Yiddish Literature

In this Yiddish folk tale, the Rabbi of Chelm is sick of everyone coming to him to kvetch. Every day, he must listen to them complain about their daily plights, even before he has had his breakfast! To lessen his burden, he comes up with a solution to fix everyone’s problems—all they need is a new pickle.

Set in the years around 1492, Yiddish for Pirates recounts the compelling story of Moishe, a Bar Mitzvah boy who leaves home to join a ship's crew, where he meets Aaron, the polyglot parrot who becomes his near-constant companion. From a present-day Florida nursing home, this wisecracking yet poetic bird guides us through a world of pirate ships, Yiddish jokes, and treasure maps. But Inquisition Spain is a dangerous time to be Jewish and Moishe joins a band of hidden Jews trying to preserve some forbidden books.

The Yiddish King Lear: The Jewish King Lear by Jacob Gordin is perhaps one of the most famous Yiddish plays of all time. Adapted in English and for the stage by David Serero. Starring David Serero as Reb Dovidl Moysheles.

Mea Schearim, die Stadt der 100 Tore, ist ein Viertel von Jerusalem, das fast ausschließlich von ultraorthodoxen Juden bewohnt wird. Um diese unfassbar aufregende und fremde Welt und ihre Spiritualität erfassen und verständlich machen zu können, muss man dort gelebt haben – so wie Tuvia Tenenbom, der in Mea Schearim aufgewachsen ist und nach vielen Jahren in New York hierher zurückgekehrt ist, um sich seiner Vergangenheit zu stellen: Denn Tenenbom entstammt selber einer ultraorthodoxen Familie, lernte in einer Jeschiwa, und ihm wurde eine Zukunft als einer der ganz großen Rabbis prophezeit.