It
is with great pleasure that the Museum of Family
History presents to you a feature that
represents the very best in Yiddish poetry.
It
is hoped that, given the proper attention by
you, the reader (and listener), will more
greatly appreciate the fruit of the creative
and imaginative Jewish mind; that the sounds
and overall beauty of the Yiddish language will
be impactful and meaningful to you.
Imagine that within this virtual (Internet only)
museum of Jewish family history, there is a
Yiddish bookstore (located next to an adjoining,
small cafe) where poetry is recited during some
day or evening on a periodic basis to a small ,
attentive crowd of forty or so museum visitors.
The poet, or someone representing the poet's
works, stands before you and recites a poem in
Yiddish. He or she then recites it once again in
English, for those attendees who don't speak
Yiddish, in the hopes that all will gain insight
or some understanding about the work and perhaps
the life of the artist.
After the reading, a discussion ensues. What
does the poet wish to say? What events might
have occurred in the poet's life or in the
society or time in which he lived, that may have
influenced his sentiments? Perhaps too, the one
who recites the poem will hand out a piece of
paper containing the written Yiddish, the
transliteration, and the English version, to
each one who attends the reading. Each person is
encouraged to read the poem to themselves in the
privacy of their own home, to themselves or
aloud, to further appreciate the poet's work.
Here at least, in this virtual world of the
Internet, one can at least this to some extent.
Below you will see two Yiddish poets featured.
One recites his own poetry, the other recited by
one who is an admirer of the poem. Hear the
poems spoken by clicking on the appropriate
links. Read more about the poets themselves by
clicking on the link indicated.
It
is the hope of this Museum that this interaction
will bolster your love of Yiddish, and will
further your interest in the Yiddish language
and culture. The Yiddish language is alive and
well and only awaits your attention and
appreciation. If you have any questions, please
contact the Museum of Family History at yiddishvinkl@museumoffamilyhistory.com.
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