Mendele: Yiddish literature and language ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 6.213 February 1, 1997 1) Bet hemden (Susan Kray) 2) Finding copies of the Forward (Susan Kray) 3) YIVO, Yizkor books, and English translations (Susan Kray) 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 30 Jan 1997 13:42:20 -0500 (EST) From: abzu@aol.com Subject: Bet hemden [See Joy Kingsolver's query (6.210-211)]. As in the Hebrew root kh-m-d delight, as in (at least sometimes) sexual delight? as in the word Sarah used in asking Will I at my age know hemdah with my husband? would it mean brothel, then? Susan Kray 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 31 Jan 1997 19:02:58 -0500 (EST) From: abzu@aol.com Subject: Finding copies of the Forward Thanks to everyone who responded to my "how do I find something in an old Forward" query. Several of you requested a summary of the replies. * * * Brandeis....has the Forvrerts on microfilm. I suggest you contact the Judaica librarian at whatever university is closest to you. * * * A long time ago...I ordered paper copies of the Forverts through InterLibrary Loan. I believe we got them from Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati. You can also ask YIVO if they send copies out through ILL. * * * I do know that there are copies of the Forverts on microfilm. Of course, the more specific your date of the letter the more likely you are to get someone to help you look/copy. Write to both places and ask if they can help you. * * * I ordered the Forwards' micofilm (from the 1920s) on the interlibrary loan system and it worked well. * * * My city's public library was able to borrow microfilms of the Forverts for me through a standard inter-library loan. I had to specify the issues I wanted; I can't remember the numbers now, but I requested everything from a six- or even twelve-month period in the late 20s. The microfilm they received (maybe six or eight weeks after my request) was from Hebrew Union College, Cincinatti, but there are other copies in other collections, and which one your library gets depends on which institution is contacted and agrees to lend it...I have also viewed Forverts microfilms at the Los Angeles campus of HUC. Depending on where you are living, you may be able to find copies in an institution near you. A good research library ought to be able to tell you who has some. Again, thanks. Susan Kray 3)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 31 Jan 1997 19:03:17 -0500 (EST) From: abzu@aol.com Subject: YIVO, Yizkor books, and English translations of Yizkor books My thanks to the people who responded to my questions about YIVO and Yizkor books (specifically, Ostrog) and possible English translations thereof. Several of you wanted me to post the results. * * * YIVO's web site: http://spanky.osc.cuny.edu/~rich/yivo/index.html * * * Try a library that has them on microfilm. Brandeis and Harvard in Boston. YIVO and Columbia and other in NYC. UCLA maybe. * * * YIVO does not yet have an on-line catalogue, but you can contact the head librarian, Zachary Baker (agev a mendelyaner) at . * * * I don't know about _Ostrog_, but Widener Library does have Grines' _Ven dos lebn hot geblit_, which seems to be about Ostrog. [SK: It is.] * * * Try to get into the databases WorldCat or OCLC (the latter may be only in Ohio universities however). WorldCat will give you answers to any nummber of queries, not only books. Look up (under word, not title) the name of the shtetl/shtot or the title of the yizkher bukh. That catalog will not only be able to tell you if it has been translated, but under the command LIB it will tell you who has a copy and who is willing to lend it out! Again, thanks. Susan Kray ______________________________________________________ End of Mendele Vol. 6.213