• 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

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

• 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

• 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 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 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

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: [email protected]
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

• 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 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 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

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.

• khsidish Yiddish .... and good-byes
• Bonus for June 26 2019 broadcast - interview with Yitschok Niborski

• Yiddish dictionaries
• Bonus for June 26 2019 broadcast - interview with Yitschok Niborski

• Bonus 1 - using computer, especially Google Books, for research
• Bonus for June 26 2019 broadcast - interview with Yitschok Niborski

• 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 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

• 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 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

• 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

• 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

• 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.)
  • Dovid Fishman: 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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, 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, 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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, 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

• Air Date: Jan 9 2018
• Original Air Date: Jun 27 2018

• Air Date: Jan 2 2019
• Original Air Date: Jan 3 2018

• Air Date: Dec 26 2018
  • Original Air Date: Aug 8 2018

• 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 program for Rabbi Myer Loketch, who passed away Nov 12 2018. Sholem Berger, 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 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 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 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

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

**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 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 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 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