Yiddish Redt Zikh Azoy Sheyn (Yiddish Sounds So Beautiful), accompanied by Rubin Ossofsky

Jan Pierce: Mai-Ko-Mashma-Lon

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: June 26, 2019

Sebastian (Zekharye) Shulman

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 04:29:32 +0000

Sebastian (Zekharye) Shulman recently joined KlezKanada, the annual Yiddish summer festival, as Executive Director and is a translator of Yiddish and Esperanto. See also
KlezKanada home page: https://klezkanada.org

Forverts article (in Yiddish): With a New Director KlezKanada Looks to the Future: http://yiddish.forward.com/articles/208420/with-a-new-director-klezkanada-looks-to-the-future/

Also: an update on YIVO's Summer Program in Yiddish Language, Literature, and Culture by Academic Director Dovid Braun, who also talks about the companion Yiddish Civilization Lecture Series, which starts this coming Monday (June 24, 2019). See also:
YIVO Summer Program: https://summerprogram.yivo.org/

YIVO YIDDISH CIVILIZATION LECTURE SERIES, SUMMER 2019: https://summerprogram.yivo.org/LectureSeries

Music
Daniel Kahn & Painted Bird: Di Arbeter Froyen

Sophie Milman: Shpatsir in Vald (from the CD Yiddish Glory: The Lost Songs of World War II, Executive Producer: Anna Shternshis)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: June 19, 2019

Reyze Turner from the Yiddish Scene in Paris

The Yiddish Voice — Sat, 15 Jun 2019 00:38:53 +0000

This show starts a series of interviews with activists on the Yiddish scene around the Paris Yiddish Center-Medem Library starting Wednesday June 12 2019 at 7:30 PM with an interview with Ri J. (Reyze) Turner.

Ri J. (Reyze) Turner Ri J. Turner is a translator and Yiddish language teacher at the Paris Yiddish Center-Medem Library, as well as an MA candidate in Yiddish Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She is a three-time alumna of the Uriel Weinreich Summer Program at YIVO in New York, and was a Translation Fellow of the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, MA, in 2014 and 2018 and the National Endowment for the Arts and the PEN/Heim Fund in 2018. Her translations and original writing have appeared in In Geveb, Pakn Treger, the Forverts, Afn Shvel, and elsewhere.

Interviews in the series will continue in following weeks with Yitskhok Niborski and Gilles Rozier, with announcements to follow.

The interviews are conducted by Sholem Beinfeld, He is Professor Emeritus of History at Washington University in St. Louis, and is perhaps best known as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary (Arumnemik Yidish-English Verterbukh), as well as a translator of Yiddish texts and creator of new subtitles for classic Yiddish movies. The Dictionary is based on the Yiddish-French Dictionary edited by Yitskhok Niborski and published by the Medem Library/Paris Yiddish Center. Sholem's connection with the Medem Library goes back many decades, beginning with his Fulbright Fellowship in Paris as a graduate student.

Music
Yiddish Princess (vocals: Sarah Mina Gordon) : Ver Vet Blaybn (lyrics: Avrom Sutzkever)

Dudu Fisher: Moyshele (lyrics: Mordkhe Gebirtig)

Myrna Rabinowitz: Mayn Tate (words and music: Myrna Rabinowitz)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: June 12, 2019

Jana Mazurkiewicz-Meisarosh; Shvues

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 07:28:01 +0000

Jana Mazurkiewicz-Meisarosh is a Ph.D. candidate in the Slavic Department of University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Her dissertation research is on Yiddish Theater in Communist Warsaw. Originally from Poland, Jana holds a Master of Arts degree in Polish Philology and Jewish Studies from the University of Wrocław. Jana combines her Yiddish academic research with theater and community activism. Professionally experienced in acting, directing, and playwriting, she wrote the play "Hiltserne Milkhomes" (“Wooden Wars”) in Yiddish and produced it for stage in Ann Arbor in 2013-2014. In October 2017, she moved to San Diego and launched the Yiddish Arts and Academics Association of North America - YAAANA (website: yaaana.org), which has as its goal, Jana has said, "to make Yiddish culture hip, modern, and interesting". Jana is interested in Yiddish both as a stage language and as a means of exploring the current state of Polish-Jewish relationships.

From the archive Shavuos 2017: Rav Izchak Kin: thoughts on Yiddish, the Yom-Tov Shavuos, and some Q and A.

Music
Pripetshik Singers: Shvues-lid (words and music by Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman)

Louis Danto: Shvues

Moshe Koussevitzky: Kortuz M'Chomer (for Yom-Tov Shavuos)

Mordechai Hershman: Toire is die Beste Schoire

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: June 5, 2019

Yom Yerusholayim, Shvues & Yisroel Radios Mikhoel Felsenbaum

The Yiddish Voice — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 00:59:34 +0000

Enjoy a wonderful new presentation by Mikhoel Felsenbaum just aired on Israel's Yiddish broadcast on broadcaster Kan. Kan Yiddish: https://www.kan.org.il/radio/program.aspx?progId=1136 - Michael Felsenbaum Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/michael-felsenbaum

Presentation for Shavuos by Miriam Libenson z"l, originally aired on the Yiddish Voice in the 1990's

A short interview with Rav Izchak Kin: his personal memories of Jerusalem

Music happenings were discussed, FYI:
in Bostoner gegnt: morgen, Donershtik, May 30 2019 at 7:30 PM

A Besere Velt Yiddish Community Chorus

Conductor: Derek David

Featring Anthony Mordechai Tzvi Russell (antony mordkhe-tsvi russell)

Morgen: Thursday, May 30 2019 at 7:30 PM - Elliot Church, 474 Centre Street, Newton Corner

info: 617-566-6281 or circleboston.org

in Bronx: Zuntik dem 2tn yuni 1:30 - 4:30 nokh mitog

7th Annual Sholem Aleichem Klezfest
info: Facebook: Sholem Aleichem Cultural Center-Bronx

in NYC, Sunday, June 16, 2019, 3:00 p.m.

https://www.thejppc.org/concerts.html

Yiddish Flavors of Love: A Musical Celebration

Songs sung in Yiddish with English supertitles

Conductor: Binyumen Schaechter

info: thejppc.org/concerts.html

in Amherst fun 11tn bizn 14tn yuli:

Yidstock Festival

Mit Daniel Kahn and the Painted Bird, Vira Lozinsky & Hankus Netsky, Eleanor Reissa and Frank Lonon, Klezmatics, Sore-Mine Gordon, un andere

info: https://www.yiddishbookcenter.org/yidstock

Music
Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman: Shvues-lid

Louis Danto: Shvues

Anthony Russell & Veretski Pass: Stranger (take-off on Avrom Reisen's Mai-Ko-Mashma-Lon)

Cindy Paley: Shvues

Sholom Katz: Yerosholayim

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: May 29, 2019

Best of Yom Ha'atzmaut, with Felsenbaum, Zak, Bryks-Klein, Portnoy, London, Cycowics, Galai

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 09 May 2019 21:36:30 +0000

אַ פֿריילעכן יום העצמאות (Happy Yom Ha'atzmaut (Israel Independence Day))!

We re-air some more or less recently aired interviews with Israelis in honor of Yom Ha'atzmaut:
Michael Felsenbaum and Avremi Zak discuss latest Israeli news, and Bella Bryks-Klein and Avremi Zak discuss upcoming Yiddish events in Israel. Previously broadcast, May 5 2019, by Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation's Kann Yiddish, archived here: https://soundcloud.com/michael-felsenbaum/03052019a and here: https://www.kan.org.il/radio/program.aspx?progId=1136

Pesye Portnoy, interviewed by Arieh London ז״ל, originally aired on Kol Israel Radio, Yiddish Service, in Jan 2008.

Gitu Cycowics (nee Friedman), an Israeli, a resident of Jerusalem, from Carpathian Czechoslovakia and an Auschwitz survivor, discusses her joy around the 70th Yom Haatsmaut. Originally aired on the Yiddish Voice Apr 24 2018.

Daniel Galai, the composer, Yiddish activist, and head of Leyvik Hoyz in Tel Aviv, discusses concerns about Yiddish in Israel, and especially Yiddish on Israeli radio. Originally aired on the Yiddish Voice June 14 2017.

Israel Songs:

Barry Sisters: Exodus

Dovid Esheth: Yerusholayim, Shtot fun Gold (music Naomi Shemer, origin Hebrew lyrics Naomi Shemer, Yiddish translation Leyb Olitski)

Sholom Katz: Shalom Shalom Yisroyl

Dovid Esheth: Yerusholayim Shel Barzel (music Naomi Shemer, lyrics Meir Ariel)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: May 8, 2019

Rokhl Zicherman and Other Holocaust Survivors for Yom HaShoah

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 02 May 2019 02:41:52 +0000

Interviews for Yom HaShoah

Rokhl Zicherman lives in Los Angeles and is an Auschwitz survivor from Carpathian Czechoslovakia. She loves to sing with her two sisters who don't live very close, but they often talk by phone. Here she sings In Auschwitzer Lager, describing a fate common to many the many teenagers from this region who were deported to Auschwitz in 1944: being separated from their mothers who were killed at Auschwitz, often due to holding on to younger children of theirs. She also sings a Holocaust 'Dem Milners Trern', a Holocaust version of the song Dem Milner's Trern, written by Mark Varshavski around the turn of the 20th century.

Gitu Cycowics (nee Friedman), an Israeli, a resident of Jerusalem, from Carpathian Czechoslovakia and an Auschwitz survivor, discusses her fear for when survivors are gone. Previously aired on the Yiddish Voice Apr 24 2018 in a program in honor of 70th Yom Haatsmaut.

Raye David (nee Shlosberg), now in Milwaukee, Holocaust survivor from Vilna, Poland. Recorded end of 2010 and previously aired on the Yiddish Voice in 2011.

Ann Monka (nee Khane Stolovitska), now in Northern New Jersey, originally from Lida (לידע‎), survived in Bielsky Brothers camp in the forest. She recalls the movie Defiance coming out, how she and other Bielsky survivors came to a special premier at New York Museum of Jewish Heritage, how everyone loved it. We play a recording of her singing the Partizan's Song (Zog Nit Keyn Mol). (The song was aired on the Yiddish Voice last week. A longer version of the interview was previously aired on the Yiddish Voice Jan 14 2009.)

Music:

Shimon Yisraeli: Zog Nit Keyn Mol

Rokhl Zicherman: In Auschwitzer Lager, Holocaust 'Dem Milners Trern' (Singer is a Carpathian Auschwitz survivor. This is a Yiddish Voice exclusive recording.)

Anna Monka: Zog Nisht Keynmol (Singer is a Bielski survivor. This is a Yiddish Voice exclusive recording.)

Dudu Fisher: Vu Ahin Zol Ikh Geyn

Abraham Brun: Why Need We Cry?

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: May 1, 2019

Pesach Yom HaShoah with Yakob Basner and Judy Altmann

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 25 Apr 2019 20:30:16 +0000

פּסח באַגריסונגען Pesach music and greetings from sponsors and friends, some new, some old *, some ז״ל
מיר ווינטשן אײַך אַ זיזן כּשרן פּסח

טאַניע לעפֿמאַן Tania Lefman, from the The American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Descendants of Greater Boston, Inc.

לאה שפּאָרער-לעוויט Leye (Lillian) Shporer Leavitt

שלום ביינפֿעלד Sholem Beinfeld

ליבע גריץ פֿון באָסטאָנער אַרבעטער-רינג Linda Gritz for Boston Workmens' Circle

מאָטל מורשטיין Mark Murstein
Mark (Motl) Murstein - excerpt of him singing Ekhod Mi Yodea

Celebs

יעקבֿ באָדאָ * Yankele Bodo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaakov_Bodo

Chaimi and Leyzer from Yid-Life Crisis חיימי און לייזער פֿון ייִד-לײַף קריזיס http://yidlifecrisis.com

Sponsors and Advertisers

Cheryl Ann's Bakery http://cherylannsbakery.com

Eli Dovek * אלי דאָוועק, Israel Book Shop https://www.israelbookshop.com

Shimshon Erenfeld * שמשון ערנפֿעלד, BLER Travel http://www.bler.com

Max Gellerman Z"L * מאַקס געלערמאַן ז״ל, The Butcherie http://www.butcherie.com

Interviews:
Yakob Basner, holocaust survivor originally from Riga, Latvia. His daughter Elizabeth Karpukh joins to briefly talk about the Survivors Mitzvah Project. Info: https://www.survivormitzvah.org

Judy Altmann, holocaust survivor originally from Jasina, Czechoslovakia

Music:
Richard Tucker: Tal Tein

Moishe Oysher: Kiddush for Pesach

Cantor Gregor Shelkan: Vos Vet Zayn Ven Moshiakh Vet Kumen (Rare recording, from Nov 5 1995 Cantors' Concert for Cantor Shimon Kandler)

Anna Monka: Zog Nisht Keynmol (Singer is a Bielski survivor. This is a Yiddish Voice exclusive recording.)

Shimon Yisraeli: Zog Nit Keyn Mol

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: April 24, 2019

Ravs Kin, Marmorstein, Loketch z"l: Best of Pesach

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 25 Apr 2019 04:05:36 +0000

פּסח באַגריסונגען Pesach music and greetings from sponsors and friends, some new, some old *, some ז״ל
מיר ווינטשן אײַך אַ זיזן, כּשרן פּסח

לאה שפּאָרער-לעוויט Leye (Lillian) Shporer Leavitt

שלום ביינפֿעלד Sholem Beinfeld

ליבע גריץ פֿון באָסטאָנער אַרבעטער-רינג Linda Gritz for Boston Workmens' Circle

מאָטל מורשטיין Mark Murstein
Mark (Motl) Murstein - excerpt of him singing Ekhod Mi Yodea

Hasia Segal * חסיה סיגעל ז״ל

Iosif Lakhman * יוסף לאַכמאַן ז״ל

Celebs

יעקבֿ באָדאָ * Yankele Bodo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaakov_Bodo

Chaimi and Leyzer from Yid-Life Crisis חיימי און לייזער פֿון ייִד-לײַף קריזיס http://yidlifecrisis.com

Sponsors and Advertisers

Cheryl Ann's Bakery http://cherylannsbakery.com

Eli Dovek * אלי דאָוועק, Israel Book Shop https://www.israelbookshop.com

Shimshon Erenfeld * שמשון ערנפֿעלד, BLER Travel http://www.bler.com

Max Gellerman Z"L * מאַקס געלערמאַן ז״ל, The Butcherie http://www.butcherie.com

רבנישע ווערטער לכּבֿוד פּסח
Rav Izchak Kin (originally recorded and aired Pesach 2018)

Rav Myer Loketch z"l (originally recorded and aired Pesach 2007)

Rav Avrohom Marmostein (originall recorded and aired Pesach 2014)

Pesach Songs:

Pripetshik Singers - Binyumen Schaechter, Conductor: Mu Asapru

Moishe Oysher: Kiddush for Pesach

Mordechai Hershman & Mendel Shapira: Tal

Seder Nights with Sedor Belarsky: Ma Nishtanoh

Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman: *S'iz matsa do"

Michael Silverman: Passover Dayenu (instrumental)

Meshugga Beach Party: Dayenu

Moishe Oysher: Chad Gadyo

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: April 17, 2019

Schaechter Siblings Binyumen and Gitl re JPPC Choir + Pesach

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 00:55:07 +0000

Interview with Binyumen Schaechter and Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath, discussing the Jewish People's Philharmonic Chorus (JPPC - thejppc.org), of which Binyumen is the conductor and his sister Gitl is one of the singers. They discuss the history of the JPPC and their many years of involvement with it, and also talk about the upcoming Spring 2019 Gala Concert, Yiddish Flavors of Love: A Musical Celebration, set to take place Sunday June 16, 2019, at 3:00 PM at Merkin Concert Hall in New York City. Some musical excerpts of the Choir's performance, including from recent rehearsals for their upcoming performance, will also be heard. For more information about the JPPC and their concert, visit their web site here: https://www.thejppc.org/concerts.html

Pesach music and greetings from sponsors and friends.
מיר ווינטשן אײַך אַ זיזן, כּשרן פּסח

Music:
The Jewish People’s Philharmonic Chorus (JPPC), Binyumen Schaechter, Conductor, from the CD Zingt:

Dem Zeydns Nign

Meyn Nisht

JPPC, Binyumen Schaechter, Conductor - unreleased rehearsal recording courtesey of JPPC, from late March 2019:

Yidish Iz Mayn Loshn

Troyerlid

Pesach Songs:

Barry Sisters: Passover Medley

Lori Cahan: Shvimt Dos Kestl Afn Nil

Lori Cahan and Meyshke Alpert: Zog, Maran

Malavsky Family: Fir Kashes

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: April 10, 2019

Best of: Pesach (Hasia Segal), Dovid Braun, Kolya Borodulin

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 00:39:17 +0000

Highlights from past years' Pesach, including Hasia Segal's Pesach presentation from Pesach 1991, originally aired on our predecessor radio show די ייִדישע שעה (The Yiddish Hour / Di Yidishe Sho, WBRS 100.1 FM Waltham, MA) songs and greetings.

Recently aired interviews:

Interview with Kolya Borodulin, Director of Yiddish Programming at Workmen's Circle (Arbeter Ring). Check out all their Yiddish programming here: https://circle.org/what-we-do/yiddish-language/

Interview with Dovid Braun, Academic Director of the 2019 YIVO-Bard Summer Program, also known as the Uriel Weinreich Summer Program in Yiddish Language, Literature, and Culture. More info here: https://summerprogram.yivo.org/

Air date: April 3, 2019

Chaim Jelen

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 29 Mar 2019 02:49:01 +0000

Interview with Chaim Jelen (Henry Jelen). Chaim was born at the end of WWII in Siberia, where his parents had escaped to from Poland and settled during WWII. He lives in Chicago, where he has been a leader in Holocaust education and memorialization, particularly among the second generation, for several decades.

Music:
Bruce Adler: A malke af peysekh (A Queen for Passover

Moishe Oysher: Dayenu - It Would Have Been Enough

Barry Sisters: Passover Medley

Lori Cahan and Meyshke Alpert: In Dem Land Fun Piramidn

Lori Cahan: Shvimt Dos Kestl Afn Nil

Lori Cahan and Meyshke Alpert: Zog, Maran

Sidor Belarsky: Der Seyder

Malavsky Family: Ho Lakhmo Anyo

Malavsky Family: Fir Kashes

Meshugga Beach Party: Dayenu

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: March 27, 2019

Michael Wex et al: Purim+Humor Extended

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 05:23:54 +0000

Michael Wex, renowned author and humorist, joins regular cohosts Leye Shporer-Leavitt, Sholem Beinfeld, and Mark David for a semi-serious discussion about Jewish humor and Purim. Info: http://michaelwex.com Note: some of this material was presented the previous week, but some had to be cut due to time limitatioms. This is an extended edition.

Music:
Binah Landau: Purim Lid

Leyke Post: Purim, accompanied by Rubin Ossofsky

Gadi Yagil: Di Elegye fun Fastrigose

Ruth Rubin: Yakhne-Dvoshke Fort in Shtot (Hop Mayne Homentashn)

Avraham Horowitz: Revah (Revach Vehatzala), composed by Grand Rabbi Moshe Horowitz (the Bostoner Rebbe)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: March 20, 2019

Rukhl Schaechter: Forverts, Michael Wex et al: Humor+Purim

The Yiddish Voice — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 04:32:40 +0000

Rukhl Schaechter, editor of the Yiddish Forward (פֿאָרווערטס), speaks with regular cohost Sholem Beinfeld about the latest developments at the newspaper, including the plan to go digital-only and discontinue the printed version begun in 1897. Info: http://yiddish.forward.com

Michael Wex, renowned author and humorist, joins regular cohosts Leye Shporer-Leavitt, Sholem Beinfeld, and Mark David for a semi-serious discussion about Jewish humor and Purim. Info: http://michaelwex.com

Music:
Leyke Post: Purim, accompanied by Rubin Ossofsky

Gadi Yagil: Di Elegye fun Fastrigose

Ruth Rubin: Yakhne-Dvoshke Fort in Shtot (Hop Mayne Homentashn)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: March 13, 2019

Khasye Pollack

The Yiddish Voice — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 17:29:56 +0000

Interview with Holocaust Survivor Khasye Golomb Pollack (Carol Pollack), originally from Vilna, Lithuania, recorded at the recent conference of World Federation of Jewish Child Holocaust Survivors and Descendants

Music: various Yiddish songs by various performers - enjoy!

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: March 6, 2019

Kolya Borodulin, Dovid Braun, Valentine's Day

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 14 Feb 2019 19:34:04 +0000

Interview with Kolya Borodulin, Director of Yiddish Programming at Workmen's Circle (Arbeter Ring). Check out all their Yiddish programming here: https://circle.org/what-we-do/yiddish-language/

Interview with Dovid Braun, Academic Director of the 2019 YIVO-Bard Summer Program, also known as the Uriel Weinreich Summer Program in Yiddish Language, Literature, and Culture. More info here: https://summerprogram.yivo.org/ NB: First deadline: International and Financial Aid Applicants: February 28, 2019

Valentine's Day, or Valentin-Tog, the secular holiday of romantic love, is celebrated throughout with playing and discussion of several love songs by our regular co-hosts Sholem Beinfeld and Leye (Lillian) Shporer-Leavitt.

Music:
In Di Vayse Yorn, words by Yosef Papernikov, performed by Chava Alberstein on her album Lemele (NMC, 2006)

Her nor du sheyn meydele, folk song, performed by Wolf Krakowski on his album Transmigrations: Gilgul (Kamea Records, 1996), accompanied Freydi Katz

Margaritkes, words by Zalmen Shneyer, performed by Chava Alberstein on her album Mike Burstein/Chava Alberstein: Yiddish Folk Songs (CBS, 1973)

Fisher Lid, words and music by Aliza Greenblatt, performed by Martha Schlamme on her album Favorite Yiddish Songs (MGM, 1963)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: February 13, 2019

Kalman Weiser

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 01:45:25 +0000

Interview with Kalman Weiser, discussing the late Yiddish language scholars Solomon (Shloyme) Birnbaum and Noyekh Prilutski. Professor Keith (Kalman) Weiser is the Silber Family Professor of Modern Jewish Studies at York University, Toronto. His research focuses in the area of modern Jewish history and culture, specifically about language issues in Jewish life. His publications include Jewish People, Yiddish Nation: Noah Prylucki and the Folkists in Poland (University of Toronto Press, 2011) and the introduction to Shloyme Birnbaum's Yiddish: A Survey and a Grammar, Second Edition (University of Toronto Press, 2016). The interview is conducted by Sholem Beinfeld, a regular contributor to the Yiddish Voice, co-Editor in Chief of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary, and Professor of History, Emeritus, Washington University, St. Louis. Dr. Beinfeld served as principal consultant on the film Partisans of Vilna (credited as Solon Beinfeld). He was senior consultant and historian to the Kovno Ghetto Exhibition project of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and consultant to the Museum on the Ghetto archive holdings in the Lithuanian State Archives in Vilnius.

Music performed by Miryam-Khaye Seigel, from album Toyznt Tamen:
A Meydele Fin Poyln

Di Apikorsim

Furn Fursti fin Mir Avek

Nyu-York Nyu-York

Besarabye

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: February 6, 2019

Esia Friedman (Part 2)

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 02:42:27 +0000

Interview with Esia Baran Friedman (Part 2). Esia, a Holocaust survivor from Vilna, Lithuania, talks about her family and her childhood in Vilna and surviving the Holocaust. Esia is one the survivors whose testimony is featured in the recent Nova documentary Holocaust Escape Tunnel (https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/holocaust-escape-tunnel). Part 1 of this interview was heard last week (Jan 23 2019). This interview took place at a gathering of Holocaust survivors and descendants this past November 2018 organized by the World Federation of Jewish Child Survivors of the Holocaust & Descendants -- for further information, visit: https://www.holocaustchild.org

Vocalist Anthony (Mordechai Tzvi) Russell will perform this weekend (Feb 2 2017, 7 PM) with accordionist Dmitri Gaskin. Their concert A World of Jewish Song will be at Temple Beth Elohim in Acton. We feature several tracks showcasing Anthony Russell's singing from his recent album (with Varetsky Pass). Concert info here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-world-of-jewish-song-tsvey-brider-tickets-52604131373 And for further info on Anthony Russell, visit his web site: https://www.anthonyrussellbass.com/

Music by Anthony Russell with Varetsky Pass (Joshua Horowitz, Cookie Segelstein & Stuart Brotman)
Water

Train

Horses

Lift

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: January 30, 2019

Esia Friedman (Part 1); Hankus Netsky's Latest Album

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 00:07:27 +0000

Interview with Esia Baran Friedman (Part 1). Esia, a holocaust survivor from Vilna, Lithuania, talks about her family and her childhood in Vilna and surviving the Holocaust. Esia is one the survivors whose testimony is featured in the recent Nova documentary Holocaust Escape Tunnel (https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/holocaust-escape-tunnel). Part 2 of this interview continues next week (Jan 30 2019).

Hankus Netsky (pianist, arranger) visited our home studio recently and generously provided us with a preview version of his about-to-be-released album with the violinist and singer Eden MacAdam-Somer. Title as yet unknown. We previewed several new tracks.

Music from unreleased album by Hankus Netsky and Eden MacAdam-Somer

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: January 23, 2019

Jay Riazanow (New); Miriam Libenson on Tu Bishvat (Repeat)

The Yiddish Voice — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 19:53:16 +0000

Jay Riazanow, a retiree in South Florida, talks about his life, from prewar shtetl in Belarus, surviving the Holocaust, growing up in the Soviet Union, moving to Israel, and finally coming to America.

From our archives: Miriam Libenson Z"L: a talk in honor of the holiday Tu Bishvat, the holiday of the trees, originally broadcast in 1994.

Music for Tu Bishvat
Victor Berezinsky: Tu Bishvat

Henry Carrey: Tu Beshvat (Music and Lyrics by Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman)

Ruth Levin: A Hoykher Boym (Lyrics Shike Driz, Music by Leibu Levin)

Hilda Bronstein: Afn Veg Shteyt A Boym (Lyrics by Itzik Manger)

Dudu Fisher: Unter Beymer (Lyrics by Alexander Olshanetsky, Music by Moishe Oysher)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: January 16, 2019

Debra Caplan: Yiddish Empire [Encore]

The Yiddish Voice — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 19:49:52 +0000

Air Date: Jan 9 2018

Original Air Date: Jun 27 2018

Hasia Segal Yahrtzeit [Encore]

The Yiddish Voice — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 19:46:42 +0000

Air Date: Jan 2 2019

Original Air Date: Jan 3 2018

Anna Shternshis: Yiddish Glory [Encore]

The Yiddish Voice — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 19:43:13 +0000

Air Date: Dec 26 2018
Original Air Date: Aug 8 2018

Myer Loketch Shloyshim - Rav Dov-Ber Loketch: Hesped and Interview (Bonus Full-Length)

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 21 Dec 2018 16:09:38 +0000

Rabbi Dov-Ber Loketch: full hesped and interview in memory of his father, Rabbi Myer Loketch. An abridged version of this recording was presented in the radio show (and its podcast) originally broadcast December 19 2018.

Shloyshim Memorial for Rav Myer Loketch Z''L

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 20 Dec 2018 06:52:05 +0000

Shloyshim Memorial program for Rabbi Myer Loketch, who passed away Nov 12 2018. Sholem Beinfeld, co-host of the Yiddish Voice, presents an overview of Reb Myer's biography, followed by hespeydim by Rabbi Dov-Ber Loketch of Detroit, Myer's son, and by Rabbi Shyke Lerner of Chabad Center of Brookline. Numerous highlights from the Yiddish Voice archives of interviews with and presentations by Reb Myer Loketch Z''L are heard throughout, and also a rare special replay of a greeting by Reb Myer's widow Irene Loketch (ir tsu lange yor).

Music:

Cantor Gershon Sirota: Keil Molleh Rachamim

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: December 19, 2018

Dovid Braun & Itzik Gottesman on Yiddish New York & Libe Gritz (Repeat)

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 14 Dec 2018 17:16:56 +0000

Dovid Braun and Itzik Gottesman discuss the upcoming Yiddish New York festival of Yiddish languge and culture. Yiddish linguist Braun will be presenting an advanced workshop on Yiddish dialects in Yiddish during Yiddish New York. Gottesman, a PhD and internationally recognized scholar of Yiddish language and culture, is a producer of Yiddish New York. Info: https://www.yiddishnewyork.com

Libe Gritz talks about the upcoming concert by the Boston Workmen's Circle's A Besere Velt chorus at Yiddish New York. The concert titled "Sing Out, Fight Back! – A Besere Velt Chorus!" takes place SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2:45 – 4:00pm At the Town and Village Synagogue, 334 East 14th Street, New York, NY 10003. Libe (also known as Linda) Gritz is a leading member, often a soloist, of the chorus, which sings almost entirely in Yiddish. She is a long-time member and leader of the Boston Workmen's Circle, active in Yiddish language and culture as well as social justice. Info web site for A Besere Velt: http://circleboston.org/community-chorus Info web site for Yiddish New York: https://www.yiddishnewyork.com/ Yiddish New York special-events page with info on the concert: https://www.yiddishnewyork.com/programming/special-events-and-evening-programs/ (This interview originally aired on Dec 5 2017.)

Music:
A Besere Velt, Boston Workmen's Circle Yiddish Chorus: Yugnt Himen (Youth Hymn), lyrics by Shmerke Kaczerginski, music by Basye Rubin - from Youtube.com: https://youtu.be/GBIALyIbk2s

Shmuel Rudenski, Lea Dulitzkaya, and Cast: Tog Ayn, Tog Oys, Libst Mikh Sertse, Vayt fun Mayn Liber Heym, from the record ‏אַ פֿידלער אױפֿן דאַך (A Fidler Afn Dakh) (Columbia Records, Israel, 1965)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: December 12, 2018

Libe Gritz (A Besere Velt @ Yiddish New York); Myer Loketch Hanukkah (Repeat)

The Yiddish Voice — Wed, 12 Dec 2018 17:47:17 +0000

Libe Gritz talks about the upcoming concert by the Boston Workmen's Circle's A Besere Velt chorus at Yiddish New York. The concert titled "Sing Out, Fight Back! – A Besere Velt Chorus!" takes place SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2:45 – 4:00pm At the Town and Village Synagogue, 334 East 14th Street, New York, NY 10003. Libe (also known as Linda) Gritz is a leading member, often a soloist, of the chorus, which sings almost entirely in Yiddish. She is a long-time member and leader of the Boston Workmen's Circle, active in Yiddish language and culture as well as social justice. Info web site for A Besere Velt: http://circleboston.org/community-chorus Info web site for Yiddish New York: https://www.yiddishnewyork.com/ Yiddish New York special-events page with info on the concert: https://www.yiddishnewyork.com/programming/special-events-and-evening-programs/

Rav Myer Loketch has died, ברוך דיין אמת. From 2006 to 2009 he contributed many radio presentations on Jewish holidays for the Yiddish Voice. Tonight we re-air his presentation for Hanukkah 2006. We plan a shloyshim memorial program in Rav Loketch's memory on our Dec. 19th broadcast. Important show note: the date for the Radio Shloyshim in memory of Myer Loketch has been changed from Dec. 12, as was previously announced on this broadcast and elsewhere. The new date is Dec. 19, 2018. We regret any inconvenience.

Music:
Ben Gailing and Boy: Chanuka Brokhes

Moyshe Oysher: Blessing of the Candles (Brochot)

Dovid Kusevitsky: Shehechiyonu

Seymour Silbermintz & The Boys: Haneiros Hallolu - Chanuko

Eli Lispsker's Children's Choir and Orchestra: Mo-oz Tsur

Sidor Belarsky: Boruch Ato

A Besere Velt, Boston Workmen's Circle Yiddish Chorus: Yugnt Himen (Youth Hymn), lyrics by Shmerke Kaczerginski, music by Basye Rubin - from Youtube.com: https://youtu.be/GBIALyIbk2s

Jacob Barkin: Chanuko Oy Chanuko

Essential Voices USA: Borukh Ate Zingt der Tate

Pripetshik Singers: Kinder, Haynt Iz Khanike

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: December 5, 2018

Henry Carrey (New); Myer Loketch: Hanukkah (Repeat)

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 04:15:12 +0000

Henry Carrey talks about the upcoming concert he's performing in, YIDDISH RADIO LIVES! A Musical Tribute to Ben Gailing at 120 (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hankus-netskys-hebrew-national-salvage-tickets-51815656022); his mother Leyke Post, a Yiddish actress, singer, and radio personality; meeting Ben Gailing; his mother's reunion with Gailing at KlezKamp 1998; how he learned Yiddish; his late brother Dovid Carrey, a noted Yiddish actor and singer; his own commercial Yiddish recordings.

Rav Myer Loketch has died, ברוך דיין אמת. From 2006 to 2009 he contributed many radio presentations on Jewish holidays for the Yiddish Voice. Tonight we re-air his presentation for Hanukkah 2006. We plan a shloyshim memorial program in Rav Loketch's memory on our Dec. 19th broadcast. Important show note: the date for the Radio Shloyshim in memory of Myer Loketch has been changed from Dec. 12, as was previously announced on this broadcast and elsewhere. The new date is Dec. 19, 2018. We regret any inconvenience.

Music:
Leyke Post: Yiddish Redt Zikh Azoy Sheyn (Yiddish Sounds So Beautiful), accompanied by Rubin Ossofsky

Henry Carrey: Tu beshvat

Henry Carrey: Feter Shneyer

Henry Carrey: Purim Shpiler

Leyke Post: Oryentalishe Romants

Sidor Belarsky: Khaneke Brokhes

David Putterman: Haneros Halolu S'vivon

Pierre Pinchik: Mo-oz Tzur

Jacob Barkin: Chanuko oy Chanuko

Essential Voices: Borukh ate zingt der tate

Pripetshik Singers: Kh'bin a dreydl

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: November 28, 2018

Yankl-Perets Blum, Hankus Netsky

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 23 Nov 2018 01:53:21 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving! אַ פֿריילעכן דאַנק-טאָג!

Yankl-Perets Blum discusses various aspects of his involvement with Yiddish. Blum is a Yiddish teacher, linguist, polyglot, board member of Yugntruf (yugntruf.org), developer of YiddishPop.com, developer of "Yiddish Typer" (Chrome extension). Yiddish Typer web page: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/yiddish-typer/higlebidpnhccabnhankdoiiccnnfkko?hl=en

Hankus Netsky, Klezmer music star, discusses his upcoming show YIDDISH RADIO LIVES! A Musical Tribute to Ben Gailing at 120. The concert takes place Sunday, December 2, 2018, at 1:00 pm at Temple Beth Israel, 25 Harvard Street, Waltham, MA. For more information or to purchase tickets in advance, contact the Temple office via our website at http://tbiwaltham.org or by telephone at 781-894 5146. Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/340209126529177/ Eventbrite ticket web site: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hankus-netskys-hebrew-national-salvage-tickets-51815656022

Music:
Ben Gailing singing his song Ikh Hob Shoyn Aza Mazel accompanied by Rubin Ossofsky in 1932.

Leah Carrey (Leyke Post), the mother of Henry Carrey (who will be performing with Hankus Netsky), singing Yidish Redt Zikh Azoy Sheyn accompanied by Rubin Ossofsky

Percy Brand: Rumenish (by Kalman)

Percy Brand: Hebrew Melody and Dance

Itzhak Perlman, Dov Seltzer, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra: Afn Veg Shteyt A Boym

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: November 21, 2018

Beinfeld & Taube re Pittsburgh Massacre, Ber Kotlerman re Der Nister

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 01:39:13 +0000

**מיר טרויערן נאָך די קדושים פֿון דער פּיטסבורגער שחיטה

Sholem Beinfeld: Words of Condolence on Pittsburgh Massacre

Ber Kotlerman: Interview on the writer Der Nister, the subject of his forthcoming lectures in New York and Los Angeles

Cantor Moyshe Taube: Interview about the Pittsburgh massacre with the famed cantor and Holocaust survivor living in Squirrel Hill

Music:
Cantor Sholom Katz: El Moley Rachamim

Cantor Avrohom Brun: Vos Darfn Mir Veynen

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: October 31, 2018

Sholem Berger, Sholem Beinfeld, Leye Shporer-Leavitt

The Yiddish Voice — Wed, 31 Oct 2018 21:02:22 +0000

Sholem Berger discusses and reads from his latest book of Yiddish and Hebrew poetry, "Vi lebt zikh dortn? Lider un proze-bashraybungen", available here: http://bit.ly/bergerpoetry

Special guest co-hosts Sholem Beinfeld and Leah Shporer Leavitt are live in studio for special cultural presentations.

Yiddish songs performed by the late cantor and folksinger Abraham Brun from his album on Folkways Records Songs of the Ghetto

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: October 24, 2018

Vivi Lachs on Whitechapel Noise; Boris Sandler for Kobi Weitzner o''h

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 19 Oct 2018 20:46:45 +0000

Vivi Lachs discusses her book Whitechapel Noise: Jewish Immigrant Life in Yiddish Song and Verse, London 1884–1914 (Wayne State University Press) and music she has created based on historic Yiddish songs from Whitechapel. Lachs will be giving a talk on Sunday Oct 21 2018 at the Boston Workmen's Circle.

For information on Lachs's book Whitechapel Noise: https://www.wsupress.wayne.edu/books/detail/whitechapel-noise

For information on Lachs's talk at Workmen's Circle: https://www.facebook.com/events/244709186216978/

Special guest Boris Sandler is interviewed about his late friend and colleague Kobi Weitzner, the journalist and radio presenter for the Yiddish Forward (Forverts) who died unexpectedly last month. See also:
אַדיע, קאָבי…: Sandler's tribute (in Yiddish) in Yiddish Branzhe 13: https://yiddishbranzhe.com/2018/10/01/%D7%A0%D7%90%D6%B8%D7%98%D7%99%D7%A6%D7%9F-%D7%A4%D6%BF%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%A2%D7%9D-%D7%A8%D7%A2%D7%93%D7%90%D6%B7%D7%A7%D7%98%D7%90%D6%B8%D7%A8-13/

לזכּרון קאָבי ווײַצנער ע″ה צו זײַנע שלושים (Tribute to Koby Weitzner a Month After His Passing): article in Forverts (in Yiddish) by Dov-Ber Kerler: http://yiddish.forward.com/articles/212175/tribute-to-koby-weitzner-a-month-after-his-passing/?

Music:
Tracks from CD Metropolitan Klezmer: Traveling Show:

Uncle Moses' Wedding Dance

Ot Azoy Neyt a Shnayder

Miracle Melody: Hasidic Nign / Poor Man's Tune

Tracks from CD Katshanes: Don't Ask Silly Questions:

London Hot Zikh Ibergekert

Freg Keyn Katshanes

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: October 17, 2018

Kolye Borodulin: Birobidzhan and Online Yiddish Classes (New); Samuel Kassow: Who Will Write Our History (Repeat)

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 01:58:28 +0000

Kolye Borodulin discusses his recent return to Birobidzhan, the town famed as the center of the Jewish Autonomous Oblast of Russia where he was born and raised. Kolye also discusses the upcoming Yiddish language classes offered by the Workmen's Circle, available both in-person and online. For further info: https://circle.org/what-we-do/yiddish-language/

The film Who Will Write Our History will be shown at the forthcoming Boston Jewish Film Festival in November 2018. We are airing an excerpt of our interview with the author of the book upon which the film was based, Sam Kassow, previously aired Apr 25 2018. For further info: http://www.bjff.org/
Historian Sam Kassow discusses Emanuel Ringelblum and the "Oyneg Shabbos Archive", the subject of his book "Who Will Write Our History" and the new film based on his book. The film, by director/producer Roberta Grossman and executive producer Nancy Spielberg, has recently been shown in preview form in Los Angeles and Warsaw and is expected to be released sometime in 2018. For information about the film see: whowillwriteourhistory.com

Music:
Wolf Krakowski: Varshe

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: October 3, 2018

Sabina Brukner

The Yiddish Voice — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 00:11:15 +0000

Sabina Brukner discusses Yiddish Fiddler, that is, the Yiddish-language production of Fiddler on the Roof, now playing at the Folksbiene Yiddish Theatre in New York City, where Sabina serves officially as Literary Manager and unofficially as Yiddish language coach. For info: http://nytf.org/fiddler-on-the-roof/

Greetings from our good friends and frequent contributors Sholem Beinfeld, Dovid Braun, and Mordkhe Murstein for the New Year Holidays (from last year's show)

From our archives: interview with Miriam Libenson o"h, our late frequent guest contributor and poet, who died in 2004, discussing personal memories Succos and singing the song "A Sukele a Kleyne", based on a poem by Avrom Reisen called In suke.

Thanks to our Sponsors!
Israel Book Shop, Brookline, MA (https://www.israelbookshop.com/)

The Butcherie, Brookline, MA (http://www.butcherie.com/)

Cheryl Ann's Bakery, Brookline, MA (http://cherylannsbakery.com/)

BLER Travel, Brookline, MA (http://bler.vacationport.net/)

Music:
Mordkhe Hershman: Af Bri

Moyshe Ganchoff: Geshem and Mo Oshiv

Khor Gezelshaft HaSomir: Di Sukele

Shmuel Rudenski, Lea Dulitzkaya, and Cast: Tog Ayn, Tog Oys, from the record ‏אַ פֿידלער אױפֿן דאַך (A Fidler Afn Dakh) (Columbia Records, Israel, 1965)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: September 26, 2018

Best of Succos [Encore]

The Yiddish Voice — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 01:55:25 +0000

Previously aired Oct 10, 2016

We wish you all the best for a healthy, happy New Year. לשנה טובה תיכתבו ותיחתמו! ‏ מיר ווינטשן אײַך ״אַ גוט קוויטל״!

For Succos and Simchas Torah: Miriam Libenson z"l (from the '90's) and Myer Loketch צו לאַנגע יאָר (from 2006)

Air Date: October 10, 2016 AND September 19, 2018

Itzchak Kin: High Holiday Q&A [Encore]

The Yiddish Voice — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 16:28:33 +0000

Previously aired Sep 27, 2017.

We wish you all the best for a healthy, happy New Year. לשנה טובה תיכתבו ותיחתמו! ‏ מיר ווינטשן אײַך ״אַ גוט קוויטל״!

We thank those who have pledged or made financial contributions to the Yiddish Voice during the past year.

We recall the names of Yiddish Voice friends, supporters, and participants who died during the past year.

Rabbi Itzchak Kin: questions and answers for the ten days of repentance from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur.

Music: "Un'sane Tokef" (a part of the Musaf service for both Rosh Hashonah and Yom Kippur) performed by Shmuel Malavsky & Family and by Josef Rosenblatt (excerpt: "K'vakoras")

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS from Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Additional background/incidental music: Cantor Gershon Sirota: Keil Moleh Rachamim ("God full of compassion", remembrance prayer for the departed); Goldie Malavsky: Zochreinu L'Chayim; Itzhak Perlman, Dov Seltzer, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra: Afn Veg Shteyt A Boym

Air Date: September 27, 2017 AND September 12, 2018

Rav Avrohom Marmorstein, Leye Shporer Leavitt, et al

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 07 Sep 2018 06:03:41 +0000

Leye (Lillian) Shporer Leavitt joins regular host Meyer (Mark David) as co-host for a lively "Erev Rosh Hashona" program live from WUNR studios in downtown Boston, joined by phone by regular contributors Dovid Braun and Sholem Beinfeld as well as special guest Rav Avrohom Marmorstein.

Leye gave a report on the 2018 Yugntruf Yidish-Vokh retreat she recently attended and provided info on upcoming Yiddish offerings at the Boston Workmen's Circle.

Dovid Braun reported on his recent experience teaching at YIVO's Uriel Weinreich Summer Program 2018, the 50th anniversary of that program.

Rabbi Avrohom Marmorstein, director of Mehadrin Kashrus, joined by phone to discuss and give his greetings for Rosh Hashona 5779.

Sholem Beinfeld gave a reading about Rosh Hashona

Music:
Leybele Waldman: Der Nayer Yor

Metropolitan Klezmer: Shpil Du Fidl, Shpil, from the CD Traveling Show

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Thanks to our Sponsors!
Israel Book Shop, Brookline, MA (https://www.israelbookshop.com/)

The Butcherie, Brookline, MA (http://www.butcherie.com/)

Cheryl Ann's Bakery, Brookline, MA (http://cherylannsbakery.com/)

BLER Travel, Brookline, MA (http://bler.vacationport.net/)

Air Date: Sep 5 2018

Daniel Kahn, Michael Yashinsky: Yiddish Fiddler on the Roof

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 30 Aug 2018 21:47:31 +0000

Interviews with two cast members of the smash-hit Yiddish version of Fiddler on the Roof, known as Fidler afn Dakh in Yiddish, which has just had its run at the National Yiddish Theatre - Folksbiene in New York extended by two months. Info: http://nytf.org/fiddler-on-the-roof/

Michael Yashinsky played the roles of Mordkhe the innkeeper as well as Nokhem the beggar from the beginning of the current production of Fidler Afn Dakh until around the broadcast date on Aug 30 2018. We wish Michael success in his new role teaching Yiddish at University of Michigan. Michael Yashinsky's web site: https://yashinsky.com/

Daniel Kahn played the role of Perchik, the revolutionary intellectual, from the beginning of the current production of Fidler Afn Dakh until just few days before this interview was broadcast on Aug 30 2018. He is a Berlin-based Yiddish actor, singer, and songwriter, who founded and leads the klezmer band Painted Bird (http://paintedbird.net)

Music:
Leybele Waldman: Der Nayer Yor (excerpts)

Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish (Fidler Afn Dakh) Cast: Youtube highlights (https://youtu.be/X7yryjpzUv8)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Thanks to our Sponsors!
Israel Book Shop, Brookline, MA (https://www.israelbookshop.com/)

The Butcherie, Brookline, MA (http://www.butcherie.com/)

Cheryl Ann's Bakery, Brookline, MA (http://cherylannsbakery.com/)

BLER Travel, Brookline, MA (http://bler.vacationport.net/)

Air Date: Aug 29 2018

Anna Shternshis: Yiddish Glory

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 00:37:40 +0000

Interview with Anna Shternshis, Associate Professor of Yiddish Studies at University of Toronto. The interview is presented in memory of 12 August 1952, when thirteen Jews were executed in Lubyanka Prison in Moscow, five of them Yiddish writers Peretz Markish, Dovid Hofstein, Itzik Feffer, Leib Kvitko, and Dovid Bergelson. Dr. Shternshis was executive producer of the recently released CD Yiddish Glory: The Lost Songs of World War II, based on her research on Moisei Beregovsky's archive, which the Soviet authorities confiscated in 1947, arresting Beregovsky a short time later. The Yiddish Glory CD contains songs written in Yiddish by Jews in the Soviet Union during World War II. The CD's songs have music thoughtfully composed by Shternshis's collaborator Psoy Korolenko. There is a large ensemble of talented musicians and singers on the CD. Key musical personnel include Psoy Korolenko, composer and singer; Sophie Milman, singer; and Sergei Erdenko, musical director, violinist, and singer. The CD includes a booklet with high quality English and Russian translations. Dr. Shternsis and Psoy Korolenko have recently toured extensively in the past year in support of the CD, bringing these once-lost songs to an ever widening audience. For more information on the Yiddish Glory CD: https://www.sixdegreesrecords.com/yiddishglory/

Anna Shternshis is also author of two books, Soviet and Kosher: Jewish Popular Culture in the Soviet Union, 1923 - 1939 (Indiana University Press, 2006) and When Sonia Met Boris: an Oral History of Jewish Life under Stalin (Oxford University Press, 2017).

The interview is conducted by Sholem Beinfeld, a regular contributor to the Yiddish Voice, co-Editor in Chief of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary, and Professor of History, Emeritus, Washington University, St. Louis. Dr. Beinfeld served as principal consultant on the film "Partisans of Vilna" (credited as Solon Beinfeld). He was senior consultant and historian to the Kovno Ghetto Exhibition project of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and consultant to the Museum on the Ghetto archive holdings in the Lithuanian State Archives in Vilnius.

Songs from the CD Yiddish Glory:

Misha tserayst Hitlers Daytchland

Babi Yar

Yoshke fun Ades

Shpatsir in Vald

Afn Hoykhn Barg

Kazakhstan

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: Aug 8 2018

Mikhoel Felsenbaum, Avremi Zaks

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 02:29:04 +0000

Kan Yiddish radio hosts Avremi Zaks and Mikhoel Felsenbaum and דאָס ייִדישע קול host Mark David interviewed each other about their Yiddish radio shows. Kan Yiddish, sponsored by the National Authority for Yiddish Culture in Israel (https://www.yiddish-rashutleumit.co.il/), is broadcast in Israel on public radio at frequencies 104.9 FM and 105.3 FM every Friday at 4 p.m. and on 101.5 FM at midnight from Saturday to Sunday. Audio archives of the Kan Yiddish radio show can be accessed online here: https://www.kan.org.il/radio/program.aspx/?progid=1136 See also their Facebook group: Yiddish Radio

Forverts Kol news report by Jacob (Kobi) Weitzner, courtesy of the Yiddish Forward, on the web at: yiddish.forward.com

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: July 25 2018

Debra Caplan: Yiddish Empire

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 05:17:24 +0000

Interview with Debra Caplan discussing her book Yiddish Empire: The Vilna Troupe, Jewish Theater, and the Art of Itinerancy

The interview is conducted by Sholem Beinfeld, a regular contributor to the Yiddish Voice, co-Editor in Chief of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary, and Professor of History, Emeritus, Washington University, St. Louis.

Music:
Excerpts from David Tamkin’s opera The Dybbuk, inspired by the play first and most famously performed by the Vilna Troupe. Track: Nigun of the 7 Circles. From the Milken Archive of American Jewish Music: Jewish Operas: Volume 1.

Di Frosh and Feter Elye, performed by Noah Nachbush, the late actor who performed as a member of the Vilna Troupe in the world premiere of Der Dibek (The Dybbuk) in 1920, from the album Gems of Yiddish Poetry and Folklore: LP No. 330

Cantor Mordechai Herschhman: Vyo Vyo Ferdelach

Forverts Kol news report by Jacob (Kobi) Weitzner, courtesy of the Yiddish Forward, on the web at yiddish.forward.com

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: June 27 2018

Zalmen Mlotek: Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish (New); Avrom Nowersztern: Sholem Aleichem (Repeat)

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 18:44:59 +0000

Interview with Zalmen Mlotek discussing the forthcoming production Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish (Fidler afn Dakh) by the National Yiddish Theater - Folksbiene. Previews begin July 4, 2018. Info: http://nytf.org Twitter: @folksbiene

Interview with Avrom Nowerstern discussing the film Sholem Aleichem: Laughter Through Tears and the author Sholem Aleichem generally (abbreviated and repeated from a 2011 broadcast)

Music: excerpts from Fidler afn Dakh album on Columbia Records, with the original Israeli Yiddish cast, featuring Shmuel Rudenski, et al.

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: June 13 2018

Miriam Hoffman: A Breed Apart

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 17 May 2018 06:24:39 +0000

Interview with writer Miriam Hoffman discussing her recently published memoir A Breed Apart: Reflections of a Young Refugee which describes her fascinating life, from childhood in Sibera and Germany through adulthood in New York, raising a family in Yiddishist society in New York and finding success as a columnist and feature writer for the Yiddish "Forward" Newspaper ("Forverts"), as a Yiddish educator at Columbia University, and as a playwright, including cofounding the Joseph Papp Yiddish Theatre.

The interview is conducted by Sholem Beinfeld, a regular contributor to the Yiddish Voice, co-Editor in Chief of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary, and Professor of History, Emeritus, Washington University, St. Louis.

Music: Sarah’s Lullaby & Hagar’s Lament, performed by Shirim Klezmer Band, from the CD Of Angels and Horseradish, sung by Rosalie Gerut (Sarah) and Betty Silberman (Hagar), lyrics by Itzik Manger and Miriam Hoffman, from the play Lider fun Gan Eydn (Songs of Paradise), based on the poetry of Itzik Manger, play written by Miriam Hoffman and Rena Berkowicz Borow.

Rav Myer Loketch discusses Shvues and Megilas Rus (Repeated from 2007.)

Music: Shvues, performed by Cantor Louis Danto, Composer: Yoel Engel, Author: Shimon Shmuel Frug

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: May 16 2018

Dovid Fishman: The Book Smugglers

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 03 May 2018 02:35:44 +0000

Dr. David E. Fishman, author of The Book Smugglers: Partisans, Poets, and the Race to Save Jewish Treasures from the Nazis (ForeEdge, 2017). Fishman's book tells the incredible story of the "Paper Brigade" of the Vilna Ghetto, who rescued thousands of books, manuscripts, documents, and objects of art from the murderous Germans seeking to both loot and destroy the Jews' cultural heritage. After the war, an effort was needed to save the collection from neglect or possible destruction at the hands of the officialdom of Soviet Lithuania. The book acquaints the reader in depth with the deeds and fates of the five key heroes of the Paper Brigade -- Shmerke Kaczerginski, Zelig Kalmanovitch, Rachela Krinsky, Herman Kruk, and Abraham Sutzkever -- as well as those of the chief villain, the Nazi book looter Johannes Pohl. The Book Smugglers won the National Jewish Book Award in 2017 for a work on the Holocaust. Additional info is available at the publisher's web page, here: https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/distributed/B/bo44307467.html

The interview is conducted by Sholem Beinfeld, a regular contributor to the Yiddish Voice, co-Editor in Chief of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary, and Professor of History, Emeritus, Washington University, St. Louis. Dr. Beinfeld served as principal consultant on the film Partisans of Vilna (credited as Solon Beinfeld). He was senior consultant and historian to the Kovno Ghetto Exhibition project of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and consultant to the Museum on the Ghetto archive holdings in the Lithuanian State Archives in Vilnius.

Music:

The song Vilna is heard "thematically" at several points throughout the program and played nearly in full at the end. Words by Efraim-Leyb Wolfson, music by Alexander Olshanetsky, performed by the Klezmer Conservatory Band, musical direction and piano by Hankus Netsky, sung by Judy Bressler, from the Record Album Yiddishe Renaissance.

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: May 2 2018

Samuel Kassow: Who Will Write Our History

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 26 Apr 2018 08:41:08 +0000

Historian Sam Kassow discusses Emanuel Ringelblum and the "Oyneg Shabbos Archive", the subject of his book "Who Will Write Our History" and the new film based on his book. The film, by director/producer Roberta Grossman and executive producer Nancy Spielberg, has recently been shown in preview form in Los Angeles and Warsaw and is expected to be released sometime in 2018. For information about the film see: whowillwriteourhistory.com

Report from Warsaw by Kobi Weitzner, brought to you by the Yiddish Forward, on the web at yiddish.forward.com

Songs of the Holocaust, Partizans, and Ghettos to close:

performer: song

Rochelle Horowitz: Yisrolik

Shomon Yisraeli: Zog Nit Keynmol

Norbert Horowitz: Shtil di Nakht

Norbert Horowitz: Farvos Iz Der Himl Geven Nekhtn Loyter

Khane Cooper: Shtiler, Shtiler

Wolf Krakowski: Varshe

Chava Alberstein: Friling

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: Apr 25 2018

70th Yom Haatsmaut Gitu Cycowics

The Yiddish Voice — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 09:10:59 +0000

Interview with Gitu Cycowics (nee Friedman), an Israeli, a resident of Jerusalem, also an Auschwitz survivor

Israel Report by Adam Gruzman, brought to you by the Yiddish Forward, on the web at yiddish.forward.com

From Israel's Kan national broadcast authority's "Kan Yiddish" department: Shaye Perelzon's Yiddish radio presentation for Yom Haatsmaut

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Israel/Yom Haatsmaut songs throughout:

performer: song

Seder Melodies (Choir): Hatikvoh

David Esheth: Yerusholayim, Shtot fun Gold

Sidor Belarsky: Yam Lid

Barry Sisters: Exodus

Shalom Katz: Shalom Shalom Yisroel

Shalom Katz: Yerusholayim

Air Date: Apr 18 2018

Mark Edelman et al 75 Years Since the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising for Yom HaShoah

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 12 Apr 2018 00:47:02 +0000

Interview with Marek Edelman, who was the last commander of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising to have lived, from 1996 is re-aired.

Sholem Beinfeld, a regular contributor to the Yiddish Voice, co-Editor in Chief of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary, and Professor of History, Emeritus, Washington University, St. Louis, discusses the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising generally as well as certain historical controversies.

Mark (Motl) Murstein of Brookline, MA, originally from Poland, presents his own Yiddish translation of Zydom Polskim (Tsu Di Poylishe Yidn) by the late Polish poet Wladyslaw Broniewski, which was written in honor of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising

Leon Weinstein and Natalie Gold: a Jewish father who fought in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of '43 and Warsaw Uprising of '44 recalls reuniting with his infant daughter, who'd been hidden in a convent, after the war. At the time of the interview, in 1913, he was 100 years old, and he's since passed away. His daughter, Natalie Gold, works as a psychologist and is active in the survivor and Jewish community in Los Angeles.

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Song: Zog Nit Keynmol, words by Hirsh Glick, music by Dimitri Pokrass, three recordings performed by: Emil Decamoron and his Orchestra; Shomon Yisraeli; and Sidor Belarski

Air Date: Apr 11 2018

Rav Izchak Kin: LeKoved Pesach

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 29 Mar 2018 01:14:20 +0000

Rav Izchak Kin: LeKoved Pesach

Izchak Kin, our esteemed guest rabbi for Pesach this year, teaches the class "Ein Yaakov", in Yiddish, a half hour before Mincha nearly every week day of the year at the venerable Shaarei Tefila Synagogue in Los Angeles. We are thankful to have him on our show. He not only answers our Shayles (questions) about Pesach, but sang us one of over 400 songs he knows as a Modzhitzer Khosid. Enjoy!

Greetings and ads from many friends, sponsors, and organizations. Most are new for this year, but three are by and in memory of: Hasia Segal, Iosif Lakhman, and Max Gelerman -- Z"L.

Special thanks to our sponsors: Israel Book Shop, The Butcherie Kosher Supermarket, BLER Travel, and Cheryl Ann's of Brookline Bakery

Numerous joyous and happy Passover songs.

A short excerpt from Rav Myer Loketch's 2007 Pesach presentation, talking about Pesach in Boston's Blue Hill Avenue Shul (formally known as Adas Yeshurin) community, including Moes Chitim campains in days of yore. (Adas Yeshurin wiki - historical info)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: Mar 28 2018

Best of Pesach 2

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 29 Mar 2018 00:51:13 +0000

Happy Passover!

אַ כּשרן און פֿרײלעכן פּסח!

Air Date: Mar 21 2018

Best of Pesach

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 29 Mar 2018 00:49:30 +0000

Happy Passover!

אַ כּשרן און פֿרײלעכן פּסח!

Air Date: Mar 14 2018

Tsirl Kuznitz

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 02:07:46 +0000

Cecille (Tsirl) Kuznitz, Assistant Professor of Jewish History and Director of Jewish Studies at Bard College, discusses her book YIVO and the Making of Modern Jewish Culture: Scholarship for the Yiddish Nation (Cambridge University Press), the first history of the YIVO Insitute. Originally published in 2014, the book recently came out in a new softcover edition in 2017. Further publication info is available here: http://www.cambridge.org/gb/academic/subjects/history/twentieth-century-european-history/yivo-and-making-modern-jewish-culture-scholarship-yiddish-nation

The interview was conducted by Sholem Beinfeld, a regular contributor to the Yiddish Voice, co-Editor in Chief of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary and Professor of History, Emeritus, Washington University, St. Louis.

Excerpts of the historic radio show that YIVO produced and broadcast in New York City on WEVD in the 1960's and '70's are presented at the end. These are courtesy of the recent "WEVD" podcast, a recent product of today's YIVO Institute and its Sound Archive. To find the podcast, search for "WEVD" in iTunes or any other podcast search system. YIVO website: https://www.yivo.org

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Outro/incidental music: AFN VEG SHTEYT A BOYM performed by Itzhak Perlman, Dov Seltzer, and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra

Air Date: Mar 7, 2018

Best of Purim 2

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 06:00:42 +0000

אַ פֿריילעכן פּורים

****HAPPY PURIM!

Air Date: Feb 28, 2018

Best of Purim

The Yiddish Voice — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 23:11:07 +0000

אַ פֿריילעכן פּורים

****HAPPY PURIM!

Air Date: Feb 21, 2018

Zvi Gitelman

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 08 Feb 2018 08:11:11 +0000

Zvi Gitelman is Professor of Political Science and Professor of Judaic Studies at the University of Michigan, where he studies ethnicity and politics, especially in former Communist countries, as well as Israeli politics, East European politics, and Jewish political thought and behavior. His most recent edited book is The New Jewish Diaspora: Russian-speaking Immigrants in the United States, Israel and Germany (Rutgers University Press, 2016). The interview was conducted by Sholem Beinfeld, a regular contributor to the Yiddish Voice, co-Editor in Chief of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary and Professor of History, Emeritus, Washington University, St. Louis.

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Songs to conclude:

Cantor Bela Herskowitz: Szal a Kakas Miar (Der Hun Kriet Shoyn)

Norbert Horowitz: Farvos Iz Der Himl Geven Nekhtn Loyter?

Air Date: Feb 7, 2018

Amram Deutsch & Esti (Jahr) Shnek (repeats) for International Holocaust Day

The Yiddish Voice — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 03:06:46 +0000

On 27 January 1945, Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration and death camp, was liberated by the Soviet Army. This Jan 27, 2018, is Holocaust Remembrance Day. We are observing the day by re-airing portions of interviews with two survivors of the death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Amram Deutsch is a survivor of Auschwitz from Sighet, now living in Los Angeles. Originally recorded and aired in 2015.

Esti Shnek (maiden name Jahr) is a survivor of Auschwitz from Jasina, Czechoslovakia (which is now Yasinya, Ukraine), now living in Haifa. Originally recorded and aired in 2017.

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Holocaust songs to conclude:
Adrienne Cooper: Shtiler, Shtiler

Chava Alberstein: Zog Nit Keynmol

Norbert Horowitz: Farvos Iz Der Himl Geven Nekhtn Loyter?

Norbert Horowitz: Shtil, Di Nakht Iz Oysgeshternt

Air Date: Jan 24, 2018

Shane Baker (New); Anita Norich (Repeat)

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 03:45:37 +0000

Shane Baker on Shloyme Mikhoels: we discuss the upcoming program by Kultur Kongres (http://congressforjewishculture.org) to honor the memory of the great Soviet Yiddish actor and director Shloyme Mikhoels on the 70th anniversary of his murder. On Thursday, January 18th, 2018 at 7 PM there will be a short lecture about the life of his theater, the GOSET, video presentations of materials with Mikhoels, readings from works about him, and presentations of musical and theatrical materials related to his life and work with the stars of stage and screen Yelena Shmulenson and Allen Lewis Rickman. The event will take place at the JCC on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and is free. (NOTE: pre-registration is required, and seating is highly limited.) Email kongres at earthlink dot net to register or get more info.

Replay of our May 2015 interview with Anita Norich, Professor of English and Jewish Studies at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, about her book, Writing in Tongues: Translating Yiddish in the Twentieth Century. Prof. Norich will give a lecture in Yiddish on the topic "Di kunst fun iberzetsn" ("The Art of Translating") this Sunday, Jan 21, 2018, at 1:30 PM at Sholem Aleichem Cultural Center, 3301 Bainbridge Avenue, Bronx, NY. Event info on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1843334362624673/

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Outro instrumental music: AFN VEG SHTEYT A BOYM performed by Itzhak Perlman, Dov Seltzer, and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra

Air Date: Jan 17, 2018

Hasia Segal: First Yahrtzeit Memorial

The Yiddish Voice — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 07:05:08 +0000

This is a special Yahrtzeit ("Yortsayt", or first-year memorial) program for Hasia Segal z"l, co-founder and co-host of the Yiddish Voice, whose who died one year ago, the night of January 16, 2017, which is 19 Teyves on the Jewish calendar. Therefore, her first yahrtzeit falls this week Saturday, January 6, 2018.

Our program features new remarks by cohosts Meyer, Sholem, and Dovid on the occasion of Hasia's first yahrtzeit.

The rest of the show is comprised of material presented in our special Shloyshim (30-day memorial) program presented last year on Feb. 15, 2017.

Participants include Rivke Basman Ben-Haim, Hankus Netsky, Ruth Shulman, Esther Ritchie, Iosif Lakhman (z"l), Dovid Braun, Sholem Beinfeld, and Mark David. Rivke Basman Ben-Haim, a world-renowned Yiddish poet and a good friend of Hasia's, presents a new, original poem that she composed specially for this occasion. Hankus Netsky is the founder of the Klezmer Conservatory Band and a leader in preserving and reviving Yiddish music, language, and culture. Shulman and Ritchie are Hasia's daughters. Lakhman was a regular participant on the Yiddish Voice for over a decade. Sadly, he himself passed away in June 2017. Braun, Beinfeld, and David are regular participants on the Yiddish Voice.

Original air date: Jan. 3, 2017

Photo: Dovid Braun and Hasia Segal z"l, 1990's, West Roxbury, MA

Photo: Sholem Beinfeld and Hasia Segal z"l, 2003, Brookline, MA

Bella Bryks-Klein, Boris Sandler

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 01:44:37 +0000

Bella Bryks-Klein spoke about Vos-Ven-Vu, her monthly guide to Yiddish happenings in Israel, as well as several of her many other activities related to Yiddish language and culture, in Israel, New York, and even Poland.

Boris Sandler talks about his new Yiddish web journal Yiddish Branzhe (https://yiddishbranzhe.com), which recently launched. Sandler says particularly wants to provide a showcase for younger writers and for Soviet-Yiddish writers who might otherwise be forgotten.

From our archive: Hasia Segal interviews Motl Geyzer, editor of a Moscow Jewish newspaper, from October 1996

The show began with Adam Gruzman's "Israel Report", courtesy of the Forverts Sho on the web at yiddish.forward.com.

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: December 27, 2017

Luzer Twersky (Repeat)

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 04:15:18 +0000

Basically a repeat of our Dec 8, 2017 show featuring an interview with Luzer Twersky, but with a new Israel Report by Adam Gruzman, courtesy of the Forverts Sho on the web at yiddish.forward.com.

Saul Noam Zaritt

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 14 Dec 2017 02:26:56 +0000

Saul Noam Zaritt is an assistant professor of Yiddish literature at Harvard University. He received his doctorate in Jewish literature from the Jewish Theological Seminary, and he is the founding editor of In geveb: A Journal of Yiddish Studies (ingeveb.org). We reached him by phone at his office in Cambridge, MA. The interview was conducted by Sholem Beinfeld, a regular contributor to the Yiddish Voice, co-Editor in Chief of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary and Professor of History, Emeritus, Washington University, St. Louis.

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Hanukkah greetings were presented by our lovely friends Motl Murstein, Sholem Beinfeld, and Dovid Braun.

Hanukkah Music:

Bruchas (Hanukkah blessing #1) by Ben Gailing, from Oy Chanukah (by The Klezmer Conservatory Band)

Blessing of the Candles (Brochot) (Hanukkah blessing #2) by Moishe Oysher, from "The Moishe Oysher Chanukah Party"

Shehechiyonu by David Kusevitsky, from "50 min with David Kusevitsky"

Mo-oz Tsur by Eli Lipsker's Children's Choir and Orchestra, solo by Avremel Friedman, from "Sing Original Chassidic Melodies"

Haneiros Hallolu (We Kindle These Candles) by Seymour Silbermintz & The Boys, from "Sing With Seymour"

Borukh Ate Zingt der Tate by Judith Clurman (conductor) with Essential Voices USA, from "Cherished Moments: Songs of the Jewish Spirit"

Ikh Bin a Kleyner Dreydl by Lori Cahan-Simon, words and music by Mikhl Gelbart, from "Chanukah is Freylekh! A Yiddish Chanukah Celebration. Songs My Bubbe Should Have Taught Me: Volume Two"

Kh'bin a Dreydl by Pripetshik Singers with Binyumin Schaechter as music director, words and music by Beyle Schaechter Gottesman, from "Fli, Mayn Flishlang"

Chanuke O Chanuke by Martha Schlamme, words and music by Mordkhe Rivesman, from "Sings Jewish Folk Songs"

Akht Likhtlekh by Pripetshik Singers, with with Binyumin Schaechter as music director, words and music by Beyle Schaechter Gottesman, from "Fli, Mayn Flishlang"

"O, Ir Kleine Lichtelech" by Sidor Belarsky with Vladimir Heifetz as music director, words by Morris Rosenfeld, from "Chanukah Festival of Songs"

Air Date: December 13, 2017

Luzer Twersky

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 08 Dec 2017 01:45:38 +0000

Luzer Twersky grew up speaking Yiddish in a Chassidic home in Boro Park but left that life behind as a young adult, cutting practically all ties with his family and community. He now works as an actor in film, television, and theater, performing both in Yiddish- and English-speaking roles. Twersky appears as one of the three subjects of the documentary One of Us, recently released on Netflix, which chronicles his and two others' break from Chassidic life. Currently, he is performing on the Yiddish stage in New York in the role of Sam Feinschreiber in "Awake and Sing!" (Yiddish title: "Vakh Oyf Un Zing"), written by Clifford Odets and translated into Yiddish by Chaver Paver. The play is being presented by the New Yiddish Rep theater company at New York's 14th Street Y in Union Square, with performances Wednesday through Sunday until Dec 24.

Related:

About Luzer Twersky:

Website: http://www.luzertwersky.net/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/twersky

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ltwersky/

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3872496/

About the film "One of Us":

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt7214842/

One of Us web site: https://lokifilms.com/one-of-us/

One of Us trailer, published by Netflix, on Youtube: https://youtu.be/uBPn5oQNutI

About the play "Awake and Sing"/"Vakh Oyf Un Zing" by New Yiddish Rep:

Article "Returning 'Awake and Sing!' to Its Yiddish Roots": https://www.tdf.org/articles/1790/Returning-Awake-and-Sing-to-Its-Yiddish-Roots

Article "New Yiddish Rep to Stage Clifford Odett's 'Awake and Sing'" (in Yiddish) in the Forverts: http://yiddish.forward.com/articles/206777/new-yiddish-rep-to-stage-clifford-odetts-awake-and/

New Yiddish Rep website: http://www.newyiddishrep.org/

14th St Y Tickets and Info: https://14streety.secure.force.com/ticket#details_a0S36000004qPjZEAU

The show began with Adam Gruzman's "Israel Report", courtesy of the Forverts Sho on the web at yiddish.forward.com.

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Outro music: Drei Dreidele and Happy Chanukah, sung by Cantor Moishe Oysher with chorus and orchestra, from the album The Moishe Oysher Chanukah Party with Abraham Ellstein as musical director

Air Date: De...

Noah Barrera

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 30 Nov 2017 08:59:36 +0000

Noah Barrera has become a serious activist on the Yiddish scene in New York City, where he has been a writer for Yiddish publications, worked in three Yiddish theaters, taught Yiddish language classes, and given talks in Yiddish. Our interview took place last August at the Yidish-Vokh, the week-long Yiddish retreat held each summer and sponsored by Yugntruf - Youth for Yiddish (https://yugntruf.org). Barrera was able to attend the Yidish-Vokh thanks to his successful "gofundme" campaign (see: https://www.gofundme.com/Noyekh-YidishVokh), and there he taught a workshop on Yiddish sex vocabulary based on his research in the archives of the YIVO Institute.

From our archives: Miriam Libenson Z"L: a talk in honor of Hanukkah, first aired on the Yiddish Hour in 1993.

The show began with Adam Gruzman's "Israel Report", courtesy of the Forverts Sho on the web at yiddish.forward.com.

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Outro music: CHANUKO OY CHANUKO, sung by Cantor Jacob Barkin with chorus directed by Sholom Secunda

Air Date: Novermber 29, 2017

Daniel Galai (Repeat); Hy Wolfe (Repeat)

The Yiddish Voice — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 03:02:26 +0000

Daniel Galai wrote about the sorry recent demise of the daily Yiddish-language broadcast in Israel in his recent article in the Yiddish Forward (Forverts), titled (in translation) "Troubling Fate For Israeli Yiddish Radio". The article is here:

http://yiddish.forward.com/articles/204522/troubling-fate-for-israeli-yiddish-radio/

We reached Daniel Galay by phone in Israel. Daniel Galay is Chairman of Leyvik House (http://www.leyvik.org.il/), the Association of Yiddish Writers and Journalists in Israel, as well as a composer and pianist. (This interview originally aired Jun 18, 2017.)

Hy Wolfe -- actor, singer, co-president of the Hebrew Actors' Foundation -- talks about recent developments with the organization and his vision for its future. (This interview originally aired on Aug 23, 2017.)

The show began with Adam Gruzman's "Israel Report", courtesy of the Forverts Sho on the web at yiddish.forward.com.

For Thanksgiving we played the historic "Interview with the Turkey", written and performed by the late great radio host, actor, and cantor Ben Gailing.

In honor of the 9 yortsayt of our friend, Mrs. Gertrude Brand, we played music by her late husband, the late great concert violinist Percy Brand, as heard on the Ben Gailing show some time in the late 1990's

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Outro instrumental music: AFN VEG SHTEYT A BOYM performed by Itzhak Perlman, Dov Seltzer, and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra

Air Date: Novermber 22, 2017

Mike Burstyn, Eitan Kensky

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 02:19:49 +0000

Eitan Kensky is Director of Collections at the Yiddish Book Center ((yiddishbookcenter.org)) as well as chairman of the board of In Geveb, the online journal of Yiddish studies ((ingeveb.org)), which he cofounded. Previously, he was the preceptor in Yiddish at Harvard University, where he received his PhD in Jewish studies. The interview was jointly conducted by Mark David and Sholem Beinfeld. We interviewed Eitan at Sholem's home in Cambridge, MA, in Oct 2017. Additional info: (https://ingeveb.org/people/eitan-kensky)

Mike Burstyn is a veteran American-Israeli actor and singer, who has also performed world wide on the Yiddish stage, having begun performing as a child in the famed Burstein family of actors. He recently wrote, directed, and produced the new Israeli feature film Azimuth, a drama that takes place at the end of the Six-Day War. The film was recently screened at the Los Angeles Israel Film Festival. We reached Mike by phone in Los Angeles yesterday. Additional info about Mike: (http://www.mikeburstyn.com/Bio.htm); and about the film Azimuth: (http://www.israelfilmfestival.com/films/azimuth/)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: Novermber 15, 2017

Sender Botwinik

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 09 Nov 2017 02:27:40 +0000

Alexander (Sender) Botwinik discussed the recently released CD of Yiddish art songs composed by his father, the Vilna-born Montreal composer David Botwinik, with lyrics by various Yiddish poets, and featuring vocal performances by internationally acclaimed opera singers Lisa Willson, John Packard, and Ian DeNolfo, as well as 2 bonus songs performed by the late world-renowned tenor Louis Danto.

The CD is called From Holocaust to Life, and is a companion to the book of the same name published by the League for Yiddish (www.leagueforyiddish.org) in 2010 containing 56 original musical compositions by David Botwinik, 15 of which are found on the new CD.

For further info:

Botwinik Music web site: http://botwinikmusic.com

CD Baby web page for "From Holocaust to Life": https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/davidbotwinik

Article about the CD (in Yiddish) in the Forverts: http://yiddish.forward.com/articles/202984/new-album-of-songs-by-david-botwinik/

The show began with Adam Gruzman's "Israel Report", courtesy of the Forverts Sho on the web at yiddish.forward.com.

We got sad news that Itzhak Luden, who was the long-time editor of Lebns-Fragn, the Yiddish Bundist journal in Israel. We played a short excerpt from his 2014 Yiddish Voice interview with a reading from his last book. Koved zayn ondenk!

Music:
Di Yunge Mame: Lisa Willson, soprano; lyrics: Avrom Sutzkever; music: David Botwinik

Men Ruft Mikh Milyon: Ian DeNolfo, tenor; lyrics: Shmerke Kaczerginsky; music: David Botwinik

Kum, Yeshayes Kholem: Lisa Willson, soprano; lyrics: M. M. Shaffir; music: David Botwinik

Der Letster Zumer: John Packard, heldentenor; lyrics and music: David Botwinik

Di Litvishe Shtetele: Louis Danto, tenor; lyrics: Joseph Jaffe; music: David Botwinik

Shalom Shalom Yisroel performed by Cantor Sholom Katz

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS from Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: Novermber 8, 2017

Elissa Bemporad (Bonus)

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 03 Nov 2017 22:20:10 +0000

Elissa Bemporad is the Jerry and William Ungar Associate Professor of East European Jewish History and the Holocaust at Queens College and the CUNY Graduate Center. She is the author of Becoming Soviet Jews: The Bolshevik Experiment in Minsk (Indiana University Press, 2013), winner of the National Jewish Book Award and of the Fraenkel Prize in Contemporary History. The Russian edition was recently published with ROSSPEN, in the History of Stalinism Series. She is currently finishing a book entitled Legacy of Blood: Jews, Pogroms, and Ritual Murder in the Lands of the Soviets, which will be published with Oxford University Press. Elissa is the co-editor of Women and Genocide: Survivors and Perpetrators (forthcoming with Indiana University Press in 2018), a collection of studies on the multifaceted roles played by women in different genocidal contexts during the twentieth century. She has recently been a recipient of an NEH Fellowship and a Fellowship at the Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC. In Spring 2018, Elissa will be a Distinguished CUNY Fellow at the Advanced Research Collaborative at the Graduate Center.

Sholem Beinfeld led these interviews with Professors Samuel Kassow and Elissa Bemporad, who, along with numerous other academic experts, will soon take part in the YIVO's conference JEWS IN AND AFTER THE 1917 RUSSIAN REVOLUTION, Sun/Mon Nov 5-6. See: https://yivo.org/1917

Bonus podcast: some of the interviews could not be included in the broadcast due to time limitations. This is a bonus podcast with material that could not be included in the original broadcast on Novermber 1, 2017.

Samuel Kassow (Bonus)

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 03 Nov 2017 22:18:37 +0000

Samuel Kassow is the Charles H. Northam Professor of History at Trinity College, and is recognized as one of the world’s leading scholars on the Holocaust and the Jews of Poland. Kassow was born in 1946 in a DP-camp in Stuttgart, Germany and grew up speaking Yiddish. Kassow attended the London School of Economics and Princeton University where he earned a PhD in 1976 with a study about students and professors in Tsarist Russia. He is widely known for his 2007 book Who Will Write Our History? Emanuel Ringelblum, the Warsaw Ghetto, and the Oyneg Shabes Archive (Indiana University Press). He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy for Jewish Research, has won numerous awards, and has lectured widely.

Sholem Beinfeld led these interviews with Professors Samuel Kassow and Elissa Bemporad, who, along with numerous other academic experts, will soon take part in the YIVO's conference JEWS IN AND AFTER THE 1917 RUSSIAN REVOLUTION, Sun/Mon Nov 5-6. See: https://yivo.org/1917

Bonus podcast: some of the interviews could not be included in the broadcast due to time limitations. This is a bonus podcast with material that could not be included in the original broadcast on Novermber 1, 2017.

Samuel Kassow, Elissa Bemporad

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 03 Nov 2017 21:06:40 +0000

Professors Samuel Kassow and Elissa Bemporad, along with numerous other academic experts, will soon take part in the YIVO's conference JEWS IN AND AFTER THE 1917 RUSSIAN REVOLUTION, Sun/Mon Nov 5-6. See: https://yivo.org/1917 We reached them by phone today for interviews that take up practically the whole hour. (And then some: there are bonus podcasts with even more!)

Samuel Kassow is the Charles H. Northam Professor of History at Trinity College, and is recognized as one of the world’s leading scholars on the Holocaust and the Jews of Poland. Kassow was born in 1946 in a DP-camp in Stuttgart, Germany and grew up speaking Yiddish. Kassow attended the London School of Economics and Princeton University where he earned a PhD in 1976 with a study about students and professors in Tsarist Russia. He is widely known for his 2007 book Who Will Write Our History? Emanuel Ringelblum, the Warsaw Ghetto, and the Oyneg Shabes Archive (Indiana University Press). He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy for Jewish Research, has won numerous awards, and has lectured widely.

Elissa Bemporad is the Jerry and William Ungar Associate Professor of East European Jewish History and the Holocaust at Queens College and the CUNY Graduate Center. She is the author of Becoming Soviet Jews: The Bolshevik Experiment in Minsk (Indiana University Press, 2013), winner of the National Jewish Book Award and of the Fraenkel Prize in Contemporary History. The Russian edition was recently published with ROSSPEN, in the History of Stalinism Series. She is currently finishing a book entitled Legacy of Blood: Jews, Pogroms, and Ritual Murder in the Lands of the Soviets, which will be published with Oxford University Press. Elissa is the co-editor of Women and Genocide: Survivors and Perpetrators (forthcoming with Indiana University Press in 2018), a collection of studies on the multifaceted roles played by women in different genocidal contexts during the twentieth century. She has recently been a recipient of an NEH Fellowship and a Fellowship at the Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC. In Spring 2018, Elissa will be a Distinguished CUNY Fellow at the Advanced Research Collaborative at the Graduate Center.

The interviews were conducted primarily by Sholem Beinfeld, co-editor-in-chief of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary and Professor of History, Emeritus, Washington University, St. Louis.

Bonus podcasts: some of the interviews could not be included in the broadcast due to time limitations, so check for bonus podcasts for more of each interview.

Music: Di Shvue, anthem of the Bund, performed by a youth choir led by Zalmen Mlotek

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS from Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: Novermber 1, 2017

Ari Hershkowitz (New); Zvi Gitelman (Repeat)

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 22:22:29 +0000

Ari Hershkowitz, one of the three subjects of the film One of Us, now showing on Netflix and in select theatres, which shows the struggles of young people leaving their insular New York Chassidic-Jewish community. See also: One of Us website: https://lokifilms.com/one-of-us/

Zvi Gitelman, professor of political science at University of Michigan, in an interview from 2009. Gitelman and numerous other academic experts will soon take part in the YIVO's conference JEWS IN AND AFTER THE 1917 RUSSIAN REVOLUTION, Sun/Mon Nov 5-6. See: https://yivo.org/1917Conference

Music: Di Kozakn: words and music by Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman, performed by Meyshke Alpert; Rusishe Sher (vintage klezmer), performed by Abe Schwartz Orchestra

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS from Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: October 25, 2017

Raphael Finkel, Christa Whitney

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 19 Oct 2017 17:36:27 +0000

Raphael Finkel, Professor of computer science at University of Kentucky, College of Engineering, in Lexington, KY, interviewed at the Yidish-Vokh in August 2017, discussed the vast collection of Yiddish resources he maintains online, largely with software he created, such as a searchable Yiddish-English dictionary and a searchable archive of the complete works of the writer Sholem Aleichem. Professor Finkel's Yiddish resources web page is online here: https://www.cs.uky.edu/~raphael/yiddish.html See also Prof. Finkel's Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raphael_Finkel

Christa Whitney, director of the Yiddish Book Center's Wexler Oral History Project, discussed Beyle: The Artist and Her Legacy, a a documentary short film currently in production of which she is producer and co-director. The film is about Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman, the late Yiddish activist poet, and artist. A kickstarter campain is currently underway to fund the film. See: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/yiddishbookcenter/beyle-the-artist-and-her-legacya-yiddish-book-cent Dovid Braun, who was and remains active in Beyle's extended Yiddish neighborhood, participated in the interview.

Music: Zumerteg: performance, words, and music by Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman; Harbstlid: performed by Janet Leuchter and Meyshke Alpert, words and music by Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS from Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air Date: October 18, 2017

Best of Succos: Itzchak Kin, Myer Loketch, Miriam Libenson z"l (Repeat)

The Yiddish Voice — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 06:07:35 +0000

NOTE: repeat of last week (Oct. 4, 2017) except for music at end: last three numbers were replaced by the last two numbers shown below for music.

Gut Yontef, Gut Yor!

We thank those who have pledged or made financial contributions to the Yiddish Voice during the past year. (Repeated from last week.)

We recall the names of Yiddish Voice friends, supporters, and participants who died during the past year. (Repeated from last week.)

Rav Itzchak Kin: a few questions about Succos. (Excerpt repeated from last week.)

Rav Myer Loketch: Succos: Di 4 Minim (The 4 Species) (Repeated from 2007.)

Miriam Libenson z"l: Succos and Simchas Torah (Repeated from the early 1990's)

Music: Suki Berry, et al: A Sukele; Mordche Kershman: Fun Geshem Kayn Gelt Iz Nito; Itzhak Perlman and the Klezmatics: Simkhes Toyre Time; Malavsky Family: Hoshano

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS from Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Additional background/incidental music: Cantor Gershon Sirota: "Keil Moleh Rachamim" ("God full of compassion", remembrance prayer for the departed)

Air Date: October 11, 2017

Best of Succos: Itzchak Kin, Myer Loketch, Miriam Libenson z"l

The Yiddish Voice — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 05:57:35 +0000

We thank those who have pledged or made financial contributions to the Yiddish Voice during the past year. (Repeated from last week.)

We recall the names of Yiddish Voice friends, supporters, and participants who died during the past year. (Repeated from last week.)

Rav Itzchak Kin: a few questions about Succos. (Excerpt repeated from last week.)

Rav Myer Loketch: Succos: Di 4 Minim (The 4 Species) (Repeated from 2007.)

Miriam Libenson z"l: Succos and Simchas Torah (Repeated from the early 1990's)

Music: Suki Berry, et al: A Sukele; Mordche Kershman: Fun Geshem Kayn Gelt Iz Nito; Sidor Belarsky: Sisu Vesimkhu (in Hebrew); Abe Schwartz Orchestra: Simkhes Toyre Nokh Di Hakofes (vintage klezmer/instrumental) Yidisher Orchestra: Simchas Torah (vintage klezmer/instrumental)

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS from Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Additional background/incidental music: Cantor Gershon Sirota: "Keil Moleh Rachamim" ("God full of compassion", remembrance prayer for the departed)

Air Date: October 4, 2017

Itzchak Kin: High Holiday Q&A

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 28 Sep 2017 15:22:34 +0000

We wish you all the best for a healthy, happy New Year. לשנה טובה תיכתבו ותיחתמו! ‏ מיר ווינטשן אײַך ״אַ גוט קוויטל״!

We thank those who have pledged or made financial contributions to the Yiddish Voice during the past year.

We recall the names of Yiddish Voice friends, supporters, and participants who died during the past year.

Rabbi Itzchak Kin: questions and answers for the ten days of repentance from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur.

Music: "Un'sane Tokef" (a part of the Musaf service for both Rosh Hashonah and Yom Kippur) performed by Shmuel Malavsky & Family and by Josef Rosenblatt (excerpt: "K'vakoras")

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS from Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Additional background/incidental music: Cantor Gershon Sirota: Keil Moleh Rachamim ("God full of compassion", remembrance prayer for the departed); Goldie Malavsky: Zochreinu L'Chayim; Itzhak Perlman, Dov Seltzer, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra: Afn Veg Shteyt A Boym

Air Date: September 27, 2017

Tania Lefman (Repeat); Miriam Libenson (Repeat)

The Yiddish Voice — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 23:10:42 +0000

We wish you all the best for a healthy, happy New Year. Le Shona Toyve! ‏לשנה טובה תיכתבו ותיחתמו‏

Tania Lefman (repeat from last week), Holocaust survivor, recalls both her happy childhood in prewar Koretz, Poland, as well as her struggle to stay alive after the German takeover in 1941. Mrs. Lefman is a founding and active member of the Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Descendants of Greater Boston.

Miriam Libenson (repeat, first aired on the Yiddish Hour, WBRS, in 1993): a discussion of Rosh Hashona/Yom Kippur, and featuring some of Miriam's own original poems

Music: Eastern-European style music of the High Holiday season in Yiddish and Hebrew by cantors Goldie Malavsky, Josef Rosenblatt

Music: Harbstlid: Words and Music by Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman, Sung by Janet Leuchter and Meyshke Alpert

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS from Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Ending instrumental music: AFN VEG SHTEYT A BOYM from Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (with Itzhak Perlman performing and Dov Seltzer conducting): Tradition

Air Date: September 20, 2017

Tania Lefman (New); Rav Avrohom Marmorstein (Repeat)

The Yiddish Voice — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 23:23:28 +0000

We wish you all the best for a healthy, happy New Year. Le Shona Toyve! לשנה טובה תיכתבו ותיחתמו

Rav Avrohom Marmorstein (repeat): a discussion of the High Holidays, and also a little about the Rabbi, his background, and about Yiddish. Rav Marmorstein is the director of Mehadrin Kashrus on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. For info: http://www.vaad.org/new-york-manhattan/mehadrin-kashrus/. (Note: shortened, edit version of an interview recorded and first aired in 2015.)

Tania Lefman, Holocaust survivor, recalls both her happy childhood in prewar Koretz, Poland, as well as her struggle to stay alive after the German takeover in 1941. Mrs. Lefman is a founding and active member of the Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Descendants of Greater Boston.

Music: Eastern-European style music of the High Holiday season in Yiddish and Hebrew by cantors Sholem Katz, Josef Rosenblatt, & Mordechai Herschman

Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS from Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Ending instrumental music: AFN VEG SHTEYT A BOYM from Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (with Itzhak Perlman performing and Dov Seltzer conducting): Tradition

Air Date: September 13, 2017

Mindl Cohen Pt. 2 (New); Rav Avrohom Marmorstein (Repeat)

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 00:36:45 +0000

Mindl Cohen: part two of our interview with the Editor-in-Chief of In Geveb, the online journal of Yiddish studies (ingeveb.org), as well as Harvard University's new Yiddish teacher. Part 1 aired last week. Special thanks to Sholem Beinfeld, Wash. Univ. professor emeritus of history and co-chief editor of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English dictionary, for help conducting the interview.

Rav Avrohom Marmorstein: a discussion of the High Holidays, and also a little about the Rabbi, his background, and about Yiddish. Rav Marmorstein is the director of Mehadrin Kashrus on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. For info: http://www.vaad.org/new-york-manhattan/mehadrin-kashrus/. (Note: shortened, edit version of an interview recorded and first aired in 2015.)

Music: Eastern-European style music of the High Holiday season in Yiddish and Hebrew by cantors Samual Malavsky (& Family), Berele Chagy, Leibele Waldman, & Moishe Koussevitzky

Air Date: September 6, 2017

Mindl Cohen, Leye Leavitt, Sholem Beinfeld

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 01 Sep 2017 01:38:31 +0000

Part one our interview with Mindl Cohen, Editor-in-Chief of In Geveb, the online journal of Yiddish studies (ingeveb.org), as well as Harvard University's new Yiddish teacher. Part 2 will air next week.

Special guests Leye Leavitt, Sholem Beinfeld, and with a cameo appearance by Rivke David, joining regular host Meyer David live in studio! Henceforth Leye/Sholem/Rivke/Meyer....

Greetings for the New Year Holidays from our Sponsors were read by Leye

Yiddish Cultural and Educational happenings closer to and farther from Boston were announced by Sholem, Meyer, and Leye

Leye gave a more in-depth report on Yiddish teaching at Boston Workmen's Circle this Summer.

Special cameo appearance by Rivke, who endorsed her former Yiddish teacher Leye, as well as Arbeter Ring chorus, having sung with them in the past.

Leye related her sublime Israel/Jewish travel experience from her summer

Meyer related bits of his terrific summer experience at Yidish-Vokh

Sholem and Leye Leavitt discussed their as yet unknown but hopefully soon to be roles as subtitlers of the forthcoming reissue of arguably the greatest Yiddish film of all time, Yidl Mitl Fidl.

Music: high holiday music by Malavsky Family, Cantor Sholem Katz; excerpts of songs that honor workers, in honor of our American holiday Labor Day: Mayn Rue Platz (Nikitov), Dem Milners Trern (Sidor Belarsky), Di Shvue (Mlotek Bundist Yugnt Khor)

Khaye Torenberg, Binyumin Schaechter, Hy Wolfe

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 16:42:42 +0000

Khaye Torenberg: interview with the former director of Mexico City's Colegio Israelita de Mexico, the first Jewish day school in Mexico

Binyumin Schaechter -- well-known musician, composer, arranger, songwriter -- gives a report on his recent appearance at a Yiddish conference in Stockholm

Hy Wolfe -- actor, singer, co-president of the Hebrew Actors' Foundation -- talks about recent developments with the organization and his vision for its future

Music: selections from the Milken CD Great Songs of the Yiddish Stage: Volume 1: Abraham Ellstein & Other Songwriters of His Circle (http://www.milkenarchive.org/music/albums/view/great-songs-of-the-yiddish-stage-volume-1)

Air Date: August 23, 2017

Khane-Faygl Turtletaub, Fanya Brantsovsky, Joel Wollman, Maykhl Ripinyik: Judy Altmann

The Yiddish Voice — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 04:50:31 +0000

Khane-Faygl Turtletaub reads her own story that appeared in a recent issue of the Yiddish Forward. See http://yiddish.forward.com/articles/204545/i-needed-this-dog-like-a-hole-in-the-head/?p=all

Fanya Brantsovsky talks about the Vilnius Yiddish Institute, which just ended its 17th summer session, and a bit about herself.

Joel Wollman, a collector of antiques, was interviewed about rare photographs which were recently published in the July 2017 issue of the Yiddish Moment Magazine. See http://momentmagazine.org for info.

Maykhl (tasty dish) Ripinyik: Judy Altmann from Stamford, CT, originally from Jasina, Czechoslovakia (pre-WWII), continues our mini series on a mysterious Yiddish word. She recalls a baked dish named "Ripinyik", a Yiddish word that seems to be only known to former inhabitants of the shtetl Jasina (as it was known in pre-WWII Czechoslovakia): listen to the recipe: if you have heard of this dish by another name, or you've heard of this dish by this name, please contact the Yiddish Voice and let us know: radio@yv.org More info on this "maykhl" will be given in a later broadcast.

Air Date: August 16, 2017

Sholem Beinfeld, Kolye Borodulin, Maykhl Ripinyik: Esti Shnek

The Yiddish Voice — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 04:00:22 +0000

Sholem Beinfeld is special guest host live in studio, discusses various topics, including the song "Rokhl mevako al boneho", which we audition through the Yiddish Song of the Week (https://yiddishsong.wordpress.com/2017/07/21/rokhl-mevako-al-boneho-performed-by-esther-korshin/)

Excerpts of Max Kohn's 2012 interview with the late Eli Wiesel in recognition of his first yortsayt

Excerpts of the late Iosif Lakhman's 2012 talk about the murdered Soviet-Yiddish writers for upcoming 65th anniversary of 12 August 1952, or the "Night of the Murdered Poets"

Kolye Borodulin is interviewed by phone about forthcoming Arbeter Ring (Workmen's Circle) "Yiddishland" adult summer camp and Fall 2017 Yiddish Internet classes

Maykhl (tasty dish) Ripinyik: Esti Shnek from Haifa, Israel, originally from Jasina, Czechoslovakia (pre-WWII), starts our mini series on a mysterious Yiddish word. She recalls a baked dish named "Ripinyik", a Yiddish word that seems to be only known to former inhabitants of the shtetl Jasina (as it was known in pre-WWII Czechoslovakia): listen to the recipe: if you have heard of this dish by another name, or you've heard of this dish by this name, please contact the Yiddish Voice and let us know: radio@yv.org More info on this "maykhl" will be given in a later broadcast.

Air Date: August 9, 2017

Danny Finkelman: Menashe; Simcha Simchovitch, Fishl Goldig (repeats)

The Yiddish Voice — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 02:19:41 +0000

An excerpt of our 2006 interview with Simcha Simchovitch in recognition of his recent passing and of the upcoming 65th anniversary of the 12th of August 1952, also known as the Night of the Murdered Poets.

Excerpts of our 2016 interview with Fishl Goldig, which we aired without his music. This time we have a lot less of his talk, but a bit more of his music.

Interview with Danny Finkelman, executive-producer of "Menashe", the hit Yiddish-language film.

Additional featured music: Mame-Loshn, CD by Nikitov, featuring Yiddish translations of English pop hits

Air Date: August 2, 2017

Menashe Lustig: Menashe (Film) (Re-Aired); Tisha B'Ov (Best-of)

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 01:31:32 +0000

Menashe Lustig is the both the star of the new film "Menashe" but the story is also based partially on his real life. We interviewed him this past May 2017 when the film had its opening at the Brattle Theatre in Cambridge, MA. Now that it's starting a national run on Los Angeles and New York, we are reairing the interview once again.

Related links:

Menashe (Film) on IMDB

Menashe (Film) Wikipedia page

In the second half of our show, we turn to sad semi-holiday Tisha B'Ov, which falls this coming week on Monday night and Tuesday, by featuring some of the best presentations from past years, namely, the late Miriam Libenson's 1995 presentation for Tisha B'Ov and excerpts from a much more recent (2010) interview about Tisha B'Ov in our time with Rabbi Simon Jacobson of the Meaning Life Center (https://www.meaningfullife.com/).

Air Date: July 26, 2017

Sholem Beinfeld, Boris Sandler, Leye Shporer-Leavitt

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 01:29:36 +0000

Various topics discussed with interesting guests. Sholem Beinfeld was live in studio. He is the co-chief editor of the recently published Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary, Professor Emeritus of History from Washington University in St. Louis, and serves on the Yiddish Committee of the Boston Workmen's Circle. Joining on the phone were Boris Sandler, the acclaimed Yiddish author and recently retired editor of the Yiddish Forverts, and Leye Shporer-Leavitt, Yiddish teacher and translator.

Air Date: July 19, 2017

Iosif Lakhman Shloyshim Memorial

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 01:27:33 +0000

A special "Shloyshim" program in memory of Iosif Lakhman, beloved co-host of our program, who also extremely active and involved "retirement" life since coming to Boston from the former Soviet Union in 1991.

Participants in the show included Sholem Beinfeld, Dovid Braun, Misha Khazin, Lillian (Leye) Shporer-Leavitt, Dina (Dobe) Ressler, and Mark David.

We heard excerpts of a broadcast of the Yiddish Voice from August 2012 featuring Iosif Lakhman in studio for the 60th anniversary of the 12 August 1952 "night of the murdered Yiddish poets", the killing of the leading Soviet Yiddish poets and writers on orders from Stalin, an event which Iosif was a masterful in memorializing for our community. Note that there are also "cameo" appearances by the Yiddish activist Arele Viswanath and the Yiddish language and literature professor Elke Kellman in this excerpt. Also, by the way, the full broadcast is currently featured and available for download from the online Forverts article in the links below.

We also heard excerpts of Iosif Lakhman's 2013 interview by Aaron Lansky, founder and president of the Yiddish Book Center. Thanks to the Wexler Oral History Project and the Yiddish Book Center for making this video and making excerpts available to us. See link below for Iosif Lakhman's Oral History for additional audio, video, and info.

Related links:

Iosif Lakhman, Yiddish Cultural Activist in Boston, Has Died -- in Yiddish -- obituary in the Forverts written by Misha Khazin.

Iosif Lakhman's Oral History -- in Yiddish -- Iosif Lakhman's 2013 interview for the Yiddish Book Center's Wexler Oral History project. (Note: Aaron Lansky, founder and president of the Yiddish Book Center, conducted this interview with Lakhman.)

Dear Dad -- in Russian -- a touching open letter from Iosif Lakhman's daughter Zina Lamm, looking back on their lives together. The letter was published on the web site of the Massachusetts Club of Russian-Speaking Scientists, of which Lakhman had been an active member until the very end.

Air Date: July 12, 2017

Jeanette Friedman

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 02:46:14 +0000

Jeanette Friedman is a writer, a publishing services consultant, a Holocaust education expert -- author of Why Should I Care?: Lessons From the Holocaust -- and a 2G and social activist who speaks her mind. She's proud of her yikhes and of the many religious gedoylim in her family, although she herself is off the derekh. We reached her for a wide-ranging interview at her home in Pennsylvania.

Air Date: July 5, 2017

Gella Schweid Fishman Shloyshim Memorial

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 01:00:49 +0000

A special "Shloyshim" program in memory of Gella Schweid Fishman, master Yiddish teacher and archivist of the secular Yiddish school movement in the USA.

Participants in the show include Dovid Fishman, Dov-Ber Kerler, Rukhl Schaechter, Dovid Braun, and Mark David. Fishman, who is Gella Fishman's son, is Professor of Jewish History at Jewish Theological Seminary. Kerler is Professor of Jewish Studies and Germanic Studies at Indiana University. Rukhl Schaechter is Editor of the Yiddish Forward newspaper and web site yiddish.forward.com. Braun and David are regular participants on the Yiddish Voice.

Thanks for audio excerpts of Gella Fishman's 2016 interview by Christa Whitney, director of the Yiddish Book Center's Wexler Oral History Project. Thanks to Christa and Wexler! See link below additional audio, video, and info.

Related links:

Gella Fishman Fought Hard for the Dignity of Yiddish -- editorial in Yiddish by the Forverts

Yiddish Teacher and Archivist Gella Schweid Fishman Has Died (Yiddish) -- obituary in Yiddish in the Forverts written by Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath

Yiddish Teacher And Archivist Gella Schweid Fishman Has Died (English) -- obituary in English in the Forward written by Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath

Gella Schweid Fishman's Oral History -- 2016 interview by the Yiddish Book Center's Wexler Oral History project

Air Date: June 21, 2017

Daniel Galai: Israel's Cancellation of Daily Yiddish Radio Broadcast

The Yiddish Voice — Sun, 18 Jun 2017 13:30:23 +0000

Daniel Galay wrote about the sorry recent demise of the daily Yiddish-language broadcast in Israel in his recent article in the Yiddish Forward (Forverts), titled (in translation) "Troubling Fate For Israeli Yiddish Radio". The article is here:

http://yiddish.forward.com/articles/204522/troubling-fate-for-israeli-yiddish-radio/

We reached Daniel Galay by phone in Israel. Daniel Galay is Chairman of Leyvik House (http://www.leyvik.org.il/), the Association of Yiddish Writers and Journalists in Israel, as well as a composer and pianist.

Also on this week's show:

We continue with an excerpt of an interview with Hasia Segal, the late former co-host of the Yiddish Voice, which was recorded at her summer home on Cape Cod (Massachusetts) in 2008.

We also continue with an excerpt of an interview with Arieh London that we first aired in 2010, the late former host of Kol Israel (Israel state radio), who recently passed away. Article in Forverts: http://yiddish.forward.com/articles/204381/lively-yiddish-radio-host-arie-london-has-died/

Air Date: June 14, 2017

Avremi Zak and Iosif Lakhman Death Announcement

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 00:45:00 +0000

Iosif Lakhman, co-host of this Yiddish Voice radio show and podcast, died yesterday (June 6, 2017). Dovid Braun gives a short announcement of his death, which was sudden, and no funeral details were available. A Shloyshim (memorial) program is planned and will be announced in the coming weeks.

The featured interview on this show is with Avremi Zak, who worked for the Yiddish service of Kol Israel, the Israel Broadcast Authority (IBA)'s radio service, until its recent closing. We cover the closing of IBA, as well as other recent events in Israel.

Also on this week's show:

We announce sadly that Arieh London, the former host of the Yiddish service of Kol Israel, died recently. We present a short excerpt of an interview he did with the Yiddish Voice in 2010.

We play an excerpt of an interview with Hasia Segal, the late former co-host of the Yiddish Voice, which was recorded at her summer home on Cape Cod (Massachusetts) in 2008.

Air Date: June 7, 2017

Rabbi Itzchak Kin: Shvues, Yom Yerusholayim; Shulman and Cycowicz: Trump in Israel

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 25 May 2017 00:40:12 +0000

Special guests and special themes:

Shvues and Yom Yerusholayim: Rabbi Itzchak Kin of Los Angeles, originally from Israel, talks about the holiday Shvues, as well as his memories of Jerusalem and the Six-Day War

Israel and Trump's Visit: discussed by Ruth Shulman of Tel Aviv and Gitu (Giselle) Cycowicz of Jerusalem

Air Date: May 24, 2017

Dovid Roskies (Part 2, Replay) and Gella Schweid-Fishman Death Announcement

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 18 May 2017 02:06:33 +0000

Gella Schweid-Fishman died yesterday (May 16, 2017). Dovid Braun gives a short announcement of her death, including funeral details, as well as some details about the life of the beloved Yiddish activist. See also this article (in Yiddish) in Forverts: http://yiddish.forward.com/articles/204111/yiddish-teacher-and-archivist-gella-schweid-fishma/

The featured interview on this show is with Professor Dovid Roskies. It is a slightly shortened version the interview that we originally aired Nov. 30, 2017.

Also on this week's show:

We announce that sadly the daily Yiddish radio shows that for decades have been a part of the Israeli state broadcasting service, better known as Kol Israel, have been canceled. They will apparently be "replaced" by a weekly show.

Various music is also performed, notably by the Dutch band Nikitov, which is on tour and will be playing several concerts this month on the East Coast of the USA, including a few in Boston. More info here: http://nikitov.com

Air Date: May 17, 2017

Menashe Lustig

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 27 Apr 2017 01:04:03 +0000

On the Yiddish Voice tonight we have a very interesting guest. He's an actor and entertainer, but no ordinary one. He is a Chareidi Jew, specifically a Skverer Chossid. In his relatively short life he has suffered no small amount. He's a widower. He not only lost his wife, but then they wanted to take his son away from him. All that and more make up the plot of a new movie named "Menashe", in which this man, whose name stage name is Menachem Lustig, play the leading role. Menachem Lustig is our guest with an interview on this week's show.

Also on this week's show:

In honor of Israel Independence Day (Yom Haatsmaut): from our archives: Hasia Segal talks about a relatively unsung hero of Israel, and a Bostonian, the late Dewey Stone.

News report by Avremi Zaks via Kol Yisrael in Jerusalem (http://www.iba.org.il/world/)

Air Date: April 26, 2017

Judy Altmann, Yakob Basner: Yom HaShoah

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 20 Apr 2017 06:54:26 +0000

For Yom HaShoah (Holocaust commemoration day), which occurs this year on Apr. 23, 2017, we present interviews conducted today with Holocaust survivors Yakob Basner and Judy Altmann. Basner was born and raised in Riga, Latvia. He survived the Riga ghetto, five concentration camps, and a death march. We reached Basner by phone at his home in Seal Beach, CA. Altmann was born and raised in Jasina, Czechoslovakia, a small town in the Carpathian mountains (now Yasinya, Ukraine). She survived Auschwitz, labor camps, and a death march to the Bergen Belsen concentration camp. We reached Altmann by phone at her home in Stamford, CT.

Air Date: April 19, 2017

Sylvia Bialik: "Der Yidisher Idol"

The Yiddish Voice — Sun, 16 Apr 2017 05:36:47 +0000

Interview with the Sylvia Bialik, organizer of the "Yiddish Idol" ("Der Yidisher Idol") in Mexico City, a Yiddish singing and songwriting competition whose submission deadline comes later this month (April 23, 2017). See also "Der Yidisher Idol" web site (in Spanish and English):

http://deridisheridol.com

Also on this week's show:

Pesach music and Pesach greetings from sponsors and friends.

Hasia Segal: Di Veltlekhe Hagode (highlights of the Arbeter Ring haggadah; from 1991)

Air Date: April 12, 2017

Jake Turx

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 00:50:08 +0000

Interview with the reporter known as Jake Turx, Whitehouse correspondent for Ami Magazine. His question about anti-semitism at the first press conference of President Donald Trump on Feb. 16 caused a stir because Trump became angry at him, cutting him off, telling him to sit down, and accusing him of dishonesty. "A Jewish Reporter Got to Ask Trump a Question.", read a New York Times headline on Feb. 17, 2017, "It Didn’t Go Well." (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/17/us/politics/trump-press-conference-jake-turx.html)

See also Jake Turx's page at Ami Magazine:

http://www.amimagazine.org/author/jake-turx/

And follow Jake on Twitter: @JakeTurx

Also on this week's show:

Pesach music and Pesach greetings from sponsors and friends.

News report by Avremi Zaks via Kol Yisrael in Jerusalem (http://www.iba.org.il/world/)

Air Date: April 5, 2017

Best of Pesach (Replays)

The Yiddish Voice — Wed, 05 Apr 2017 07:14:22 +0000

Replays of some of our best Pesach presentations:

Hasia Segal: Di Veltlekhe Hagode (highlights of the Arbeter Ring haggadah; from 1991)

Rav Avrhohom Marmorstein: Passover Q&A (from 2015)

Myer Loketch: Pesach, Chometz, and Chaim Brisker (from 2007)

Pesach music by Bruce Adler, Richard Tucker, and Moyshe Oysher

Pesach greetings by Dovid Braun, Iosif Lakhman, Misha Khazin, Shimshon Ehrenfeld, Eli Dovek, and Max Gelerman (z"l).

News report by Avremi Zaks via Kol Yisrael in Jerusalem (http://www.iba.org.il/world/)

Air Date: Mar. 29, 2017

Esti (Jahr) Shnek: From Jasina to Haifa

The Yiddish Voice — Wed, 05 Apr 2017 06:45:49 +0000

Interview with Esti Shnek (maiden name: Jahr), born in Jasina, Czechoslovakia, in 1924, survivor of Auschwitz, and now a resident of Haifa, interviewed at her home in February 2017.

News report by Avremi Zaks via Kol Yisrael in Jerusalem (http://www.iba.org.il/world/)

From the archives: Hasia Segal interviews Brukhe Kipnis, daughter of famed Yiddish writer Itzik Kipnis (from the 1990's). (This is the second part of the interview: the first part aired the previous week.) Further info: http://www.yivoencyclopedia.org/article.aspx/Kipnis_Itsik

Air Date: Mar. 22, 2017

Myrna Rabinowitz: Lullabies And Longings

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 19:53:08 +0000

Interview with Myrna Rabinowitz and music from her new CD "Lullabies And Longings". Further info: http://www.myrnarabinowitz.com/2.html

News report by Avremi Zaks via Kol Yisrael in Jerusalem (http://www.iba.org.il/world/)

From the archives: Hasia Segal interviews Brukhe Kipnis, daughter of famed Yiddish writer Itzik Kipnis (from the 1990's). Further info: http://www.yivoencyclopedia.org/article.aspx/Kipnis_Itsik

Air Date: Mar. 15, 2017

Purim! (Best of)

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 19:33:46 +0000

Purim music and best of past presentations on Purim from our archive by Miriam Libenson, Hasia Segal, Iosif Lakhman, Michael Wex.

News report by Avremi Zaks via Kol Yisrael in Jerusalem.

From the archives: Hasia Segal: Purim and Jewish Humor (from 2008, same as last week, but longer: full 16 1/2 minutes)

Air Date: Mar. 8, 2017

Moshe Avital, author of Not To Forget, Impossible to Forgive (Part 2, replay from 2016)

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 18:07:33 +0000

Holocaust survivor, educator, and author Moshe Avital discusses his book Not To Forget, Impossible to Forgive. (Part 2) For further information: www.mosheavital.com (originally aired on Nov. 2, 2016)

From the archives: Hasia Segal: Purim and Jewish Humor (from 2008)

Air Date: Mar. 1, 2017

Moshe Avital, author of Not To Forget, Impossible to Forgive (Part 1, replay from 2016)

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 19:26:05 +0000

Holocaust survivor, educator, and author Moshe Avital discusses his book Not To Forget, Impossible to Forgive. (Part 1) For further information: www.mosheavital.com (originally aired on Oct. 26, 2016)

From the archives: Hasia Segal reads the Sholom Aleichem story "Nakhes fun Kinder" for Purim.

Air Date: Feb. 22, 2017

Hasia Segal Shloyshim Memorial

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 01:55:51 +0000

This is a special "Shloyshim" (memorial) program for Hasia Segal z"l, co-founder and co-host of the Yiddish Voice, who died January 16, 2017. Participants in the show include Rivke Basman Ben-Haim, Hankus Netsky, Ruth Shulman, Esther Ritchie, Iosif Lakhman, Dovid Braun, Sholem Beinfeld, and Mark David. Rivke Basman Ben-Haim, a world-renowned Yiddish poet and a good friend of Hasia's, presents a new, original poem that she composed specially for this occasion. Hankus Netsky is the founder of the Klezmer Conservatory Band and a leader in preserving and reviving Yiddish music, language, and culture. Shulman and Ritchie are Hasia's daughters. Lakhman, Braun, Beinfeld, and David are regular participants on the Yiddish Voice.

Original air date: Feb. 15, 2017

Sholem Berger on Making Sense of Medicine

The Yiddish Voice — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 06:32:20 +0000

Zackary (Sholem) Berger, M.D., Ph.D., is the author of the new book Making Sense of Medicine: Bridging the Gap between Doctor Guidelines and Patient Preferences (amzn.to/2kiKpLT). We reached him by phone in Baltimore, MD, to talk about his new book, primarily, and a few other things.

In memory of our cofound and cohost Hasia Segal o"h (see http://yiddishvoice.com/#announcements) we played one of Hasia's segments from our archives, an interview with Professor Rabbi Dovid Neiman (o"h). We'll be continuing to air segments from Hasia's radio archives in the coming weeks until our Shloyshim (Memorial) program, scheduled for Feb. 15, 2017.

Also: news report from Kol Israel in Jerusalem presented by Avremi Zaks.

Original broadcast date: Feb. 2, 2017. NOTE: The interview with Zackary (Sholem) Berger was repeated the following week, Feb. 9, 2017.

Sosye Fox on Vaybertaytsh

The Yiddish Voice — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 06:16:50 +0000

Sosye Fox is the host and producer of Vaybertaytsh, a new podcast in Yiddish that calls itself "a feminist podcast for the Yiddish-speaking and Yiddish-curious". We reached her by phone in Tel Aviv.

Hasia Segal o"h: reaired our report on the sad news of the passing of Hasia Segal. For further details, see our web site in the announcement section, here: http://yiddishvoice.com/#announcements In this broadcast we played one of Hasia's segments from our archives, an interview with Yiddishist Rabbi Gershon Winer (o"h). We'll be continuing to air segments from Hasia's radio archives in the coming weeks until our Shloyshim (Memorial) program, scheduled for Feb. 15, 2017.

Also: news report from Kol Israel in Jerusalem presented by Avremi Zaks.

Original broadcast date: Jan. 25, 2017

Mira Kessler in "Got fun Nekome", Passing of Hasia Segal

The Yiddish Voice — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 06:23:26 +0000

Mira Kessler is a rising star of the Yiddish theater scene in New York with a major supporting role in the new hit of the season Got fun Nekome (God of Vengeance), now being performed by New Yiddish Rep (http://newyiddishrep.org). We spoke to her by phone this morning.

Hasia Segal o"h: Dovid and Meyer were extremely saddened to announce that Hasia Segal died this past Monday night, January 16, 2017. Hasia (whose name you'll also find spelled Chasia, Chassia, or Khasye, and in English as Harriet) was a co-founder of the Yiddish-language radio show "The Yiddish Voice" (WUNR-1600AM, from 1994 to the present) and its predecessor "The Yiddish Hour" (WBRS-100.1FM, years 1990-1994). Further details were given on the air, and are currently on our web site in the announcement section, here: http://yiddishvoice.com/#announcements In this broadcast we played one of Hasia's segments from our archives, a presentation about the Boston Zionist hero Dewey Stone. We'll be continuing to air segments from Hasia's radio archives in the coming weeks until our Shloyshim (Memorial) program, scheduled for Feb. 15, 2017.

Also: news report from Kol Israel in Jerusalem presented by Avremi Zaks.

Original broadcast date: Jan. 18, 2017

Online Yiddish: Brukhe Lang, Kolye Borodulin

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 09:04:16 +0000

Workmen's Circle Online Yiddish Classes (circle.org) are offered online with real live instructors and their students communicationg via video chat sessions. We spoke to Kolye Borodulin, who runs the operation, besides teaching one of the courses.

Yiddish Pop is a web site, yiddishpop.com, giving online, automated Yiddish classes with animation and sound geared toward grade school age kids. We spoke about Yiddishpop with Brukhe Lang, who writes the course materials.

Also: news report from Kol Israel in Jerusalem presented by Avremi Zaks.

Original broadcast dates: Jan. 4, 2017, and repeated verbatim (except for news update) the following week, Jan. 11, 2017

Daniel Kahn

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 09:01:43 +0000

Interview with Daniel Kahn. He recently had a viral Yiddish music video of him singing his own Yiddish translation of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, which was released almost at the same as the news that Leonard Cohen had just died. We reached Daniel Kahn by phone in Berlin, Germany.

Also: news report from Kol Israel in Jerusalem presented by Avremi Zaks.

Original broadcast date: Dec. 21, 2016

Hanukkah with Segal and Libenson (Repeats)

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 08:59:04 +0000

From our archives: Replays of Miriam Libenson (o"h) and Hasia Segal (tsu lange yor) of Hanukkah presentations, along with Hanukkah music and greetings from friends and cohosts. Hasia Segal's Hanukkah presentation for Hanukkah is from 1991, and Miriam Libenson's presentation for Hanukkah is from 1993. Both were originally broadcast on Di Yidishe Sho (The Yiddish Hour) on WBRS 100.1 FM/Waltham, MA. Hanukkah music rounds out the show.

Also: news report from Kol Israel in Jerusalem presented by Avremi Zaks.

Original broadcast date: Dec. 28, 2016

Sidney Polak

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 04:56:28 +0000

Interview with Sidney Polak. Like his good friend Fishl Goldig, who was our guest last week, he's been performing for years in the Yiddish theatre of Montreal, and also, like Fishl, he's a Holocaust survivor. We interviewed him last month at a convention of holocaust survivors in Los Angeles. You'll learn more about him in our interview.

Also: news report from Kol Israel in Jerusalem presented by Avremi Zaks.

Original broadcast date: Dec. 14, 2016

Philip "Fishl" Goldig

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 04:07:59 +0000

Interview with Philip Goldig (Yiddish name: Fishl). He's been a performer for years in the Yiddish theatre of Montreal. He also serves as a High Holiday cantor. We interviewed him last month at a convention of holocaust survivors in Los Angeles. You'll learn more about him in our interview.

Also: news report from Kol Israel in Jerusalem presented by Avremi Zaks.

Original broadcast date: Dec. 7, 2016

David G. Roskies (Pt. 2 of 2)

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 17:05:22 +0000

Interview with Prof. David G. Roskies. This is part 2 of 2. Part 1 aired last week.

About Dr. Roskies: David G. Roskies is the Sol and Evelyn Henkind Chair in Yiddish Literature and Culture and a professor of Jewish literature at The Jewish Theological Seminary. Since 2013, he has also served as the Naomi Prawer Kadar Visiting Professor of Yiddish Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Dr. Roskies was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2012.

Roskies has published nine books, including, notably, Yiddishlands (2008), a personal and family memoir described as a "whirlwind tour of modern Yiddish culture", which is discussed in detail in his interview with the Yiddish Voice. Roskies received his undergraduate and graduate education at Brandeis University, where he received his doctorate in 1975. He was an early member of the highly influential Havurat Shalom in Somerville, MA, and co-founded Yugntruf (Youth for Yiddish; yugntruf.org), an organization of Yiddish-speaking young adults.

Also: music: Vaserl (Yugntruf); Rozhinkes mit Mandlen (Freydele Oisher); Besarabye (Miryem-Khaye Seigel; Dem Milners Trern (Yiddish Princess)

David G. Roskies (Pt. 1 of 2)

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 24 Nov 2016 01:42:31 +0000

Interview with Prof. David G. Roskies. This is part 1 of 2. Part 2 airs next week.

About Dr. Roskies: David G. Roskies is the Sol and Evelyn Henkind Chair in Yiddish Literature and Culture and a professor of Jewish literature at The Jewish Theological Seminary. Since 2013, he has also served as the Naomi Prawer Kadar Visiting Professor of Yiddish Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Dr. Roskies was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2012.

Roskies has published nine books, including, notably, Yiddishlands (2008), a personal and family memoir described as a "whirlwind tour of modern Yiddish culture", which is discussed in detail in his interview with the Yiddish Voice. Roskies received his undergraduate and graduate education at Brandeis University, where he received his doctorate in 1975. He was an early member of the highly influential Havurat Shalom in Somerville, MA, and co-founded Yugntruf (Youth for Yiddish; yugntruf.org), an organization of Yiddish-speaking young adults.

Also: in honor of Thanksgiving: "Intervyu Mitn Toyrki" (Interview with a Turkey) by the late Yiddish radio host, actor, and cantor Ben Gailing, from his radio show "Der Freylekher Kabtsen". Thanks to Hankus Netsky, tsu lange yor, Ben's producer, for this recording.

Theo Bikel (replay from 2015) AND Mikhoel Felsenbaum (part 1) (replay from 2014)

The Yiddish Voice — Tue, 22 Nov 2016 22:20:22 +0000

Interviews:

* Theo Bikel, in his last Yiddish interview before hd died in June 2015, discussed his autobiography "Theo" and the film "Theodore Bikel: In the Shoes of Sholom Aleichem" (originally aired May 2015) * Mikhoel Felsenbaum, novelist, poet, and playwright, discussed his early life in part 1 of an interview recorded and originally aired in 2014.

Vera Szabo - ed. Yiddish-English/English-Yiddish Dictionary & Phrasebook (replay from 2012) AND H. Bochner/S. Beinfeld - eds. Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary (replay from 2012)

The Yiddish Voice — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 21:07:37 +0000

Interviews:

Vera Szabo, editor of Yiddish-English/English-Yiddish Dictionary & Phrasebook (replay from 2012)

Harry Bochner and Solon Beinfeld, editors of Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary (replay from 2012)

Episode Title: Moshe Avital, author of Not To Forget, Impossible to Forgive (Part 2) AND Harold Minuskin, translator of My Children, My Heroes (replay from 2013)

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 00:57:43 +0000

Holocaust survivor, educator, and author Moshe Avital discusses his book Not To Forget, Impossible to Forgive. (Part 2)

For further information:

ALSO: Harold Minuskin, who adapted and translated of his mother's memoirs as the book "My Children, My Heroes: Memoirs of a Holocaust Mother" (2009) (replay from 2013)

For further information: [My Children, My Heroes: Memoirs of a Holocaust Mother](
Air Date: Nov. 2, 2016

Moshe Avital, author of Not To Forget, Impossible to Forgive (Part 1)

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 02:23:13 +0000

Holocaust survivor, educator, and author Moshe Avital discusses his book Not To Forget, Impossible to Forgive. (Part 1)

Air Date: Oct. 26, 2016

Succos with Miriam Libenson and Myer Loketch (Replays) [repeat]

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 02:18:18 +0000

For Succos and Simchas Torah: Miriam Libenson z"l (from the '90's) and Myer Loketch (from 2006)

(Note: this is REPEAT of last week's episode except for the introductory announcement about the death Nora Bogot and the news from Israel.)

Succos with Miriam Libenson and Myer Loketch (Replays)

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 22:40:18 +0000

For Succos and Simchas Torah: Miriam Libenson z"l (from the '90's) and Myer Loketch (from 2006)

Yomim Noroim with Dovid Braun (repeat), Khazn Moshe Kraus Pt 2 (repeat from 2010)

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 02:28:31 +0000

Dovid Braun reviews Yomim-Noroyim greetings (repeat from last week)

Khazn Moshe Kraus (Ottowa) 2010 Interview, Part 2 (repeat; part 1 was last week)

Yom-Tov greetings from Mark Murstein and many sponsors and friends.

Musical highlights: Yosele Rosenblatt: Kol Nidre, Sholom Katz: Zochreinu L'Chayim; Jennie Goldstein: Ovinu Malkeynu; Malavsky Family: Unsanneh Tokef; Leibele Waldman: Shofar Shel Moshiach

Erev Rosh Hashone with Boris Sandler, Dovid Braun, Cantor Moshe Kraus (repeat from 2010), et al

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 30 Sep 2016 00:20:46 +0000

Boris Sandler gives an update on his post-retirement doings.

Dovid Braun reviews Yomim-Noroyim greetings.

Khazn Moshe Kraus (Ottowa) 2010 Interview, Part 1 (repeat)

Yom-Tov greetings from Mark Murstein and many sponsors and friends.

Nusekh Yidish-Vokh: Verterbukh-Shpil (Dictionary Game), Perl Teitelbaum Sings

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 01 Sep 2016 01:15:08 +0000

We invented a new Yiddish game show for our radio show called Verterbukh-Shpil, a variant of Fictionary (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fictionary), and we recorded it being played in front of a live audience at the annual Yiddish Week (Yidish-Vokh) in Copake, NY, in recognition of the recent publication of Yiddish dictionaries, several of whose creators were on hand, taking advantage of the presence of the lively Yiddish-speaking audience present at Yugntruf ()'s annual "Yiddish Week".

Naturally, hilarity ensued ... in Yiddish!

Listen to tonight's show, and you'll laugh a little while testing and improving your own knowledge of Yiddish. We recommend you have a pencil handy so you can write down the words, and try playing yourself!

Air Date: August 31, 2016

Motl Murstein: Holocaust Poem Translated from Polish (new); English Yiddish Dictionary Interviews (repeat)

The Yiddish Voice — Wed, 31 Aug 2016 17:27:17 +0000

Local long-time listener and occasional contributor Mark (Motl) Murstein recited his own translation of a poem written in Polish about the Holocaust, which to our knowledge had never been translated, much less broadcast, before! Also, Mark gave sang us a "popular" song, of which we have to date not found any recordings.

Also, we replayed excerpts of the interview aired July 13, 2016, with English-Yiddish Dictionary editors, which we described as follows:

Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath and Paul (Hershl) Glasser, the editors of the just-published Comprehensive English-Yiddish Dictionary. Airing part 1 tonight (7/13/16) and part 2 next week (7/20/16). Interviewers: Iosif Lakhman and Dovid Braun.

Check out dictionary web page at League for Yiddish: http://store.leagueforyiddish.org/verterbukh.html

Air date: August 24, 2016

Fyvush Finkel Interview (2010), Iosif Lakhman: 12 August 1952 (replay)

The Yiddish Voice — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 03:04:27 +0000

Air date: August 17, 2016

Elie Wiesel: Shloyshim (In Memoriam); Tisha B'Ov: An Interview with Rabbi Simen Jacobson (replay)

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 07:05:00 +0000

Part 1: Elie Wiesel: Shloyshim (In Memoriam). Featuring a 2012 interview of Elie Wiesel by Max Kohn, originally broadcast on SBS Radio Australia's Yiddish service, and an excerpt of Wiesel's first book, in Yiddish, "Un Di Velt Hot Geshvign", from the Jewish Public Library of Montreal's collection, courtesy of the National Yiddish Book Center's online archive.

Part 2: Tisha B'Ov: An Interview with Rabbi Simen Jacobson (replay).

Elye Davis: Yidish-Vokh; Dovid Weiss-Halivni and Joseph Pollak: For Elie Wiesel's 80th Birthday; Sheva Zucker: from Yidish-Vokh (Re-replays)

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 06:59:56 +0000

[Replay from previous week almost exactly except for a brief announcement to that effect near beginning. Sorry, it's summer. :))

Elye Davis from Yugntruf.org talks about the Yidish-Vokh. (replayed from last week's show)

Rabbis Dovid Weiss-Halivni and Joseph Pollak celebrated Elie Wiesel's 80th birthday in 2008 here in Boston and were interviewed by the Yiddish Voice. Here are some excerpts from those interviews, which we last played in 2008. Note: we'll have a full program on Elie Wiesel for the Shloyshim next week.

Sheva Zucker, exec. dir. of League for Yiddish, interviewed by Iosif Lakhman, talking about various things in the Yiddish world. Replayed from 2008.

Miriam Libenson o"h, or beloved late poet and holiday presenter, discusses Tisha B'Ov and the Three Weeks of mourning. Replayed from early 1990's.

Elye Davis: Yidish-Vokh; Dovid Weiss-Halivni and Joseph Pollak: For Elie Wiesel's 80th Birthday; Sheva Zucker: from Yidish-Vokh 2008; Miriam Libenson: Tisha B'ov

The Yiddish Voice — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 19:38:00 +0000

Elye Davis from Yugntruf.org talks about the Yidish-Vokh. (replayed from last week's show)

Rabbis Dovid Weiss-Halivni and Joseph Pollak celebrated Elie Wiesel's 80th birthday in 2008 here in Boston and were interviewed by the Yiddish Voice. Here are some excerpts from those interviews, which we last played in 2008. Note: we'll have a full program on Elie Wiesel for the Shloyshim next week.

Sheva Zucker, exec. dir. of League for Yiddish, interviewed by Iosif Lakhmans, talking about various things in the Yiddish world. Replayed from 2008.

Miriam Libenson o"h, or beloved late poet and holiday presenter, discusses Tisha B'Ov and the Three Weeks of mourning. Replayed from early 1990's.

G. Schaechter-Viswanath & H. Glasser (Part 2); Elye Davis: Yugntruf's Yidish-Vokh

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 00:44:19 +0000

News report from Israel by Avrohom Zaks, thanks to Kol Yisrael, Jerusalem, Yiddish Radio Service.

Elye Davis: Yugntruf's Yidish-Vokh - check out http://yugntruf.org/yvokh/

Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath and Paul (Hershl) Glasser, the editors of the just-published Comprehensive English-Yiddish Dictionary. Aired part 1 last week (7/13/16) and part 2 this week (7/20/16).

Check out dictionary web page at League for Yiddish: http://store.leagueforyiddish.org/verterbukh.html

Air date: July 20, 2016

Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath and Hershl (Paul) Glasser: Comprehensive English-Yiddish Dictionary

The Yiddish Voice — Sun, 17 Jul 2016 20:40:45 +0000

Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath and Paul (Hershl) Glasser, the editors of the just-published Comprehensive English-Yiddish Dictionary. Airing part 1 tonight (7/13/16) and part 2 next week (7/20/16). Interviewers: Iosif Lakhman and Dovid Braun.

Check out dictionary web page at League for Yiddish: http://store.leagueforyiddish.org/verterbukh.html

Miryam-Khaye Seigel (replay)

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 20:12:09 +0000

Miryam-Khaye Seigel's interview with the Yiddish Voice, talking about her career in Yiddish and her upcoming performances, including the a Purim Shpiel in Boston, and her forthcoming CD Toyznt Tamen.

Original interview air date: Feb. 20, 2013

Rukhl Schaechter (replay)

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 20:10:58 +0000

Interview with Rukhl Schaechter, by Yosef Lakhman and Meyer Dovid, on Rukhl's becoming the new Editor of the Forverts (Yiddish Forward), not only its first female editor but also its first American-born.

Air date: May 25, 2016

Original interview air date: May 18, 2016

Rukhl Schaechter

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 19 May 2016 01:27:31 +0000

Interview with Rukhl Schaechter, by Yosef Lakhman and Meyer Dovid, on Rukhl's becoming the new Editor of the Forverts (Yiddish Forward), not only its first female editor but also its first American-born.

Air date: May 18, 2016

Yom Haatsmaut: Avremi Zaks and Hasia Segal: Dewey Stone Documentary by Walter M. Newman

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 12 May 2016 00:53:47 +0000

Yom Haatsmaut: Interview with the Kol Israel Radio's Yiddish program presenter Avremi Zaks

Yom Haatsmaut: Hasia Segal (replay from 2010): On the Film "The Dewey Stone Connection: From Exodus to Independence", produced by the late Brockton, MA-native Walter M. Newman.

Boris Sandler (extended) & Yom HaShoah: Interview with the former Viekhne Sidranski

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 12 May 2016 00:45:50 +0000

Interview with Boris Sandler, by Yosef Lakhman and Meyer Dovid, on Boris's 2nd-to-last day as Forverts (Yiddish Forward) editor. (This is an expanded version of the interview we aired last week.)

For Yom HaShoah: Interview with the former Viekhne Sidranski from Grodne. (This is a replay of an interview conducted and originally aired in May 2014.)

Yom Hashoah, Milke Baran, Boris Sandler

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 01:05:05 +0000

A bit more of Pesach: music, greetings, and announcements. And then ....

For Yom Hashoah: excerpts from Dovid Braun's interview of Milke Baran, a Holocaust survivor from Oshmine (Oshmyany, near Vilna), from the Sholem Aleichem Shule 21 (Bronx)'s annual Yom Hashoah Hazkore.

Interview of Boris Sandler, as Editor of the Yiddish Forward (Forverts), on his second-to-last day at this position. He retired Friday erev Pesach. By Yosef Lakhman. (This is an abbreviated excerpt. The full interview will be aired next week.)

Pesach with Fyvush Finkel, Cantor Martin Moshe Bear, Cantor Naomi Hirsch; Also: Hasia Segal: Yiddish Hagode (Replay)

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 01:05:09 +0000

Highlights from Yiddish Actors and Friends 2016 Cultural Seder with Fyvush Finkel, Cantor Martin Moshe Bear, Cantor Naomi Hirsch

Also: Hasia Segal: Yiddish Hagode (Replay)

Also: Kalmen David: Di Fir Kashes (Replay)

Purim! Hasia Segal, Martele Friedman, Reyzl Kirkel Reads Betty Misheiker z"l, Moyshe Hollender z"l (Replays)

The Yiddish Voice — Sat, 09 Apr 2016 17:01:05 +0000

Purim program with replays of Hasia Segal (Jokes), Martele Friedman (Purim Shpil), Reyzl Kirkel reads Betty Misheiker z"l's "Der Feter Reb Zundl", Moyshe Hollender z"l (Purim Shpil). Also, "Shoshanas Yaacoiv" from the Malavsky Family's Purim album.

Purim! Hasia Segal, Myer Loketch, Yosef Lakhman, Miriam Libenson z"l (replays)

The Yiddish Voice — Sat, 09 Apr 2016 16:40:47 +0000

Purim program with replays of presentations by Hasia Segal, Myer Loketch, Yosef Lakhman, and Miriam Libenson z"l.

Yankele Bodo

The Yiddish Voice — Sat, 09 Apr 2016 16:30:04 +0000

Interview with veteran Israeli actor Yaacov ("Yankele") Bodo.

Yankele Bodo (replay)

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 00:57:38 +0000

Interview with veteran Israeli actor Yaacov ("Yankele") Bodo. (Replay from Mar. 30, 2016.)

Motl and Bella Murstein Part 1

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 20:36:25 +0000

In the first half of the show, following a brief news report from Kol Israel radio in Jerusalem, we feature part 1 of an interview with Motl and the late Bella Murstein, which we recorded in November 2012 but have not yet had an opportunity to air. Motl Murstein is well-known in the Boston community for his attendance over many years at most Yiddish events, at Brookline's Congregation Kehillath Israel and other local shuls, and at Holocaust memorial events. Since the interview, Motl's wife Bella, who had been in poor health for several years, passed away in April 2015. The interview was conducted primarily by Dovid Braun. The interview will be aired in parts over the next few weeks.

In the second half of the show, we hear a number of tracks from the audio CD "As Dreams Fall Apart: The Golde Age of Jewish Stage and Film Music 1925-1955" by the New Budapest Orpheum Society.

Leah Leavitt & Iosif Lakhman on "Archive Thief" by Lisa Leff; Miriam Libenson z"l: Hanukkah (1998, replay)

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 05:43:41 +0000

Sholem Berger, Amram Deutsch pt 2, Myer Loketch: Hanukkah (replay)

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 06:18:48 +0000

Zackary Sholem Berger discusses his new book of poetry One Nation Taken Out of Another.

Poetry Reading with Sholem Berger
Monday, Dec 14, 2015 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Workmen's Circle Building, 1762 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02445

Zackary Sholem Berger (@ZackBergerMDPhD) will read from his newest book of poetry in English and Yiddish, _One Nation Taken Out of Another_ (Apprentice House, 2014) - a joyride on a bassackward hybrid with an American brain, Yiddish heart, and all sorts of wandering limbs grafted onto the whole. It's midrash, whimsy, and polyglot extravagance. The evening will be in Yiddish and a smattering of English. Books will be for sale. Info: circleboston.org, +1 (617) 566-6281

Amram Deutsch interview continues (part 2).

Myer Loketch discusses Hanukkah (replay from 2006).

Amram Deutsch, Shmuel Norich (replay), Mikhl Zajac (replay from 2007)

The Yiddish Voice — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 20:28:05 +0000

Interview (part 1) with Mr. Amram Deutsch of Los Angeles, a survivor of the Holocaust originally from Sighet, and a cofounder or LA's Congregation Bais Naftoli.

Replay of last week's interview with Shmuel Norich, publisher of the Yiddish Forward.

Replay of our 2007 interview with Mikhl Zajac, originally from Warsaw, in recognition of his recent 100th birthday. Mazl tov!

Forward Publisher Sam Norich; Avi Hoffman (Replay)

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 04:58:38 +0000

Sam Norich, publisher of the Yiddish Forverts newspaper, gives an update on recent, current, and upcoming features of the Forverts, its web site (yiddish.forward.com), social media (e.g., @Forverts on Twitter).

Avi Hoffman talks about his role as Willie Loman in the Yiddish translation of the late Jewish playwright Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman". (Replay)

Avi Hoffman: Toyt Fun A Seylsman; Iosif Lakhman: Beilis Protses (Replay)

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 06:30:43 +0000

Avi Hoffman talks about his role as Willie Loman in the Yiddish translation of the late Jewish playwright Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman".

Iosif Lakhman discusses the Beilis Trial, which took place 100 years ago. (Replay)

Rabbi Kolakowski, Dovid Mermelstein

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 02:09:36 +0000

Interview with Rabbi Joseph (Itzik-Leyb) Kolakowski, from upstate New York, about his recent article in the Forward: I'm an Ultra-Orthodox Rabbi and I Support Women's Ordination.

Interview, part 2, with Dovid Mermelstein, leader of President of the Association of Holocaust Survivors of Miami, survivor of Auschwitz and Matthausen, originally from the Carpathian mountain area that was under Hungarian occupation during World War II.

Anita Norich (Replay from May 2015), Gladys Heiten Z"L

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 01:04:25 +0000

Replay of interview with Anita Norich, Professor of English and Jewish Studies at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, about her newest book, Writing in Tongues: Translating Yiddish in the Twentieth Century.

Gladys Heitin was a long-time friend of our cohost Hasia Segal. She was a veteran Boston Workmen's Circle member and leader, a teacher of Yiddish, and a great activist for Yiddish, Yiddish Culture, and secular Jewish/Yiddish identity. We replay excerpts from an interview with Gladys done in 2005 for our program in memory of the late Yiddish actress and radio personality from Boston Leah Post Carrey, with whom Gladys was close friends for many decades.

Also, daily news in Yiddish provided by Kol Israel radio service in Yiddish, presented by Avrohom Zaks.

Rosh Hashonah 2015: Rabbi Avrohom Marmorstein (replay)

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 01:21:48 +0000

Main interview: Rabbi Avrohom Marmorstein of Mehadrin Kashrus -- mehadrin.org (replay from 2013, slightly shortened due to time constraints). Greetings from our sponsors Israel Book Shop, BLER Travel, The Butcherie, and Cheryl Ann's Bakery. Greetings from our presenters and friends Hasia Segal, Yosef Lakhman, Dovid Braun, Linda Gritz, and Sholem Beinfeld.

Live from Yidish-Vokh by Yugntruf in Pearlstone Center in Reisterstown, MD

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 03:08:19 +0000

Live broadcast from the "Yidish-Vokh" (Yiddish Week), a summer vacation week organized by the Yugntruf (Youth for Yiddish) organization (@yugntruf, yugntruf.org) at the Pearlstone Center in Reisterstown, MD, with special guests Arele Vishwanat,
Reyna Schaechter, Eve Jochnowitz, Itzik Bleaman, and Shane Baker. Also featuring a special birthday greetings ln her 102nd to our cohost Hasia Segal, who in turn sent special greeings to our radio show and to the Yidish-Vokh.

Memorial for 12 August 1952 Victims: Gennady Estraikh, Iosif Lakhman

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 01:41:10 +0000

From our archives, Iosif Lakhman's 2008 presentation of both historical overview and personal perspective on the events of 12 August 1952, often referred to as the "Night of the Murdered Poets". Gennady Estraikh's 2012 interview goes into facts and misunderstandings about the 12 August 1952, as well discussing this history of the observance of this event in Jewish, especially Yiddish, cultural circles, as well as the future of such observances.

Theo Bikel: In Ondenk; Moishe Rosenfeld: Remembering Theo Bikel

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 05:27:32 +0000

Excerpts from 2002 and 2015 interviews with Theodore Bikel previously aired on the Yiddish Voice; we talk with Theo Bikel's longtime producer and friend Moishe Rosenfeldof Golden Land Productions (www.goldenland.com).

Theodore Bikel, the Tony-nominated actor, folk singer and original Captain von Trapp in The Sound of Music on Broadway, died yesterday, July 21, 2015, in Los Angeles aged 91.

Bikel appeared on the Yiddish Voice with an interview in Yiddish just two months ago, in May 2015. Prior to that, Bikel was a guest in 2002.

The actor famously played Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof more times on stage than even Chaim Topol, who starred in the film, and also appeared in dozens of TV shows including The Twilight Zone, Charlie’s Angels, and Star Trek: The Next Generation, as Worf’s father. He is perhaps as well known in the Jewish world for his Yiddish song recordings on albums such as "Treasury of Yiddish Folk & Theatre Songs".

Relevant links:

http://www.bikel.com

http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/jul/22/theodore-bikel-actor-singer-and-broadway-star-dies-at-91

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/22/theater/theodore-bikel-master-of-versatility-in-songs-roles-and-activism-dies-at-91.html

http://www.aflcio.org/Blog/Other-News/Actor-and-Union-Activist-Theodore-Bikel-Dies-at-Age-91

http://forward.com/culture/312365/remembering-theodore-bikel-who-remained-defiant-to-the-end/

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/theodore-bikel-dead-sound-music-719735

Theo Bikel

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 00:36:00 +0000

Legendary actor and singer Theo Bikel talks about the new film about him, Theodore Bikel: In the Shoes of Sholom Aleichem, and about his recently republished book, Theo: An Autobiography.

For further information on the film, which is currently in screenings at film festivals worldwide:

http://www.jewishfilm.org/Catalogue/films/theodorebikel.htm

For information on Theo: An Autobiography:

http://uwpress.wisc.edu/books/2351-2ed.htm

Anita Norich (repeat), Lilke Meisner Z"L (from the archives)

The Yiddish Voice — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 19:13:20 +0000

Purim: Yoely Lebowitz, et al

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 28 May 2015 18:08:50 +0000

Highlights: previously aired: Yoely Lebowitz (interview); Moshe Hollender (z"l) (Kiddush for Purim); Sholem Beinfeld (discusses Ruth Wisse's book No Joke: Making Jewish Humor)

Air date: March 4, 2015

In Memory of Moyshe (Morris) Hollender

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 01:46:13 +0000

In memory of the late Mr. Moyshe (Morris) Hollender, who recently passed away. Hollender was a survivor of death camps in World War II. In his later years he served as Gabbai, Torah reader, and Ba'al Tefillah at Temple Beth Israel in Waltham, MA. For many years he was a treasured resource for collectors of old songs, poems, and melodies from Jewish life that might otherwise have been forgotten. He was a frequent contributor to the "Yiddish Voice" radio show.

The program features several recordings of Hollender singing and recounting the past. Also with the participants of special guests Hankus Netsky, Dovid Mermelstein, and Marti Leibovits Friedman.

For further information on the Hollender exhibit at the NATIONAL YIDDISH BOOK CENTER:

yiddishbookcenter.org

For information on the concert by Hankus Netsky and other musicians in Morris's memory at Temple Beth Israel, Waltham, MA:

tbiwaltham.org

Kolya Borodulin (Replay) and Dmitri Zisl Slepovitch: Litvakus: Raysn (Replay)

The Yiddish Voice — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 05:40:41 +0000

Avrohom Zaks (Replay)

The Yiddish Voice — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 05:38:50 +0000

Bella Bryks-Klein (Replay) and Kolya Borodulin

The Yiddish Voice — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 05:35:43 +0000

Avrohom Fuchs (Part 3) and Miriam Libenson: Tu BeShvat (Replay)

The Yiddish Voice — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 05:32:09 +0000

Avrohom Fuchs (Part 1)

The Yiddish Voice — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 05:29:12 +0000

Michael Felsenbaum (Part 2)

The Yiddish Voice — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 06:29:14 +0000

Highlights: Michael Felsenbaum's interview, part 2; Morris Hollender Z"L: his performance of KEIL MOLEH RACHAMIM from Gann Academy High School 2009 Yom HaShoah

Michael Felsenbaum (Pt. 1)

The Yiddish Voice — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 21:52:29 +0000

Highlights: Interview with author Michael Felsenbaum (part 1). Morris Hollender Z"L (replay): Purim Kiddush and short interview. Played in his memory: he died the previous day Dec. 30, 2014. Cantor Ken Richmond sings Auld Lang Syne in Yiddish.

Avrohom Zaks

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 26 Dec 2014 11:38:44 +0000

Highlights: interview with Avrohom Zaks, Yiddish-language radio presenter from Kol Israel (Israel)'s daily Yiddish radio program; farewell to Hanukkah with Reb Moshe Hollender's heymish Honeirus Hololu, and greetings for Hanukkah for this end of the 8th day.

Bella Bryks-Klein

The Yiddish Voice — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 20:59:00 +0000

Highlights: visit to the 48 Kalisher St home of Israel's Bund/Workmen's Circle, including a lengthy interview with its director Bella Bryks-Klein, sounds from the Hanukkah party/concert with singer Yoni Eilat, Rivka Basman Ben Haim reading one of her poems, and a short interview with Yiddish literature doctoral student Amir Shomroni.

Khazn Moyshe Kraus

The Yiddish Voice — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 20:53:50 +0000

Highlights: an interview with the one and only Khazn Moyshe Kraus.

Zisl Slepivitch Interview, Litvakus CD "Raysn"

The Yiddish Voice — Sun, 07 Dec 2014 22:56:14 +0000

Highlights: Interview with Dmitri Zisl Slepovitch and music from his band Litvakus's new CD "Raysn"

Dovid FIshman (Replay)

The Yiddish Voice — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 19:02:02 +0000

Highlights: interview with Dr. Dovid Fishman about the book he edited: “Droshes un Ksovim”, the 2009 book of writings in Yiddish by Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik (replay: last aired 21 July 2010). News report of previous day's terrorist murders in Har Nof shul, and and host comments take note in particular of Rabbi Mosheh Twersky with his strong ties to Boston and Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik.

Har Nof Shul

Terrorist Slaughter in Har Nof Shul During Shachris - See more at: http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/271968/terrorist-slaughter-in-har-nof-shul-during-shachris-leaves-4-dead-hyd.html#sthash.TvYD1HmL.dpuf

Terrorist Slaughter in Har Nof Shul During Shachris - See more at: http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/271968/terrorist-slaughter-in-har-nof-shul-during-shachris-leaves-4-dead-hyd.html#sthash.TvYD1HmL.dpuf

Eliezer Niborski (Replay) and Litvakus CD

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 21:46:51 +0000

Highlights: interview with Eliezer Niborski (replay: last aired 26 Feb 2014; recorded Aug 2013). Featured music: new CD "Raysn" by the band Litvakus.

Gennady Estraikh, Mira Kessler, Fish Street Klezmer - Airdate 29 October 2014

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 17:52:04 +0000

Highlights: interviews with Gennady Estraikh from @forverts, singer Mira Kessler, + musicians Ken Richmond (@YiddishCantor) and Shira Shazeer. Kessler, Richmond, and Shazeer are appearing in the following

YIDDISH CONCERT

Saturday, November 1, 2014 at 8:00 PM
at the Workmen's Circle, 1762 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA 02445
General Admission $8
Special price for students and Workmen's Circle members: $6

Featuring
The Fish Street Klezmer: Fish Street Klezmer is a Boston-based Klezmer and Yiddish Song duo featuring Cantor Ken Richmond on Violin and Guitar, Rabbi Shira Shazeer on Accordion and Mandolin and both on vocals. Shazeer is founder and director of The Jewish Birth Network. Richmond is cantor and family educator at Temple Israel of Natick. They have produced 1 CD, Intoxicated: Yiddish Songs of Love and Drinking, and 3 Yiddish-speaking children.
Mira Kessler: Mira Kessler grew up speaking Yiddish in Durham, North Carolina. She has performed Yiddish music in Durham and New York. She is a junior at Brandeis University. This is her Boston debut.
FOR MORE INFORMATION please call at 617-566-6281, email info@circleboston.org, or visit the Workmen's Circle Boston website: circleboston.org

Shemini Atseres - Airdate 15 October 2014

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 13:26:15 +0000

Highlights (some repeated from last week): very short Erev Succos greeting from Cantor Kraus (Ottowa); from our archives: Miriam Libenson Lekoved Sukes (1997); Myer Loketch: Lekoved Sukes (2006)

Succos - Airdate 8 October 2014

The Yiddish Voice — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 20:18:38 +0000

Highlights: very short Erev Succos greeting from Cantor Kraus (Ottowa); from our archives: Miriam Libenson Lekoved Sukes (1997); Myer Loketch: Lekoved Sukes (2006)

Yomim Noroim - Airdate 1 October 2014

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 19:47:56 +0000

Highlights: Kolya Borodulin discusses new online Yiddish classes starting soon at Workmens Circle (circle.org); from our archives: Myer Loketch: Lekoved di Yomim Noroim (2008)

Rosh Hashonah - Airdate 24 September 2014

The Yiddish Voice — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 17:51:08 +0000

Highlights: from our archives: Avrohom Cohen (z"l) Interview: local Boston North Shore Baal Tfila demonstrates and discusses high holiday prayers; Prof. Mordkhe Schaechter (z"l): Yiddish sayings and expressions for holidays

Pre-Rosh Hashonah - Airdate 17 September 2014

The Yiddish Voice — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 23:03:08 +0000

Highlights:

Greetings from Hasia Segal, Iosif Lakhman, Dovid Braun, and others.

From the past: Miriam Libenson o"h: Yomim Naroim (replayed from previous 10sep14 week; played at end, slightly shortened due to time and a technical glitch)

Reaired from last show: Leye Leavitt: upcoming Boston Workmen's Circle Yiddish activities

News from Israel

Pre-Rosh Hashonah - Airdate 10 September 2014

The Yiddish Voice — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 23:00:44 +0000

Highlights:

From the past: Miriam Libenson o"h: Yomim Naroim

Reaired from last show: Leye Leavitt: upcoming Boston Workmen's Circle Yiddish activities

Musical highlights: Malavsky Family: Rosh Hashonah

News from Israel

David Mandelbaum, Boris Sandler Airdate 3 September 2014

The Yiddish Voice — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 01:42:48 +0000

Hasia Segal and Iosif Lakhman Greetings for 20th Anniv. and Live Show Replay

The Yiddish Voice — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 16:57:56 +0000

Replay of the previous week's show (aired August 20, 2014), but slightly edited for length and with the addition of greetings by cohosts Hasia Segal and Iosif Lakhman on the occasion of the Yiddish Voice's 20th anniversary.

Original air date: August 27, 2014

[Description from last week follows:]

"The Yiddish Voice" Radio Show — Live from Yidish-Vokh!
At the Pearlstone Conference and Retreat Center, Reisterstown, MD, in the Theatre
9 PM, Saturday Night, August 16 2014
The Yiddish Voice, the Yiddish-language radio show heard in Boston and on the Internet, celebrated its 20th birthday by performing its first-ever recording in front of a live audience, namely, the attendees of the 2014 Yidish-Vokh at the Pearlstone Center in Reisterstown, MD, near Baltimore. This milestone recording was aired the following Wednesday at 7:30 PM on Boston radio airwaves via WUNR 1600 AM and around the world through the web site yiddishvoice.com . In addition, the show has now been released simultaneously as its first-ever podcast edition, able to be heard on computers, smart phones, tablets and other devices at a time of any listener's choosing.
This evening's Yiddish Voice features a mixture of talk, interviews, humor, and music. The show's usual host and producer Mark David is joined by Binyumen Schaechter as cohost, musical director, announcer, and sidekick, and Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath as gameshow coordinator, who leads several lucky contestants in a special exhibition round of the beloved quiz-show game "Freg-Geshleg". Several additional special guests also appear.

The Yiddish Voice: 20th Anniversary Live Show

The Yiddish Voice — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 18:04:06 +0000

"The Yiddish Voice" Radio Show — Live from Yidish-Vokh!
At the Pearlstone Conference and Retreat Center, Reisterstown, MD, in the Theatre
9 PM, Saturday Night, August 16 2014
The Yiddish Voice, the Yiddish-language radio show heard in Boston and on the Internet, celebrated its 20th birthday by performing its first-ever recording in front of a live audience, namely, the attendees of the 2014 Yidish-Vokh at the Pearlstone Center in Reisterstown, MD, near Baltimore. This milestone recording was aired the following Wednesday at 7:30 PM on Boston radio airwaves via WUNR 1600 AM and around the world through the web site yiddishvoice.com . In addition, the show has now been released simultaneously as its first-ever podcast edition, able to be heard on computers, smart phones, tablets and other devices at a time of any listener's choosing.
This evening's Yiddish Voice features a mixture of talk, interviews, humor, and music. The show's usual host and producer Mark David is joined by Binyumen Schaechter as cohost, musical director, announcer, and sidekick, and Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath as gameshow coordinator, who leads several lucky contestants in a special exhibition round of the beloved quiz-show game "Freg-Geshleg". Several additional special guests also appear.