Mendele: Yiddish literature and language ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 4.061 July 18, 1994 1) Yiddish Textbooks (Avrom Yitzkhok Blair) 2) Sholem Asch 1952 Recording (Meyer David) 3) Yiddish secular school movement (Zev Hochberg) 4) Romanization of Yiddish (Martin Davis) 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 20 Jul 1994 16:00:52 -0600 (CST) From: ablair@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu Subject: Yiddish Textbooks Along with many others, I, too am self-taught. Although both my parents spoke Yiddish, I refused to even listen to it. In my mid-40's I decided to correct that mistake. The books that I used (in order of difficulty) are: 1. The Yiddish Teacher (H.E. Goldin) Hebrew Publishing Company [may be a different publisher now] 77 Delancy St. New York 2. Learning Yiddish in Easy Stages [Zuckerman and Herbst] J. Simon/ Pangloss Press PO Box 4071 Malibu, CA 3. College Yiddish [Uriel Weinreich] YIVO Inst for Jewish Research, NY I believe that all three books can be pruchased form YIVO [1048 Fifth Ave. New York City, or The Workmen's Circle, also in New York Good luck. Avrom Yitzkhok [Allan] Blair 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 18 Jul 1994 03:45:55 -0400 From: mhd@world.std.com Subject: Sholem Asch 1952 Columbia Lecture Recording The following may interest those following the earlier thread on Sholem Asch. Folkways Records, which was cofounded by Sholem Asch's son, Moses, and run by him from 1947 to 1987, recorded a lecture given by the senior Asch at Columbia University in 1952. The lecture was given in English, but has many non-English words and phrases (mostly Hebrew and Yiddish) thrown in it, which on the recording are strangely and crudely "dubbed" with English translation. As I recall, having heard it once several years ago, the lecture presents Asch's answers to his critics -- on his writing generally, on his role as a Jewish writer, and particularly on the subject of his alleged conversion to Christianity. It's somewhat long and rambling. It's also rather hard to make out what he's saying. But I think his indignation and his intensity of feeling and bitterness came across loud and clear in many parts of the recording. As I recall, in this lecture he flatly denies that he converted to Christianity, or anything like that. There's much more there, I think, of interest. I would like it if someone who has, or will have, studied it a bit more would offer a better review than I can manage right now. I borrowed the record from a library in Cleveland -- I think it was the Cleveland Heights Library. That may not be convenient for many, but you can also buy the recording on a reissued tape, along with a copy of the original liner notes -- these contain a transcript of the lecture -- from Smithsonian/Folkways. Here's some of the info. Catalog Info: Asch, Sholem Interview and Statement: Lecture at Columbia University, Oct. 1952 (2 cassette set) 35503 For an order form or catalog, telephone 202/287-3262; fax 202/287-3699; or write Smithsonian/Folkways Recordings Office of Folklife Programs 955 l'Enfant Plaza, Suite 2600 Smithsonian Institution Washington D.C. 20560 USA Meyer David 3)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 18 Jul 1994 05:09:39 -0400 (edt) From: hochberg@dorsai.dorsai.org Subject: Yiddish secular school movement The following is posted for Gella Schweid Fishman: *** An urgent call to rescue papers, documents, photographs, and other *** *** memorabilia pertaining to the Yiddish secular school movement *** Please don't throw out the documented memories you have of your years in the Yiddish Secular Schools of the USA and Canada. Maybe you were a student, teacher, parent, or board memeber of one or more of these schools. Your memories are very important to preserve so that others may appreciate this 'golden age' of Jewish education in Yiddish. Too much has already been thrown out! An archival collection of these Jewish historical treasures is being organized by Gella Schweid Fishman as part of her Oral History project pertaining to the Yiddish Secular Schools in America. All of your materials will be included (under your name) in the Yiddish Secular School Collection, which is housed in the Department of Special Collections at Stanford University Libraries in Stanford, California. For further information, write to Gella Schweid Fishman at: 345 Sheridan Ave. 3340 Bainbridge Ave. Palo Alto, CA 94306 Bronx, NY 10467 (summer and winter) (autumn and spring) You may also respond to this list or E-Mail to me; I will forward all responses to Gella Schweid Fishman. Zev Hochberg 4)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 17 Jul 1994 23:07:44 +0200 From: davism@litp.ibp.fr Subject: poor romanization of Yiddish and other sins Zellig Bach [writes about Romanization of Yiddish:] > We need greater care and self-discipline when romanizing Yiddish. We have all had the experience of suffering when someone not too well versed in a language we know well insists on mangling it. These days I am all too conscious of the effect I have on others when I try to conduct my daily affairs here in Paris in my very inadequate French. BUT the only courteous thing one can do in such a situation is to be patient, and, when appropriate, offer helpful corrections. I submit that the issue of romanization is a red herring. "allah" instead of "alemen" is not an orthographic error. It is certainly true that quite a few of us Mendelniks know Yiddish only aurally as remembered from childhood. We do our best. Corrections offered in a friendly spirit are appropriate and should be welcomed; but not the cross ill-tempered kind of comment typified by the above. Unless, of course, it is proposed to exclude from Mendele all who can not pass an entrance exam in Yiddish. Martin Davis ______________________________________________________ End of Mendele Vol. 4.061 A Table of Contents is now available via anonymous ftp, along with weekly updates. Anonymous ftp archives available on: ftp.mendele.trincoll.edu in the directory pub/mendele/files Archives available via gopher on: gopher.cic.net Mendele has 2 rules: 1. Provide a meaningful Subject: line. 2. Sign your article. Send articles to: mendele@yalevm.ycc.yale.edu Other business: nmiller@mail.trincoll.edu