Mendele: Yiddish literature and language ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 4.166 November 6, 1994 1) A convention? (Zellig Bach) 2) A convention? (Avrom Yitzkhok Blair) 3) Yiddish theater in America (Dan Leeson) 4) Petshke and 'chin' revisited (Dovid Braun) 5) Petschke (Yale J. Reisner) 6) Teaneck Yiddish Club - November (Gregg Hudis) 7) Whence Shulamis? (Dovid Braun) 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 4 Nov 1994 18:52:33 -0500 From: zellig@aol.com Subject: The Power of a "Halevay Gedank" (Wishful Thinking) With reference to the postings by Sarah Moskowitz and Kayle Goodman (4.161, 5 & 6) about New York City as the proposed site for our planned Convention: As I reread my "Call for a Mendele Convention" (4.160,2) I realized that, while I clearly stated that a special Committee be in charge, among other things, of selecting the location (city), I suddenly shifted, without any explanation, as if New York City has already been selected. This leap strikingly illustrates the power of wishful thinking, of a wishful thought, for which Uriel Weinreich coined the ingenious term "a halevay gedank". Since for reasons of health and age I most likely could come to the Convention only if it were held in New York City, I did not notice, to my later amazement, the contradictory transition in the paragraph. Of course, one's individual preferences, for whatever reason(s), cannot be a determinant factor in the selection of a city for a Convention. Many other factors, and the opinions and preferences of a majority of the general membership on the Mendele list should be taken in consideration and given full weight. Personal motives aside, may I add some general reasons why New York City would be a good site selection: It is the vibrant centers of the print media, the television industry, and the world-wide news services, such as the Associated Press, United Press International, Reuters, etc., and, especially, J.T.A., the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. To the degree that one of the purposes of a Mendele Convention would be to disseminate to the world the news of our presence, interests, and activities, the coverage of our Convention in New York City would certainly be greater than anywhere else. May I further add a suggestion of a program note: A Klezmerama, by our own Mendele member Henry Sapoznik, might be a fitting _si'yem_ (conclusion) to our Convention. Zellig Bach 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 4 Nov 1994 21:48:43 -0500 (EST) From: Allan E Blair Subject: Re: the "Mendele Convention" I believe that most Mendelniks are aware that two very successful conventions under the umbrella of the "First and Second Internation- al Conferences on Yiddish Clubs." The first was organized and put on by the Washington Yiddish Clubs held at the University of Maryland; the second, by the Yiddish community in Toronto, Canada. Both were huge successes! The next one in 1996 in either Cleveland, Ohio or New York City. The competition is quite lively. Why am I telling you all this khazerei? To ask the question, "Do we need _another_ Yiddish Convention competing for the same people? I believe that this needs some deep and serious thinking before we become farbloget. Consider this: Why not a Mendele section at the next [Third] International Convention on Yiddish Clubs? Avrom Yitzkhok [Allan] Blair 3)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 04 Nov 1994 19:06:35 EST From: leeson@aspen.fhda.edu Subject: Yiddish theater in America I noticed the following announcement in Garland Publishing's catalog on 19th century American Musical Theater. ================================================================ "YIDDISH THEATER IN AMERICA David's Violin (1897) and Shloyme Gorgl (189?) Edited by Mark Slobin, Wesleyan University Yiddish theater in its heyday in New York between 1882 and the 1920s produced thousands of sheet-music editions and sound recordings of hit songs. Since conductors worked from lead sheets rather than full scores and the eclectic shows constantly changed, the performing editions presented here present manuscript and published materials with songs and dances typically used in the period. The protagonists of both these turn-of-the-century dramas about Jewish life in Eastern Europe are musicians. 208 pages ISBM 0-8153-1381-0 LC 93-46076 $76. ======================================================================= For anyone interested, Garland Publishing is in Hamden, CT 06514 at 1000A Sherman Avenue. Their 800 number is 627-6273, telephone 203-281-4487, FAX 203-230-1186. Dan Leeson 4)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 04 Nov 1994 22:42:56 EST From: dovid@mit.edu Subject: Petshke and 'chin' revisited To Motl Lakin: The _petshke_ you're talking about comes from _pots_, one of whose diminutives is _petsl_. Obviously _petske_ is another. You're family is litvish, having the /s~sh/ alternation (maybe in only a few words, ober dokh), thus /petshke/ and maybe also /petske/. (I assume, by the way, that this is the pronunciation of the word that you mean. You wrote _petschke_. Does your "sch" correspond to "sh" of English, or of the Library of Congress system? I.e., the Yiddish letter shin?) Anyhow, I'm talking about a different _petshke_ (unless the chin, in Yiddish caretaker language [the PC word for 'motherese'] was associated with the penis). Dovid Braun 5)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 06 Nov 94 09:57:41 CET From: reisner%plearn.bitnet@yalevm.ycc.yale.edu Subject: Petschke In response to Mottel Lakin's observation about the use of "petschke," it may be useful to note that the Russian for "cock or rooster" is petukh. Yale J. Reisner 6)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 4 Nov 1994 19:47:41 -0800 From: ghudis@ix.netcom.com Subject: Teaneck Yiddish Club - November The November session of the Yiddish Club at the Jewish Center of Teaneck will be held on Thursday, November 17 at 8 PM in the Center Library. The address is 70 Sterling Place, Teaneck, right in the center of town. Call me at (201) 833-4748 if you need more details. Gregg Hudis 7)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 05 Nov 1994 16:10:59 EST From: dovid@mit.edu Subject: Whence Shulamis? Does anyone know where the name _shulamis_ comes from (i.e. any Judaic source familiar to you)? Dovid Braun ______________________________________________________ End of Mendele Vol. 4.166 Mendele has 2 rules: 1. Provide a meaningful Subject: line 2. Sign your article (full name please) A Table of Contents is now available via anonymous ftp, along with weekly updates. 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