_The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language (A Companion to _MENDELE_) ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 02.001 16 January 1998 1) Yiddish Matters: From the Editor (Leonard Prager) 2) A review of Tsvi Kanar's "Opgegebn broyt" (Lucas Bruyn) 3) "dos yor 1942 hot zikh keile ongehoybn geveyntlekh..." [from _Ikh un Lemekh_, 1994, pp. 18-26] (Tsvi Kanar) 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 16 January 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: Yiddish Matters 1. In this issue It was Lucas Bruyn, one of Tsvi Kanar's most attentive readers, who brought his work to my attention. In this issue of _The Mendele Review_, he discusses the titular long short-story of Kanar's second volume, _Opgegebn broyt_. A selection from Tsvi Kanar's _Ikh un Lemekh_ (pp. 18-26) is also given in this issue. It is a direct continuation of the book's first episode (pp. 9-17), which appeared in _TMR_ vol. 01.028. In the footnotes to that episode I failed to identify the place which Kanar calls "Plashuav," which Hugh Denman in a private communication pinpoints as follows: "Plashuav is undoubtedly the notorious Plaszow Lager reigned over by the unspeakable Amon Goeth and made famous inter alia by _Schindler's List_ and by Roman Frister's best-seller, _Die Muetze_. The camp was in the suburb of the same name in the SE outskirts of Cracow. Plaszow is spelled with an l with stroke through it and an acute accent on the o." 2. In future issues "Opgegebn broyt" will be given in six successive issues of _TMR_ during January and February of this year. Re _TMR_'s romanization: we continue our experiment with Refoyl Finkl's Yiddish Typewriter, whose rules modify somewhat the standard Yivo system. Readers' responses are welcome. 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 16 January 1998 From: Lucas Bruyn Subject: Is There Beauty in Shoa Writing?: A review of Tsvi Kanar's "Opgegebn broyt" Lucas Bruyn Is There Beauty in Shoa Writing? Tsvi Kanar. _Opgegebn broyt_, ['Bread for Bread'] [short stories]. Tel-Aviv: Y.-L. Perets, 1996, 155 pp. Illustrations by Yosl Bergner. The author of _Opgegebn broyt_is a professional mime who studied under the French pantomimist Marcel Marceau and who only started writing short stories in Yiddish late in life. He made his debut as a writer in 1983 and has published in several Yiddish magazines since. His first book of short stories, _Ikh un Lemekh_, ['Me and Lemech'] appeared in 1994. The volume's titular story, "Bread for Bread" is more than a short story and not only because of its length. The writer vividly describes a major episode in his struggle to survive during World War Two, including flashbacks to his early childhood years. The story, framed within a chance meeting with a figure from his past, is autobiography, history, novella, and ode. The narrative starts 20 years after the war, when the author, after returning from a successful tour as a mime through Eastern Germany, recognizes the waiter of a West Berlin cafe as the man who liberated him. This chance meeting sets off a train of reminiscences about the liberation and the period before it. The author's story is framed by that of the waiter, told to him while they are walking the streets of Berlin after the waiter has finished work. At the moment of recognition the author has a flashback of their first meeting when he, at the end of the death-march from the concentration camp, on the 8th of May 1945, fell into the hands of a Red Army soldier who forced him to participate in atrocities towards German civilians in an effort to teach him how to take revenge. During their encounter, the waiter -- the former Red Army soldier and the author's liberator -- explains his background, tells about his life before they first met, and tells how the particular night recalled so vividly by the author formed a turning point in his own life. This framing story offers insights into the complexities of a war veteran who changed allegiance several times; it also serves as a backdrop to the author's own story. The contrast between post-war West Berlin at a fashionable cafe and the wartime memories of the author would have been too stark. By contrasting them with the waiter's story, a balance is reached which makes them almost bearable for the reader. The author's own story (which we have to imagine is the story that goes through the main character's mind while waiting for the waiter to finish his shift) is successful, despite the complex ruse -- the intrinsic incompatibility between momentary flashes of memory and well-composed literary reminiscence. The writer tells us about a death-march of the inmates of a concentration camp, an event leading to the final destruction of most of the few who had miraculously survived until then. This leads him to anecdotes predating the departure from the camp, to pre-war childhood memories, his life as Yankele, a very young boy in a Polish shtetl. In these memories we meet the later mime, a talented mimic-impersonator entertaining both passers-by in the market place and his grandmother. Something wholesome is thus added to the terrors described. We see the author not only as the boy Yankele, severely wounded in body and soul by his war experiences, not only as the survivor, but as the reincarnation of himself into the successful silent performing actor and into the writer, teller of stories, into the scrupulous writer of history, Tsvi Kanar. The biographical data given on the backs of Kanar's books inform us that after the war he went to Israel as an "illegal" settler, became a kibbutznik, served in the army and navy, attended art school and completed his studies in Europe. At present he lives in Tel-Aviv. Tsvi Kanar writes in the language of his childhood, Yiddish, interspersed with Polish. He is one of the few living, modern Yiddish writers. The Yiddish language is often proclaimed to be dead as a literary language or predicted to be so soon. If we regard Kanar as a latter-day writer of an almost extinct language, we have to view him as a last exponent of a great literature and judge him against his famous predecessors. One classic Yiddish writer that comes to mind is Sholem-Aleykhem, and a comparison between his _Motl peysi dem khazns_ and "Opgegebn broyt" is less far fetched than it might first appear. Tsvi Kanar's "Yankele" and Sholem-Aleykhem's "Motl" are both from traditional Eastern-European Jewish families; both tell stories about their world in a detached way, as observers rather than participants. They are both children living in a world of grownups and they make the best of it, "Motl" despite the death of his father and extreme poverty and "Yankele" despite concentration camps and the death-march. It would be going too far to depict "Opgegebn broyt" as the third book of the two-part _Motl peysi_ novel [e.g. _Motl peysi inem khurbm_ 'Motl Peysi during the Shoa'], but there certainly is continuity in the style of writing and the way of presenting the story. Motl tells us about his life, shifting from one story to the other, seemingly oblivious of the reader, following his own line of thought and association. He is not an autobiographic figure, but obviously so much loved by his creator that an identification between him and Sholem-Aleykhem is inevitable. "Yankele" has the same style of narration and is slightly less removed from Tsvi Kanar than "Motl" from Sholem-Aleykhem. Both authors are professional storytellers of the traditional kind that know how to captivate their audience, not in the first place by content, but by their skill. Both authors speak to us in simple, straightforward language, with an artless and natural beauty. Masters of the Yiddish language, they can afford to introduce colloquialisms and foreign words into their prose. Having compared one of the greatest and one of the latest Yiddish writers, it is only fair to note that Kanar's Yiddish may have suffered from the isolation of Yiddish as a spoken language since the war. Kanar's choice of words may be less rich than that of his predecessors, we might miss some of the amazing improbabilities of Yiddish syntax encountered in "classic" literature, but his language is nevertheless readable, natural and modern. Talking about "modern Yiddish" another writer comes to mind, the late Isaac Bashevis Singer and by association, his work _Der knekht_ with its main character Yakov. Although this work was written after the war, both in its style, which is highly romantic and in its language which is extremely literary, it reflects a lost era. When one compares the original Yiddish version with the authorized English translation the differences are striking. Many details were ignored in order to present the work to a modern audience. Cumbersome sentence constructions have been simplified, religious references have been dropped, descriptive details have been omitted. Many of the changes in the translation were required because _The Slave_ is an historic novel located in a time and region not familiar to the general reader. However, the difference in use of language between Singer and Kanar is fundamental. Kanar writes modern Yiddish, "prost un poshet" Yiddish that can be translated into other languages without any difficulty, because Kanar is a modern man who wants to be heard, who has a story to tell to us and future readers. Kanar can relate horrendous, atrocious stories in such a way that they somehow acquire a poetic, musical quality. The presence of this quality does not diminish the seriousness of the content. This gift somehow reflects the mime player who impersonates the perpetrator of a crime or acts out the dying of a butterfly apparently only to make his public smile. It would be wrong to suggest that Kanar in his stories about the Shoa brings out an aspect of beauty dormant in the subject itself. His art is that he is able to bring across his stories in such an aesthetically satisfying way that we are deeply struck by the beauty of his performance. This enables us to face the horrors described without turning our heads away in disgust and shame. His stories should be read, in the first place, for their historic content. They especially deserve to be read because they are written well. 3------------------------------------------------------- Date: 16 January 1998 From: Leak Krikun Subject: "dos your 1942 hot zikh keile ongehoybn geveyntlekh..." [from _Ikh un Lemekh_ (1994), pp. 18-26] by Tsvi Kanar Tsvi kanar dos yor 1942 hot zikh keile ongehoybn geveyntlekh far di yidn in slome, in farglaykh tsu di letste teg fun dem altn yor. volt zikh itst mitamol bavizn a fremder, tsi gor a malekh fun himl un a kuk aropgegebn fun oybn, volt er gemeynt az dos shtetl slome vos ligt ayngetulyet untern tifn shney, vos bloyz der shpits fun kloyster shtaygt aroys, gehert biklal nisht tsu keyn virklekhkayt, nor tsu epes a maysele far kinder. volt er aropgenidert a bisl nideriker volt er gekont zen nisht vayt funem kloyster tsvey kaylekhdike kupoln vos shtartsn aroys fun an altn firkantikn binyen, vi a zeykher fun an alt ekzotish land. baym arayngang oyf der tir funem binyen volt er gekont leynen, in oysgekritste, halb-oysgemekte goldene oysyes, dem ershtn gebot fun di tsen: "a~n~o~y~k~h~i..." un akegn iber dem gebot "loy sirtsekh." volt er zikh gut tsugekukt, volt er gezen az di tir funem binyen iz farshlosn oyf zibn shleser un az shoyn fun lang nutst men shoyn nisht dos dozike heylik hoyz. volt er a kuk geton, oyf der tsveyter zayt shtot, volt er gezen vi kinder glit|shn zikh oyf dem farfroyrenem taykh, un shlitlen zikh oyf dem barg vos grenetst zikh mit di hayzer fun shtot. er volt befeyresh gekont zen vi teyl kinder tsien nisht aroys zeyere shlitlekh biz tsum shpits barg vi di andere kinder tuen, kedey fun dort zikh tsurik aroptsushlitlen, nor blaybn mitamol shteyn in mitn barg, vi zey voltn moyre gehat zikh tsu dernentern biz tsum shpits, un shlitlen zikh arop funem halbn barg. fun onhoyb volt er nisht farshtanen vos s'kumt do for. ober ven er volt abisl mer oyfgemakht di oygn volt er gezen az in mitn barg shteyt a slup mit an oyfshrift: "akhtung! es iz shtreng farbotn far yidn tsu farlozn dem shetekh fun shtot! far farlozn di shtot kumt toyt|shtrof!" er, der fremder, tsi der malekh, volt oykh gekont zen, az di yidn in shtot bavegn zikh bloyz oyf itlekhe gasn arum dem mark. az keyn berd mit peyes trogn zey nisht, vi amol, un oykh nisht keyn lange kapotes mit yidishe kaylekhdike hitelekh, un az oyf di orems trogn zey vayse bender mit bloye mogn-doveds. er volt nokh a sakh zakhn gekont zen un zikh ibertsaygn, az dos shtetl slome iz biklal nisht keyn maysele far kinder, vi s'hot zikh im oysgedakht fun der hoykh. un -- s'volt far im beser geven er zol zikh vos shneler optrogn, ahin fun vanen er iz gekumen. volt zikh itst, in mitn khoydesh yanuar, der krig farendikt, volt men haynt tsu tog gezogt as ot di milkhome iz geven a zeyer shreklekhe milkhome. tates, mames, bobes un zeydes voltn gehaltn in eyn dertseyln mayses far zeyere kinder un kindskinder, vos di shtot slome hot mitgemakht. eyniklekh voltn tsu fusns fun zeyere bobes zikh tsugehert mit ofene mayler, biz shpet in di nekht arayn, vegn di maysem-neroem, vi azoy ment|shn zenen farvandlt gevorn in khayes un gefresn eyner dem andern. derbay volt men dray mol oysgeshpign un tsugegebn: "nisht haynt gedakht". beshum oyfn volt men nisht moykhl geven dem mayrevdikn groysn shokhn-land, tsu vos far a nisyoynesn er hot undz tsugebrakht. di makhloykesn in shtot voltn efsher ongegangen bizn hayntikn tog, ver s'iz yo tsi nisht gerekht geven. tsi hot men yo tsi nisht gedarft mitarbetn mitn retseyekh. ken zayn az teyl ment|shn volt men arayngeleygt in kheyrem, zey oysgeshlosn fun klal yisroel. un efsher volt men gor zey ale moykhl geven? vayl oykh zey, di bashuldikte, voltn gehat zeyere taynes, un bashuldikt gor di azoy-gerufene sheyne yidn, vos beshas tsore hobn zey fun zikh aropgevorfn yeder min akhrayes farn kohol un geshtanen in a zayt, shtot tsu hobn mut tsu shteyn oyg oyf oyg mitn soyne. men volt haynt zikher gefayert, yeder yor, tsvishn khanike un purim, a nayem nes-yontef mit zogn halel, vos men iz poter gevorn fun a nayem homen. gedankt dem hashem yisborekh vos hot vider bavizn nisht tsu farlozn zayn folk yisroel. alts volt geshtimt vi es vert gebrengt in di heylike sforim. es hot zikh ober gor andersh opgeshpilt.... der khoydesh yanuar iz nokh kemat nisht gehat farbay, vi mit amol hot zikh tseshpreyt a klang in shtot az in kurtsn vet men durkhfirn an "aktsye". keyner hot nisht gevust vos dos iz azoyns "an aktsye", un keyner hot nisht gevust fun vanet der klang shtamt. geven azelkhe vos hobn gezogt az di gantse ideye iz nisht mer vi stam a hamtsoe fun gelbordn far a nayer parnose. vos mer teg es zenen farbay, alts mer hot men geredt vegn an aktsye, biz keyner hot mer nisht getsveyflt az an aktsye vet forkumen. nor vos dos iz, hot keyner nisht gevust, nisht gekont zikh forshteln. hobn zikh yidn gebrokhn di kep un an umheymlekher shoyder hot arumgekhapt fun groys biz kleyn. teyl hobn gezogt az an aktsye meynt -- a min pogrom rakhmone-litslan. di es-es faln on oyf a shtetl un brengen um vemen zey trefn, genoy vi in di tsaytn fun khmelnitski. andere vider hobn getaynet az se vet forkumen an "oyszidlung," fun a teyl, tsi fun ale yidn. vu ahin hot keyner nisht gevust. tsvishn purim un peysekh hobn zikh naye klangen farshpreyt. ver s'hot zey farshpreyt hot vider keyner nisht gevust. dos mol hot men di klangen nisht tsepoykt oyfn koyl, nor shtil zikh geshushket oyfn oyer, vi a groysn sod, kedey khas-vesholem, nisht ontsumakhn keyn behole. men hot zikh gesoydet az pren vos in ergets vayt, vayt, oyf yener zayt bug, in ukraine, oyf di naye farnumene gebitn, kumen for meshunedike groyl-maysem kegn yidn. me zogt, un derbay hot men dray mol oysgeshpign, az men koylet dort oys gantse kehiles. alts iz ober geven azoy nisht klor, vi a sakh zakhn zenen demolt nisht geven klor. bloyz gelbord, der moser, hot geredt klore diburim: "yidn, s'toyg in dr'erd!" -- flegt er zogn, der iker beys er iz geven begilufin. un begilufin iz er tomed geven. der rov fun shtot, reb yudl, flegt zikh gut tsuhern tsu zayne reyd. un nokh yedn aza zog, vos der moser hot aroysgelozt fun zayn moyl hot der rov oysgerufn a tones b|tsiber. "tonesem veln helfn vi a toytn bankes!" hot der moser gelakht, got hot oysgedreyt dem dashek un makht zikh keleyode...." un vos vet yo helfn, panye gelbord?" hot der rov fun groys pakhed mit a mol opgegebn koved dem nayem meylekh, titulirndik im pan. -- "gornisht rebe vet helfn! alts iz farloyrn!!" der rov iz geven der eyntsiker yid in shtot far vemen der moser hot nokh gehat a shtikl derekh-erets. dos letste yor hot er dem altn rov mit der rebetsn oysgehaltn mit parnose. er hot oykh bashitst dem rov fun di dayt|shn far trogn a bord mit peyes, mamesh biz tsu der letster minut, vayl trogn a bord mit peyes iz geven shtreng farbotn. di yidn in slome hobn in onhoyb nisht gegloybt, oder nisht gevolt gloybn, in di ale oysterlishe klangen. ober bislekhvayz, ven es zenen ongekumen mer bagleybte ideyes, vi lemoshl az men hot aroysgeshikt a transport mit ment|shn funem krokever geto in an umbakanter rikhtung arayn, hobn zikh di slomer yidn ongekhapt in alts vos men kon zikh onkhapn, abi zikh tsu rateven.... gelbord hot itst gefunen a naye parnose. er iz gekumen tsu di farmeglekhe yidn, nisht bloyz fun slome, nor oykh fun de arumike shtetlekh in meylekh-elyens giter, un zey forgeshlogn, far gut gelt, farshteyt zikh, zey, oder zeyere zin, zoln vern politsyantn, oder mitglider inem yudnrat un azoy arum zikh rateven mit zeyere mishpokhes fun vern avekgeshikt. er hot zey farzikhert, az dem yudnrat vet men nisht rirn. tsveytns, gelbord hot nisht gedarft tsu zey kumen, zey zenen tsu im aleyn gekumen, zikh gebetn, un im gefaln tsu di fis vi far a kenig, er zol zey rateven. tsu Avrem byelitskin, vu er hot im shoyn eyn mol kloymersht opgeratevet, is gelbord aleyn gekumen mit dem forshlag, az zayne tsvey zin, Lemekh mit berlen, zoln vern politsyantn, un azoy arum oprateven zayn mishpokhe. der shtoltser avrem byalitski, der gvir fun slome, hot faynt gehat dem moser sines-moves bizn tsentn dor arayn. in normale tsaytn volt zikh aza grobyan vi gelbord nisht dervagt afile aribertsutretn di shvel fun zayn hoyz. haynt ober iz er der kenig fun di yidn, mishteyns gezogt. hot zikh avrem byalitski getrakht un derbay aropgelozt di oygn, kedey nisht ontsukukn dem mosers treyfene ponem. "vos kvenklt ir zikh azoy, reb Avrem|t|she?" -- hot im der moser gefregt mit a beyzik gelekhterl, "vos? kh'farlang efsher tsu fil gelt? me veyst! ale veysn az ir halt bagrobn gantse oytsres, nisht bloyz in dr'erd, nor oykh bay di pritsem un bay di poyerem in di derfer. gloybt mir, reb Avrem|t|she, az se vet aykh fun dem ales gornisht blaybn! zey veln aykh gornisht tsurikgebn di goyem, afile nisht nokh der milkhome. un s'iz nokh a groyse frage tsi mir yidn veln biklal derlebn biz nokh der milkhome? dervayl darf men rateven vos me kon rateven!" hot der moser geredt mayse kohol-farzorger. "oyb azoy, panye gelbord", hot im avrem byalitski beeyn breyre opgegebn koved rufndik im "panye," anshtot moshke khazir dvoshes, vi m'hot im amol gerufn oyf zayn mames nomen, vayl er iz nokh vi a pitsele kind gevorn a yosem, "oyb azoy, oyb ir meynt b|emes, az mir yidn veln khas-vesholem nisht iberlebn di milkhome, to tsu vos toygn di ale gesheftn? tsi vos zent ir grade tsu mir gekumen? mit vos bin ikh den beser fun di andere yidn?" "reb Avrem|t|shele, kh'ze az ir vitslt zikh vi in di alte gute tsaytn ven ir zent nokh geven in di federn. feters un mumes -- ha....nishto mer "t|shyot|shyu-vuit|sho!" -- (gemeynt di mishpokhes byelitskis, di koyfmans, di zaydmans, vos hobn zikh keseyder tsvishn zikh mishadekh geven un geshafn a min sheyvet, vos iz geven dos oybershte fun shteysl in shtot) "es zenen farbay di gute tsaytn fun amol, fun sheyne yidn, mit fete hindelekh un yaykhelekh oyf shabes.... haynt es ikh hindelekh mit yaykhelekh yedn tog! ir hert reb Avrem|t|shele?! yedn tog!!! un mayn mame shtarbt mer nisht fun hunger.... di klore diburim funem moser hobn vi a hamer a zets gegebn ibern kop fun dem shtoltsn gvir fun slome. dos ponem zayns hot zikh tseflamt vi a fayer, un kalte tropns shveys hobn aroysgeshpritst oyf zayn tsehitstn shtern. er hot gevolt epes zogn, ober s'iz gornisht aroysgekumen. khuts a yenkenish. vi kegn zayn viln hobn zikh zayne oygn ongetrofn mit di shpitsike oygn funem moser fun velkhe a nekome-gelekhterl hot aroysgeblitst fun zayne shvartsaplen, un vi di sharf fun a khalef zikh ayngeshnitn in byalitskis harts. alts hot zikh in im gevorfn fun pakhed, fun a modnem pakhed, vos afile fun di dayt|shn hot er dos nisht gekont. -- 55,000 zlotes?! -- hot der moser gefodert, "un ayere tsvey zin veln vern politsyantn!" Lemekh un berl hobn ober gehat andere plener. di tsvey brider hobn zikh shoyn fun a lengerer tsayt arumgetrogn mit a kholem zikh aribertsukhapn oyf yener zayt vaysl, vu men dertseylt, az in di tife velder grasirn partizaner. dervayl hobn zey keyn breyre nisht gehat un gehorkht dem foter tsu vern politsyantn, khotsh Avrem byalitski hot itst aleyn gekont zayn der rosh klal-tuer inem yudnrat, oyb er volt vayter farblibn oyf zayn ern-postn vi der prezes fun der yidisher kehile. nokh soyf khoydesh september '39 ven di dayt|shn hobn farnumen di shtot, hobn zey bafoyln oyftsushteln a yudnrat. eygntlekh hobn di dayt|shn gevolt az di zelbe ment|shn fun der yidisher kehile zoln vayter farblaybn oyf zeyere postns. ober azoy vi kemat ale onfirers fun der kehile hobn mer nisht gevolt hobn dem koved, tsulib farshtendlekhe sibes, hobn zikh oyf zeyere pletser aroyfgezetst ment|shn vos afile in di viste khaloymes zeyere, volt zey nisht ayngefaln tsu kholemen vegn farnemen azelkhe pozitsyes bay kohol. di dayt|shn vider iz nisht gegangen in lebn velkhe yidn es zitsn in yudnrat. bafeln hobn ale gemuzt oysfiln. itst hobn zey gekinigt beyad-khazoke, tif gezunken un gekinigt, un zikh nokh ayngeredt az zey dinen zeyere brider, az ven nisht zey volt nokh geven erger. Avrem byelitski hot mit a shver harts maskem geven az zayne tsvey zin zoln vern politsyantn, un azoy arum efsher oprateven dos vos lozt zikh oprateven. fun der tsveyter zayt hot er zikh gefilt a getsvungener durkh dem moser. er iz gantse nekht nisht geshlofn. dos gevisn zayns hot im gepaynikt, gefresn, un nisht bloyz dos gevisn, nor oykh di moyre far got. er hot gevust az er zinkt, az er iz gefaln, nisht veyniker vi di andere ment|shn funem yudnrat, un efsher nokh tifer....er hot gepruvt zikh aynredn az er tut dos tsulib zayn vayb un kinder. ober di ment|shn fun yudnrat tuen dokh genoy dos zelbe, oykh zey hobn vayber mit kinder. ober di makhshove az er kon efsher rateven zayn mishpokhe, iz geven shtarker fun alts. zint Lemekh mit berlen trogn kaylekhdike politsey-hitlekh mit a geln shtern fun fornt, dakht zikh im az di ment|shn maydn im oys. afile teyl goyishe shkheynem, hot er bamerkt, dreyen letstns fun im avek dem kop. zayne tsvey brider, di shvesters un shvogers kumen letstns zeltn in zayn hoyz arayn. di kinder zeyere bavayzn zikh biklal nisht. der foter zayner, reb Efroyim, dermont afile nisht mit a vort, az zayne eyniklekh zenen gevorn politsyantn. emes, er hot di tsvey zin ongezogt vi azoy zikh oyftsufirn, un yedn tog fregt er zey oys vi azoy der tog iz farbay. tsi hobn zey, khas-vesholem, keynem nisht baavelt, tsi, kholile, keynem nisht baleydikt. ober gey zay a politsyant unter di dayt|shn un keynem nisht baavlen.... di dayt|shn, onhoybndik funem general-governater in kroke biz tsu dem klentstn baamtn in slome, hobn "gefirt tish," yeder eyner far zikh. yeder eyner hot aroysgegebn gzeyres un bafeln vos yidn megn yo ton un nisht ton. s'hot oysgezen vi zey voltn tsvishn zikh konkurirt ver s'vet aroysgebn shtrengere bafeln. unter yedn bafel iz geven tsugetshepet, in groyse oysyes, az far nisht oysfiln dem bafel kumt toytshtrof. di bafeln flegt men aroyshengen oyf der moyer funem yudnrat. yidn flegn leynen, krekhtsn un kritsn mit di tseyn. nisht eyn mol ven s'hot zikh di dayt|shn oysgedakht az men filt nisht oys di bafeln pinktlekh, vi es darf tsu zayn, hobn zey arangepralt inem yudnrat un gepatsht dem forzitser, oder geshmisn mit zeyere kantshikes iber di kep fun di dortike politsyantn. eyn mol hobn zey dershosn a baamtn funem yudnrat vayl er hot gevagt tsu entfern a vort, vos s'iz zey nisht gefeln gevorn. s'hot oysgezen vi der yundrat iz letstns gor gevorn dos greste kapore-hindl. un khotsh keyn groyse libe hot keyner nisht aroysgevizn tsu zey, hot men dokh farshtanen az s'iz okh un vey az men nemt zikh shoyn oykh tsum yudnrat. biz itst hot men zikh ayngeredt, az der rov zhandarmen in shtot zenen untergekoyfte parshoynen durkh gelbordn un dem yudnrat. zey hobn zikh gedreyt oyf di gasn in zeyere oysgeputste gemzove shtivl, un ale hobn gevust fun vemen dos kumt. di goldene zeygerlekh oyf zeyere hent zenen oykh geven yidishe, nisht davke tsugeroybte bay yidn, ele, farkert, m'hot zey frayvilik geshonken vi matones, kedey zey zoln nisht tsu fil vildeven. oykh di mundirn, zeyere, di hemder, afile di untervesh, zenen geven fun yidish hob-un-guts. inem yudnrat zenen gezesn tog un nakht shnayders, shusters un neyterins un gehaltn in eyn makhn shtivl, uniformen un kleyder far di dayt|shn un zeyere vayber, oder kokhankes. a sakh fun zey flegn afile aheymshikn peklekh mit malbushem keyn dayt|shland far zeyere vayber un kinder. romanizirt fun leye krikun ______________________________________________________ end of _The Mendele Review_ 02.001 Leonard Prager, editor send articles to: lprager@research.haifa.ac.il the editor of _TMR_ can also be reached via _Mendele_'s homepage: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele subscribers to _mendele_ (see below) automatically receive _the mendele review_. send "to subscribe" or change-of-status messages to: listproc@lists.yale.edu a. for a temporary stop: set mendele mail postpone b. to resume delivery: set mendele mail ack c. to subscribe: sub mendele first_name last_name d. to unsubscribe kholile: unsub mendele ****getting back issues**** _The Mendele Review_ archives can be reached at: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele/tmrarc.htm and http://sunsite.unc.edu/yiddish/tmr (under construction) _The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language (A Companion to _Mendele_) ______________________________________________________ Contents of vol. 02.002 23 January 1998 1) Yiddish Matters: from the editor (Leonard Prager) 2) A Response to Lucas Bruyn's Review of "Opgegebn broyt" 3) "Opgegebn broyt" (Tsvi Kanar) [first installment, pp. 9-21] 1)---------------------------------------------------- date: 23 January 1998 from: Leonard Prager subject: Yiddish Matters a. In this issue 1. We are happy to announce that Tsvi Kanar, excerpts from whose _Ikh un Lemekh_ appeared in the last two issues of _TMR_ and whose long short-story, "Opgegebn broyt" appears in this and in the next five issues, will be receiving the Shaver Prize for Literature and Art for 1997 together with Khayem Topol (star of _Fiddler on the Roof_), and Israeli novelist Yehoshua Kanaz. This, the sixteenth Shaver Prize awards ceremony, takes place at Beys Sholem-Aleykhem [Bet Shalom Aleykhem] in Tel Aviv next Friday morning, 30 January 1998. 2. In the episode from Kanar's _Ikh un Lemekh_ which appeared in _TMR_ vol.1, no. 28, the shtetl of Slome was not identified. Lucas Bruyn suggests Slomniki for Slome and points out that the writer states that he was born in Skalbmersh, which is near Slomniki. 2)---------------------------------------------------- date: 23 January 1998 from: Sholem Berger subject: "Opgegebn broyt" fun Tsvi Kanar [first installment, pp. 9-21] Tsvi kanar. _opgegebn broyt; dertseylungen_ ('bread for bread; stories') tseykhenungen: yosl bergner ('illustrations: yosl bergner') tel-oviv: y.-l. perets farlag, 1996 [isbn 965-7012-05-8] [hile un grafik: Dovid kedem ('design: david kedem'] tsum ondenk fun mayne shvester Rokhl un male z"l ('in memory of my sisters Rachel and Molly z'l') opgegebn broyt 9/ "vart oyf mir morgn finef a zeyger nokh mitog, in dem kafe 'vayse roze' oyfn kurfirstndam, veln mir zikh kenen mer adurkhshmuesn" -- hot tsu mir gezogt in zayn rakhves|diker lozhe der aktyor hamburski fun tel-oviv, a mider un oysgeshepter, ober a tsufridener nokh zayn derfolgraykher forshtelung, derbay hot er tsu mir oysgeshtrekt zayn vareme hant oyf sholem. dos iz geven in a kaltn detsember-ovnt. dem zelbn nokhmitog bin ikh ariber di grenets oyf "t|shekpoynt-t|sharli" fun mizrekh keyn mayrev-berlin, nokh mayn ershtn oyslendishn turne in der "dayt|sher demokratisher republik." itst hob ikh geshpant iber di breyte gasn fun mayrev-berlin mit a sakh mut, gleybn un hofenung in mayn tsukunft vi a pantomimiker, nokh ale mayne gelungene forshtelungen in mizrekh-dayt|shland, vu di kritik un dos publikum hobn mir azoy varem oyfgenumen un geloybt. di baloykhtene, breyte zoybere gasn hobn mir tsugegebn nokh mer mut, un ikh hob vi geshvebt tsvishn di elegant gekleydete un hoykh baredevdike durkhgeyers, vos hobn oysgezen vi aktyorn oyf a gigantisher bine, azoy vi a genyaler rezhisor volt dos alts oysgerezhisirt. di penem|er fun di ment|shn zenen geshvind farbaygelofn far mayne oygn un s'hot zikh mir oysgedakht, az alts lakht tsu mir un nemt onteyl in mayne gehoybene gefiln. sheyne penem|er zenen dos geven, bazundersh bay di froyen, vos zenen geven azoy yontef|dik oysgeputst, un zeyere shtarke parfumen hobn mir mamesh far|shiker|t mit glust (ikh volt mir itst mit yeder 10/ eyner fun zey avekgeleygt un gemakht libe)[1]; farhipnotizirt, bin ikh gegangen on a tsil un zikh gefilt vi eyner fun zey. tsu morgns nokh mitog, far finef a zeyger, bin ikh arayn in dem groysn un elegant baloykhtenem kafe "vayse roze" oyfn kurfirstndam, azoy vi der aktyor hamburski fun tel-oviv hot mir gehat ongezogt. ment|shn zenen gezesn bay kleyne runde, vays gefarbte tishlekh, farputst mit goldene pompeze shtrayfn fun epes an altdayt|shn nostalgishn stil, vos hobn azoy kontrastirt mit di droysndike firkantike moderne gebaydes, velkhe hobn zikh getsoygn un gehoybn het vayt biz tsu di volkns. a sentimentaler shlager fun a gramofon hot shtil bagleyt di gest arum di tishlekh. zey hobn gemitlekh getrunken zeyere getranken oyfn amolikn berliner shteyger, azoy vi yorn voltn nisht farbay, nor farshteynt gevorn -- geblibn shteyn oyfn ort zint yene gute tsaytn.... nisht vayt fun arayngang hob ikh bamerkt a fray tishl un zikh avekgezetst. kh'hob aroysgenumen fun mayn aktntash tsaytung-oysshnitn say mayne eygene, say di vos hamburski hot mir gegebn, kedey zey tsu farglaykhn. nisht geven vos zikh tsu baklogn. fun beyde zaytn berliner moyer hot men gezungen shvokhem far di tsvey yidishe kinstlers. plutsem hob ikh derhert a heflekhe shtim: "ya, bite?" ikh hob oyfgehoybn dem kop un gezen far mir shteyn dem kelner, a shmeykhldikn, mit tsvey groyse shtolene oygn, tif arayngezetst unter zayn niderikn shtern. an umheymlekher tsiter iz adurkh mayn kerper. kh'bin gevorn azoy iberrasht fun ot di oygn, az kh'hob nisht gekont aroysbrengen keyn 11/ vort fun mayn moyl. di oygn mayne zenen vi tsugeshmidt gevorn tsu zayne. s'hot genumen a lange rege, vi an eybikayt, eyder kh'hob koym aroysgebrakht oyf mayne lipn dos vort: "tey..." -- mit tsitrone oder mit milkh? -- mit milkh -- hob ikh oytomatish nokhgezogt, khotsh tey mit milkh hob ikh in mayn lebn nisht getrunken. der kelner hot zikh nokh a mol tif farneygt oyfn kelnerishn oyfn un iz avek. oy, ikh ken di oygn! hot mayn moyekh ongehoybn gikh tsu arbetn, vi nisht geveynlekh. ikh hob di oygn shoyn a mol gezen! ober ven? vu? efsher in a frierdikn gilgl? kh'gleyb ober nisht in keyn gilgulem. un dokh bin ikh zikher, az kh'ken di oygn! un nokh vi! neyn, es dakht zikh mir bloyz oys. oygn konen a mol farfirn. kh'hob gepruvt leyenen vayter di tsaytung-oysshnitn, ober kh'hob mikh b|shum-oyfn nisht gekont kontsentrirn. a shtarker umru iz mir bafaln. efsher iz dos epes a natsi fun der milkhome-tsayt? funem lager? alts iz dokh meglekh in undzer velt, khot|sh es zenen shoyn farbay tsvantsik yor nokh dem alem.... neyn, s'kon nisht zayn! ikh volt aza eynem in lebn nisht derkent. kh'fleg dokh zey keyn mol in di oygn nisht araynkukn. nisht makhmes tsnies, nor poshet, tsulib moyre un pakhed. tomed fleg ikh avekdreyen dem kop fun zey, vi zey voltn biklal nisht eksistirt far mir. a|khuts in eyn fal, ven ikh hob zikh gebetn bay dem lager-komendant er zol mir nisht dershisn.... un take durkh a nes mikh nisht dershosn. derfar ober hot er glaykh oyf mayn ort tsvey andere dershosn.... ober afile in yenem fal hob ikh avekgedreyt dem kop, kh'zol dos nisht zen, vi s'volt in gantsn nisht pasirt, un geblibn bin 12/ ikh in mayn eygn fantastish veltele, vos ikh hob mir oyfgeboyt in mayn kinderisher fantazye, a veltele vos hot gornisht gehat tsu ton mit der virklekhkayt. emes, mayn bidner kerper hot zikh take gefunen inem kontsentratsye-lager, ober mayn neshome hot geshvebt het, het, ergets vayt, in a gants anderer velt, in a velt vu me ken esn broyt tsu der zat. un ven dos avekdreyen dem kop hot mikh gekont dos lebn kostn, hob ikh poshet farmakht di oygn -- gezen un nisht gezen. gor andersh hot gehandlt der nayntsn-yeriker izho. dem dritn tog zayendik in lager hot er farshtanen, az keyn lebedike veln mir fun danen say vi say nisht aroys. di dayt|shn veln undz do azoy lang haltn, vi lang mir toygn nokh far zeyer arbet. "oyb azoy -- hot der yunger student gezogt tsu zayn tatn -- a make di dayt|shn! ikh vel far zey nisht arbetn!" -- un er iz aroyf oyf di elektrishe drotn. der nitsokhn hot take gehert dem yungn izho.... di tsore iz ober geven vos di dayt|shn zenen azoy oyfgekokht gevorn fun der yidisher khutspe, -- vos heyst, a yid hot gevagt zikh [dervegt zikh] aleyn umbrengen un derbay tseshtert di elektrishe drotn?! -- az zey hobn glaykh oyfn plats dershosn finef heftlingen [ze dayt|sh _Haeftlingen_ 'gefangene'], tsvishn zey oykh izhos foter, un gevornt: "nokh eyn sabotazh, dershisn zey nisht finef, nor tsvantsik!" zint demolt hot shoyn keyner mer nisht gevagt [dervegt zikh] tsu geyn oyf di elektrishe drotn.... ikh bin azoy farkhapt geven in mayne makhshoves, mishndik penem|er un gesheenishen fun mayne fargangene yorn, az kh'hob nisht bamerkt, vi der kelner hot mir gebrakht di bashtelte 13/ tey mit milkh. kh'hob nor derhert dos vort "bite shen." "vanya!" -- hobn mayne lipn mit a mol a shept|she geton. der kelner, vos hot shoyn gehaltn baym avekgeyn, hot zikh hastik a drey oys gegebn, mikh adurkhgeshpizt mit di tsvey shtolene oygn zayne. der otem hot zikh in mir opgeshtelt. kh'hob derfilt a shtokh in hartsn un a kalter shveys hot mikh bagosn fun kop biz di fis. kh'hob gevolt oyfshteyn un antloyfn, ober kh'bin geven ummakhtik, vi tsugeshmidt tsu mayn zitsplats. "vanya! vanyusha!...." hobn mayne lipn vayter geshept|shet. zet oys az kh'hob nisht azoy geshept|shet, vi s'hot zikh mir oysgedakht, nor hoykh oyfn kol gerufn, vayl ale arum, bay di tishlekh, hobn zikh mit a mol umgekukt. der kelner hot a shpan geton tsu mir mit feste trit, aribergeboygn zayn atletish geshtel ibern tishl, un shtil, mit a shvern aktstent a freg geton: -- "vas mekhten zi, mayn her? aus [oys] vo kenen zi mikh?" -- vanya! vanyusha! -- hob ikh oysgeshrign: derkenstu mikh nisht? derkenst nisht dem kleynem polyak? dem kleynem zhidlak? dem akhtn may finef un fertsik, du host dokh mikh bafrayt!!! itst hot er in mir arayngekukt mit zayne shtolene, vilde oygn, genoy vi demolt in yener nakht, in tog fun mayn bafrayung, ven er, vanya, hot gehaltn oysgeshtrekt zayn gever, ongetsilt in mayne oygn. di shvartse lufe funem pistoyl hot eyme|dik gedrot. ot-ot vet a blits ton a royt fayerl un oys mit mir.... zayne oygn ful mit sine hobn geblitst mit a meshune|diker vildkayt. dos moyl zayns hot gepinet mit koyles: 14/ "du pakhdones|diker zhidlok! host moyre nekome tsu nemen? hak!.... hak ir arayn in ir germanske pizde!.... hak! a nit makh ikh dikh fartik!!" oyf a breyt bet in mitn khorev gemakhtn elegantn shloftsimer iz gelegn a yunge nakete dayt|shke mit geshpreyte fis un gekrekhtst fun veytik. di oygn ire meshuge farglotst, dos rozeve zaydn nakhthemd -- tseflikt oyf shtik-shtiklekh. nor vos hobn zi dray soldatn, roytarmeyers, fargvaldikt, eyner nokhn andern. ire hent hobn zikh geklamert mit a gvaldikn koyekh in di kaylekhdike vayse brist, vi zi volt zey gevolt bashitsn. di eyme|dike lufe funem pistoyl hot zikh nokh mer dernentert tsu mayne ibergeshrokene oygn. mayn oysgedarter "muzulmanisher"[2] guf hot zikh nokh mer ayngeshrumpn un iz farglivert gevorn fun shrek. a shitere tsoye hot zikh mir aroysgeglitsht in mayne opgerisene katsetishe hoyzn arayn. nor der moyekh hot itst bay mir klor un geshvind gearbet. a moyekh on a kerper.... vos zog ikh -- "der moyekh," nor a kleyn teylekhl zayner, vayl di iberike teyl iz shoyn fun lang geven opgeshtorbn.... ot dos teylekhl fun mayn moyekh flegt tomed arbetn bay di greste sakones in di lagern un nokh far di lagern.... "tu dos nisht!!! tu dos nisht, vanya!!! du host dokh mikh bafrayt!" -- hob ikh probirt tsu shrayen. di lipn mayne zenen ober geven farglivert, di tsung farshteynt, un kh'hob b|shum-oyfn nisht gekont aroysbrengen keyn vort. heref-ayen|dike bilder fun adurkhgelebte sakones hobn mir ongehoybn farbayloyfn vi shotns. ot rays ikh mikh aroys fun a zikhern toyt mit a shprung tsvishn a dayt|sh un a poylishn politsyant beys 15/ der ershter aktsye zumer 42.... ot loyf ikh mit a zigzagishn geloyf in vald un es treft mikh nisht di koyl fun a poylishn partizaner.... der tate git mikh a tsi baym arbl b|shas adurkhgeyn dem toyer fun lager oyf der yerozalimske.... mir hobn zikh demolt azoy shtark ayngeklamert eyner in tsveytn, az keyn shum koyekh oyf der velt volt undz nisht gekont tsesheydn, saydn der toyt. zayn tsi baym arbl hot mikh geratevet, vayl ale kleyne yinglekh hot men glaykh dershosn oyf der "khoyove gurke,"[ze poylish _gorka_ 'bergl'] vi men hot gerufn dos bergl lebn lager, vu men hot dershosn di ment|shn.... un ot shtel ikh zikh oyf di shpits finger b|shas di selektsyes, kedey oystsuzen greser, hekher, vayl di kleyne hot men glaykh opgetransportirt tsum himl-komando.... nu, un dos knaypn zikh in mayne oysgesokhete un blase beklekh, kedey oystsuzen roytlekh, gezunt, arbetsfeyik far dem "dritn raykh," vayl di shvakhe, di nisht arbetsfeyike shikt men tsum dershisn.... ot fal ikh a toyter beys an ekzekutsye, in der letster sekunde eyder di koyl hot mikh getrofn. nokh a dzhukhe mit der kolbe fun der biks un a zets mitn soldatske shtivl, tsi ikh leb nokh.... neyn! keyn simen fun lebn! kh'bin shoyn fun lang a toyter! nor bagrobn hob ikh mikh nisht gelozt. tsu der groyser iberrashung fun di katsetnikes hob ikh mikh oyfgehoybn, vi s'volt gornisht pasirt, gekhapt di hoyzn un tsurikgelofn in barak arayn. fun demolt on hot men mikh gerufn: der tkhies-hameysem|nik.... "tu dos nisht! -- hob ikh zikh gebetn bay vanyan, bay mayn bafrayer, mayn oysleyzer -- loz mikh lebn! kh'vil lebn! s'iz 16/ dokh shoyn oys milkhome! du bist dokh a roytarmeyer! du kemfst dokh kegn di natsis far a frayer velt! far a fray lebn!...." "far a fraye velt un a fray lebn kemft di heroishe sovetishe royte armey unter der onfirung fun khaver stalin, kegn der natsisher pest.... haynt hot di royte armey farnumen breslav. eyrope vert bafrayt! oys milkhomes! oys kontsentratsye-lagern! oys hunger un toyt! kinder heftlingen, in kurtsn vet ir bafrayt vern! a naye tsukunft dervart aykh! dervart gants eyrope. der gantser ment|shhayt! lebn zol di heldishe royte armey! lebn zoln di heroishe kemfndike felker funem ratn-farband! lebn zol der khaver stalin!" azoy hot tsu undz geredt in di ershte teg fun khoydesh februar 1945 der breytpleytsiker kapo in kinderblok 66 inem kontsentratsye lager bukhenvald. lebn im iz geshtanen a tsveyter kapo, a darer, a hoykher un hot tsugeshoklt gutmutik mitn kop. beyde hobn zey getrogn oyf der linker zayt fun der katsetisher bluze, lebn numer, royte drayekn -- a simen fun politishe heftlingen. eyner a yid fun varshe, der tsveyter -- an aryer fun hamburg. beyde farbrente internatsyonalistn, vos zitsn shoyn lange yorn hinter di shtekhldrotn far der zelber ideye, far dem zelbn b|shutfes|dike tsil. der yid nokh fun far|milkhome|dikn poyln inem lager kartuz-bereze, der dayt|sh -- fun fir un draysik inem kontsentratsye-lager "zaksenhauzen." itst beyde in bukhenvald. dos harts hot mir getsaplt fun freyd un hofenung nisht gleybndik mayne eygene oyern. vos heyst, bald vel ikh bafrayt vern! kenen esn broyt! oy, broyt! un nokh a 17/ mol -- broyt!.... broyt on oyfher! on a sof, biz tsezetst vern!.... "matushka rasya"... hot zikh gerisn fun undzere oysgehungerte, fartriknte heldzlekh dos bakante lid fun yene yorn, vos iz geven undzer himen oyfn kinderblok 66. "matushka rasya, ikh benk nokh dir shtark.... nokh dem rusishn ment|sh, nokh der rusisher neshome...." "hak! hak ir arayn! -- hot der ukrainer gerevet -- anit makh ikh dikh kalt!" mit ale mayne koykhes, di letste koykhes fun a katsetnik, a muzlman[2], nokh dray yor lagern, mit a toytnmarsh, hot zikh mayn tsiterdike, shvakhe hant pamelekh oyfgehoybn mit dem shpizikn bagnet, vos er hot mikh getsvungen tsu nemen un geshtelt in der froys naketn kerper. "hak! -- hot vanya nisht nokhgelozt -- h-a-k! oder ikh knal dikh avek vi a hunt! vi a germanyets!!!" mayn shvakhe, tsiterdike hant hot ongehoybn nokh shtarker tsitern un mayn gantser kerper hot zikh gevorfn vi in kadokhes. derbay hob ikh aroysgelozt meshune|dike koyles. mit a mol hot er ongekhapt mayn hant un mit a gvaldikn koyekh arayngezetst dem shpizikn bagnet in ir geshlekht. a shtrom blut hot fargosn mayn ponem un an eyme|dik geshrey hot zikh aroysgerisn fun der froys moyl. ikh bin gefaln in khaloshes.... tsu mayne oyern zenen nokh dergangen zayne geshreyen: "du pakhdones|diker zhidlak! blut hostu? pishekhts hostu! pishekhts! gnoyuvke [ze poylish _gnojowka_ 'liquid manure'] flist in dayne zhidovske odern! nit keyn blut! kuk on dayn partsef vi azoy du zest oys! vos zey hobn geton mit dir, mit aykh ale!...." 18/ ven ikh hob tsurik oyfgemakht di oygn hot vanya nokh alts gehakt mitn bagnet inem boykh fun der froy, vos hot shoyn nisht reagirt. er hot gehaltn in eyn rufn: "ot hostu far mayn mamen! far mayn tatn! far mayn shvesterl galina! far ukraine! far gants rusland!" er iz gelegn oyfn oyfgerisenem boykh fun zayn korbm, vos hot zikh getsoygn fun untn biz aroyf tsum haldz un getrunken dos blut. alts arum iz geven royt fun blut -- dos bet, di vent, der ukrainer.... fun a tsveytn tsimer hobn zikh getrogn koyles fun a yung meydl, a yor fuftsn-zekhtsn. dos hobn zi nor vos dray andere soldatn fargvaldikt. un genoy vi di muter, hot oykh di tokhter zikh nisht antkegngeshtelt nor hot geshpreyt di fis un zikh gebetn far ir lebn: "bite, bite mayne hern, tut vos ir vilt, ober bite, lozt mikh lebn. ikh vil lebn...." ober nisht vanya! vi nor er hot derhert dos meydlshe kol, iz er bald arayn in tsveytn tsimer un mit zayn farblutiktn bagnet zikh gevolt varfn oyfn meydl. di dray soldatn hobn im farshtelt dem veg, er zol zi nisht derhargenen. mit koyekh hobn zey probirt bay im dem bagnet aroysraysn. vanya hot ober gedrot un vild geshrign: "geyt kibeni-materi![3] profitirers! hurnzin! ikh tren nisht keyn dayt|shkes, vi ir. ikh harge zey! ikh vel ale dayt|shn derhargenen! ale dayt|shn!!! keyn eynem nisht iberlozn a lebedikn, keyn eynem nisht!!! ikh vel mit zey ton genoy, vi zey hobn mit undz geton! mit mayn tatn! mit mayn mamen! mit mayn shvesterl galina. o, galina, galinushka, mayn tayer kleyn shvesterl, vos hobn zey mit dir geton? -- hot der ukrainer geklogt. -- ikh vel nekome nemen far dir in ale dayt|shn, in ale zeyere vayber un kinder, in a~l~e." 19/ "du kleyner polyak!" -- hot er mir bafoyln -- "kum! aher! zog ir, der dayt|sher hurn-tokhter, az ikh gey zi fartik makhn! genoy vi kh'hob fartik gemakht ir mamzerishn foter un ir kurvishe muter. ano, zog ir, der blyadsker tokhter, in ir loshn, in dayt|sh, zi zol farshteyn, far vos zi geyt shtarbn! zi shtarbt nisht b|khinem! s'iz a tokhes far a tokhes!!! -- an oyg far an oyg!!! opgegebn broyt!!!" di andere dray soldatn zenen shoyn geven avek in an ander hoyz, fun vanen s'hobn zikh getrogn yeloles un krekhtsn fun dayt|she vayber un kinder.... "vanya, vanyusha, -- hob ikh zikh gebetn -- tu mit dayne dayt|shn vos du vilst, ober mikh loz tsu ru. ikh kon mer nisht mitmakhn dos alts. kh'bin toyt mid, geharge|t. koym vos kh'shlep di geshvolene fis, fun toytnmarsh, fun hunger.... der boykh vert mikh tsezetst fun der voyskove [ze poylish _wojskowy_: 'militerish'] zup, vos du host mir haynt derlangt.... kh'kon nisht mer, kh'muz sh~l~o~f~n" -- un kh'hob mikh aropgelozt oyfn dil. vanya iz iber mir geshtanen un tsu mir aropgekukt mit zayne shtolene oygn un s'hot zikh mir oysgedakht, az kh'ze in zey trern. "vanya, -- hob ikh oysgerufn mayse giber, oysnutsndik zayn shvakhkayt -- ikh makh mer nisht mit! do blayb ikh un do vel ikh shlofn! vest zikh shoyn aleyn an eytse gebn mit di dayt|shn. a gute nakht!" "he, kleyner, shlof nisht ayn! -- hot er mikh gedzhyukhet mitn shtivl -- di milkhome iz far undz nokh nisht farendikt!".... funem groysn radio-kestl, dos eyntsike vos iz farblibn gants in der khorever voynung, hot zikh itst getrogn nitskhones|dike marshmuzik fun radyo moskve. yeder por minut hot der spiker [redner] ibergerisn di muzik un mit zayn patetisher 20/ basove [ze rusish _basovi_ 'bas'] shtim gemoldn vegn dem sof fun der groyser foterlendisher milkhome, vegn dem groysn nitsokhn fun dem heroishn sovetishn folk un zayn heldisher royter armey iber der natsisher bestye, vegn dem yom-hadin vos iz oyf zey, oyf di agresorn gekumen, vegn zeyere farbrekherishe maysem kegn der ment|shheyt.... vegn gefunene berg mit shikhlekh fun kinder, vos di natsis hobn umgebrakht, fargazt, farbrent. vegn epes a zeyf gemakht fun ment|shnfets.... es hobn zikh getrogn freylekhe yoyvl-gezangen fun der moskver bafelkerung oyfn roytn plats. di shtim funem spiker hot gehilkht: "der royter plats tantst. moskve tantst, der gantser ratn-farband tantst, gants eyrope freyt zikh in eynem mit undzer heroishn folk far rateven un bafrayen zi funem dayt|shn despot un agresor. di shvartse nakht funem okupant iz farbay. keyn blut vet mer nisht fargosn vern! nor sholem un oyfboy fun undzer sotsialistish foterland vet hershn oyf undzer erd. ober mit der gantser freyd veln mir keyn mol nisht fargesn un eybik gedenken di milyonen gefalene sovetishe heldn, undzere zin, tates, brider, shvester un mames, vos zenen azoy heldish umgekumen...." "shtey oyf! -- hot vanya mikh alts gedzhyukhet mitn shtivl -- kum aher, kleyner! dos vet zayn dayn letste portsye oyf haynt. na, krikh oyf ir aroyf! un yebe zi tsu eyder kh'makh zi fartik. kuk, vos far a sheyne blonde pizda. ersht nor vos geven a psule, bloyz dray pets arayngekhapt, du vest ir derlangen dem fertn." dos meydl iz gelegn naket un iz greyt geven mit gutn oyftsunemen undzere glustungen, nor m'zol ir dos lebn shenken. zi hot farshtanen, az ikh vil avek, az kh'vil 21/ dos alts nisht mitmakhn un zi hot zikh ongehoybn bay mir betn: "bite, mayn her, yunger her, blaybn zi hir, dizer brengt mikh dokh um" -- un oysgeshtrekt tsu mir ire vayse orems, kh'zol oyf ir kumen. vanya hot aroysgelozt a vild gelekhter un mir aroyfgeshtupt oyfn meydl: "ano, lomir zen, kleyner 'zhidlak', vos far a man du bist!" ober ikh bin geven khorev, krank, un dos nokh keyn mol nisht geton, un kh'hob im nisht gekont bavayzn vos er hot zikh gevuntshn. dos meydl hot mikh arumgenumen in ire veykhe, vareme orems un a farshikerter fun ir meydlishn reyekh bin ikh glaykh oyf ir ayngeshlofn.... ----------------------------------------------------- heores [ed.] 1) geveyntlekh shraybt men oyf yidish _libn zikh_ oder_lyuben zikh_. der oysdruk _makhn libe_, mistome ibergezetst fun english, frantsoyzish, oder an ander eyropeyish shprakh, zet oys fremd oyf yidish. Tsi hot der mekhaber gehat stilistishe sibes far nutsn dem fremdn oysdruk? 2) _muzlman_ /_muzulman_ 'oysgemutshete heftlingen; farloyrn dem kheyshek tsum lebn. di ershte bashtimt tsum krematoryum.' [Nakhmen blumental, _verter un vertlekh fun der khurbm-tkufe_] 3) "Idi k yebeni materi!" [oder "yebenye materi"] 'Go to [your] f**ked mother' oder der kurtser nusekh "K yebeni mater!" 'To [your] f**ked mother' iz nisht mer vi a befeyresh-shtark slavish ekvivalent fun ('is simply an exceptionally strong Slavic equivalent of') "gey in drerd" ('go to hell!') meynen meynt men dem mentsh vos iz adresirt, nisht di mame ('The target is the person addressed, not the mother'.) ______________________________________________________ End of _The Mendele Review_ 02.002 Leonard Prager, editor Send articles to: lprager@research.haifa.ac.il The editor of _TMR_ can also be reached via _Mendele_'s homepage: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele Subscribers to _Mendele_ (see below) automatically receive _The Mendele Review_. Send "to subscribe" or change-of-status messages to: listproc@lists.yale.edu a. For a temporary stop: set mendele mail postpone b. To resume delivery: set mendele mail ack c. To subscribe: sub mendele first_name last_name d. To unsubscribe kholile: unsub mendele ****Getting back issues**** _The Mendele Review_ archives can be reached at: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele/tmrarc.htm and http://sunsite.unc.edu/yiddish/TMR (under construction) _The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language (A Companion to _MENDELE_) ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 02.003 30 January 1998 1) "Opgegebn broyt" (Tsvi Kanar) [second installment pp, 21-34] 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 30 January 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: "Opgegebn broyt" by Tsvi Kanar [second installment, pp. 21-34] *** opgegebn broyt (hemshekh) 21 (hemshekh)/ "ufmakhen! ufmakhen! zofort ufmakhen!" -- hobn di dayt|shn geklapt in der tir fun undzer shokhn tsebulski un bald hobn zikh derhert yeloles, gvaldn un krekhtsn fun di yunge sheyne tekhter zayne. ikh bin gelegn ayngegrobn in mayn mames shoys un koym gekont khapn dem otem far shrek. der tate iz geshtanen bay der farriglter tir fartsveyflt, dershlogn un farshemt. geshemt zikh vos er iz a man, vos er gehert bikhlal tsum menerishn min; geshemt zikh, tsu vos di dayt|shn zenen dergangen, zayne kulturele dayt|shn, vi di mame flegt im letstns oft forvarfn, glaykh vi er, mayn tate, volt kholile shuldik geven in dem alemen.... kh'dermon zikh vi azoy der tate flegt dertseyln baym tish, in der heym, nokh zayn rayze keyn katevets: "kinder,-- flegt er zogn -- s'iz nisht tsu farglaykhn di rakhvesdike gasn, di zoyberkayt, di banemung, bikhlal di kultur. dos iz shoyn der vestn [der mayrev]! gants vos andersh!" .... 22/ di mame hot gekukt oyfn tatn mit modner bavunderung un tsushoklendik mitn kop, mit a koym farborgn shmeykhele irs: "oy, mayn liber Yitskhok, -- hot zi zikh ongerufn -- du bist nokh alts geblibn der zelber kire [galitsyaner] vos a mol. a mazl vos der tate dayner, r'zol ruen laykhtik [text: lakhtik] in gan-eydn, hot dikh gekhapt bay der ofener gemore leyenendik zeyere bikher, zeyere filosofn, shmilosofn, kh'veys vos nokh? Un azoy arum tseklapt dayne khaloymes tsu forn shtudirn keyn ... nu, vi heyst es dortn?" "heydelberg, meynstu?" -- hot der tate gutmutik tsurikgeentfert mit groys libshaft oyf der mames naivkayt. "yo, yo Yitskhok lebn, host getrofn! heydelberg tsi shmeydelberg, vos is den a khilek? vayl vos, mishteyns gezogt, ken men zikh shoyn fun zey oyslernen, az zey boykotirn di yidishe gesheftn un lozn zikh arumfirn bay der noz fun epes an oysgedintn kapral mit a por oysgeribene vontses, makhndik derbay a gepilder, vi di vilde khayes in mitn vald." "s'hot nisht tsu ton eyns mitn andern, un lang vet er, imyirtseshem, nisht zitsn oyfn benkl mit zayne firekhtsn tsvishn dem groysn kultureln folk," -- hot der tate probirt undz alemen oyftsuklern.... Di mame hot gehaltn in eyn tsushoklen mitn kop un dos farborgn shmeykhele irs iz oyf di lipn vi farvisht gevorn: "halevay, halevay, dayne verter in got|s oyern, her filosof. Nu, kh'vil nor zogn, -- hot di mame geredt vayter -- az ven nisht dayn tate, er zol mir dort moykhl zayn, in laykhtikn [text: lakhtikn] gan-eydn, volt ikh dokh haynt gehat a man, a her doktor 23/ oder a her profesor un efsher gor a her filosof. ver ken den visn, mayn liber Yitskhok, vos far a gedule s'volt fun dir aroysgevaksn?" un dos farborgn shmeykhele hot zikh vider bavizn oyf der mames lipn. mir kinder, baym tish, hobn zikh hartsik amuzirt fun dem vunderlekhn duel-geshprekh tsvishn tate-mame. ober der tate iz nisht geblibn shuldik der mamen un hot tsurikgeentfert: "ven ikh volt haynt geven a doktor tsi a profesor, tsi gor a filosof un nisht keyn poshet|er boservedom, kh'meyn a poshet|er soykher, to ver veyst, mayn tayere Rifke, tsi du volst bikhlal gehat a man a kire". "oy -- bin ikh, der ben-zkunem, arayngeshprungen in mitn -- oyb azoy, to vos volt geven mit mir? bay vemen volt ikh dent|smol [demolt] geboyrn gevorn? bay dir, tateshi, tsi bay dir, mameshi? un efsher volt ikh geboyrn gevorn bay fremde ment|shn? feee, oder efsher bikhlal nisht geboyrn gevorn? dent|smol volt ikh dokh nisht gemuzt geyn in kheyder arayn, a fargenign!.... ober s'iz beser, az kh'bin bay aykh geboyrn gevorn, bay mir in der heym un nisht kholile in mitsraim, vayl haynt hot men gelernt in khumesh, az pare yemakh-shemoy hot bafoyln arayntsuvarfn in vaser arayn ale yidishe yinglekh, vos vern geboyrn, to shtelt aykh for, az me volt mikh ongetopyet [ze rusish _topitj_: dertrenken] in vaser, brrr, s'iz kalt in vaser.... s'iz dokh vinter." ale baym tish hobn oysgeshosn a gelekhter fun mayn darshenen un ikh bin oyfgebrakht gevorn oyf mayne tsvey shvester, far vos zey lakhn azoy fun mir un kh'hob zey arayngezogt in tatns tatn arayn.... itst ober, ven mayne tsvey eltere shvester zenen gelegn oysbahaltn in tsveytn tsimer, hob ikh oyf zey gehat groys rakhmones. a moyre|dike shtilkayt 24/ hot gehersht in shtub. kh'hob gefilt dem tsiter fun tate-mame far zeyere tekhter, me zol zey kholile keyn shlekhts nisht ton. der umglik zol, got bahit, nisht arayngebrakht vern in undzer hoyz.... nisht, kholile, farshemt vern, vi di mame hot dos ongerufn.... di yeloles, di gvaldn fun undzere shkheynem zenen alts shtiler un shtiler gevorn. nor di krekhtsn fun di yunge tsebulskis tekhter hobn zikh nokh getrogn fun zeyer voynung. krekhtsn fun yesurem un baleydikung. plutsem a tuperay fun soldat|ske dayt|she shtivl. di hertser undzere blaybn shteyn. a geklaperay in undzer tir: "ufmakhen!!! ufmakhen!!! zofort ufmakhen!!!" *** "ufmakhen!!! ufmakhen!!! zofort ufmakhen!!!" hobn mit yorn shpeter geklapt mayne kleyne shvakhe foystn fun a bafraytn katsetnik in di tirn fun dayt|she heymen un gemakht tsitern hertser fun dayt|she mener, froyen un kinder. mit ale mayne koykhes hob ikh probirt nokhtsumakhn di dayt|she koyles fun yener shoyderlekher september-nakht 1939, ven zey hobn geklapt in undzer tir.... itst hob ikh zikh mit di fir roytarmeyers shturmish arayngerisn in dayt|she heymen un gezeyt khurbm. un khot|sh kh'bin geven getsvungen mit koyekh mittsumakhn dos alts, hob ikh, nisht gekukt oyf mayn rakhmones tsu di bazigte dayt|shn, dos ershte mol nokh zeks yor gefilt, az ikh leb. az nisht bloyz ikh bin derniderikt gevorn, nor az oykh zey, mayne paynikers, zenen itst derniderikt un tif gefaln. oyb nisht nokh tifer....(1) azoy vi ikh shlof itst geshmak oyf dem yungn sheynem meydl, in ire vareme orems, khot|sh bikhlal nisht azoy ruik 25/ vi me ken meynen, kon ikh dervayle dertseyln vegn dem sof fun ir foter, nokh dem vi mir veysn shoyn, vos es iz geshen mit ir muter. ober eyder kh'vel dertseyln vegn dem vil ikh koydem dertseyln vegn "toytnmarsh." vos dos iz geven a toytnmarsh -- veyst men zeyer veynik, tsulib der prost poshet|er sibe, vos zeyer veynik zenen aroys lebedik fun aza marsh. dos gebeyn fun di merste, vos hobn dos mitgemakht, iz geblibn lign tsezeyt un tseshpreyt oyf di vegn, felder un velder fun dayt|shland. un di veynike vos zenen durkh a nes yo halb lebedik aroys, iz eyns fun di tsvey: oder zey viln nisht vegn dem dertseyln, ober zey hobn nisht vemen tsu dertseyln. take derfar makh ikh a kleyne hafsoke un kh'vel dafke yo epes vegn dem dertseyln. s'iz geven sof khoydesh marts 1945, un efsher ershter april, khot|sh dos past bikhlal nisht arayn far an ershter april-mayse. eyn mol, baym frimorgn-apel, nokhn optseyln di "heftlingen" farn aroysmarsh tsu der arbet in di zaltsgrubn, vu mir hobn gehorevet 480 meter tif in dr'erd far der dayt|sher krig-industrye, vayl oybn in droysn iz shoyn alts geven tsebombardirt durkh di aliirte eroplanen, hot undz der komendant funem lager "shtasfurt" bekhvoyde-u|v|atsme ongezogt di psure, az me geyt mer nisht aroys tsu der arbet, vayl der soyne dernentert zikh un mir muzn avek. vuhin? dos hot er undz nisht gezogt un farshteyt zikh, az mir hobn im nisht gefregt. mir hobn bloyz getsitert, az m'zol undz nisht avekfirn un undz fartik makhn. ober oyb fartik makhn, to tsu vos avekfirn? zey kenen dokh undz ale on shum tseremonyes oysshisn oyfn ort. eyner a lets tsvishn undz hot zikh ongerufn tsu it|shen: 26/ "kuk im on (dem lager-komendant) r'iz nebekh oyf tsores. er veyst nisht, vos mit undz tsu ton. gib im an eytse, az s'iz a shod di gantse tirkhe, oyfn plats vet zayn laykhter".... ober it|she hot dem komendant eytses nisht gegebn, nor gezogt, vi tsu zikh: "gey zay a khokhem un farshtey di rotskhem." mir zenen ale tsurik arayn in di barakn un mit a sho shpeter zaynen mir vider geshtanen oysgeshtelt in di reyen greyt aroystsumarshirn. yeder eyner hot gekrogn dos mol a topele portsye kave, a simen, az m'geyt undz take bald fartik makhn, vayl nisht eyn mol hobn di natsis oysgeteylt topele portsyes broyt mit marmelad dafke tsu di oysgeselektirte tsum dershisn un nisht eyn mol flegn zikh frayvilike meldn tsum toyt, abi tsu bakumen a topele portsye broyt mit marmelad. ober nisht tomed iz aza eynem gelungen. ikh hob a mol aleyn gezen, vi a dayt|sher mayster hot tsemeymest aza eynem un geshrign tsu im: "shtarbn vestu, ven ikh vel veln!" un hot im tsurikgeyogt tsu di lebedike. okh un vey iz shoyn ober geven tsu di yenike, vos hobn bloyz gelekt di shitere marmelad un nit teykef arayngeputst di payke broyt mit a mol. aza eyner hot shoyn gehaltn bay nile(2), flegn di letsonem zogn, a simen fun a fulshtendikn muzlman, hoyt-un-beyn. er kon shoyn afile mer nisht esn. aza eyner hot bloyz gekukt vi a farsamte khaye, mit di letste instinktn, oyf der payke broyt, vos er hot fest gehaltn ayngeklamert in zayne oysgedart skeletishe hent, vi dos volt geven der grester oytser oyf der velt. un s'iz 27/ emes, dos iz geven der grester oytser vos a ment|sh kon zikh nor oysmoln. un oyb aza eynem iz dokh gelungen aroptsushlingen a kezayis broyt, hot men gekent zen vi dos shtikl broyt vandert adurkh fun zayn moyl durkhn haldz inem mogn arayn. ale arum hobn oyf dem gekukt vi oyf epes a vunder, un zikh derbay posmakevet, tsukukndik zikh, vi dos shtikl broyt glitsht zikh pavolye arop in yenems mogn arayn. ale arum hobn mitgeshlungen, azoy vi dos shtikl broyt volt zikh nisht aropgeglisht in yenems, nor in zeyer eygenem mogn arayn. eyns darf men visn, az di fantazye hobn di natsis b|shum-oyfn nisht gekont aveknemen bay di katsetnikes. alts iz zey gelungen tsutsuroybn, a|khuts der fantazye. un mit fantazye kon dokh der ment|sh mitmakhn di greste avantures oyf der velt. afile in lager, unter di elektrishe drotn, iz eyn zakh geblibn gants, nisht barirt, zoyber reyn: di fantazye. oy, di fantazye, der kholem! ver s'hot dos farloyrn, iz geven farloyrn.... di menashke [ze poylish _menazka_ 'feldflash'], tsi dos blekhl, vos yener hot mit zikh getrogn, vi a kle-zain, tsugebundn mit a shtrik oder drot tsum boykh, iz dos mol, farn aroysmarsh in veg arayn, geven ongefilt mit biter vaser vos me hot es gerufn "kave". yeder eyner hot mit zikh oykh gefirt a dek. a guter simen, az me vet im efsher nitsn. ikh hob unter dem dek, vos kh'hob gehat arumgebundn arum di akslen, oykh getrogn oysbahaltn a torbe mit mern. yo, mern, lange rozeve mern, vos ikh hob in der letster minut durkh a tsufal organizirt, in 28/ a poshet|er shprakh heyst dos tsu|ge|lakkh|nt, dos mol in der kikh. vi azoy? dos iz shoyn a mayse far zikh. ober a dank di mern efsher, leb ikh haynt. un efsher hob ikh gor mit di ge|ganv|ete mern avekgeroybt andere lebns? yo, haynt kon ikh zayn a khokhem un trakhtn vi azoy s'past mir tsu trakhtn, ober nisht dentsmol.... b|meshekh fun tsvey teg un tsvey nekht hob ikh gehaltn in eyn grizhen di mern un azoy derhaltn s'lebn. ober tsulib di mern bin ikh oykh shier umgekumen, vayl vi nor a frantseyzisher katsetnik hot bamerkt, az ikh grizhe in geheym mern, hot er zikh bald tsu mir tsugetshepet un farlangt s'zaynike, az ikh zol im oykh gebn "de-karot". un take far vos nisht? s'iz im den nisht gekumen? er iz dokh geven der zelber mekhutn tsu di mern, vos ikh; m'hot dokh gelebt fun eyn un dem zelbn top, fun der zelber kikh. nokh a halbn tog zikh betn, hob ikh im gegebn a halbn mer. ober bald hobn dos bamerkt zayne frantseyzishe "kameradn" un me hot ongehoybn rufn: "de-karot!" un zey zenen oyf mir aroyf vi di heysherikn un mikh shier nisht tsetrotn. a mazl vos itshe hot dos derzen un mikh kimat in der letster minut koym aroysgeshlept fun unter der kupe frantsoyzn, vos zenen oyf mir gelegn. ikh hob shoyn ober gehat ale mern arayngeputst, bloyz di letste tsvey groyse mern hobn zey bay mir tsugeroybt. zol zey voyl bakumen! tsvey frantsoyzn hobn zikh mer nisht oyfgehoybn, zeyere khaveyrem hobn zey tsetrotn. kedey tsu zayn zikher, az zey lebn nisht mer, hot der letster es-es-vakhman, velker iz gegangen fun hintn, zey tsugeshosn. vayl visn darf men, az keyn lebediker katsetnik hot nisht 29/ getort araynfaln in di hent fun di aliirte. der lager-komendant hot fun foroys undz gehat gevornt, az ver es vet nisht kenen geyn, vet vern dershosn. in der letster minut farn aroysmarsh hot er gemoldn, az "ver es ken nisht geyn, un filt zikh nisht bay di koykhes oder iz krank, zol aroystretn fun der ray. zey veln evakuirt vern tsuzamen mitn gantsn lazaret kranke oyf spetsyele vogns." di yenike vos zenen aroysgetretn, hot men glaykh oyfn ort dershosn tsuzamen mit dem gantsn lazaret kranke. azoy hot zikh ongehoybn der "marsh," velkhn men hot shpeter gerufn "der toytnmarsh." tsu finef ayngehakt in lange reyen, knape dray toyznt katsetnikes fun farshidene natsyonalitetn hot men aroysgetribn in veg arayn, vos far meynste iz dos geven der letster veg. der grester teyl iz geven frantseyzishe politishe gefangene, etlekhe hundert rusn, vaysrusn, ukrainer, etlekhe dayt|she kriminele un a drayhundert poylishe yidn, un oykh tsendliker fun andere natsyonalitetn. haklal, an erevrav fareynikt in eyn goyrl. afile undzere shomrem, di es-es-vakhmener, zenen oykh nisht ale geven reyne dayt|shn. a sakh tsvishn zey zenen geven ungarishe folksdayt|shn, slovakn un ver veyst vos nokh? a teyl hot koym gekent redn dayt|sh un tsvishn zikh hobn di ungarn geklapt, natirlekh, madzharish. nu, kh'zol im kholile nisht fargesn tsu dermonen, kh'meyn dem gefangenem amerikaner flier, vos eyn got veyst, vi azoy er hot zikh bay undz genumen. dos iz geven der ershter amerikaner vos ikh hob bikhlal gezen in mayn lebn. dem emes gezogt, hob ikh shoyn a mol yo gehat gezen in mayn shtetl an amerikaner, ober yener iz geven a 30/ koyln-greber, vos iz tsurikgekumen aheym nokh tsvantsik yor ophoreven in goldenem land. alkolponem hot er in mayne oygn nisht oysgezen vi an ekhter amerikaner, khot|sh er hot gehat a ful moyl mit goldene tseyn. der in lager iz ober geven an ekhter amerikaner, khot|sh er hot keyn goldene tseyn nisht gehat. er hot zikh bavizn mamesh vi a meteor un iz farshvundn vi a geveynlekher katsetnik. dos ershte mol hobn mir im gezen in lager etlekhe teg farn aroysmarsh, vi er volt take aropgefaln tsu undz fun himl. vos heyst an amerikaner in katset? -- hobn zikh ale gevundert. dem ershtn royshem hot er gemakht vi a bashefenish fun an andern planet, biz mir hobn zikh tsugevoynt un in im gezen a zeyer simpatishn boservedom. er iz geven hoykh, breytpleytsik, brunet, mamesh a riz mit a por brenendike shvartse oygn; ven er hot gelakht hot zik bavizn a moyl mit shneyvayse tseyn. er hot getrogn a khaki-mundir mit hoykhe geshnurte shikh, vos ikh hob dos nokh keyn mol nisht gehat frier gezen. er iz geven nisht bloyz hekher fun ale "heftlingen," nor oykh hekher fun ale dayt|shn arum, mitn lager-komendant tsuzamen. bavegt hot er zikh laykht, khot|sh er iz geven shver. gegangen vi oyf sprenzhines, mamesh in ritem fun dzhez, vi itshe flegt oyf im zogn. itshe, vos iz aleyn oykh nisht geven keyn mapl-kind, hot im glaykh a nomen gegebn "og meylekh ha|boshn fun onkl sems land" un im khoyshed geven, az er iz gor a yid. unter fir oygn hot er im a mol a freg geton: - zind zi yude, shema-yisroel? -- un der amerikaner hot zikh gelakht, vayzndik, vi geveyntlekh, zayne shneyvayse tseyn, ober keyn klorn entfer hot er nisht gegebn. 31/ yo yid, nisht yid, a khevreman iz er shoyn eyn mol geven! "gor a vilder yat," vi s'zingt zikh in lidl.... tomed mit undz gelakht un gelakht fun di dayt|shn. gelakht zey in ponem arayn, az zey zenen shoyn kaput, farshpilt oyf der loterye.... er flegt mit undz shpasn vi dos gantse lebn, der lager, der toytnmarsh mit di dayt|shn tsuzamen voltn sakhakl nisht mer geven vi epes a vits, a katovesl. er iz geven der eyntsiker oyfn toytnmarsh vos hot nisht gehat keyn zorgn, yedn fals, aza royshem hot er oyf undz gemakht. mit di dayt|shn flegt er haltn in eyn ayntaynen politik, khot|sh zey flegn im zeltn entfern. zey flegn im oyshern un shvaygn. itshe hot im gevornt, az s'iz geferlekh. der amerikaner hot geentfert, az er hot nisht moyre, er iz a krigs-gefangener, geshitst durkh der zhenever "konvents" far krigs-gefangene. "vi groys, azoy naiv," hot itshe a mol gezogt, onvayzndik oyf "og meylekh ha|boshn fun onkl sems land." emets hot dertseylt, az der amerikaner hot probirt tsutsuredn dem komendant, az far zayn eygener toyve vegn volt geven tsum bestn er zol mitn gantsn transport zikh untergebn tsu di aliirte, vayl say vi say iz alts far di dayt|shn farloyrn. in di letste teg funem marsh, ven di es-es-vakhmener hobn zikh shoyn oykh ongehoybn tsu loyzn, vi mir, katsetnikes. hot er zikh a mol tsu undz ongerufn in zayn perfektn dayt|sh: "kukn zi mal an vi dos herrenfolk loyzt zikh!".... demolt ober iz shoyn oykh der amerikaner nisht geven der zelber amerikaner. itshe hot im shoyn oykh 32/ mer nisht gerufn "og meylekh ha|boshn fun onkl sems land," vayl er iz es shoyn mer nisht geven. fun tog tsu tog, fun sho tsu sho iz der riziker amerikaner gevorn ayngeshrumpn, vi a balon, fun velkhn men lozt aroys di luft. zayn hoykher shlankiker kerper, zayne breyte pleytses hobn zikh raptem aropgelozt un mit der dek oyf zayne ayngehoykerte pleytses hot er oysgezen in gantsn vi eyner fun undz, a polner katsetnik. azoy tsupasn zikh, aza shnele asimilatsye hot men veynik afile in lager gekont zen. ober mir zenen dokh geven oyfn toytnmarsh un do hot alts shnel pasirt. ven nisht zayne hoykhe geshnurte shikh, vos zenen shoyn oykh geven in gantsn oysgeribn un tseleygt, volt men bikhlal mer nisht gekent derkenen, az dos iz der zelber amerikaner. nor der humor iz bay im geblibn vi frier. vi der gayst volt bay im nisht gehat keyn shum kesher mitn fizishn matsev. mir zenen aroys durkhn toyer fun lager in der farkerter rikhtung, nisht vi mir flegn yedn tog marshirn tsu di zaltsgrubn. es hot zikh far undz antplekt a prakhtike panorame fun a frayer velt, fun felder, velder, bergelekh un toln, vos yorn lang hobn mir dos shoyn nisht gehat gezen. mir hobn bikhlal fargesn az s'eksistirt nokh aza min sheyn veltele oyf got|s erd. di sharfe reykhes fun di felder, vos hobn zikh nor vos gehat ongehoybn tsu farshpreytn nokh dem langn vinter, hobn vi mit a hamer um|b|rakhmones|dik a zets gegebn oyf der gantse makhne ment|shn un undz ale farshikert, az di fis hobn zikh azh gevaklt. di zun hot epes azoy khutspe|dik, umfarshemt, poshet, undz gelakht in ponem arayn, vi zi volt zikh gereytst mit undz, khoyzek gemakht fun undzer maymed, vi zi volt zikh nisht visndik gemakht, az a milkhome geyt on 33/ oyf got|s erd mit katsetnikes, es-es-vekhters, hunger un toyt. un efsher, ver veyst? -- efsher hot zi, di zun, undz gor gevolt treystn? gevaremt mit ire ongeneme [ayngeneme] shtraln undzere oysgedarte beyner un ergets tif farborgn in hartsn gevekt bay undz hofenung. mir hobn zikh take bald tsurik tsu ir tsugevoynt un tsurik heymish gevorn mit der sheyner velt. zhak, a frantseyzisher kapo, a gevezener profesor oyf eyner fun di elzaser universitetn, hot itst hislayves|dik retsitirt an alt dayt|shish studentish lid: Es geht zum frueling, Di eier werden billiger, Di maedchen werden williger, Frueling aller sorten, Es riecht auf den aborten.... es geyt tsum friling, di eyer vern biliger, di meydlekh vern viliker, friling ale sortn, es shmekt mit abortn.... zint dentsmol oyfn toytnmarsh hot nokh poezye oyf mir keyn mol nisht gemakht aza ayndruk vi dos prostatske studentn-lidl, vos zhak hot retsitirt derzeendik di prakhtike, vunderlekhe friling-panorame, vos hot zikh antplekt far undzere oygn. mit a mol hot oysgezen vi der gantser transport katsetnikes iz arop fun zinen. mir zenen ale arayn in a meshune|dikn trans fun fargesung. s'hot oysgezen vi di gantse makhne volt zikh mit a mol opgerisn fun der erd, zikh oyfgehoybn in der luft un geshvebt in epes a kholem, in a fantazye. di ershte hobn zikh di frantsoyzn gezungen, bald hobn di rusn untergekhapt dos lidl un zikh gezungen in rusish, in ukrainish, in vaysrusish. emetser fun undz hot ongehoybn tsu zingen in poylish un bald hot an anderer untergekhapt 34/ dos zelbe lidl in yidish. di gantse makhne hot zikh gezungen, vi mir voltn gegangen oyf epes a piknik un nisht oyfn toytnveg. un s'dakht zikh mir az oykh di es-es-vakhmener hobn mitgezungen. s'iz geven friling. mayn ershter friling fun a yingl vos hot mit a mol derfilt in zikh, az er vert a man, meg dos afile zayn oyfn toytnmarsh. a temper shos fun a revolver hot ibergehakt mayne sheyne iluzyes. vider hot a vakhman avekgeleygt eynem fun undz, vos hot mer nisht gekent geyn. heores [ed] (1) "oyb nisht nokh tifer" parodies the expression made famous in the title of Perets' neo-hasidic tale, "Oyb nisht nokh hekher." (2) "hot shoyn gehaltn bay nile," 'was near the end', a metaphorical reference to the final prayer of Yom Kippur [as in the Perets story "nile in gehenem," _TMR_ vol. 1, no. 27]. ______________________________________________________ End of _The Mendele Review_ 02.003 Leonard Prager, editor Send articles to: lprager@research.haifa.ac.il The editor of _TMR_ can also be reached via _Mendele_'s homepage: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele Subscribers to _Mendele_ (see below) automatically receive _The Mendele Review_. Send "to subscribe" or change-of-status messages to: listproc@lists.yale.edu a. For a temporary stop: set mendele mail postpone b. To resume delivery: set mendele mail ack c. To subscribe: sub mendele first_name last_name d. To unsubscribe kholile: unsub mendele ****Getting back issues**** _The Mendele Review_ archives can be reached at: http://shakti.cc.trincoll.edu/~mendele/tmrarc.htm _The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language (A Companion to _MENDELE_) ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 02.004 6 February 1998 1) "Opgegebn broyt" fun Tsvi Kanar [third installment, pp. 34-47] 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 6 February 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: "Opgegebn broyt" fun Tsvi Kanar [third installment, pp. 34-47] opgegebn broyt (hemshekh) 34 (hemshekh)/ berosh fun transport iz gegangen der untersharfirer, velkher iz geven fartreter funem lager-komendant. hinter im der hoyptkapo, a polyak fun pomern, velkhn di natsis hobn ayngeshpart, vayl er hot nisht gevolt mitarbetn mit zey un afile nisht gevolt onnemen di dayt|she natsyonalitet, khot|sh fun zayn foters tsad hod er geshtamt fun dayt|shn. mit a farrisenem poylishn patriotishe shtolts hot er getrogn dem roytn drayek oyf zayn linker zayt brust -- dem tseykhn fun a politishn heftling. er iz gekumen mit undz, poylishe yidn, fun bukhenvald vi hoyptkapo un iz geven der memune iber undz. m'hot undz gehat ongezogt farn aroysforn: "di kapos, vos forn mit aykh mit, muzn zikh onshtendik oyffirn un aykh keyn shlekhts nisht ton, aykh nisht shlogn, vayl oyb nisht vet undzer hant zey dergreykhn afile fun der vaytns." dos hobn do onfirers funem lager bukhenvald, ale kimat dayt|she politishe heftlingen, undz ongezogt farn aroysforn in di zaltsgrubn (vi s'hot zikh shpeter 35/ aroysgevizn hobn zey ale gehert tsum bukhenvalder geheyme untergrunt). lebn dem poylishn hoyptkapo iz gegangen zhak, der hoyptkapo fun di frantsoyzn, un retsitirt dos lidl. oykh zhak iz gezesn kimat far di zelbe khatoem vos undzer poylisher hoyptkapo. oykh er hot geshtamt fun gemishte elzaser eltern, hot shtudirt in dayt|she universitetn, ober er iz oykh geven tetik inem frantseyzishn vidershtand, genoy vi zayne mitarestantn. di andere kapos zenen ale geven frantsoyzn, khuts tsvey dayt|she kapos, vos hobn getrogn tsugeneyt tsu zeyere heftling-numer grine drayekn, a simen: kriminele arestantn. oykh zey zenen gekumen mit undz fun bukhenvald un hobn zikh dervayle legabe undz gut oyfgefirt. ikh hob zikh geshtupt fun fornt. azoy vi der lager-komendant hot ongezogt az di vos veln nisht kenen geyn, vet men dershisn, hob ikh gezogt tsu benyekn, maynem a khaver fun lager, a yingl in mayn elter, mit vemen kh'bin geshlofn oyf der zelber prit|she: "benyek, kum fun fornt, vayl fun hintn vet men shisn! tsveytns, undzer hoyptkapo geyt fun fornt un s'iz beser tsu zayn noent tsum im." der hoyptkapo flegt tomid oyf undz beyde a bisl beser kukn un undz rufn: "dzietshi" (kinder) iber hoypt zint benyek hot im gegebn a goldenem dimentring. di mayse iz geven azoy: eyn mol, tsurikgeyendik fun der arbet in lager arayn, hot zikh benyek baklogt far mir mit zayn pyeshtshendiker shtim, vi a mames a zindl, azoy vi ikh volt gor geven zayn mame: "Yankev, kh'ken nisht geyn!" "to leyg dikh avek!" -- hob ikh im geentfert kalt, vi a gazlen. benyek hot oyf mir a kuk gegebn mit aza min nebekhdiker mine, az kh'hob 36/ gemeynt az bald brekht er oys in a geveyn, vi bay zayn mamen in der heym. azoy umbaholfn iz er geven! kh'hob mir getrakht, vi azoy iz es meglekh, az er hot oysgehaltn biz itst? kimat dray yor in lager! benyek hot geredt bloyz poylish. far mir, far dem yingl fun kleynem shtetl, hot dos oysgezen zeyer oysterlish, nisht normal. vos heyst? a yid un ken nisht keyn mame-loshn? biz er hot mir nisht gevizn, az er iz gemalet, hob ikh im nisht gevolt gleybn, az er iz a yid. derfar hot er ober geredt frantseyzish, oder s'hot zikh mir oysgedakht, az er redt, vayl mit di frantsoyzn flegt er zikh tomid farshtendikn in zeyer shprakh. di frantsoyzn flegn im derfar lib hobn un rufn: "polone, polone ki parl franse... (der polyak vos redt frantseyzish). "rozumyesh? farshteyst? -- hot mir benyek a mol in zayn klingendikn sheynem krokever poylish a shtoltser gezogt -- bay undz in der heym hobn ale kinder gelernt po frantsusku"... er hot geshtamt fun a raykher krokever asimilirter familye un ven er iz nor geven a kleyn kind flegt im zayn mame, zayn yidishe mame, baym aynshlefn, tsuzingen di heylike kolendes, azoy farpoylisht zenen zey in der heym geven. dokh flegn zey tsvey-dray mol in yor geyn in der shul arayn, in dem bakantn krokever progresivn templ, rosheshone un yonkiper. ober oykh nitl flegn di eltern praven spetsiel far di kinder, mit a yolke [nitl-boym] kmoy shekosev un keynem gornisht shuldik geblibn. "halt dikh nisht azoy groys, pan benyek" -- hob ikh im a mol tsurik arayngezogt mit a nisht klenern shtolts -- "oykh ikh hob geshvyent|shet, gepravet bozhe-narodzenye, nisht 37/ mit keyn yolke, kholile, vayl der tate volt mikh derharget, ober kh'bin arumgelofn mit a ponem farshmirt mit sazhe, vi purim, mit mayne goyishe khaveyrem, gedreyt a gvyazde un gezungen 't|shei-krulovye' ('di dray kenign)." un kh'hob bald benyekn oyfgezungen dos gantse zmires. di goyem in shtetl flegn hanoe hobn un undz gebn gantse groshns. un kh'hob zey nokh tsugehulyevet a krakovyak beys bolek, mayn goyisher khaver, flegt mir tsushpiln oyf zayn moyl-harmoshke, flegn mir shoyn bakumen tsu gantse finfer groshns. dokh hob ikh eyn mol arayngekhapt a gezuntn kope in hintn arayn fun a fanatishn goy, az kh'hob azh derzen di shtern far di oygn. "zhidzhe zdeim t|shapke!" -- zhidek, nem arunter s'hitl! hot er tsu mir gezogt. "ven du zingst undzere heylike kalendes muzstu aropnemen s'hitl fun dayn zhidovske kop!" "a kholere, a krenk vel ikh dir s'hitl aropnemem!" -- hob ikh im geentfert in a reynem yidish, er zol kholile nisht farshteyn, vayl er volt mikh nokh gekent tsemeymesn -- "ikh bin a yid un tor dos hitl nisht aropnemen! farshteyst? khamer-kop vos du bist!" un kh'hob em gevizn di tsung makhndik derbay a vayivrekh.... dokh, vos far a simkhe iz geven in shtetl, ven ikh fleg nokhmakhn vi azoy der galekh, der probosht|sh [farvalter fun der kirkh -- TK] hot zikh a mol baklogt farn tatn, ven er hot bay im gemont gelt farn nayem blekhenem dakh, vos der tate hot tsugeshtelt farn kosht|shol. "panye kanar - hot der galekh geklogt mit zayn 38/ farkhripeter shtim fun fil zoyfn -- panye kanar, kholerne tsaytn, shlekhte tsaytn! keyn levayes, keyn khasenes, sof velt! kh'zog aykh, s'iz ende velt!"... "proshen kshyendza, nokh a kelishek?" -- hot der tate tsum viflstn mol genumen in hand dos fleshl branfn, voz iz geshtanen oyfn tish. "bite, bite, hot der gaystlekher geentfert nisht aroplozndik oyf keyn rege zayne farvaserte khitre oygn funem fleshl -- ober ir trinkt mit?" "natirlekh trink ikh mit. dos vos ir hot lib, ektselents, hob ikh nisht faynt" -- hot der tate geentfert un me hot gehoybn nokh a koyse. "nazdrovye" "ober nisht gezorgt, panye kanar, nokh di khagoes zenen tomid do frishe levayes, men frest zikh iber mit der feter shvinye un s'zenen do, got tsu danken, levayes. dan kumt der marts, ven di sukhotnikes geyen a gang... un shoyn iz vider vesne, der friling. vi nor di ershte flaterlekh bavayzn zikh oyf di felder, kumen dokh bald tsu loyfn tsu mir di yunge farlibte porlekh... un mir, panye kanar, zenen dokh nokh oykh nisht azoy alt? heee.." -- un er git dem tatn derbay a voyl-yungerishn shtup in der zayt. "un du, kleyner kanarek, -- hot der begilufndiker provosht|sh mit a mol zikh gevondn tsu mir, vos kh'bin geshtanen in a zayt un im di gantse tsayt observirt -- vos kukstu azoy khitre oyf mir mit dayne shvartse ganeyvishe eygelekh? vos, derkenst mir nisht? ikh bin dokh der provosht|sh fun skalbmyezh fun der grester parafye inem gantsn pint|shovski. finf un draysik vyoskes (derfer) gehern tsu mir, tsu mayn kosht|shol! farshteyst vos dos heyst? pas oyf ober, az du zolst mikh nisht, got bahit, 39/ fartoyshn mitn rov ayern, vayl demolt vet dayn tate nisht zayn zeyer gliklekh. hee... kenst ober laykht untersheydn tsvishn undz. der rov ayerer trogt a lange bord mit peyes un trinkt heyse tey mit tsitrin. der provosht|sh ober hot nisht keyn bord mit peyes un trinkt gern vudke, tsum libstn a finfunnaytsiker. nu, zog, vos iz beser? ha, ha, ha..." ven ikh hob gevizn, vi azoy der pan provosht|sh heybt zikh oyf fun tish un probirt tsu shteln di ershte trit nokh azoy fil glezerlekh, flegn ale arum mir patshn mit di hent. ven ikh fleg shoyn haltn baym nokhmakhn undzer rov fun shtetl, vi er zupt di heyse tey mit tsitrin fun dem untertetsl azoy hoykh, az der gantser mark hert vi der rov trinkt tey, un kedey nisht tsu farshvendn stam tsayt bloyz oyf oylem-haze, khapt er nokh arayn in der zelber tsayt a blat gemore mit toysfes. oder ven ikh hob nokhgemakht, vi azoy er shoklt zikh bay shimenesre un vi bay yidn platst s'geduld biz der rov rukt zikh sof, sof shoyn oys un makht dem breytn "oyse sholem bimroymov," demolt iz shoyn a halber mark mit di yidn geshtanen arum mir un zikh gehaltn bay di baykher fun lakhn. un vi azoy tsilke, di eynhore-opshprekherin, vemen mir kinder hobn gerufn "tsilke makhsheyfe," vayl zi flegt tomid heybn dem spodik un oysshpayen dray mol "tfu, tfu, tfu," hot zikh a mol geyogt nokh a geshokhtn hindl, -- "vilt ir zen?," hob ikh oysgerufn vi an ekhter batkhn un hob gefilt vi kh'hob shoyn dos gantse krentsl ment|shn in mayne hent. "yo,yo, mir viln zen!" -- hobn ale oysgerufn un ikh hob far zey forgeshtelt, vi azoy di alte tsilke hot zikh a mol geyogt nokh a geshokhtn hindl ibern gantsn mark un hot derbay gemakht gvaldn: "khapts di keyle! khapts 40/ di keyle! dos iz nisht keyn hin, dos iz a hon! a mamzer, an oysvurf!"... zi hot a mol gekoyft a kleyn oysgedart hindl oyf shabes, vos hot nebekh koym gezhipet, un nokhn shekhtn, ven der shoykhet hot es avekgevorfn, hot dos hindl gor ongehoybn tsu lebn un iz antlofn in mitn mark arayn. "yenkele! yenkele! -- hob ikh gehert rufn fun ale zaytn -- vayz nor vi azoy Khayem-Sore|s leyent shabes in der toyre? un vi azoy der zeyde shtupt zikh tsum bretl? un vi azoy di bobe Khaye|le leyent di tsenerene?" plutsling -- yener brokh! di bobe Khaye|le iz do! di ekhte bobe Khaye|le! zi khapt mir on bay der hant un shlept mir aroys b|kharposeynu funem gantsn krentsl, rufndik tsu di ment|shn arum: "payatsn, leytsem vos ir zent! vos vilt ir hobn funem oremen, nebekh, kind-lebn? vos iz haynt -- purim, simkhes-toyre? vos iz di gedule oyf aykh? meshiekh iz gekumem? s'beysamigdesh hot men tsurik oyfgeboyt? shemen megt ir zich in ayer vaytn haldzn arayn!" un tsu mir: "du kleyner shmendrik vos du bist! vos far a kharpes makhstu mir on? anshtot tsu zitsn in kheyder, shpilstu gor triater, dreyst a vyatrak mit di shkotsem, zingst kalendes, oy, a veytik tsu mir! vos vet fun dikh vern? vos vet fun dir aroysvaksn?" "bobe, s'iz dokh haynt nitl! me geyt nisht in kheyder arayn." "nitl-shmitl oyf mayn kop, nish|koshe, bist shoyn keyn eynhore a polner goy! vest shoyn bald kenen makhn pogromen oyf yidn." "bobe, vos redstu? yakh a goy?" -- un ikh hob oysgebrokhn in a biter geveyn. "nu, genug geveynt! vest shoyn veynen oyf dayn khasene 41/ mirtseshem. itst vish op di trern. na, gib aher di noz! shnayts gut arayn! azoy nokh a mol! azoy iz beser. tsiter nisht, hob nisht keyn moyre, kh'vel gornisht zogn dem zeydn. kum, ikh hob nokh in der heym eyer-kikhelekh fun shabes, mit maline-sok, vost du host azoy shtark lib. ober vart a minut. vart -- hot di bobe mit a mol zikh opgeshtelt -- vayz mir take vi azoy der zeyde davnt baym omed! do, do, in forderhayzl, keyner zol kholile nisht zen. oy, makhst dokh im in gantsn nokh, vey iz tsu mir, kh'hob dokh gornisht gezen, az s'feln im take tsvey tseyn fun fornt!" -- un di bobe hot zikh tselakht. ober purim derkegn flegn mayne goyishe khaveyrem mit mir arumloyfn farshtelt mit bord un peyes un tsuzamennemen gelt bay di yidn, haklal, meshiekhs tsaytn fun mayne kinder-yorn!... itst ober geyen mir dem toytnmarsh. neyn, mir zenen nokh a bisl frier, oyfn veg fun di zaltsgrubn in lager arayn, vu benyek baklogt zikh, az er kon nisht geyn. "epes shtekht mikh in shukh." "s'shtekht dikh in shukh? minastam a t|shvok." ven mir zenen aroy oyf der prit|she hobn mir keyn t|shvok in shukh nisht gezen, ober epes sharfs hot dokh aroysgeshtekt. mir hobn oyfgerisn di zoyl un far undzere oygn hot zikh antplekt a ring mit a groysn shteyn, vos hot modne geloykhtn. "dos muz zayn a brilyant!" -- hob ikh mayse meyvn oysgerufn. a goldener ring mit a brilyant, andersh kon es nisht zayn, vayl keyner vet dokh nisht glat azoy araynlegn a ring in shukh arayn. minastam hot a raykhe yidishe mame in der letster minut bahaltn in ir zuns shukh dem goldenem ring mitn 42/ brilyant un im ongezogt... genoy vi mayn mame hot in der letster minut ayngeneyt in mayne hoyzn arayn tsvey finfhunderter zlotes un mir ongezogt mit trern in di oygn: "gedenk, yankele, tomer... efsher... az got vet veln..." zi hot mir arumgekhapt un zikh tseveynt... der zun fun der raykher mame iz, zet oys, umgekumen un di shikh zenen geblibn. "lomir nokh zen, -- hob ikh gezogt -- tsi s'iz gornisht do in andern shukh." "vos, bist meshuge gevorn?" -- hot mir benyek aroysgekhapt dem shukh fun der hant -- vos, geyst mir oykh tseraysn dem tsveytn shukh? er shtekht dokh mikh nisht!" oy, gvald! vos tut men mit a brilyantenem oytser? "benyek -- iz mir ayngefaln a genyaler gedank -- mir veln gebn dem brilyantenem ring dem hoyptkapo! er iz dokh a guter kapo; efsher vet er undz derfar gebn a payke broyt oder a zup un efsher gor beyde. meynst az s'iz nisht vert?" "vos far a mekhutn bistu tsum ring?" -- hot zikh benyek mit a mol gehoybn mit groyskayt fun a gvir legabe an oreman -- der ring iz gelegn in mayn shukh, nisht in daynem." nokhn oysteyln di shitere zup hob ikh bamerkt vi der hoyptkapo ruft tsu benyekn un iz im mekhabed mit oyskratsn dos fesl. kh'veys aleyn nisht, vi azoy kh'bin plutsling geshtanen noent, vi durkh a magnet tsugetsoygn tsum fesl. benyek iz gelegn mitn gantsn kerper inem fesl un gehaltn in eyn kratsn un lekn. bloys di fis zayne hot men aroysgezen. ven er hot mikh bamerkt, hot er avekgedreyt dem kop, vi kh'volt biklal far im nisht eksistirt. fun groys tsar bin ikh tsurik arayngelofn in barak arayn. ven benyek iz 43/ arayngekumen hot er gehat kimat a fule menashke mit aza gedikhter zup, az der lefl hot azh gekont shteyn. er iz aroyf oyf der prit|she un pamelekh, ruik, vi a gut dertsoygn kind gezupt di zup, az di oyern hobn shier nisht geplatst un dos khiyes iz shier nisht oysgegangen. "sadist, freser vos du bist!," hob ikh mir getrakht. ale arum hobn oyf im aroyfgekukt mit aza tayve, vi er volt take farmogt dem grestn oytser in der velt. un ir kent mir gleybn, az dos iz geven der grester oytser. kh'hob gemeynt, az er vet in an oygnblik bafaln vern fun di ment|shn mit di oysgehungerte oygn. benyek hot dos, zet oys, oykh gefilt un zikh bay tsaytns aroyfgetsoygn oyf der eybershter prit|she. "Yankev!," hob ikh mit a mol derhert zayn kol. mit a shprung fun a malpe bin ikh teykef gezesn lebn im mit mayn oysgeshtrektn blekhenem top. "dir kumt oykh a bisl zup -- hot er mayse guter khaver a zog geton un hot mir opgemostn mitn lefl in mayn top arayn un getseylt -- eyns, tsvey, dray, fir, finef, ze-ks, z-i-b-n, zibn hob ikh dokh gezogt vos?" -- un er hot zikh opgeshtelt, nisht visndik vos vayter tsu ton. nokh a rege vaklenish hot er vayter getseylt: "a-kht, nay-n, tsen!" un hot mir nokh tsugegosn a halbn lefl. "ot hostu un zol dir voyl bakumen!" in eyn oygnblik hob ikh arayngeputst di tsen mit a halbn lefl gedikhte zup un dernokh mitn finger un shpeter mit der tsung oysgelekt dem top azoy, az men hot im mer nisht gedarft vashn. ikh hob mayn top keyn mol nisht gevashn, azoy zoyber-reyn oysgelekt iz er tomid geven. bekitser, a dank dem ring mitn diment hot zikh 44/ ongehoybn mamesh a ganeydn far benyekn. yedn tog hot er gekratst dos fesl un tomid epes oysgekratst. dem ershtn tog hob ikh oykh gehat a shtikl kheylek in dem, ober tsu morgns, ven kh'hob oysgeshtrekt mayn top, hot er a zog geton: "vos iz? yedn tog? eygntlekh kumt dir gornisht! der ring iz dokh gelegn bay mir in shukh. tsveytns, az du bakumst epes fun dayn mayster, gistu den mir epes? eyn mol a shtikl tsibele, dos alts." leman-hoemes, benyek iz geven gerekht, vayl ven mayn dayt|sher mayster in di zaltsgrubn flegt mir a mol epes gebn, fleg ikh dokh dos aleyn in eyn shema-yisroel fartsukn, az keyn zeykher flegt derfun nisht blaybn. der mayster flegt demolt mit zayne groyse bloe oygn oyf mir kukn vi azoy ikh es, vi ikh volt do gepravet kishef un gehaltn in eyn tsushoklen mitn kop. ikh hob im tomid tsurikgegebn a libn shmeykhl anshtot tsu zogn: "danke-shen, her mayster." der mayster hot es farshtanen un hot tsurik ongenumen zayn ofitsyeln shtrengn ton: "vayter makhen! vayter makhen!" di mashinen hobn tsugeklapt tsum ritem un iber mayn kop, vu kh'bin gezesn bay a mashin oyf a hoykh kestl, vos der mayster hot spetsiel gehat far mir tsuzamengeklapt, -- "fihr der kleyner pohl" (polyak), vi er flegt mir rufn -- hot aropgeshrign a groyse oyfshrift "di reder rolen tsum zig." "alzo pohl -- hot der mayster bafoyln -- haynt muzstu hekhern di norme mit nokh hundert shtik, fershtanden?" "yavol, her mayster!" -- hob ikh ibergeshrign dem geroysh fun di mashinen, az er zol mikh hern. nisht tsulib moyre farn 45/ mayster hob ikh gehekhert di norme. neyn, undzer mayster iz geven an oysnam. er hot nisht bloyz keynem nisht ongerirt, nor afile keyn mol keynem nisht baleydikt. vi di andere maysters. ober shrayen hot er shoyn eyn mol geshrign. mir hobn farshtanen az dos shrayen zayns oyf undz iz nisht mer vi a dekmantl. un nokh hekher flegt er shrayen, ven andere maysters hobn zikh bavizn in undzer opteylung. ale arum zenen geven oyfgeregt oyf mir, far vos ikh probir hekhern di norme. "vos bistu meshuge gevorn?" -- hot zikh eyner tsu mir ongerufn -- "geyst shoyn vider hekhern di norme?" vayl oyb ikh vel dos ton, muzn ale dos zelbe ton. "ven der kleyner pohl kan das shafen" -- flegt der mayster zogn -- "dan kent ir dos aukh shafen, fardamt nokh eyn mol!" it|she, a ferd-soykher fun mayn gegnt, vos hot mir shpeter, vi kh'hob shoyn dertseylt, oyfn toytnmarsh aroysgeratevet koym a lebedikn fun unter der kupe frantsoyzn, hot mikh farteydikt: "vos vilstu fun im hobn? az me vet undz aroyfshikn oybn in der heykh, tsu arbetn oyf der kelt mit di frantsoyzn, vet zayn beser? dank dem tayvl vos du ligst ayngeleygt in dr'erd, in der varem, ven nisht volstu shoyn fun lang gehat di fis oysgetsoygn. vos mishteyns gezogt, shpilt shoyn a role? iz nokh hundert redelekh a tog, a make veln zey mit dem gevinen di krig! mit shklafn-arbet gevint men nisht keyn milkhomes. un der mayster undzerer? vu trefstu nokh haynt aza orntlekhn dat|sh. er darf es zikher, er muz dokh bavayzn, az er shaft. tomer nisht, shikn zey dokh im glaykh avek oyfn front. oy, vi derlebn mir shoyn zeyer mapole? -- 46/ -- hot it|she geredt vi tsu zikh -- tate ziser in himl! lomir nor zey iberlebn khotsh eyn minut! kh'vil nor zen zeyer sof un dernokh iz mir nisht keyn khilek. alzo, yenkele, zol zayn nokh fuftsik shtik, nisht mer, far haynt! maskem?" un ale arum zenen geven maskem. tsu morgns hot mir der mayster gebrakht nisht a tsibele, vi tomid, nor a kartofl, a groysn opgebakenem kartofl. a mol hot er mir arayngeleygt in der hant arayn, az keyner zol nisht zen, a rak, a roytn opgekokhtn rak. zeltn a mol a shtikl broyt. un a mol, ven kh'hob oyf im gekukt mit mayne khnifedike eygelekh, er zol mir epes gebn in moyl arayn, vos heyst, shoyn gantse teg vi er hot mir gornisht gegebn un ikh halt im in eyn hekhern di norme? vu iz yoysher? -- hot der mayster nerveish a makh geton mit der hant, zikh gut arumgekukt, tsi keyner hert im nisht, un mir arayngeshrign a sod in oyer: "himl her got nokh eyn mol! vir haben zelbst nikhts tsu fresen! ven tsu dizen shvayne-krig keyn ende komt, dan vird gants doyt|shland ayn shaysehaufen vi in drezden..." ("tsu al di shvartse yor! mir aleyn hobn dokh nisht vos tsu fresn! oyb di khazeyrishe milkhome vet zikh nisht endikn, vet fun gants dayt|shland vern a kupe tinef, vi in drezden" [di shtot drezden, vos di aliirte luft-koykhes hobn tsebombardirt -- TK]. ven kh'hob tsurikgeyendik in lager arayn dertseylt it|shen di umfarshtendlekhe reyd funem mayster, hot er dos teykef azoy oysgetayt|sht: "zet oys, az me hot zey in drezden gut arayn|ge|makl|et in tokhes arayn un nisht bloyz in tokhes arayn, nor take zey gegebn ibern kop kmoy shekosev..." 47/ "farshtey, benyek -- hob ikh mir probirt farteydikn -- ershtns, bakum ikh zeltn epes fun mayster. tsveytns, du arbetst oyf an andern opteyl un du veyst dokh gants gut, az es iz shtreng farbotn aribertsugeyn fun eyn opteylung tsu der anderer. dritns, shver ikh dir, az kh'hob a mol probirt, ober s'iz mir nisht gelungen. biz kh'bin tsugekumen tsu dayn opteylung, hob ikh shoyn mer gornisht gehat fun dem halbn kartofl, vos kh'hob dikh gevolt gebn. yeder rege hob ikh getsupt un gedzhobyet a pitsele un nokh a pitsele un b|shum-oyfn zikh nisht gekent aynhaltn, biz s'iz mir gornisht mer ibergeblibn. kh'veys aleyn nisht, ober der halber kartofl hot gehat epes aza gutn tam, gleyb mir, ikh hob nokh keyn mol in lebn nisht gegesn aza geshmakn kartofl, mamesh tam ganeydn." benyek ober hot gehat a gut harts, -- nokh dem vi er hot zikh balekt mit der tsung iber di oysgetriknte lipn zayne, oysherndik vegn dem halbn vunderlekhn kartofl, vos er hot im nisht bakumen fun mir, hot er mir dokh vider opgemostn un arayngetseylt mitn lefl in mayn top arayn: "fi-nef, z-e-ks, zibn, host genug far haynt! s'iz gedikhte zup." itst ober geyen mir tsuzamen in toytnmarsh, ayngeshlosn in der rey, un hitn op eyner dem tsveytn, az keyner zol, kholile, nisht blaybn hintershtelik. ------------------------------------------------------------------ End of _The Mendele Review_ 02.004 Leonard Prager, editor Send articles to: lprager@research.haifa.ac.il The editor of _TMR_ can also be reached via _Mendele_'s homepage: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele Subscribers to _Mendele_ (see below) automatically receive _The Mendele Review_. 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To unsubscribe kholile: unsub mendele ****Getting back issues**** _The Mendele Review_ archives can be reached at: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele/tmrarc.htm _The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language (A Companion to _MENDELE_) ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 02.005 13 February 1998 1) "Opgegebn broyt" by Tsvi Kanar [fourth installment, pp. 47-62] 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 13 February 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: "Opgegebn broyt" by Tsvi Kanar [fourth installment, pp. 47-62] opgegebn broyt (hemshekh) 47 (hemshekh)/in a sheynem tog hot zikh bavizn der lager-komendant oyf zayn mototsikl un azoy vi er hot undz nor derzen iz im finster gevorn far di oygn. nor gut vos er iz itst gekumen, ven nisht volt er mer nisht gehat tsu vos tsu kumen. er volt gevorn oys kapelyush-mayster, vi itshe hot 48/ gezogt, oys lager-komendant. derzeendik, az r'hot shoyn bald nisht keyn mentshn, iz er gevorn azoy vild, az er hot glaykh opgeshtelt dem transport un mitn revolver in hant ongehoybn tsu droen, makhn gvaldn, nisht bloyz oyf undz heftlingen, nor oykh oyf di vakhmener un afile oyfn untersharfirer. spetsiel hot er gehat taynes tsu di frantsoyzn: "ir farflukhte frantsozn sabotire!" hot er oyf zey gemakht yeloles, "varum kenen di yuden gen, di russen, un nikht ihr shayse vos ir zayt!" er hot nebekh nisht gevust, az keyn rusn hot er mer nisht, vayl me hot zey kimat ale mit a tog frier lebedikerheyt farbrent. un pasirt hot es azoy: oyfn plats vu mir hobn ibergenekhtikt in mitn feld iz geshtanen a groyser shayer. tsu morgns in der fri, ven m'hot getseylt di mentshn, hobn di rusn gefelt. s'hot zikh aroysgevizn, az zey hobn zikh poshet ayngegrobn inem shtroy funem shayer un hobn gehoft azoy arum zikh tsu rateven. di amerikaner tanken hobn mir shoyn gehat gezen mit etlekhe sho frier fun der vaytns, koym etlekhe kilometers fun undz. di vakhmener hobn ober gehat tsayt, genoy vi di amerikaner hobn gehat tsayt. zey hobn arumgeringelt dem shayer un im untergetsundn. di vos hobn prubirt tsu rateven zikh un zenen aroysgelofn funem brenendikn shayer hot men glaykh dershosn. s'hot oysgezen, vi di daytshn voltn zikh opgeshmuest mit di amerikaner tanken, zey zoln tsuvartn a bisl, vayl zey hobn nokh optsuton a shtikl arbet. ersht dentsmol ven mir zenen opgetrotn zenen di amerikaner tanken arayn un farnumen dem plats. s'zenen geven tsvishn undz azelkhe, vos hobn gegleybt mitn gantsn hartsn, az s'iz geven aza opmakh. 49/ itst hot der komendant gestrashet mitn revolver, az mir muzn geyn! ven nisht -- ven nisht, iz vos? vet er undz dershisn? "nisht mer shisn!" hot der komendant bafoyln, bloyz azelkhe vos kenen iber hoypt nisht geyn. ober ver hot den yo gekent geyn? bald hobn di heftlingen oysgenutst dem nayem bafel un vi nor zey hobn derzen epes a farfoyltn kartofl oder a burik in mitn feld zenen zey glaykh aroysgelofn fun der rey un zikh oyf im gevorfn. biz itst, ver s'hot nor bloyz prubirt makhn a trit oyser der rey, hot teykef gekhapt a koyl in kop. itst ober, nokhn bafel fun komendant, hot aza katsetnik gor gestrashet dem vakhman mitn finger: "nikht shissen, her vakhman! nikht shissen! bafel ist bafel!" un er iz tsurikgekumen a gliklekher mit dem oytser. ober bald hot zikh aroysgevizn, az der oytser iz nisht mer vi a shtik fartriknte layne [sic]. itshe, der ferd-soykher hot dos azoy oysgetaytsht: "vos iz shoyn vert a ferd-soykher on ferd un vos iz shoyn vert a lager-komendant on katsetnikes? er darf undz mer, vi mir im, vayl vos, mishteyns gezogt, kon er oyfton on undz? -- geyn oyfn front, un far dem tsitert er vi a tkhoyr." dos ershte mol nokh tsvey vokhn marshirn hot men undz gegebn a zup. ober di eyne zup hot a sakh nisht geholfn. di mentshn hobn vayter "sabotirt" dem komendant|s bafel, zey hobn vayter nisht gekont geyn. tsu morgns hot zikh ongehoybn a naye sedre. yeder eyner hot gemuzt shlepn a tsveytn, dos heyst: yeder halb opgeshtorbener hot gemuzt shlepn a drayfertl opgeshtorbenem. ikh, lemoshl, hob shoyn geshlept a lengere tsayt aza min koym 50/ zhipendikn frantseyzishn sabotazhnik, vi der komendant hot zey gerufn. in onheyb hot er zikh yakosh geshlept, ober mit yeder minut iz er gevorn shvakher un shvakher, poshet oysgegangen vi a likht far mayne oygn, biz er hot zikh in gantsn opgeshtelt un mer nisht gekont, tsi nisht gevolt makhn afile keyn eyn trit foroys. mit ale koykhes hob ikh prubirt im tsu shlepn, ober gey shlep a mes. der gantser transport iz shoyn bald geven adurkh un mir zenen geblibn di letste. ikh hob moyre gehat, az di vakhmener zoln mir nisht dershisn, meynendik, az oykh ikh ken nisht mer geyn. un dem emes gezogt, hob ikh den yo gekent geyn? di fis mayne zenen shoyn geven geshvoln vi tsvey feser un gevust hob ikh, az vi nor dos geshvilekhts vet zikh aroyskhapn hekher tsum harts, iz oys mit mir. "kum franse! -- hob ikh prubirt mit gutn un mit beyzn, shlepndik im bay der hant -- kum, ven nisht, du paf!" -- un im gevizn mitn finger oyfn kop, az me vet im dershisn. der frantsoyz hot gekukt oyf mir vi a mumye, mit tseefnte oysgeloshene oygn. "kum! hob ikh im gehaltn in eyn shlepn -- du muzst geyn! ven nisht, du kaput! kaput! farshteystu! frantsevater frantsoyz vos du bist!" -- hob ikh zikh oyfgeregt. "ikh ka-put, du ka-put, le-bosh (gemeynt di daytshn) ka-put a-l-e-s ka-p-u-t - hot er mir ruik geentfert un zikh avekgezetst oyf der erd, zikh ayngehilt mit zayn dek ibern kop, gemakht a tseylem un gevart... di letste tsvey vakhmener hobn zikh dernentert un ikh hob koym gekhapt di fis nokhyogndik zikh nokhn transport, moyre hobndik zikh afile umtsukukn. kh'hob derhert a shos un 51/ zikh batapt loyfndikerheyt, tsi di koyl iz a mol nisht geven far mir. neyn, dos mol nokh nisht far mir... itshe hot mikh derzen un zikh gebeyzert: "vos bistu meshuge gevorn? blaybst fun hintn? m'et dikh nokh avekshisn! blayb do bay mir un shlep nisht di foyle frantsoyzn! oy, s'iz nebekh a brokh tsu zey, -- hot itshe geklogt -- a rakhmones, kh'lebn, bloyz a por khadoshim in lager, efsher a yor in gantsn, un ze vi azoy zey zeen oys. mir yidn zenen dokh shoyn dray yor in dem gehenem un dokh haltn mir zikh yakosh [ze poylish _jakos_ 'vi nit iz']]. un zey hobn dokh tsu vos tsu lebn, men vart dokh oyf zey in der heym -- vayber, mames, tates, kinder, a land frankraykh, vi got in frankraykh! ver mishteyns gezogt, vart oyf undz? afile keyn hunt nisht. un dokh viln mir lebn. oy di frantsoyzn, di frantsoyzn, nor vayn un vayber gib zey! on dem toygn zey oyf kapores..." ober mit elekhe teg shpeter hobn mir oykh shoyn getoygt oyf kapores. mit a mol zenen ale kapos farshvundn. zey hobn dos gantse kreml shteyn gelozt in mitn derin un gemakht a vayivrekh. m'hot gezogt az zey hobn untergekoyft dem untersharfirer. minastam hobn zey gevust, az men geyt undz ale "derleydikn." andere hobn gor getaynet, az zey hobn aleyn gezen, vi m'hot di kapos in der letster nakht arayngefirt in veldl arayn un az der komendant iz gegangen fun hintn mitn revolver in der hant. zet oys, az er hot zikh bay tsaytns bazorgt, kedey nisht tsu hobn keyn eydes kegn zikh, iber hoypt azelkhe shishkes vi undzere kapos. bloyz di tsvey daytshe kapos mit di grine drayekn oyf zeyer brustkastn zenen geblibn un ibergenumen dos malkhes. 52/ atsind hot zikh ersht ongehoybn dos rikhtike gehenem. di tsvey kapos hobn zikh itst noykem geven far der gantser tsayt, vos zey hobn zikh nebekh gemuzt aynhaltn mit zeyere farbrekherishe neygungen, nokh zint di tsaytn fun bukhenvald. [di daytshe politishe kapos in bukhenvald hobn in di letste yorn gehat ibergenumen di makht in lager fun di daytshe kriminele kapos, vos di natsis hobn aher geshikt, kedey tsu paynikn di heftlingen. a teyl fun di kriminele kapos zenen afile gevorn oysgeharget, "likvidirt" inem loshn fun lager. di natsis hobn zikh in dem inyen nisht arayngemisht. -- T.K.] atsind hobn di tsvey kriminele kapos alts oysgelozt tsu undz. zey zenen arumgelofn mit shtekns in di hent un gekeylt oyf rekhts un oyf links, stam azoy, far fargenign. hot men shoyn a mol oysgeteylt a bisl kave, hobn zey anshtot arayntsugisn mit der hokhle dos bisl shvartse vaser in blekhl arayn, aroyfgegosn di kave oyfn kop fun a heftling un derbay im nokh a zets gegebn mit der zelber hokhle ibern kop, az der korbm iz avekgefaln a toyter. undzer lager-komendant hot men oykh mer nisht gezen. er hot undz ibergelozt, vi itshe hot gezogt, oyf hefker-petrishke in di hent fun di tsvey sadistn un di es-es-vakhmener. di vakhmener zenen shoyn oykh gevorn mid, oysgemutshet un afile farlayzikt vi mir, un nisht ale fun zey zenen nokh geven fun di yungste. eynmol hot mikh tsugerufn a vakhman un bafoyln, az kh'zol im trogn zayn rukzak. a groyser koved... er aleyn hot shoyn nisht gehat keyn koyekh im tsu shlepn, hot er im mir ongehangen. a glik vos der rukzak iz nisht geven shver. ober fun dem moment on hot er mikh geshitst fun di tsvey merderishe kapos. mit a mol hob ikh gehert tsu di 53/ prominente, tsu di besere mentshn. a kleynikayt, ikh trog a rukzak fun an es-es-man! der vakhman mayner, an ungar, iz oykh nisht geven fun di ergste. er hot bloyz gehat dershosn tsvey-dray heftlingen, dos alts, ober in algemeyn hot er nisht gehert tsu profesionele shisers... zint ikh trog dem rukzak derloybt er mir aroystsugeyn fun der rey oyftsukloybn metsies in mitn feld. a mol hot er mir aleyn ongevizn mitn finger oyf a mistkastn. dos iz geven a poyerisher groyser mistkastn fun a finef meter lang un breyt. me kon zikh iberhoypt nisht forshteln vos far a metsies, mamesh oytsers, m'kon gefinen in aza poyerishn mistkastn: gantse kartofl, meyern, burikes, halb, drayfertel un in gantsn farfoylte, vos lign shoyn vokhn lang, efsher khadoshim adurkhgevaremt, kimat opgekokht fun der tsoye fun di beheymes un ferd. haklal, gantse glikn -- nisht bloys far mir aleyn, nor oykh far benyekn un itshen. mir hobn zikh derkhapt dos harts un gekumen a bisl tsu zikh. ober groz hob ikh nisht gegesn! itshe hot mir gevornt: "alts, nor tsvey zakhn nisht: groz un mentshnfleysh, fun dem zolstu zikh hitn! fun groz bakumstu bald s'loyfenish un geyst a gang... vider mentshnfleysh? nu, zol undz got ophitn!" "bloyz di milts fun gezunte mentshn," -- hot zikh eyner fun a zayt opgerufn. "to gey ver dervorgn, fres oyf a milts fun a datsh, zey gehern nokh tsu di gezunte mentshn," -- hot im itshe a dertsornter tsurikgeentfert. ober itshe hot mikh nisht gedarft vorenen, kh'hob dos alts aleyn gezen mit mayne eygene oygn. dokh hob ikh zikh eynmol mer nisht gekent aynhaltn, azoy oysgehungert bin ikh geven, hob ikh arayngekhapt in moyl arayn a hoyfn nas groz. 54/ di letste tsayt hobn mir gemakht tsu etlekhe poyzes a tog, nisht tsulib undz, heftlingen, nor beiker vayl di vakhmener hobn mer nisht gekent geyn. beys eyner aza poyze bin ikh gezesn nisht vayt fun mayn ungarishn vekhter un, vi geveyntlekh, zikh geloyzt. oykh er hot dos zelbe geton. azoy oykh di andere vakhmener. -- in onheyb zeyer diskret, pavolye ober ven s'hot zey shoyn gut gebisn hobn zey genumen a bayshpil fun undz. der shteyger iz geven, az vi nor me hot zikh avekgezetst, hot men aropgetsoygn di katsetishe bluze un zi gut oysgeshoklt. s'iz ober laykht tsu zogn, vayl nisht ale layz lozn zikh azoy poshet oysshoklen. meynste layz klamern zikh sadistish ayn mit zeyere kleyntshike feste fislekh, nisht bloyz in der bluz oder in di hoyzn, nor a sakh erger, zey klamern zikh in dayn layb un zeygn fun dir aroys dos letste bisl blut un khies vos du farmogst nokh in zikh. dos layb vert in gantsn royt un s'vert nokh mer royt ven men heybt zikh on tsu kratsn; un kratsn muz men zikh, vayl s'bayst, un men kratst mit aza sadistish fargenign, men nemt poshet nekome in dem grestn soyne, oyser di natsis, farshteyt zikh. shpeter, ven di nekome-lust vert a bisl baruikt, tret men ersht demolt tsu tsum tsveytn teyl fun der program, dehayne, m'heybt on tsu knakn di layz un zey tsu fartilikn, eyns nokhn andern. tsu ersht leygstu aroyf aza loyz (nisht layzl, zog ikh, nor loyz), vayl dos zenen geven groyse oysgebikevete layz fun dayn eygn blut un fleysh. vider, vegn vos far a fleysh red ikh do? ver hot nokh biklal dentsmol gehat oyf zikh fleysh? blut? efsher nokh dos letste bisl, ober fleysh? nokh a mol: du leygst aroyf aza oysgebikevete loyz oyfn nogl fun dayn grobn finger un azoy vayter... u.a.v....hakitser, der gantser p. 55/ transport, mit di vakhmener tsuzamen, iz geven arayngeton in knakn layz. a groyser brokh iz shoyn ober geven tsu di yenike, vos hobn nisht geknakt, nor hobn zikh gelozt fresn lebedikerheyt fun di layz... vi kh'hob ersht gezogt, iz nisht vayt fun mir gezesn mayn ungarisher vakhman. mir zenen itst geven fareynikt in eyn tsil, in nemen nekome in undzere gemeynzamen soyne, di layz. zayn biks mitn rukzak zenen gelegn in a zayt. er hot gehat oysgeton dem mundir un gemakht polovanye gants diskret oyf zayn hemd. "her vakhman -- hob ikh mikh gekhanfet tsu im, velndik poter vern funem rukzak vos ikh hob koym nokh gekont shlepn -- dize loyzn hobn zi fun mir, durkh dizen rukzak vas ikh trage. doytshn haben kayne loyze!" -- hob ikh mit a zikherkayt gezogt. der vakhman hot ober nisht geentfert. mit a mol iz mir arayn a meshugas in kop un kh'hob rizikirt mit nokh a laykhtziniker plapleray, vos hot mikh shier nisht gekost dos lebn. "her vakhman -- hob ikh gefregt -- zi zind dokh keyn ekhter doytshe?" er hot plutsling oyf mir oyfgeshtelt tsvey retseykhishe oygn, zikh umgekukt tsi keyner fun zayne kameradn hot dos nisht gehert un mit a madzharskn aktsent gestrashet: "halt di shnautse, du loyziger drekzak! nokh eyn vort un ikh bring dikh um!" -- derbay hot er gekhapt di biks un getsilt tsu mir. nokh a mazl, vos di alarem-sirene fun a derbayik shetl hot zikh mit a mol tseritshet. vi a shturem iz adurkhgefloygn iber undzere kep a gantse eskadre aliirte eroplanen un aropgeshit oyfn shtetl bombes vi bobelekh. mir hobn zikh oysgetsoygn oyf 56/ dr'erd, khotsh keyner fun undz, khuts di daytshn, hot keyn moyre nisht gehat. bloyz der amerikaner, der flier, hot zikh nisht oysgetsoygn. derzeendik di eroplanen hot er in gantsn oyfgelebt, vi oyfgeshtanen tkhies-hameysim. er hot zikh oysgetsoygn nisht oyf der'erd, vi mir, nor in der heykh, tsum himl. er iz mit a mol tsurik gevorn azoy hoykh, vi demolt, ven mir hobn im gezen dos ershte mol. er iz geshtanen a shtoltser, gefokhet in di himlen un gehaltn in eyn rufn: "kom on dzhani! kom on! pok dem! pok dem!" a shos fun a vakhman hot opgehakt zayn rufn... bald iz iber undz adurkgefloygn a "spitfayer" un adurkhgezeyt dem gantsn shetekh, iberlozndik tsendliker toyte un farvundikte, tsvishn zey etlekhe vakhmener. zet oys, az s'iz geven a toes, a fataler toes, vayl bald iz der zelber "spitfayer" tsurikgekumen un arumgekrayzt etlekhe mol iber undzere kep, vi er volt zikh gevolt farentfern, az nisht undz hot er gemeynt. di farvundikte heftlingen, afile di gants laykhte farvundikte, hot men teykef dershosn. benyek, vos hot gekhapt a shpliter in linkn fus arayn, oyfn zelbn plats vu der dimentring hot im frier gehat geshtokhn, hot ongehoybn shtark tsu blutikn. itshe hot im glaykh arumgebandazhirt dem fus mit a shtik kots un im ongezogt: "ikh un Yankev veln dikh firn, ober leman-hashem, zog nisht keynem, az bist farvundikt." un azoy iz take geven, itshe fun eyn zayt, un ikh fun der tsveyter zayt, hobn itst gefirt benyekn. nokh etlekhe sho geyn zenen mir ongekumen oyf a groysn farloztn folvark, vu mir zenen ayngeshtanen 57/ gantse tsvelf teg in a groysn shayer mit shtroy. dos zenen geven di ergste teg fun undzer lebn, kh'meyn fun di vos zenen nokh geblibn biz demolt lebn. un geblibn zenen mir zeyer veynik. fun di frantsoyzn -- efsher nokh a dritl; fun di rusn -- bloyz getseylte. di meynste geblibene zenen geven di profesyonele katsetnikes, vi itshe hot dos ongerufn, gemeynt hot er undz, poylishe yidn, vos yeder eyner hot shoyn gehat hinter zikh a rekord fun dray yor lagern mit getos un andere tsores... "nisht azoy shnel konen zey undz poter vern -- hot zikh itshe nokh gevitslt -- mir, zenen far zey a harte nus, an am-koshe-oyref, vi es shteyt geshribn. vi s'zol nisht zayn shlekht, viln mir lebn, adurkhlebn, iberlebn, abi nokh lebn... ot nem, lemoshl, un tret aroyf oyf a vorem. glaykh iz er toyt. tret ober aroyf oyf a shlang, tseteyl im oyf tsvey, oyf dray, di resht blaybt lebn. ot dos zenen mir! nisht keyn geveyntlekhe verem. mir zenen vi shlangen, vos gedenken ober tomid, az a teyl fun undz hot men opgeshnitn, getoyt. zest, Yankev, do oyfn toytnmarsh -- itshe hot s'ershte mol ongerufn dem marsh 'toytnmarsh' -- kenstu ersht beemes zen ver mir zenen! ikh volt atsinder di gantse velt mentshn do ahergeshlept bay di oyern, zey zoln zen mit zeyere eygene oygn ver mir zenen. afile der komendant hot far undz do bakumen derekh-erets. host dokh aleyn gehert vi er hot geshrign oyf ale tsu nemen a bayshpil fun undz, poylishe yidn..." "neyn, neyn -- hot itshe nisht nokhgelozt -- mir zenen nisht keyn delikate frantsoyzn, keyn poylishe laykhtzinike bohateres, keyn rusishe rizikantn, neyn! dos zenen mir nisht! mir zenen poylishe yidn! di letste poylishe yidn vos zenen nokh 58/ ibergeblibn oyf der velt? un oyb du veyst nisht vos dos heyst, to vel ikh dir zogn: dos heyst toyznt yor gebrente tsores mit aza sof... shoyn dem fertn tog vi mir lign ongepakt eynem oyfn andern in der groyser stodole, kep tsu fis un fis tsu kep, nisht visndik velkhe s'zenen dayne eygene fis oder afile dayn eygener kop! hostu geshtupt aza eynem er zol zayne fis aveknemen fun dayn kop, hot er mer nisht reagirt. er iz bemeshekh fun der nakht oysgegangen. un azoy bistu gelegn mit toyte und halb-toyte arum zikh. in der fri, ven kh'hob oyfgemakht di oygn hob ikh zikh tsu ersht gut batapt, tsu zen tsi ikh leb nokh. bald hob ikh ongehoybn rufn: "benyek! itshe!" gevolt zayn zikher, az zey lebn nokh oykh. zet oys, az der mekhaber fun "moyde ani", vos a yid zogt yedn tog in der fri, vi nor er makht oyf di oygn, hot gemuzt mitmakhn epes enlekhs, vi mir do. der hunger hot ober azoy gepaynikt, az du host aleyn nisht gevust, tsi danken got, vos er hot dir tsurikgegebn di neshome "bekhemle rabe", mit zayn barmhartsikayt, oder betn got , er zol gor fargesn dir tsuriktsugebn di neshome. un ven s'iz gekumen di tsayt tsu bakumen dos bisl kave, hot zikh ersht ongehoybn dos rikhtike gehenem. oyb s'iz beemes do a gehenem oyf yener velt, iz es zikher a gelekhter, akegn dem vos do in der stodole iz fargekumen. alts hot mit a mol ongehoybn tsu loyfn tretndik eyner oyfn andern, kedey tsu zayn der ershter nokhn bisl kave. ershtns, iz keyn mol nisht geven genug un s'hot tomid oysgefelt. un oyb s'iz yo geven, hobn di kapos lehakhes oysgegosn di kave oyf dr'erd. demolt hobn zikh ale mit a mol a vorf geton oyf der erd kedey oystsulekn mit di tsinger, 59/ eyder di kave ayngezapt in der erd. di shvakhere zenen poshet tsetrotn gevorn durkh di veyniker shvakhe biz me hot zey tsugeshlept tsu der kupe toyte. tsveytns, hobn mir dokh gornisht bakumen bemeshekh di gantse tsvelf teg, vi bloyz dos bisl shvarts vaser eyn mol a tog un oykh dos nisht reguler. tsu morgns, ven der hunger hot nokh mer gepaynikt di mentshn, hot zikh ongehoybn a kanibalizm. m'hot poshet ongehoybn tsu esn eyner dem andern: oyfgerisn dem boykh fun a toytn tsi afile fun nokh a lebedikn, aroysgenumen di milts, tsi di leber un zi oyfgegesn. aza eyner hot zikh shoyn mer nisht gekont bahershn fun zayne khayishe instinktn, dos eyntsike vos iz in im nokh geblibn lebn, vayl al dos resht iz shoyn bay im geven toyt, opgeshtorbn. dos iz geven a nayer tip mentsh, a "homo novus," vos iz do, in der stodole geboyrn gevorn in meshekh fun getseylte teg. nisht mer keyn geveyntlekher muzlman, vi me hot gerufn in lager an oysgehungertn skelet, gants epes andersh -- a mentshn-freser. nisht eyn mol hot aza "korbm" revoltirt, ongehoybn tsu shrayen, az me zol im nisht tseraysn. vos heyst? kh'leb dokh nokh!!! demolt flegt zikh der mentshn-freser tsuriktsien, vi keyn mol gornisht, un zukhn an ander korbm. itst, hobndik shoyn mer derfarung hot er dem nayem korbm tsu ersht gut batapt, im aropgetsoygn di shikh, oyb er hot zey nokh gehat, dernokh dos vestl, di hoyzn un erst demolt, az yener hot mer nisht reagirt, hot er zikh genumen tsu zayn guf: tsu ersht ongehoybn tsu baysn di hant, ober aza oysgetserter, fartriknte hant iz nisht laykht geven ayntsubaysn, hot er im tsum sof oyfgerisn dem boykh... mit etlekhe sho 60/ shpeter iz ober aza eyner bald oykh oysgegangen, vayl di mentshn hobn getrogn in zikh kolerley krenk. itshe hot undz vider gevornt: shtroy zolst ir fresn! ober beshum-oyfn nisht keyn mentshnfleysh!!! ober gey un fres shtroy! layz hob ikh shoyn gezen vi eyner hot arayngelegt in moyl arayn, ober shtroy? un nisht eyn mol, ven kh'hob zikh tsugekukt vi men posmakevet zikh mit aza frish leberl oder miltsele, hob ikh oykh bakumen a shreklekhn apetit, khotsh bloyz arayntsubaysn zikh in aza min lebedik shtik fleysh. kh'hob a khap geton a blik oyf benyekn un gezen vi oykh er balekt zikh tsukukndik zikh tsu der avoyde, vi tsvey kanibaln hobn zikh nor vos genumen tsu aza frishn korbm. "halevay volt di gantse stodole farbrent gevorn mit undz tsuzamen eyder dos mittsumakhn," hot itshe vi tsu zikh geredt. "oy, kinder -- hot er geklogt mit a veytik -- oy, vos mir hobn derlebt, tsu vos mir zenen dergangen! tsadikem zenen dokh geven di ale vos zenen bald fun onheyb, nokh in 42, umgekumen un dos alts nisht gedarft mitmakhn. neyn! dos vos zey hobn mit undz gemakht, nokh dem tsu vos zey hobn undz tsugebrengt, iz shoyn mer nisht keyn metsiye dos ibertsulebn. afile tsu zen zeyer mapole, hot oykh mer keyn zinen nisht. nekome? vos far a nekome kon nokh do biklal zayn? ikh shtel mir mer nisht for keyn lebn nokh dem alem. kh'vel nisht kenen mer lebn un kh'vil nisht lebn, kh'zol afile vern bafrayt! un fun vos, mishteyns gezogt, kon men shoyn do zayn bafrayt?... ir zent nokh yung, un oyb ir vet lebn, vet ir lebn! kh'bin ober aykh nisht mekane, s'vet aykh nisht zayn vos mekane tsu zayn... di daytshn hobn undz bazigt! ersht do, in der stodole, hobn zey undz bazigt un nokh vi!!! ober 61/ nisht mikh, neyn! neyn! nisht keyn mentshnfleysh! ikh vet keyn mentshnfleysh nisht fresn!!! tsu morgns iz itshe farshvundn gevorn. er iz aroys fun der stodole un hot zikh gebetn baym vakhman in droysn, er zol im dershisn. ober der vakhman hot nisht gehat keyn kheyshek im tsu ton aza toyve. "du shvaynehunt! vos makhst du hir? -- hot er oyf itshen geshrign -- zofort auf dayn plats!" un im a dzhyukhe gegebn mit der kolbe fun der biks. itshe hot zikh ongehoybn betn, er zol im khotsh gebn fayer, a zaplke. hot im der vakhman vider a zets gegebn mit der kolbe ibern kop. hot itshe banitst zayn letste gever -- mitn letstn bisl shpayekhts, vos er hot nokh farmogt, gegebn dem vakhman a shpay glaykh in partsef arayn. bald zenen tsugelofn nokh tsvey vakhmener un mit retsikhe zikh gegebn a vorf oyf itshen. "doytshe shvayne! merders! shist mikh! shist mikh!" -- hot itshe ongehoybn shrayen. oyf lehakhes hobn zey im nisht gevolt dershisn, nor im merderish tsekaylt un im tsurik arayngevorfn in der stodole arayn. itshe iz geblibn lign in khaloshes baym arayngang. benyek un ikh hobn prubirt im tsutsushlepn oyf undzer plats, ober mir zenen geven tsu shvakh. der kapo hot dos derzen un undz avekgetribn. er hot bafoyln andere tsvey tsutsushlepn itshen tsu der kupe toyte. "her kapo, er lebt dokh nokh!" hot zikh benyek ongerufn. ober der kapo iz im farforn mitn shtekn ibern kop un geshrign: "halt di shnautse, du kleyner drekzak! ven ikh zoge tot, dan iz er tot!" mir zenen geblibn lign bay itshen a gantse nakht un gevisht dos blut, vos iz im gerunen fun kop, fun der noz, 62/ fun moyl. in der fri iz shoyn itshe gelegn mit ofene oygn un mer nisht geotemt. kh'hob aroyfgeleygt mayn hant oyf zayn ponem un im farshlosn di oygn oyf eybik. mayne lipn hobn geshepshet: "yisgadal veyiskadash shmey rabo..." ______________________________________________________ End of _The Mendele Review_ 02.005 Leonard Prager, editor Send articles to: lprager@research.haifa.ac.il The editor of _TMR_ can also be reached via _Mendele_'s homepage: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele Subscribers to _Mendele_ (see below) automatically receive _The Mendele Review_. Send "to subscribe" or change-of-status messages to: listproc@lists.yale.edu a. For a temporary stop: set mendele mail postpone b. To resume delivery: set mendele mail ack c. To subscribe: sub mendele first_name last_name d. To unsubscribe kholile: unsub mendele ****Getting back issues**** _The Mendele Review_ archives can be reached at: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele/tmrarc.htm _The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language (A Companion to _MENDELE_) ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 02.006 20 February 1998 1) "Opgegebn broyt" by Tsvi Kanar [fifth installment, pp. 62-77] 1)----------------------------------------------------- Date: 20 February 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: "Opgegebn broyt" by Tsvi Kanar [fifth installment, pp. 62-77] opgegebn broyt (hemshekh) 62 (hemshekh)/ nokh etlekhe teg zenen mir azoy gelegn un gefilt vi di letste koykhes farlozn undz. di neshome glitsht zikh pavolye aroys fun dem bidnem guf un vos erger -- oder efsher gor beser -- az di fantazyes zenen mit a mol farshvundn. nisht mer gekholemt, nisht fantazirt vegn a shtikl broyt, a zup, a bisl frayhayt. dos alts iz itst gevorn azoy vayt. in onheyb hot men nokh moyre gehat tsu vern a polner muzlman, oder a mentshn-freser. mit a mol iz alts gevorn alts eyns. ale moyres oyf der velt, der eybiker pakhed fun a katsetnik iz vi durkh a kishef mit a mol farshvundn, s'hot zikh oysgedakht, az s'iz dir grod gut: der guf darf shoyn itst gornisht mer. er ligt zikh azoy ruik oyfn shtroy un di neshome flit zikh arum in der stodole in der heykh, untern balkn, un kukt zikh glaykhgiltik arop tsu dir, oyfn peyger... un efsher bin ikh shoyn toyt? -- hot zikh mir gemisht ergets in kop. es iz biklal nisht azoy shlekht! un efsher est men shoyn mayn leber? ikh hob prubirt zikh ontsutapn baym boykh, ober kh'hob beshum-oyfn nisht gekent. oykh dos iz mir mer nisht geven keyn groyser khilek. vos gist zikh mit a mol epes tsu mir in moyl arayn? un ver halt mikh in eyn patshn in ponem arayn? yo, dos iz benyek, er patsht mikh azoy shtark. tsi iz er arop fun zinen? "Yankev! Yankev!" -- her ikh im rufn, vi fun der vaytns, un er gist mir a biter vaser in moyl arayn. "vos iz, benyek, vos iz geshen?" -- freg ikh im. 63/ "oy, Yankev, yenkele, du lebst! kh'hob gemeynt, az du bist shoyn oykh a fartiker." "neyn, benyekl, kh'bin nokh nisht keyn fartiker! zest dokh, az kh'leb! kh'hob nor prubirt tsu khapn a kuk, vi azoy s'zet dortn oys, oyf yener velt, efsher ven du volt|st mikh nisht tsurikgerufn fun mitn veg, nisht geflyasket in der morde arayn, az di neshome iz mir shier nisht oysgegangen, un nisht arayngegosn in mir dayn letste bisl kave, to ver veyst, tsi kh'volt shoyn atsind nisht geven dort, oyf yener velt." "e-e-e, narishkaytn! yene velt, -- du gleybst nokh in azelkhe bobe-mayses?" -- hot benyek fun mir gekhoyzekt, vi an alter geniter apikoyres: "ot hostu di kupe farshtunkene toyte. ze vos far a yene-velt s'iz do!" "kh'veyz nisht, benyek, ober s'iz nisht azoy shreklekh dortn vi men meynt. atsind iz mir a sakh shreklekher: kh'bin shoyn vider hungerik!" "oyb azoy, yenkele," hot benyek ongehoybn mikh tsu farvayln, tsiterndik az kh'zol kholile vider nisht prubirn tsu makhn a shpatsir ahin, oyf yener velt, "oyb azoy: to efsher hostu an apetit oyf a frish leberl? oder a miltsele? un efsher gor a pupikl? ober leyder nisht keyn gebrotns, nor a roy pupikl fun a mentshele, a katsetnikl. vos hostu liber, mayn tayer yenkele? a frantseyzish pupikl, tsi a yidish pupikl, un efsher gor a rusish leberl? ot ligt do bay dayne fis aza peygerl shoyn dem tsveytn tog, nokh genug frish, s'iz ober shver tsu derkenen, vos er iz, zey hobn ale dem zelbn partsef..." plutsling a gefayferay: "ufsteyn. ufshteyn! raus tsum apel! shnel! shnel! tsum apel!" Yankev, du herst? es heybt alts on tsurik tsu funktsyonirn, 64/ tsurik normal tsu vern. zest, men yogt shoyn undz vider tsum apel, vi in yene gute tsaytn..." di vakhmener zenen arayn in der farshtunkener stodole mit tikhlekh farbundene oyf di penemer, teyl hobn getrogn gazmaskes un hobn undz geyogt aroys tsum apel. ober zeyer veynik hobn zikh nokh oyfgehoybn. di greste teyl iz geblibn lign nisht kenendik zikh rirn fun ort. di vakhmener hobn zey tsugeshosn. dos tsveyte mol zint mir geyen in toytnmarsh hobn mir bakumen a zup un grod an emese bone-zup. dos hot poshet mekhaye-meysem geven un arayngegebn a shtik lebn (zint demolt iz nishto far mir epes besers, vi a bone-zup, oder a bobele-zup, vi me hot es a mol gerufn in der heym. meg ikh haynt tsu tog esn di beste maykholem vos zenen faran ouf der velt, keyn mol ober vel ikh nisht esn mit aza hanoe un tayve, vi ikh es a bobele-zup. genoy vi ikh volt haynt avekgegebn, kh'veys nisht vos, far a bisl zise sup, vos mir hobn a mol bakumen oyfn "verk tse" in skarzhisk, nor gey veys, vi azoy m'shtelt tsuzamen aza yekum-porkn-zup.(1) der lager komendant hot zikh tsurik bavizn oyf zayn mototsikl un undz gehaltn in eyn tseyln, genoy vi a pastekhl in a mayse-bikhl, far kinder, vos tseylt zayne shefelekh nokh a groyser mageyfe. dos mol ober hot er keynem mer nisht gestrashet. mir zeynen shoyn geven oysgestrashet... er hot gut gevust, az a zup, a payke broyt kon helfn, ober strashen? itst hot zikh der gantser horizont geendert, zint dem onheyb fun toytnmarsh. nisht nor di natur iz gevorn an andere, nor beiker di heftlingen. atsind hot men beshum-oyfn mer nisht gekent derkenen ver s'iz ver. ale hobn gehat 65/ dos zelbe fartriknt skeletish ponem mit tsvey groyse lekher untern shtern, vu s'hobn aroysgeglotst tsvey groyse faryosemte oygn. oykh di vakhmemer zenen mer nisht geven di zelbe. mayn ungarishn vakhman hob ikh mer nisht gezen. lebn mir iz itst oysgevaksn a frish gebakener blonder vakhman fun a yor zekhtsn-zibetsn, mit a kinderish-ibergeshrokn ponem. s'hot zikh gedakht, az er hot mer moyre far undz vi mir far im. di gantse tsayt hot er nervez gehaltn di biks greyt tsum shisn. der veg iz geven baleygt mit soldatn, alte layt, froyen un kinder, tanken, pantser-vogns un stam oytos, oykh poyerishe furn ayngeshpant in ferd un in mentshn. alts iz gelofn in a behole, vi farsamte mayz fun a sreyfe. in dem gantsn toyevoye zenen oyf di kreytsvegn geshtanen feld-politsey un gevizn dem veg. dem veg tsum mayrev. hayzer zenen geshtanen farlozte. in mitn derin, mamesh in mitn esn, alts shteyn gelozt, zikh oyfgehoybn un gemakht a vayivrekh. alts shteyt nokh oyf di tishn, di tirn zenen tsepralt, dos likht brent nokh, nisht bavizn afile oystsuleshn. oy, vi kon men zikh araynkhapn in aza hoyz, in aza malkhes, zikh dos harts tsu derkhapn! ober der yunger blonder vakhman shteyt greyt vi der malekhamoves un kon nokh in yedn oygnblik a shos gebn, afile nisht-vilndik. er iz nokh geferlekher vi a profesyoneler shiser, vos shist oysgerekhnt, ven un vu er vil. dos iz zikher zayn ersht shtikl arbet in der milkhome, hob ikh mir getrakht un men muz zeyer oyfpasn oyf aza nisht genitn rotser(2), nisht makhn kholile keyn iberike bavegung. un efsher, ven di nakht vet tsufaln, s'vet vern finster, vet 66/ zikh makhn a gelegnheyt? ober ven s'iz gevorn finster, geyen mir gor in mitn feld. mit a mol, a tsetumlenish, mir gefinen zikh in a groysn hoyf mit beheymes, ferd, khazeyrem. di luft iz ful mit reykhes fun lebn, reykhes fun mist, leyne, gnoyufke, es shmekt avek! oser mir, tsi in ganeydn shmekt beser. ot shtey ikh plutsling, kh'veys aleyn nisht vi azoy, far a groyser khazeyrem-korete mit vareme tsehakte kartofl. di pare shlogt mir in ponem arayn un kh'ver farshikert funem reyekh-nikhuekh. ikh trakht nisht keyn sakh un gib mikh a vorf oyf der korete mit mayn gantse layb-un-lebn un shtup in zikh arayn fule hoyfns mit vareme kartofl. in onheyb kukn farvundert di ongefresene khazeyrem oyf dem oysgehungertn gast mit zeyere khitre khazeyrishe eygelekh. bald ober tseritshen zey zikh oyf ale koyles, azoy khazeyrish, vi zey voltn moyre gehat, az s'vet far zey gornisht mer iberblaybn. atsind ersht farshtey ikh, hob ikh zikh getrakht, far vos di toyre hot azoy shtreng farbotn tsu esn khazer. s'iz avade derfar, kedey kholile aleyn nisht tsu vern keyn khazer. azelke ongefresene khazeyrem! vifl zey hobn, iz far zey veynik! vos geyt zey on a milkhome, a hunger oyf der velt, der iker, az zey hobn khazeyrish tsu fresn. azoy az a khazer blaybt a khazer... a zets ibern kop fun a poyerisher vidle hakt op mayne khazeyrishe filosofyes un kh'ver tsurik nikhter. itst yog ikh zikh mit frishe koykhes nokhn transport, vos hot zikh shoyn gehat dervaytert fun mir. di tsore iz ober geven, az nokh aza min oysergeveyntlekhn khazeyrishn ovntbroyt vert mir mit a mol der boykh oyfgeshvoln vi a pas un s'khapt mikh on geferlekhe veytikn. "a 67/ simen, az der guf lebt nokh," treyst mikh benyek. "moykhl toyves!" shray ikh fartsveyflt. "ikh kon ober mer nisht geyn!" benyek khapt mikh on, kh'zol nisht umfaln un musert mikh: "du muzst geyn! itst muzstu geyn!" ikh halt zikh in eyn kortshen fun di veytikn, az kh'kon azh dem otem nisht khapn un loz zikh arop oyf der erd, mitshlepndik mit zikh benyekn. er iz gerekht, benyek. ikh muz geyn! ikh muz geyn! atsind muz ikh lebn! -- shrayt epes a kol in mir: itst, ven di luft redt verter, ot-ot iz nokh alemen, nokh der milkhome! mayn boykh vert mir ober tsezetst fun veytik un ikh kortshe zikh nokh mer tsusamen oyf der faykhter erd. "Yankev, yenkele -- bet zikh benyek -- shtey oyf! m'vet dikh nokh dershisn!" -- un er brekht oys in a geveyn. dos iz benyek, mayn lager-khaver, er kon nokh veynen, shoyn lang azoyns nisht gezen. in katset veynen? lakhn, dos yo, ober veynen? benyek halt in tsien mikh bay der hant, ober umzist. "gey avek! -- shray ikh tsu im -- gey, loz mikh lign! efsher vet men mikh nisht bamerkn, es iz dokh finster." er ober vil mikh beshum-oyfn nisht iberlozn. er prubirt mit di letste koykhes mikh oyftsuheybn, ober er iz tsu shvakh. plutsling fil ikh, vi emetser nemt mikh on fun der tsvryter zayt un shtelt mikh oyf di fis. beyde shlepn mikh atsind, benyek fun eyn zayt un der fremder fun der tsveyter zayt. mir geyen, un efsher zenen mir gor gefloygn, barg-aroyf un barg-arop un vider barg-aroyf. arum iz khoyshekh mitsraim. ikh her nor dos shvere sopen fun mayne tsvey reters. 68/ benemones, s'iz zey nishto vos mekane tsu zayn, nisht bloyz vos zey muzn shlepn di eygene kranke katsetishe fis, shlepn zey nokh itst mit zikh aza peyger vi mikh. ober ver iz der fremder? a malekh efsher? vi azoy kumen do aher malokhem. az oser, tsi tayvlonem voltn zikh dervegn do aher tsu kumen! azoy vi zey firn mikh vi a khosn unter der khupe, rayb ikh mir dervayle dem oyfgeshvolenem boykh un nokh a lengerer tsayt vert mir beser. der boykh vert mir tsurik ayngeshrumpn, vi bay a normaln oysgehungertn katsetnik. ikh veys nokh alts nisht ver der fremder iz, -- a yid, a frantsoyz, tsi a rus? ober vos iz den der khilek? a katsetnik iz er zikher! di zelbe nakht hot men gerut etlekhe sho oyf a zaytik vegl. in mitn shlof, -- a gvald, a geshreyeray -- vos hot pasirt? yo, der zelber guter malekh mayner, vos hot mir opgeratevet s'lebn, hot zikh geleygt tsu noent tsum veg, a tank iz adurkhgeforn un im opgeshnitn beyde fis. a shos funem vakhman hot im oysgeleyzt fun zayne leydn. tsu morgns fri, dem 8tn may 1945, ven mir hobn oyfgemakht di oygn, hobn mir gezen, az mir gefinen zikh hinter a shtetl tsvishn gedikhte bavelderte grine berg. "akh, vi herlikh es ist hir!" -- hot eyner fun di es-es-vakhmener romantish oysgerufn. "nu ya, vir zind in sudetn-dayt|shland," -- hot a tsveyter, an oyfgeleygter, geentfert. bald hobn zikh bavizn tsvey tsivile eltere mener un energish farhandlt mitn untersharfirer. s'hot zikh aroysgevizn, az eyner fun zey iz der birger-mayster fun shtetl. er vil undz, di modne bashefenishn, beshum-oyfn nisht hobn 69/ bay zikh vi gest. er farlangt, az mir zoln vos gikher farlozn dos ort un geyn vayter. s'hot oysgezen vi er tsitert in gantsn far azelkhe nisht-geveyntlekhe, umgebetene gest. dos ershte mol vos me hot gor far undz moyre! di aliirte armeyen kenen in yedn oygnblik onkumen un mir zenen far zey bashtimt nisht keyn gute eydes... lang hot men farhandlt un opgemakht, az mir blaybn nor etlekhe sho biz tsu a nayem bafel. dervayle hobn mir ongehoybn fest zikh tsu bazetsn oyfn faykhtn frimorgndikn groz, badekt mit bliendike mayove blumen. di zun hot zikh pamelekh oyfgehoybn fun hinter di bavelderte berg un hot undz bagrist mit a zunikn gutmorgn, vi zi volt undz gevolt onzogn a gute psure, vos far a groyser tog es dervart undz haynt... mir hobn ober di remozem fun der zun nisht farshtanen; farkert, mir hobn gor far ir getsitert. mir hobn shoyn genug gehat derfarung un gevust, az nisht tomid ven di zun shaynt, iz sheyn oyf der velt... bay di greste aktsyes, selektsyes, ekzekutsyes, flegt zikh di zun tomid bavayzn, un vi oyf tsu lehakhes shaynen vi keyn mol gornisht. anshtot zikh tsu bahaltn, tsu bagrobn s'ponem far kharpe, far bushe, untertsugeyn leoylem voed, oyf eybik. mir hobn shoyn fun lang gevust, az di zun shaynt mer nisht far undz. zi shaynt far undzer grestn soyne. di zun iz gevorn a natsikhe! nisht eyn mol, ven ikh fleg aroyfkukn ysu der zun, hob ikh in ir gezen a haknkreyts. yeder eyner fun undz iz itst geven arayngeton in zayne eygene tsores, -- ver in loyzn zikh un ver in goysesn, in opsheydn zikh funem bidnem katsetnishn lebn. a sakh fun undz 70/ zenen do geblibn lign oyf eybik, do tsvishn di mayove shmekendike blumen. in mitn der avoyde, kh'meyn: in mitn loyzn zikh, a nisht geveyntlekhe bavegung -- me geyt, me kumt mit gantse oytsres: torbes broyt, kartofl un shor-yerokes. di vakhmener makhn zikh nisht-kukn, oder zeen zey take nisht? zey hobn mit zikh tsu ton, soyden zikh, redn, diskutirn, vi nisht-geveyntlek. mir, katsetnikes, geyen zey mit a mol on vi der farayoriker shney. ikh shar mikh tsu tsum aza eynem, vos iz ersht tsurikgekumen mit a torbe ongepakte metsies un bet bay im a shtikl broyt. der katsetnik heybt oyf mir oyf tsvey katsetnishe oygn, vi ikh volt gor fun im farlangt dos telerl fun himl un zogt tsu mir in a heymishn yidish: "veyst khotsh, az bist a meshugener? vos, broyt zol ikh dir gebn? far vos? bist den krank? kh'ze az du konst zikh nokh nishkoshe rirn. to gey shoyn, parazit vos du bist, tsu al di shvartse yor aleyn aynshteln s'lebn, vi ikh hob geton. ot do nisht vayt iz a dorf. az vest hobn mazl. me vet dikh nisht avekleygn, kenstu epes organizirn." ikh kuk zikh arum, zukh a shutef in veg arayn. oy, vu iz benyek? kh'kon im beshum-oyfn nisht gefinen. minastam iz er oykh avek "organizirn." ikh kuk oyfn ershtn bestn shokhn, vos zitst lebn mir, oysgeton odem naket un loyzt zikh. zayn langer oysgedarter guf iz bavaksn fun kop biz di fis mit gedikhte gekrayzlte hor, vi bay a ber. er iz azoy arayngeton in der avoyde, vi di gantse velt volt nor bashtanen in knakn layz. 71/ "geen vir aukh?" -- hob ikh gevandn in daytsh tsum fremdn bavaksenem, -- man kan vas organiziren." "far vos nit?" -- entfert mir der bavaksener in a modnem yidish: vi lang lebn, darfn esn, knakn layz un esn!" un azoy, in tsveyen, hobn mir zikh forzikhtik aroysgelozt in veg arayn. dos ershte mol zint yorn, geshtelt undzere ershte trit on a vakhman iber zikh, -- der langer bavaksener katsetnik mit koym a por tserisene katsetnishe hoyzn oyf zayn layb un ikh, der kleyner katsetnik, vos hot nisht beser oysgezen, ober nisht geven bavaksn. "ikh misha, ruski tshelovyek! -- hot der bavaksener mit a mol tsu mir oysgeshtrekt a frayndlekhe hant -- un du?" -- hot er gefregt. "o, ikh heys Yankev," -- hob ikh mikh forgeshtelt, iberrasht fun der umgerrikhter heflekhkayt un zikh farneygt vi a mol in der heym. "zeyer on-ge-nem!" -- hot der bavaksener geentfert un zikh tif far mir farneygt, vi far a porets. "kharasho! -- hot er a tsufridener vayter gezogt -- ikh misha, du Yankev! du polyak yid, ikh ruski halb yid! mama yid, papa goy." "a-h-h-h," -- hob ikh oysgerufn, -- "mama yid, papa goy!?" -- un mir hobn zikh hartsik tselakht oyfn kol, az di berg arum hobn azh mitgelakht, tsurikentferndik undz mit zeyer baskol. zet oys, az dem bestn royshem hobn mir nisht gemakht, vayl vi nor mir zenen arayngekumen inem ershtn bestn dorfishn hoyz arayn, iz di baleboste, derzeendik undz, bald avekgefaln in khaloshes. mir hobn zi, farshteyt zikh, 72/ gelozt lign oysgetsoygn oyf dr'erd. mir hobn nisht gehat keyn tsayt tsu azelkhe narishkaytn. in onheyb hobn mir in dem hoyz keyn groyse metsies nisht gefunen. dokh hobn mir in der letster minut bamerkt an oytser shteyn unter a shank. dos iz geven a groyser sloyik mit ayngemakhts, vos nor in meshiekhs tsaytn veln mir efsher esn aza git ayngemakhts. "davay! -- hot misha entuziastish oysgerufn, -- davay marmalad!" eyder vos ven, iz der sloyik geven leydik un der mogn ful, ober eyder vos ven iz der mogn tsurik leydik gevorn. der bavaksener misha hot gelakht fun mir, ober nisht oyf lang, vayl bald hot er oykh alts tsurikgegebn. zet oys, az ven s'iz biter oyf der velt, ken oykh der mogn nisht fartrogn azelkhe zise metsies. baym aroysgang hobn mir gehert di baleboste vos iz nokh alts gelegn oysgetsoygn oyf dr'erd: "zi zint dokh nikht di ruski?" "neyn, neyn, nikht ruski! ruski morgen komen!" -- hot misha zi getreyst. di shkheynem arum in dorf hobn shoyn gevust vegn di tsvey fremde arayndringers, vayl dos tsveyte hoyz iz shoyn geven farriglt oyf shlos un keyt un farlodnt. inem dritn hoyz iz geven dos zelbe, ober durkh a shpare hobn mir bamerkt vi a yunge poyerte kukt aroys tsu undz azoy ibergeshrokn, az mir hobn azh bakumen khutspe un ongehoybn tsu klapn in der tir: "makhn auf! makhn auf! -- hot mayn bavaksener kolege gerufn, -- vir hunger! vir hunger!" nokh etlekhe minut vartn hot di yunge poyerte pavolye oyfgemakht di tir un mit a tsiterendiker shtim uns bagrist: "gris got." 73/ "gris got, gris got," -- hot misha in aylenish tsurikgeentfert un zikh arayngeshtupt in tsimer arayn -- "esen! esen! nikht ruski!" -- hot er gerufn un arumgelofn vi a farsamter iber der shtub zukhndik epes tsu nemen in moyl arayn. di yunge poyerte iz tsugegangen tsu a shenkl, aroysgenumen a halb breytl un avekgeleygt oyfn tisn. "nemen zi plats, mayne heren," hot zi shoyn drayst gezogt. ober der bavaksener hot a khap gegebn dos broyt, un ven ikh khap im nisht on bay der hant, volt er alts geven aleyn arayngestupt. di yunge poyerte hot oyf undz gekukt, azoy vi zi volt dos ershte mol in lebn gezen mentshn esn broyt. zi iz vider tsugegangen tsum shenk un arousgenumen a groysn top mit milkh un opgeshept far yedn eynem a tepl milkh. "moloko!!! -- hot misha a farvunderter oysgerufn. un mir hobn oysgetrunken mit eyn tsi, yeder eyner a tepele mit milkh. "oy", hot misha gehaltn in eyn rimen di milkh: "milkh gut! milkh gut! barishnya, davay syuda!" (fraylin, gib aher), un di yunge poyerte hot farshtanen. zi hot far undz nokh a mol ongeshept tsu tepelekh milkh, biz s'iz ir mer gornisht ibergeblibn inem top. mit a mol hot misha oysgebrokhn in a hilkhik gelekhter. "ha, ha, ha, -- hot er modne gelakht -- zest?! zest dortn! dortn!" un gevizn mitn finger in tsveytn tsimer arayn oyf a groysn shpigl ayngeremt in a groyser shank. "dos bin ikh?" -- hot er zikh gevundert, nisht gleybndik zayne eygene oygn -- ikh? misha medvyed? (misha der ber?), oy, ze nor! ze nor!" -- un er iz tsugelofn tsum 74/ shpigl, rufndik vi a kind: "dos -- ikh!? i-i-i-kh?! un dos du! zest?! dos du! du!!!" ven kh'hob zikh derzen inem shpigl hob ikh oykh aroysgelozt a modne histerish gelekhter. beyde zenen mir geshtanen farn groysn shpigl, der langer halb-naketer bavaksener misha un ikh, der kleyner Yankev, un gehaltn in eyn lakhn fun zikh, az di trern zenen azh gerunen. dos ershte mol nokh dray yor in lager, vos ikh hob zikh ongekukt in a shpigl. biz der bavaksener misha hot a zets gegebn mit zayn fardarter foyst inem shpigl arayn, vos iz zikh tsefaln oyf shtik shtiklekh un mir zenen farshvundn gevorn. itst hot yeder eyner mit zikh gefirt dem grestn oytser vos a katsetnik ken nor farmogn: -- broyt, shtiklekh broyt, tsuzamengeshnort bay di poyertes in dorf. vuhin geyt men? vuhin geyt a farlozter katsetnik? farshteyt zikh, tsurik in katset arayn, dos mol tsurik tsum transport, -- dortn iz nokh alts tsum zikherstn. do, oyf der frayheyt kloymersht, kon men undz in yeder rege dervishn un dershisn. yeder lebedik bashefenish, vos geyt nor oyf tsvey un hot beytsem in di hoyzn, iz do balebos iber undzer lebn. undzer groys mazl iz vos azelkhe bashefenishn, kh'meyn di daytshe mener, lign ale ayngeleygt oyf di frontn, tsi gor in gefangenshaft un der gantser shetekh iz "daytshenreyn", yedn fals, fun daytshe mener. bloyz fun der vaytns zeen mir oyfn vegn forn, vi geharget tsu vern, reshtlekh daytshe soldatn. alts tsilt in eyn rikhtung mit aza shnelkayt, vi der tayvl volt zey nokhgeyogt. di soldatn trogn vayse arembender, un oyf di oytos flakern vayse fener, oder vayse shmates, vos zeen oys vi fener. 75/ "epes geshet do" -- hob ikh zikh ongerufn. "yo, epes geshet!" -- hot mayn bavaksener 'kamerad' nokhgezogt. mir hobn nokh rekht nisht gehat bavizn zikh gut umtsukukn, vi mir hobn mit a mol derzen a kleyn ibergeshrokn sheygetsl loyfn durkh di felder funem shtetl glaykh in dorf arayn, haltndik in eyn rufn: "di rusen zind da! di rusen zind da!" "herst? -- zogt misha tsu mir -- nashi! (undzere) zenen do! nasha krasnaya armia!!! (undzer royte armey) -- un khapt mikh arum mit di lange bavaksene hent un kusht mikh, tantst un kusht mikh, -- ponyemayesh?! farshteyst? bruder mayner, farshteyst?! mir zenen fray! bafrayt!!! svobodni!!! svobodni!!!" -- hot er ongehoybn rufn oyf ale koyles, fokhndik mit di hent in der heykh. "svo-bo-dni!!! fray!!!" -- hob ikh oykh ongehoybn rufn un hob oysgebrokhn in a fartriknt geveyn fun a katsetnik, on trern ... mir gibn zikh di hent vi tsvey kleyne kinder un heybn on tsu loyfn mit undzere letste koykhes in shtetl arayn. etlekhe sho shpeter nokh mayn bafrayung bin ikh shoyn geshlofn in dem sheynem meydls orems. un azoy vi ikh halt nokh in eyn shlofn kon ikh dervayle dertseyln, vi kh'hob shoyn frier tsugezogt, vegn dem sof fun ir foter, nokh dem vi mir veysn shoyn, vos es hot pasirt mit ir muter. ven mir hobn zikh arayngerisn inem hoyz fun meydl, hobn mir dortn getrofn a man mit a froy lign in bet. bald iz der man, ir foter, gefloygn durkhn fenster fun fertn shtok. di fir armeyers hobn im poshet ongekhapt bay di hent un fis un im aroysgevorfn, vi men varft aroys a kheyfets vos iz 76/ mer nisht neytik. der man hot biklal nisht reagirt, azoy vi er volt gor gevart oyf dem. nor a trukener zets hot zikh gehert, vi a zak mit kartofl volt aropgefaln un nisht keyn mentsh. di froy zayne iz azoy iberrasht gevorn fun dem umdervartn akt, az zi hot afile keyn pips nisht aroysgelozt fun ir moyl. bloyz ire tsvey groyse sheyne oygn hobn zikh nokh mer tseefnt. zi iz poshet fartoybt gevorn, vi men fartoybt a beheyme mit a hamer ibern kop eyder men koylet zi. alts iz tsugegangen mit aza shtilkayt un pretsizkayt, vi yeder eyner volt gekent zayn role fun foroys. afile vanya, vi oykh di andere armeyers, hobn dos mol keyn vort, keyn klole nisht aroysgebrakht oyf zeyere lipn. on a vort hot di froy oyfgehoybn ir roz zaydn nakhthemd un tseshpreyt di fis ... ersht demolt hot zi ibergerisn di shtilkeyt un gesheptshet, betndik zikh: "makhen zi ales vas zi ferlangen, mayne hern, aber bite, shenken zi mir das leben, shenken zi mir das leben ..." ikh bin gevorn azoy iberrasht fun dem maymed, az s'hot zikh mir oysgedakht, vi epes a heylike tseremonye kumt do for in a fartsaytishn templ. gants shtil, vi kh'volt moyre gehat tsu tseshtern di shtilkayt, hob ikh ongehoybn tsu redn tsu der froy, vi oyfn oyer: "haben zi keyn angst, keyn angst." ikh hob groys rakhmones bakumen oyf der froy un zi gevolt treystn. oyf ire geshnitste lipn hot zikh bavizn a laykhter shmeykhl fun dankshaft, vi zi volt take gevolt gleybn, az azoy vet zayn. ober andersh hot zikh di zakh opgeshpilt ... ven ikh hob oyfgemakht mayne oygn iz in droysn geven fuler tog. di zun hot shtralndik arayngeshaynt durkhn fentster. dos meydl iz ober mer nisht geven, oykh vanya iz mer nisht 77/ geven, nor der oyfgerisener kerper fun dem meydls muter iz gelegen oyfn bet in tsveytn tsimer. ven kh'bin aroys fun hoyz hob ikh bamerkt dem foter lign oysgetsoygn oyf dr'erd, vi er volt ruik geshlofn. a kupe mit flign iz geven farzamlt oyf zayn ponem. ikh hob avekgedreyt dem kop un bin gegangen vayter. di frimorgndike zun fun dem 9tn may 1945 hot mild gevaremt mayn oysgedartn guf. geyendik hob ikh zikh yeder minut umgekukt hinter zikh, nisht gleybndik di fantastishe virklekhkayt, az ikh bin fray. vider a mol un vider a mol hob ikh mikh oysgedreyt, festtsushteln tsi keyn vakhman geyt nisht hinter mir, un trots mayne kranke geshvolene fis hob ikh ongehoybn tsu loyfn vos a mol shneler un shneler mit an ibernatirlekhn koyekh, tsu loyfn in der frayheyt, in a bafrayter velt ... heores (1) yekum porkn: "(tavo pedut) petikhat kol akhat mishtey hatefilot haaramiot sheomrim beshabat akharey kriat hatora lishlom kol haoskim batora velishlom hakahal." (Even-Shoshan, _Milon khadash_) (2) rotser 'smark' [English 'snot; brat'] ze daytshish _Rotz_ + -er; batseykhnt fun Stutshkov als "vulgarer oysdruk" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- End of _The Mendele Review_ 02.006 Leonard Prager, editor Send articles to: lprager@research.haifa.ac.il The editor of _TMR_ can also be reached via _Mendele_'s homepage: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele Subscribers to _Mendele_ (see below) automatically receive _The Mendele Review_. Send "to subscribe" or change-of-status messages to: listproc@lists.yale.edu a. For a temporary stop: set mendele mail postpone b. To resume delivery: set mendele mail ack c. To subscribe: sub mendele first_name last_name d. To unsubscribe kholile: unsub mendele ****Getting back issues**** _The Mendele Review_ archives can be reached at: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele/tmrarc.htm _The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language (A Companion to _MENDELE_) ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 02.007 27 February 1998 1) "Opgegebn broyt" (Tsvi Kanar) [sixth (final) installment, pp. 77-94] 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 27 February 1998 From: Craig Abernethy Subject: "Opgegebn broyt" (Tsvi Kanar) [sixth (final) installment, pp. 77-94] opgegebn broyt (hemshekh) 77 (hemshekh)/ "hey! vos hostu zikh azoy fargapyet?" -- hob ikh derhert vanyas lakhndike shtim un derzen far mir shteyn dem kelner. yo, vanya iz dos! der zelber vanya mitn zelbn vildn gelekhter vos dentsmol, nokh mit tsvantsik yor shpeter. er hot mikh hartsik arumgenumen, vi er volt tsurikgefunen an altn gutn bruder: "ikh volt dikh in lebn nisht derkent! du bist dokh in gantsn plikhevate gevorn! dentsmol, nokh a kleyn yingl geven, un haynt shoyn plikhevate? her, kleyner, oy, antshuldik mir, ober vi ruft men dikh?" "du kenst mikh rufn kleyner, vi a mol, oder kleyner polyak, afile kleyner zhidlyak, vi du vilst, s'makht nisht oys." 78/ vanya hot oyf mir a sharfn kuk geton un gezogt: "nu, her shoyn oyf! s'iz dokh geven dentsmol ... ober zol zayn vi du vilst. alzo, her, in a tsvantsik minut arum farendik ikh di arbet un mir veln zikh mer kenen adurkhshmuesn. kh'vel bald onklingen aheym tsu mayn froy, az ikh breng mit zikh mit a gast tsum ovntbroyt, zi vet zikh bashtimt zeyer freyen." oyfn veg aheym zenen mir gegangen tsu fus. vanya hot gehaltn in eyn dertseyln vegn der milkhome, vegn zayn heym in ukraine, vegn zayne kinder-yorn. "nu, zog shoyn, vi du heyst? kh'vel dikh nokh nisht forshteln far mayn froy un tokhter: ot iz der kleyner!" "gut, vanya, ruf mikh Yankev." "azoy -- farshtey ikh. du host a nomen! to her, Yankev: kh'dermon zikh, ven ikh bin avek fun tsimer mit dem meydl, bistu hart geshlofn, farshteyt zikh, nokh yorn in lager bistu s'ershte mol geshlofn in a bet, un vos far a bet! es dakht zikh mir, vi dos volt ersht nekhtn geven, vi kh'hob dikh tsugedekt mit dem varemen daytshn betgevant un bin avek mit ir. vi du zest, hob ikh zi geshport, nisht fartik gemakht, vi di andere ... nu, du veyst dokh yo vos ikh fleg mit zey makhn ... ober dos iz geven dentsmol in der milkhome-tsayt. farshtey, lomir redn ofn, -- hot der ukrainer prubirt mikh ibertsaygn -- ven di milkhome iz oysgebrokhn bin ikh nokh geven a smarkatsh, koym akhtsn yor alt. kh'bin arayn, vi m'zogt, frayvilik in der royter armey. ober ikh hob gehat mer mazl vi seykhl un m'hot mikh oyfn front glaykh nisht avekgeshikt. kh'bin geblibn in kiev oyfn punktplatz fun vanen m'hot undz gedarft ersht shpeter opshikn oyfn front. ober eyder vos ven, eyder host nokh tsayt gehat 79/ zikh oystsulernen a shos tsu gebn, zenen shoyn di daytshn geshtanen hinter der shtot, vos iz geven kimat arumgeringlt fun ale zaytn. es hot geheysn, az s'iz zeyer shlekht un biter, ober, dem emes gezogt, iz tsvishn undz, ukrainishe soldatn, nisht geven azoy biter oyfn hartsn, vi m'hot gemeynt. punkt farkert. a khaver mayner, a soldat, hot a mol in geheym mitgebrakht mit zikh in der kazarme arayn a flugbletl, vos di daytshn hobn aropgevorfn iber der shtot un es iz geven geshribn shvarts oyf vays, az stalin iz shoyn kaput un az ukraine vert bafrayt fun di komunistn un yidn ... haklal, vos zol ikh dir zogn, az azoy vi s'iz kloymersht geven shlekht, hob ikh gor gefilt az s'iz gut, az di daytshn veln undz in kurtsn take bafrayen fun di komunistn un fun di ... nu, vos hostu zikh opgeshtelt? kh'meyn dokh nisht dikh! o, zay nisht azoy narish vi ale ayerike! eyn vort un alts kokht in aykh, vi in a kesl ... ikh vel dir zogn dem reynem emes: dos iz derfar vos ir yidn zent nisht feik nekome tsu nemen ... gelt zent ir feik tsu nemen, 'vidergutmakhung!' ober nisht keyn nekome! az men nemt nekome vert men ruiker!" "nu, vanya, foroys, dertseyl vayter!" -- hot itst in mir take alts gekokht, vi in a kesl ... "nu, vu hob ikh zikh opgeshtelt? ... a yo," -- hot vanya vayter dertseylt -- in mitn dem gantsn getuml hob ikh mir getrakht: vanya, vos toyg dir di gantse khasene? tsu vos toyg dir do tsu blaybn in kiev un araynfaln in plen arayn? beser heyb di fis un tsi vos shneler! di daytshn veln say vi say do in kurtsn zayn. un azoy iz take geven. ikh hob zikh in a sheyner fintsterer nakht oyfgehoybn un bin aheym gegangen. s'iz nisht 80/ geven vayt ... bloyz a gantse nakht tsu fus biz tsu mayn dorf. vos zog ikh dorf? in gantsn iz dos geven a kleyner yishev, fun a tsvantsik khalupes, a tsvey vyorst funem kolkhoz. ikh bin aroyf oyfn boydem fun undzer khalupe, zikh ayngekopet inem hey un mit zeks teg shpeter zenen shoyn di daytshn geven in kiev. ven kh'bin arop funem baheltenish, vos meynstu hobn mayne oygn gezen? -- az ikh bin nisht der eyntsiker, es zenen nokh geven yoldn vi ikh, vos hobn zikh tsurikgetsoygn fun di royte. haklal, vos zol ikh dir zogn, mayn fraynd, es hobn zikh ongehoybn naye tsaytn mit a nayer ordenung. keyn ganeydn iz nokh vayt nisht geven, ober m'hot geredt un gehoft, az s'vet zayn beser, vi nor di milkhome vet zikh farendikn. dervayle zenen geven oyfrufn tsu der yugnt az m'zol zikh frayvilik meldn tsu helfn farnikhtn dem gemeynzamen soyne. kh'hob mikh gemoldn genoy vi a sakh andere yunge ukrainer hobn dos geton. un shtel dikh for, ikh bin tsurik arayn in der zelber kazarme in kiev, vu kh'bin shoyn frier geven. dervayle hobn mir geholfn di daytshn tsu makhn a bisl ordenung oyfn plats. kh'meyn mit di royte un mit di ..." vanya hot mit a mol opgehakt zayne verter. "yo, vanya, ikh farshtey vos du meynst, -- babi-yar ... " "kuk, kleyner! a, antshuldik, Yankev. farshtey, s'iz dokh geven dentsmol, in der milkhome-tsayt. ikh bin geven zeyer yung un di propagande zeyer groys. farges nisht, kh'bin koym alt geven akhtsn yor, a smarkatsh, vi ikh hob dir shoyn gezogt, gegleybt in sheyne verter, in sheyne idealn vegn a frayer ukraine ... ale hobn vegn dem geredt, oykh der pop in der tserkve hot dos gepreydikt. er hot gezogt, az di 81/ daytshn zenen undzere bafrayers, az mir zenen di hofenung, di tsukunft fun a bafrayter ukraine, az mir zenen groyse idealistn, heldn, patriotn, vos kemfn kegn di tayvlonishe apikorsem, az mir, di frayvilike, zenen di eyntsike reters funem pravoslavishn gloybn, fun dem gantsn kristntum ..." "farshteyst?! -- hot vanya gehoybn zayn kol -- azoy darf men dos zen un farshteyn! du kenst mikh nisht stam azoy bashuldikn. nisht ikh, der poyern-zun fun a kolkhoznik hot vegn azelkhe groyse zakhn detsidirt. es zenen geven vikhtike mentshn, perzenlekhkaytn, gelernte, profesorn, generaln, popn, biskupn, vos hobn vegn di zakhn detsidirt, gepreydikt, propagandirt." vanya iz plutsling shtil geblibn, a farklerter. mir zenen gegangen shvaygndik iber di royshndike baloykhtene berliner gasn, yeder eyner arayngeton in zayne zikhroynes. s'hot oysgezen vi keyner fun undz vil mer vegn dem nisht redn. ikh hob mit a zaytikn blik derzen dem kreftikn man lebn mir, vi mayns a shotn, vi er volt mit a mol ayngeshrumpt gevorn. zayn atletish krepke figur iz geven ayngeboygn foroys, zayne breyte pleytses ayngehoykert, vi bay an altn man, un zayne kinbakn ayngefaln. a modnem mitleyd hob ikh derfilt tsu dem gantsn siluet, a mitleyd, vi tsu an altn umbaholfenem man, vemen men darf oysshtrekn a hant adurkhtsufirn dem veg. s'hot mikh epes getsukt baym hartsn, gereytst fun an oysergeveynlekher naygerikayt, un kh'hob ibergehakt di paynlekhe shtilkayt: "nu, vanya, foroys, dertseyl vayter!" ikh hob prubirt im tsugebn mut. kh'hob plutsling derfilt zayn shvere vareme hant oyf mayne akseln. mir zenen shteyn geblibn un zikh ongekukt 82/ vi a farlibt porl, vos hot zikh nor vos getrofn. er hot mikh arumgenumen, tsugedrikt tsu zikh un oysgerufn: "zol di gantse velt farbrent vern, farsarfenen! mir zenen brider! kh'ze, Yankev , az du host lib mikh oystsuhern un dos iz gut! ober koydem vish dir op dem shveys fun shtern, bist dokh in gantsn nas, kenst dikh nokh farkiln -- un er hot vayter dertseylt -- nokh a tsayt hot men undz, frayvilike, avekgeshikt keyn poyln. in poyln iz demolt geven zeyer gut, tsu fresn un tsu trinken biz ibern kop, oykh nekeyves hobn nisht gefelt. mir flegn aheym shikn peklekh fun al dos guts tsu undzere mishpokhes keyn ukraine un, farshteyt zikh, gehoft, az di milkhome vet zikh in kurtsn farendikn, vi nor stalin vet zayn fartik, kaput. nokh elf khadoshim opzayn in poyln hobn mir bakumen urloyb oyf tsvey vokhn. mir hoben genumen dem tsug fun kroke keyn lvov un fun dort keyn kiev. "fun kroke? -- hob ikh im ibergehakt -- du bist geven in kroke?" "un nokh vi! ikh ken kroke vi mayn eygene hant. vos, du bist a krokever?" "neyn, ikh bin fun a shtetl nisht vayt fun kroke, ober ven ikh hob zikh geratevet fun der aktsye, zumer 42, hob ikh a kurtse tsayt gelebt in krokever geto." "oyb azoy, -- iz vanya oysgebrokhn mit zayn bakantn hilkhikn, vildn gelekhter -- oyb azoy hob ikh dikh nisht bloyz bafrayt, nor oykh gut bavakht! ikh bin dokh dortn geven a 'verkshuts', a shvartser, vi m'hot undz gerufn, un bavakht di yidn fun geto, vos zenen aroysgegangen zu der arbet oyf di baushteln." "tsi du host mikh azoy gut bavakht, bin ikh nisht azoy zikher, 83/ her vakhman" -- hob ikh zikh ongehoybn tsu reytsen mitn ukrainer, -- ikh fleg mikh dokh fun tsayt tsu tsayt aroysshmuglen fun geto oyf der arisher zayt mit mayn kuzin monyek epes tsu organizirn un bay nakht, ven s'iz gevorn fintster, tsurik zikh arayngeshmuglt in geto arayn mit eyner fun di grupes arbeters vos du host azoy gut bavakht" ... azoy? -- hot zikh vanya gevundert halb in shpas, halb ernst, vi er volt zikh take gefilt opgenart -- un vos hot ir azoyns arayngeshmuglt in geto arayn?" "vos heyst, vos? vos s'hot zikh gelozt! lemoshl, fule keshenes mit kartofl, tsibeles, a breytl un az me hot gehat mazl, oykh a shlengl krakovske kelbase." "vos? krakovske kelbase hostu gezogt? hostu take gehat mazl, vos kh'hob dikh nisht gepakt bay der hant, ikh volt bay dir glaykh tsugenumen di kelbase! s'iz dokh nishto epes besers vi a fertele vodke mit an iberbays fun krakovske kelbase!" "ikh bin zikher, vanya, az nisht bloys di kelbase voltstu bay mir tsugenumen, nor oykh dos lebn. du veyst gants gut, vifl azelkhe vi ikh hobn dentsmol batsolt mitn lebn far aza min shmugl ..." "nu, her shoyn oyf, tsu al di rukhes! farshteyst nokh alts nisht, az s'iz geven dentsmol gants andere tsaytn, gants andere umshtandn." "yo, vanya, kh'volt zeyer gevolt farshteyn, ober kh'farshtey leyder nisht." "du farshteyst nisht, vayl du vilst nisht farshteyn! oder bist tsu shvakh tsu farshteyn! yo, vu hob ikh mikh opgeshtelt?" 84/ du shpringst mir yeder minut arayn in mitn un lozt mikh nisht redn," -- hot zikh vanya oyfgeregt. "antshuldik, vanya, for vayter." "a, yo, kh'veys shoyn vu kh'bin. alzo, mir hobn genumen di ban fun kroke keyn lvov un fun dortn keyn kiev. mir hobn farnumen kimat a halbe ban mit vagonen un s'iz geven freylekh. mir hobn getrunken, gezungen dem gantsn veg aheym un di harmoshke hot nisht oyfgehert tsu shpiln. yeder eyner hot mit zikh gefirt peklekh, matones far zayn familye. ikh hob mit zikh gefirt tsvey groyse oyfgeshvolene valizes mit a groysn ongeshtoptn rukzak fun alem gutn. kleyder far mayn mamen, far mayn shvesterl galina un an ontsug mit a por kerzove shtivl farn tatn. haklal, vos zol ikh dir zogn, es iz geven freylekh oyfn hartsn trots der milkhome, un vi ikh hob dir shoyn gezogt, bin ikh geven zeyer yung, mit a sakh hofenung un geven zikher, az di milkhome geyt tsu an ende. vi groys iz ober geven mayn brokh, mayn khurbm! ven kh'bin aheym gekumen in mayn dorf arayn, hob ikh dortn gornisht mer getrofn vi gruzes mit farbrente shteyner. in onheyb hob ikh gemeynt, az kh'hob zikh poshet farblondzhet, az der tayvl hot mikh farfirt. leyder hob ikh nisht gehat farblondzhet un keyner hot mikh nisht gehat farfirt. dos hobn di daytshn, prost un poshet, oysgekoylet ale mentshn un farbrent dos gantse dorf, di hayzer mit di mentshn tsuzamen, froyen un kinder, genoy gemakht mit zey vi mit di yidn. fun undzer hoyz iz nisht geblibn keyn zeykher. keyn eyner iz nisht aroys keyn lebediker, keyn eyner nisht! un far vos? vayl etlekhe partizaners hobn zikh gehat oysbahaltn in eyner fun di khalupes. 85/ shtel dir for, ikh, ivan stepanovitsh, din zey, di daytshn, frayvilik, getray vi a hunt, un zey nemen un koylen oys mayne tayerste, mayn gantse mishpokhe un farbrenen mayn hoyz. vos zenen mir den, yidn? komunistn? nu zog alayn, Yankev! bist dokh nisht keyn nar! zog! vos iz mayn mame, mayn tate, mayn kleyn shvesterl galina geven shuldik, az etlekhe partizaners hobn zikh oysbahaltn in eyner fun di khalupes? ikh bin poshet arop fun zinen, meshuge gevorn. "dray teg mit dray nekht bin ikh gelegn oyf di khurves fun undzer farbrent hoyz, geklogt, geveynt, gevolt zikh umbrengen fun tsar, fun veytik, fun kharpe." "a toyt di germantses! -- hob ikh dem fertn tog in der fri, farsmalyet, oysgehungert, oysgeklogt, bashlosn. kh'bin arayn in vald un gezukht di partizaners. tsu ersht bin ikh nokh arayn in kolkhoz, fartik gemakht dem vekhter un tsugenumen dos gever bay im. farges nisht, az di partizaners hobn dentsmol tsum libstn arayngenumen mentshn mit gever in hant. "nokh etlekhe teg valgern zikh in vald hob ikh oyf zey ongetrofn. ikh hob zey alts dertseylt, dem gantsn emes. tsveytns -- zey hobn dokh alts aleyn gezen, ikh hob dokh nokh oyf zikh getrogn dem shvartsn mundir mitn toytnkop. kh'hob zey, poshet, gezogt, az ikh vil nekome nemen in di daytshn un az mayn lebn iz mir nisht vikhtik. fun onheyb zenen zey mir khoyshed geven, az ikh bin a shpion un gevolt mikh avekleygn. ober bald zenen zey alts gevoyr gevorn un s'hot alts geshtimt. dokh zenen tsvishn zey geven azelkhe, vos hobn gehaltn, az m'darf mikh glaykh dershisn. mayn mazl iz ober geven, vos eyner fun di onfirers fun di partizaners, a politisher 86/ komisar, a mayor mitn nomen meyer meyerovitsh, a yid fun poltave, iz geven derfar, az m'zol mikh dervayle nisht shteln far a gerikht. es zenen itst neytik mentshn, hot er getaynet, un di ale khatoim veln opgerekhnt vern nokhn nitsokhn. in yedn fal, hot er gegebn tsu farshteyn, vet er bay der ershter geleygnheyt avekshikn a din-vekhezhbm keyn moskve vegn mayn inyen un hern vos m'vet bafeln." "dervayle hot men mikh geshikt, vos heyst 'geshikt'? ikh bin dokh frayvilik umetum aleyn gelofn oyf di geferlekhste pletser un oysgefirt di greste zadanyes. a sakh partizaners hobn gegleybt, az ikh vel fun azelkhe gefarn nisht aroys keyn lebediker. ikh bin ober geven glaykhgiltik zu mayn lebn. der iker iz bay mir geven nekome, nekome tsu nemen in di daytshn." "nisht eyn mol hobn eygene khaveyrim partizaners prubirt oyf eygener hant fun hintn mikh avektsuleygn. ober oykh do bin ikh aroys a gantser, der ziger ... mit der tsayt hot men pamelekh ongehoybn tsu fargesn in mayn fargangenheyt. a sakh partizaners zenen gefaln, naye zenen tsugekumen un der sof fun di daytshn hot zikh ongehoybn." "ven di sovetishe armey hot tsurik farnumen kiev un ukraine, hot men undz, partizaners, ongeshlosn in der regulerer armey, velkhe hot ongehoybn shturemen poyln un shpeter daytshland. mayn nekome-lust legabe di daytshn iz nokh mer geshtign, vi nor mir zenen aroyf oyf der daytsher erd. in onheyb iz alts gut gegangen. ikh hob mit zey gemakht genoy dos, vos zey hobn mit undz gemakht ... ober mit der tsayt hob ikh ongehoybn filn, az m'kukt oyf mir krum. do un dortn, hot men mikh gevornt, gegebn tsu farshteyn, az ikh 87/ trayb iber. m'kon nisht oyshargenen ale daytshn un az froyen mit kinder zenen nisht shuldik. in di letste vokhn farn sof hot men mikh shoyn shtark gevornt, un nisht bloyz mikh ... s'hot shoyn bald oysgezen, az nisht ale daytshn zenen shuldik. ikh hob zikh nisht visndik gemakht, vos men redt tsu mir un geton s'maynike ... ikh hob take gemeynt, az kh'vel kenen oyshargenen ale daytshn un ven ikh kon, gleyb mir, volt ikh dos dentsmol geton." "dem letstn tog funem krig, gedenkstu dokh, vi kh'hob dikh aroysgenumen fun der grupe bafrayte heftlingen un bashtimt, az du zolst vern undzer dolmetsher. ikh hob dikh spetsyel oysgeklibn, vayl du bist geven der klenster un der yingster tsvishn ale. du host azoy shreklekh oysgezen, mamesh a mes, az ikh hob azh oyf dir rakhmones bakumen un kh'hob gevolt az du, grod du, dos kleyne yingl, vos hot azoy fil gelitn un mitgemakht, zol oykh khotsh a bisl nekome nemen in di daytshn, khotsh a kapetshkele filn dem tam fun nekome. un far vos nisht? s'iz dir nisht gekumen? du host mikh ober in gantsn antoysht! un ven mir hobn aroysgevorfn dem germanyets durkhn fentster, hostu avekgedreyt dem kop, nisht gekont, tsi nisht gevolt zikh tsukukn. kh'red shoyn nisht fun andere zakhn, vi azoy du host zikh oyfgefirt, take vi an emes|diker tkhoyr. khlebn, s'hot shoyn bald oysgezen, vi du voltst gor zey gevolt helfn. yo, dos is geven dayn zhidovske shvakhkayt, dayn pakhdones! un efsher, ver veyst? efsher iz dos geven bloyz a shpil, an onshtel fun dayn zayt, fun aykh ale?" "haynt veyst shoyn di velt dem emes. ale bavundern dokh aykh, ayere soldatn, ayer medine. gleyb mir, men iz shoyn 88/ aykh gor mekane un men fargint aykh nisht, vayl epes klapt do nisht. m'kon zikh gornisht tsugeveynen, az yidn konen zayn gute soldatn, gute kemfers, vos konen araynklapn dem soyne in tatns tatn arayn. a yid, loytn khezhbm, darf zayn a pakhdn, aropbeygn dem kop, ven m'shlogt im. azoy vil di velt! azoy hot men shtendik bay undz in ukraine gezogt. geven afile a lidl aza: 'moyshe karabin'" -- un vanya hot ongehoybn zingen dos lidl un ikh hob im glaykh, tsu mayn groyser iberrashung, untergehaltn in poylish, vi ikh hob es gekent nokh fun der heym: Mojsze ma karabin Cebula nabity. Kazali mu strzelac Do swej kobity ... Aj, aj, aj, bai, bai, bai ... Moyshe hot a karabin ongelodn mit a tsibele. m'hot im geheysn shisn un geshosn hot er tsu zayn vayb... ay, ay, ay, bay, bay, bay mentshn zenen farbaygegangen un hobn oyf undz gekukt vi oyf tsvey meshugoim, oder tsvey shikurim. mir hobn ober gehaltn in eyn zingen dos lidl un kh'hob derfilt a gvaldike nekome, mamesh a nitsokhn iber dem komishn antisemitishn lidl un nisht bloyz iber dem lidl ... vanya hot zikh a vayle fartrakht un bald hob ikh im vider gehert, mit a gelekhter: "ayer blinder moyshe mit dem lyape oyfn oyg, inem zhidovske land, shist misht bloyz mit a tsibele ... ha, ha, ha! ..." "yo ... in der sovyetisher armey hob ikh gezen yidn vos hobn gants laytish gekemft, oykh bay di partizaners flegn zey zikh shtupn di ershte. m'hot zey derfar take bashuldikt, az 89/ di zhides shtupn zikh umetum di ershte. tsurik geredt, ver veyst? efsher bistu oykh dentsmol geven der shtarker un ikh gor der shvakher?" yo, dentsmol ... vanya hot zikh vider fartrakht un bald mamshekh geven: bay di ekzekutsyes hobn di aropgelozte kep fun di yidn zikh mir oysgezen vi a zhidovske shvakhkayt, a pakhdones. haynt ze ikh ersht ayn, az dos iz nisht geven aza shvakhkayt. di daytshn flegn zikh dokh betn, zikh khanfenen far zeyer lebn. zeyere vayber un tekhter hobn tseshpreyt di fis, abi nor zey dos lebn tsu shenken. ober nisht di yidn. zey hobn zikh geklapt in di hertser bay di ofene griber un gebetn mekhile bay zeyer zhidovske got, vi zey voltn nokh im epes shuldik geblibn, anshtot vos zeyer got volt gedarft bay zey betn mekhile..." "tsu morgns bald nokh der bafrayung hob ikh zey vider gezen, di halb-lebedike skeletn, zikh shoklen, betn un danken got. far vos? vos far a gdule iz oyf zey geven? vos far a toyve hot er zey geton? zey zenen geblibn lebn? me hot dokh ale zeyere familyes, ale zeyere noente umgebrakht. to vos iz do nokh tsu danken got? eh, eh, eh! -- hot er a makh geton mit der hant -- ver ken den aykh farshteyn?" vider iz vanya farshvign gevorn oyf a rege: "yo,yo, dentsmol ... kh'gedenk genoy vi dos volt nekhtn geven, vi du bist ayngeshlofn oyfn meydl un vi ikh hob zi shpeter koym avekgerisn fun dir. ikh veys aleyn nisht far vos, ober ikh hob mit a mol rakhmones gekrogn oyf ir un zi nisht derharget. dos ershte mol, vos ikh hob rakhmones gekrogn oyf a daytsh. un s'iz gut, vos s'iz azoy geshen. s'kon zayn ... 90/ az kh'hob shoyn genug gehat dos alts, genug nekome genumen. mayn blut hot zikh shoyn gehat a bisl baruikt, nisht mer gekokht azoy shtark. farshtey, -- hot vanya mit a mol aropgelozt dem ton un zikh arumgekukt -- farshtey, az hunderter un efsher toyznter daytshn hob ikh fartik gemakht oyf farshidene oyfanim, mit farshidene mises-meshunes, vu s'hot zikh nor gelozt... dos meydl ober hob ikh geshoynt. zi gelozt lebn. ikh hob zi avekgefirt in a tsveyt hoyz arayn un zi dortn ibergelozt bay tvey alte froyen. yedn tog fleg ikh zi bazukhn, brengen ir esn, tsu trinken, ober kh'hob zi nisht ongerirt, kh'meyn nisht geshlofn mit ir. teg zenen farbay, sholem iz gekumen oyf der velt, ober nisht far mir." "in a sheynem heln tog zenen gekumen tsvey enkavedenikes un hobn mikh arestirt. teg un nekht bin ikh opgezesn in a tfise nisht visndik far vos. kh'hob ober ongehoybn tsu filn, az epes klapt do nisht, az s'iz nisht gut mit mir. zet oys, hob ikh mir getrakht, az itst, nokh der milkhome, hobn zey zikh dermont in mir, in mayn fargangenheyt ... un azoy iz take geven. nokh fir vokhn zitsn hot men mikh genumen oyfn tsimbl, tsum farher. un shtel dir far, az mayn oysforsher iz nisht geven keyn anderer vi der zelber meyer meyerovitsh, vos hot mikh shoyn a mol geshoynt nokh bay der partizanke. itst hot er shoyn gehat avansirt oyf polkovnik meyer meyerovitsh fun der n-k-v-d. er hot zikh zeyer gut banumen tsu mir un hot oysgehert mit a sakh geduld mayn gantse geshikhte." "ikh hob im alts dertseylt. er hot alts farshribn, -- un ikh hob untergeshribn. tsum sof hot er aroysgenumen an amerikanske sigaretl un mikh mekhabed geven. er hot nokh 91/ a mol arayngekukt in di papirn, tsugeshoklt mitn kop, unterbrumendik unter dem noz: 'a shvere mayse, a komplitsirter plonter. gedint dem okupant, getrogn zeyer uniforem' ... un er hot nisht farendikt ... pamelekh hot er oyfgehoybn zayne tsvey broyne oygn, lang un durkhdringlekh in mir arayngekukt un mit a shtiln un ruikn ton gezogt: 'ivan stepanovitsh, nokh baym sof 42, ven du host zikh gemoldn tsu undz in der partizanke, hot dir shoyn dentsmol gekumt a koyl in kop. ikh hob dikh dentsmol geshoynt. nisht tsulib mitleyd. neyn! es iz geven gants poshet. demolt hobn mir neytik gehat mentshn tsu kemfn farn foterland. afile mitn tayvl aleyn voltn mir zikh dentsmol farbundn, abi tsu fartraybn dem okupant fun undzer erd. haynt ober, nokhn nitsokhn iber dem natsishn agresor, vert alts opgerekhnt. nisht bloyz mitn okupant, nor nokh mer, un afile shtrenger, mit undzere mentshn, vos hobn mit im mitgetantst... ivan stepanovitsh, host a sakh mazl. nokh dem alem bistu geven a guter armeyer, gut gekemft, tomed gelofn frayvilik der ershter, oysgefirt geferlekhe misyes un a dank dem ayngeshport a sakh mentshlekhe lebns. ober nisht ikh detsidir haynt vegn dem. mitn ershtn eshelon vestu opgeshikt vern in land arayn, un dortn in der heym vestu shteyn far a gerikht. mit a tsenerl (gemeynt tsen yor), meyn ikh, vestu dos alts opkumen. du bist zeyer yung un bashtimt vestu dos adurkhhaltn'." "ven m'hot mikh tsurik arayngefirt in mayn kemerl hob ikh mir getrakht: a tsenerl, tsi a tsvantikerl, s'iz di zelbe shayse, zitsn vel ikh, un nisht stam zitsn, nor take gebn dos felekhl ergets vayt farvorfn in di sibirske 92/ tayges. oyb azoy, vanya, hob ikh bay zikh getrakht, shoyn beser der toyt! un gemakht dem letstn pruv ... un ze vos far a barmazl ikh bin geven. oykh dos mol iz mir gelungen. tsvey soldatn, mayne shomrim, hobn derfar batsolt mitn lebn, ikh bin ober aroys a gantser, a frayer, on a ratsl. kh'hob zik glaykh opgetrogn un bin ariber oyf der tsveyter zayt, tsu di amerikaner. kh'bin arayn in a pleytim-lager un farshvundn unter a fremdn nomen. "mit a tsayt shpeter hob ikh mikh farbundn mitn meydl. zi iz glaykh tsu mir aribergekumen, nu vest nit gleybn ... zi iz geven farlibt in mir un haynt tsu tog iz zi mayn gelibte froy. undzer tekhterl iz shoyn bald fuftsn yor alt un heyst galina. zi iz vi tsvey tropns vaser enlekh tsu mayn gevezn shvesterl galina, vos di natsis hobn umgebrakht". vanyas letste verter hobn mir untergehakt di fis. kh'bin shteyn geblibn oyfn ort un kh'hob mer nisht gekent keyn eyn trit foroysshteln. "vos hostu zikh vider opgeshtelt? ot oyf yener zayt gas iz shoyn undzer hoyz". on tsu trakhtn, on tsu zogn a vort, hob ikh plutsling ongehoybn tsu loyfn. kh'hob nokh gehert vanyas kol rufn: "vos iz geshen? vu loyfstu? vu loyfstu Yankev? vu loyfstu, kleyner polyak, kleyner zhidlyak? blayb shteyn! blayb shteyn!" - - - der ukrainer hot mikh geyogt mit zayne royte hent, mit zayn farblutiktn bagnet. ikh bin gelofn iber di berliner gasn, vos zenen geshtanen in flamen. alts arum iz geven royt, royt fun fayer, alts hot gebrent. fun 93/ tsvishn di brenendike flamen bavayzn zikh lakhndike vayse klounishe penemer. zey haltn in eyn lakhn, vayzn mit di finger oyf mir un lakhn: "ot, ot iz er! er!" un tseshitn zikh nokh mer fun gelekhter, bloyz dos ponem funem aktyor hamburski fun tel-oviv kukt oyf mir fun tsvishn di flamen shvaygndik, mit zayne troyerike oygn. ikh vil im fregn, vos iz geshen? far vos iz er nisht gekumen in dem kafe "vayse roze" oyfn kurfirstndam? ober er dreyt avek dos ponem fun mir un a shvartser roykh shlenglt zikh aroys fun zayn kop - - - mit a mol ze ikh a moyer mit stekhldrotn far zikh! dos iz dokh der moyer fun krokever geto! ober vi kumt epes der moyer fun krakover geto in mitn berlin? az kh'vel nor ariber dem moyer, vel ikh zayn a gerateveter. di daytshn dershisn ale yidn vemen zey khapn oyser dem moyer. es iz shoyn nisht vayt biz tsu dem moyer, ober vos mer ikh dernenter mikh tsu dem moyer, alts mer dervaytert zikh der moyer fun mir, -- alts vayter un vayter. ikh halt in eyn loyfn mit di letste koykhes, mit dem letstn otem. kh'ken mer nisht otemen, ikh ken nisht dem otem khapn, kh'ver de-rsh-ti-kt ... un fal arayn in a thom, in a shvartsn opgrunt arayn. ikh halt in eyn faln arunter, arunter on oyfher, on a sof. vanya un di sheyne froy mit di tseshpreyte fis faln mit mir tsuzamen, "hak", shrayt der ukrainer, "hak! oder ikh makh dikh fartik!!!" ikh hak un hak un hak un kon beshum-oyfn nisht araynhakn. di sheyne froy mit di tseshpreyte fis lakht fun mir: 94/ "do! do! darfstu hakn! -- vayzt zi mitn finger -- azoy vi vanya bafelt." a shlaks blut fargist mayn ponem ... dos telefon-geklingeray in hotel-tsimer leyzt mikh oys fun dem koshmarn kholem. kh'loyf tsu un heyb hastik oyf dos traybl: -- hamburski??? ... fun der tsveyter zayt traybl her ikh a heflekhe froyen-shtim: "shenem gutn-morgen, mayn her, zind zi gut geshlafen? es ist shon mitog-shtunde blayben zi nokh hoyte nakht bay undz?" "nayn mayne dame, danke shen!" -- hob ikh nervez arayngeshrign in traybl arayn, "ikh blayb nikht mer in berlin." mit tsvey sho shpeter bin ikh shoyn gezesn in tsug berlin-brisel. ______________________________________________________ End of _The Mendele Review_ 02.007 Leonard Prager, editor Send articles to: lprager@research.haifa.ac.il The editor of _TMR_ can also be reached via _Mendele_'s homepage: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele Subscribers to _Mendele_ (see below) automatically receive _The Mendele Review_. Send "to subscribe" or change-of-status messages to: listproc@lists.yale.edu a. For a temporary stop: set mendele mail postpone b. To resume delivery: set mendele mail ack c. To subscribe: sub mendele first_name last_name d. To unsubscribe kholile: unsub mendele ****Getting back issues**** _The Mendele Review_ archives can be reached at: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele/tmrarc.htm _The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language (A Companion to _MENDELE_) ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 02.008 6 March 1998 1) Yiddish Matters: From the Editor (Leonard Prager) 2) "daytshmerish toyg nit" (maks vaynraykh [Max Weinreich]) 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 6 March 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: Yiddish Matters 1. In this issue In "daytshmerish toyg nit" ('Germanized Yiddish Will Not Do'), a fundamental article written for the popular yet high-level_Yidish far ale_ in Vilna six decades ago (1938), Max Weinreich probed "eyne fun di getseylte gruntproblemen fun yidish" ('one of the few basic problems of Yiddish') -- the problem of daytshmerish. Uriel Weinreich's widely used _Modern Yiddish-English English-Yiddish Dictionary_ (whose thirtieth anniversary we celebrate this year) is anti-daytshmerish and consequently highly prescriptive. Harkavi's still invaluable Yiddish-English-Hebrew Dictionary (1928) is, as Max Weinreich writes below, full of daytshmerisms because it is not concerned with making lexical recommendations. Each generation of Yiddish-writers grapples with the question, "What is good Yiddish usage?" The essay below, with its programmatic "eight rules of antidaytshmerish" is an important document in the ever current forum on Yiddish stylistics. One must add that there is always an element of pain in returnimg to a time, just yesterday, when a Yiddish linguist practicing his trade saw before his very eyes masses of Yiddish-speakers in thousands of cities, towns and townlets, a vibrant Yiddish culture. 2. In future issues Next week's Special Purim Issue will feature Sholem-Aleykhem's story "A frier peysekh" and a brief look at the subject of (literary) _lukhes_ 'calendars'. 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 6 March 1998 From: Claus Buryn Subject: "daytshmerish toyg nit" fun maks vaynraykh daytshmerish toyg nit* maks vaynraykh in _yidish far ale_ numer 2 shraybt Arn tseytlin vegn dem vort _farrikt_: "men darf khlebn zayn farrikt nisht tsu hobn keyn mol gehert dos vort oysn moyl fun poylishe yidn." zeyer a harber psak un zeyer a kategorisher. nor fun dest vegn shtel ikh ayn un loz visn, az ikh bin oykh fun yene vos paslen dos vort _farrikt_ in yidish, un oykh dos vort _alzo_, vos tseytlin rekomendirt es in dem eygenem artikl. to lomir zikh farhern mit undzere rayes. fun dem vos men zogt iz nokh nisht gedrungen, az men darf zogn. a befeyresher grayz vert dokh oykh nisht geboyrn frier vi emetser zogt im aroys oder shraybt im on. un faran nisht nor individueler grayzn, nor oykh kolektive, shtark farshpreyte. a sakh mentshn zogn _yurist-konsul_ anshtot _yuris-konsult_. masn mentshn zogn _prekvents_ anshtot _frekvents_. iz vos, akhrey rabim lehatos? ikh halt oykh fun demokratye, ober nisht oyf dem oyfn, az men zol khapn oyf traf a por minyonim yidn un makhn bay zey oyfn ort an opshtimung, un vi zey zogn, azoy zol blaybn. a mol flegt men brengen fun di minsker yidns vegn: "di derevyes pakhnen mit a priyotnem zapakh," un oyb dos iz a voylerishe guzme, zaynen ober _gulyayen_, _katayen zikh_, _pshekonirn zikh_ loyt der farshpreytung gevis a sakh gikher folksverter eyder _alzo_. ober undzer kulturshprakh vet zikh bageyn on zey. ikh hob oykh, punkt azoy vi a. tseytlin, keyn plebistsitn nit gemakht, nor der seykhl trogt oys, az a sakh mer poylishe yidn zogn bay hayntikn tog _sond_ un _sendzhiye_, eyder _gerikht_ un _rikhter_. fun dest vegn, oyb ikh kvenkl zikh nokh, tsi _gerikht_ un _rikhter_ zaynen ideale yidishe verter, bin ikh ober lakhlutn zikher, az _sond_ un _sendzhiye_ toygn nit. vos zhe iz derfun gedrungen? az oyb men vil klor vern mikoyekh verter un formen, tsi zey toygn undz yo oder zey toygn undz nisht, iz nit genug tsu konstatirn, az zey zaynen bimtsies, men darf zey analizirn. un vos mer mir veln zikh kenen oyfheybn ibern prat, vos mer mir veln zayn bekoyekh dem prat vos interesirt undz arayntsushteln in der breyter rem fun undzer algemeyner bahovntkayt in der shprakh, alts mer megn mir zikh rikhtn tsu kumen tsu oysfirn vos zoln zayn nit stam geredt, nor ayngefundevet vi s'geher tsu zayn. tseytlins psak-din rirt on di algemeyne problem vegn daytshmerish. dos iz eyne fun di getseylte gruntproblemen fun yidish -- a problem vos hot zikh nokh ersht avekgeshtelt. oyf tsu farentfern zi darf men hobn nit nor a sakh diskusyes, nor oykh a sakh forshung. vayt nit alts iz shoyn do oyf azoy fil fest, az men zol vegn dem kenen reydn mitn fuln moyl; ober tsurik geredt veysn mir shoyn genug vegn dem inyen, az men zol pruvn kumen tsu a shtikl formuliring. dos vet konkretizirn di diskusye un gringer makhn tsu geyn foroys. ikh breng mayn kuk mayse tezisn, vi vayt miglekh bekitser. derbay bet ikh hobn in zinen, az ikh reyd dos mol nor vegn verter-oytser, hagam daytshmerizmen hobn zikh arayngekhapt in ale sferes fun der yidisher shprakh -- in der fonetik, in der morfologye, in zatsnboy u.az"v. nor bay di verter varfn zey zikh tsum merstn in di oygn, un der verter-oytser iz efsher take dos ershte in undzer arbet tsu shafn di eynheytlekhe yidishe kulturshprakh. 1. vos daytsh iz, veysn mir, vos yidish iz -- oykh. nor voz iz daytshmerish? daytshmerish iz shatnez; dos zaynen azoyne shprakhike elementn vos kumen fun daytsh un viln makhn dem onshtel fun yidish; elementn, vos in der emesn zaynen zey nit keyn yidish un nit keyn daytsh(1). farglaykht tsvey zatsn: "er hot fil gelaystet" (men leyent azoyns borekh-hashem genug oft, iber hoypt in di gehoybene shraybekhtsn fun undzere bleter) un "er hot hipsh oyfgeton." i do i dort, vet aykh zogn der lingvist, hobn mir tsu tun hoyl mit "daytshe" elementn. nor vi dukht zikh aykh, faran a nafkemine tsvishn daytshmerish un yidish? 2. verter vos zaynen faran inem rov yidishe dialektn un zaynen arayn tsu undz in an elterer tkufe fun yidish zaynen kosher lekholadeyes. umzist heyst es der ironizirndiker khshad, az di puristn hobn zikh farmostn aroystsuvarfn fun yidish ale verter vos kumen fun daytsh. dem purizm lomir do beser in gantsn lozn tsu ru: dos iz a bagrif vos men darf arumreydn bazunder oyf tsu derklern zikh tsu zayn tokh. lomir beser zogn "antidaytshmeristn." di antidaytshmeristn haltn nit, az _tish_, _shtub_, _erd_, _himl_ zaynen posle verter. faran take in daytsh oykh verter vos klingen punkt azoy oder in dem erekh, ober fort zaynen dos yidishe verter. heyst es nisht ale verter vos vaksn fun daytsh zaynen posl; es vendt zikh, vu der khamer shteyt. 3. mir veysn shoyn azoy fil vegn der geshikhte fun yidish, az mir kenen zogn mit fil-vintsik zikherkayt: di shprakh fun yidn in daytshland, afile in eltste tsaytn, iz keyn mol nit geven identish mit der shprakh fun di daytshn; "yidish daytsh" iz ale mol geven epes andersh vi "kristlekh daytsh." ober der kontakt mit daytsh hot ongehaltn lang, shier nit biz in undzer tsayt arayn. es hobn geshtromt tsu undz daytshe verter fun farsheydene kvaln un in farsheydene loglen arayn: tsu di oder yene gezelshaftlekhe shikhtn undzere, tsu dem oder yenem yidishn dialekt. geyt heyst es in gefinen kriteryums far yene daytshe verter vos zaynen arayngekumen tsu undz in shpetikere tkufes (nokhn 16tn yorhundert, lomir zogn) oder nor in eyntsike mekoymes. 4. der skarbover gang bay undz iz tsu bashuldikn di haskole, un di nemen "daytshn," "berlitshikes" zogn eydes, az s'iz nit keyn sheker-bilbl. ober di maskilim zaynen nit geven di ershte. daytsh hot gefleytst tsu undz -- shoyn lang nokh dem vi yidish iz gevorn a shprakh far zikh -- durkh di muser-sforim vos men hot gedrukt in mayrev-eyrope, durkh di melamdem vos zaynen gegangen keyn daytshland kneln, durkh di sokhrem vos zaynen geforn oyf di laypsker yaridn. dos nays vos di haskole hot arayngetrogn iz geven in tsvey zakhn: zi hot shtark fargresert di daytshe elementn in kames, un zi hot geshafn dem ideologishn onshpar far der daytshmerizatsye. men darf take araynnemen vos mer daytsh, hobn gehaltn di maskilem, vorem oyf aza oyfn veln yidn zikh opgeveynen tsu bislekh fun zeyer "zhargon" un tsukumen tsu a laytishn "tayts". der rosh-hamedabrem fun der doziker shite iz geven ayzik-meyer dik. ober ven mir lakhn un mir krimen zikh leyendik dik's "verke," torn mir nit fargesn, az mendl lefin is lang biz dikn aroys oyf milkhome kegn daytshmerish, az di haskole hot aroysgebrakht azoyne maysters fun yidish vi perl, gotlober, etinger, aksenfeld, un az Yehoyshue-Mortkhe lifshits un mendele kumen oykh fun der haskole, hagam zey zaynen zi aribergevaksn mit a sakh kep. 5. nokh mit epes meg men melamed-shkus zayn oyf der haskole: di bavegungen vos nokh ir zaynen oykh nit geven beser. di arbeter-bavegung hot arayngebrakht naye daytshe verter in di hunderter -- oyf azoy fil, az fun teyl veln mir shoyn mistame keyn mol nit poter vern: _antviklung_, _bavegung_, _gezelshaft_, _geshikhte_, _farzamlung_, _farzitsnder_, _kamf_, _shtrayt_ un nokh un nokh. di tsienistishe bavegung hot undz mezake geven mit a spetsifishn sort verter (_zidlung_, _landes-organizatye_, _permanents-oysshus_ un dos glaykhn). afile der yidishizm gufe hot gegebn tsu shtayer mit _unterrikht_-shprakh, _shulvezn_ ukhedoyme. Ikh dermon zikh, az in 1908 hot an anons in lidskis a luekhl ongezogt der velt, az in nisn darf aroysgeyn a nay bukh peretses: folksshtimlekhe geshikhtn." oyf azoy fil iz dos vort geven fremd, az der zetser mitn korektor (un efsher der shrayber fun der medoe) hobn dos farbundn mitn shoyresh _shtim_. haynt iz shver tsu gefinen a yidishist vos zol dos vort nit nitsn -- nit davke ven er redt vegn peretses bukh. ober tsi iz dos vort gevorn in gantsn yidish? dos iz nokh a shayle. far mir iz es nokh alts daytshmerish, khotsh keyner vet nit forleygn tsu baytn peretses titl. ot flegt dokh perets nitsn _shtat_ onshtat _melukhe_, er hot gekent shraybn _federn_ (foerdern) mitn pshat: 'oyfheybn', 'firn foroys', 'makhn progresirn' -- un mir tuen im nit nokh. ikh bin mer nit greyt nokhtsugebn, az mir zoln dos vort _folkstimlekh_ dervayl lozn tsu ru; kol-zman iber undzer yam trogn zikh daytshmerishe valfishn, megn mir lozn gemakh di plotkelekh un afile di hekht. 6. teyl dialektn undzere zaynen spetsyel raykh in daytshe elementn. ot di elementn vaksn fun farsheydene vortslen. in groys-poyln, zaglembye, krokever gegnt shpirt men nokh bashaymperlekh reshtn funem mayrevdikn yidish -- fun yenem yidish vos men hot a mol geredt in daytshland un vos iz geveyntlekh geven a sakh "daytsher" eyder undzer yidish in mizrekh-eyrope. khuts dem gefinen zikh di ongerufene dialektishe grupes (un azoy oykh kurland, mayrev-lite) hart oyfn daytshn shprakhgrenets, hot men do tomed gehat mer gelegnheyt arayntsunemen daytshe verter direkt fun di daytshe shkheynem. in lodzh un in der lodzher svive iz der daytsher yishev alt sakhakl a hundert yor, ober fort hot dos keseyderdike bagegnen zikh mit daytshe arbeters un maysters gevirkt oyfn dortikn yidish. (yidish hot tsurik mashpie geven oyfn dortikn daytsh oykh, nor dos art undz nit bay der itstiker teme). in galitsye un bukovine iz di tsol daytshn a kleyne, ober daytsh iz geven di mekhtike shprakh fun kultur un fun der administratsye, in galitsye shier nit biz der velt-milkhome un in bukovine, ken men zogn, biz hayntikn tog. afile in a vilne oder kovne, vu bildung bay yidn iz biz mit a dor tsurik geven tsunoyfgeknipt mit daytsh, vu gvirim un inteligentn flegn haltn daytshe gubernantkes tsu di kinder, hobn daytshe verter zikh arayngezapt tifer in oylem arayn. vi azoy zhe zoln mir zikh batsien tsu azoyne yidish-dialektishe elementn vos kumen fun daytsh? far mir iz klor: megn ot di verter farn oylem fun dem oder yenem kant hobn dem onblik un dem kheyn fun emese yidishe verter, ober ven zey klapn in der tir fun undzer kultureler klal-shprakh, muz men zey oykh nemen oyfn farher un boydek zayn. s'iz agev gornit keyn spetsyele khumre, s'iz nor an opleykenung fun ayngeredte privilegyes; vorem yetvider vort fun yetvider dialekt iz den a yakhsn mit zayn dialektishkayt aleyn? 7. dem gruntgedank vegn opgrenetsn yidish fun daytsh voltn mir gekont aroysbrengen azoy: kol-zman yidish iz gegangen vi es geyt zikh, kol-zman es iz nit geven bay yidn keyn tshuke tsu a kultiverter klal-shprakh, iz keyn mol keyn sharfe mekhitse tsvishn di beyde sprakhn nit geven. es iz geven gikher a demark-linye vi a grenets. vi bald mir viln oyf an emes firn eygene shprakhike balebatishkayt, iz itst gekumen di tsayt ayntsushteln a festn grenets mit ale simonim fun a grenets, un der iker: mit a sharfn grenets-kontrol. Far an ershtn onheyb gey ikh do itster avekshteln akht klolem fun antidaytshmerish. 8. klal alef: nisht yeder vort vos geyt um bay a grupe yidn iz mimeyle a gut yidish vort. Vegn dem iz shoyn gekumen tsu reyd frier antkegn di verter _farrikt_ un _alzo_. In printsip veln gevis ale moyde zayn deroyf, anit volt dokh geven les din veles dayen. Praktish blaybt di shayle: voser vort yo un voser nit. Vegn dem reydn di vayterdike klolem. Dervayl nor oyf eyn fus nokh vegn _alzo_. Es iz nit rikhtik, az _bekheyn_ muz hobn a komishn baybatayt, vi a. tseytlin shraybt. Ober s'iz oykh nisht rikhtik, az _bekheyn_ iz der eyntsiker ekvivalent farn daytshn _also_. Men ken oykh ibergebn dem bagrif mit _uvkheyn_, _mimeyle_, _heyst es_, _oyf aza oyfn_, _azoy_, _azoy arum_, _alkeyn_, _lokhn_. Teyl mol kumt oys zeyer gerotn der spetsifish yidisher banuts fun _iz_ : "iz zeen mir fun di rayes..." Heyst es faran keyn eynhore fun vos tsu klaybn, men darf nit onkumen tsu keyn daytshmerizm. Un vu shteyt es geshribn, az men muz dafke i~b~e~r~z~e~t~s~n az men ken nit di zakh i~b~e~r~t~r~a~k~h~t~n oyfn eygenem shteyger? Yemolt iz nokh faran di miglekhkayt tsu boyen dem zats azoy -- daytsh ken dos nit -- az er zol zikh onheybn nit mitn subyekt, nor mitn predikat. A shteyger dem posek breyshes 8,18 "Vayeytsey noyach uvonov veishto" zetst luter iber "Also ging Noah heraus." Yehoyesh in yidish ken zikh farginen dos tsu makhn andersh: "Iz aroysgegangen Noyekh..." Epes dukht zikh mir, az emetser zogt: "S'iz an ander nyuans!" Ay der nyuans, der nyuans! Ikh khalesh, men zol undz take gebn tsu farshteyn di untersheydn in di nyuansn, nit stam gebn a derlang ibern kop mitn tayern fremdvort... 9. klal beys: nit yeder vort vos iz faran ergets in a yidishn dialekt iz mimeyle an element far der yidisher kulturshprakh. enge dialekt-verter vos zaynen in der zelber form faran in der nayhoykhdaytsher shraybshprakh muzn oysn blaybn fun der yidisher klal-shprakh. der punkt vet mistame aroysrufn tsum merstn vikukhem, vorem er treft oykh in azoyne fraynd, vos yidish iz bay zey nisht hefker un zey flaysn zikh raykher tsu makhn undzer kulturshprakh durkh verter-oytser fun undzere dialektn. bederekh-klal iz dos gevis a goldene gang, ober nisht alts vos glintsert iz gold. ot zogn kurlender yidn "beherde" (Behoerde) afile in zeyer yidish reydn. in galitsye zogt men keseyder _bleyd_ (bloede -- narish). in vilne, oyb men vil zikh oysdrikn spetsyel eydl, zogt men nit _moger_, nor _mager_; nit _a dank_, nor _danke_; men zogt do masnvayz (un, vi s'informirt mikh n. prilutski, iz dos eygene in teyln kongres-poyln) "nakher (nachher - dernokh). fun dest vegn farhof ikh, as keyner vet nit forleygn arayntsunemen ot di verter _beherde_, _bleyd_, _mager_, _danke_, _nakher_ in indzer klalisher shraybshprakh arayn. haynt vi bald azoy, iz mit vos iz beser _shtets_, bansher men zogt es in vlotslovek, oder _felik_ bansher men zogt es in varshever gegnt? gevis zogn dos in yene mekoymes mentshn fun a gants yor oykh, s'iz nit in der pkhine fun di ofene daytshmerizmen _farrikt_ un _alzo_, ober farn klal yidn iz dos nit vlotslavker un varshever yidish, nor berliner un minkhener daytsh. ikh volt nokh gekont farshteyn di akshones, ven s'zol geven geyn vegn verter vos hobn nit in yidish keyn ekvivalentn. ober mit vos hobn zikh farzindikt _shtendik_, _tomed_, _ale mol_, _eybik_ (in teyl dialektn), _ale yorn_ un _in gantsn_, _hoyl_, _durkhoys_, _lakhlutn_, _legamre_ un azoy vayter, az men zol zey darfn farbaytn oyf verter, vos far nayntsik yidn fun hundert hobn zey dem tam fun daytsh? nit mir darfn azoyne verter ibernemen bay di tsen protsent, nor yene tsen protsent darf zikh shayen tsu nitsn di dozike verter in di geredter un geshribener kulturshprakh. 10. klal gimel: arkhaizmen vos zaynen in der zelber form faran in der nayhoykhdaytsher shraybshprakh muzn oysn blaybn fun der moderner yidisher klal-shprakh. der gantser inyen arkhaizmen badarf arumgeredt tsu vern breyter; do rir ikh im on nor oyf vifl er iz direkt shayekh tsu undzer teme. s'iz kosher-veyosher aza vort vi _nayert_ (dos heyst nit, az men muz es nitsn nor men meg). s'ken ongeyn aza vort vi _basheydlekh_ (befeyresh, klor). ikh hob zikh gemekhtikt baym iberzetsn froyds "araynfir in psikhoanaliz" tsu banayen dem altyidishn oysdruk _ofnvor_ (manifest) vi a heypekh fun _farbahaltn_. ober ven ikh ze, vi n. prilutski brengt mit hanoe fun vitsenhoyzens tanakh-iberzetsung _fun alters her_, un es iz faran a sakone, az emetser zol onnemen dem tsitat vi a rekomendatsye, entfer ikh: far mir iz dos poshet daytsh _von alters her_, un ven men zol darfn deroyf literarishe oyfvayzn, ken men aroysshraybn fun a daytshn verterbukh nit eyn oyfvayz, nor tsen. ober men darf gor keyn oyfvayzn nit, vorem s'iz fun di gor nayike daytshe verter. deriber iz es bay mir posl. ay es shteyt dokh bay a yidishn mekhaber? hot es bay mir di zelbe verde, vi ven men volt gebrakht a raye, az bay dikn shteyt _heyratn_, _derb_, _eyne sheyne bagebnheyt_, _batrign_ un nokh in dem erekh. 11. klal dalet: meyn nit az daytshe verter zaynen shoyn gekashert in yidish, oyb me hot a kap gebitn zeyer oysleyg un oysshprakh. dertsu mernit epes ledugme. inem ershtn numer: "khavatseles di roze, a yidisher familyen blatt, far alle oyheve tsien veyerusholaim, ersheynt lesate tsvey mohl im khoydesh," yerusholaim 2 iyer (5)637 [16 april, 1877], geyt tsum onheyb: "forvort oder prost giret a hagdome" un dortn leyenen mir aza zats: "die fershidene miney refues, vos verin benutst tsu der heylung fon fershidene kerperlikhe krankheyten verin iberhoypt tsu theylt of tsvey sorten: inerlikhe und oyserlikhe; oder take prost of yidesh giret 'invendigste un oysvendigste." di shraybung fun di gute yidishe verter iz do nokh oykh a daytshmerishe, in yidish iz do keyn _nd_ nito, ober sara fayner gefil farn untersheyd tsvishn daytshmerishe un yidishe verter! "innerlich" un "aeusserlich" ken men nit megayer zayn mit dem vos men faryidisht di oysshprakh funem oysloztraf. ikh nem dos daytshe _ueben_, _Uebung_. faran bay undz naive mentshn vos meynen, az mit iberbaytn _ue_ oyf _i_ zaynen zey yoytse. s'iz elehay alter yaknehoz volt eynem fun di tsvey bokherem vos er hot tsunoyfgefirt ongeton oyf gikh a meydlsh kleydl un gemeynt, az itster ken er shoyn firn dos porl tsu der khupe. bay undz gefinen zikh ober reyders un shraybers, afile yidishistn, afile lerers fun undzere yidishe shuln, vos veysn gornit andersh vi _ibung_, _ibn zikh_, _ayngeibt_ un dos glaykhn. tomer iz dos vintsik, hot men zikh afile oysgelernt _oysibn a druk_, un eyner a khoshever yidisher klal-tuer vos hot in di yunge yorn nit gelernt keyn daytsh (vos kumt im derfar?), vert nebekh nikhshl derbay un zogt keseyder: _oysdrikn an ibung_. ikh her shoyn a kashe: to vi azoy vilt ir? in grunt halt ikh nit, az ikh bim mekhuyev tsu entfern deroyf; oyb ikh zog, az a vort toyg nit, meynt es nor, az mir ale in eynem muzn zukhn epes besers. ober lozt zikh dinen: ikh vil _genit_ un alts vos lozt zikh derfun aroysfirn. _genit_ zet haynt oys vi an adyektiv, ober lekhatkhile iz dos a partitsip funem tsaytvort _genitn zikh_, vos mir bagegenen es in undzer elterer literatur mitn pshat: 'zikh flaysn', 'horeven', 'sich ueben'. ikh khap aroys an eltern oyfvayz funem seyferl: "mayse... veshtindye" [prog, arum 1660], vu mir leyenen oyf z' 12 vegn eynem vos iz tsugekumen tsu a tifn vaser: "er gnitt zikh fil biz i er dr durkh kam." bay glikl hamil bagegnt zikh dos hipsh mol, un in zayn arbet vegn glikls shprakh brengt a. landoy oykh an oyfvayz oyf dem vort fun _mayse-bukh_. fun grayve, lebn lomzhe, hot d"r a. olshvanger gedenkt a vort _aynnitn zikh_, un oyf dem smakh hot er in zayn iberzetsung fun yung _der kleyner geometer_ (farlag "vostok", berlin 1921) ayngefirt _aynnitung_. der gang iz mir beshate shtark gefeln, nor bay mir iz oysgekumen, az dos dermont tsu shtark inem zakhvort _di nit_ (a tshvekl vos iz breyt fun beyde bregn, vakst historish fun an ander vortsel vi _genit_), hob ikh zikh opgeshtelt oyf _genitn zikh_, _genitung_: men darf zikh genitn (oder ayngenitn), men darf durkhmakhn genitungen, kedey tsu vern genit. dos vort mayns hot zikh nishkoshe ongenumen say bay undz, say in di lernbikher fun andere lender, un s'iz a hofenung, az bimheyro beyomeynu veln mir kukn oyf _ibung_ mit der zelber simpatye vi mir kukn shoyn haynt oyf _bedirfnis_, _fardamen_, _forzitsnder_, ukhedoyme. 12. klal hey: oyb di sheroshem zaynen afile faran in yidish, ken men nit tsugebn tsu zey keyn prefiksn oder sufiksn vos zaynen in yidish nito. dos ken men opmakhn bekitser, makhmes men darf rekhenen az es zaynen nito bay undz keyn tsu fil balonim tsu shraybnm _darshteln_, _riktsug_, _masnhaft_, _zorgfeltik_, _shvaygzam_ ukhedoyme. -- teyl inyonem fordern a spetsyele oyshforshung, a shteyger di frage vegn di batsiungen tsvishn di prefiksn "far-", "-for-", "fir-". 13. klal vav: nits nit keyn opshprotsn fun daytshe sheroshem, oyb di sheroshem gufe zaynen in yidish nito. vider a mol nor getseylte dugmoes: heyoys mir hobn nit keyn tsaytvort _senden_, ken nit ongeyn oyf yidish _zendung_ oder _gezandter_. to vi azoy den zol men zogn? poshet: men darf geyn mitn zelbikn veg vi andere shprakhn un furemen oykh azelkhe opshprotsn funem yidishn shoyresh _shikn_, dehayne: _shikung_, _geshikter_. baym tsveytn vort vet ir zikh efsher farhakn, s'kukt oys fremdlekh. ober batrakht zikh nor, az dos frantseyzishe _envoye_ vos iz geven di dugme far [NHG]_Gesandter_ iz oykh nit mer vi a partitsip fun der fargangener tsayt. dos poylishe _posel_, dos rusishe _poslannik_ zaynen mer komplitsirte substantivn; iz oyb men vil dafke, es zol bay undz oykh zayn mer komplitsirt, volt men gekont konstruirn: _der shikling_ mitn sufiks _-ling_, vos er iz nokh in yidish nit opgeshtorbn. ikh rekomendir dos nit; mayn kavone iz nor tsu vayzn, az _gezandter_ vert nit yidish fun dem vos men shraybt es iber mit yidishe oysyes. [NHG] _Erfindung_ iz nit keyn yidish, un mit dem, vos men zogt un shraybt _derfindung_ farrikht men nit di marokhe -- nit nor tsulib dem prefiks, nor der iker tsulib dem shoyresh: in yidish, fun breg biz breg yidishe sprakh-teritorye, zogt men nit [NHG] _finden_, nor _gefinen_. oyb es gefelt aykh nit z. reyzens _oysgefins_ (mir gefelt es yo, a sakh mer vi _oysgefinekhts_), zukht zayt moykhl vayter, ober makht zikh nit gring dos lebn durkh araynnemen in ayere reyd dos daytshe vort. geveynt zikh tsu tsum gedank, az _a fayne erfindung_ hot punkt aza tam in yidish, vi ven ir volt gezogt: _a fayner vinalazek_ oder _a fayne izobretenye_ oder _a fayne invenshn_. fun aza vort vi _tseshtreyt_ darf men zikh optreyslen makhmes in yidish iz der shoyresh [NHG] _streuen_ nito(2). to vi azoy? kleybt zikh oys: _tsetrogn_, _fartrogn_, _tseshotn_, _tsefloygn_ ("a tsefloygener malekh"). leygt for epes besers, nor shtelt nit avek keyn fremds, vayl es shtartst vi an iberbeyn. 14. klal zayin: nits nit mitn daytshn pshat azoyne verter, vos in yidish hobn zey an ander pshat. farloz zikh nisht derbay blind oyf undzere verterbikher un undzere shraybers. mir kumt tomed oyfn zinen di mayse-shehoye mit a daytsh vos iz nokh der daytsher okupatsye geblibn in vilne un gevorn a lerer fun tseykhenen in undzere shuln. eyder er hot zikh oysgelernt yidish flegt er reydn tsu di kinder daytsh, un vi es iz hot men im farshtanen. eyn mol hobn im di kinder gemoldn, az in klas zaynen nito genug blayers un mekers. hot er a zog geton oyf zayn loshn: "Na, Kinder, da muessen wir uns eben einrichten." -- un er iz geven farkhidesht, vos der gantser klas hot ongeshosn a gelekhter. het shpeter hot men im gegebn tsu farshteyn, az oyf yidish iz _aynrikhtn zikh_ epes andersh vi _aynordenen zikh_. _aynshteln_ meynt in yidish: 'avekshteln', 'aynfirn'", 'aynordenen' (akhuts vos s'hot nokh a taytsh: 'rizikirn'). in daytsh bet zikh bay [NHG] _einstellen_ koydem kol der pshat: 'iberraysn', 'opshteln'. oyf aza oyfn kumt oys, az di komunikatsye tsvishn poyln un lite iz in yidish ayngeshtelt gevorn friling 1938 un in daytsh mit akhtsn yor frier. oyf azoyne vertershpiln fun shprakh tsu shprakh zaynen geboyt hipsh anekdotn: a yid a dorfsgeyer leygt for dem daytsh tsu koyfn epes, der porets zogt zikh op. ruft zikh op der yid: "nu, oyb ir darft nit ..." vert der daytsh ongetsundn, vorem oyf zayn loshn meynt dokh dos, az er "tor" nit. oder aza tsene: a daytsher doktor vil oyshern a yidishn khoyle; vayzt er im on oyf der kanape un zogt: [NHG] "ziehen Sie zikh aus." entfert der yid: "frier vel ikh zikh oystun!" der umglik iz ober, vos in dem grayz falt men arayn genug oft nit oyf tsu flaysns. ot hob ikh in _yidish far ale_ bagegnt etlekhe mol _farvendn_ mitn pshat 'nitsn'. far mayn gefil heyst _farvendn_ in yidish -- funem aynbindershn loshn -- mer nit eyn zakh: farbaytn di kuntresem. emes take, bay harkovin un afile bay lifshits in di verterbikher zaynen gebukht beyde taytshn, ober dos vayzt mir nor, az tsu di verterbikher darf men oykh tsugeyn kritish. afile bay lifshits, vos er hot nisht tsu zikh zayns glaykhn, zaynen oykh faran pgimes. un vos shayekh tsu harkavis oysgetseykhntn nayem _yidish-english-hebreishn verterbukh_ (ershte oysgabe 1925, tsveyte 1928), iz azoy: harkavi hot arayngenumen kol hamine verter vos er hot bagegnt in der shprakh, nit tsu kukn deroyf, tsi men ken zey rekomendirn tsi nit. ot gib ikh a mish harkavin oyf traf un gefin: _otsheredn_ (tuvort: 'shteyn in a rey'), _dvoryanstve_, _duyen zikh_ ('blozn zikh'), _vartsadle_ ('shpigl'), _vid_ ('oyszen; dokument'), "zunderbar" ('modne'), _metke_ ('simen') un azoy vayter. iz vos, dos zaynen alts verter far der yidisher kultivirter klal-shprakh in dem skhus fun harkavis bukhung? nokh eyn moshl. bay harkavi gefinen mir _bazukhn_ mit tsvey taytshn: a) "kumen mit a vizit", b) "makhn a revizye, batapn." oyf vifl harkavi vil farfiksirn dem faktishn reydbanuts, iz er gerekht, "men zogt" take azoy. ober rekomendirn ken men nor dem banuts mitn tsveytn taytsh. do ken dem saneyger afile lifshitses skhus nit bayshteyn; lifshits git in zayn yidish-rusishn verterbukh mernit dem taytsh vos shteyt bay harkavin unter 2, un in rusish-yidishn verterbukh zetst er iber [R.] _posyeshyat_ mit 'zayn tsu gast', [R.] _posyeshenye_ mit 'der vizit'. dos aleyn iz genug oyf arayntsuleygn in kheyrem dos vort _farrikt_. oyb ir vilt makhn a kompliment ayer gutn-fraynd, kent ir oyf im zogn: _meshuge_, _meturef_, _khoser-deye_, _nit baym daas_, _nit baym klorn zinen_, _gerirt_, _tsemisht_, _dul_ -- aderabe, zoln di leyeners araynshikn nokh ekvivalentn -- ober az er iz _farrikt_ (in poylishn yidish hert zikh der "vov" vi an "i"-klang) ken men nit zogn. bay _farrukn_ kumt a yidn oyfn zinen der tsholnt. 15. klal khes: beser an internatsyonalizm eyder a daytshmerish vort. oyb mir hobn nit keyn heymishn ekvivalent far [NHG] _empfehlen_, darfn mir nit beles-breyre "empfehlen," nor mir darfn r~e~k~o~m~e~n~d~i~r~n. agev in teyl faln iz zeyer a gut vort n~a~r~a~y~e~n un mir darfn nit moyre hobn, vos es kumt tsu undz fun slavish. lomir brengen an oyfvayz fun mendelen, _mayn lebn_, yub[iley] oysg[abe] xix z' 32: "meyle a nomen, dos iz fun di kleynikaytn, men git es umzist. ober 'teg', narayen a porets teg tsu esn -- dos iz shoyn an eysek." pruvt aderabe tsuklaybn dugmoes un definirn, ven men ken yo farbaytn r~e~k~o~m~e~n~d~i~r~n durkh n~a~r~a~y~e~n un ven nit. dos iz a fayn brekele shprakh-psikhologye. dos eygene: anshtot der hiltserner _baratungs-shtele_ muzn mir zogn _konsultatsye_, biz vanen a sheferisher mentsh vet shafn epes besers. oyb es gefelt aykh nit _akhtgebung_, iz dos nokh alts nit keyn hekhsher oyf _baobakhtung_, makhmes s'iz bay aykh nokh alts di breyre tsu nitsn _observatsye_. vi bald mir hobn nit in yidish [NHG] _Bote_ un _Botshaft_, ken nit gemolt zayn _botshafter_. agev bay aza min vintsik yidish inyen iz vi ongemostn der internatsyonaler termin _ambasador_ -- saydn ir vet tsuklern epes besers. 16. di untershte shure: nito nokh aza soyne fun a korektn, geshmakn, pinktlekhn, yidishn klal-yidish vi daytshmerish. di natirlekhe tendents in der antviklung fun der shprakh fun di ashkenazishe yidn iz fun der haskole on geven: avekgeyn fun daytsh, shafn eygns; un spetsyel boylet zet zikh dos aroys bay yenem tsvayg yidish vos iz baygeshtanen di shturems -- bay yidish in mizrekh-eyrope. nor di dozike natirlekhe tendents flegt farshtert vern durkh daytshmerishe shtromen vos hobn gefleytst fun farsheydene zaytn. itster, ven mir zaynen gekumen tsu d~e~r~k~e~n~e~n di kulturele un shprakhike koykhes undzere, ven mir geyen tsu v~i~s~i~k un mit l~i~b~s~h~a~f~t tsu undzer klalisher kulturshprakh, muz yetvider shprakhiker element adurkhgeyn a karantin. un nito keyn kol dikhfin: es tor nisht gemolt zayn, az oyb emetser hot zikh oysgelernt a nay daytsh vort fun a daytshn bikhl tsi fun an artikl in a yidisher tsaytung, oder oyb afile men hot es gefunen in a yidishn dialekt tsi in an altyidishn tekst, zol men dos bald kenen araynfirn in kool. a vort biklal, un alakhes-kame-vekame a nayhoykhdaytsh vort, darf oyfvayzn zayne rekht arayntsukumen in undzer klal-shprakh arayn, darf dervayzn, az es hot kroyvem bay undz, vos nemen es arayn in der mishpokhe. zayn poshet a "nikhtov" in a verterbukh, in a tekst, iz vintsik. far a _prekluzye_ baym araynnemen daytshmerizmen in der klal-shprakh volt ikh ongenumen mendele moykher sforims verk. mendele iz genug groys bay undz, az dortn, vu er iz a firshprekher, zoln mir dan zayn dan lekaf-skhus. oyb ober a daytshmerizm iz gekumen shpeter, zol er moykhl zayn oyfvayzn zayne skhies. a shtikl aynzeenish veln mir derbay darfn hobn mit verter fun di gezelshaftlekhe bavegungen, kol-zman mir kenen zey nit farbaytn oyf keyn besere. ober boydek zayn muzn mir di kategorye verter oykh, vorem di vos hobn undz dermit mezake geven zaynen teyl mol aleyn geven oyf shprakh knape mevinem. oyf der heyser minut hobn zey gemuzt trakhtn mer vegn dem i~n~y~e~n vi vegn dem v~o~r~t; ober itster, az dem inyen veysn shoyn yidn, zaynen mir shoyn oyf azoy vil oysgevaksn, az trakhtn vegn dem vort iz shoyn mer oykh nit keyn luksus. mer vi dos: es iz gor neytik far dem zelbikn klal-inyen, vos fun zaynt vegn tuen di gezelshaftlekhe bavegungen. 17. nokh eyn vort tsutsuhelfn di oponentn. vintsiker vi alts bin ikh oysn tsu farshparn dem veg far shprakhike oyftuen durkh opfregn yetvider nays. aderabe, in ir itstiker stadye neytikt zikh undzer shprakh in oyftuerishe khidushem azoy vi a fish in vaser. ikh vil ober o~p~s~h~a~t~s~n di naysn vos men trogt undz unter, un ikh vil oysgefinen in yetvider eyntsikn fal, tsi der khidesh nemt zikh fun nit visn di norme (yemolt iz dos a negativer fakt), oder s'iz an akt fun sheferishkayt -- yemolt vel ikh bentshn dem oyftuer. vos shayekh tsum araynbrengen daytshmerizmen in yidish, iz dos ale mol an akt fun shprakhiker impotents; keyn shum sheferishkayt iz do nito. heores fun mekhaber (1) nokh in 1912 hot sh. niger in zayn artikl: "daytshmerish" in vilner _lebn un visnshaft_ num' 11-12 zz' 49-55 geshribn: "daytshmerish oder barditshever daytsh iz a loshn vos iz nit daytsh un nit yidish," dem dozikn oysgetseykhntn artikl darf men nokh haynt leyenen un iberleyenen, khotsh teyl tezisn zayne volt gevis der mekhaber gufe haynt formulirt andersh. (2) agev iz mashmoes _zerstreut_ in daytsh gufe mit dem pshat oykh a produkt sakhakl fun 18tn y"h, gefuremt unter der hashpoe fun frants' _distrait_. lesing hot geshribn 1767 in zayn _Der Hamburgische Dramaturgie_: "Ich glaube schwerlich, dass unsere Grossvaeter den deutschen Titel dieses Stuecks [Der Zerstreute] verstanden haetten. Noch Schlegel uebersetzt _distrait_ durch Traeumer. _Zerstreut sein_, ein _Zerstreuter_ ist lediglich nach der Analogie des Franzoesischen gemacht. * _yidish far ale_ 4 (yuni 1938) zz" 97-106 romanizirt fun claus buryn ______________________________________________________ End of _The Mendele Review_ 02.008 Leonard Prager, editor The editor of _TMR_ can also be reached via _Mendele_'s homepage: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele/ Subscribers to _Mendele_ (see below) automatically receive _The Mendele Review_. Send "to subscribe" or change-of-status messages to: listproc@lists.yale.edu a. For a temporary stop: set mendele mail postpone b. To resume delivery: set mendele mail ack c. To subscribe: sub mendele first_name last_name d. To unsubscribe kholile: unsub mendele ****Getting back issues**** _The Mendele Review_ archives can be reached at: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele/tmr.htm _The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language (A Companion to _MENDELE_) ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 02.009 11 March 1998 Special PURIM Issue 1) Yiddish Matters (From the Editor): Lukhes 'calendars' (Leonard Prager) 2) "A frier peysekh" (Sholem-Aleykhem) 3) _Der yidish-amerikanisher / folks-kalender / a yorbukh fir belehrung un unterhaltung_ / fun / Aleksander Harkavi / yohr trn"z (Table of Contents) 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 11 March 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: Lukhes 'calendars' Lukhes 'calendars' In Sholem-Aleykhem's short story, "A frier peysekh," the protagonist, Pinkhes Pinkus, "a pekl-treger oder a moykher-sforemnik," discovers he can earn a livelihood from the Jews of Narrenberg (whom he despises) by selling them calendars. This community provides its own services and products "oyser idisher literatur," which it used to import from Russia, London or Warsaw -- until a local distributor arrived, a not very presentable jargon-babbling refugee from the East, Pinkhes Pinkus. Pinkhes especially imports calendars printed in Barditshev, Vilna and Warsaw and Narrenberger Jews want these calendars. There is good reason to believe that literary calendars are meant and not strictly religious calendars or barebone calendars with dates alone, such as are still common today. The Narrenberger Jew liked buying calendars and believed that "er farshpreyt mit dem di idishe literatur." The term "literatur" in the story covers liturgical, rabbinic and secular texts, but the satire would be extreme were plain calendars meant. The calendars generally contain a certain amount of varied reading material and even when they are essentially literary annuals, they are still called "lukhes." The Hebrew, Yiddish, and Hebrew/Yiddish _luekh_ (calendar)' was generally a collection of miscellaneous information and often contained literary items. Probably influenced by European models, it developed into or became synonymous with the literary annual -- sometimes even losing its calendric character in the process. We may distingish "the literary calendar" as a subtype of the Yiddish periodical. Like the almanack in colonial and nineteeth-century America (cf. _Poor Richard's Almanac_), the Yiddish literary calendar was a popular medium for information and entertainment. Yiddish calendars also competed with one another in their literary wares. The Russian and Yiddish poet, Shimen Frug -- the first to write patriotic and nature poems in Yiddish -- edited, together with the agronomist, M. Veler, _Der landarbeter luekh / far kolonistn un gertner_ (Vilna, 1901). In addition to agricultural and horticultural matters, it included stories and poems of farm life (Frug was born and raised in the oldest Russian Jewish agricultural settlement). More representative literary calendars than Frug's are the Galician _Yudisher folkskalender_ (Lvov, 1895/6-1911/12, ed. Gershom Bader) and the _Yidisher literarisher kalender_ (Lvov, 1922-1924, ed. Anzelm Kleynman). The latter is known to scholars as the annual in which Yisroel Vaynlez reported finding a Yiddish version of _Megale tmirin_, a translation of Fielding's _Tom Jones_ and an historical novel, _Antignus_ in the Tarnopol Perl-Biblyotek. The names Gershom Bader and Moyshe Frostik are associated with a number of calendars. The lexicographer and journalist Aleksander Harkavy edited (and later also published) a characteristic American Yiddish literary calendar. This publication, as its title indicates, sought to both teach and entertain. It provided general and Jewish information, taught a bit of popular science, included a story, feuilleton or sketch, sprinkled in a few anecdotes and jokes, and always gave considerable space to features designed to help the Yiddish-speaking immigrant adapt to his new land. The title page and table of contents of a single issue of _Der yidish-amerikanisher folks-kalender_ is given below (in original daytshmerish spelling). There are also lukhes of a solely religious character, which supplement their calendric content with a variety of items. Thus Rabbi Khayem Hirshenzohn [English spelling Chayim Hirshensohn] of Hoboken, NJ, included in his _Luakh moadey yisroel_ (New York, trts"h [1935]) the _Hagodo shel peysakh_ with the commentary _Ma haeydos_ and the score for "Se tomim" by Nekhamye Mutshnik, a "musmakh min hakonservatorye lenigun betshernovits, rumenye." Pages 51-66 are left blank for "Personal Memoirs." We are told both in Hebrew and in English that "These pages are provided for the writing of personal memoirs. Comments of a spiritual nature regarding topics of national, ethical, religious or scholarly interest. This may turn out to be of inestimable value to one's prosperity in the future."(p. 50) I suspect that Narrenberg lukhes lacked this feature. The basic comic plot device in Sholem-Aleykhem's story assumes a plausible confusion between an 1888 calendar and one that is twenty years older -- a 1908 (5648) one. Actually such a confusion is not plausible and we must regard its implausibility as further evidence of the Narrenbergers' Judaic illiteracy. Using an 1888 calendar, the month after Adar is Nisan and the 17th of Nisan, 5648 is the third day of Passover = the first day of Khol Hamoed Peysekh. But since it is actually 1908 (5668), the month after Adar I is Adar II and the 15th of that month is Shushan Purim. The discrepancy between the dates (15 and 17) increases the improbability of the comic plot device, but one simply accepts the general strategy -- accounted for by the fact that the current year is an "iberyor," a lunar year with a thirteenth month. (According to the halacha, in an "iberyour," Purim is celebrated in Adar II). 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 11 March 1998 From: Itsik Goldenberg Subject: "A frier peysekh" fun Sholem-ALeykhem a frier peysekh* a mayse, vos kon zikh farloyfn oyf der groyser velt. fun Sholem-aleykhem [note: most of the many daytshmerisms in this story are an intentional feature of the satire] alef di veltbarimte daytshe shtot narrenberg [StY: narnberg] iz ayn alte yidishe shtot. un nit nor a yidishe shtot -- zi iz a frume shtot, a gotsforkhtige. ire yidn hobn zikh gemakht a shem oyf der velt dermit, vos zey hobn keynmol nit gegriblt zikh, nit arayngelozt zikh in khkires, nit gefilozofirt, nit gefregt kayn kashes oyf azelkhe zakhn, vos kern zikh on mit got. oyf zey meg men zogn, az zey zenen yidn on khokhmes. emes, zeyer yidishkayt bashteyt nit mer vi in dray dinem, vos shtamen mistome fun Avrem ovinu, oder efsher nokh fun Odem horishn|en:(1) yortsayt, (2) barmitsve, (3) peysekh. Di dray dogmen zenen gants genug oyftsuhaltn dos yidishe folk nokh toyzenter un toyzenter yoren. Meynt nit, az dos hobn zey oysgezoygn fun zeyer eygenem finger; dos hobn zey gehert nit eyn mol fun zeyer rabiner, doktor un prediger, velkhn di narrenberger kehile halt-oys nit mit vintsiker ere, vi di katoyler, lehavdl, dem roymishen pabst. der rabiner, doktor un prediger trogt bay zey dem nomen "rabi", "undzer rabi", un di narrenberger kehile iz ibertsaygt, az nokh aza lamdn, vi zeyer rabi, iz shoyn nishto oyf der gantser velt. in zayne droshes, vos er halt zey ale yontef in der sinagoge, varfn zikh durkh azelkhe loshn-koydesh|dike verter, vos nor der mekhaber funem sider zol itster oyfshteyn, volt er zey efsher farshtanen, un efsher nit... di narrenberger yidn dertseyln fun im mofsem, vi fun a "gutn yidn." lemoshl, zey barimen zikh, az shoyn etlekhe un tsvantsik yor, zint er iz bay zey rabiner un prediger, hot zikh nokh nit getrofn, er zol amol hobn a toes: ale yontef di zelbe droshe mit di zelbe psukem funem zelbn tanakh, mit der zelber badaytung, mit di zelbe mesholem. ikh meyn ober, az dos iz a bisl ibertribn. der oytoritet funem rabiner, doktor un prediger iz in shtetl azoy groys, az keyn yortsayt, keyn barmitsve un keyn yontef vert nit bashtimt, biz er vert nit frier festgeshtelt funem rabiner un prediger. un hagam yeder narremberger yidisher aynvoyner muz hobn bay zikh in shtub a yidishn luekh, punkt azoy vi yede narrenberger yidishe froy muz hobn a vayse kapore erev yomkiper, dokh, az es kumt unter a yontef, gloybt keyner nit dem luekh oyf nemones un me geyt tsum rebn zikh erkundign [non-StY derkundign; StY: onfregn]: "ven hobn mir fayertog? [cf. NHG "Feiertag] un ver shmuest nokh aza yontef, vi der heyliger peysekh?! peysekh vert gefayert in narrenberg -- ikh gey mit aykh in gevet -- mit mer prakht un glants un mit mer kashres als in der frimster shtot bekhol-tfutses-yisroel! di narrenberger vayber -- zey kumt der shevakh -- zenen azelkhe tsnues, az peysekh in teater banutsn zey nit di khomets|dike binokls fun a gants yor. afile di narrenberger mantsbiln, vos zenen epes nit azelkhe groyse matse-shmure|nikes, fun destvegn hot zikh gemakht vifl mol, az me iz gekumen tsum rebn mit a shayle, tsi meg men peysekh trinken minkhener bir un farbaysn mit prager shinken. atsind, az mir hobn zikh shoyn a bisl bakant mir di narrenberger yidn als yidn, -- konen mir shoyn tsutretn tsu dem etsem fun der geshikhte, vos hot zikh farlofn in der shtot narrenberg in dem yor 1908, oder 5668 fun zint di velt iz bashafen gevorn, loyt rekhenung fun undzer yidishn velt-luekh. beys di narrenberger kehile banutst zikh mit ir eygene fabrikatsyes un produkten, oyser yidishe literatur. amol flegn zey di yidishe literatur importirn fun oysland, merstenteyl fun london oder fun varshe. nor fun der letster tsayt, zint es hobn zikh ongehoybn bay undz di beholes, milkhome, revolutsye, konstitutsye un pogromen, hobn di khvalyes fun der gevoltiker emigratsye aroysgevorfn oyf der dozikn narrenberger oazis, tsvishn a sakh andere nefoshes, oykh eynem a pekl-treger oder a moykher-sforim|nik mitn nomen Pinkhes pinkus. Pinkhes pinkus iz a yidl a nideriks, a zhvave, mit eyn oygl a kleyns, dos andere a groys. beshas er redt, kukt dos kleyne oygl oyfn groysn, vi eyner redt: "nu?"... un der groyse oyg entfert im: "nu - nu!"... di ershte tsayt hot er zikh genug ongelitn, genug oysgehungert un genug oysgeshtanen yesorim, veytikn un bezyoynes fun zayn daytshe brider, biz er hot zikh dershlogn tsu zayn shtendiker parnose fun der heym - arumtrogn yidishe sforim un bikhlekh iber di hayzer. a tsebrokhener, a tserabeveter, a naketer un a hungeriker, hot er farlozn zayn land, vu er iz geboyrn, un hot zikh mit groys mi dershlogn in a fray land - kayn narrenberg, vu er iz shoyn geven bavorent fun a pogrom, nor nit geven bavorent fun shtarbn fun hunger, makhmes in der frayen land iz dos shnoren shtreng farbotn afile tsvishn eygene brider. yeder mentsh iz mekhuyev epes ton. undzer tseshlogener emigrant Pinkhes pinkus hot ober nit gekont gefinen zayn shum tuekhts inem frayen land. shuldig iz geven in dem nit azoy er aleyn, vi di shprakh. dos heyst, vos nit er hot farshtanen zeyer shprakh, un nit zey hobn farshtanen zayn shprakh. di ershte tsayt hot er urumgeshpatsirt iber di narrenberger gasn un batrakht di shtodt mit di mentshn, der himl mit der erd. dakht zikh, di zelbe hayzer, di zelbe mentshn, der zelber himl mit der zelber erd - un gornisht, ale geyen zikh azoy ruik; keyner hot keyn moyre nit far a shteyn fun oybn, far a koyl fun forent oder far a meser fun hintn - gliklekhe mentshn! a gebentsht land!... vos vayter hot ober dos land ongehoybn onvern dem kheyn in zayne oygn - ibern mogn. der mogn iz a beyzer baldover; im, az es kumt di tsayt fun esn, vil er nit hern nit fun keyn politik, nit fun filozofye. "host mir epes in zinen, tsi neyn?" - azoy tayne|t a lediker mogn. - "fun maynetvegn konst du betlen geyn, konst ganve|nen, gazl|en, abi mir zolst du opgebn mayns, un vayter iz nit mayn eysek!" ... der khesorn iz ober, vos oyf oystsien di hant darf men zayn a geborener betler, oder hobn a neshome fun a betler. un undzer held hot zikh lang arumgedreyt iber di narrenberger shtrasn, biz er hot bay zikh ge|poyel|t opshteln dem ershtn mentshn, kholile nit oyf tsu betn bay im epes, nor glat azoy, oysredn zikh a bisl dos harts. Pinkhes pinkus hot zikh ongerufn tsum ershtn daytsh beze-haloshn: -- hot keyn faribl nit, mayn liber herr daytsh, ikh bin do a ger un farshtey nit dos loshn. ikh loyf fun a konstitutsye loyf ikh, un fal, heyst es, mitn ponem tsu der erd. gloybt mir, ikh volt aykh nit matriekh geven, s'zol nit zayn, vi me zogt, bov mayim ad nefesh. ikh bet nit kholile keyn nedove; ikh zukh epes a melukhe, a tuekhts, vos nit iz, abi derhaltn di neshome. hot rakhmones ... der daytsh hot im oysgehert bizn sof un hot zikh far im antshuldikt, az er hot keynmol aza shtrasse nit gehert, un iz avek zayn veg. der tsveyter daytsh hot oysgehert di zelbe droshe un iz avek on verter. der driter daytsh iz gevorn a bisl broyges, vos me nemt tsu zayn tsayt, un hot zikh rekht oysgebeyzert oyf dem "ferdamten kerl". der ferter daytsh hot im afile nit oysgehert bizn sof, bavizn im, az er hot a shtekn, un gezogt, az tomer geyt er nit "fort", azoy ruft er tsu a "shutsman" ... un unzer held hot gikh ibergebitn zayn frierike meynung iber di daytshn un iber zeyer frayen land, velkhes er hot faynt gekrign, un iz dem daytsh gevorn a dam-soyne! gimel oyb der umgliklekher Pinkhes pinkus hot faynt gekrogn di narrenberger daytshn, hot er toyznt mol azoy fil getrogn soyne un fardros oyf di narrenberger daytshe yidn mit zeyer rabiner, doktor un prediger, vos hot avekgeshtelt dem oremen emigrant dray taynes: (1)lemay iz er ayn oremen? (2) lemay geyt er opgerisen? (3) lemay redt er nit keyn daytsh? deroyf hot im dos oreme yidl opgeentfert a bisl take mit tsufil khutspe: -- adoyni kenig! ikh vel aykh entfern al rishoyn rishoyn veal akhroyn akhroyn: dos, vos ir tayne|t, lemay ikh bin ayn oremen un gey vi a shleper - zent ir gerekht; der oybershter hot mir gevolt gebn gelt, hob ikh im gezogt: geb dos beser mendelsonen -- er iz a meshumed un hot nit keyn kheylek leoylem-habe... nor dos, vos aykh gefelt nit mayn yidish loshn, volt ikh a baln geven, ir zolt zayn in mayn polozhenye un kumen mit ayer daytshmerish tsu unz keyn moskve, un afile keyn barditshev, volt ir demolt gevust, vos far a got mir hobn. a glik, vos der rabiner hot farshtanen fun der doziger gantser rede nor etlekhe getseylte verter: "gelt"... "mendelson"... "moskve"... un der narrenberger rabiner hot im genumen leyenen a notatsye un zogn muser, az s'iz a "furkhtbare frekhheyt" fun aza yidl zikh mishn in der rusisher politik un kritikirn mendelsonen, lemay er shtitst moskve mit gelt... "ot dos iz take ayer umglik, -- hot der rabiner ge|droshe|t tsum oremen emigrant -- vos ir krikht ahin , nit vu me darf. ot derfar take shlogt men aykh un me traybt aykh, un mir, daytshe yidishe birger, hobn durkh aykh kharpe un bushe"... un nokh a sakh azelkhe ernste kluge red hot der narrenberger rabiner un prediger oysgeshotn umzist un umnisht, makhmes dos yidl hot fun zayn droshe nokh vintsiker farshtanen... dos rezultat iz geven, vos nokh etlekhe mol aroystraybn im un onrufn "shnorer", "polnisher yude" vekedoyme azelkhe nemen, hot zikh undzer Pinkhes pinkus fort dershlogn bay der narrenberger kehile, me zol im oyslayen a bisl mezumonim, vet er oysshraybn fun der heym a bisl gedrukte skhoyre -- tomer vet er epes fardinen. un kakh-have. er hot oysgeshribn a transport sforim un bikhlekh, oykh a bisl sidurim, khumoshim, slikhes un hagodes, un der iker - yidishe lukhes. oyf lukhes, hot er aroysgezen, vet er do hobn mer balonim, vi oyf ale andere sforim. Pinkhes pinkus hot nit umzist farbrakht zayn tsayt tsvishn di daytshe brider. er hot farshtanen, az a luekh iz kimat der eyntsiker gangbarer artikl fun der yidisher literatur in narrenberg. er hot zikh nit opgenart. er hot oysfarkoyft dos gantse pekl yidishe lukhes in eyn tog un hot gemuzt oysshraybn nokh a transport mit lukhes, un hot dem transport oykh opgezetst. fun demolt-on hot undzer Pinkhes pinkus ongehoybn vaksn un vaksn, dos heyst, geyn fun eyn shtedtl inem andern mit a pekl sforim oyf di pleytses, tsum meynstn yidishe lukhes, barditshever, vilner un varshever fabrikatsye. nor der hoypt-opzets iz bay im geven narrenberg un vider a mol narrenberg, vorum in ergets iz nito aza eyn opgang oyf der skhoyre, vi in narrenberg. a narrenberger yid, az er koyft a yidisher seyfer, ikh meyn a luekh, tut er dermit dray "voltatn" mit a mol: ershtns, vos er brengt in shtub arayn a "yidishn seyfer"; tsveytns, vos er farshpreyt dermit di yidishe literatur; dritns, vos er git tsu leyzen dem oremen "polnishen yuden" gelt. un der oremer "polnisher yude" makht nit shlekht. der ershte yor hot er oysgebrakht yidishe lukhes in di tsendliker. dos tsveyte yor - in di hunderter. tsum dritn yor hot er zikh gegreyt optsuzetsn toyznt lukhes, un efsher nokh mer - ver veyst? es iz nor a hartsveytik, vos er muz di skhoyre batsien azh fun der heym un tsoln far ir mit barem gelt. es volt geven a glentsendes gesheft, ven me zol konen di skhoyre fabritsiren do oyfn ort. un undzer luekh-hendler Pinkhes pinkus hot fartrakht a kombinatsye - a gantsn plan, a goen|ishn, a tayvelshn plan. daled eynmol in a shenem frimorgn iz undzer luekh-eksporter, Pinkhes pinkus, gezesn in zayn yidishn restoran, vu er hot gants fayn opgemitogt, zikh gereynikt di tseyn, un zayne nisht-glaykhmesike oygn hobn gekukt eyns oyf dos andere un gefirt a shmues. a simen, az der kop hot getrakht un der moyekh hot gearbet. un bikedey der lezer zol visn, vos hot azelkhes getrakht Pinkhes pinkus, gebn mir iber in kurtsn dem shmues fun zayne oygn (lomir zikh oyf a minut forshteln, az oygn redn). dos kleyne oygl: me darf oysshraybn a transport lukhes tsum yor tof-reysh-samekh-khes... avekshikn azoy fil gold! dos groyse oyg: a gantsn oytser! dos kleyne oygl: ayn aveyre far got! dos groyse oyg: men iz uver oyf bal-tashkhis! dos kleyne oygl: me zol konem krign fun zeyertvegn ayn altn luekh... dos groyse oyg: fun Terekh|s yorn, abi a luekh!... dos kleyne oygl: di narremberger lomdim... dos groyse oyg: muflogim, groyse kep, sharfe moykhes!... dos kleyne oygl: ay, tomer veln oyskumen di dates poperik? dos groyse oyg: bin ikh bedales! dos kleyne oygl: a mitsve oyf zey! dos groyse oyg: khapt zey beoni! dos kleyne oygl: bemeyle treyf|nyakes, daytshn!... dos groyse oyg: kire mok!... dos kleyne oygl: zey hobn mir genug blut fartsapt, eyder ikh hob mikh aroyfgeshlogn oyf a shtikl derekh... dos groyse oyg: es meg shoyn amol kumen oyf zey oykh a mapole!... un Pinkhes pinkus hot a vunk geton tsum kelner: her nor, daytsh ben daytsh! a krigl smetene! dos hot geheysn azoy gut, vi a kufl bir. un undzer luekh-hendler hot aroysgetrunken a kufl bir un hot avkgeshribn aheym a briv, fun velkhn mir gebn do iber a rikhtike kopye: "...un vayter shrayb ikh aykh, mayn liber fraynd, ir zolt zayn azoy gut un araynpakn mir vifil ir kont alte lukhes, tsum meynstn fun yor tof-reysh-mem-khes. ikh hob do oyf zey ayn opzets. di daytshn koyfn alte markes mit alte lukhes. farshteyt zikh, az zey tsoln derfar zeyer bilig, nor alts iz beser far aykh, eyder zey zoln foyln bay aykh oyfn boydem un di mayz zoln zey esn. az ir vet aynpakn di alte lukhes, zolt ir moykhl zayn zey ibervegn un rekhenen mir loyt vog fun papir un aroysshikn mir per nakhname, zeyt zhe, lemanashem, ale alte lukhes, vifil ir hot, tsum meynstn fun yor tof-reysh-mem-khes. ikh tu dos kimat nor tsulib aykh. ikh veys, az es valgern zikh bay aykh alte lukhes, vil ikh aykh gebn tsu leyzen. tsu keyn andern shrayb ikh nisht, nor tsu aykh, vayl ikh halt fun aykh. gedenkt zhe, lemanashem, vos mer alte lukhes, un ikh gris ayer vayb un kinder gor frayntlekh. mimeni Pinkhes pinkus." far|khosem|t dem briv, hot er a ruf geton dem kelner: -- her nor, daytsh ben daytsh, nokh a krigl smetene!... bakumen nokh a krigl bir, hot undzer luekh-fabrikant ongeshribn nokh a brivl tsu eyn ander mokher-sforim: "...vehosheynis shrayb ikh aykh, az ikh hob oysgekratst do eyner a daytsh, vos iz a koyne oyf alte lukhes, ober nor funem yor tof-reysh-mem-khes. oyb ir hot zey, shikt zey mir tsu bald durkh a nakhname. rak ir zolt nisht rekhenen mer vi dos papir, ki ikh darf dokh oykh epes fardinen. ikh shrayb nor tsu aykh, vayl ikh veys, az nor bay aykh gefint zikh alte lukhes. un makhmes ikh hob keyn tsayt nisht, makh ikh dos bekitser. mimeni Pinkhes pinkus". un nokh a brivl hot er avekgeshribn, shoyn in eyn ander shtodt: "...vehosheynis shrayb ikh aykh, az ikh kon bay aykh hayntiks yor koyfn lukhes nor al-menas, dos heyst mit a tnay, az tsu yedn nayem luekh fun yor tof-reysh-samekh-khes darft ir mir tsulegn dray lukhes alte funem yor tof-reysh-mem-khes umzist. vayl s'iz do a por daytshn, vos zitsn un shtudirn di veterungn nokh di alte lukhes fun di frierike yorn. lokhayn avakesh, ir zolt mir aroysshikn ale ayere alte lukhes fun yor tof-reysh-mem-khes, tsulegn tsu yede dray alte eynem a nayem loyt prayz, un bald aroysshikn al-yedey nakhname. fun mir ayer fraynd Pinkhes pinkus". ot azelkhe brivlekh zenen avekgegangen nokh etlekhe tsu farsheydene bukhhendler in farsheydene shtedt. un undzer luekh-angrosist Pinkhes pinkus hot zikh tsetsolt mitn kelner un hot zikh ongezotlt mitn pekl sforim oyf di pleytses un iz avek zayn veg, vi a mentsh, vos hot farklert un oysgefirt a rekhtn, a vikhtikn eysek. hey dos gevezene yor 5668, zint got hot bashafn di velt, iz geven far di narrenberger yidn a yor fun shefe. ale, funem ershtn fabrikant bizn letstn balmelokhe, hobn gemakht gute gesheftn. ale funem grestn komisyaner bizen klenstn hoyzirer, hobn fardint gelt, un ale zenen geven tsufridn un hobn zikh gefreyt, vos der "armer polnisher yude" leyzt bay zey gelt farn luekh tof-reysh-samekh-khes. me kon zogn , es iz nisht geven in narrenberg keyn eyntsig hoyz, vos zol nisht hobn gekoyft baym "polnishen yudn" keyn luekh oyf dem yor. un di narrenberger yidishe bafelkerung hot genumen dos naye yor tof-reysh-samekh-khes (5668) nokhen altn luekh funem yor tof-reysh-mem-khes (5648) oysgetseykhnt gut, dos heyst: me hot zikh gehat yortsaytn, gefayert barmitsves un gebentsht khanike-likhtlekh, gegesn purim|dige homen|tashn un genumen zikh greytn tsum heylikn peysekh, bakn matses - altsding vi ale yor, fun zint di velt iz a velt, - un in der rikhtiker tsayt, loyt der luekh zogt, hot men zikh gants fayn avekgezetst tsum seyder, oyf morgn nokh a mol tsum seyder, un azoy volt zikh oployfn der peysekh, un efsher der shevues mitn sukes oykh, ven es zol zikh nisht trefn a mayse (bay ale shraybers fun der velt muz zikh trefn a mayse). vemayse shehoyo kakh hoyo: eyner ayn opteyker hot gedarft forn fun narrenberg kayn berlin nokh skhoyre. hot er zikh oyfgezetst dem ershtn tog kholemoyd peysekh un iz avek kayn berlin. gekumen iz er kayn berlin ayn oyfgehungerter funem veg - sakones! der lezer, vos halt kop, gedenkt avade, az a narrenberger yidisher daytsh, er meg zikh zayn afile ayn opteker, oder a dantist, oder afile nokh erger fun a dantist, vet aykh peysekh keyn khomets nisht esn far keyn tsen milyon. a gants yor vet ir bay im poyel|en, er zol aykh esn khazer. ir vet im aynbetn, er zol aykh esn rakes un vos ir vilt. nor kumt der heyliker fayertog peysekh, vert a daytsh frum mit sakones-nefoshes! er vet aykh gikher shtarbn fun hunger, eyder zikh tsurirn tsu khomets um peysekh. ir megt dos onrufn fanatizm - s'iz a farfalene zakh! alzo, gekumen a hungeriker kayn berlin, iz undzer opteyker koydem gegangen zukhn a yidishn restoran oyf der friedrikhshtrasse un hot derzen dos vort "kosher" un hot zikh mekhaye geven. arayngekumen in restoran arayn, hot er nisht tsayt gehat zikh avektsuzetsn baym tishl un durkhshtudirn dos tsetl fun di peysekh|ige mlokhim, iz oysgevaksn nebn im a kelner, a gezunter yungatsh mit ayn ongepomadetn kop, mit shteyendike vantses, a la Vilhelm der tsveyter. der yungatsh der kelner hot gehaltn in di hent a teler, un oyfn teler - shtelt aykh for! - a homentash mit mon!!!... undzer opteyker is shir nisht gefaln khaloshes: vos heyst es? kosher, peysekh, un a homentash mit mon! ven der opteyker zol nisht zayn toyt-hungerik, volt er zikher gemeynt , az s'iz a kholem. der kelner der yungatsh hot derzen, az der gast kukt epes mit modne oygn, hot er farshart aroyf beyde shteyendike vantses a la Vilhelm der tsveyter un hot a zog geton tsum gast mit a frayntlikhn shmeykhele fun a kelner: -- vegn fayertog -- purim-shpayz!... kosher lepurim!... do iz undzer opteyker gevorn nokh mer tsemisht: vegn fayertog -- purim-shpayz?!... der kelner iz avek un oyf zayn ort iz oysgevaksn der"virte" funem restoran, an elegant gekleydter daytsh mit a zeyer liblikh aluntertenigst shmeykhele oyf di fete royte lipn, un tsvishn dem virte mitn gast hot zikh farbundn zeyer a interesanter shmues, fun velkhn mir gebn do iber nor dem tamtses. der virte hot bagrist dem gast mitn fayertog purim, un der gast hot gevolt aynredn dem virte, az haynt iz take a fayertog, nor der fayertog heyst nisht "purim", er heyst "ostern" (peysekh). tkhiles hot der virte gerekhnt, az der gast iz glat a freylekher parshoyn un makht zikh lustik lekoved purim, hot er gants heflekh gekhikhiket. dem gast iz ober dos khikhikn funem virte gornisht gefeln, un der shmues tsvishn virte un tsvishn gast hot ongehoybn vos vayter arayn in ernst, biz es hobn derhert oykh di iberike gest fun restoran un hobn zikh oykh arayngemisht in dem hoykh-interesantn shmues. dos hot undzer opteyker fardrosn, hot er zikh oysgeshprokhn mit zeyer a giftik shmeykhele, az me kon zikh zayn a yid un derloybn zikh esn khomets in peysekh, nor araynmishn zikh in fremde ongelegnhaytn iz nisht loyt dem daytshn etiket... deroyf hot eyner a dzshentelman mit tsvey shene baknbordn, shoyn a bisl groylekh, mit nisht vintsiker gift a freg geton baym opteyker: fun vanen iz der "herr"? un az er hot derhert, az der "herr" iz a narrenberger, hot er oysgetsoygn a langen "aaa!!!" un hot zikh fartift in teler... ven undzer narrenberger held zol nisht zayn azoy hungerik, volt er dem dzshentelman mit di baknbardn far ot dem dozikn "aaa" mekhabed geven, vi es geher tsu zayn: ershtns, volt er im derlangt zayn vizit-karte mit der firme "doktor farmatsye in narrenberg"; tsveytns, volt er gefodert fun dem dzshentelman mit di baknbardn, az er zol im gebn zayn vizit-karte mit zayn firme, un vos nokhdem volt geven - veys ikh nisht, ikh bin nisht keyn novi. vos s'iz geven - dos kon ikh aykh dertseyln. un geven iz ot vos: undzer narrenberger held iz fun dem restoran avek a broygez|er in a tsveytn restoran. oykh a yidishn, un hot getrofn dort punkt dos eygene bild; oykh a khomets|dikn mitog, oykh khomets|dike homentashn, "kosher lepurim" - un geendikt zikh es dermit, vos undzer opteyker iz avek fun dort in a kristlekhn restoran un hot zikh bashtelt a groysn mitog "a la kart". er hot zikh getrakht: "eyder esn khomets um peysekh, iz shoyn glaykher esn treyfe"... vov. eyne fun di nitslekhste erfindungen fun undzer tsayt blaybt take nor der telefon. a dank dem telefon iz gants narrenberg in farloyf fun eyn halbe sho gevor gevorn, az di hoypt-shtodt fun daytshland, di yidishe shtot berlin, hot farshpetikt mitn peysekh kimat oyf a gantsn khoydesh: az verend in narrenberg iz shoyn der tsveyter tog kholemoyd peysekh, iz in berlin ersht purim! far der narrenberger kehile iz dos geven azoy iberrashend, az zey hobn gevolt visn, vos vet zogn deroyf "undzer rebi"? un men iz avek tsu unzer rabiner, doktor un prediger un me hot im shoyn getrofn baym tish shraybndik a telegrame kayn berlin tsu zaynem a kolege, oykh a rabiner un oykh a dokter un oykh a prediger. er hot gebetn bay zayn kolege, er zol im zofort telegrafirn, velkher fayertog iz haynt in berlin? un dem zelbn tog arum farnakht hot der rabiner gekumen a klore tshuve fun berlin. di tshuve iz bashtanen nor fun eyn vort: "shushn-purim"... un take durkhn zelbn telefon hot er gegebn tsu visn der gantser shtodt un hot gebetn yedn bazunder, az me zol araynkukn in luekh arayn, kontrolirn dem datum. un di shtodt narrenberg hot genumen shtudirn dem luekh mit aza interes, glaykh vi me volt veln dergeyn, ven kert zikh iber di velt?... me tor ober nisht avekgeyen funem emes: narrenberg iz take zeyer a fayne shtodt un ire yidishe aynvoyner zenen take zeyer orentlekhe mentshn - eyns tsum andern geher zikh ober nisht on: keyn sakh gelerente mentshn, vos zoln farshteyen luekh, iz dort nisht faranen; der eyntsiker yidisher gelerter, vos farshteyt a yidish vort, iz eyner, vos trogt zeyer a hoykhn barimtn nomen "Matyas dreyfus". mir farkhapn zikh oyf tsu-frier un makhn oyfmerkzam dem lezer, er zol kholile kayn tues nisht hobn un nisht meynen, az dos iz der Matyas dreyfus, der bruder fun undzer veltbarimtn martirer kapitan (haynt mayor) Alfred dreyfus. der narrenberger Matyas dreyfus iz der shamesh fun der dortiker korshul un der shoykhet fun shtodt. vi kumt tsu im aza nomen - zolt ir nisht fregn. lemay s'iz do in dem zelbn narrenberg a yid eyn oriman, vos lebt fun dem, vos er zogt kadish, az me batsolt im, un trogt dem nomen Natanyel rotshild? oder s'iz faran, take alts in narrenberg, a shuster, un a kaliker dertsu, vos shemt zikh nisht un heyst mitn nomen Haynrikh heyne? un a razirer iz dortn do, shteyt oyf zayn shild oysgemolt a nekeyve mit a roytn parik, un unter ongeshribn mit groyse loytere oysyes: Ludvig berne? es felt nokh tsum ruml a shtivlputser mitn nomen Borukh shpinoza... es kon zeyer gemolt zayn, az es dreyt zikh ergets arum dortn in shtodt a Borukh shpinoza , nor ikh hob nokh nisht gehat dos glik mit im perzenlekh tsu bakenen zikh... nor mir keren zikh um tsu undzer gelertn Matyas dreyfus, der shamesh fun der korshul. az der gelerter Matyas dreyfus hot derhert di geshikhte, vos der opteyker hot gebrakht tsu firn fun berlin, az dort iz ersht purim, nisht peysekh, hot er zikh genumen griblen inem luekh gor mit andere keylim, vi es past far a gelerten, vos iz i a shamesh, i a shoykhet un heyst dreyfus. er hot zikh azoy lang gegriblt, biz er hot zikh aroysgegriblt oyf a shtikl derekh. er hot gefregt a kashe: vu iz ahingekumen der "veoder" (oder sheyni)? - loyt zayn rekhenung, er gedenkt dos nokh fun faryorn, hot hayntiks yor - donnervetter! - badarft oyskumen ayn over-yor. a bavayz hot er funem organist, Fridrikh shpilhagen; er iz a krist un shpilt bay di yidn yontef in korshul; zogt er, Fridrikh shpilhogen, az bay zey iz hayntiks yor oykh ayn over-yor! mit dem dozikn vikhtikn materyal iz undzer gelerter dreyfus avek tsum rabiner, doktor un prediger, un beyde hobn zikh avekgezetst shtudyern dem luekh gor iberanayes - un do iz gekumen di rekhte katastrofe: beyde hobn derzen , az zeyer luekh iz nisht fun yor tof-reysh-samekh-khes (5668), nor funem yor tof-reysh-mem-khes (5648). dos heyst, a fartvantsigyoriker luekh!... der farfaser fun der doziker emes|er geshikhte badankt dem geertn lezer far dem, vos er hot zikh gegebn di mi oystsuhern di mayse kimat bizn sof, un lozt im iber oyf zayn eygener fantazye, er zol zikh forshteln, vos es hot zikh opgeton in der shtodt narrenberg, ven men iz gevor gevorn funem rebn aleyn, az zey hobn farkhapt dem peysekh mit a gantsn khoydesh frier, un az me vet darfn pravn peysekh nokh a mol funem onheyb! ikh volt gekont oysnutsn ale sharfe oysdrukn, vi tsum bayshpil: empert, enttoysht, iberrasht, oyfgebrakht, oyfgetrogn, tsekokht, nidergeshlogn, oyser zikh, vekedoyme. ikh fil ober, az s'iz nisht dos; s'iz banal. dos rikhtikste vort volt geven, dakht mir, "farnikhtet!"... barekhnt aykh: a gants halb yor hot a shtodt opgelebt falsh nokh ayn altn opgelebtn luekh fun far tsvantsik yorn! gefayert yontoyvem nisht in der rikhtiker tsayt! gegesn matse demolt, ven ale yidn hobn geshlogn homen|en! haynt vu zenen di barmitsves? di yortsaytn? di kadeyshim?... un vemen hot men tsu fardankn? epes a yidl, a gornisht, ayn emigrant... "o, der polnisher yude!" - hobn gezogt di narrenberger yidishe daytshn un hobn zikh gesharft di tseyn oyfn "polnishen yudn". loz er nor kumen kayn narrenberg mit zayn pekl sforim, vet er shoyn trukn nisht aroys... un der "polnisher yude", undzer bukhhendler Pinkhes pinkus, iz in dem tsayt gezesn mit nokh a sakh azelkhe aroysgevorfene, vi er, oyf a rizenshif, vos iz geduldik un rashek geshvumen fun hamburg kayn nyu-york. funem gantsn dobre-mazl, vos s'iz im gerotn aroystsubakumen fun di "daytshn", hot er koym tsunoyfgeshlogn oyf a shifskarte tsvishn dek, un er fort ot dos ahin, inem goldenem land. vos kolumbus hot antdekt tsulib dem, az oreme yidn fun der gorer velt, faryogte un farvoglte, baroybte un farshendete, zoln konen erlekh un mit koved, khotsh afile mit groys mi, fardinen zeyer shtikl broyt... lezer! lomir im vintshn glik un a freylekhn kosher|n peysekh. * Ale verk, New York, 1942, vol. 1, _Lekoved yontef_. Ershtes bukh, pp. 151-168. 3)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 11 March 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: _Der yidish-amerikanisher / folks-kalender / a yorbukh fir belehrung un unterhaltung_ / fun / Aleksander Harkavi / yohr trn"z (Table of Contents) _Der yidish-amerikanisher / folks-kalender / a yorbukh fir belehrung un unterhaltung_ / fun / Aleksander Harkavi / yohr trn"z / The Jewish-American / People's Calendar / A Yearly Literary Review / Edited by / Alexander Harkavy / Year 1896-1897 / New York: / Kantrowitz & Katzenelenbogen, Publishers / H. Levy, Printer, 54 Ludlow Street INHALTS FERTSAYKHNIS KALENDER UN KHRONIK Kalender fir dos yohr trn"z -- 5657..............................5 Gezetslekhe fayerteg in die fershiedene shtaaten.................18 Kurtse amerikanishe khronik......................................19 Historishe un statistishe tabele fun die fereynigte shtaaten.....21 POLITIK A yohr in der politik B. Feygenboym......23 Kuba: ihr geshikhte, geografye un fervaltung.....................32 VISENSHAFT Geografye........................................................45 Die lehre fun mekhanik...........................................52 Oyl als a mitel tsu shtilen di vellen............................56 ABHANDLUNGEN Ideen un varhayten D.M. Hermolin......60 Oyfklerung fun die yiden in rusland A.B. Dubzevitz.....67 LITERATUR Di zhargonishe literatur in amerike Y. Goydo...........73 UNTERHALTUNG Aforizmen Meshugener filozof.77 Mikhtomim (hebreishe aforizmen) M. Vintshevski (Ben-Nets)83 Englishe un shotlendishe shprikhverter...........................84 Anekdoten........................................................95 Der lebens-troym (gedikht) Y. Yonathanzohn...........99 Humoristisher luekh A. Hirvitsh..............100 VIKHTIGE AMERIKANISHE ZAKHEN Regierung fun der shtodt nyu york...............................102 Yunayted steyts pasport.........................................107 Gold un zilber..................................................108 Yunayted steyts post............................................109 Di fragen velkhe men shtelt bay'n veren a sitizen...............114 Anonsen.........................................................116 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ______________________________________________________ End of _The Mendele Review_ 02.009 Leonard Prager, editor Send articles to: lprager@research.haifa.ac.il The editor of _TMR_ can also be reached via _Mendele_'s homepage: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele Subscribers to _Mendele_ (see below) automatically receive _The Mendele Review_. Send "to subscribe" or change-of-status messages to: listproc@lists.yale.edu a. For a temporary stop: set mendele mail postpone b. To resume delivery: set mendele mail ack c. To subscribe: sub mendele first_name last_name d. To unsubscribe kholile: unsub mendele ****Getting back issues**** _The Mendele Review_ archives can be reached at: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele/tmrarc.htm _The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language (A Companion to _MENDELE_) ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 02.010 20 March 1998 1) Yiddish Matters: From the Editor (Leonard Prager) 2) "Viderkol," _Musernikes_ (Khayem Grade) 3) Subject: batkhonem-lider vi a zhaner in der yidisher folkstimlekhe literatur (Ariela Krasni) 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 20 March 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: Yiddish Matters In this issue 1. In this and the following seven issues we give, a section at a time, Khayem Grade's _poema_ "Musernikes." Readers who know little about the Musar movement, and especially its "maximalist" Novardok [Novogrudok] variety, would do well to familiarize themselves with this stream of Jewish thought and piety. There is a useful brief discussion and list of references in the _Encyclopaedia Judaica_ (vol. 12, cols. 534ff.). Interestingly, this entry quotes from our poem's striking opening lines as well as from Grade's "My Quarrel With Hersh Rasseyner" (in the translation in the Howe-Greenberg anthology of Yiddish short stories). An excellent way into the poem, too, is Mortkhe Shtrigler's lightly fictionalized "R' Yisroel Salanter shraybt a briv" (_Shmuesn mit der tsayt_, Buenos-Ayres: 1961, "Kium" Farlag, band tsvey, zz' 263-314). The text given here is that of the Vilna edition of 1939, which is also that of the text published in 1969 by the Department of Yiddish of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem (together with "Mayn krig mit Hersh Raseyner"). "Musernikes" was first published in New York in January, 1938 in _Zamlbikher_ 3 and it is this text that is reprinted in Grade's _Doyres_ (New York 1945). To help the reader, I have prepared a list of persons who appear and another of persons referred to in the work; the names of most of the characters in the poem are fashioned after the name of their place of origin (Khayem Vilner is a lightly disguised Khayem Grade). The lines have been numbered for this _TMR_ edition of the poem. 2. In this issue we also give the table of contents and abstract of a doctoral dissertation written in Yiddish on a Yiddish theme at Bar-Ilan University. This is the second presentation of this kind (see _TMR_ vol. 1, no. 026 for the table of contents and abstract of David Katz's Yiddish dissertation on the "toytn-tants" theme). Ariela Krasni's dissertation is about to appear in book form in Hebrew. As early as 1996 the ms. of the book received the Pras Bikurim ('first-fruits prize') of the Israeli Department of Educations's National Council for Culture and Art, as well as a grant from Amo"s, Fund for Encouragement of Writers, Office of the President of Israel. The dissertation on which the book is based was presented at Bar-Ilan University in 1993. The book differs from the dissertation in a number of ways: it is in Hebrew; it is directed at a broad, non-specialist audience; two chapters have been added (From Wedding Scene to Printed Page; The Batkhn Discerned in His Creation); various indexes were added. In future issues Naye shriftn tsum nayem yor: _The Mendele Review_ un _Der Bavebter Yid_ prezentirn a b|shutfesdikn numer fun naye yidishe shafungen Rosheshone tshn"t/ sept 18-20, 1998. Shikt tsu ayere nisht-gedrukte manuskriptn: lider, dertseylungen, eseyen, zikhroynes. Manuskriptn veln derhaltn vern bizn 1tn yuli. Leonard Prager, _The Mendele Review_ Refoyl Finkel un Sholem Berger, _Der Bavebter Yid_ bergez01@popmail.med.nyu.edu 435 East 30th St., #1410 New York, NY 10016-8304 2)---------------------------------------------------------- Date: 20 March 1998 From: Itsik Goldenberg Subject: Musernikes (Khayem Grade) muser|nikes fun Khayem grade [1] viderkol ................................... ...160 lines [2] a toyte hant ...................................158 lines [3] kheshbm ha|nefesh ..............................199 lines [4] di birzhe ......................................208 lines [5] di muser|nikes geyen ...........................115 lines [6] borves .........................................316 lines [7] in gehenem oyf a keyt...........................367 lines [8] der orn-koydesh falt ...........................164 lines --------- 1,687 lines = total length di parshoynen [dramatis personae] a shvester "vos iz elter" babunitser / der babunitser der kurtser trokhnbroder / der langer trokhnbroder / Rakhmiel trokhnbroder der mekhutn "ergert zikh -- vos vart men mitn kinyen?" / "a sheyner shver" der ostrovoler / der hinkediker der rosh-yeshive der varshever di bas-yekhide / zi, dos meydl / dos tekhterl di kekhin Khaye "a yesoyme nebekh -- a rakhmones" di lomdem / di muser|nikes / baaley muser / bney toyre di psule / "un vos der psule shaykh -- iz nit shaykh, ir hot dokh ongekukt..." di rebetsin Dovid kapetkevitsher / der kapetkevitsher / "der oysgeputster lamdn" / "hot fun brisker goen smikhe" Khayem vilner / der vilner / a tam / "an arbe-kanfes|diker filosof in oysgedreyte shikh" khlavne Moyshe liber / der apikoyres reb Abe musernik / "a vilde boydemkats" Shloyme|le babunitser / der babunitser / "a tmimes|dike lam" Yoysef kovler / der Kovler * parshoynen vos vern dermont [persons alluded to] Abaye [Abbaye] '(278-338) amora, head of yeshiva of Pumbedita, Babylon' ben-Yishay 'son of Jesse (father of King David); i.e. the Messiah' brisker goen 'R. Khayem Soloveytshik [Hayyim Soloveichik] = R. Khayem Brisker (1853-1918), talmudist, central figure in Orthodox Jewry' darvin 'Charles Darwin' der kupishker "flegt zikh opgebn in gantsn"; "tsu unterdrikn zayn pakhdones, / flegt geyn in meysem-shtibl shlofn oyf di taare-breter" der rambam 'Maimonides' der "tashbets" '[R. Simeon Ben Zemakh Duran (1381-1444) = Tashbaz; author of _tashbetz_ = _teshuvot Shimon ben tsemakh_, responsa' di kritiker fun bibl di malokhem Efroyem Iyev," "a naketer vi 'naked as Job' Moyshe 'Moyshe rabeynu' rashba 'R. Shlomo ben Aderet, posek, 14th c.' reb Akive eyger 'Akive Eyger (1761-1837), talmudic scholar' reb Bekhaye '12th-c. author of _khoyves levoves_' reb Elazar ben dardaye "der grester noyef" reb Simkhe zisl '[Simkha Zissel Broida]; Musar leader' reb Yisroel dem salanter / [Yisroel salanter] [Israel Salanter] ritba '(c. 1250-1330) [R. Yom Tov Ben Avraham]; Spanish talmudist' Yerovom ben Nevot * muser|nikes [1] viderkol 001 der elul|diker regn roysht, di volkns tsien, 002 vi an eyde tsu a heyliker levaye. 003 s'iz fintster, un mayn harts hot zikh tseshrien, 004 vi in a khurve a faryogte khaye; 005 s'iz finster, un mayn harts hot zikh tseshrien 006 mitn nign fun bal-muser reb Bekhaye... 007 geshreyen hobn fun mayn tif aroyfgeshturemt, 008 un flatern arum mayn kop mit eyme, 009 shtey ikh a geshpanter, vi der vekhter oyfn turem, 010 vos hot derhert in khashkhes -- trit geheyme... 011 o, naketer, tsetsoygener geshrey, 012 o, koyles fun bagaysterung, o, shtimen horike, 013 ikh gey aykh nokh -- ikh gey 014 nokh der viderkol fun mayne elul-nekht farzibnyorike... * 015 in kloyz iz likhtik, shleferik un heys, 016 a reyikh vi fun kinderishe vindelekh -- a faykhter, 017 misht zikh oys mit zoyerkayt un shveys, 018 gedikhter shtoyb farvolknt di tseblitste laykhter, 019 tseshpritst dos gold oyf dem poroykhes, 020 far|dveyk|ete geshtaltn iber shtenderreyen, 021 heyzerik, aroysgeshlogn fun di koykhes, 022 fargeyen in geshreyen. 023 a makhne shpart zikh durkhn shmoln durkhgang fun di benk, 024 vi a yam durkh felzn -- tsu dem breg, 025 un hobn zey di mizrekh-vant farshvenkt, 026 khvalyen zey tsurik in mayrev-zayt avek. 027 a shure bokherem -- a mutne vaser-rine, 028 gist zikh durkh der breyt, fun tsofn-zayt -- tsu dorem, 029 un mitn shem-havaye oyf di penemer di grine, 030 shoklt men zikh bay dem tish ariber moser-sforem... 031 es kletern tsum himl oyfn eygenem geshrey -- di zin 032 fun ukraine, lite, poyln un volin... 033 der kurtser trokhnbroder halt zikh far di oyern, 034 khapt in moyl a posek, khazer|t im geshmak un kayt: 035 "hern hob ikh tsugehert Efroyem tut badoyern: 036 du host mikh geshtroft -- un ikh bin a geshtrofter"-- loyft er um un shrayt. 037 antkegn loyft der langer trokhnbroder, 038 der tales-kotn virblt arum im, 039 zayn ponem iz tsekneytsht, zayn rekl iz tseknodert, 040 un farshmodert iz zayn shtim. 041 er shlaydert mit di hent, vi er volt zikh getrunken: 042 "geystu nit aroyf -- muztu geyn arop", -- 043 iz er aropgezunken, 044 un shlogt tsunoyf zikh mit dem kurtsn kop tsu kop: 045 "geystu nit aroyf -- muztu geyn arunter", -- 046 der kurtser ober iz gezunter, 047 shrayt er hekher: "hern hob ikh tsugehert"; 048 zey shtoysn zikh, vi herner oyf a shmoln brik, 049 biz s'krikht in mitn durkh der ostrovoler, -- 050 varft zikh yeder in zayn zayt tsurik... 051 der ostrovoler iz a shmoler, 052 mit tsarte hent, a krankn fus un shvakhn guf, 053 oyf dare akslen zitst a kop a kantiker un groyser, 054 a pisk -- vos frest a gantsn ment|shn oyf; 055 oygn -- tunkele un heyse, 056 vos kukn fun a zayt oyf veltisher hanoe, -- 057 bahalt er oys zayn blik, zayn krankn fus, 058 un vayzt di kinbakn [kayers], vi bay a khaye-roe; 059 zayn ponem krimt zikh shtendik fun fardrus [fardros], 060 vi er volt opfiln in moyl a tam a bitern, 061 un ven er geyt di bokherem di yingere farbay, 062 nemen klingedike shtimen hekher tsitern. 063 -- varshever -- derlangt er fun a zayt a zog, di oygn opgevendt, 064 tsu a bokher|l, vos patsht far|dveyk|et, kloymer|sht, in di hent -- 065 varshever, ir halt in eyn farshpetikn tsum davnen, 066 haynt hot ir farzamt tsum shier, 067 men vet aykh kans|enen mit khaluke, -- 068 un er shlept avek zikh tsu der tir. 069 bay der kloyztir shteyt reb Abe, tsupt di bord far|moyekh|t. 070 a gantsn zumer zitst reb Abe oyf a boydem -- in hisboydedes; 071 elul kumt er dem bes-medresh opgebn zayn koyekh... 072 der ostrovoler iz nit oyfgeleygt un entfert oyfn kol im: 073 -- ir makht haynt far di yingere a vaad? 074 men hot gefunen in dem vilners kestl -- 075 reb Abe shpitst di kleyne oygn oys -- 076 a bukh!.. 077 der ostrovoler geyt aroys fun kloyz 078 farlangvaylikt, a beyzer un a mider. 079 reb Abe iz tsu lang gezesn bikhides, 080 shteyt er, glotst un goylem|t, biz er git a tsapl -- nemt zikh dreyen 081 tsvishn shtenders, lerner un geshreyen, 082 es glien zayne vilde shvartse oygn, 083 vi bay a nozer ersht gekumen fun di midber-zamdn -- 084 antkegn kumt im on a shtayfer, oysgetsoygn, 085 Dovid kapetkevit|sher -- der oysgeputster lamdn. 086 reb Abe muser|nik derfilt a sine: 087 frant, dem tales-kotn halt er a farshtektn in di hoyzn, 088 a shidekh vil er davke mit tsen toyznt; 089 er vayzt far alemen zayn groysn zeyger, 090 fardreyt di yingere di kep mit kharef|dike shayles, 091 zey viln beser hern zayns a pilpl oyf a reb Akive eyger, 092 eyder lernen muser b|hispayles... 093 shuldik iz der rosh-yeshive -- vil zikh vayzn far damir un radn, 094 az er hot oykhet bekies in gants shas, 095 az zayner a yeshive-man ken oykh bakumen nadn. 096 reb Abe, ful mit kaas, 097 tsit vi drot zayn bord di pekhike, 098 biz zayne oygn shpitsike un shtekhike, 099 bafaln Shloyme|le babunitser - a tmimes|dike lam. 100 a bokher|l keyn tsvantsik yor nit, 101 halt er in di hent zayn ponem ayngeramt, 102 di ongetrerte oygn zeen gornit, 103 un khlipet mit a kindish reyner shtime: 104 "der iker iz in ment|shns lebn -- arbetn oyf zikh aleyn" 105 reb Abe kvelt: an oyle-tmime... 106 a bisl vayter, bay der vant, zitst khlavne, 107 shmeykhlt klug, un lernt muser b|hispayles -- shtil. 108 a kop hot er a zeltenem, zogt toyre, 109 zayn nign geyt nit iber in gebril, 110 zayn shtilkayt -- in a moreshkhoyre... 111 reb Abe brumt: er hot oyf alts a heter, 112 ken poylish, iz a bal-tnakh, 113 er hot geleyent bleter, 114 veys er verter veltishe a sakh, 115 un der -- zol vern es dem rosh-yeshive|s eydem! 116 der oylem hot im, dem metsuyen, shtark nit lib; 117 er vet tsurik avekgeyn oyfn boydem -- 118 klert reb Abe ongekhmuret [ongekhmaret], trib -- 119 oyb der - vet vern der bal-deye in bes-medresh... 120 reb Abe git a glet a bokher|l fun kovel: 121 -- vos zitst ir, Yoysef, az der eybershter meg zikh derbaremen, 122 tsunoyfgedreyt far|moreshkhoyre|t, vi an ovl? 123 lernt muser -- vet ir zikh dervaremen... 124 mit a mol derzet er: s'shteyt der vilner bay der bime, 125 dermont reb Abe zikh on bukh in kestl -- -- -- 126 dokh shmeykhlt er... un Khayem vilner hert a zise shtime: 127 -- vos makht ir, vilner? -- un azoy, gor on a meyn, 128 farrukn zikh tsvey finger in zayn vestl: 129 -- vos iz es, ha? -- a kemele, 130 dertsu a shpigele mit a bagildtn remele! 131 fayn, -- farkrimt zikh der bal-muser, un er git tsu shtreng: 132 -- nokh mayrev makhn mir a vaad, -- 133 un farshvindt tsevishn di bazetste benk. 134 Khayem vilner blaybt farkhusht, - 135 er hot in gantsn nit gedenkt, 136 az ven di mame hot mit trern im gekusht, 137 hot zi arayngeleygt a keml in zayn vestl-keshene. 138 er falt tsu mit zayn shtern tsu di bime-kep di meshene -- 139 ersht itst hot er dershpirt s'ar a farbitener 140 er iz gevorn in der kurtser tsayt, -- 141 elnt kukt er zikh arum, vi fun a shifbrokh a gelitener, 142 aroysgevorfn oyf a breg in vister vayt... 143 un s'kletern tsum himl oyfn eygenem geshrey -- di zin 144 fun ukraine, lite, poyln un volin... * 145 Khayem vilner in navaredker yeshive, shnas tara"ts [1930/1931] 146 vi ale bokherem hot er an arbe-kanfes biz di kni getrogn, 147 un reb Abe muser|nik -- a vilde boydemkats, 148 hot afile oyf di troymen in zayn shlof gehat tsu zogn... 149 khotsh er iz alt geven koym tsvantsik yor, 150 hot er -- azh blaykh fun ernst -- oysgezen vi draysik; 151 er hot a zump in zikh gefunen oyf der vor, 152 un vi an ekhter muser|nik oyf zikh gearbet flaysik. 153 er hot gehert, vi fun der vayt -- zayn blut, 154 azoy vi dos geroysh fun vaytn frilingdikn vaser; 155 er iz geshlofn oyf a kloyzbank in a hut, 156 fun tog gevorn ayngehaltener un blaser. 157 reb Abe iz geven a vilde boydemkats, 158 un er -- an arbe-kanfes|diker filosof in oysgedreyte shikh, 159 Khayem vilner in navaredker yeshive shnas tara"ts -- 160 dos bin ikh... 3)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 20 March 1998 From: Leye Krikun Subject: batkhonem-lider vi a zhaner in der yidisher folkstimlekhe literatur (Ariela Krasni) Ariela krasni batkhonem-lider vi a zhaner in der yidisher folkstimlekhe literatur [doktorat, bar-ilan universitet, ramat-gan, 1993] [English title: Batkhonim Songs as a Literary Genre in Jewish Popular Literature] kurtser inhalt der yidisher batkhn-leyts, a fraye geshtalt in zayn tokh, hot gevandert in mitlelter in di vegn tsuzamen mit andere kinstler fun andere felker. er hot nit ongenumen di romen fun gezelshaftlekhe oder religyeze normes, un a sakh fun zayne kharakterizirungen zenen geven karnavale. zayendik a shtikl tarte desasre kinstler, iz er bavirkt gevorn fun di minhogem un lebnsshteyger fun der kristlekher svive un hot mitgebrakht inem yidishn geto fremde elementn. di dozike efenung fun a fentster in der kristlekher velt hot arayngebrakht a khvalye fun fremde veltlekhe shafungen in der yidisher gas. s'iz nit keyn vunder, az di gaystike onfirer hobn gefirt a kamf kegn dem batkhn-leyts un gepruvt im shtern, ober nit matsliekh geven. di daytshishe leytsim, di "narn," hobn gevirkt oyf di yidishe leytsim say legabe oyserlekhe efektn vi kleydung oder tseteylung oyf grupes (16tn yorhundert), say legabe dem kharakter fun zeyere forshtelungen -- di farses. der barimter klaun "arlekino" fun der "komedye del'arte" hot gefunen zayn veg tsum "purim-shpil." er iz mashpie geven oyfn batkhn-leyts vos hot zikh antviklt fun an individueler geshtalt, vos ir frayhayt iz tsaytnvayz geven oyf der grenets fun hefker, in a teyatraler geshtalt mit a komisher funktsye un eygnshaftn fun improvizatsye. zayendik a tsuherer tsu di vibratsyes un kulturele antviklungen un ofn tsu enderungen, iz der batkhn-leyts ariber gilgulim un enderungen tsupasndik zikh tsu di badingungen un goyrmem. azoy iz er baaynflust gevorn fun der revolutsye, vos di renesans-bavegung hot geshafn, punkt vi zi hot baaynflust di yidishe gezelshaft un di kristlekhe. di bavegung fun humanizm hot bafrayt dem mentshn fun der kirkh, im geshtelt inem tsenter fun der velt un geefnt far im ale kulturele romen. dos kirkhlekhe teyater, vos zayn repertuar iz geven a religiez-didaktisher, hot zikh geendert un oyf zayn bine hobn ongehoybn tsu dershaynen fraye, tanakhishe pyeses. in fustrit fun di dozike enderungen hobn zikh ongehoybn tsu antviklen farsheydene sortn "purim-shpiln," un oyf a paraleln oyfn hot zikh antviklt der batkhn-leyts vi a komishe geshtalt -- "komishe perzon." di dozike leytsishe geshtalt hot adaptirt kharakterizirungen fun farsheydene leytsim, afile oyb zey zenen gekumen fun a svive, in velkher ire normes zenen geven fremd legabe der geshtalt. inem 16tn yorhundert hobn ongehoybn mashpie tsu zayn naye gaystike koykhes oyf der yidisher gezelshaft, vos hobn baaynflust dos yidntum bizn sof 19tn yorhundert. der batkhn-leyts hot zikh tsugepast tsu di naye badingungen, ober nit geendert zayn identifikatsye. der protses fun zayn kristalizirung is ongekumen tsu der endgiltiker form in 19tn yorhundert vi an ambivalente geshtalt -- batkhn un leyts: ir ershte helft -- a lomdishe ernst-magidishe geshtalt, un ir tsveyte helft -- a lekherlekhe, laykhtzinike un farvaylerishe geshtalt. mir gloybn az batkhonem-lider zenen an ekskluziver zhaner in der yidisher folks-literatur, un mir viln bavayzn undzer meynung durkh batsiungen tsu fir tkhumem: a. mir hobn ibergekukt farsheydene teoryes fun gelekhter kedey tsu forshn dem mahus fun badkhonishn gelekhter, un s'hot zikh aroysgevizn, az dos gelekhter fun a batkhn iz tsuzamengeshtelt, punkt vi zayn geshtalt, fun farsheydene elementn un alerley aspektn, velkhe zenen gefirt in tsvey vegn, vos shpiglen op zayn mahus: 1. der leytsisher veg, vos kharakterizirt dos gelekhter vi a karnavale, khaotishe un fardorbene gelekhter, vos zayne vortslen shtamen fun dianisishn kult, un vos s'iz faran in im a bager tsu tsetreyslen dem gezelshaftlekhn seyder un zayne gezetsn. 2. der ernst-lomdisher veg, vos kharakterizirt dos gelekhter vi a konstruktiver faktor vos shtromt tsuzamen mit di organizirte un stabile sistemen fun di mitsves. b. forshung fun di kinstlerishe komponentn in di batkhonem-lider hot gevizn, az di poetik fun di lider iz an ekskluzive in di romen fun der folks-literatur. ir boyletste kharakterizirung iz der shprakhlekher oysdruk, vos iz a spetsyeler in zayn gevenlekhkayt. di dozike shprakh iz bederekh-klal nit andersh in ir nive fun der vokhediker shprakh fun "amkhe." a tsugablekhe kharakteristik iz der element fun loshn-koydesh. men kon derkenen in farsheydene shtaflen fun batsiung tsum element -- ven der stil vert gemeyner, vert faroremt di tsol fun psukem, un zeyer shprakh vert deformirt. tsvishn di prozodishe dershaynungen iz der gram der farshpreytster element un in im iz faran a klang-iberkhazerung, velkhe ekzistirt tsulib dem gezets funem verter-shpil, un velkhe iz shaykh tsu di klolem fun geher, vos zenen kharakteristish farn kinstler, vos tret aroys oyf a mindlekhn oyfn. c. der batkhn vi an "ikh," vos hot zayne ibertsaygungen, identifitsirt zikh mit zayn funktsye vi an aktyor, nor ven zi dint vi a fundament tsu realizirn zayne hoypt-tsiln. vos iz shaykh di batsiungen batkhn-publikum -- zenen say der batkhn-aktyor, say zayn publikum aktive goyrmem in dem kinstlerishn tsunoyftref. zey zenen ophengik eyner funem tsveytn, shafndik a sheferishn krayz un gebndik di sheferishe shpayz eyner dem tsveytn durkh dem teyatraler energye. deriber zenen der farshtand fun publikum, zayne baderfenishn, zayne shtimungen, zayne tsiln un zayn natur nit veyniker vikhtik vi zayn bakant mit di kinstlerishe printsipn un tekhnishe protsesn. d. fun forshn di nit-shprakhlekhe komunikative mitlen (batkhn-publikum) -- mimik, muzik, farmaskirung un grimirung -- hobn mir gelernt, az di dozike mitlen zenen sistemen fun simonem, velkhe farbindn tsvishn dem publikum un der shafung. zey zenen nit veyniker vikhtik fun di shprakhlekhe mitlen. der batkhn darf hershn iber ale aspektn un zayn greyt zikh tsu banutsn mit zey oyf der bine. er darf zikh rekhenen mit di vizuele komponentn lemoshl kleydung un maskes, mimik un bavegungen. derfar hobn mir take gefunen a sakh batkhonem, velkhe hobn genutst di dozike mitlen kedey aribertsufirn naye materyaln tsu zeyer publikum. vibald der farvayler iz mekuyem bederekh-klal a direkte farbindung mitn publikum, redt tsu im un shtelt for spetsyel far im -- zenen di verter zeyer vikhtik, di intonatsye, de zhestn, de havaye un di muzik -- dos alts shtelt tsunoyf a harmonishe shprakh, velkhe banutst der batkhn-leyts un de andere bine-aktyorn vi a teyatraler medyum. toykhn ho|inyonem kurtser inhalt araynfir 1 - 6 kapitl eyns: gelekhter in lider fun batkhonem in shaykhes tsu farsheydene teoryes oyf der teme. 1. vos iz gelekhter a. der kharakter fun gelekhter.............................8 - 13 b. di komishe efektn......................................14 - 19 c. dos gelekhter fun batkhn...............................20 - 28 2. komizm vi a dianisisher element a. der karnaval vi a tsentrale dershaynung in der komisher velt.......................29 - 33 b. di farbindung tsvishn kult un teater in der eyropeisher kultur.......................34 - 40 c. di farbindung tsvishn kult un teater in der yidisher mesoyre.........................41 - 45 3. di geshtalt fun komishn kinstler a. kharakteristishe eygnshaftn............................46 - 50 b. zayn ort in der gezelshaft.............................51 - 56 c. der batkhn in komisher geshtalt........................57 - 63 4. der gezelshaftlekh-kultureler tsuzamenhang fun gelekhter a. dos gelekhter vi a gezelshaftlekher dershaynung.............................................64 - 70 b. di gezelshaftlekhe funktsyes fun gelekhter...............................................71 - 75 c. der ernst-lekherlekher batkhn in tsenter fun tsayt-gezelshaftlekhe geshenishn..............................................76 - 84 kapitl tsvey: di lider fun batkhonem vi a yidishe ekskluzive dershaynung -- a rezultat fun der tsayt 1. di vortslen fun batkhn-leyts a. in yidishe mekoyrem.....................................86 - 93 b. di metamorfoze fun geshtalt in farsheydene formen, in farsheydene lender un in farsheydene nemen..........................94 - 104 2. di kristalizirung fun der batkhn- geshtalt durkh: a. oyserlekhe faktorn -- kristlekhe hashpoes...............................................105 - 114 b. inerlekhe faktorn -- di tkufe fun muser un der bli fun muser-sforem......................115 - 125 3. di poezye fun batkhonem vakst aroys funem folk; di intelektuale meyukhesem batsien zikh tsu ir vi tsu a nideriker shafung un dervaytern zi fun zikh......................126 - 135 4. poezye fun batkhonem vi a nayive poezye; ire inhaltn shpiglen op dos lebn fun "amkhe" -- aktualye, minhogem, vekedoyme...............136 - 146 5. di hashpoe fun der "komedye del'arte" oyf farsheydene elementn in di batkhonem-lider.........147 - 156 kapitl dray: der batkhn vi a fil-shikhtike geshtalt 1. fun der karnavaler khoyzek-geshtalt biz der ernst-lamdonisher geshtalt funem batkhn a. purim-shpil............................................158 - 165 b. khasenes...............................................166 - 173 2. der batkhn vi an onfirer fun khasene- tseremonyes -- a talmid-khokhem, vos iz a boke in halokhes, minhogem un muser-sforem...........174 - 187 3. der batkhn vi a mekhaber fun populerer poezye, vos shpiglt op di baderfenishn fun zayne leyner: vi a gezelshaftlekher kritiker un vi a kval fun informatsye un nays.................................188 - 199 4. der batkhn vi a trubador un aktyor, vos shtelt for zayne shafungen in vayn-kelers -- a populerer farvayler.....................100 - 216 5. der batkhn vi a folks-zinger, vos drikt oys zayn kunst durkh tsvey funktsyes -- zingen un zogn..............................217 - 234 6. di lider fun bakhn vi psure-onzoger fun folkstimlekhn teyater................................226 - 234 kapitl fir: di batsyungen kinstler-publikum fun batkhn 1. dos "ikh" fun batkhn, vos hot zayne eygene ibertsaygungen un vos nit tomed identifitsirt zikh mit zayne tsiln...................236 - 245 2. der batkhn vos trogt a maske...............................246 - 253 3. der batkhn vi a direkter tsuzamenbinder tsvishn dem publikum un der shafung.............................................254 - 263 4. di opvishung fun der mekhitse tsvishn batkhn un publikum.........................................264 - 272 5. der publikum vi an aktiver goyrem inem tsunoyftref, vi a shutef funem batkhn in zayn shafung un vi a teyl fun shafungs-krayz, vos dermeglekht der teyatraler energye tsu shtromen........................273 - 280 kapitl finf: kinstlerishe komponentn in di lider fun batkhonem 1. poetik fun batkhonem-lider in farbindung mit der folkstimlekher literatur................282 - 288 2. konventsyes a. tsentrale teme -- di khasene un ire tseremonyes............289 - 294 b. di oysnitsung fun di zelbe temes: gezelshaftlekhe hipokrize, modernizatsye, di koolshe-tuer-royber ukhedoyme..........295 - 302 c. muzik tsugepast tsum tekst................................303 - 307 3. improvizatsye vi a vikhtiker element in der batkhonem-poezye............................308 - 315 4. diglosye un ire vertn -- dos vokhedike yidish ayngeflokhtn in loshn-koydesh.............316 - 327 5. prozodishe dershaynungen...................................328 - 345 bibliografye kurtser inhalt oyf hebreish toykhn inyonem oyf hebreish kurtser inhalt oyf english toykhn inyonem oyf english ______________________________________________________ End of _The Mendele Review_ 02.010 Leonard Prager, editor The editor of _TMR_ can also be reached via _Mendele_'s homepage: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele Subscribers to _Mendele_ (see below) automatically receive _The Mendele Review_. Send "to subscribe" or change-of-status messages to: listproc@lists.yale.edu a. For a temporary stop: set mendele mail postpone b. To resume delivery: set mendele mail ack c. To subscribe: sub mendele first_name last_name d. To unsubscribe kholile: unsub mendele ****Getting back issues**** _The Mendele Review_ archives can be reached at: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele/tmrarc.htm _The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language (A Companion to _MENDELE_) ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 02.011 27 March 1998 1) Yiddish Matters: From the Editor (Leonard Prager) 2) _geven a shtot lutsk, geven un umgekumen_ (Yoysef Retseptor) 3) "a toyte hant," _muser|nikes_ (Khayem grade) 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 27 March 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: Yiddish Matters 1. In this issue A brief review of a brochure memorializing Lutsk and the second installment of Khayem grade's long poem, _muser|nikes_. 2. In future issues Six more installments of _muser|nikes_, an issue devoted to the Yiddish alphabet, one devoted to Yehoyesh's tanakh translation, one to the use of Hebraisms in Yiddish. Rosheshone issue: naye yidishe shafungen [with _Der bavebter yid_] 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 27 March 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: Yoysef retseptor, _geven a shtot lutsk, geven un umgekumen_ (Leonard Prager) [review] Yoysef retseptor [Joseph Receptor (accent acute over first e of last name)] (1904-1986). _geven a shtot lutsk*, geven un umgekumen_. Paris [privately printed], 1962, 15 pp. Reviewed by Leonard Prager The powerful impulse to record, to document for posterity the impossible existence in the camps and ghettos during the dark years of the Nazi War Against the Jews (1939-1945) made diarists and chroniclers of many who might otherwise have had no literary inclination. They prophetically sensed that a "normal" humanity would resist belief in the unbelievable world molded by the Nazis. But numberless others who did not personally undergo the trauma of the Shoa and who might ordinarily have felt no great need to write have taken pen in hand with an almost equal sense of mission to testify that their former Old World homes did exist, that a certain way of life once was, that towns with a distinct flavor and character were real places and, especially, that life in that past despite poverty and oppression had its own beauty and excitement. They feel, too, a great national and moral responsibility to remind the world of its unfathomable crime againt the Jewish people. Here is Yoysef Retseptor's own "Foreword" to explain why he needed to write his brochure, even though a large memorial work on Lutsk already existed: "... vifil m'zol nisht shraybn vegn undzer groysn khurbm vet nisht zayn tsu fil um tsu dertseyln dem shoyder un genem, vos undzere korbon|es hobn gelitn fun di hitleristishe merder un zeyere shoftem. Oyb m'ken dem _seyfer lutsk_ farglaykhn tsu a groysn makhzer in velkhn s'gefunen zikh ale tfiles un nisukhem, iz di broshur vi a kleyn sider|l, vi a gor kleyn matseyve." In short, the author's impulse is the ancient (cf. Homer's _Odyssey_) and near-universal one of "shteln a matseyve," placing a memorial-marker. He goes on to say that his memoir tells in brief: "az s'iz geven a shtot lutsk. a shtot, vu s'hot geshvebt der yidisher gayst. vu m'hot in di gasn geret mame loshn. vu di shabosem un yontoyvem hobn zikh gefilt in shtub un in gas. vu m'hot gefirt khosn-kale tsu der khupe ba der shil, baglayt durkhn oylem un yidishe klezmer. vu onhoyb khoydesh hot der yid in droysn on shum kompleks oder shterung mekhadesh geven di lavone. vu simkhes-toyre hobn di khsidem gekhapt a tentsl in droysn, geyendik fun eyn shil in di tsveyte." And then came calamity and "nishto mer in shtot keyn yidn, m'hert nisht mer dos yidishe loshn un farshvundn iz fun shtot der yidisher oyszen un der yidisher gayst." The world, he writes, will soon forget the Shoa, but it is our responsibility to remind it that a "civilized" people slaughtered millions of people simply because they were Jews. The act of remembering is both "national" -- mourning the loss of a specific Jewish civilization, and "humanist" -- reminding mankind of the evil which may lie beneath the veneer of rationality. There is no mention of revenge, on the one hand, or of memorializing the destroyed community through, say, the rebuilding of a Jewish homeland or through some concrete activity with narrower and more ideological content than is suggested by "shteln a matseyve." Likened to a 'small prayer book' as well as to a gravestone, the brochure is somehow meant to be a religious offering, the prayer-book symbol implying Jewish continuity and survival through cultivation of that timeless and apolitical sphere of Judaism which, Hannah Arendt argued, rendered Jews totally vulnerable in the modern period. Yoysef Retseptor is one of the legion of Jewish men and women, not professional writers or journalists, who have attempted to memorialize their old homes in Eastern Europe. Their writings constitute a sub-genre of the large body of works known as _yisker-bikher_ ('Memorial Books'). Despite the appearance of a large volume, _Seyfer lutsk_, which belongs to this genre, Retseptor needed to make his own deposition. His essay consists of a lyrical evocation of an idealized Jewish life in his hometown of Lutsk [Polish _Luck_ (with a diagonal across the L indicating the sound /w/] prior to the German invasion of Poland and a description, gleaned largely from one of the few survivors of the Lutsk ghetto, Kh. Gok [Gak?] (who settled in Canada after the War) of the fate of Lutsk Jews during the Shoa. The first part of Retseptor's essay is yet another witness of the way the Jewish calendar shaped Jewish life in the towns of Eastern Europe. The author's descriptions are most affecting when he details his vignettes with attention to naming; he is weakest when his urge for summing up leads him to write abstractly. Lutsk is conjured up before our eyes in Retseptor's list of street names and evocation of the Thursday market fair: "di lange yagalonske, vilke un novostroyenye (velkhe hot zikh geendikt mitn yidishn beys-oylem), doline un yarovitse, krasne un mitsroyem gas, karaimske un nidev, bolnitshne, trinitarske un dominikanska, der mark-plats, vu di yidishe sedekhes hobn in di zumer-teg farkoyft zeyere heyse katshenes ['corn-on-the-cob'] fun di groyse blekhene samovarn un vu yanishes shmalts hering hobn gehat a groysn opgang ba di poyerem (bazunder donershtik -- in tog fun yarid) ven zey zenen gekumen farkoyfn zeyer holts, tvue, frukhtn, oyfes, fish, eyer, shtroy, skhakh ['_suke_ branches'] un heshaynes ['willow twigs']." This sentence reveals a good deal about the Polish-Jewish (there were also Ukrainians and Russians in Lutsk) symbiosis which was alive until about the 1920s when Poles and Jews began to compete murderously for the same positions in an overpopulated scarcity economy. The Christian-named streets -- Trinitarian and Dominican -- are part of the remembered town, which also had Egypt and Karaite streets. The peasants sell the Jews items necessary for Jewish religious life, as well as farm products and the raw materials from which the Jewish craftsmen will make finished products. Yet Retseptor remembers Lutsk as having thirty thousand Jews and only a few thousand non-Jews. It might very well have seemed a very Jewish town, but there were no towns or shtetls or derfer in eastern Europe without gentiles. According to the _Encyclopaedia Judaica_ (11:589), Lutsk had 20,000 Jews by 1939. Official figures, which conceivably understated the Jewish presence for electoral or other purposes -- I don't really know if this was the case -- gave: 1921 14,800 Jews ca. 70 % 1931 17,366 Jews 48.5 % 1937 15,800 Jews 36.5 % (_EJ_ 11:588). Retseptor does not mention how many Jews returned to Lutsk after the Liberation. When the Soviets captured the town in February 1943, 150 Jews emerged from the surrounding forests. By the late 1960s there were 1,500 Jews in Lutsk (_EJ_ 11:589). The ultimately hopeless but in its own way courageous effort to rebuild Jewish life in Post-Shoa Poland is a story the author ignores. There must be innumerable such brochures as Retseptor's. I chose to write about it today because, looking for a copy in a large university library where it was catalogued, I was told that it was lost. Small items such as this are easily misplaced and can remain "lost" for years. But even if they sit safely on library shelves, they can be lost to our collective consciousness. While their value for their authors may have been principally subjective, they are not lacking -- when used critically -- in documentary and, yes, literary value. Nostalgia, of course, distorts, but Retseptor's (and other essays like his) unpredictably often capture images which resonate in the mind. * Now Lutzk, Ukraine 3)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 27 March 1998 From: Itsik Goldenberg Subject: "a toyte hant," _muser|nikes_ (Khayem grade) muser|nikes fun Khayem grade [2] a toyte hant 001 s'iz shtil in oysgeloshenem bes-medresh, shtil, 002 in vaybershulkhl vign zikh a hayfl shotns 003 oyfn balkn, oyfn dil, 004 un s'hoyden oyf di vent zikh tales-kotn|s... 005 reb Abe halt a halb sho oysgeshtrekt a toyte hant, 006 khripet heyzerik un trukn: 007 Khayem vilner -- git a tkies-kaf, 008 keyn mol in a bikhl nit arayntsukukn. 009 ikh veys: ir zayt nit vi a hinerkepl shlaf, 010 a bal-tayve zol aykh glaykh fartsien in zayn shleyf; 011 di bikhlekh zaynen ober khazer-treyf, 012 un vi a mentsh zol shtark nit zayn, 013 vert er kalye fun treyf-posls, 014 un ir -- anshtot tsu veykn zikh in vayn, 015 veykt ir zikh in rosl... 016 men muz zikh fun der velt fun vaytn haltn, 017 a fayerdik tseglite shtabe 018 nemt men fun a leshtop oykh aroys a kalte -- 019 fargeyt zikh hesped|ik reb Abe -- 020 Khayem vilner, git a tkies-kaf... 021 un Khayem vilner in khaveyrem-krayz, 022 filt vi s'baysn zayne fustrit mayz. 023 antkegn im zitst khlavne a tseshmeykhlter, vi shtendik, 024 oyf zayn oyfgeramtn ponem iz keyn zakh nit kentik. 025 Yoysef kovler rirt nit mit keyn eyver, 026 er shtart der moreshkhoyre|nik -- a keyver, 027 a frishe vund a ofene. 028 mit oygn faykht-farlofene 029 kukt Shloyme|le babunitser ful flaternish 030 oyfn vilner in zayn maternish. 031 nor der varshever der tumler vigt zikh frum, 032 a rege falt arop zayn noz der shleferiker oyfn tish, 033 bald tshukhet er zikh oys -- tsemisht 034 kukt er tomevate zikh arum: 035 er volt shoyn lang geshlofn -- gikher, gikher, 036 Khayem vilner zhalevet a hant, 037 a mayse bikher, -- 038 un zayn shotn vert nokh frimer oyf der vant... 039 plutslung shpringt reb Abe oyf, 040 es treyslt zikh fun kaas zayn guf: 041 -- vos iz es gor in mitn drinen, 042 ikh vel a gantse nakht do patern? 043 vos meynt ir, vilner, kh'vel zikh biz baginen 044 mit aykh matern? 045 ir zayt a yingl! -- Khayem vilner vert als blaser. 046 reb Abe shnaydt an ongetsundener: 047 -- ir zayt a hantekh a farzayerter, a kool|sher, a naser, 048 an oysgevishter, opgebundener, 049 an emes|er reshus-horabem zayt ir, 050 a mistkastn far fremdn mist un shteyner -- 051 der emes iz bloyz eyner. 052 ir meynt, mir veln aykh do haltn vayter? 053 an erlekher volt di treyf-posl|s oysgemeyket; 054 mashmoes, az in aykh zitst tif der ibl -- -- -- 055 -- emes, emes -- bamket tsu der varshever far|dveyke|t. 056 reb Abe mest im op: zitst glaykh, 057 tsadik|l -- mir konen aykh! 058 un veykher shoyn tsum vilner: hot nit keyn faribl, 059 mir veysn, ir vet ayer hant be'emes haltn, -- 060 gedenkt, der yeytser-hore ken zikh oysbahaltn. 061 ir klert: ikh vel aleyn zen un dervayzn kenen, 062 az di bikhlekh zaynen gornit, -- 063 zog ikh aykh: zey veln aykh dos harts farbrenen, 064 frier oder shpeter vet ir zen di nafke-mine; 065 ir visht zikh un shteyt vayter unter a tsefoylte rine, -- 066 di toyre un di velt -- zey kenen nit tsuzamen zayn, 067 zayt-zhe nit der hunt, vos vil oyf beyde khasenes bavayzn -- - -- 068 un Khayem vilner filt, men nemt zayn hant arayn, 069 vi in a klem fun ayzn... 070 reb Abe dreyt zikh op fun vilner on a vort, 071 vi a shoykhet fun an of, vos er hot opgeshokhtn. 072 aropgelozt di gambe oyf der bord, 073 di orems oyf der brust farflokhtn. 074 git er zikh a ker tsu der babunitser: 075 -- dertseylt, vos tut ir, Shloyme, oyf tsu menatseyekh zayn di gayve? 076 es hot der kupishker tsebrokhn zayne briln, 077 beshas er hot zikh eyn mol oyfn gas farkukt 078 mit treyf|er tayve -- 079 un ir vos tut tsu brekhn ayer viln? 080 Shloyme hot zayn kepl in di akslen tsiterik farrukt, 081 vi a lam a bidne in a hogl, -- 082 reb Abe, shoyn in muser|n a rogl, 083 blaybt a rege a farloshener, fartifter, 084 bald nemen zayne umheymlekhe oygn vider glantsn: 085 -- der kupishker, zol bayshteyn undz der skhus fun nifter, 086 flegt zikh opgebn in gantsn: 087 amol hot er a vinter zayne finger opgefrorn, 088 getrogn yedn tog a khoyle inem hegdesh esn -- 089 babunitser, tsi filt ir ayer eygenem khesorn, 090 vi der veytog fun an opgehaktn finger, 091 ir zolt on ale mayles ayere fargesn? 092 vemen viln mir es narn, vemen? 093 far vos-zhe viln mir zikh dafke makhn gringer? 094 s'iz a kharpe far mevakshem zikh tsu shemen! 095 vos tut ir hekher ontsuyogn? 096 velder zaynen do -- to lomir geyn dort lebn mit bitokhn! 097 der mentsh is shtark genug fun alts zikh optsuzogn. 098 in Shloyme|s bakn nemt dos blut zikh zamlen, 099 biz er klaybt tsuzamen mut aroystsushtamlen: 100 -- ikh hob mayn futer opgegebn, 101 un gegangen on a mantl biz in tifn vinter -- -- -- 102 oyf reb Abe|s tseyner nemt a shmeykhl shvebn, 103 farmatert shlaydert er avek zayn kop ahinter: 104 -- vos zogt ir, khlavne, tsu aza pule? 105 bazakht un ruik entfert khlavne: 106 -- dos iz a groyser prat -- nor s'ken geshen 107 a mentsh zol makrev zayn dos lebn -- 108 di velt zol ober visn es un zen... 109 Shloyme lozt arop dem kop: 110 -- hot ver gevust, az ikh hob oysgeton mayn futer? 111 khlavne entfert ruik op: 112 -- men ken ton gut|s -- un dokh nit zayn keyn guter... 113 Shloyme vert tsetumlt-royt antshvign, 114 reb Abe nemt zikh impetiker vign: 115 -- reb Shloyme zisls moshl veyst ir dokh gevis: 116 mir veln loybn emetsn, vos hit a krankn, 117 krigt er ober far zayn gut|skeyt vos nit iz, 118 iz im nito far vos tsu danken. -- 119 derzet der rosh havaad in Shloyme|s oyg a trer, 120 nemt er im baruikn: babunitser, s'iz shver 121 tsu vern a mekhaber, laykhter iz tsu vern a mevaker, -- 122 klemt zikh nit, ir shteyt nit op fun andere... 123 Khlavne filt dem shtokh, zayn ponem flakert, 124 reb Abe vagt nit mer. 125 der varshever derzet a shas hakoysher, 126 khapt aroys a bikhele fun keshene un shrayt: 127 -- ay, ay, hob ikh farshribn oyftuen a sakh! 128 reb Abe git a tap im mit di oygn fun der zayt, 129 un zogt mit ayngehaltenem gebeyzer: 130 -- a karlikl hot zikh tseshrien bay der nakht: 131 di vig iz eng im, er gevorn iz a groyser, 132 hot men likhtik in der gikh gemakht, 133 ersht -- dos karlikl vos ale mol 134 ligt tsevalgert in der breyt, 135 gevaldevet es un barimt zikh oyfn kol, -- 136 ir farshteyt?.. 137 un vider tsit reb Abe oys a gele hant a horike: 138 -- Yoysef kovler, git a shvue eybik blaybn mit navaredok, -- 139 un nemt oyf zikh kaboles naye tsu di farayorike. 140 der varshever vinkt khitre: he, a khapenish, 141 er khapt di yoldn, vi a ganef fun di plankn -- gret, 142 di mevakshem ober shtumen mit harts-klapenish, 143 yederer dermont zikh, vi men hot in im arayngeredt, 144 biz er hot tsugeshvorn, -- 145 zey kukn oyfn kovler, oyf reb Abe|s toyter hant, 146 zey drikn ot di toyte hant fun kame yorn... 147 Yoysef shtelt zikh, kukt zikh um in vaybershul, 148 vi er volt hilf gezukht in kheyder, -- 149 dos vaybershulkhl iz mit shotns ful, 150 un Yoysef zogt far|yiesh|t: kh'tu a neyder 151 keyn mol fun yeshive nit avektsugeyn, 152 oyf yontef nit tsu forn in der heym -- keyn kovel, 153 un in zayn shvue klogt geveyn, 154 vi in der ershtn kadesh fun an ovl -- - -- 155 shtil iz in baynakhtikn besmedresh, shtil. 156 in vaybershulkhl vign zikh di shotns 157 oyfn balkn, oyfn dil, 158 un s'hoyden oyf di vent zikh tales-koten|s... ______________________________________________________ End of _The Mendele Review_ 02.011 Leonard Prager, editor Send articles to: lprager@research.haifa.ac.il The editor of _TMR_ can also be reached via _Mendele_'s homepage: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele Subscribers to _Mendele_ (see below) automatically receive _The Mendele Review_. Send "to subscribe" or change-of-status messages to: listproc@lists.yale.edu a. For a temporary stop: set mendele mail postpone b. To resume delivery: set mendele mail ack c. To subscribe: sub mendele first_name last_name d. To unsubscribe kholile: unsub mendele ****Getting back issues**** _The Mendele Review_ archives can be reached at: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele/tmr _The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language (A Companion to _MENDELE_) ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 02.012 3 April 1998 1) Yiddish Matters: From the Editor (Leonard Prager) 2) _Selected morpho-syntactic changes in literary translations of Sholom-Aleichem from Yiddish to Hebrew_ (Hana Sagi) 3) "khezhbm-ha|nefesh," _muser|nikes_ (Khayem Grade) 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 3 April 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: Yiddish Matters 1. In this issue We continue with the third installment of Khayem Grade's _Muser|nikes_ and also give the table of contents and English abstract of a recent Bar-Ilan University dissertation on the influence of Yiddish on Hebrew (which, the author informs me, can be purchased only from Robinson Books, Nakhlat Binyamin 31, Tel Aviv 65162). 2. In future issues FIRST ANNIVERSARY ISSUE: the next issue (vol. 2, no. 13), the forty-first (41st) since _The Mendele Review_ was launched on 13 April 1997, will appear on 13 April 1998. 2)--------------------------------------------------- Date: 3 April 1998 From: Leah Krikun Subject: _Selected morpho-syntactic changes in literary translations of Sholom-Aleichem from Yiddish to Hebrew_ by Hana Sagi Selected morpho-syntactic changes in literary translations of Sholom-Aleichem from Yiddish to Hebrew A study of the influence of Yiddish on the structure of modern Hebrew By Hana Sagi Department of Hebrew Language and Semitic Languages Ph.D. Thesis Submitted to the Senate of Bar-Ilan University Ramat-Gan, Israel March, 1997 This work was carried out under the supervision of Prof. Menahem Zevi Kaddari, Department of Hebrew and Semitic Languages and Prof. Joseph Bar-El, The Rena Costa Center for Yiddish Studies Bar-Ilan University Table of Contents Hebrew abstract................................................Alef O.Introduction...................................................1 0.1 The subject and purpose of the paper.......................1 0.2 The structure of the paper.................................6 0.3 The method.................................................7 0.4 The choice and description of the corpus...................8 0.5 Theoretical background.....................................12 0.5.1 On the theory of interpretation......................13 0.5.1.1 Literary interpretation as a means of cultural dissemination..........................13 0.5.1.2 The Hebrew interpretation..........................14 0.5.1.3 The interpretion of Sholom- Aleichem's works...................................16 0.5.2 The revival of Hebrew in the light of Hebrew-Yiddish diglossia........................19 0.5.2.1 A thousand years of Yiddish influence on Hebrew writing........................19 0.5.2.2 Rabbinicl language -- one of the medieval languages.................................21 0.5.2.3 Rabbinical language a combination of Hebrew and Yiddish..............................22 0.5.2.4 Rabbinical language and the language of the "Golden Age" Poets of Spain....................24 0.5.3 Spoken Hebrew -- the climax of Hebrew revival..........26 0.5.3.1 Influences of Hebrew-Yiddish diglossia on spoken Hebrew.........................29 0.5.3.2 Various linguistic changes in Hebrew under the influence of Yiddish.....................31 0.5.3.2.1 Some changes in pronunciation.................31 0.5.3.2.2 Some morphological changes....................37 0.5.3.2.3 Some lexical changes..........................39 0.6 Summary..................................................47 1. The diminutive in contemporary Hebrew.........................48 1.1 Introduction...............................................48 1.1.1 Indirect means of miniaturization......................48 1.1.2 Direct means of miniaturization........................49 1.1.3 Discussion of the diminutive and its origins...........53 1.1.4 Different varieties of the diminutive in Hebrew........55 1.1.4.1 Inner changes of the morpheme......................55 1.1.4.2 External changes of the morpheme...................61 1.1.4.2.1 The suffix _l_...................................61 1.1.4.2.2 The suffixes _an_ and _iy_.......................62 1.1.4.2.3 The suffixes _on_ and _O'net_....................62 1.1.4.2.4 The suffix _it_..................................64 1.1.4.2.5 The suffix _iya_.................................65 1.4.4.3 Double miniaturization.............................66 1.2 The diminutive in contemporary literature..................67 1.2.1 The diminutive in the original Hebrew literature.......68 1.2.1.1 Is the rate of use of the diminutive a stylistic feature?....................71 1.2.2 Examining the diminutives in the original Hebrew literature.............................74 1.2.2.1 The first period: 1896-1929........................74 1.2.2.2 The second period: 1950-1969.......................82 1.2.2.3 The third period: 1980-1995........................93 1.2.3 The diminutive in literary translations................108 1.2.3.1 The diminutive in translations from Yiddish........108 1.2.3.2 The diminutive in translations from Russian........122 1.2.3.3 The diminutive in translations from English........132 1.3 The findings...............................................138 1.3.1 The diminutive: original literature compared to translated literature.....................143 1.3.1.1 Suffixes..........................................145 1.4 Summary....................................................147 2._Lo_ as a redundant negator....................................156 2.1 The phrase _kimat shelo_...................................156 2.1.1 The structure of the phrase............................158 2.1.2 Occurrences of the phrase _kimat shelo_................159 2.1.2.1 Occurrences of the phrase in the classical concordances..............................160 2.1.2.2 Occurrences of the phrase in the 'sheeylot uteshuvot' [Y. shayles-tshuves] data in Hebrew texts before the Enlightenment......................160 2.1.2.2.1 The phrase _kimat shelo_ and its alternates in the 'sheeylot uteshuvot' data..................164 2.1.2.3 The phrase in selected literary texts from the beginning of the century until these days...........169 2.1.3 Discussion of the redundant negator....................171 2.1.4 Assumptions about the origin of the redundant negator in the phrase _kimat shelo_....................172 2.1.4.1 Is the redundant negator in _kimat shelo_ a result of a process within the language?...............172 2.1.4.2 Is the redundant negator in _kimat shelo_ a result of an extra-linguistic influence?...............173 2.1.4.2.1 An examination of the influence of Yiddish: a comparison between the phrase in the translation and the phrase in the original text....................173 2.1.4.2.2 Is the origin of the redundant negator in _shier nit_ intrinsic in the language?.................176 2.1.4.2.3 Is the origin of the redundant negator in German or in other languages?.......................179 2.1.5 An interim summary 2.2 Two structures with the redundant negator _lo_ in contemporary Hebrew....................................181 2.2.1 The phrase 'Indefinite pronoun + _shelo_'..............181 2.2.1.1 Between a phrase and a non phrase..................182 2.2.1.2 The identification of the phrase and it cognitive perception.........................................185 2.2.1.3 Stability and mobility of the negator..............186 2.2.1.4 A semantic shift from negation to the superlative..188 2.2.1.5 Occurrences of the phrase in literature prior to the Enlightenment..................................190 2.2.1.6 Occurrences of the phrase in contemporary literature.........................................194 2.2.1.7 Discussion of the formation of the redundant negator............................................197 2.2.1.7.1 Does the redundant negator result from a process within the language?...................197 2.2.1.7.2 Did the redundant negator penetrate Hebrew through an external influence? (Yiddish and Slavic languages)..............................202 2.3 Summary...................................................205 3. The hierarchy of attributes following a noun phrase...........207 3.1 Frequency and length as measures of the order of components in noun phrases...............................207 3.2 The features of the hierarchical structure of attributes...............................................208 3.3 A comparison between various corpuses.....................209 3.4 Categories of attributes following a noun phrase..........210 3.4.1 Compounds 3.4.2 Adjectival attributes..................................215 3.4.3 The prepositional phrase as an attribute...............217 3.5 Various connections in the hierarchical structure of attributes............................................218 3.6 The order of attributes in the hierarchial structure......219 3.6.1 A comparison between the findings in the literary translations and other texts.........................222 3.6.1.1 A comparison between Sholom-Aleichem's interpreters and other Yiddish interpreters......222 3.6.1.2 A comparison between the translations and traditional language.............................224 3.7 A comparative summary of the findings of various texts....226 3.8 Summary 4. The subject predicate order in the sentence...................232 4.1 Summary of the literature of previous studies...............232 4.1.1 Discussion of the literature of previous studies........238 4.2 A description of the distribution of subject-predicate in various translations.....................................242 4.2.1 The subject-predicate order in an independent sentence..243 4.2.2 The subject-predicate order in follow-up sentences......248 4.2.2.1 The subject-predicate order in a structure with an opening complement which is not a sentence..........249 4.2.2.2 The subject-predicate order in follow-up sentences of a subordinate nature.............................255 4.2.2.3 The subject-predicate order in follow-up sentences of a conjunctive nature.............................257 4.2.3 The subject-predicate order in interrogative sentences..259 4.3 The influence of Yiddish on the subject-predicate order.....260 4.3.1 The model of complement-subject-verb in the present tense...........................................261 4.3.2 The model of verb in the present tense-subject in a subordinate clause.................................266 4.3.3 The model of subject-finite verb in a subordinate clause....................................267 4.3.4 The model of finite verb-subject in a compound sentence.....................................269 4.3.5 The order of components in interrogative sentence..................................271 4.4 Summary......................................................275 5. _aval_ in contemporary Hebrew.................................277 5.1 Introduction...............................................277 5.2 Discussion of the literature of previous studies...........277 5.3 The shift of _aval_........................................283 5.4 Examining the acceptability of the shift of _aval_.........285 5.5 Was the mobility of _aval_ influenced by the original text in Yiddish?..............................285 5.6 The mobility of _ober_ in the Yiddish sentence.............288 5.7 Equivalents of _aval_ in other languages...................294 5.8 Assumptions................................................294 5.9 Does the shift of _aval_ cause a semantic differentiation?..................................295 6. Summary.......................................................304 Bibliography.....................................................305 Appendices.......................................................I Abstract This paper studies various linguistic changes which have occurred in contemporary Hebrew. The focus has been on morpho-syntactic changes which may not be conspicuous yet have a considerable effect on the nature of a changing language. The linguistic changes in Hebrew which are studied in this paper may have occurred under the influence of Yiddish. Those who revived contemporary Hebrew were also those who spoke it first. They exchanged their mother tongue for their national language because of ideological reasons. Hebrew was absorbed on the basis of the linguistic mechanisms of Yiddish. Therefore, we assumed that Yiddish has played a significant role in shaping contemporary Hebrew. We studied literary texts that were translated from Yiddish under the assumption that in this kind of texts it would be easier to expose the influence of Yiddish on Hebrew, at least its influence on the language of Hebrew translations. Our study focuses on Sholom-Aleichem's _Motl Peysi dem Khazns_ and its four different Hebrew interpretations: Former Interpreters Latter Interpreters Ch.N.Bialik and Y.Ch. U. Ofek (1976) Ravnitzky (l907) Y.D. Berkowitz (1929) A. Aharoni (1980) The findings were compared with other interpretations of literary texts and also with original literary texts. The frequency of the findings and their range of use were also examined. This study deals with five subjects where implicit linguistic changes were found. Each change was described, its range examined and its possible origins discussed. Chapter A: The diminutive in contemporary Hebrew The aspect of size used to be expressed in Hebrew indirectly: a minimizing lexeme, minimizing adjectives, imagery and metaphors. Hebrew did not contain any active diminutive mechanism which expressed size morphologically. However, under the influence of Yiddish (and Slavic languages) Hebrew has formed a rich diminutive mechanism. The diminutive is an expression of the calque which characterizes contemporary language. This Hebrew calque originates in Russian and Yiddish. Following these languages, also in Hebrew the calque denotes affection and intimacy besides miniaturization. The diminutive mechanism in Hebrew probably started in the spoken language from which it spread on to the literary language. An examination of the diminutive mechanism in the literary works at the end of the twentieth century reveals the following: A. Fixation -- A process of neutralization of the miniaturization of the morphemes '+it' and '+iya'. B. The miniaturization effect is expressed in contemporary literature by two kinds of diminutive: 1. An inner diminutive which is formed by doubling one of the syllables. This diminutive is predominant in literature as opposed to the findings of Bolozky who examined the dictionary vocabulary. This diminutive comprises a shift of category: since the 1950's there has been an increase in doubling a noun component. Words such as (_zkankan_ ['small beard'], _tsikhkuk_ ['giggle'], _sfamfam_ ['small mustache'], _lakhashushim_ ['whispers']) have become increasingly frequent. 2. An external diminutive formed by adding the suffix '+on' to a given base. (_kheder katan_ = _khedron_; _mitbakh katan_ = _mitbakhon_). There has been a shift of category also in the external diminutive: diminutive forms which are based on an adjective become increasingly frequent. For example: (_tipshon_, _razonet_, _khamudi_, _tseironet_). This study deals mainly with the written language; however, diminutive forms are easily noticeable in the spoken lanugage. Forms containing a double component and forms with an external diminutive suffix are well integrated in spoken Hebrew. These forms can be frequently heard on the media and they are mainly used to emphasize miniaturization. Chapter B: Redundant use of the negator 'lo' Two phrases containing a redundant negator were examined: _kimat shelo_ and indefinite pronoun + 'lo'. We found that the latter type has been well integrated in contemporary spoken Hebrew but also in the literary language. The phrase _kimat shelo_ which existed in the written language in previous periods has been eliminated in contemporary Hebrew. The use of the redundant negator adds semantic and pragmatic qualities to the utterance. The use of a redundant negator conveys a message of the superlative. In this case it would be reasonable to argue that it is not actually redundant as the negator has semantic and pragmatic qualities. The redundant negator also exists in Yiddish, German and Slavic languages in phrases similar to Hebrew ones. The redundant negator may result from other languages or from a development of Hebrew itself. Chapter C: The hierarchy of attributes following a noun phrase Research has shown that the hierarchy of attributes following a noun phrase is a pattern of a fixed layering order as follows: Noun Phrase (the Kernel) + genitival or possessive pronoun + adjective + 'shel' phrase prepositional phrase + sentence. Because it would result in awkward style, there are no five attributes from different categories, following a noun phrase (although this is possible). Linguistic texts did contain structures with four attributes from different categories following the noun phrase. However, for many generations the most common structure in Hebrew has been hierarchy of two attributes following the noun phrase. This is also the most common structure in the language of literary translation. This chapter examines the hierarchy of attributes and combination types (the layering order of attributes according to their categories) among the interpreters of Sholom-Aleichem. The findings were compared with those that were found in the study of the hierarchy of attributes in the following texts: a. Biblical and traditional language. b. The language of other Yiddish interpreters. c. The language of contemporary literature and journalism. It seems that the hierarchical structure of attributes is rather conservative. This applies to the length of the common structure (two attributes from different categories following the noun phrase) and to the order of attributes (from different categories following the noun phrase). Yet, few changes have occurred. First, there have been changes in the hierarchical structure of attributes with regards to its distribution. The distribution of structural hierarchy of attributes in the Bible (0.9%) is similar to that of the Mishna (0.65%). The distribution of hierarchies of attributes in the language of Sholom-Aleichem's interpreters (1.6% on the average) is almost three times wider than that of the traditional language. The number of structural hierarchies in the original literature studied is double that of Sholom-Aleichem's interpretations. As for the use of structural hierarchy of attributes, the interpretations of Sholom-Aleichem are uniform despite the decades of generation gap between the former and the latter interpreters. The distributions of hierarchical patterns of attributes in the interpretation of the 90's is similar to that found in contemporary original literature, and it is five times wider than the distribution of that pattern in the traditional language. Secondly, this process of multi-hierarchical patterns in the literary text coincides with multi-hierarchical structures of three attributes following the noun phrase. Thirdly, the hierarchical structure of attributes has been thickened by concatenation (that is, the addition of corresponding attributes from the same category beside the existing attributes). In addition, the monotonous use of combination types (two frequent combination types) both in biblical and traditional language, and in the interpretations of Sholem-Aleichem becomes increasingly varied (four frequent combination types) both among the other interpreters as well as in the original literary language. Chapter D: Subject-predicate order The issue of subject-predicate order was studied in independent clauses and also in follow-up clauses(**). The results of the study show that in independent clauses both generations of interpreters express preference for the pattern subject-predicate also when the predicate is a verb. This order is not new. In fact, this is the order of Biblical (archaic) language, if we are to consider Waw marking the past as an initial complementary component. With regards to the follow-up clauses opening with a complement which is not a sentence, the various generations of interpreters differed. While the former interpreters abide by the traditional order, applying the alternation rule only when the predicate is a verb, the latter apply the alternation rule also when the predicate is in the present tense. A personal pronoun which does not allow for the alternation rule in the written language does not function this way in the translation. The interpreters of Sholom-Aleichem were influenced in this matter by the order of components in the writer's own language. In follow-up conjunctions on subordinate clauses there is a definite tendency (except Berkowitz) to put the subject first in any case, even when the predicate is a verb. This is contrasted with the traditional order. It seems that it is not the Yiddish that caused most of the changes. Only in single patterns may the Yiddish have had any influence. With regards to the order of sentence component one may say that the interpreters were flexible to the point of random which is in compliance with the contemporary general tendency toward flexibility and disregard for linguistic rules. Chapter E: The conjunction _aval_ -- from stability to mobility A comparison of the location of _aval_ as the equivalent of the Yiddish _ober_ in early-twentieth-century and contemporary translations of Sholom Aleichem revealed that in one modern translation, by Arie Aharoni, the location of _aval_ has shifted from its natural position between two clauses to the consequence clause. However, this shift, which was not found in the other translations, is acceptable in colloquial Hebrew. A study was carried out to test the acceptability of this literary shift. The results indicate that _aval_ was accepted as a mobile component in the consequence clause by a considerable number of respondents and that none found the proposed constructions unacceptable. Although the Yiddish influence may be a significant factor in the mobility of _aval_, the shift may also be the result of an internal linguistic development. _aval_ is not the sole case of a connector that has acquired mobility; for example, _lakhen_, _al ken_ and _im ken_ nay appear within the consequence clause. No semantic changes emerge from this shift; however, it has several practical results: (1) _aval_ in the consequence clause serves as a type of parenthetical clause denoting contrast or concession; (2) the use of _aval_ at the very end of a consequence clause has gained unexpected popularity, perhaps as a means of expressing an afterthought; (3) the shift of _aval_ into the consequence clause involves a change in intonation. Yiddish speakers noted that the shift of _ober_ to the consequence clause created a colorful effect. It appears that the changed intonation in Hebrew can be attributed to the influence of Yiddish rhythmic-melodic patterns. _____________________ (**) Namely a sentence which comes after a complement: a morpheme or a sentence. 3)--------------------------------------------------- Date: 3 April 1998 From: Itsik Goldenberg Subject: muser|nikes (Khayem grade) muser|nikes fun Khayem grade [3] khezhbm-ha|nefesh 001 der shleferiker vaad hot zikh in gas tseshaydt. 002 Yoysef kovler hot zikh oyf a bank tsunoyfgedreyt, 003 er iz gelegn inem vaybershulkhl un ge|kholem|t fun der mamen. 004 s'hot khlavne a geergeter arayn geshpant, 005 s'iz prikre im geven, ven er hot zikh dermont, 006 az er badarf mit dem farkvetshtn ostrovoler nekhtikn tsuzamen... 007 der ostrovoler hot arumgeshprayzt oyf der kvartir, 008 geleygt zikh -- oyfgeshtanen vider, 009 er flegt a kuk ton yede rege oyf der tir, 010 an umruiker, a tsebrokhener, a mider. 011 er hot gehorkht a shtarer, a banumener, 012 dem durshtikn geveyn fun zayne glider, 013 gekhlipet hot zayn guf, an opgetserter, opgekumener, 014 vi a kind, farlozn in der nakht, -- 015 hot er zayn kop fargrobn inem kishn, 016 gevolt zikh mit der finsternish farmishn -- 017 un umetum zayn heysn layb gefunen. 018 zayn guf hot im gebrent, 019 tayve|ke dimyoynes hobn im farshpunen, 020 un arayngedreyt tsvishn zayne kni -- di hent... 021 o, der gehenem hot aroysgeshosn fun zayn bet in fayertsungen, 022 iz er vi fun a brenendikn hoyz aropgeshprungen, 023 a naketer genumen umloyfn in kheyder; 024 mit zayn layb aleyn nit tsu farblaybn -- 025 geshlept oyf zikh malbushem, kleyder -- 026 un dem kaltn shmeykhl fun dem rosh-yeshive|s bas-yekhide 027 nit gekent fartraybn... 028 er hot arayngenumen in di hent dem kop dem midn, 029 im, dem eltstn, vos der rosh-yeshive ken zikh nit a rir ton on im, 030 ken farbaytn khlavne -- epes dort a yingl mit a sheynem ponem... d31 di tir hot zikh geton an efn. 032 khlavne hot zikh fun reb Abe|s vaad tsurikgekert -- 033 hot er gerekhnt trefn 034 dem ostrovoler a tsunoyfgekortshetn, fargelt, 035 zitsn oyf der erd?.. 036 der ostrovoler hot zikh oyfgeshtelt, 037 dem mantl bizn kolner shtolts un beyz farkneplt: 038 -- oyfn tish ligt ayer khaluke-gelt, 039 in elmerl ligt broyt, in kikh shteyt tey in tepl, 040 er hot zayn breyte gombe inem kolner bizn moyl farrukt 041 un aroys mit an aroysgeloztn kop. -- 042 s'hot khlavne lang nokh oyf der tir gekukt, 043 der shmeykhl fun zayn ponem iz arop... 044 der ostrovoler iz gehunken durkh di umetike geslekh, 045 gevaklt oyf tsedreyte trotuarn, 046 gevolt mevatl makhn zikh -- vi ash tsesharn; 047 vi zayn kranker hinkediker fus, 048 iz itst im iberik zayn gantser bidner lebn, -- 049 dos gantse muser lernen iz a shtus, 050 oyb dos ken nit keyn menukhe gebn. 051 der ostrovoler hot zikh opgeshtelt farvundert -- 052 di geslekh hobn zikh geshtoysn arum im, tsunoyfgeplontert, 053 hot er gepruvt ayede gas tsu oysteyln bazunder: 054 ot iz di kikh, un ot derkont er 055 dos gesele, vos falt arayn in rosh-yeshive|s tir, 056 antkegn firt tsu dem beys-medresh a beys-oylem-vant, 057 do kholem|en di bokherem in ovnt oyf shpatsir -- 058 iz er a mider tsu der kloyz avekgehunken, 059 vi a kranker ferd dem kop aropgezunken, 060 un der beys-oylem hot im nokhgeshpant... 061 a beys-hakvores, an arumgetsoygener mit drot, 062 shteyt in mitn shtot, 063 eyder gasn hobn do a fleyts geton, vi shturemdike taykhn -- 064 zol er zikh mitn altn feld farglaykhn? 065 der kupishker, tsu unterdrikn zayn pakhdones, 066 flegt geyn in meysem-shtibl shlofn oyf di taare-breter, 067 un er -- tsu unterdrikn zayne glustungen -- tsi vet er 068 leygn zikh oyf shtekhedikn drot? 069 o, neyn, s'iz oyf zayn guf im a rakhmones, 070 zayn kranke harts a shod... 071 a beys-hakvores shteyt in mitn shtot, 072 dos lebn falt tsu biz der vant un shtarbt mit eyn mol op, 073 di hoykhe fenster kukn gayve|dik tsum grinem feld arop, ... 074 shmeykhlen di anives|dike kvorem shtilerheyt: 075 o, hoykhe moyern, 076 hot ir zikh kvorem ongegreyt?.. 077 der ostrovoler iz gezesn in baynakhtikn beys-medresh un gevigt zikh nokhanand. 078 aropgelozt dem kop, dem shtern ayngedrikt in shtenderkant, 079 di oygn tsugemakht -- di fintsternish zol zayn nokh greser, 080 un mit a kvorem-shtim, vi mit a meser, 081 gevolt aroysshnaydn fun zikh di treyfe odern: 082 vi kumt a muser|nik tsu hobn tvies -- 083 a navaredker zol fodern? 084 "hot ir shoyn ongegreyt zikh kvorem?" -- 085 vi men pruvt aroysnemen fun tayf a shteyn a shvern, 086 hot er gevolt aroysnemen fun zikh dem bitern fardrus: 087 oyf vos hot er azoy fil yorn muser opgelernt? 088 git es im nit keyn menukhe -- iz es shtus... 089 "hot ir shoyn ongegreyt zikh kvorem?" -- 090 a sheker ken men nor barekhtikn durkh naye shkorem. 091 er hot zayn kop akhzoryes|dik in shtenderrand geshlogn 092 nit oyfgehert in shtenderlokh arayntsuklogn: 093 vos-zhe iz geven der sheker fun zayn lebn? 094 er iz arumgeforn iber rusland un ukraine, 095 gebushevet hot hunger, di milkhome un mageyfe, 096 un zeyer alter rebe, er, un di khaverem zayne, 097 flegn khapn yingelekh, vi fun a sreyfe; 098 geloyert in di shtet, oyf ale banen, 099 arumgenishtert in der shtetldiker svive: 100 "vu fort a bokherl? vuhin -- fun vanen?" 101 un glaykh avekgefirt in der yeshive. 102 Shloyme|le babunitser un khlavnen -- ale yunge vaad|n, 103 hot er aher gebrakht in kurtse hayzlekh biz di kni -- 104 krigt khlavne itst dem rosh-yeshive|s tekhterl, un di yeshive oykh -- in nadn... 105 der ostrovoler filt in kop a shvindl, un in harts -- a bri: 106 efsher demolt, ven men hot gefirt zey tsen mol shisn, 107 geshvolene fun hunger, ungeotemte mit toyt, 108 tseleygte fun kholere un fun krets tsebisn, -- 109 efsher dan anshtot tsu zayn a bolshevik, 110 iz er gevorn gor a muser|nik? 111 "hot ir zikh kvorem ongegreyt?" -- 112 der ostovoler hot gezukht fun zikh dem flam aroystsukrign, 113 vi fun shteyner -- fayer far a knoyt: 114 ken zayn, az er iz frum geven bloyz in der nont fun rebe|n -- 115 es flegt im varemen dem altns shtim; 116 men ken oykh far a toyre makrev zayn dos lebn 117 nit tsulib ir emes -- nor tsulib dos vos trogn im... 118 der ostrovoler hot genumen hekher voyen, 119 geshlept fun zikh mit gliike optsvengen, 120 gevolt zikh oyfn sharf fun khalef brengen: 121 shver aribertrogn a farshtanenem bizoyen, 122 tsen mol shverer ven men veys afile nit farvos? 123 in vos bashteyt zayn biterer fardros: 124 hot er aleyn zikh ayngeshmuest? -- neyn! 125 khotsh men hot im gornit tsugezogt -- nit opgenart, 126 veys er, az der rosh-yeshive hot gevust zayn meyn, 127 un keyn mol nit, afile fun der zayt, zayn falshe hofenung tseshart; 128 efsher iz be'emes mir a shod di toyre un di mi -- 129 entfert zikh aleyn der ostrovoler in vikuekh -- 130 a bokherl, vos hot nit lang getrogn heyzlekh biz di kni, 131 zol iberfirn dem beys-medresh mit zayn ruekh? -- 132 o, neyn, er meynt es nit leshem shomayem! 133 er vet zikh moyde zayn -- vi groys s'iz nit der veytik: 134 im art nit far dem gayst dem nayem, 135 nor vos er, der ostrovoler, iz shoyn mer nit neytik 136 der ostrovoler heybt on hekher klogn: 137 zol zayn, az zi -- iz es geven der meyn fun zayne yorn? 138 vi lang es veys nit keyner, vestu zikh aleyn nit unterzogn 139 dayn bahaltenem khesorn... 140 der ostrovoler hot zikh ayngeboygn, 141 di tseyn farshtshemet, 142 vi er volt epes fun der tif aroysgetsoygn: 143 gemeynt hot er, az zi bagleyt a frume zayne trit, 144 vil er -- ken er glaykh zi nemen, 145 un zi -- vil nit?!.. 146 er hot gemeynt zayn prishes iz a fraye, nit getsvungen, 147 s'iz alts on im gevendt, -- 147 dervart im nit di velt mit fule hent?.. 148 un s'iz der ostrovoler oyfgeshprungen -- 149 er hot zayn tsar derkent. 150 in heyse nekht hot er gehat a treyst: 151 zay shtolts, du bist a poresh -- eygnvilik! 152 umzist hot er zikh ober der gepaynikter gegreyst -- 153 er iz durkh noyt, durkh tsufal an asket... 154 er vet farshteyn dem khilek 155 der -- vos es derhert un es derzet. 156 er hot arumgevisht dem shveys, 157 oyfgeshtelt zikh ernst, fayerlekh un bleykh! 158 bay zayn gantser maternish un groys, 159 hot er, der ostrovoler, nit gekent dergreykhn, 160 vos a yingl hot dergreykht. 161 der ostrovoler hot zikh in a vinkl ayngetulyet, 162 der shturem in zayn harts hot opgehulyet. 163 itst vet er zikh lozn shtaygn tsu azelkhe heykhn, 164 vu es vet nit keyn mol shtaygn der -- 165 vos zigt in lebn, ken tsu alts dergreykhn, 166 vayl der bazigter -- kon dergreykhn mer. 167 zayn guf der ongetsoygener, der ongeshpanter, 168 hot opgetsitert, vi der shtrik fun a bafraytn boygn, 169 zayn harts hot oysgeveynt dos lid fun reb yisroel dem salanter, 170 un mit brenendike trern hobn mitgezungen zayne oygn: 171 odem -- 172 der mentsh iz in zayn dimyen fray, 173 un a gebundener -- durkh zayn gedank. 174 zayn dimyen krayzt arum zayn harts, 175 vi a roybfoygl arum zayn fang. 176 in zind ligt di bashtrofung, 177 un zol a mentsh nit zogn: 178 far vos zol ikh a fremde shtrof 179 b|khinem darfn trogn? 180 o, keyner kumt dir nit tsu hilf, 181 dir oystsuleyzn fun yesurem, 182 zol vern der gedank dayn ruderer, 183 un er vet firn dir in shturem. 184 der ostrovoler hot dem ponem fun di dlonyes oyfgehoybn, 185 es hobn opgetsukt fun zayn gezikht di letste blitsn. 186 dos groye toglikht iz arayngerungen durkh di shoybn, 187 a fargliverter iz er geblibn zitsn. 188 er hot derhert a khlipen a farvorgenem, 189 hot er zikh oyfgeshtelt, un vi a blinder, 190 vos geyt nokh dos geveyn fun zayne kinder, 191 gelozt zikh firn fun dem khlipen dem farborgenem - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 192 Yoysef kovler iz gelegn oyfgedreyt in vaybershul, 193 ayngedekt in mantl un gefibert, 194 di oyfgerisene shvartsaplen trern ful, 195 di benkshaft in zayn harts ariber: 196 er hot gezen in groyen shtibele zayn mamen. 197 fartog. zi veynt un sheylt kartofl, 198 zi veynt di oreme, an elnte, un shofl, -- 199 un fun der vayt hot er geveynt mit ir tsuzamen... ______________________________________________________ End of _The Mendele Review_ 02.012 Leonard Prager, editor Send articles to: lprager@research.haifa.ac.il The editor of _TMR_ can also be reached via _Mendele_'s homepage: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele Subscribers to _Mendele_ (see below) automatically receive _The Mendele Review_. Send "to subscribe" or change-of-status messages to: listproc@lists.yale.edu a. For a temporary stop: set mendele mail postpone b. To resume delivery: set mendele mail ack c. To subscribe: sub mendele first_name last_name d. To unsubscribe kholile: unsub mendele ****Getting back issues**** _The Mendele Review_ archives can be reached at: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele/tmr _The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language (A Companion to _MENDELE_) ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 02.013 FIRST ANNIVERSARY ISSUE 13 April 1998 1) Yiddish Matters: From the Editor (Leonard Prager) 2) "monolog" (Yoysef guri) 3) "di birzhe," _musernikes_ (Khayem grade) 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 13 April 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: Yiddish Matters TMR's first anniversary _The Mendele Review_, the literary supplement of _Mendele_ devoted to the study, appreciation and cultivation of Yiddish language and literature, today marks its first anniversary. Too much remains undone to linger long over the modest success we can fairly claim after only one year. We need to find ways to involve young scholars; we must review more books in the field of Yiddish (broadly conceived). We hope to continue to provide romanized texts of significant Yiddish works (convertible to Yiddish letters with the help of Refoyl Finkl's Yiddish Typewriter). We thank those who have assisted in romanization of texts (Leah Krikun, Lucan Bruyn, Itsik Goldenberg, Craig Abernethy and, most recently, Dov Noy) and we invite others to volunteer for this vital chore. We will continue our cooperative relationship with _Yivo Bleter_, _Afn shvel_, _Khulyot_, and _Der bavebter yid_. Currently we are planning a common Jewish New Year issue with _Der bavebter yid_ to be devoted to new Yiddish writing. We are encouraged by the interest shown by individuals the world over in the riches of Yiddish culture and are grateful for the opportunity to explore this precious bounty with them. In this issue, we give the "Monolog" which Yoysef Guri recited at an evening in Jerusalem devoted to his recently published dictionary of idioms (see TMR vol. 1, no. 025). Professor Dov Noy, who spoke at this occasion, was kind enough to romanize Guri's piece for the TMR. We also continue in this issue with the fourth installment of Khayem Grade's _Musernikes_. 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 13 April 1998 From: Dov Noy Subject: Yoysef Guri's "monolog" vegn zayn _vi kumt a kats ibern vaser?_ araynfir fun Dov noy dem 16tn merts iz forgekumen in der yidisher kultur-gezelshaft fun yerushalayim an interesanter ovnt gevidmet Yoysef guri's nayer zamlung fun toyznt yidish frazes und idyomen, vos heyst: _vi kumt di kats ibern vaser?_ dos verterbukh (der mekhaber zet zayn bukh vi a nay verterbukh, a tsugob tsu zayne frierdike verterbikher) farmogt toyznt idiomen in fir shprakhn: yidish, ivrit, english, rusish. in mayn langer lektsye -- a min araynfir tsum bukh hob ikh geloybt dem oyftu un zikh kontsentrirt arum paraleln un folks-etimologishe vi oykh visnshaftlekhe derklerungen vegn zeyer opshtam. tsum sof hot der mekhaber geleynt zayn "monolog" velkher bashteyt fun idiomen vos zenen a teyl fun der zamlung. ikh breng dem transliterirtn tekst, un ikh hof az di mendelyaner veln hanoe hobn fun di idiomen un efsher oykh lozn undz visn zeyere folks-etimologyes vegn "lakhn mit yashtsherkes," "lign in dr'erd un bakn beygl," un nokh. aldos guts a freylekhn peysekh aykh ale! "monolog" fun Yoysef guri yidish iz undz alemen "ayngebakn im hartsn" un ikh "leyg arayn di gantse neshome" in mayn arbet mit di verterbikher. kh'hob "gepokt un gemozlt, gearbet oyf ale keylem, ayngelegt veltn" -- biz vanen di verterbikher zaynen dershinen. nor oyb der oylem vet "krimen mit der noz" un zogn, az mayne verterbikher "zaynen nit keyn groyse metsie, nit ay-ay-ay un nit oy-oy-oy, nit milkhik nit fleyshik," az dos vos ikh tu iz bikhlal "an aroysgevorfene arbet (aza yor oyf mayne sonem!)," az di verterbikher zaynen "on hent un on fis," as zey "toygn oyf kapores." az zey "hobn nit keyn ponem" un "hobn a vert vi an oysgeblozn ey" -- iz dokh "a klog tsu mir!" un oyb nokh tsu der tsu vet men mir onheybn "dergeyn di yorn, bavarfn mit blote" un me vet zogn: vos "dreyt er undz a spodek"? er hot dokh, der shlimazl, "tsvey linke hent"! genug! "arop fun mark"! "iz men dokh nit mer vi a mentsh." oyb me vet mir "onton azelkhe kharpes un bushes," vel ikh zikh "nit gefinen keyn ort," kh'vel "vern grin un gel, oys mentsh"! ikh vel "hobn geshvolene teg" un kh'vel "nit tsumakhn keyn oyg" in di nekht, kh'vel zikh "oyfesn lebedikerheyt; khotsh shray khay vekayem, khotsh nem un bagrob zikh." kh'vel "antloyfn vu di oygn trogn." un oyb nokh "in di hoykhe fentster" fun undzer yidish-velt vet men taynen: vos? er vil me zol "efenen far im dem tayster" far zayn nayem verterbukh? er iz "meshuge tsi khoser-deye?" es khapt on a nit-gutkayt fun zayne, mikloymersht, "verk." zol er "zikh aroysshlogn fun kop" fantazyes vegn bakumen a por kerblekh. zol er zikh nit "aynredn a kind in boykh" un nit "shvebn in di volkns"! a "lokh fun a beygl" vet er bakumen! "kadokhes mit koshere fedem! shabes nokhn kaltn kugl, ven in himl vet zayn a yarid! ven der meshiekh vet kumen!" zayn nayer verterbukh iz "di zelbe yente nor andersh geshleyert." genug zayne verterbikher! "zol er nit tantsn oyf ale khasenes." nu?..."iz lig ikh in dr'erd un bak beygl"... eygntlekh, tsu vos darf ikh di ale tsores? tsu vos zikh "leygn mit a gezuntn kop in a krank bet"? vos far "a flig iz mir arayn in kop," az ikh darf shraybn verterbikher? "iz nit gefidlt"! iz on mir. "mayn bobes dayge." farkert! zoln zikh itst mayne sonem afile "shteln oyfn kop" un betn bay mir shraybn verterbikher. "a fayg, a fayg unter a dekhele!" zey veln lakhn fun mir, zogt ir? "lakhn zoln zey mit yashtsherkes!" zey veln shraybn kegn mir in di gazetn? "shraybn zol men zey retseptn!" zey veln redn kegn mir? "redn zoln zey fun hits!" zey veln "sharfn oyf mir di tseyner? ale tseyner zoln zey aroysfaln, nor eyner zol zey blaybn -- oyf tseynveytik!" nor tsurik geredt, oyb "dos redl vet zikh iberdreyen" un mentshn veln zogn az der nayer verterbukh "iz vert gold" un "hot dem zibetn tam" -- vel ikh dokh "zayn in zibetn himl"! ikh vel "vern breyter vi lenger," "shpringen in der luftn fun freyd." nor fun der ander zayt, ikh farendik dem nayem verterbukh un darf peti-meti tsu drukn im. iz vos? "geyn iber di hayzer?" shnorn gelt? dos nit! ha, un efsher vendn zikh tsu di yidishe organizatsyes? "an aroysgevorfene arbet." zey zaynen aleyn "kabtsonem in zibn poles." iz take, "vi kumt di kats ibern vaser?..." 3)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 13 April 1998 From: Itsik Goldenberg Subject: muser|nikes fun Khayem grade [4] di birzhe 001 in kloyz hot ayngeshtilt zikh dos gevald, 002 di heldzer zaynen, vi der hantfas trukn, 003 es iz koym halber tog -- un s'falt 004 di midkayt, vi a brekhenish arayn in rukn. 005 men hot zikh opgekrigt bay der gemore, 006 di halb sho muser opgeshrien, 007 geyogt fun zikh dem yeytser-hore -- 008 vi lang vet zikh der seyder* tsien? 009 khapt men oyf dervayle zikh aroys, 010 ayngehoykert, durkhgekelterte in beys-hakise, 011 iz dort, lehavdl, vi in kloyz 012 ful -- -- -- -- -- -- 013 shteyt men vi bay shimenesre reyen unter reyen, 014 men hit di gele tsitsis biz di trit, -- 015 fun kloyz farblondzhen frume oysgeshreyen, 016 do -- redt men nit. 017 treft, az emetser farmakht zikh mit a tsaytung in a kemerl un leyent... 018 mit a mol derhert er -- vey, reb Abe klapt in tir, 019 flit er fun dem kemerl aroys geshvindt, 020 vi a tsereytster bik fun ku aropgetribn, -- 021 nor reb Abe, shoyn in ale beys-hakise|s oysgeribn, -- 022 beygt zikh aynet un gefint... 023 un mit dem reyekh fun dem osyen vint 024 un fun hashtone, 025 varft men zikh arayn in dem beys-medresh opgefrisht. 026 men shrayt di beys-hakise-psukem* mit kavone. 027 es falt a patsh in tish, 028 tseshtelt men zikh tsu der far|menukhe|diker "birzhe" 029 (men ruft azoy bay di navaredker di sho, ven porn 030 geyen um un shmuesn fun tshuve-teg un eygenem khisorn). 031 der varshever hot zikh baym kapetkevitsher geshtelt, 032 der vilner lebn kurtsn trokhnbroder; der babunitser -- baym langn, 033 un vi es geyen shefelekh -- baranes nokh in feld, 034 zaynen yunge muser|nikes lebn eltere gegangen 035 tsu der heyliker avoyde... 036 khlavne hot farshpetikt -- blaybt er bay der kloyztir shteyn: 037 oyfn mizrekh hinkt arum der ostrovoler -- 038 geblibn zaynen oysn beyde. 039 khlavne dreyt zikh a gekhapter: -- zol er 040 in hungerikn pisk tsum tiger geyn?.. 041 der ostrovoler geyt arum, vi in a shtayg -- tsevishn benk, 042 zayn kantiker gezikht iz haynt nokh harter, 043 di niderike akslen* shtreng, 044 khlavne vart an ayngeshparter -- 045 der hinkediker ober ken a bokherl nokh nemen, 046 er dreyt zikh oys tsum shvel 047 un kneytsht azoy tsunoyf di bremen -- 048 az khlavne glaykht zikh oys vi tsum bafel, 049 un shtelt zikh on a vort anider bay zayn zayt. 050 dem ostrovolers kinbak shnaydt aroys zikh hart, 051 tserudert shmeykhlt khlavne tsu der vayt, 052 un vart... 053 der oylem iz in shmues shoyn tsevaremt, 054 es sharn, sharn fis, azh s'heybt zikh oyf a shtoyb, 055 vi s'voltn hundert vegener gelyaremt. 056 ot shpant farbay der kurtser trokhnbroder, 057 a rozever, a fuler, a gepakter vi a yoder. 058 di lange shmole hoyzn platsn oyf zayn shtayfn guf, 059 tsit er zey keseyder mit der linker hant aroyf, 060 un dreyt zikh yede rege um mit kaas 061 oyf zayn khaver dem shlimazl, der farshpitstn flokn, 062 vos hot oyf der kvartir fartoysht di hoyzn haynt in hast. 063 der langer trokhnbroder kukt tseshrokn, 064 er veys befeyresh nit vos iz der kurtser in retsikhe, 065 er hot nokh zayne dare fis fun a butshan*, 066 nit bamerkt afile in di fremde breyte pludern, -- 067 dem kurtsn iz di birzhe haynt nit nikhe, 068 er halt mit di yedayem in eyn rudern, 069 un Khayem vilner vil im onyogn in shpan, 070 vi a loshekl -- di klyatshe... 071 Dovid kapetkevitsher, tsevaksn, hoykh, 072 shprayzt bazakht un katshet, 073 vi a fas foroys zayn boykh, 074 un vi a veverke shpringt um fun suk tsu suk, 075 tentslt arum im der varshever geshayt un klug. 076 oyf dem ongekertn mizrekh hinkt arum der ostrovoler, 077 er filt baym zayt dem oyfgeblitn yung -- un sharfer 078 shpirt er s'ar an ayngebrokhener er iz un shmoler, 079 di muser-nakht hot im nit durkhge|sarf|et... 080 khlavne iz avade shener, 081 sheyn -- un tsvey mol hekher, 082 poshet: froyen hobn liber hoykhe mener, 083 dos veysn feygl oyf di dekher, 084 er, der kloyznik, hot es nit gevust -- 085 bafalt a tsupenish zayn krankn fus. 086 un efsher -- git er zikh a khap baym shtern, 087 er hert a shneyvint un a mishenish in kop -- 088 un khlavne zol nit zayn gedank derhern, 089 lozt er zayne oygn tsu der erd arop: 090 efsher iz zi a basheydene, a yidish-frume tokhter, 091 hot zi, dem rosh-yeshive|s bas-yekhide opgefilt, 092 az er iz a bal-tayve a tsekokhter -- 093 er shpirt vi s'vern im di hent farkilt: 094 khlavne iz a shtiler, gants in maysem un gedank -- 095 un shlank... 096 der ostrovoler git oyf khlavnen mit azoy fil has a kuk -- 097 azoy fil has un kine in di blondzhendike oygn, 098 as khlavne git ahinter zikh a ruk, 099 vi a draguner volt oyf im aroyfgefloygn, -- 100 derfilt er ober zayne hoykhe aksl, shtayfe ripn, 101 zayn yungn freylekhn un glaykhn trot, 102 un er tsebayst a shmeykhl mit di lipn -- 103 a shmeykhl fun nitsokhn un fun shpot... 104 der kurtser trokhnbroder klingt shoyn hilkhik, vi a glekl, 105 er halt on oyfher in eyn tsushpilyen dos rekl, 106 un lehakhes shpilyen zikh di kneplekh op, 107 er dreyt dem grobn finger, kvetsht mit trop: 108 -- di mayse iz farkert gor, -- shrayt er vi zayn shteyger iz, 109 un tret zayn tsuherer dem vilner oyf di fis -- 110 di mayse iz farkert. 111 vi shteyt in novi: "hern hob ikh tsugehert, 112 Efroim tut badoyern: 113 du host mikh geshtroft -- un ikh bin a geshtrofter, 114 vi a nit-gepruvte kalb" -- 115 di mayse iz farkert -- a mentsh, vos hoft er, 116 oyb zayn tshuve iz oyf halb? 117 a mentsh, vos zogt zikh op fun over bloyz far laytn, 118 un vert nit vi an eyfl -- nay geborn, 119 un vet zikh nit in zelbn tog tsu beser tsen mol baytn -- 120 iz er keyn bal-tshuve nit gevorn. 121 farkert... -- der kurtser varft zayn grobn finger in dem luft aroys 122 un kerevet mit Khayem vilner flink zikh oys. 123 fun hintn shtelt der langer trokhnbroder shtile trit, 124 di hoytike blut-opgetsapte bakn 125 bavegn mit di gele tseyn -- keyn verter hert men nit, 126 heybt zikh Shloyme oyf di shpits fis unter. 127 der langer flistert: f~a~r~f~a~l~n, eyn mol shoyn far ale mol: 128 "geystu nit aroyf -- muztu geyn arunter", 129 f~a~r~f~a~l~n, f~a~r~f~a~l~n -- khazer|t er keseyder mit a toytn kol, 130 shoklt mit zayn langer noz derbay, 131 un geyt mit dem babunitser farbay. 132 der lamdn Dovid kapetkevitsher hert kloymersht shtark arayngetrakht -- 133 un hit zikh nit aroystsushisn a gelekhter, -- 134 der varshever, der mamzer, letsevet un lakht, 135 er lestert alemen un alts farshvekht er: 136 -- reb Dovid -- vayzt er oyfn kirtsn trokhnbroder mit a ganeyv|ish shmeykhl -- 137 ir zet dem tales-kotn oyfn hinterteyl -- s'iz a poroykhes, 138 un hinter dem gefinen zikh tsvey toyres in a heykhl -- -- -- 139 der lamdn halt zikh mit di letste koykhes 140 nit aroystsuplatsn, 141 er kukt zikh umruik arum in dem bes-medresh, 142 nemt di fete gombe kratsn, 143 un hoykh: ir veyst dokh, varshever, dem medresh -- -- -- 144 der ostrovoler hot zikh opgeshtelt baym omed, 145 di orems ongeshpart on bretl vi tsum davnen, 146 farshtelt dos ponem un geredt tsu khlavnen: 147 -- der grester khoyte Yerovom ben Nevot, 148 hot oyfgeshtelt tsvey kelber: dos iz ayer got! 149 got hot im gezogt: tu tshuve, tu, 150 mir veln zalbedrit shpatsirn in gan-eydn, 151 ben Yishay, ikh un du. 152 fregt der roshe: ver -- der ershter fun undz beydn? 153 oyb der ershter Dovid, 154 vil ikh nit dem gantsn koved -- -- -- 155 der ostrovoler nemt di hent tsu fun di oygn mit a mol, 156 un untererdisher geduner hert zikh in zayn kol: 157 -- vi groys darf zayn der khoyte, 158 vos zogt zikh op fun gots khavruse -- a farsholtener ledoyres, 159 abi nit zayn der tsveyter? 160 khlavne loyert mit faribl un mit moyre: 161 vu vil im do der ostrovoler khapn? 162 dreyt er zikh: es zogn di khazal -- -- -- 163 s'git zikh di bes-medresh-tir a pral -- 164 reb Abe falt arayn mit a geyomer, 165 az es blaybt di gantse birzhe mit an oyfgerisn moyl -- 166 reb Abe shrayt: nito mer, oy, nito mer, 167 kh'hob im arumgezukht i dort i do, 168 nito -- er iz in ergets shoyn nito. 169 -- ver? -- shrayt oys der gantser oylem -- ver? 170 reb Abe krekhtst, vi durkh a tukh a volener 171 oyf tseyner ongeshvolene*: 172 -- der kovler! Yoysef|l, er iz in vaybershul geshlofn -- 173 un fartog antlofn... 174 reb Abe nemt a vilder umloyfn in kloyz: 175 -- azoy fil muser im gelernt, 176 ikh bin shuldik, shlaydert mir aroys, 177 er vet kalye vern, kalye vern, - 178 un vi an opgebrente khaye nemt er hoyln*... 179 Shloyme|le babunitser tseefnt zayne tmimes|dike oygn. 180 er dermont zikh zayn avekforn in poyln: 181 di hent aropgelozt, in shvartsn shal, 182 shteyt an ayngeshrumpene di mame baym vokzal, 183 es shrayen ire groye hor in vint. 184 di reder rudern, er hert ir hartsn klapn. 185 ire opgevelkte lipn tsitern: mayn kind, 186 ir shalkhl flit, vi zi volt veln im derkhapn, -- 187 er filt der mames shalkhl flatern arum zayn kop, 188 in shlof, baym vaad, bay der gemore, -- 189 un s'veys nit Shloyme|le: zol er mekane zayn dem kovler, 190 oder zen in im dem yeytser-hore? 191 der varshever khikhiket tsu dem kapetkevitsher mit khoyzek un hanoe: 192 -- oykh ikh antloyf, vi ikh bakum a heter oyf hoyroe. 193 der langer trokhnbroder ober tsupt a hor fun gombe, 194 un meket: in der heym antlofn? -- shreklekh... 195 plutslung platst arayn a bombe, 196 es kayklen zikh dem shvel ariber -- peklekh, 197 un Yoysef kovler kumt arayn -- -- -- 198 er ligt shoyn in reb Abe|s orems ayngeklemt. 199 Yoysef dreyt avek zayn kop farshemt: 200 -- ikh hob gevolt der mamen zen, -- 201 beygt er zikh, vi tsu dem tatns keyver -- tsu der erd. 201 -- iz vos geshen? 202 -- ikh hob fun mitn veg zikh umgekert -- -- -- 203 der ostrovoler khapt on khlavnen bay der hant: 204 -- geven iz Yerovom ben Nevot a roshe merushe. 205 a mentsh tor ober oft nit iberlebn shand, 206 er tor nit blaybn lebn mit zayn bushe. 207 ikh -- volt nit tsurikgekumen! -- 208 un er derfilt a zaltsike nit-gutkayt oyfn gumen... -------------------- Glossary - ben Yeshay 'son of Jesse, i.e. the Messiah' - beys-hakise-psukem 'lavatory passages', the 'asher-yotser brokhe': refers to the blessing beginning "asher yotsor es hoodom bekhokhmo uboro bo nekovim nekovim, khalulim khalulim....," recited by observant Jewish males after attending to their natural excretory functions. The blessing is found at the beginning of the siddur after the prayer over washing the hands (netiles-yedayem). - butshan 'stork' - hoyln 'yelp (like a dog)' Harkavi gives _hayln_ - krekhtst, vi durkh a tukh a volener oyf tseyner ongeshvolene 'groans like one who chews on a woolen cloth so as not to scream when teeth ache or gums are swollen' [a guess -- LP] - niderike akslen, di 'low shoulders' (of a short person); cf. line 100 hoykhe aksl 'high shoulders' (of a tall person) - seyder 'self-study in pairs' [ed.] --------------------------------------------------- End of _The Mendele Review_ 02.013 Leonard Prager, editor Send articles to: lprager@research.haifa.ac.il The editor of _TMR_ can also be reached via _Mendele_'s homepage: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele Subscribers to _Mendele_ (see below) automatically receive _The Mendele Review_. Send "to subscribe" or change-of-status messages to: listproc@lists.yale.edu a. For a temporary stop: set mendele mail postpone b. To resume delivery: set mendele mail ack c. To subscribe: sub mendele first_name last_name d. To unsubscribe kholile: unsub mendele ****Getting back issues**** _The Mendele Review_ archives can be reached at: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele/tmrarc.htm _The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language (A Companion to _MENDELE_) ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 02.014 19 April 1998 GOLDFADEN [GOLDFADN] ISSUE 1) Yiddish Matters: From the Editor (Leonard Prager) 2) [Goldfadn in Peterburg] (Nokhem Oyslender and Uri Finkel [Finkl]) 3) "di muser|nikes geyen" (Khayem Grade) 1)-------------------------------------------------- Date: 19 April 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: Yiddish Matters 1. In this issue 1998 marks ninety years since the death in New York of Avrem Goldfadn [Abraham Goldfaden] (1840-1908), a central figure in the early history of the modern Yiddish theater. Today's TMR selection traces Goldfadn's stay in Peterburg in 1881, at the beginning of the playwright's extraordinary career. We also continue with the fifth installment of Khayem Grade's _muser|nikes_: "di muser|nikes geyen." 2. In future issues we plan to discuss and illustrate the writing of the Kowno educator and children's writer Helene Khatskels (1882-1973) and the martyred novelist and playwright, Alter Katsizne [Kacizne] (1885-1941). 2)--------------------------------------------------- Date: 19 April 1998 From: Craig Abernethy Subject: [goldfadn in peterburg] (Nokhem oyslender un Uri finkel [finkl])# ------------------------------------------------------ IX 63 / in april 1881 hot zikh oyfgehoybn in dorem-rusland di pogrom-khvalye, fun velkher es hobn gelitn derhoypt di oremste shikhtn fun der yidisher bafelkerung. dos hot gemuzt shteln unter a gefar di ekzistents fun goldfadns teater. goldfadns teater, vos hot ale mol gehat di lebedikste baheftung mit di oremste shikhtn, hot glaykh gemuzt derfiln di ongekumene faroremung un ruinirung fun di yidishe masn. afn dorem iz nit geblibn keyn ort farn yidishn teater. goldfadns trupe tsit zikh iber in yene gegntn, velkhe zaynen geven mer gezikhert fun der pogrom-khvalye, un in yuli 1881 zeen mir shoyn goldfadns trupe in peterburg. mir veysn shoyn, az peterburg hot fun lang on gehat a bazunder tsutsiung-kraft far goldfadenen. goldfadn hot nit umzist azoy gegreyt zikh tsu zayne gastroln in peterburg. fun danen, fun peterburg, iz in yener tsayt gegangen durkh der rusish-yidisher prese yener yidishlekh-aristokratisher "bon-ton," far velkhn es hobn azoy oft gemuzt yoytse zayn nit nor der yidisher teater, nor oykh di yidishe literatur. m. spektor dertseylt in zayne zikhroynes vegn sholem-aleykhemen, vi shver es iz zey beydn -- spektorn un sholem-aleykhemen -- geven in yener tsayt leerekh tsu dershlogn zikh, az af di shpaltn fun der peterburger rusish-yidisher prese zol anerkent vern di ekzistents fun der yidisher literatur(86). dos mol hot zikh goldfadenen gedakht, az es geyt in der ekzistents fun dem yidishn teater, vorum farblaybn mit der anerkenung fun der provints, beys im hot farfolgt di ironishe un negative batsiung mitsad der tongebndiker peterburger prese, hot shoyn vayter goldfadns teater nit gekont. derfar hot goldfadenen, glaykh nokhn aroysfor fun odes, in yor 1880, ongehoybn tsien keyn peterburg. itst, shoyn tsum sof fun 1881 yor, iz zayn vunt|sh farvirklekht gevorn. ober ven goldfadn iz geforn keyn peterburg, ---------------------------------- 64 / iz er aleyn shoyn nit geven enlekh tsu dem goldfadn, vos iz mit a yor tsurik aroysgeforn fun odes. vi mir veysn, hot di pogrom-tsayt durkhgefirt a gevisn grenets in goldfadns literarisher tetikayt. fun di lider un pyesn zayne, vos hobn direkt bahandlt dem pogrom-syuzhet, zet men, vi di pogrom-tsayt hot umgebitn goldfadns gedank un geshtoysn im tsu geyn afn veg fun khibes-tsien. emes, in di ershte khadoshim nokh di pogromen iz nokh goldfadn azoy vayt nit gegangen, ober a gevise enderung in zayne shtimungen hot zikh dokh gelozt visn shoyn dan, ven er iz gekumen keyn peterburg. in an intervyu, vos er hot demolt [text=gemolt] gegebn a forshteyer fun "rasvet," hot er shoyn genumen reydn mit a bazunderer gringshetsung vegn zayne friike verk. der folkstimlekher komizm fun zayne friike pyesn, vos geyen azoy gring iber fun sotsyaler satire tsum vodevil un fars, di oyslakhung fun di negative geshtaltn fun yidishn lebnshteyger, vos iz biz aher geven der lebediker nerv fun goldfadns teater-shpil -- dos alts hot itst glaykh vi ongevorn in goldfadns oygn di barekhtikung. yednfals azoy hot er gevolt dos oysmoln in zayn intervyu (87). es farshteyt zikh, az es volt zayn nit rikhtik ontsunemen, az di meynungen, vos goldfadn hot in dem intervyu aroysgezogt, zaynen geven fray fun der virkung, vos af im hot gehat di peterburger "oyfgeklerte" svive. ober khuts dem iz in dem intervyu geven a simptom fun der enderung, vos hot zikh tsu der tsayt ongehoybn in goldfadns shafn. in goldfadns teater hot zikh es lekhatkhile nit gelozt merkn mit gornisht. di peterburger rusishe prese git di meglekhkayt oyftsushteln dos gantse bild fun goldfadns gastroln in peterburg un af eynike epizodn fun der tsayt veln mir zikh opshteln genoyer. di ershte yedies vegn goldfadns onkum keyn peterburg bakumen mir nokh mit eynike vokhn frier far dem onhoyb fun zayne teater-forshtelungen. azoy trefn mir shoyn in eynike peterburger tsaytungen fun 10-tn un 11-tn yuli 1881 a kurtse notits vegn dem, az in peterburg iz dem 9-tn yuli ongekumen "di yidishe vanderndike operetishe trupe fun h. goldfadn [_peterburgskaya gazeta_ no. 160, 1881. _poryadok_ no. 188, 1881]. shpeter mit a vokh, dem 18-tn yuli, vert shoyn in di tsaytungen gemoldn, az di forshtelungen fun der yidisher operete unter der onfirung fun goldfadn veln zikh onhoybn ingikhn in krestovkter gortn [_peterburgskaya gazeta_ no. 167, 1881. _peterburgskii listok_ no. 1881, 18-go iyulya]. vi es zet zikh, hobn di -------------------------- 65 / hakhones gedoyert bay a por vokhn un di ershte forshtelung iz forgekumen dem 23-tn yuli fun 1881 yor. der royshem fun di ershte forshtelungen fun goldfadns trupe iz geven aza, az say di greste demoltike tsaytungen vi "novoye vremya" un "novosti" say di klenere tsaytungen, vi "peterburgskaya gazeta" hobn glaykh af morgn opgedrukt breytere retsenzyes. di tsaytung "peterburgskaya gazeta"* -- a tipisher blat fun der "kleyner prese" -- hoybt on di retsenzye mit der sensatsyoneler yedie, az "in der peterburger teater-velt hot zikh bavizn a neys -- di yidishe trupe. nokh a langn araynfir vegn dem, tsi meg goldfadns trupe heysn an operetn-trupe, vi zi git zikh on, oder nit (der retsenzent meynt, az neyn) geyt er iber tsu der forshtelung fun "shmendrik," git iber dem syuzhet fun der pyese un farendikt: "... didozike gantse inhaltlozikayt iz tsugepravet mit komishe situatsyes fun dray perzon: an arendarke vemes rolye es hot gants nit shlekht oysgefilt der mansperzon h. fishkind, ir zun shmendrik gants tipish oysgefilt fun tsukermanen un shimin, shmendrik s feter, h. shrago. mer fun alts iz dem publikum gefeln gevorn a yidisher tants un a duet, a gants origineler un melodisher. nit gekukt afn shlekhten veter hot zikh tsunoyfgeklibn a groyser oylem." ** in zelbikn ton nokh mit etvos mer sharfkayt hot geshribn der retsenzent fun "novoye vremya" vegn dem tsveytn debyut fun goldfadns trupe in peterburg. "shabes dem 25-tn yuli -- dertseylt didozike tsaytung -- hot zikh in krestovsker park oyfgeklibn a groyser oylem hoyptzekhlekh fun yidn. es iz forgeshtelt gevorn "der fanatik." *) "peterburgskaya gazeta" no. 173, 1881. **) vegn ershtn debyut fun goldfadns trupe vert dertseylt oykh in der tsaytung "s. peterburgskiye vedomosti" no. 172 onvayzndik vi oykh der ersht-dermonter retsenzent af dem shlekhtn verter fun dem tog, bamerkt di tsaytung, az es hot zikh dem ovnt oyfgezamelt aza groyser oylem, velkhn me hot nit gezen in krestovsker gortn fun zint er iz geefnt gevorn. di tsaytung git a ginstike opshatsung fun der aktyorisher shpil in "shmendrik" tsugebndik derbay, az di aplodismentn zaynen teylvayz geven bashtimt farn avtor. aza opshatsung volt efsher gehat far undz a gevisn vert, ven nit der fakt, az di ongerufene tsaytung -- amol a gants ernste tsaytung -- iz grade in der tsayt arayngefaln in fardorbene hent. agev vert in der zelber tsaytung (no. 170) gemoldn, az goldfadns trupe iz gekumen keyn peterburg in bashtand fun "hekher draysik man," vos hot demolt afile far peterburg, vi es vert derbay ongevizn, geheysn a gants groyse trupe. ----------------------------------------- 66 / der retsenzent vayzt on, az di operete farmogt nit keyn komishn element, di trupe iz tsu kleyn, der orkestr - a klogediker, di kostyumen un der grim oykh shlekht un er kumt tsu oysfir az bay aza shlekhtn bashtand, un bay der klogedik-oremer oysshtatung vet di trupe nit hobn keyn derfolg. vi a bavayz brengt der retsenzent dem fakt, az shoyn nokh dem ershtn akt fun der forshtelung hot "a helft yidn farlozt dem gortn."* antkegn di tsvey gebrakhte retsenzyes klingt vi a disonans di drite gresere retsenzye, vos iz geven opgedrukt in demselbn tog in der tsaytung "novosti." nay iz in derdoziker retsenzye nit di opshatsung fun der kinstlerisher zayt fun goldfadns forshtelungen, nor der tsugang tsum yidishn teater, vi tsu a badaytndikn kulturel-gezelshaftlekhn faktor. "shtreng geret -- shraybt der retsenzent -- kenen mir nit nit bagrisn dem fakt fun azoyne forshtelungen. fun shtandpunkt fun kunst hobn di forshtelungen keyn badaytung nit. mir hobn gezen barimte artistn; vos zhe kon gebn a vanderndike oreme trupe? ober derdoziker kriteri iz nit ingantsn pinktlekh. di yidn konen nit gebn keyn gutn teater mit eyn mol. di zakh fun teater iz a naye zakh far zey un bashafndik dem teater, hot goldfadn gedarft onhoybn ab ovo. es hot gedarft patern nit veynik mi un energye kedey tsu gefinen drayste un ant|sheydene ment|shn, vos hobn keyn moyre nit, az far zeyer tetikayt vet men zey araynleygn in kheyrem. nokhdem hot men didozike ment|shn gedarft lernen, me hot gedarft aleyn shraybn pyesn, tsuklaybn muzik un vayter. dos alts, farshteyt zikh, iz shver geven un mit eyn mol hot es zikh mit a derfolg nit gekent bakroynen. ober dos iberike vet shoyn derton di tsayt un di arbet; dervayl iz ober vikhtik di ideye. di ideye fun h. goldfadn iz der kamf mitn fanatizm durkhn teater. er firt demdozikn kamf energish un shpilt deriber zhargon, kedey tsu zayn tsutritlekh der mase fun pebl (masse chorni). opshtelndik zikh nokh genoyer af di oyfkler-tendentsn fun goldfadns trupe, kumt der retsenzent tsum bashlus, az "in di erter, vu der kontingent fun yidntum iz groys, kon aza trupe hobn a nutslekhe un lebedike badaytung. fun dem shtandpunkt kenen mir nit nit bagrisn azelkhe shoyshpiln."**) *) "novoye vremya" no. 1943, 1881. **) "novosti i birzhevaya gazeta" no. 196, 1881. --------------------------- heores #N[okhem] oyslender un U[ri] finkel [finkl]. _A[vrem] goldfadn; materyaln far a biografye_. minsk: institut far vaysruslendisher kultur, 1926, zz' 63-73. 86. m. spektor -- a kapitl zikhroynes. tsum ondenk fun sholem-aleykhem (zamel-bukh)_, peterburg, 1918. 87. _Rassvyet_ No. 32 1881. -------------------------------------------------------- 67 / aza anerkenung fun der kulturel-gezelshaftlekher badaytung, vos es hot gehat goldfadns teater, hot in a demoltiker peterburger tsaytung gemuzt klingen genug ibertsaygndik un der obyektiver ton fun der retsenzye hot gemuzt opshvakhn di farnikhtndike opshatsungen fun di frier-tsitirte peterburger tsaytungen. kontik, az kedey nokh mer tsu farshtarkn zayn pozitive opshatsung fun goldfadns trupe, shraybt der retsenzent fun "novosti": "in teater zaynen geven asakh yidn, vos hobn gehert tsum inteligentn klas. ale hobn gelakht fun fuln hartsn. der spektakl iz aponem gefeln gevorn." es farshteyt zikh, az di dray retsenzyes, vos mir hobn gebrakht, hobn opgeshpiglt di algemeyne gezelshaftlekh-politishe tendentsn fun der oder yener tsaytung. far der tsaytung "novosti," vos hot gehat a gevise liberale shtelung in der natsyonale frage, iz der obyektiver ton fun der retsenzye geven mer natirlekh, eyder far der tsaytung "novoye vremya," vos hot shoyn tsu yener tsayt genumen aropvarfn fun zikh dem oyserlekhn levush fun progresive onshoyungen. es iz ober keday tsu bamerkn, az oykh di tsaytung "novoye vremya" hot shpeter genumen an ander shtelung tsu goldfadns teater. nokh dos iz gekumen mit etlekhe khadoshem shpeter nokhdem, vi goldfadns trupe hot durkhgemakht shoyn a gevisn etap in peterburg. vi es iz shoyn gezogt gevorn, zaynen di ershte forshtelungen forgekumen in krestovskn gortn. aponem, az in der tsayt hot goldfadns trupe, nit visndik nokh, vi lang zi vet farblaybn in peterburg, durkhgefirt di forshtelungen mit a knaper onshtrengung. khuts dem mangl in oysshtatung un kostyumen hot oykh gefelt an onshtendiker orkester, vos ruft aroys eynshtimike forvurfn mitsad ale peterburger retsenzentn. "di debyutn fun der yidisher trupe -- shraybt der retsenzent fun yener tsayt -- vern forgezetst in teater fun krestovskn gortn bay oreme dekoratsyes, bay a shlekhter oysshtatung un an umenlekhn orkester, in velkhn di oremkayt fun di strunen-instrumentn, di hefkerdike trumeyteray fun di trubes un dos duneren fun dem monumentaln terkishn poyk (nokh mit matsn dertsu!) dermonen in di simfonishe ibungen fun di bruder zemel un di klounes ozorni." * punkt azoy vert oykh bay ale retsenzentn ongevizn af der shvakhkayt fun froyen-personal in goldfadns trupe. vi es zet zikh, hot goldfadn dos ales gemuzt nemen in akht un vi nor es iz klor gevorn, az er farblaybt in peterburg af a lengere tsayt, *peterburgskii listok, no. 146, 1881 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 68 / hot er glaykh genumen zorgn vegn farbesern dem bashtand fun der trupe. onhoyb oktyabr fun yor 1881 leyenen mir shoyn in der tsaytung "novosti" folgndike notits: "undz vert gemeldet, az di yidishe operetn-trupe fun di h. h. goldfadn un tsukerman blaybt in undzer hoypt-shtot af a gantsn vinter, deroyf hot zi shoyn bakumen a derloybenish fun peterburger ober- politsmayster general-mayor kozlov. di forshtelungen veln gegebn vern in zal fun bilike dires, in izmaylov-polk. bay hayntikn tog iz men shoyn tsugetrotn tsu der noytiker remontirung fun der stsene un es zaynen shoyn bashtelt gevorn naye dekoratsyes. der h. tsukerman iz opgeforn keyn odes, kedey tsu angazhirn eynike primadones."* der ibergang in zal far bilike dires, vos iz forgekumen in oktyabr fun 1881 hot kontik gebrakht a gevise farbeserung in di forshtelungen fun goldfadns trupe un es iz kharakteristish, vos glaykh nokhdem trefn mir in "novoye vremya" shoyn a ginstike retsenzye vegn goldfadns teater. "di yidishe trupe fun h. goldfadn -- shraybt der retsenzent -- hot gefunen a mokem menukhe in dem nit groysn un vaytn fun tsenter zal fun der gezelshaft far bilike dires. didozike trupe git ire forshtelungen yeder tog un tsit tsu a gants fil-tsolikn un durkhoys eygnartikn oylem. tsvey mol hot zikh mir ayngegebn tsu zayn af didozike spektaklen. beyde mol hob ikh getrofn operetn-forshtelungen un beyde mol iz der zal geven gepakt. di kleyne stsene, der umbakanter zhargon, der shvakher orkester -- dos alts makht lekhatkhile a nit-ongenemen ayndruk, ober nokhdem gevoynt ir zikh bislekhvayz tsu tsu derdoziker svive un sofkolsof kumt ir tsu der ibertsaygung, az di forshtelungen fun der yidisher trupe zaynen gants originel, az in der tsol fun di aktyorn zaynen faran gants talantfule perzonen un az in algemeyn hobn di spektaklen asakh gemeynzames mit di dayt|shishe forshtelungen, dizelbike oftmol umnatirlekhe deklamatsye un derzelbiker shtik baym oysfiln di kupletn. vayter shtelt er zikh op af dem aktyorn-bashtand, teylt oys eynike fun zey (fishkind un tsukerman) un bamerkt derbay: "di oysshtatung iz a gants onshtendike."** dos iz shoyn geven in yanvar fun 1882 a kurtse tsayt far dem vi goldfadn hot farlozn peterburg. vi zhe iz geven di batsiung tsu goldfadn mitsad di ton-geber fun der peterburger yidisher gezelshaft in meshekh fun der tsayt, ven goldfadn hot * "novosti i birzhevaya gazety" 263, 1881. ** "novoye vremya" no. 2111, 1882 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 69 / gastrolirt in peterburg? di rusish-yidishe prese hot gants oyfmerkzam nokhgeshpirt nokh goldfadns gastroln in peterburg. mir hobn in "ruski yevrey" a genoyem artikl-barikht vegn goldfadns ershter forshtelung in peterburg. in dem artikl iz frier far alts interesant far undz dos, vos nit gekukt af der algemeyner negativer batsiung tsu goldfadns teater, vert dokh anerkent, az di aktyorishe shpil iz geven af a geviser hoykh. di aktyorn vern geloybt derfar ober vert shoyn gor nit geloybt a. goldfadn, der farfaser fun "shmendrik," vos iz do oyfgefirt gevorn. der retsenzent zet in "shmendrik" nor epes a fantazye "nit fun der velt," an opklang fun a vayter fargangenhayt. er zet nit in der pyese keyn entfer af keyn eyntsiker tsayt-frage. er vil in der forshtelung nit anerkenen keyn lebnshteyger. er vil nit onemen di geshtaltn far tipn fun yidishn lebn, ober mer far alts fardrist im, vos in "shmendrik" iz nito keyn kultereler takt, keyn gefil fun mos, vos iz der sine qua non fun poetishn shafn (88). ot azoy vert in peterburg bagegnt goldfadns trupe. di ershte forshtelung, vu goldfadn hot bavizn zikh far di yidishe kritiker nit zayn geveyntlekhn repertuar, hot bay der kritik nit oysgenumen. ober dosmol hot es goldfadenen veynik vos gedarft shrekn, vayl aleyn goldfadn hot shoyn gedarft filn, az er iz greyt tsu geyn antkegn di foderungen fun zayne yidishe kritiker. sh. anski velkher hot gevis bakumen zayne yedies fun ment|shen, vos zaynen in der tsayt geshtanen noent tsu goldfadenen, dertseylt vegn goldfadns ibergang tsu zayne historishe pyesn azoy: "der mer oyfgeklerter teyl fun der yidisher gezelshaft, vos iz dertsoygn gevorn in a tifer akhtung tsum gedruktn vort, iz geven shokirt fun dem laykhtzinikn kharakter fun repetuar funm yidishn teater, un goldfadn, velkher hot zikh tsugehert tsu di meynungen fun der inteligents, hot genumen shraybn natsyonale dramen oyf historishe temen." (89) doszelbe vert dertseylt oykh in artikl "vegn yidishn teater" in _yud_. "kharakteristish iz -- shraybt in _yud_ y. grinboym -- az di lebnsbilder hot men in fil erter gefunen far baleydikndike far dos gantse yidishkayt, far antisemitishe. dos hot getsvungen goldfadenen tsu farfasn zayne populerste shtik: "bar-kokhba," "shulamit," "dr. almasada."(90) gor ingikhn, nokh goldfadns kumen in peterburg, bavayzn zikh meldungen vegn goldfadns historishe pyesn un der ton fun der prese endert zikh. ------------------------------------------------------------------- 70 / punkt af azoy fil, af vifl goldfadn endert in zayne historishe pyesn dem inhalt fun zayn shafn. azoy leyenen mir in "ruski yevrey" vegn der ershter forshtelung fun der historisher operete "doctor almadasa:" * "di oyffirung fun der nayer pyese bagrisn mir als a shrit foroys un lekholapokhes als a freydike dershaynung in der geshikhte fun yungn yidishn teater. der yidisher teater, vos ekzistirt aza kurtse tsayt, hot shoyn gemuzt oys|hern azoy fil forvurfn, az es hot zikh shoyn geshafn veg dem a gantse literatur. der yidisher teater fardarbt dem geshmak, er farshpreyt laykhtzinikayt - zogn eyne, fun der tsveyter zayt hot men gehert klogn zikh af dem publikum, az es hot kheyshek nor tsu komishe syuzhetn. kon zayn, az gerekht zaynen i der i yener tsad, alnfals, hot a. goldfadn mit der oyffirung fun der nayer pyese . . . geton zeyer gut, vayl er hot zikh genumen eksploatirn di yidishe geshikhte. oyb fun der oysfirung hot men gekont farlangen epes besers, hot ober di pyese aleyn gemakht afn publikum a gutn ayndruk. es iz lang shoyn tsayt avektsuvarfn di freylekhe syuzhetlekh, ot di ale "shmendrikes," dos oyslakhn un shtrofn af a farshpetiktn oyfn di nit-ekzistirndike geshpenster." (91) nokh aza retsenzye hot a. goldfadn gekont rekhenen, az der tsil fun zayn rayze keyn peterburg iz dergreykht, ober vi gezogt zaynen di historishe pyesn geshribn gevorn nit nor kedey tsu gefeln di yidishe kritiker, hagam oykh dos iz geshtanen nit afn letstn ort bay goldfadenen. di historishe pyesn hoybn on itst onmerkn a nayem etap in goldfadns dramatishn shafn. ** dos kharakteristishe far goldfadenen in demdozikn etap iz dos, vos er shtrebt in zayne pyesn arayntsutrogn an element fun idealizatsye * vegn dem derfolg fun dr. "almasada" in peterburg hern mir fun goldfadn aleyn tsu dertseyln in zayn lider-zamlung: "yistrolik," vu es vert tsu eynem "fun di lider gegebn aza bemerkung: "dos balibte lid hob ikh farfast tsu mayn pyese "almasada," vos iz ts um ershten mol oyfgefirt gevorn af peterburger bine dem 12 yanvar 1888 yor un groys furor gemakht." ** vegn goldfadns historishe pyesn iz biz aher nokh zeyer veynik geshribn gevorn. bay a genoyer bahandlung hot men gekont festshteln, vi azoy goldfadn hot aher, in dem nayem "historishn" zhanr aribergetrogn eynike elementn fun zayne frierdike shteyger-kom edyes un farsn un vos es iz in didozike historishe pyesn geven nays far goldfadenen. es kon ober keyn tsvayfl nit zayn, az in algemeyne shtrikhn hobn di historishe pyesn afgeshpigelt goldfadns naye shtimungen, vos zaynen gekumen nokh der pogrom-tsayt, di shtimungen fun a ment|shn, vos vil in epes tshuve ton, vil farbaytn dem dem efekt fun zayn frierdiker baysndiker satire af der idealizatsye fun traditsionele yidishe figurn. didozike vendung in goldfadns shafn hot zikh boylet aroysgevizn in peterburg. oyb mir hobn nokh far peterburg gehat yedies vegn goldfadns pruv tsushraybn historishe pyesn, iz es ober demolt nokh geven nit mer vi an epizod. in peterburger period vert di baarbetung fun historishe syuzhetn farvandlt bay goldfadenen in a sistem, vos antsh prekht zayn nayem gedankn-gang. ------------------------------------------------------------------ 71 / fun der fargangenhayt. es vern demolt tsum ershtn mol oyfgefirt "docter almasada," "barkokhba" un goldfadns farlang nokh historishe syuzhetn iz azoy groys, az er greyt tsum ershtn mol arayntsunemen in zayn repertuar a verk fun an andern mekhaber. mir derv isn zikh fun "folks-blat," az goldfadn greyt tsu di oyffirung fun nutskovs "uryel akosta" - in zayn eygener baarbetung (92). goldfadn farblaybt in peterburg hekher a halb yor un farlozt im ersht in fevral fun 1882 yor. __________________ tsu der tsayt ven goldfadn hot farlozn peterburg, dos heyst in onhoyb fun 1882 yor, iz der tsushtand fun yidishn teater af azoy fil farendert gevorn, az goldfadn hot gemuzt zikh shoyn rekhenen dermit. goldfadn hot gemuzt aynzen, az er hert bislekhvayz oyf tsu zayn der eyntsiker hersher fun der yidisher bine in rusland. in 1881 yor hot goldfadn gehat oystsushteyn a konkurents bloyz in odes gufe. aroysforndik fun odes hot er gekent fray oysklaybn zikh a marshrut, farblaybn in yeder shtot vifl er hot gevolt, un bikhlal filn zikh fray fun yetvider konkurents. in 1882 un 1883 yorn iz di lage gevorn andersh. goldfadns konkurentn (di trupes fun lerner, mogulesko) hobn shoyn ongehoybn bazukhn oykh andere shtet khuts odes (poltave, keshenyev, un andere). in odes g ufe hobn zikh goldfadns konkurentn shoyn avade farfestikt. itst darf goldfadn oder onhoybn a farbitertn kamf mit zayne konkurentn, oder makhn mit zey shutfes. ven me kukt zikh tsu tsu goldfadns tetikayt in di yorn 1882-1883, zet men, az goldfadn shtelt zikh nit op fest af eynem fun didozike tsvey vegn. gants oft kumt es tsu fayntlekhe tsuzamenshtoysn mit zayne konkurentn, es treft ober oykh, az goldfadn anerkent di makht fun zayne kegner un geyt eyn tsu makhn shutfes af a tsayt. aza shutfesdike trupe fun goldfadns un lerners aktyorn hot geshpilt in odes sof 1882. ober shoyn in di ershte teg fun yanvar khoydesh 1883 leyenen mir in an odeser tsaytung folgndikes: -------------------------------------------------------------------- 72 / "der antrepenyor fun der yidisher trupe h. goldfadn hot zikh in gantsn opgeteylt fun zayn kompanyon h. lerner un hot ibergetrogn zayne forshtelungen in dem hantverker-klub, vu es iz shabes, dem ershtn yanvar gegebn gevorn di ershte forshtelung mitn onteyl fun di hern sheyngold un tsukerman. vi es batsit zikh di yidishe gezelshaft tsum h. goldfadn, hot men gekent zen fun dem, vos der zal iz geven iberful mit oylem, nit gekukt af dem, vos di pyese "dvosye di flyotkemakherin" iz nit keyn naye zakh" (93). in aza fal ven goldfadn iz zikh fanandergegangen mit zayne shutfem, hot es batayt dem onhoyb fun a farbiterter hetse, velkhe lerner hot mit ale mitlen gefirt kegn goldfadenen.* vi es vert dertseylt in eynike erter, hot tsvishn di kamf-mitlen kegn goldfadns teater bazunders gegoltn di mesire. tsu dem oysgepruvtn mitl flegn onkumen nit nor goldfadns konkurentn. goldfadns teater hot gehat nokh farbiterte sonem, vos hobn mit fareynikte koykhes gekemft kegn im. dos zaynen geven frier far alts di forshteyer fun der yidisher ortodoksye tsuzamen mit der yidisher gelt-aristokratye. fun farsheydene kveln** hern mir, az mesires af dem yidishn teater hobn bazunders geshtamt fun "undzere groyse bankirn, di fonen-treger fun der ofitsieler haskole un fun der idey fun asimilyatsye." (95) oyb in di frierdike tsaytn hobn di ideologn fun der yidisher redaktsye banugnt zikh mit a hetse-kampanye in der rusish-yidisher prese, iz dos itst shoyn, kontik, geven veynik far zey. zeyer farlang iz geven tsu aroysrufn a direktn farbot fun yidishn teater. es farshteyt zikh, az far der tsarisher regirung iz di hetse kegn goldfadenen geven n or tsum hant un zi hot nor gevart af a gelegnhayt, kedey tsu makhn a sof tsu der ekzistents fun yidishn teater in rusland. goldfadns trupe hot dervayl mit derfolg geshpilt (dosmol shoyn on shutfem) in odes. nokh in fevral khoydesh fun 1883 geyt goldfadn vider iber * tsu der kharakteristik fun di mitlen, tsu velkhe lerner flegt onkumen in der teater-reklame, iz kedey ontsuvayzn: in 1883 hot an odeser tsaytung, gebndik a meldung vegn der trupe fun lerner, geshribn, az di trupe vert geshtitst fun a londoner misyoneris her gezelshaft un der tsil fun di forshtelungen, vos di trupe vet gebn, vet zayn: bakant makhn yidn mitn vezn fun kristntum (94). ** grinboym dertseylt in _yud_ vegn dem, vi "undzere baletoyves" hobn gefirt zeyer kampanye kegn goldfadenen: "me hot poshet geshribn a mesire tsum 'minister'" -- shraybt grinboym (96). ------------------------ 73 / fun hantverker-klub in maryen-teater. er firt oyf mit derfolg naye pyesn ("dr. almasada," "bar kokhba," "yehuda hamakhabi" 97), velkhe zaynen nokh in odes nit oyfgefirt gevorn.* ober dos zaynen shoyn geven di letste khadoshem fun zayn teater-ekzistents. d em fertsntn sentyabr iz aroys der bafel, vos hot farbotn yidishe teater-forshtelungen in rusland. di odeser tsaytungen, vos hobn nit mitamol farefntlekht di yedie vegn teater-farbot, hobn plutsem in sentyabr khoydesh genumen meldn, az in maryen-teater veln forkumen forshtelungen fun an english-amerikanisher trupe komiker, gimnastn un akrobatn. un mit zey tsuzamen veln aroystretn artistn fun der yidisher trupe (98). nokhdem zaynen di anonsn vegn maryen-teater ingantsn farshvundn un ersht dem 25-tn sentyabr hot zikh in an odeser tsaytung bavisn folgndike notits: "in rige zaynen ibergerisn gevorn di forshtelungen fun a yidisher dramatisher trupe - aza vi bay undz - vos hot dortn geshpilt. di "Rigasche Zeitung," vos teylt mit didozike yedie - git tsu derbay, az loyt der farordenung fun dem gehilf-minister fun inerl ekhe inyonem, dem general-leytenant orzhevski, vert bikhlal farbotn tsu gebn teatrale forshtelungen af der yidisher shprakh. es hot zikh aroysbavizn, az di oyffirung fun eynike pyesn af derdoziker shprakh - hagam zey zaynen frier derloybt gevorn - vert it st gerekhnt far umpasik" (99). vi es zet zikh fun odeser tsaytungen iz goldfadns trupe demolt in odes nit geven. varshaynlekh, hot er demolt gastrolirt in rige un dort hot im getrofn der teater-farbot. ___________________ * vegn der onfirung fun goldfadns _bar-kokhbe_ in odes gefinen mir an onvayzung in der lider-zamlung _yisrolik_, vu goldfadn git tsu tsu eyn lid aza bamerkung: "dos lid hob ikh farfast tsu mayn pyese _bar-kokhbe_, tsum ershtn mol oyfgefirt af der odeser bine dem 5 may 1883." 3)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 19 April 1998 From: Itsik Goldenberg Subject: "di muser|nikes geyen," _muser|nikes_ (Khayem grade) muser|nikes [5] di muser|nikes geyen 001 "di muser|nikes geyen!" -- 002 es shtelt op zikh di farhavete un tumldike geslekh, 003 naygerike loyfn on di hering-kremerlekh un balebeslekh. 004 di kinder trogn zikh mit a gepilder, 005 di gas vert lustiker un vilder. 006 "di muser|nikes geyen!" 007 hertser oyfgekhrastete. arumgerisene, in oysgedreyte shikh, 008 di poles -- hefker oyfn vint, 009 di lange tsitsis bomblen zikh -- zey ayln zikh geshvindt 010 tsum mitog in der kikh. 011 "di muser|nikes geyen!" 012 zey loyfn durkh der gas -- adurkhn gehenem fun nisoyen, 013 makhnes|vayz, vi heysherikn durkh di fayern arum a feld; 014 a muser|nik vet zikh aleyn in gas nit troyen 015 tsu blaybn ponem kegn ponem mit der velt... 016 "di muser|nikes geyen!" 017 kumen zey antkegn a kompanye meydlekh, 018 arbetorins ersht aroysgeshotn fun fabrik, 019 nemen zey zikh dreyen mit di kloyznikes in dreydlekh, 020 di navaredker derlangen zikh a loz tsurik, -- 021 demolt vert der kurtser trokhnbroder rekht in kaas, 022 un varft di khtsufes in di zaytn vi di kneydlekh... 023 "di muser|nikes geyen!" 024 a bokher oyf a rog fun gas 025 dreyt avek zikh mit farakhtung: shvartse robn! 026 der horiker reb Abe git oyf im aza tseglitn kuk, 027 az s'vert im umheymlekh, er lozt zikh mitn bruk. 028 reb Abe zogt: mir esn nit neveyle vi di robn, 029 mir darfn aykh -- a lebedikn hobn... 030 "di muser|nikes geyen!" 031 di hent ahinter kumt antkegn zey der dayen, 032 er shoklt mitn kop: a hilekh -- s'iz a khilel-hashem. 033 di muser|nikes ringlen im arum mit shpotishe havayes: 034 -- vos zogt ir nit oyf im? 035 a fertl sho fun khezhbn, hot ir ven gehat in ayer lebn? 036 a rov zayt ir? -- a balebos! 037 der dayen khapt zikh on vi fun a zets -- baym noz: 038 -- azoy o redt men tsu a rebn?.. 039 der oylem rayst zikh durkh der shmoler tir in kikh, 040 men varft arop fun zikh di mantlen gikh, 041 di begodem dreyen zikh arum in aver, 042 un faln oyf di tishn, oyf di benk. 043 der kurtser trokhnbroder shrayt tsufridn tsu zayn khaver 044 (itster zaynen im dem langns pludern nit eng): 045 -- di mayse iz farkert, -- 046 der langer treyslt mitn kop: s'iz f a r f a l n, f a r f a l n, -- 047 er shlept zayn mantl oyf der erd, 048 un ale oysgehungerte gezikhter shtraln. 049 der varshever derlangt oyf gikh a vash di finger, 050 un zetst zikh glaykh arayn in mitn tish: hamoytse. 051 -- nito keyn broyt! 052 der oylem hot derfilt a veytik in di tsinger. 053 reb Abe klapt dem varshever in pleytse: 054 meyle, ir muzt tsuvartn, nito keyn eytse, 055 shvaygt -- un lernt zikh durkh shvaygn -- reydn. 056 der kurtser trokhnbroder lakht: er ken zikh oyslernen tsu shtumen,-- 057 es hot der varshever a kuk aza geton oyf beydn, 058 az alemen hot a gelekhter ongenumen. 059 baym langn trokhnbroder mit di glezerne blut-ongefilte oygn, 060 hot di grine noz zikh lenger oysgetsoygn, 061 er shoklt mitn kop un flistert: 062 -- ikh bin a mol an oyrekh, un ikh nem amol an oyrekh -- 063 a ment|sh iz den der shpayzer? 064 der varshever farkrimt zikh: kestkind du umzister, 065 du betlst ale mol in fremde hayzer. 066 der kurtser shrayt: beteyve, ken zayn, bin ikh oykh a freser, 067 baklogt ober volt ikh zikh badarft, ven mir geyt beser, -- 068 navaredok vert shtarker grod in noyt.-- 069 azoy derlangt men pshet|lekh onshtot broyt, 070 un agev-urkhe kukt men oyf der gas-tir fun der zayt. 071 biz Dovid kapetkevit|sher blozt on zikh vi an ayter: 072 -- nito keyn gashmies -- to halt nit keyn yeshive-layt. 073 karg yeshives -- blozt er a baleydikter zikh vayter, 074 un bomblt gayve|dik di keyt fun zeyger. 075 es blaybt fargaft der oylem, 076 der varshever kvelt on, -- nor zitst ge|peyger|t 077 un far|goylem|t... 078 -- mazl-tov, s'iz do shoyn broyt! 079 reb Abe shtupt tsvey labns tsu dem kapetkevit|sher: halt fest. 080 der lamdn vert bagosn, ongepompet royt. 081 reb Abe bet bay im zikh heflekh: est, 082 aza a mufleg hot navaredok nokh nit gehat; 083 mir veln hungern -- ir zolt hobn alts tsu zat. 084 a kleynikayt, ir hot fun brisker goen smikhe, -- 085 un reb Abe shpritst mit goyisher retsikhe. 086 ale dreyen mit a mol di kep avek, - 087 der apikoyres Moyshe liber kumt arayn in kikh, 088 er zetst zikh tsu bay Khayem vilners breg, 089 un grobt arayn in teler dos gezikht. 090 reb Abe teylt khalokem fleysh: er heybt on fun di vinklbenk, 091 un ven er kumt tsum varshever, 092 git er zikh tsum ander breg a ker 093 farkhusht, vi er volt in der seyder nit gedenkt. 094 der varshever kukt girik, beyz, di oygn krikhn im aroys, 095 un kumt zayn rey shoyn fun der tsveyter zayt, 096 meldet der mekhalek kurts: nito keyn fleysh. 097 der varshever shpringt oyf un shrayt: 098 -- stayt|sh?.. reb Abe shmeykhlt kalt: ikh ken nit helfn, 099 s'hot oysgefelt. es ken in kikh nit zayn der ershter, 100 ver es kumt tsum lernen arum tsvelfn... 101 Shloyme|le babunitser rukt op fun zikh dem teler: 102 -- ikh tor keyn fleysh nit esn -- zogt er -- 103 mir iz farvert fun dokter. 104 un vi zayn teyve vert er royt, farshemt: 105 -- varshever, ikh bet aykh, nemt... 106 Khayem vilner beygt zikh on tsum apikoyres, shtilerheyt: 107 -- khlavne un der ostrovoler esn nit in kikh? 108 Moyshe liber varft aroys fun teler reyd, 109 vi di beyner fun dem fleysh ahinter zikh: 110 -- vi lang zayt ir ot do in keslgrub, vi lang? 111 zey esn bay dem rosh-yeshive -- di yakhsonem! 112 liber blaybt farshtumt... in mitn krikht arayn a ponem: 113 reb Abe vakst oys tsvishn zey in bank. 114 der oylem shmeykhlt, un der varshever nemt lakhn: 115 reb Abe hit -- der apikoyres zol a tam nit kalye makhn... ------------------------------- End of _The Mendele Review_ 02.014 Leonard Prager, editor Send articles to: lprager@research.haifa.ac.il The editor of _TMR_ can also be reached via _Mendele_'s homepage: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele Subscribers to _Mendele_ (see below) automatically receive _The Mendele Review_. 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To unsubscribe kholile: unsub mendele ****Getting back issues**** _The Mendele Review_ archives can be reached at: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele/tmrarc.htm _The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language (A Companion to _MENDELE_) ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 02.015 30 April 1998 YOM ATSMAUT (Independence Day), Israel 1998 1) Yiddish Matters: From the Editor (Leonard Prager) 2) "Erets-yisroel khale-tishtukhl" (Avrem-Nokhem Shtentsl) 3) "Borves," _Musernikes_ (Khayem Grade) 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 30 April 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: Yiddish Matters In this issue: On the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel we present a Yiddish poem written fifty years ago in which the poet evokes the Zion that for centuries brought light and fable into difficult diasporan lives. We continue, too, with the sixth installment of Khayem Grade's _muser|nikes_: "Borves.". In future issues: Mendelyaner are reminded to submit their stories, poems and essays for the Der bavebter yid/The Mendele Review joint New Yiddish Writing issue (deadline 1 July 1998). You are reminded, too, to send in your critical responses to Perets' famous story "Bontshe Shvayg" for an end-of-the-year symposium. Alternatively, you may submit excerpts (in Yiddish or English) of your favorite published appreciations of the story. 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 30 April 1998 From: Leonard Prager Content: "Erets-yisroel khale-tishtukhl" (Avrem-Nokhem Shtentsl) s'hot troyrik di mayrev-vant aropgekukt, iber bayshtidl undzern, iber shmoln, deriber shabes oyfn khale-tishtukhl, iz geven gants ertsisroel oysgemoln. (The Western Wall looked down mournfully >From above our narrow doorpost; But sabbath the festive-loaf coverlet Pictured all the Land of Israel.) (A.-N. Shtentsl, "Ertsisroel-khale-tishtukhl") The weekday tablecloth in this poem is said to only half-cover the table of the poet's materially impoverished family where food is scarce all the week but where weekday gloom -- reflected in the picture of the _koysl maarovi_ above the doorpost -- is relieved on the sabbath by the glow radiating from the ample made-in-the-Land-of-Israel sabbath-loaf coverlet, ornamented with storied images of _ertsisroel_, including images of redemption. Dense with nostalgia, this family poem is also a treatise on shtetl esthetics and on the true relationship between _folk_ (people) and _tsien_ (Zion) in the course of centuries, a relationship lived largely in the Yiddish language, the language of the Ashkenazic masses which sustained, nourished and indeed was the lifeblood of the Zionist movememt. Written in the year of the establishment of the State of Israel, this poem expresses a Yiddishist poet's deep and abiding love of Israel. Fifty years later we can say that this love has not been adequately returned. Love, we know, is not always an equal exchange. [L.P.] Ertsisroel-khale-tishtukhl (Land-of-Israel Sabbath-Loaf Coverlet)* by Avrem-Nokhem Shtentsl [Abraham Nahum Stencl] s'hot troyrik di mayrev-vant aropgekukt, iber bayshtidl undzern, iber shmoln, deriber** shabes oyfn khale-tishtukhl, iz geven gants ertsisroel oysgemoln.*** Rokhl|s-keyver, di meores-hamachpeylo, di melokhem, ven mame Sore|n zey bentshn; di odlers un laybn fun beyde zaytn, mamesh oysgezen vi lebedike mentshn. a gantse vokh iz undzer naketer tish a halb-badekter bloyz mit tishtukh gevezn, zhgamzhendik**** dem bisn broyt -- fun tish arop dem "al naharoys" mit lipn gor gelezn. khorev|dik di mayrev-vant aropgekukt iber bayshtedl undzern iber shmoln, ober vi rakheves|dik s'gantse beysamigdesh fun khale-tishtukhl ertsisroln. un ven shabes-farnakht shotns tunkele hobn dos shtibl undzers getun aynhiln, s'hot dem 'got fun Avrem' mayn frume mame genumen zogn mit a nign a shtiln - - yo, oyf a ferd a vaysn, an oremen, iz take meshiekh ongekumen tsu raytn, ober fun beyde zaytn fun tishtukhl arop, odlers un laybn geton tun im bagleytn. di droysndike dray likhtike shtern iber yerusholaim zaynen geshtanen! funem khale-tishtukhl fun gemoltn oyf himl aroyf zaynen zey oyfgegangen. punkt vi fraytog-tsu-nakht di tsvey melokhem, tatn in shtub arayn hobn getun bagleytn, ven mame tsvishn di getsundene likht, s'tishtukhl oyf di khales getun farshpreytn. s'hot troyrik di mayrev-vant aropgekukt, iber bayshtidl undzern, iber shmoln, deriber** shabes oyfn khale-tishtukhl, iz geven gants ertsisroel oysgemoln.*** *First published in _loshn un lebn_ [London] of July 1948, pp. 8-9 [heftl 102, ninth year, number 7] under the title "unzer [undzer] khale tishtukhl" and reprinted in _yerusholaim_, london: farlag Y. naroditski, 1948, pp. 38-9, under the title "eretsisrol- khale-tishtukhl." ** _loshn un lebn_: derfar *** _loshn un lebn_: iz gants ertsisroel geven oysgemoln. **** ze poylish _zgromadzic_ 'onshporn' (english: 'hoard') 3)-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 30 April 1998 From: Itsik Goldenberg Subject: "Borves," _Musernikes_ (Khayem Grade) muser|nikes [6] borves 001 fraytik halbn tog oyf der kvartir. 002 der tish hot oysgeputst zikh mit a vaysn tishtekh, 003 afile di farshmirte shoybn in der tir, 004 hobn shabes-koydesh|dik arumgevisht zikh. 005 khlavne ober iz nit oyfgeleygt, 006 s'iz ongedroln zayn bashtendiker tseshmeykhlter gezikht, 007 yede rege git er zikh tsu zayne fis a beyg -- 008 er geyt on shikh... 009 er hot di baleboste dray mol tsu dem shuster shoyn aropgetribn, 010 baym shiker dem latutnik iz nokh dinstik, kontik, 011 alevay vet zayn di shikh nokh shabes montik. 012 der ostrovoler ligt un krekhtst oyf der kanape, -- 013 vos geyt es itster khlavnen on? 014 er kukt oyf zayne opgefrishte hoyzn, oysgepreste klapes, 015 er iz in gantsn shabes|dik arumgeton, 016 un na dir -- shikh... 017 der ostrovoler ligt, di finger oyf di oygn tsitern, -- 018 vos hot er den tsu kukn? 019 er zet mit tsugemakhte oygn khlavnes rukn --- 020 un zayne lipn tsukn oys a shmeykhl a far|yiesh|tn, a bitern: 021 dem yingl tsit in rosh-yeshive|s shtub di bas-yekhide... 022 nor er ken blaybn fibern oyf der kanape. 023 oyf zayne finger hot a trer aroyfgekapet, -- 024 er ruft, vi durkh a kholem, oysgetsoygn, shver: 025 -- khlavne -- yener entfert nit un kukt in gas aroys. 026 -- khlavne -- yener git kaprizne yinglsh zikh a ker: 027 -- vos iz?...der ostrovoler filt, dos lebn rint im fun di finger oys: 028 -- kh'fil zikh epes haynt nit gut, 029 vel in ergets shoyn nit geyn -- 030 der ostrovoler vert alts shvakher fun minut -- 031 past on mayne shikh... zey zaynen aykh nit kleyn? 032 mir trogn, dakht zikh mir, dem zelbn numer --- 033 der yung ful khshad un derekherets shteyt a shtumer. 034 far vos gor derekherets -- vert der ostrovoler durkhgetsaplt, 035 nemt! -- dreyen oys zikh zayne heyse tunkele shvartsapl. 036 khlavne shpreyt funander zayne hent: vos redt ir? 037 der ostrovoler zetst zikh oyf: vos iz? 038 ir muzt dokh ergets tsugeyn?... zet ir! -- 039 un er tsit arop di shikh fun zayne fis... 040 -- neyn! -- shrayt khlavne zikh aleyn ariber a dershtoynter. 041 -- vos heyst? zey zaynen nit farshmutst, 042 ikh hob lekoved shabes zey arumgeputst. 043 ir hot dokh shoyn getrogn mayne shikh a mol, 044 ikh hob in mayne shikh di grenets aykh adurkhgefirt --- 045 glien trern in zayn kol. 046 khlavne hot zikh keyn mol nit azoy geshpirt. 047 -- nu -- vert der ostrovoler umgeduldik oyfgereytst -- 048 folgt, ir hot dokh derekherets-- geyt dos blut in ponem im a fleyts -- 049 ikh vel aleyn a kuk ton, tsi zey pasn -- shrayt er oyfgekokht. 050 der yung tret op. der ostrovoler geyt im nokh 051 un nemt mit tsiterike kni tsum dil zikh boygn --- 052 khlavne git a shprung, vi er volt fun a klap zikh opgevert. 053 der ostrovoler efnt vi fun a koshmar di oygn, 054 er shtelt zikh oyf pamelekh fun der erd, 055 un durkh farkritste tseyner tsishet er aroys: 056 -- nemt di shikh, ir hert! -- 057 un loyft aroys in tsveytn kheyder. 058 er ligt a tsiteriker in a shtul, badekt mit shveys; 059 er hot nokh keyn mol nit gefilt azoy di shleyfn, 060 di shtekhedike hor fun zayne bremen, -- 061 er vil tsurik in kheyder loyfn: 062 er vet nemen!? er vet nemen?! 063 fun yenem kheyder blozt, vi a dermordeter volt dort gelegn. 064 mit a mol -- optsasn oyfn dil. 065 a tir shpringt op -- un shtil. 066 der ostrovoler khapt zikh oyf fun zayn khaloshes|dikn shoyder: 067 iz ver avek? iz ver gekumen? 068 er loyft arayn in tsveytn kheyder: -- 069 er hot genumen!.. 070 khlavne hot gelozt di tir halb ofn, 071 un aropgerunen fun di shtign gikh, 072 s'iz emetser a borveser im nokhgelofn: 073 -- mayne shikh!.. 074 khlavne hot zikh hastik umgekukt nit vilndik -- 075 zayn shotn hot, a lakhiker, bavizn optsushpringen koym: 076 der emets iz a borveser geblibn in der heym... 077 iz er avek vi zingendik un shpilndik. 078 di hayzlekh zaynen im getray fun beyde zaytn nokhgeganen, 079 mit vayse farhanglekh di shaybelekh farhangen. 080 a bobe oyf a trepl shtelt zikh oyf: -- a talmid-khokhem! 081 di alte zogt mit bentshndike lipn nokh im: 082 -- alevay oyf mayne eyniklekh gezogt gevorn. 083 khlavne shmeykhlt, khotsh es iz in linkn shukh im eng: 084 der ostrovoler hot zikh ongezetst oyf mayne yorn, 085 er geyt arum a fintsterer un shtreng, 086 bashmekt mir a geboygener, un ven er heybt di oygn oyf, 087 dakht zikh mir -- ot varft er zikh oyf mir aroyf. 088 ikh bin shuldik? kvelt er shoyn fun zayne shikh vos glantsn -- 089 hot er gezolt zey onton, ele vos -- er filt zikh nit in gantsn. 090 nor khlavnen zaynen eng di shikh un eng iz im in der makhshove -- 091 nemt er gikher shprayzn: 092 der ostrovoler hot a pule in hatove 093 gevolt durkh dem bavayzn. 094 shver iz mir geven di shikh tsu nemen, shver, 095 nem ikh nit -- volt ikh im shtark gekrenkt, 096 ikh hob geton durkh dem far im fil mer, 097 vi er far mir -- 098 hot khlavne endlekh zikh badenkt 099 un geefnt a baruikter dem rosh-yeshive|s tir. 100 in kikh hot khlavne zikh farlorn in di pare knoyln. 101 zey hobn im arumgenumen heymish varem -- a mekhaye. 102 bislekhvayz hot zikh di pare vi a tsibele genumen sheyln, 103 er hot derzen di kekhin Khaye, 104 vos hot mit frume oygn un mit hent genite, 105 gekhapt di teplekh fun der plite. 106 khlavne iz arayn in groysn sforem--kheyder. 107 der oylem arum tish hot zikh avekgedreyt fun shmues, 108 er hot oyfgekhapt farshpitste vunken, tnues, 109 men hot geshlept fun im di shikh, di kleyder, -- 110 farrisn iz er durkh in estsimer, -- 111 di shushkenish in sforem-kheyder hot im nit gekimert. 112 in estsimer: di trokhnbroder raybn zikh on vant. 113 der rosh-yeshive redt tsu zey, di pole fun surdut in hant. 114 -- trokhnbroder, zayt mekabl kinyen, 115 ir vet makhn in a shtetl a yeshive-ketane, 116 tsum yom-hadin badarf men zkhusem, -- 117 der langer kukt, vi er volt nit farshtanen, 118 vos tret der kertser oyfn fus im: 119 -- avade darf men -- zogt der kurtser -- ober onheyb zman? 120 der rosh-yeshive zet: er vet nit poyeln un dreyt zikh op tsum tir. 121 khlavne git a zikherer foroys a shpan: 122 -- ayer kashe nekhtn oyfn shier --- 123 der rosh-yeshive leygt oyf im aroyf a foterlekhe hant: 124 -- shpeter khlavne... un er efnt oyf di tir in sforem-kheyder. 125 di trokhnbroder shitn zikh aroys, un khlavne -- eyder 126 er geyt mit -- bavayzt a kuk ton oyf der shlofshtub... tsugemakht! 127 dort zitst di rebetsn un zi, dos meydl --- 128 khlavne geyt aroys a nit-tsufridener un oyfgebrakht, 129 der rosh-yeshive lozt im durkh bazunder eydl, 130 un ruft in sforem-kheyder: Dovid kapetkevitsher, zayt moykhl. 131 der lamdn poysht mit shverer trit, 132 in sforem-kheyder blaybt dem rosh-yeshive|s shmeykhl... 133 der langer trokhnbroder dreyt oys zayne shitere shvartsaplen: 134 -- dem ostrovoler zet men epes nit? 135 der kurtser shterkhet im, er zol nit plaplen. 136 khlavne shteyt tsevishn oylem in der mit, 137 er glantst mit zayne naye shikh, un mit khidushem naye: 138 -- der "tashbets" fregt, vi kumt es, az Abaye... 139 in estsimer: der kapetkevitsher shteyt baym komod, 140 er kratst di fete gombe balebes|dik, farlegn, 141 der rosh--yeshive shpant arum mit a nervezn trot, 142 un shtelt zikh rash avek dem kapetkevitsher antkegn: 143 ...iz vos vet zayn der sof fun inyen? 144 nekhtn iz gevezn vider der mekhutn, 145 er ergert zikh -- vos vart men mitn kinyen? 146 der rosh--yeshive heybt on nokh a mol mit gutn: 147 -- zeks yor kest bediek, mamesh vi eyn vokh, 148 a sheyner shver, a raykhe hoyz -- vos vilt ir nokh? 149 un vos der psule shaykh -- iz nit shaykh, 150 ir hot dokh ongekukt... mayn vayb, 151 di rebitsn -- farrikht der rosh-yeshive zikh aleyn -- zogt oykh, 152 az vos der psule shaykh -- 153 bekitser -- zogt der rosh-yeshive shtreng un hoykh -- 154 ir vilt a kinyen oder tnoyem? 155 der bokher iz gevoynt tsu dem un entfert kalt: 156 -- der mekhutn iz gevis an erlekher, ikh troy im, 157 ikh halt nit ober bay der bay, ikh halt -- 158 ikh meyn ikh hob a shvester, vos iz elter --- 159 der rosh-yeshive tsindt zikh on: der alter terets. 160 der bokher vert alts ongeblozener un kelter: 161 ikh muz es vern grod durkh im a khosn? 162 a kheylek hot er ayngeleygt? -- er mont! er fodert! -- 163 vert baym kapetkevitsher der karik royt-fargosn, 164 nor er shvaygt oys derekherets. 165 der rosh--yeshive ruft: Rakhmiel trokhnbroder. 166 der langer krikht arayn mit oysgestartshete oyganes. 167 der kapetkevitsher derfreyt zikh: borekh shepotrani, -- 168 un vil vos gikher vern nelm, 169 der rosh-yeshive ober ruft tsurik fun shvel im: 170 blaybt! -- un tsum arayngekumenem mit a yirgozn, 171 vi zey voltn in a mitn shmues ersht gelozn: 172 ...ir darft dem shidekh ton -- un in besmedresh blaybn. 173 motse yontef vet ir tnoyem shraybn 174 mit der kekhin Khaye... 175 der kapetkevitsher tsepralt dos moyl ful shtoynung, 176 dem rosh-yeshive|s oygn shisn, 177 az a bal-muser mont nit far zayn toyre a baloynung 178 fun tarpat alofim, 179 shtendik zayn baym shver oyf kest; 180 trokhnbroder, ir vet shlofn vayter vi ir zayt geshlofn, 181 un esn vi an emeser ben-toyre est. 182 di kekhin -- tseylt der rosh-yeshive shtreng di verter -- 183 flegt oystrogn far gvirim milkh un gut fardinen, 184 hot zi gevolt a kekhin zayn -- abi zikh in a frumen hoyz gefinen -- 185 dos iz ayer zivig der basherter. 186 un khuts dem -- kukt der rosh-yeshive zikh arum -- 187 iz zi a yesoyme nebekh -- a rakhmones, 188 ir zayt dokh a bal-muser, ir zayt frum, 189 un efsher vilt ir oykhet a rabones? -- 190 nemen bloy dem rosh-yeshive|s oygn blitsn. 191 der trokhnbroder veynt azh fun baleydikung un bebet: 192 -- in vos zayt ir mit khoyshed, rebe?.. 193 der rosh-yeshive glet di oysgeloshene ash-groye shpitsn 194 fun zayn fayerdiker bord, 195 er leygt aroyf a veykhe dlonye oyf dem trokhnbroders haldz, 196 un kukt oyf Dovid kapetkevitsher, vos shteyt nokh alts 197 an ongeshparter oyf zayn ort, 198 un shpilt zikh kil, vi s'iz zayn shteyger, 199 mit zayn groysn zeyger. 200 der rosh-yeshive geyt aroys fun sforem-kheyder on a vort. 201 Dovid kapetkevitsher shpringt tsu tsum trokhnbroder: shoyte, -- 202 griblt zikh der lakh in zayne bakn, shmaltsike un royte -- 203 ir hot badarft im eytse|nen -- zol khlavne nemen Khaye|n, 204 un aykh zol er avekgebn dos tekhterl, 205 dos tekhterl -- bavayzt er oyf der shlofshtub mit an oysgelasener havaye 206 un visht arum fun moyl dos sam|ike gelekhterl. 207 in sforem-kheyder hot der oylem zikh gehitst. 208 di lomdem hobn khlavnes toyre opgedungen, 209 er hot zikh nit gelozn un geblitst 210 mit bekiyes, aynfaln, farkert gedrungen. 211 di almers sforem hobn zikh arayngemisht. 212 der varshever hot zikh gekokht: ikh vayz aykh a _khidushe rim_, -- 213 khlavne hot a khap geton a seyfer funem tish, 214 un gezungen hekher mit a klingendiker shtim. 215 di hent ahinter hot der rosh-yeshive zikh arumgedreyt, 216 arayngeshtelt an oyer in gezeml un gehat hanoe. 217 a shpan geton in estsimer fartrakhterheyt, 218 arayngekhapt in moyl di bordshpitsn di groye, 219 ayngehorkht zikh tsu der shlofshtub der farmakhter, 220 un fun der zayt gekukt oyf khlavnen a fartrakhter. 221 der langer trokhnbroder hot a hor fun gombe zikh getsept. 222 a muser|nik tut alts barekhnt -- 223 iz er in veg geshtanen yedn vi a slup, 224 biz er iz arayn in kikh un zikh fariket far der kekhin: 225 -- ikh, ikh vil a trunk, gg... git mir a gloz... 226 (s'hot oyfgeregt gefayft zayn lange noz). 227 di kekhin hot a khap geton a gloz fun shafke, 228 gevisht es lang mit tsiterike finger un geglet. 229 er hot gebetn zikh: genug, un zi hot davke 230 dos gloz gevisht un gornisht nit geredt. 231 er hot gemakht a brokhe oyfn kol, zi hot geentfert: omeyn. 232 di hent farleygt unter dem shirts: a dank zayn libn nomen -- 233 khlavnen hot der gantser pilpel tsugegesn. 234 er hot shoyn ale "ritba"s, ale "rashba"s oysgebrakht, 235 un zi -- zitst alts in shlofshtub tsugemakht. 236 shteyt er tsvishn oylem in der mit, 237 di lomdem shturemen oyf im -- er shvaygt broyges. 238 a bokher shrayt: der rambam pasknt... khlavne klert: vos toyg es? -- 239 zi vayzt zikh nit... 240 der ostrovoler hot arumgeshprayzt oyf der kvartir, 241 fargesn nit gekent: 242 er hot gekukt oyf mir dershtoynt, mit khshad -- 243 un derekherets... 244 er filt zikh a tsebrokhener, geshendt, -- 245 ikh bin gevezn yornlang zayn rosh-havaad, 246 a talmed hot dokh far a rebn derekherets -- yo. 247 un volt der derekherets fun zayn ponem opgerunen, 248 volt efsher rakhamim zikh bay im gefunen, 249 un vu s'iz rakhamim do -- iz khoyzek do, 250 a mol geyt khoyzek nokh rakhmones, oft mol -- far, 251 zey geyen oykh tsuzamen, -- 252 azoy hot er gegrobn zikh, vi in a khurve -- in zayn tsar; 253 vi a hungerike khaye unter durkhgefoylte shtamen: 254 zey hobn derekherets -- ikh hob zey dertsoygn ale, 255 di frimste ober voltn zikh gefreyt, 256 ven emetser iz zey mayn brokh megale, 257 zey veysn shoyn... ikh fil es, ven zey geyen mir farbay --- 258 er hot an elnter zikh oyfgedreyt, 259 un mit zayn shtern tsu dem fentster tsugefaln. 260 di zun hot im geglet mit ire tsarte elul-shtraln, -- 261 der ostrovoler hot geveynt mit heysn blay. 262 maskil... der yomer fun a mentshn in a heyl, 263 der yomer fun a mentsh -- a farshtoysener, fartribener, -- 264 er hot gezungen mit azoy fil shtiln groyl, 265 vi fun a velt a khorever -- der eyntsiker farblibener. 266 o, got, ikh vil dir oysgisn mayn veytik, 267 ikh vil dertseyln dir mayn payn. 268 kuk rekht|s -- es vil mir keyner nit derkenen, 269 ikh bin shoyn keynem mer nit neytik, 270 o, kuk zikh ayn, o, kuk zikh ayn... 271 farnem, got, mayn gebet, ikh bin tsebrokhn, 272 ikh ruf tsu dir -- du zolst mir nit fartraybn, 273 ikh klap in himl, vi an ovl tsu a shokhn, 274 aleyn nit mit a barminan a gantse nakht tsu blaybn... 275 o, got, es zitst der toyt in mir -- ikh fil im 276 in mayne oygn, in di hent, -- 277 azoy hot er geplontert zayne reyd mit psukem tilem, 278 biz di zun in shoyb hot oysgebrent. 279 "alte broyt, alte khale, hot rakhmones oyf a krankn yid, 280 yidn, varft lekoved shabes vos arop". -- 281 der ostrovoler hot derhert dem betlers lid, 282 un oyfgehoybn fun di nase hent dem kop: 283 alts heybt vider zikh fun onheyb on -- 284 vos vet zayn? o, vos vet zayn? 285 ikh bin vi in di pakeles -- der hon, 286 aroys mit eyn fus, mit dem andern arayn. 287 vi zogt der moshl: der farfolgter hirsh brekht op di herner, 288 er zol zikh nit fartshepen in di tsvaygn, -- 289 er heybt on lakhn: kh'volt keyn batlen nit geven, keyn lerner, 290 oyb ikh zol zikh aleyn afile itst nit laygn. 291 s'iz gor nito keyn vald, un ikh hob nit keyn sheyne herner, 292 dos hob ikh zikh farviklt in a kleydl, -- 293 an ayngeredte mayse, epes dort a narish meydl. 294 genug geplontert in khezhboynes zikh -- aher, ahin, 295 yedn khezhbm ken men oyfshteln antkegn -- tsen, 296 di kraft fun maysem ligt nit sof-kol-sof in zeyer zin, 297 nor in bashlus: ikh vil -- ikh ken... 298 der ostrovoler hot zikh oyfgeshtelt. es hot in im gezotn: 299 ikh bin nokh nit in pakeles der hon. 300 er hot aroysgeshlept di tsitsis un tseshpreyt dem tales-kotn, 301 zikh ayngeboygn un di zokn oysgeton: 302 o, groyser umzin fun mayn gehenem, 303 mir paynikt nit azoy, vos epes dort a meydl vil nit mir -- 304 vi dos, vos zi vil -- yenem... 305 mit mayne shikh hot er mayn mishegas nit tsugenumen -- 306 darf ikh itst aleyn a b o r v e s e r dort kumen. 307 a shif vos trinkt zikh, varft in vaser alts tsu vern nitsl, 308 a muser|nik darf kenen leygn zikh in blote, -- 309 zey veln zogn, az dos iz a shpitsl, 310 ikh -- vel ober shoyn nit kenen hobn keyn kharote --- 311 b o r v e s! 312 ikh bin gegangen shoyn a borveser in kiev. 313 o, got, ikh shray tsu dir a naketer vi Iyev: 314 "gib dayn orem mir in orves". 315 ikh vil in gantsn zayn tsebrokhn, gornisht hofn --- 316 un der ostrovoler iz aroysgelofn... romanizirt fun itsik goldenberg ---------------------------------------------------------------- End of _The Mendele Review_ 02.015 Leonard Prager, editor Send articles to: lprager@research.haifa.ac.il The editor of _TMR_ can also be reached via _Mendele_'s homepage: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele Subscribers to _Mendele_ (see below) automatically receive _The Mendele Review_. Send "to subscribe" or change-of-status messages to: listproc@lists.yale.edu a. For a temporary stop: set mendele mail postpone b. To resume delivery: set mendele mail ack c. To subscribe: sub mendele first_name last_name d. To unsubscribe kholile: unsub mendele ****Getting back issues**** _The Mendele Review_ archives can be reached at: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele/tmrarc.htm _The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language (A Companion to _MENDELE_) ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 02.016 8 May 1998 1) Yiddish Matters: From the Editor (Leonard Prager) 2) "in gehenem oyf a keyt," _muser|nikes_ (Khayem Grade) 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 8 May 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: Yiddish Matters In this issue: We continue with Khayem Grade's _muser|nikes_: the seventh and next-to-last section "in gehenem oyf a keyt." Coming: 1. professor Dov noy, araynfir tsu di _etnografishe anketes_, vilne, 1928 (Professor Dov Noy: Introduction to _Ethnographic Questionaire_, Vilna, 1928) 2. _Etnografishe anketes_, "yontoyvem," "klolem far zamler fun etnografishn materyal," [yidisher visnshaftlekher institut serye "organizatsye fun der yidisher visnshaft"], numer 4 heft 1, vilne, 1928. (Rules for Collectors of Ethnographic Material, [YIVO Series: Organization of Jewish Studies] No. 4, Issue 1: _Holidays_, Vilna, 1928) 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 8 May 1998 From: Itsik Goldenberg Subject: "in gehenem oyf a keyt," _muser|nikes_ (Khayem grade) muser|nikes [7] in gehenem oyf a keyt 001 in kikh arum di vayse tishn, shabes -- 002 iz tishebov... afile der tsefayerter reb Abe 003 iz vi a flig in vinter -- shtum. 004 men zingt keyn zmires nit. ayeder est bazunder un fartrakht. 005 emetser a borveser geyt, nit gezen, arum 006 tsevishn oylem bokherem fun fraytik oyf der nakht... 007 Khayem vilner kukt oyf Moyshe liber -- 008 der apikoyres zitst vi shtendik -- shtar, 009 a zaytiker, a kalter un a triber. 010 er nemt keyn onteyl nit in tsar 011 fun gantsn tsiber. 012 a farumerter bentsht yederer far zikh, 013 shtil, on a mezumen, 014 un men shlaykht aroys fun kikh 015 bigneyve, vi men iz gekumen... 016 Khayem vilner hot dem apikoyres opgevart in droysn. 017 liber hot a lakh geton, vi er volt zikh oyf dem gerikht. 018 avekgeshprayzt, dem kop farheybn, mit a trot a groysn, 019 der vilner iz im nokh, in mantl dos gezikht. 020 liber hot zikh opgeshtelt: "mevakesh," vos zayt ir azoy tsetumlt? 021 a bal-muser darf dokh zikh farleykenen, geyn borves, 022 dos past zikh zeyer gut tsum ruml. 023 aykh -- badarf dos nit tserudern, ir zayt dokh nor vos 024 ongekumen, un avade halt ir, 025 az es kumt nit op navaredok mit reyd -- iz oykh mekayem, 026 to vos iz, az a muser|nik an alter 027 hot zikh avekgelozt in gas a borveser leshem shomayim?.. 028 - der vilner: an alter rosh havaad, a khosn shoyn kimat -- 029 a borveser in rosh-yeshives shtub?..azoy mevatl makhn zikh, tsesharn! 030 - liber: im past nor roydef|n un muser|n zayn vaad? 031 mekayem zayn -- zolt ir... ir vilt men zol aykh dafke narn? 032 fun vanen veyst ir ober, az der ragzn mit di fis di lome, 033 hot gemeynt nor zikh tsu zayn mevatl, 034 efsher hot er grod durkh dem genumen fintstere nekome 035 on rosh-yeshive un zayn tokhter -- merer vi on zikh?.. 036 ikh ze, ir zayt nokh gor a yatl. 037 - der vilner: er hot avekgegebn khlavnen zayne shikh... 038 - liber: ir geyt oykh in klumpes oysgedreyte -- 039 far vos hot er di shikh nit opgegebn aykh? 040 der vilner vert in kas: ir zayt a khoyte 041 un a makhte... vos bin ikh do shaykh? 042 khlavnen opgebn -- ot dos iz a pule! 043 liber krimt zikh mit farakhtung: ir zayt es a mentshn-kener... 044 khlavne nemt bay im avek di psule -- 045 er iz a likhtiker, a tsikhtiker -- er iz fil shener, 046 git der ostrovoler im avek di shikh -- a zhest 047 fun gayve, rezignatsye un der iker fun nekome: zest!.. 048 fundestvegn getroyt mir nit -- ikh bin a koyfer. 049 - der vilner: men troyt aykh nit. men geyt aykh oyf di trit. 050 dokh halt men aykh -- un dos farshtey ikh nit... 051 - liber: kha-kha, ikh bin fun bikhlekh un fun khazer treyfer, 052 nor zey klern: ikh vel beser vern fort. 053 geyt zhe, vilner, treft men aykh mit mir iz -- nu... 054 der vilner tsaplt oyf un rirt zikh nit fun ort, 055 er kukt zikh um un geyt tsum apikoyres nenter tsu: 056 -- men hot a bukh gefunen in mayn kestl --- 057 - liber: a keml mit a shpigele in ayer vestl, 058 derfar hot ir gegebn tkies-kaf -- 058 - der vilner: vu hot ir shoyn alts tsunoyfgeklibn? 059 - liber: in navaredok iz do geheymer telegraf, 060 un ikh bin a navaredker shoyn a yor zibn. 061 - der vilner: un ale mol zayt ir aza -- 062 - liber: -- farleykener? -- vi kum ikh do bay zey? -- 063 dos vilt ir fregn, ha? 064 ir zet, ikh bin a muser|nik: ir klert -- un ikh farshtey. 065 gut, ikh vel aykh entfern. ikh bin geforn tsulib hunger. 066 ir banemt es nit? -- avade, ir zayt nokh a yunger, 067 deriber zog ikh aykh: antloyft in der farmakhter tayve, 068 klert nit fun der velt, vos goysest unter ayer kastn, 069 s'iz mayn khavruse, vi der shvel fun a nekeyve, 070 un ir vet zikh nit oyskoyfn mit tsen mol fastn. 071 - der vilner: vos zayt ir hungerik azoy tsu zayn farshtoysn? 072 vos shpayt ir mit aza hanoe niblpe? 073 ikh hob aykh opgevart in droysn... 074 - liber shmeykhlt troyerik: ikh ze, 075 ir zayt a negl-vaser-frumer filosof, 076 hot ir derzen dem ostrovolers sof 077 eyder ir aleyn hot ongehoybn, 078 geyt ir mit dem apikoyres dem farsholtenem tsuzamen, 079 efsher grod vet er aykh rateven dos gloybn, 080 ven ayer retungs-leyter -- muser -- shteyt in flamen... 081 farfaln, keyner vakst nit greser, vi er ken. 082 - der vilner: a bal-muser vil zayn greser vi er iz. 083 - liber: a shtus... ir vet aleyn dos shpeter zen, 084 - dos heyst: arumgeyn trogndik in harts -- a shpiz... 085 s'hot liber yomerlekh farkrimt dos moyl: 086 - zogt mir, Khayem vilner, vos iz muser behispayles? 087 un eyder Khayem vilner hot gekhapt di shayle, 088 hot liber oyfn mitn gas aroysgelozn a gehoyl, 089 er hot zikh bay di rekl-klapes ongenumen, 090 vi er volt veln raysn krie, 091 un a far|mishpet|er, ven er derzet zayn tlie: 092 - ir kent dem nign? -- dos iz muser behispayles... 093 ir zet, ot iz adurkh a froy, 094 ir hot afile nit gezen ir ponem gut, 095 filt ir zikh nit, muser|nik, azoy 096 vi ayer harts volt zikh gevorfn unter ire fis in blut? 097 a veltish frayer man zet in der froy -- dos vayb, 098 a yeshive-bokher zet di kleyder, zet di dame. 099 s'iz nit keyn garenish fun layb nokh heysn layb, 100 dos iz di elntkayt, vos zukht a shvester, zukht a mame... 101 farshteyt ir es? ir zayt nokh yung, kimat a kind, 102 ikh blayb gepleft ven s'geyen mir farbay farputste froyen -- 103 dos iz di benkenish tsu reynkeyt -- nit tsu zind. 104 dos iz di zikherkayt. di ru. der nit basherter gliklekher nisoyen. 105 a meydl-futerl -- vi veykh es iz, vi tif, 106 ikh volt in im fargrobn mayn tsuflamtn kop dem midn. 107 ikh kholem fun a vaytn tsartn briv, 108 un nit fun nadn -- a yeshive mit a tsholnt un a bas-yekhide. 109 liber khapt zikh on mit beyde hent baym brust, 110 vi er volt veln zi oyf tsvey tsuraysn: 111 -- s'iz do aza gehenem-flister: lust! 112 un ikh hob mit a nign es gevolt aribershprayzn -- 113 der nign dos iz muser behispayles... 114 ot zaynen mir atsind in mitn shtot, 115 ir zayt shoyn do a mol gevezn? -- neyn! 116 ot geyen yunge layt farbay mit a geshvindtn trot, 117 glaykhgiltik un kalt -- un ir muzt firn krig mit yedn shteyn. 118 der himl bloyt. gelekhter blendt. es vinken fentster. 119 yeder moyer freyt zikh -- un farleyknt aykh... 120 alevay volt ir gezen in alts geshpenster, bloyz geshpenster, 121 nor yeder likhtflek zet oys a farkishefter in taykh. 122 ir benkt, un shlingt vi heyse ayzns -- lign, 123 shlept ir zikh avek; dos ponem in di hent 124 fargrobt ir zikh in a besmedresh-lokh -- un mit a nign 125 vilt ir optoytn dos harts in zikh, vos brent -- 126 der nign -- dos iz muser behispayles... 127 Khayem vilner hot di hent tseshpreyt: 128 -- ver hot aykh genoyt? 129 s'hot liber sharf arayngeshnitn: 130 -- broyt! 131 - der vilner: heyst es, ir hot zikh farshtelt -- un nit gelernt, 132 to vos azoy fil payn, azoy fil trern, -- 133 ir hot dokh keyn antoyshung nit gelitn. 134 -- liber: farvor, ir zayt gerekht, farvor. 135 ikh bin geven an apikoyres shoyn tsu draytsn yor; 136 tsu bar-mitsve nit geleygt keyn tfilin, 137 gevust fun darvinen, di kritiker fun bibl -- 138 nor broyt iz nit geven in undzer shtibl... 139 bin ikh geforn esn teg, mayn hungerkramf tsu shtiln. 140 az ikh dermon zikh on di fremde tishn, 141 vilt zikh mir in blote leygn, 142 mit koyt fun unter reder zikh farmishn, 143 un oysraysn vi brekshteyner fun zikh di oygn. 144 nokh itster, az ikh gey arayn in heymishe, mir nonte shtiber, 145 dakht zikh mir, di balebatem kukn zikh mit khoyzek iber... 146 ikh bin gegangen in eyn hemd a gantsn vinter, 147 ikh hob fun zikh gerisn pasnvayz, 148 a farshemter fleg ikh zikh arumkukn ahinter, 149 ikh fleg zikh yedn tog farshparn knakn layz -- 150 ayedn tog fleg ikh zikh oyf tsvey sho bahaltn. 151 an oysshit hot badekt mayn gantsn layb -- tsoraas. 152 ikh fleg araynbaysn di tseyn in shtender, nit tsu makhn keyn gevaldn, 153 dos baysenish hot mir arayngeyogt in mishegas. 154 a mol bin ikh bay nakht gelegn in a vaybershul, 155 ikh hob zikh oyfn dil gevalgert, a tsebisener fun vantsn, 156 ikh hob gevolt aroys fun hoyt, ikh bin gevezn dul, 157 fun hunger hot mayn ingeveyd genumen tantsn. 158 un plutslung, vi a lebedik farshotener in grub, 159 hob ikh derhert in fintsternish -- gezang, 160 antkegn shulkhl iz geven an arbetorer-klub, 161 vos hot arayngeotemt in der nakht mit shturem un gedrang. 162 azoy hob ikh gelebt in kiev, in barditshev un in shklov. 163 der umru hot gebroyzt, di hofenung hot oyfgeblit in land in vistn 164 un ikh hob zikh gepaynikt tsvishn lamed-vov -- 165 un onanistn... 166 ikh fil nokh itster tsu mayn layb azoy fil ekl, 167 az s'iz a khidesh mir, vi ver ikh nit dervorgn, 168 ikh fleg zikh iberdekn oyfn kloyzbank mit mayn rekl, 169 un mayne opgedekte fis flegt kushn der frimorgn. 170 ikh hob gekholemt tomed fun a broytl, fun a gantsn lebl, 171 un arum mir -- a makhne in tseflikte begodim, 172 tukhle un farshtoybtkayt, ipesh, krets un shvebl, 173 un a gehenem fun geshrey: ben odem, ay, ben odem... 174 ikh bin geven in blut a veltisher, a frayer -- 175 un keyn mol nit aleyn, bashtendik in geyeg, in fayer, -- 176 loyzn hob ikh zikh gekent farshparn, 177 ober vi hob ikh gekent farshparn mayn neshome? 178 ikh bin geven tsu erlekh zey tsu narn, 179 un der fardamter ostrovoler mit di fis di lome, 180 vos iz nokh demolt nit geven aleyn tseshmetert, 181 hot mir getribn vi an oks in boyne: 182 oyb er shoynt nit zikh -- tsi vet er 183 epes dort a bokherl farshoynen? 184 neyn! ikh hob zikh nit farshtelt, ikh hob gemuzt a gloybn hobn, 185 hob ikh tsebrokhn in besmedresh ale shtenders, 186 ikh hob mayn kop in vant arayngegrobn, 187 s'hot alts in mir getsaplt -- un ikh hob zikh nit geendert. 188 rikhtik zogn zey, di mishegoyem: 189 shver iz shtarbn far a toyre; shverer fil -- far ir tsu lebn. 190 ikh volt geshtorbn far dem gloybn fun di proem, 191 mayn yugnt iz mir shver geven zey optsugebn. 192 a moreshkhoyre|diker opgrunt hot fun zey geveyt, 193 dos groylikste geven iz zeyer simkhes-toyre, 194 dos iz geven di mishegas fun freyd, 195 dos iz geven di shikere tselozte moreshkhoyre. 196 un ikh, vos hob tsu lernen muser zikh getsvungen, 197 hob simkhes-toyre oykh, vi unter a tsefokhtn knut -- gezungen 198 ikh hob getantst. ikh hob gevolt durkh shrayen, 199 fun ale veytikn un tayves zikh bafrayen. 200 fun mayn elnt hob ikh oysgeshmidt a gloybn, 201 a tugnt -- fun dem tsvang; 202 ikh fleg aroyskukn farbenkt adurkh di shoybn, 203 un oysgegangen mit ayedn zunfargang. 204 ikh bin a mol in a besmedresh in hisboydedes gezesn, 205 di shkie iz gelegn oyf mayn kop, vi opgehakte hent. 206 ikh hob gehat dem khezhbm fun der tsayt fargesn, 207 es hobn mir arumgeringlt shtum di vent. 208 di benk, di bime, hobn zikh in mir arayngekarbt, 209 s'hot zun bay mayne fis getrift, vi blut fun mir aroysgetsapt. 210 dos lebn iz gevezn vayt. ikh hob gefilt: ikh shtarb --- 211 un ikh hob mayn gezikht un mayne kni batapt. 212 un veyst ir ver in alts iz shuldik? -- 213 hot liber oysgeshrien vild -- ikh vil zey alemen dermordn! 214 far vos hob ikh gebrokhn zikh azoy geduldik? 215 men hot gezogt: der mentsh iz fray -- nor nit geordnt. 216 vilner, shoklt nit dem kop, ir hot nit vos tsu zogn, 217 ikh hob dem gantsn payn adurkhgetrogn. 218 der gantser payn iz shtus. ir vet nit endern zikh say vi say: 219 der mentsh -- er iz nit fray... 220 zey hobn mid aropgezetst zikh oyf a bank in gortn 221 der vilner hot gekukt oyf zayne shikh. 222 er hot geton a tsiter: geyt ver dortn?.. 223 s'hot emetser mit an aropgeloztn kop oyf gikh 224 adurkhgeaylt...der vilner hot derfilt zikh a gekhapter bay a geneyve. 225 liber hot geshmeykhlt klug un troyerik: ir zet, 226 kh'hob aykh gevornt: zitst in der farmakhter teyve, 227 zey veln aykh nit moykhl zayn dem khet 228 fun geyn mit mir... zey kumen aykh fun umetum antkegn, 229 navaredker derkent men on di hit, -- 230 zey zogn kloymersht, az es art zey nit 231 di finger-taytlenish, vos yogt zey nokh oyf ale vegn, -- 232 in der emes, vil nit keyner keyn bizoyen -- 233 zey tsit tsum mokem fun nisoyen! 234 un vayl zey kenen keynem nit gefeln, 235 brent in zey der has fun nit dergangene. 236 a volf vet far a volf zikh nit farshteln, 237 ikh bin a muser|nik, ikh ken zey di gefangene 238 in nets, vos zeyer kranker dimyen hot aleyn zikh oysgeshpint. 239 zey shpayen oyf der velt -- dos mindste ober tut zey vey, 240 an iberlebung alts -- vi bay a nay geboyrn kind, 241 zey hobn azoy lang geshmisn zikh mit eygenem geshrey, 242 biz zey hobn oyfgehert tsu shemen zikh arumgeyn naket; 243 fun reynikn zikh -- zaynen zey gevorn ful mit umreynem fardakht, 244 zey hobn azoy lang oyf zikh aleyn getrotn un gekhraket, 245 biz zey hobn shoyn fun gor nit, khuts fun zikh getrakht. 246 vi ken men oysbaysn di tayve durkh zikh zidlen? 247 vi vert men es an onev durkh a khezhbm un barekhnt? 248 vos iz es far a frumkayt oyfgeshart durkh kvorem-ridlen? 249 do ligt a knoyl -- der ekl, nor ikh ken nit brekhn... 250 ver veys dort fun a got? -- men hert nor fun a toyre. 251 vos iz far zey der klal? -- a prat iz do. 252 ver veys afile, tsi zey gleybn in a shtrof a getlekher far an aveyre. 253 zey shrayen: lomir gut zayn tsulib -- gut, lishmo. 254 zey viln opfarbn un rateven dem altn shiml, 255 oyflebn, vos lebn ken shoyn nit. 256 zogt nit: got, zogt -- himl, 257 zogt: mentsh, un zogt nit: yid. 258 mir art es nit. ikh bin a boym an oysgevortslter, tsefoylter holts. 259 vu iz ober z e y e r kedushe, z e y e r tsiber, z e y e r shtolts? 260 der kupishker -- zey veln aykh fun im dertseyln protem -- 261 hot arayngerukt zayn noz in drek. 262 er iz geven meturef-erlekh -- ikh bin oykh... mit a farkhaptn otem 263 hob ikh arayngekukt -- un ale vundn opgedekt. 264 zey kortshen zikh un khazer|n gebrokhene: "der mentsh iz fray". 265 Khayem vilner, hert mir oys, ikh zog aykh: alevay 266 voltn zey im shtarker nit geshmidt -- fun shtrik im opgebundn, 267 zey hobn opgefunen thomen, vu es zaynen nit geven keyn thomen.. 268 ikh hob zey faynt, ikh volt fun zey di hoyt geshundn, 269 ikh hob faynt afile dem gerukh fun zeyer nomen... 270 Khayem vilner iz an oyfgekokhter oyfgeshprungen: 271 -- ir hot zey faynt? -- antloyft! 272 ir hot tsu lernen muser zikh getsvungen, 273 itst tsvingt ir zey tsu haltn aykh. ir frest, ir zoyft, 274 ir meynt, zey hofn ir vet beser vern? 275 zey haltn aykh fun ekl, tsu derniderikn nor: 276 ir zet im dem farleykener, zayn shtolts ken im nit shtern 277 tsu esn undzer broyt azoy fil yor. 278 mir klaybn broyt bay alte frume vayber, 279 fun raykhe balebatim brengen mir farbrentn tsholnt, 280 mir viln umgeyn mit a veytik in di layber? 281 mir viln den fun hunger zayn geshvoln? 282 mir hobn nit keyn broyt -- to lomir teyln zikh mit breklekh, 283 ir hot nit vos tsu onton -- nat aykh mayne begodim. 284 on greytkayt oyf korbones volt geven dos lebn shreklekh. 285 mayns -- iz gornisht, alts iz dayne bizn letstn fodim. 286 ir hot nit vu tsu shlofn -- lomir teyln zikh dos bet, 287 ir hot gezindikt -- lomir teyln zikh dem oynesh farn khet 288 nor der -- kukt gut zikh ayn, 289 er hot shoyn lang farhakt di tir ahinter zikh, 290 er khoyzekt op fun undzer zukhenish un payn, 291 dokh kumt er yedn tog in kikh... 292 er kumt arayn a zaytiker, zayn yeder ker iz botl, 293 un heybt er oyf a mol dem kop fun teler yoykh, 294 farshartst er zayne lipn in a shmeykhl, vi a goy dos hitl, 295 un hot a kupernem gezikht tsu reydn oykh. 296 un yinglekh reytst azelkhe khutspe|dike reyd, 297 nor mir haltn im -- un zoln ale zen dem untersheyd 298 tsvishn undz un im -- dem betler, dem tsigayner-yung -- - -- 299 un Khayem vilner blaybt an oysgeboygener, vi tsu a shprung. 300 liber rirt zikh nit, er shtart an ongeshparter, 301 di hent aropgelozn. bleykh, mit mide bremen. 302 Khayem vilner glaykht zikh oys un zogt shoyn tsarter: 303 -- zayt mir moykhl, ikh badarf zikh shemen. 304 ir redt mit tser, mit biternish, mit has, un ikh bin -- grob, 305 men tut a kegener a teyve, oyb men iz nit oykh tsu im gerekht... 306 ikh hob tsu tif aykh efsher ongerirt, ikh hob -- 307 - liber: shvaygt! s'iz muser|nikes-shteyger: aynbaysn un betn bald mekhile. 308 der vilner tsindt zikh vider on: un oyb azoy afile? 309 ver halt aykh do? -- antloyft! 310 - liber: a shod, vos s'iz nito keyn skhar oynesh un a yene velt, 311 ikh volt mit mayne laydn alemens aveyres oysgekoyft!.. 312 un liber hot zikh oyfgeshtelt: 313 - ir fregt: ver halt mikh do? -- vu zol ikh geyn? 314 ir zet di yunge layt, vos dreyen zorgloz mit di shteklekh? 315 git mir, Khayem vilner, tsu farshteyn, 316 vos shpilt di freyd azoy in zeyere tseflamte beklekh? 317 "falshe freyd- -- hot Khayem vilner beyz aroysgezayt. 318 liber: neyn. dos iz a freyd a nit-bavuste, ekhte. 319 ikh shem zikh mit mayn soyne tsu di yunge layt, 320 nor ikh fartrog nit zeyer frayen lustikn gelekhter. 321 ot yener mit di gayve|dik gelokte hor -- ikh tref do a sakh mol im: 322 er iz a dikhter un a frayer man, er trogt arum a kholem, 323 vi a held oyf zayne hent a kind fun taykh aroysgetsoygn -- - -- 324 rirt im on, vet ir derzen dem toyt in zayne gute oygn. 325 ikh veys nit vos ir vet in zayne reyd gefinen, 326 zayn bester tat iz ober oyfgevekt fun kine. 327 neviyim zaynen oyf der velt nokh do, 328 nor keyner klert nit, az er darf oykh vi a novi lebn. 329 oykh guter zaynen do, nor s'iz der mentsh nito, 330 vos zol far epes vos azoy bekoyekh zayn zikh optsugebn, 331 az er aleyn zol blaybn oysn fun der tat, 332 dos heyst, er zol in gantsn zayn fun ir farshlungen -- 333 a mentsh, vos hot in gantsn zikh in zinen nit gehat, 334 un bloyz di tat hot im batsvungen. 335 di velt hot oyfgeblit in blut un laydnshaftn -- farbiker un bunter, 336 ikh veys es gut, navaredok hot ober mir dos harts farsamet. 337 ikh far|gevald|ik yede tat. ikh rays di dektikher fun alts arunter, 338 ikh ze di shvartse koyln unter yedn flam. 339 ven eyner shlogt zikh far zayn emes mit farpreste foystn, 340 ze ikh oykh di koved-zukhenish, vos klept arum zayn moyl vi gaver, 341 un ven er vigt in shturem zikh in oyfgebroyztn, 342 kukt er, tsi es hert im gut zayn khaver. 343 un vey im, oyb er droshe|nt, vos zayn khaver hot gehert, 344 yener ken nit oyshaltn un shrayt: ikh veys vi du. 345 ale tsitern, es zol a rege nit farminert vern zeyer vert, 346 un loybt men eynem -- filt ayeder zikh getrofn ergets vu. 347 "ver halt mikh do?" -- der groyzamer farshtikter nign, 348 vos hot tsevendikt un tsedreyt mir di gederim. 349 ikh bin shoyn toyt, nor kh'ken nit lign, 350 er shtikt in shlof mir, un ikh her im 351 bay nakht in fayf fun ban, far tog in hudzsh fun der sirene, 352 ikh farakht di velt, ir freyd un ir gezang. 353 ikh fiber in mayn has tsu di, un s'eklt mir fun yene. 354 ikh ze in alts bloyz fatum. goyrl. untergang. 355 ikh ze dos lebn, vi a kamf oyf shmole briklekh. 356 far vos ken ikh nit vi a veltisher zayn gliklekh? 357 o, vi a hungeriker volf hob ikh gepruvt alts esn, 358 un itst, az ikh derze mayn ponem in a shoyb, 359 vil ikh zi tseshmetern... ikh muz on zikh fargesn, 360 s'iz harbst, un ikh vil vern shtoyb -- - -- 361 vos shteyt ir mit an oysgekrimtn moyl?.. ikh ken nit zen keyn trern, 362 ikh -- vel aykh nit opgebn di shikh! 363 antloyft, in kloyz iz itster likhtik, varem un men lernt, 364 antloyft, anit vel ikh -- vel ikh 365 antloyfn... un mit dem kop foroys hot er genumen flien, 366 in mitn veg hot er zikh oysgedreyt un vider oysgeshrien: 367 ikh -- vel aykh nit opgebn di shikh... ______________________________________________________ End of _The Mendele Review_ 02.016 Leonard Prager, editor The editor of _TMR_ can be reached via _Mendele_'s homepage: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele Subscribers to _Mendele_ (see below) automatically receive _The Mendele Review_. 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To unsubscribe kholile: unsub mendele ****Getting back issues**** _The Mendele Review_ archives can be reached at: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele/tmrarc.htm _The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language (A Companion to _MENDELE_) ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 02.017 15 May 1998 |------------------------------| | Binem Heler, z"l (1908-1998) | |------------------------------| 1) Yiddish Matters: From the Editor (Leonard Prager) 2) Binem Heler, z"l, 1908-1998 (ed.) 3) Nine Yiddish poems about Yiddish (Lucas Bruyn and Leonard Prager) 4) "der orn-koydesh falt..., " _muser|nikes_ (Khayem Grade) 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 15 May 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: Yiddish Matters The Yiddish poet, Binem Heler, passed away this week in Israel. His creative career, stretching from Poland to Israel and spanning almost the entire twentieth century, merits our attention. In his memory, we reprint here three of his poems in praise of Yiddish and of the Yiddish poem. In this issue: 1. In keeping with the spirit of Binem Heler's poems in this memorial issue -- all in praise of Yiddish -- we present nine fellow-Yiddish poets on the same theme, a favorite one in Yiddish literature. Their poems and the three Heler poems are all to be found in the anthology _Yidish in lid_ / 169 lider fun 74 poetn / 12 nigunem tsu lider [antologye], red. un araynfir fun Shmuel Rozhanski, Buenos-Ayres, 1967 [mustererk 33]. Three of the poems are set to music and the scores are given in the Rozhanski volume. 2. With "der orn-koydesh falt..." we conclude the eight-part poem _muser|nikes_ by Khayem Grade. Coming: A Yehoyesh (Solomon Bloomgarden) issue, with selections from his tanakh translation. 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 15 May 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: "in vunderlekhn loshn," "du fregst," "dos yidishe lid" (Binem Heler, z"l, 1908-1998) "in vunderlekhn loshn" fun binem heler in vunderlekhn loshn fun di yidn der entfer iz faran in same fregn, punkt vi di zun vos hert nisht oyf tsu zidn in tropns funem khlipendikn regn. di verter varfn-on aza min koyekh, a tayve -- zikh aleyn tsu lozn hern, khotsh yede freyd zey brengen-oyf in troyer un yedn shmeykhl bodn zey in trern. un ersht der nign -- hert zikh tsu tsum nign, vos shmidt di klangen eng tsunoyf in ringen. er tsvingt, az oykh der veytik zol farvign; er tsvingt, az oykh der krekhts zol nemen zingen. ***** "du fregst" fun binem heler mayn fraynd, du fregst, vu iz dos naye lid? -- dos naye lid vet kumen, kumen... in gortn fun mayn yidish loshn blit di shefe fun yisroel|dike blumen. avade iz mir noent nokh der vint, vos yogt arum di volkns iber vegn. nor fun der bloykayt vet nisht vern blind mayn oyg, vos iz gevoynt tsu shney un regn. s'vet bayshteyn mir mayn mames alter skhus -- a trernflek oyf gele tkhine-bleter. ikh vart itst oyf ir zifts, vi oyf a grus -- un dos gezang vet kumen shpeter. ***** "dos yidishe lid" fun binem heler dos yidishe lid fun mayn vig hot iber mayb lebn gerut. ikh bin nisht gegangen in krig, ikh hob nisht fargosn keyn blut. di oremkayt hot mikh gebentsht tsu zukhn in pratse mayn broyt. ikh hob nisht geshtrekt tsu keyn mentsh dem fintstern makhshir fun toyt. gevoygn hob ikh in geher di shtilkayt fun eygenem kol, un faynt kh'hob gehat dos gever in klingen fun retseyekh|ishn shtol. dos yidishe lid fun mayn vig in fridn far got un far layt -- dos lid fun der klorvayser tsig iz shtarker geven fun der tsayt. a tank hot tseshmetert a tank, un mord hot farshlungen dem mord; anshtot an armey in gezang -- geblibn iz blut oyf ir ort. mor iber der khorever erd mayn vig heybt zikh oyf un zi flit -- in shtilkayt vert vider gehert dos fridlekhe yidish lid. ***** 3)--------------------------------------------------- Date: 15 May 1998 From: Lucas Bruyn and Leonard Prager Subject: Nine Yiddish poems about Yiddish Table of Contents (pagination refers to Rozhanski volume): 1) Faynberg, Leyb "shprakh fun shprakhn" pp. 36-7 [1950] 2) Glatshteyn, Yankev "reyd tsu mir yidish" pp. 220-222 [score] 3) Klinger, Kehos "yidish" p. 246 4) Hofshteyn, Dovid "in yidishn vort" p. 191 5) Mani-Leyb "yidish" pp. 31-32 [score] 6) Nadir, Moyshe "mame-loshn" p. 43 7) Ravitsh, Meylekh "yidish!" pp. 42-43 8) Sutskever, Avrem "yidish" pp. 186-7 [1948] 9) Tabatshnik, Mendl "mame-loshn" pp. 87-88 [score] -------------------------------------------- 1. "shprakh fun shprakhn" fun leyb faynberg (1897-1969) "biz greykhn vet di letste hent di kalte kon yidish oyfraysn dem univers" [Arn Leyeles] o, mame-yidish, shprakh fun shprakhn, o, ziser klang fun yidish lid: in nekht fun tsar, in teg fun nakhes hot s'proste folk dikh oysgeshmidt. vi s'gart a harts nokh glik farloshns, vi s'|khalesh|t gumen nokh a trunk, hot s'shtume folk gezukht a loshn, gelekhtst mit plapldiker tsung. geborgt a korets mel bay slavn, a tife multer bay dem daytsh, un s'hobn mame-hent shershave farknotn s'teyg fun yidish-taytsh. un tsugemisht tsu roye heyvn a mestl honik fun tanakh -- ven oyfgeyn vet dos teyg in oyvn, zol zis oyf gumen zayn di shprakh. fun verter poshet|e, vi groshns, fun proste, vokhedike reyd bist oyfgegangen, yidish loshn, vi frish, gerotn heymish broyt. durkh vayn un troyer, tants un gile, mit bord, mit maske un mit tukh, hot ershter zingmayster der _shpilman_, gezungen dikh in _Shmuel-bukh_. nokh im, fun hamburg biz venedig, hebreish -- halb un khotse -- daytsh, gezungen dikhters hobn freydik a mizmer shir le|ivre-taytsh. [1950] ----------------------------- 2. "redt tsu mir yidish" fun Yankev glatshteyn (1896-1971) reyd tsu mir yidish, mayn yidish land, un ikh vel tsu dir reydn ivrit mimeyle. avrem mit sore|n kumen mir antkegn fun der meores-hamakhpeyle. got helf, zeyde-bobeshi! avrem geyt shvaygndik di gas ariber. -- nem zikh nit tsum hartsn, yankele! -- zogt sore -- er iz meyvn kol diber. s'iz azoy do ongenumen. a mantsbil darf yidish shtumen. ober a yidene fun yidishtaytsh hot oykh epes vos tsu zogn. zog ikh dir got helf, mayn kind, zolst mir al dos guts farmogn. gleyb mir, yankele, s'vet kumen a tsayt in khamishoser-land fun rozhinkes un faygn, az ale ivrit-kinder veln oyfhern yidish shvaygn. un az zey veln zikh tsereydn, veln zey, vet a nakhes zayn tsu hern, azoy vet geshen, yankeke mayn kind, a shvue ken ikh dir shvern. der zeyde avrem, fun yener zayt gas, vinkt tsu mir un fokhet mit der fatsheyle. o, reyd tsu mir yidish, mayn yidish land, un ikh vel tsu dir reydn ivrit mimeyle. ***** 3. "yidish" fun Kehos kliger (1904-1985) yidish, yidish iz mayn shprakh, reyd ikh, shrayb ikh yede zakh oyf tate-mames loshn. akh, vi hartsik un vi sheyn un vi poshet tsu farshteyn iz tate-mames loshn. yidish, yidish iz mayn shprakh, bay zeg un hamer -- yedn fakh hilkht mayn folkish loshn. stringevet der shnayder net un zayn lid shraybt der poet in mayn zaftik loshn. yidish, yidish iz mayn shprakh, afile ven ikh veyn un lakh tu ikh es oyf yidish. alts vos bay tog ikh trakht un alts vos ikh troym bay nakht iz vider nor oyf yidish. iz far yidish -- undzer shprakh, lomir ale shteyn oyf vakh un kegn ale soynem. zi vet lebn nokh a sakh lange doyres undzer shprakh -- tsu lehakhes undzer soynem. ***** 4. "in yidishn vort" fun Dovid hofshteyn (1889-1952) in yidishn vort, vi s'iz vild, vi s'iz mild, vi s'iz tayer, iz faran aza ruf tsu banayung, iz faran aza helisher fayer, az vintn vos tsien oyf veltishe breytn barotn, nit kenen farblozn zayn gliendn otem, un ashn fun tkufes nit kenen zayn tsunter fargroyen, zayn muntern tsunter, vos helt zikh oyf shtilkayt fun bloyen. in yidishn vort, vos iz okersht aroys fun di tsvangen, vos umruik zukht zikh nokh felder un stepes, iz faran shoyn di zikhere ru un di breytkayt fun epos. un nit nor bay heylike shomrem -- in vort bay di poshet|e hiters, hert zikh der onheyb fun shtoltse gezangen fun shniters, hert zikh der onzog oyf nuntere klangen fun shayer -- in yidishn vort, vi s'iz vild, vi s'iz mild, vi s'iz tayer.... ***** 5. "yiddish" fun mani-leyb (1883-1953) di velt iz ful mit reydn, es redt dokh yede zakh, un yeder oyf zayn shteyger, un yeder oyf zayn shprakh. der volkn redt mit duner, di zun mit fayerflam; der vald mit grinem royshn, mit broyzn redt der yam. mit brumen redt di khaye, der foygl -- mit gezang; mit flistern -- di kvaln, mit shorkhen redt di zang; mit ale toyznt farbn un reykhes redt di blum; dos fligele di mindste redt oykh mit ir gezhum. der mentsh nor mit zayn khokhme -- fun alemen di kroyn -- er redt mit yedns loshn, oykh funen shteyn fun ployn. oyf zibetsik leshoynes farshteyt der mentsh un redt, vos nor es hert zayn oyer, vos nor zayn oyg derzet. un vu a folk mit mentshn, iz do a shprakh bay zey: in england redt men english, un rusish in rosey; in shpanye redt men shpanish, khinezish in kitay, volokhish in volokhye, un terkish in terkay. un yidn -- reydn yidish in ale ekn velt, vu nor a yid in fridn shtelt-oyf zayn ru-getselt, un yidn reydn yidish, un yidish iz dokh sheyn, un gring a tsveytn yidn farshteyt vi zikh aleyn. ***** 6. "mame-loshn" fun Moyshe nadir (1885-1943) neyn, ikh bin keyn korev nit fun koyanem un neviem: mayn shprakh hot shver gehorevet in fishgesl fun vin. mayn lid -- es trogt keyn gleklekh nit, keyn shlifes un keyn kreygn% ikh trog in proste peklekh mit mayn mamedik farmegn. ikh shrayb mit shtiker luft oyf tog un klor vi a gut-morgn, un ver es darf, un ver es vil -- zol kumen un zol borgn. --------------------- % i.e. _kragns_ 'collars' Is this a comic plural forced to rime with farmegn? [ed.] ***** 7. "yiddish" fun Meylekh ravitsh (1893-1976) balangen balang ikh tsu dem amorets, shraybn ken ikh nisht keyn lokshn-koydesh, reydn reyd ikh mit dem prostn loshn fun di ameratsem. un mayn tate iz zikh stam a yid, a grober yung, a batlen fun batlonem-land, a vald-soykher, ober gor a shlekhter soykher, a glik, vos khotsh ikh bin a dikhter -- hob ikh mit di kaptsonishe miskhorem zayne nisht gemakht eyn hant. un ikh aleyn bin yorn lang ergets vi farvorfn: tsen shoen in a tog in dem parnose-yokh geshpant; tsvey shoen in der nakht bin ikh a dikhter un hob dir aza koyekh in di grobe hent, tsu tantsn oyf di dinste strunes mit di dinste tener, un tsu zbenken oyf di grebste strunes mit di grebste koyles: ot azoy vi ale dikhters; khotsh shraybn shrayb ikh nisht keyn loshn-koydesh, vayl di faynkayt hob ikh faynt be|takhles sine min hasine. megst khokhem-hebreist bay ot di verter fartsien dayn zoyerste mine! un zayn bin ikh, baym tish fun mayne gute brider, a gantser yakhsn un a gantser porets: ikh bin der dikhter fun dem amorets! [1919] ***** 8. "yidish" fun Avrem sutskever (1913-) zol ikh onheybn fun onheyb? zol ikh vi avrohom oys brudershaft tsehakn ale getsn? zol ikh zikh a lebedikn lozn iberzetsn? zol ikh aynflantsn mayn tsung un vartn biz farvandlen vet zi zikh in oves|dike rozhinkes mit mandlen? vos far a katovesdike vitsn darshnt mayn poezye-bruder mit di baknbardn, az mayn mame-loshn geyt bald unter? mir veln nokh in hundert yor arum do kentik zitsn un firn di diskusye bay dem yarden. vayl a shayle noglt un noglt: oyb er veys genoy vu di tfile fun berditshever, yehoyeshes lid un kulbaks voglt tsu dem untergang -- to zol er mir, a shteyger, onvayzn _vuhin_ di shprakh geyt-unter? efsher bay dem koysel-marovi? oyb yo, vel ikh dort kumen, kumen, efenen dos moyl, un vi a leyb, ongeton in fayerdikn tsunter, aynshlingen dem loshn vos geyt-unter, aynshlingen un ale doyres vekn mit mayn brumen! [1948] ***** 9. "mame-loshn" fun mendl tabatshnik (1894-1975) [sung to score by Nosn Byeleykin] gekhovet hot mayn mame mikh, genyontshet un dertsoygn, s'hot der shverer lebnsyokh ir rukn oysgeboygn. zi hot farvigt mikh mit gezang, mit lider shtil, in yidish, mit mame-loshn mikh geflegt -- tsi den iz es a khidesh? hob ikh ayngezapt in zikh, durkh teg un lange yorn, mayn mames nign tsiterik -- di shprakh fun mayn geboyrn. un vi a zeykher halt ikh itst ot di yeroshe tayer -- mayn mames alte mutershprakh, vos gelaytert iz in fayer ... ***** 4)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 15 May 1998 From: Itsik Goldenberg Subject: "der orn-koydesh falt..." _muser|nikes_ (Khayem grade) [8] der orn-koydesh falt... 001 di beymer hobn shtil farvorfn di gekroyzte kroynen, 002 tsum harbst gegreyt zikh, vi an eyde tsum mekadesh zayn dem shem. 003 a diner beyml hot a krekhts geton, genumen veynen, 004 zay shtil, du vest zikh tsugevoynen, 005 mir ale zaynen shoyn gevoynt tsu dem... 006 Khayem vilner iz geshtanen un gehorkht farglivert. 007 farhilt in grine bleter hot a vayser lomp gefibert, 008 a groyse tsiterike likhtnets oysgeshpunen 009 un farvebt in ir di breyte shtamen. 010 Khayem vilner hot zikh in der mit gefunen 011 un getsitert mitn gantsn park tsuzamen... 012 der himlbloy in di aleen di tsevintikte iz oysgerunen, 013 di nakht hot vi a mider gertener arayngeshlaykht, 014 batapt di beymer un tsunoyfgebundn 015 mit shotns dos getsvayg, vos hot getsitert grin un faykht. 016 oyf vayte gasn, oyfn motse-shabes|dikn mark, 017 hobn fayern zikh ongetsundn 018 un farblondzshet inem altn mark... 019 Khayem vilner hot geglivert shtum, 020 gevorn fun minut fargliverter un shtumer. 021 farbaygetsitert hot a zuniker gezshum, 022 a gildener gezshum, vi fun a beyn sof zemer, 023 un oysgegangen, vi a kranker foygl in di tsvaygn. 024 der harbstvint hot a tsi geton a muser-nign, 025 gekhlipet in di bleter shtil un frum, 026 der nign hot genumen hekher shtaygn, 027 biz er iz ariber in gebrum. 028 Khayem vilner hot geshvign 029 un aleyn gehert zayn shvaygn... 030 tseshoklt hobn zikh di beymer, 031 geshlaydert mit di kep, vi muser|nikes bay der tfile --- 032 an oysgeshrey -- a vayter, a geheymer, 033 hot in gedikhtenish tsebreklt zikh in klangen shtile, 034 gegoysest in der fintster, zikh gematert, 035 der vilner hot geton a tsi zikh -- un genumen loyfn, 036 der vint hot im dem veg farshotn 037 mit farvelkte bleter-hoyfns. 038 vi a farplonterter in drotn, 039 hot er gerisn zikh: azoy fil tsayt ge|poter|t, 040 gevolt ariberyogn in geloyf zayn shotn, 041 un vi a feygl-tshate hobn arum im geflatert 042 vayte heylike gezangen... 043 di klangen hobn im gefangen, 044 hot er zey nokhgetapt batsoybert, 045 der vint hot im tsetumlt un tseshoybert, 046 tsevorfn dos geklang, vi bleter harbstike in ale zaytn. 047 er iz gelofn in der mit, 048 di nontn hobn im farshtelt di vaytn, 049 di nakht hot oysgeloshn zayne trit. 050 er hot geaylt, un vos er iz gekumen nenter, 051 hot dos gebroyz tsuotemt zikh alts brustiker un frayer; 052 der vilner iz gelofn tsum besmedresh vi an opgebrenter, 053 vos yogt zikh rateven zayn letstn shayer... 054 di kloyz iz in di hintergeslekh a fartsveyflte gelegn, 055 geshlaydert zikh in kramfn, vi a yam in zayne bregn, 056 a motse-shabes|dike, oysgeloshene, on likht, 057 nor in der oyfgebroyzter khoshkhes der gedikhter, 058 hot er derfilt far|dveyke|te gezikhter, 059 un gikh a tap geton zayn eygenem gezikht -- 060 kalt. di bakn shlaberik, arum di lipn beyze tsukn --- 061 a gebrokhener hot er zikh tsu der kloyz genumen rukn... 062 - in fintstern besmedresh hot gebroyzt a yam. 063 geshreyen hobn glaykh vi fayerdike feygl oyfgeflamt, 064 geklapt fartsveyflt mit di fligl on di vent, 065 un oysgeloshene tsurik aropgefaln 066 oyf di oysgeshtrekte tfile|dike hent. 067 a vald hot zikh tseyomert, yeder boym mit a bazunder kol, 068 un inem shturem hot geklogt dem rosh-yeshives shtim: 069 - moray veraboysay, lomir makhn itst a tfile nokh a mol: 070 "a reyne harts bashaf undz eloyhim". 071 un s'entfert im a hundertfakhiker tsuvigter viderkol: 072 "a reyne harts bashaf undz eloyhim"... 073 geshrey. ayeder zukht in dem gebet a tikn. 074 men patsht: der rosh-yeshive hot keyn koyekh nit tsu shrayen. 075 yeder pruvt zayn oysgeshrey farshtikn. 076 der rosh-yeshive lesht oys mit zayn shtime ale ay-ay-ayen: 077 - moray veraboysay, 078 men ken dergreykhn in eyn sho dem emes, 079 im ayntsuhaltn -- darf men ranglen zikh a gantsn lebn. -- 080 Khayem vilner hot derhert dem vaytn remez, 081 un vi a hoyz, vos halt baym aynfaln a krekhts gegebn. 082 - moray veraboysay, 083 oyb mir kenen nit ariber -- muzn mir ariber! 084 in kloyz iz vider oysgebrokhn der geviter, 085 un Khayem vilner bay der kloyztir, opgeteylt fun gantsn tsiber, 086 hot in der fintsternish arayngeyomert biter. 087 -- moray veraboysay, 088 ikh hob gezen in rusland in di blutike milkhome-teg: 089 a mentsh hot zikh arayngeshpart in a gepaktn tsug, 090 hot men im aroysgeshlaydert durkhn fentster oyfn mitn veg... 091 arayngeyn iz nokh nit genug, 092 men muz zikh aynbaysn, zikh aynshtshemen, farklamern, 093 men vert a mol im mitn loyf aroysgeshlaydert --- 094 kep un foystn zetsn in di vent un hamern, 094 un der rosh-yeshive shturemt vayter: 095 - der grester noyef reb Elazar ben dardaye, 096 hot in di kni zayn kop fargrobn; oyf der erd 097 geyomert, vi a malekh a farshtoysener, un vi a khaye, 098 biz der himl hot zayn tshuve fort derhert. 099 moray veraboysay, 100 a mentsh darf kenen shtarbn fun kharote shlukhtsenish 101 tsunoyfgedreyt, 102 un vi oyf Moyshen -- di malokhem, zol der himl klogn oyf zayn toyt... 103 moray veraboysay, 104 dos lebn vert a last, a kharpe, un bloyz tser 105 far dos, vos vaklt zikh -- vos ken nit vagn; 106 o, farn mentshn iz der grester gzer, 107 oyb er ken zikh fun zayn alter teyve nit antzagn... 108 iz lomir betn nokh a mol: 109 ovinu malkeynu... tserays dem bitern gzar-din --- 110 un vi a barg, vos shit arop zikh in a tol, 111 hobn zikh tseshotn in geshrey -- di zin 112 fun ukraine, lite, poyln un volin. 113 men hot shoyn nit gehert dem rosh-yeshives reyd. 114 an ongetrerte shtim iz zikh fargangen krank un tsart, 115 azoy vi a bashtrofte kind fargeyt; 116 a tsveyte shtim hot zikh vi shtol gegesn breyt un hart, 117 biz a kol, a royter, durshtiker hot beyde shtimen oysgetrunken, 118 un aleyn in fintsternish farzunken. 119 a hilkh a shleferiker, kalter, vi der opzifts fun a vayter ban, 120 hot in der fintsternish arumgezukht, tsi s'iz faran 121 a lokh, avu arayntsukrikhn un zikh leygn. -- 122 a geshrey hot durkhgetsakt, adurkhgefloygn, 123 vi a blits, vos kritst mit fayer oyf a khmare. 124 un vi in zungli fun tseveykter erd a pare, 125 iz oyfgegangen dos gebet... es hot di kloyz gekletert 126 oyf felzntrep, oyf volkntrep -- aroyf, aroyf --- 127 un Khayem vilner hot getsitert mitn gantsn guf, 128 vi a boym, vos vil nit opgebn dem harbst di letste bleter... 129 mit a mol a toyber krakh -- 130 ale lompn hobn zikh vi oksnoygn far der shkhite ongetsundn. 131 vi ayz hot oyfgeplatst di nakht. 132 dos likht hot fun di henglaykhter getrift, vi blut fun vendn. 133 der orn-koydesh hot zikh oysbeygn pamelekh ongehoybn, -- 134 der alter orn mitn heykhl toyres un farshtoybte shnitserayen, 135 pamelekh mit tsushpreyte kehune-hent fun oybn, 136 hot er geboygn zikh ariber ale kep -- farshtikt dos shrayen. 137 dershrokn hobn zikh gedrapet in der hoykh di leybn, -- 138 geblibn hengen zaynen oyfn zilbernem poroykhes toyte oygn --- 139 der orn-koydesh hot oyf der farshtarter eyde zikh geboygn... 140 biz es hot tserevet zikh a hilfgeshrey -- a ruf. 141 ale hobn zikh a vorf geton tselekherte fun gevaldn, 142 getrotn hobn fis oyf kop, oyf haldz un guf: 143 dem orn-koydesh unterhaltn!.. 144 mit oysgekrimte penemer fun shrek, farbrente mayler fun geshrey, 145 nor in di oygn blind fartsveyflter bitokhn -- 146 o, vi tsum brenendikn tsimer fun ir kind -- a froy, 147 hot men zikh geshpart, gerisn un gekrokhn... 148 tsebrumt hot zikh di kloyz, vi a balagerte milkhome shtot: 149 ovinu malkeynu... tsulib di oysgeshokhtene far dayn ekhod! --- 150 Khayem vilner iz gelegn bay der kloyztir un getsaplt, 151 geranglt zikh, gevolt in retungs-leyter zayn a shtapl -- 152 rateven! -- un nit gekent avek fun shvel; 153 a yomer ton -- di tsung iz ayngefrorn in zayn kol --- 154 un plutslung hot di gantse kloyz fun im zikh opgerisn, 155 der orn-koydesh hot zikh oyfgehoybn hekher, hekher, 156 a farklamerter in hent, 157 Khayem vilner hot zikh mit di tseyn in dil arayngebisn, 158 es hobn durkhgeshvindlt farbay im di vent, -- 159 avekgeshturemt, vi far|mishpet|e titanen oyfn gilyotine vogn. 160 fun vaytn hot nokh zeyer duner zikh dertrogn: 161 ovinu malkeynu... tu dayn gayst, dayn heylikn fun undz nit op --- 162 der duner hot zikh toyb alts mer un mer dervaytert, 163 un Khayem vilner iz geblibn -- a farvendeter in an okop, 164 a blinder in a nakhtvald bay an oysgebrentn shayter --- ______________________________________________________ End of _The Mendele Review_ 02.017 Leonard Prager, editor The editor of _TMR_ can also be reached via _Mendele_'s homepage: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele Subscribers to _Mendele_ (see below) automatically receive _The Mendele Review_. Send "to subscribe" or change-of-status messages to: listproc@lists.yale.edu a. For a temporary stop: set mendele mail postpone b. To resume delivery: set mendele mail ack c. To subscribe: sub mendele first_name last_name d. To unsubscribe kholile: unsub mendele ****Getting back issues**** _The Mendele Review_ archives can be reached at: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele/tmrarc.htm _The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language (A Companion to _MENDELE_) ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 02.018 27 May 1998 |------------------------------------| | Shleyme (Seymour) Axelrod z"l | | (1 June 1927 - 21 May 1998) | |------------------------------------| [double issue, vol. 02. 18-19] 1) Yiddish Matters: From the Editor (Leonard Prager) 2) araynfir tsu di _etnografishe anketes_ fun 1928 (Dov Noy) 3) _etnografishe anketes_ heft 1: yontoyvem, vilne 1928 (YIVO) 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 27 May 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: 1. Yiddish Matters -- In this issue: a. Shleyme Axelrod, z"l (L.P.) b. "fun yener zayt lid" (Rokhl Korn). 2. araynfir tsu di _etnografishe anketes_ fun 1928 (Dov Noy). 3. _etnografishe anketes_ heft 1: yontoyvem, vilne 1928. Coming: Yehoyesh Issue. a. Shleyme Axelrod, z"l. We mourn the death of Shleyme Axelrod, Yiddish-lover "mit ale ramakh eyvrem," Mendelist par excellence, intrepid poser of and gracious replier to piquant queries (especially in the first five years of _Mendele_'s existence). Friendly and supportive, he corrected our errors with humility and humor. _Mendele_ and _The Mendele Review_ will miss him greatly. It is appropriate to dedicate this folklore issue to his memory and, as a token of his love for Yiddish literature, to print a poem by Rokhl Korn, whose work he admired. b. "fun yener zayt lid" fun Rokhl korn "fun yener zayt lid" fun Rokhl korn fun yener zayt lid iz a sod faran un in sod iz a hoyz mit a shtroyenem dakh -- es shteyt dray sosnes un shvaygn zikh oys, dray shomrem oyf shtendiker vakh. fun yener zayt lid iz a foygl faran, a foygl broyn-gel mit a roytlekher brust, er kumt dort tsu flien yedn vinter oyfsnay un hengt, vi a knosp oyf dem naketn kust. fun yeder zayt lid iz a stezhke faran, azoy shmol un sharf, vi der din-dinster shnit, un emets, vos hot zikh farblondzhet in tsayt, geyt dort um mit shtile un borvese trit. fun yener zayt lid kenen vunder geshen nokh haynt, in a tog, vos iz khmarne un gro, ven er doyfekt arayn in dem gloz fun der shoyb di tsefiberte benkshaft fun a vundiker sho. fun yener zayt lid ken mayn mame aroys, un shteyn oyf der shvel a vayle fartrakht un mikh rufn aheym, vi a mol, vi a mol: -- genug zikh geshpilt shoyn, du zest nisht? s'iz nakht. ***** 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 27 May 1998 From: Dov Noy Subject: araynfir tsu di _etnografishe anketes_ heft 1: yontoyvem, 1928 [_The Mendele Review_ is privileged to reissue a 70-year old Yivo questionnaire which is a milestone in the development of Yiddish folklore studies. Professor Dov Noy, whose personal and professional histories intertwine in the fascinating story of this document's genesis, has written a critical introduction to the brochure for this occasion. Reading the questionnaire with his help we gain perspective on the history of eastern Ashkenazic (especially Yiddish-language based) folklore. The questions themselves are an education to the average modern Jew as to the nature and scope of East European Jewish life. Much of the material collected was lost and the civilization which embodied it was brutally destroyed; in the questionnaire this civilization is palpably present. An added reason for reissuing these intrinsically interesting _anketes_ is that Jewish folklore, which continues to grow and change, is always in need of recruiting new _zamlers_. Ed.] --------------------------- araynfir tsu di _etnografishe anketes_ heft 1: yontoyvem, 1928 fun Dov noy zint der grindung fun dem yidishn visnshatlekhn institut (yivo) in vilne (1925) iz zayn visnshaftlekhe arbet ongegangen in finef rikhtungen, loyt di finef hoypt-gebitn fun der yidishistik -- khokhmes-yidish. fir fun di finef yivo opteyln zenen organizatorish geven "sektsyes," eyne iz geven a "komisye," vayl in di oygn fun di Yivo grinder un onfirer iz mistome ir gebit nit geven genug visnshaftlekh. lomir oysrekhenen di opteyln, ophitndik dem seyder funem yidish-alefbeys: 1. historishe sektsye; 2. etnografishe komisye; 3. ekonomish-statistishe sektsye; 4. psikhologish-pedagogishe sektsye; 5. filologishe sektsye. di eyntsike nit-sektsye iz geven di etnografishe, un in di yivo publikatsyes un reshimes farnemt zi al-pi-rov dos letste ort. es iz nit keyn vunder vos di ongenumene yivo visnshafler un forsher, vos tsvishn zey hobn di historiker un di filologn farnumen dem oybn-on, hobn gekukt oyf di folkloristn (der banuts mitn termin "etnografye" iz geven bekoyekh tsu makhn dos gebit mer "repektabl"...). di "visnshaft des yudentums" in daytshland un nokh ir di haskole in mizrekh-eyrope hobn tomed batont (un shtoltsirt dermit), az di yidishe traditsye iz a ratsyonalistishe, un zi hot zint di biblishe tsaytn bakemft di ober-gleybenishn un zabobones (di "darkhey ho-emori") fun di umgebildete shkheynem un fun "fintstere" yidishe yekhidem. oykh in der khokhmes-yidish, velkhe iz oyfgevaksn oyf sekulere, ratsyonalistishe yesoydes, hobn di vizuele un konkrete eynsn fun der folksshafung farnumen tomed a vikhtikern plats in farglaykh mit der mindlekher-herevdiker traditsye. Dem "am-haseyfer" pasn beser geshribenene (oder gedrukte) un geleyente bikher, vi dertseylte "bobe-mayses" oder gezungene "lidlekh." di flaysike un ibergegebene arbet fun di mitglider fun der etnografisher komisye iz ongegangen loyt dem muster fun enlekhe folkloristishe institutsyes (al-pi-rov arkhivn) un etnografishe muzeyen in di skandinavishe lender. zint elias lonnrot (1802-1884) hot matskliekh geven tsu dergeyn tsu di originele alte finishe lider (_kalevala_ [ze _tmr_ 01.008]) a dank zayne kontaktn mit zamlers-lezers un a dank dem oyfshtelen a zamler-nets, vos ire mitglider flegn im reguler shikn materyaln mit der post un entfern oyf zayne shriftlekhe onfregn, iz der anketn-metod ongenumen gevorn in finland un in di shkheynishe lender. der doziker metod hot bahersht oykh di etnografishe komisye, vos hot gehaltn, az in der ershter faze fun ir tetikayt darf zi zikh kontsentrirn arum dem oyfshteln fun a zamler-nets. aza nets bashteyt fun dray minem mentshn, vos yeder fun zey iz vi a ring in der drayiker keyt. di struktur bashteyt fun 1. forshers; 2. zamlers; 3. informantn. 1. in der drayiker piramide iz dos ort fun di forshers oybn on. zey gefinen zikh in der "tsentrale" -- dos heyst in der institutsye, velkhe darf ophitn un forshn di gezamlte materyaln. der forsher iz farantvortlekh far onhaltn kontaktn mit di zamlers. er korespondirt mit zey, entfert oyf zeyere shriftlekhe onfregn. er (un zayne koleges in der "tsentrale") iz der lerer un instruktor. ober dos iz nit zayn eyntsike oyfgabe. er klasifitsirt, registrirt, un indeksirt di ongekumene materyaln; er makht zey dergreykhbar farn breytn oylem, derikersht far visnshaftlers un forshers. er aleyn iz eyner fun zey, un derfar iz er oykh mekhuyev tsu farefntlekhn artiklen un bikher, velkhe bazirn zikh oyf di oytsres ongezamlt in "zayn" institutsye. 2. der zamler iz a min farmitler tsvishn dem forsher un dem informant. 3. der informant iz der folksmentsh, vos iz arayngeton in zayn traditsye, iz in ir bahavnt, un farshteyt, az zayn bashtimung iz aribertsugebn, transferirn zayn kultur-yerushe letoyves di kumendike doyres. er veyst az der zamler vet im intervyuirn, ober er veyst oykh, az "zayne" ibergegebene kultur-eynsn zenen vikhtik un veln opgehit vern in a natsyonaler, efntlekher institutsye, vu zey veln badinen dem klal un di visnshaft bifrat. di mitglider fun der etnografisher komisye hobn take farnumen dem oybn on fun der piramide, ober zey hobn zikh nit gefirt vi forshers, vos darfn publikirn. di sibe derfun iz geven nit azoy der zilzl mitsad zeyere koleges, oykh nit dos feln fun a geheriker, akademisher oysshulung. dem hoypt-khisorn hobn zey gezen in dem feln fun adekvate materyaln. derfar hobn zey gezen zeyer hoypttsil in intensiver organizatorisher arbet, vos nemt arayn dos zamlen un sortirn, ober nit dos mamoshesdike forshn. nor az der ongezamlter materyal vet vern genug groys un raykh (zey hobn gut gevust, az zey veln keyn mol nit dergreykhn dem kamusdikn nivo fun di skandinavishe arkhivn un muzeyen), nor demolt vet men onheybn tsu forshn mamesh un tsu publikirn. nor demolt vet realizirt vern der kholem fun dem komisye-sekretar, Khayem khayes (er hot geshribn zayn nomen mit kof, ober al-pi-rov leygt men im oys, oykh in yidish-leksikonen, mit a khes, loyt dem loshn-koydesh opshtam funem nomen): di "komisye" vet vern a "sektsye" un ir nomen vet nit zayn an ontsuherenish tsu a tekhnishn bashraybn {"etnografye"), nor tsu a bekovedikn forshn un shtudirn ("etnologye"). un efsher vet oykh tsukumen tsum termin "etnologishe" der adyektiv "folkloristishe" un "di bushe vet zikh opton fun undz...." dem sekretars kholem iz nit mayns an aynfal oder fantazye. kh'hob im aleyn gehert funem sekretars moyl, mit iber 60 yor tsurik. geboyrn (vi ikh) in kolomey (mizrekh galitsye), fleg Khayem khayes farbrengen zayne zumer vakatsyes mit zayne eltern in undzer geboyrn-shtot (in vilne iz er oykh geven a lerer un zikh nit gekent bafrayen in meshekh funem shulyor) un fleg banayen yedn zumer zayn frayndshaft mit mayn tatn (zindale nayman [neuman]), vos iz nit nor geven zayn ben-ir, nor oykh zayn ben-dor (beyde geboyrn in 1889) un zayn yugnt-fraynd. ikh gedenk biz haynt zayne vizitn vayl oft fleg er un mayn tate in di ovntn zikh bagegenen mit potentsyele informantn -- dertseylers, zingers, un azoy vayter, un ikh, a yingl fun 10-12 yor, fleg mitgeyn mit zey.... ikh gedenk oykh gut dem aktivn kolomeyer yivo zamlerkrayz vos khayes un mayn tate zenen geven tsvishn zayne grinders. in dem band _yidisher folklor_, vilne 1938 (yivo filologishe shriftn band 5), unter der redaktsye fun y.-l. kahan, vern dermont inem zukhtsetl (z. 354) 20 zamlerkrayzn, un kamusdik iz kolomey tsvishn di ershte 5 erter. oft fleg zikh khayes baklogn oyf zayne shtoltse yivo-koleges un in eynem fun di geshprekhn hot er oykh oysgedrukt dem oybndermontn kholem, vos iz mistome geven oykh zayn hofenung. a teyl funem dozikn kholem iz gekumen tsum oysdruk in der diskusye vegn barikht fun der etnografisher komisye oyf der untn dermonter 1929 yivo konferents. a mitglid fun der komisye, Naftole vaynig (geboyrn 1897 in torne, mayrev galitsye), makht in der diskusye a forshlog, di etnografishe komisye "zol makhmes ir khshives reorganizirt vern in a zelbshtendike etnografisher sektsye...." (_barikht_.... 1930, z. 70). haynt iz mir klor, az di dozike arayngezapte in mir zikhroynes fun geshprekhn in mayn kolomeyer heym zenen geven tsvishn di goyrmem, vos hobn mikh aroyfgefirt oyf di folklorishte steshkes un vegn.... a sakh fun di temes in khayeses folkloristishe publikatsyes zenen 50 yor shpeter gevorn oykh mayne, tsvishn zey di teme fun zayn poylisher arbet, gedrukt in _Miesiecznik Zydowski_ (1934), vegn dem "bal-shem-tov bay di kristn," vos ikh dermon zi un tsitir zi in mayn hebreisher arbet (_makhanayim_ 46 [1960]) vegn der bal-shem-tov legende in di karpatn-berg. fir yor nokh der grindung fun yivo iz forgekumen in vilne (funem 24stn bizn 27stn oktober 1929) di ershte algemeyne konferents fun dem institut. in der zelber serye ("organizatsye fun der yidisher visnshaft") in velkher undzer _etnografishe anketes_ (20 zz.) zenen publikirt gevorn, vi numer 4 (in 1928), iz tsvey yor shpeter (in 1930) publikirt gevorn, vi numer 7, der protimdiker _barikht_ fun der doziker konferents. s'iz keday tsu fartseykhenen, az tsvishn di tsvey dermonte publikatsyes iz aroys (in 1929), vi numer 6, a "hantbikhl far zamlers" mitn nomen _vos iz azoyns yidishe etnografye?_, vos, dem emes zogndik, volt es gedarft dershaynen far di _anketes_, un nit nokh zey. der oysterlisher seyder fun di tsvey oysgabes aroysgegebn durkh der etnografisher komisye, ken hobn farsheydene derklern. ot zenen tsvey fun zey: 1. say khayes un say y.-l. kahan (1881-1937), velkhn khayes hot gehaltn far zayn rebn, zenen nit geven farinteresirt in der teoretisher oysshulung un bildung fun di zamlers. es ken gedrungen zayn fun kahans korespondents mit khayesn, az beyde hobn gezen nor di yugnt in di shuln vi dem dor velkher vet vayter mamshekh zayn di folks traditsye. s'iz nit keday optsugebn tsayt un energye di ekzistirndike zamlers, vos durkhshnitlekh zenen zey shoyn nit yung un farshteyen nit di vikhtikayt fun di gezamlte materyaln (farglaykh kahan, _shtudyes_ [nyu york 1952], z. 305 [= a briv fun khayesn]). 2. der tsveyter derkler brengt undz tsu der problematik fun der shtelung fun der komisye tsu sh. anski [Shloyme-zaynvil rapoport] (1863-1920) un zayne oyftuen oyfn gebit fun yidisher folkloristik un etnologye. mir veysn az khayes un andere yidishe yunge folkloristn zenen geven baaynflust fun anskis verk un fun zayn organizatsyoneln koyekh. zayn bukh _der mensh [mentsh]_ iz in der emesn eyn groyse ankete, velkhe farmogt 2087 fragen vegn dem mentshlekhn lebnstsikl. in khayeses arbet vegn "gleybungen un minhogem in farbindung mitn toyt" (_filologishe shriftn fun yivo_, band 2, 1928, zz. 281-328) iz di hashpoe fun dem letstn kapitl in anskis _der mensh [mentsh]_ ("der toyt," 401 frages) gor klor. dos dozike bukh iz geven a sakhakl fun der anski ekspeditsye (1912-1914) un iz dershinen in peterburg, 1915. geyendik in anskis fustrit hot oykh di komisye bashlosn aroystsugebn koydem-kol di anketes in bukhform, un dem teoretishn araynfir -- nit far der "in situ" derfarung, nor dafke nokh ir. di anski imitirung iz ober nor eyn tsad fun der yivo-anski tsveytaytshiker batsiung. di yivo tuers un di fir oyberdermonte sektsyes hobn gevust az zeyer oyftuen zenen pionerish un dos hot zey ongefilt mit shtolts un bafridikung. di etnografishe komisye iz ober geshtanen in anskis shotn un a sakh fun zeyere bashlusn ken men farshteyn vi an anti-anski reaktsye. dos iz mistome oykh di sibe derfar, vos di ershte publikatsye fun der komisye git zikh op mit anketes farbundn mitn yortsikl, vos trogt visnshaftlekh an avangardishn kharakter, un nit mit dem lebnstsikl, vos anski un di grupe tsuherer fun der yidisher akademye in peterburg hobn im shoyn baarbet in 1915. der emes iz az anski hot tsugegreyt tsum druk a tsveytn band fun _dos yidishe etnografishe program _ (_der mensh_ [mentsh] iz geven der ershter band), mitn nomen _shabes un yontef_, un es zenen faran farlozlekhe eydes|n vegn korektes fun der doziker publikatsye. ober beshas der revolutsye iz alts farloyrn gegangen. in meshekh fun ire ershte fir yor iz di komisye geshtanen in farbindung mit 500 zamlers. in der anski ekspeditsye iz keyn mol nit geven keyn minyen. un dokh hobn di komisye onteyl-nemers gefilt a min kine klape der ekspeditsye, vos hot nit gearbet mit keyn zamlers, un ire onteyl-nemers hobn gehat direktn kontakt mit di informantn, un aleyn geven di zamlers vos shteyen in kontakt mit di mekoyrem fun der informatsye on farmitlers. *** a banem tsu dem ershtn heft fun di publikirte yontoyvem anketes, loyt dem hayntikn matsev fun der algemeyner un yidisher "etnografye" (haynt voltn mir libersht gehat di formulirung "folklor" -- meynendik derikersht di mindlekhe-herevdike un kogitative, un "etnologye" -- meynendik derikersht di vizuel-materyele folkskultur) volt nit geven yoysherdik. a dank dem tekhnologishn progres in di 70 yor zint dem aroysloz fun di anketes un a dank dem oyfbli fun di telekomunikatsye-mitlen in dem letstn yortsendlik fun undzer yorhundert, iz der metod fun korespondents-anketes in gantsn fareltert gevorn (in dem emes iz er shoyn mit 50 yor tsurik aroys fun banuts). vi ken men in der tsayt fun video-aparatn, velkhe fareybikn yedn intervyu, say herevdik (in klang) un say vizuel (in rie), banitsn hantshriftlekhe entfers oyf frages un farshribene barikhtn, vos kenen keynmol nit zayn in gantsn genoy, un tekhnish zenen zey nit-farlozlekh? der emes iz az di zaml-arbet geyt vayter on oyf ale gebitn fun undzer kultur, say in farbindung mit zeyer over un say in farbindung mit zeyer hoyve, ober di mitlen zenen modernizirt gevorn. derfar zenen di _anketes_ nokh alts vikhtik, nit nor tsulib undzer historishn interes, nor oykh tsulib zeyer inhalt un zeyer takhles|dikn vert. bekheyn darf men zogn a dank un a hartsikn yasher-koyekh di initsyatorn funem itstikn, nayem aroysloz fun der _anketes_ broshur. inhaltlekh zenen di onvayzn far di alte zamlers vikhtik oykh far di naye "oyfnemers," un es iz nit keyn nafkemine, tsi zey zenen shraybers oder fotografn un vosere mitlen zey banitsn. di anketes vayzn dem veg oykh tsum zukhn fun umbakante, oykh haynttsaytike materyaln. in meshekh fun di letste tsvey doyres hobn zikh undzere yedies vegn gleybungen [this is daytshmerish, but what is a good substitute?] un minhogem ("kogitativer folklor"), farbundn mit di yontoyvem bay farsheydene yidishe etnishe grupes (tsvishn zey oykh di ashkenazishe, yidish-redndike yidn), shtark oysgevaksn. derfar volt oykh undzer batsiung tsu di anketes loyt dem shtand fun undzer hayntikn visn, bazirt oyf farlozlekhe forshungen un publikatsyes, nit geven yoysherdik. me ken zikh ober banemen tsu di anketes loyt dem matsev in dem yor fun zeyer publikatsye, hofndik az di bamerkn un di kritik kenen helfn di tsukunftike forshers fun undzere folk-traditsyes. dos fartseykhenen fun di bloyzn iz nit oysn aruntertsuraysn di publikirte anketes; der tsil iz tsu helfn di moderne forshers, tsvishn zey oykh mekhabrem fun naye "vegvayzers" tsu yidishe folk-traditsye oyfn gebit fun yontoyvem-folklor. di naye onvayzn, oykh far sekulere oyfnemers, torn nit zayn amerats|ish, un me darf beshas dem tsugreytn fun a nayem aroysloz, hobn in zinen dos oysbesern fun di bloyzn un dos dergantsn fun di felndike materyaln. di batsiungen tsvishn dem gloybn un di gleybungen, tsvishn din un mineg ("a mineg brekht a din") hobn tomed basheftikt un veln tomed basheftikn say di rabonem un say di forshers. ober in di anketes iz nito keyn bavustzinikayt legabe der doziker problematik, un di grenetsn tsvishn di obligatorishe klal-yidishe taryag mitsves un di minhogem, velkhe zenen faran (hobn a "zits in lebn") nor bay a teyl yidn, di dozike grenetsn zenen in undzere anketes oft mol farneplt, afile mevulbl. di yivo aktivistn (tsvishn zey oykh di zamlers) zenen geven (mit gor kleyne oysnemen) veltlekhe yidn. tsvishn di visnshaftlekhe arbeters in der vilner tsentrale iz nit geven keyn eyn-eyntsiker frumer ("got-forkhtiker") yungerman vos hot opgehit di mitsves. di fun zey, vos hobn in zeyer yugnt gelernt in khadorem un yeshives hobn nit shtoltsirt dermit, afile az zey hobn zikh nit geshemt mit zeyer over, dem over fun a "fargeyendiker velt." oykh di mitglider fun der etnografisher komisye zeen dos religyeze yidishe lebn (un di yontoyvem zenen a teyl funem dozikn lebn) vi a teyl fun der velt vos halt in fargeyn, in shtarbn. di zamlers vern opgeshikt tsu "alte layt" (ze: legboymer 2), di amolike tsaytn zenen identish mit di "gute yorn" (ze: shvues 1). s'iz nito in di anketes keyn haynttsaytike visnshaftikayt, un zeyer leyener un banutser ken zikh nit forshteln, az in dem vilner goens yerusholaim-de-lite zenen faran in di 1920er yorn mer yeshive-bokherem, vi yivo-bazukhers. a frage vi "tsi iz faran nokh der mineg?" (ze: peysekh 13 giml) shaft dem royshem az es handlt zikh vegn an altn, "shtarbndikn" mineg. ober in der emesn vert do dermont der mineg az kinder ganvenen aroys dem afikoymen un koyfn im oys, un s'iz mir klor az in di 1920er yorn iz nit geven keyn yidish (say religyezer say veltlekher) seyder in vilne on dem dozikn mineg. lomir analizirn kleyne kurtse paragrafn un aroysbrengen protem, vos kenen undz dinen vi a klal un vi a muster far tsukunftike farbeserungen un dergantsungen: dem "shabes hagodl" git men op an eyn-eyntsiker paragraf (ze: peysekh 3), khotsh loyt zayn ort in undzer folks-traditsye "kumt" im a sakh mer. Es felt der opshtam funem nomen. di "far vos"-frages vos yeder entfer oyf zey shpiglt op folk-etimologyes, folk-onshoyungen, folk-makhshoves, zenen gor veynik reprezentirt in di anketes. der opshtam fun di hebreishe terminen, vi (in undzere anketes) sfire, nitl [ze di letste hoysofe in di anketes], u"a, hot farsheydene interesante derklern in folk un shpiglt op zayn folks-"ego", oft mol beser, getrayer un genoyer vi andere aroyszogn. tsu di dergantsungen fun "shabes hagodl" gehert oykh der mineg fun shikn ("ekspidirn") di parkhes (d"h di gvirem-kamtsonem) keyn mitsraim, a mineg farbundn mit farbetungen, rayze-biletn, ua"v. Khayem khayesn iz der farshpreyter mineg geven gut bakant, un ikh veys nit far vos er hot zikh geshemt mit im un dos shvaygn iz im geven libersht. dos "shemen zikh" derklert efsher oykh dos feln fun andere gut bakante, farshpreyte (in dem lebn un in der literatur) un afile visnshaftlekh bahandlte minhogem, vi tsum bayshpik: shpiln kortn beshas der nitl-nakht (yidishe, in vin gedrukte kortn, hobn oyf zikh hebreishe oysyes), dos boydek zayn fun dem shotn in der nakht fun hoyshayne rabe, in droysn, baym shayn fun der levone; der naketer mentsh (nor a mantsbil) iz boydek farsheydene teylen fun zayn guf, vayl oft mol felt der shotn fun eyn eyntsikn eyver, un yeder eyver hot zayn meyn un zayn derkler. vi an oysgetseykhnte ankete ken men batrakhtn di ershte in undzer heft (shabes-shire, 7 frages), un dafke zi shtamt nit fun der komisye, nor fun a lokaln zamlkrayz. di dozike ankete ken dinen vi a muster, vayl di frages zenen nit algemeyne, vos pasn zikh arayn in yeder ankete (azoy tishebov 2: "git undz a bashraybung fun... bay aykh un fun di minhogem vos zaynen farbundn mit dem tog," vu anshtot dem vort "tishebov" ken kumen an ander yontef-nomen). di proportsye fun di ontsuherenishn iz gut. zey zenen kondentsirt un nit tsu oysfirlekh. frage 1 vil visn dem opshtam fun dem bazundern nomen (aza frage vegn der nomenklatur felt in a sakh anketes), di andere frages zenen farteylt tsvishn folks-literatur zhaners (2: mayses; es felt di folkslid un muzik-teme, velkhe shpilt mistome a bazundere role in meshekh fun a shabes, vos hot in zayn nomen dos vort shire -- a lid, a gezang...), opshtam-frages vegn minhogem (4,5.7; entfers oyf azelkhe frages firn tsu folks-gleybungen), terminologye-dialektologye-lingvistik (4), minhogem-bashraybungen (3, 7). di proportsye tsvishn di farsheydene zhaners farbunden mit "shabes shure" iz oysgehaltn un fayn. interesant iz di hoysofe vegn dem 15tn kislev un dos dermonen dem folklor fun di khevre-kedishe layt velkhe hobn oyfgehit a sakh interesante minhogem. der emes iz, az nor in gor veynik kehiles vert di dozike date opgerikht vi der khevre-kedishe tog, durkh a tog fun fastn velkher endikt zikh mit an impozanter sude. der ongenumener khevre-kedishe tog iz der 7ter oder, un di dozike date (loyt der gemore iz Moyshe rabeynu geboyrn un nifter gevorn ayin be-oder) felt in undzere anketes un darf dergantst vern. vi shoyn bamerkt oybn, beshas mir hobn dermont dos "hantbikhl far zamlers" _vos iz azoyns yidishe etnografye?_ (numer 6 in der serye "organizatsye fun der yidisher visnshaft"), iz der teoretisher tsugang, velkher kharaktiziirt dos dozike "hantbikhl" (tsunoyfgeshtelt fun di oybn dermonte Khayem khayes un Naftole vaynig), vikhtiker far di zamlers haynt-tsu-tog un in der tsukunft vi di oybn-analizirte _anketes_ broshur. oyb es vet ongenumen vern a bashlus vegn a nayem aroysloz fun dem "hantbikhl far zamler" iz keday az nokh yedn eynem fun di kapitlekh (ale zenen bagleyt durkh oysfirlekhe bibliografyes) zoln kumen tsugobn un dergantsndike bamerkungen. zey veln zogn eydes vegn dem groysn progres fun der yidisher etnologye un der yidisher folkloristik bemeshekh fun di letste 70 yor. *** 3)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 27 May 1998 From: Leah Krikun Subject: _etnografishe anketes_ heft 1: yontoyvem, vilne 1928 (yivo) _etnografishe anketes_ heft 1: yontoyvem, vilne 1928 [yidisher visnshaftlekher institut / serye "organizatsye fun der yidisher visnshaft," numer 4] [* = daytshmerish; MEYYED (and others) recommend the plural form _zamlers_ (rather than _zamler_), the spellings _a mol_, _ale mol_, _eyn mol_, _keyn mol_, _teyl mol_ and _oft mol_ (rather than _amol_, _alemol_, _eynmol_, _keynmol_, _teylmol_ and _oftmol_ -- Ed.] tsu ale fraynd un libhober fun der yidisher folksshafung! di etnografishe komisye vendt zikh tsu aykh mit a heysn ruf, befrat tsu di lerer fun ale yidishe shuln, tsu der yugnt on untersheyd fun rikhtung: helft undz tsunoyfklaybn di oytsres fun der yidisher folksshafung! iber shtet un shtetlekh fun der gantser velt, vu s'lebt nor di yidishe shprakh, vu s'klingt nor dos yidishe lid, vu s'vebt zikh nokh di yidishe mayse un s'iz nokh nit farshtoysn der yidisher mineg, zaynen tsevorfn di oytsres fun undzer folksshafung. lozt zey nit farfaln vern! zamlt zey tsunoyf, ot di reshtlekh fun dem eygns, vos amolike doyres hobn undz gelozn b|yerushe. alts is far undz vikhtik: vertlekh, glaykhvertlekh, mayses, anekdotn, zabobones, sgules, refues, purim-shpiln un azoy vayter un azoy vayter. glaykhtsaytik vendt zikh di etnografishe komisye tsu ale muziker, kener fun notn-shraybn, vemen s'iz tayer der goyrl funem yidishn folks-motiv: farshraybt di nigunem fun yidishe folkslider, tents, purim-shpiln, helft zey tsu farshraybn undzere zamler oyf di erter, farbindt zikh mit undz. yeder eyner ken undz do kumen tsu hilf, vemen s'iz nor tayer di yidishe kultur. baym publikirn di materyaln in di "shriftn" fun yidishn visnshaftlekhn institut vet yeder tsushiker vern dermont. fraynd un simpatiker, ruft zikh op! vendt zikh tsu undz nokh instruktsyes un anketes! der adres far ale shikungen far der etnografisher komisye iz: gezelshaft "fraynd fun yidishn visnshaftlekhn institut," vilne, groys-pohulanke 18. T-wo Przyjaciol Zydowskiego Instytutu Naukowego, Wilno, W. Pohulanka 18. in meshekh fun 1926-1927 hot di etnografishe komisye aroysgegebn a gantse rey anketes vegn yidishe yontoyvem. der tsvek fun di anketes iz geven tsu vendn di oyfmerkzamkayt fun undzere zamler oyf a nay gebit un tsu farinteresirn kener fun dem folks lebns-shteyger mit an inyen vos iz biz haynt nokh fun keynem kemat nit oysgeforsht gevorn: mit di yidishe yontef-minhogem. hunderter entfers, bashraybungen, yedies fun interesante, teylmol gor vikhtike minhogem zaynen ongekumen fun shtet un shtetlekh: minhogem fun velkhe mir hobn biklal nit gevust oder vos mir hobn nit gehoft zey mer tsu gefinen hobn zikh aroysbavizn ergets in a kleyn farvorfn shtetl. dos alts hot undz nokh mer bashtetikt di rikhtikayt un di vikhtikayt fun undzer ongehoybener arbet. yedes klenste shtetele, yeder yishev, vi kleyn un vi farvorfn er zol nit zayn, hot zayne minhogem vos muzn oysgeforsht vern. s'ken zikh dukhtn in ershtn moment, az s'iz nito keyn untersheyd in di minhogem: dinem zaynen dokh di zelbe un men tor zey nit endern. ober dos lebn tut zikh dos zaynike, un der mineg vos iz in eyn ort a zelbstfarshtendlekhe zakh ruft in a tsveytn ort aroys dem grestn khidesh. der vos hot zikh ayngelebt mit a mineg meynt oftmol, az es is gornit keday im tsu farshraybn, vayl "ale veysn dokh dos." nito keyn greserer feler vi der. undzer eygene praktik hot shoyn dos gevizn in a genuger mos. mir khazern derfar iber dos vos mir hobn shoyn nit eynmol gezogt: farshraybt alts, farshraybt genoy, vayl alts hot a vert far dem forsher! in der doziker nayer oysgabe fun di anketes velkhe hobn zikh in meshekh fun 1926-1927 gedrukt in di "yedies fun yidishn visnshaftlekhn institut" zaynen shoyn genumen in akht di entfers un informatsyes, vos di zamler hobn undz tsugeshikt. mir hobn tsugegebn naye frages, teylvayz di frierdike geendert. di anketes shepn ober legamre nit oys ale yidishe yontef-minhogem. a sakh zakhn zaynen do gevis nit dermont. darfn di zamler undz oyf dem oyfmerkzam makhn in zeyere bashraybungen. di frages darfn zayn farn zamler nor an onshpar, zey darfn im helfn zikh tsu oryentirn: oyf vos akhtung tsu gebn, oyf vos zikh nokhtsufregn. am bestn iz oystsunutsn tsu dem tsvek di yontoyvem gufe, in meshekh funem gantsn yor. men ken demolt aleyn alts batrakhtn, nokhzen un dergeyn. oyb dem zamler iz umbakant a mineg oyf velkhn mir fregn zikh, zol er dos oykh klor oysshraybn, vayl s'iz zeyer vikhtik tsu visn: vi groys iz di teritorye, vu es iz yo farshpreyt aza un aza mineg. oyb s'iz epes nit klor, vendt zikh tsu undz nokh oyfklerung. mir zogn do undzer varemstn dank di ale vos hobn undz geholfn biz aher in der arbet fun boyen mit gemeynzame koykhes a gemeynzame zakh, -- say di, vos zaynen tsu undz mit a sakh gekumen, say di vos hobn gebrakht nor a bisl. di etnografishe komisye farmogt shoyn haynt a sakh materyal. ober in farglaykh mit der greys fun der oyfgabe is nokh vintsik oyfgeton gevorn. undzer ruf muz dergeyn tsu ale yidishe yeshuvem iber der gantser velt, in di groyse shtet azoy gut vi in di farvorfnste vinklen. es muz undz kumen tsu hilf yeder eyner, vemen es iz tayer der kultureler oyfbli fun di yidishe folksmasn. sof may 1928. *** [continued in _The Mendele Review_ vol. 2, 019] ______________________________________________________ End of _The Mendele Review_ 02.018 Leonard Prager, editor The editor of _TMR_ can also be reached via _Mendele_'s homepage: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele Subscribers to _Mendele_ (see below) automatically receive _The Mendele Review_. Send "to subscribe" or change-of-status messages to: listproc@lists.yale.edu a. For a temporary stop: set mendele mail postpone b. To resume delivery: set mendele mail ack c. To subscribe: sub mendele first_name last_name d. To unsubscribe kholile: unsub mendele ****Getting back issues**** _The Mendele Review_ archives can be reached at: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele/tmrarc.htm _The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language (A Companion to _MENDELE_) ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 02.019 27 May 1998 |------------------------------------| | Shleyme (Seymour) Axelrod z"l | | (1 June 1927 - 21 May 1998) | |------------------------------------| [double issue, vol. 02. 18-19] 1) Yiddish Matters: From the Editor (Leonard Prager) [in vol.02.018] 2) araynfir tsu di _etnografishe anketes_ fun 1928 (Dov Noy) [vol.2.018] 3) _etnografishe anketes_ heft 1: yontoyvem, vilne 1928 (YIVO) [vol.2.018 and continued in this volume, vol. 2.019] **** 3)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 27 May 1998 From: Leah Krikun Subject: _etnografishe anketes_ heft 1: yontoyvem, vilne 1928 (yivo) [continued from _The Mendele Review_ vol. 2, 018] klolem far zamler fun etnografishn materyal 1. ir zolt keynmol nit meynen, az ir farshport tsu farshraybn epes, vayl "s'iz shoyn gevis faran." hot in zinen: beser tsu fil, eyder tsu vintsik. es kon zayn, az di zakh iz shoyn take fartseykhnt, nor a bisl in an ander nusekh; un khuts dem iz far der visnshaft vikhtik festtsushteln, vi vayt es greykht der shetekh vu an etnografishe dershaynung is farshpreyt. 2. mitteyln darf men koydem kol dos in vos men iz ingantsn zikher. oyb s'iz bay aykh gufe a sofek, git tsu: "dukht zikh," "layt zogn," "der un der zogt." oyb ir entfert oyf an ankete, shraybt oys vegn velkhe fragn ir veyst gornit. 3. dem materyal shikt beser tsubislekhvayz. oyb s'iz aykh epes nit klor, fregt zikh on. 4. farshraybn darf men, vi vayt meglekh loyt der ortiker oysshprakh, nit "literarish." oykh verter fun hebreishn opshtam darfn geshribn vern loyt der oysshprakh. 5. farlozt zikh nit tsu shtark oyf ayer zikorn. a guter zamler hot alemol bay zikh a bloknot mit a blayfeder un fartseykhnt bald, oyb er hert epes interesants. 6. nit onshtendike, grobe zakhn darfn oykh farshribn vern. di etnografye kumt nit mit keyn estetisher mos un fartseykhnt altsding vos es iz do in folkslebn. 7. farshraybt vos pinktlekher: varft gornit aroys, git gornit tsu. men darf nit veln makhn "shener;" men darf getray ibergebn ale vendungen un vertlekh azoy vi men hot gehert. 8. oyb ir brengt folksverter, vos zaynen bakant nor in ayer gegnt, oder in der literatur vern zey banutst mit an ander pshat, git unter dem tsu di erklerung* [haynt shraybt men _derklerung_ -- LP]. 9. di etnografishe komisye darf iberkukn a sakh materyal, un ir muzt zen vi vayt meglekh ayntsushporn ir iberike arbet. zayt zikh deriber noyeg azoy: alef) yetvider* dershaynung* (lid, gleybung*, mayse) farshraybt oyf a bazunder blat papir; bay kleyne farshraybungen nitst kvitlekh 9 x 11 tsentimeter (a fertl fun a shraybheft-bletl), bay gresere -- topele oder firfakhe kvitlekh. beys) ven ir heybt on shraybn, tret op fun oybn oyf a finger di breyt un lozt a frayen breg; dernokh shraybt on oybn di shtot, dem krayz (povyat) un di provints, vu ir hot dos farshribn. giml) oyb es handlt zikh vegn kleyne zakhn (lemoshl -- shprikhverter), velkhe ir vilt nit shraybn oyf bazundere kvitlekh, lozt umbadingt tsvishn eyn zakh un der tsveyter a frayen ort fun tsvey finger di breyt. daled) oyb der materyal iz gehert fun a tsveytn, shraybt tsu untn fun vemen. hey) gor untn shraybt on di date un ayer nomen. vov) shraybt umbadingt* nor oyf eyn zayt papir. shabes-shire in a sakh gegntn iz mitn shabes, ven men leynt parshe beshalakh, farbundn a mineg fun gebn di feygelekh esn. farsheydene mayses geyen arum vegn ot dem shabes un vegn dem oyfkum fun dem mineg. 1. vosere derklerungen git men oyf dem nomen "shabes-shire"? 2. vosere mayses zaynen farbundn mit dem shabes? 3. vosere hakhones vern gemakht lekoved shabes-shire? 4. farvos shtelt men in tsholnt groypn? (in a teyl gegntn heysn zey "gogelekh"; vi azoy nokh?) 5. farvos git men di feygl nor groypn un nit keyn ander maykhl? 6. vos tut men mit di breklekh nokhn esn? 7. farvos shpayzt men di feygl un nit keyn andere bashefenishn? (loytn proyekt fun zamlerkrayz in makov) purim purim iz an alter folks-yontef. in farsheydene shtet un shtetlekh fayert men purim nokh haynt vi in di fargangene yorn mit farshtelers, gragers, purim-shpiln un azoy vayter. alte layt dertseyln undz, az s'iz nit dos vos s'iz amol geven. mir aleyn gedenken fun di kindershe yorn a sakh sheyne momentn vos der hayntiker purim hot zey shoyn nit. ober oykh dos bisl vos iz undz haynt farblibn ken undz farfaln geyn un fargesn vern, oyb mir veln zikh batsaytns nit nemen tsu der arbet. un lozn lozt zikh nokh a sakh oyfzamlen. s'lebn nokh in di shtetlekh purim-shpiler, un zey gedenken gut alte purim-shpiln, vos zey aleyn hobn geshpilt far 40 oder 50 yor. s'lebn nokh alte yidn vos kenen undz a sakh dertseyln vi s'hot oysgezen purim in amolike yorn. men darf zey nor oyfzukhn, oysfregn un farshraybn vos zey veysn. 1. kukt zikh tsu gut un git undz a genoye bashraybung vi s'zet oys purim bay aykh in shtetl. (fregt zikh nokh un makht a bashraybung fun amolikn purim). 2. vi azoy "shlogn" di yinglekh homenen baym dermonen zayn nomen in der megile? alef) vos for a makhshirem (gragers, shrayers, kalakotkes, biksl ud"gl. -- git on genoy zeyere nemen!) oder mitlen (shraybn oyf der podeshve) banutsn zey? vos zogn zey derbay (yimakh shmoy, sheym reshoyem yirkov)? beys) shikt undz tsu mustern fun di ale makhshirem, oder, oyb s'iz aykh nit meglekh, iz khotsh tseykhenungen, bashraybungen vi azoy zey zeen oys. giml) vi azoy "shlogn homenen" dervaksene (shlogn mit di fis, klapn mit di shtenders)? daled) tsi iz bakant bay aykh der mineg: oysshnitsn fun holts a homen oder oysmoln im mit kreyd? oyb nit, fregt zikh nokh, tsi emets veys fun dem. hey) in andere shtetlekh flegt men amol onton a goy far a "homen," im onshikern un azoy, bagleyt fun der "vayser khevre," araynfirn in shul. der mineg iz shoyn haynt kimat ingantsn untergegangen. fregt zikh nokh oyf im. 3. tsi klaybt men bay aykh megile-gelt un vi azoy? 4. vos far a vertlekh zaynen aykh bakant vos hobn a shaykhes tsu purim (homen, megile, sude), tsum bayshpil: yidishe -- nit azoy fun ahaves mortkhe vi fun sines homen; er hert im vi in tshernovits di megile; men hert di megile vi dem rov, dem rov vi di megile un beyde vi dem farayorikn shney. nit-yidishe -- purim ne svyato (vaysrusish); purim nika ne turim (litvish). 5. tsi zaynen aykh bakant andere teg in yor vos men hot zey a nomen gegebn purim tsulib a groys, vikhtik gesheenish. tsum bayshpil: povidl-purim (19-20 oder) in tshekhye; purim avrom dantsik (15 kislev) tsum ondenk vos men iz nitsl gevorn fun oyfrays in vilne in 1804; purim fun 7 tamez in ostra (volin). vi azoy iz men zikh noyeg in di teg? fregt zikh nokh vi azoy hot men zey amol gefayert. 6. alef) vos far a spetsyele maykholem makht men oyf purim (vi azoy heysn zey un vi azoy makht men zey)? beys) vos far a spetsyele gebeksn (homentashn, kreplekh, monelekh un andere), tsukervarg (oysyes, sore bentsht likht, mentshelekh)? vi azoy zeen zey oys? vi azoy makht men zey? giml) oyb ir hot nor di klenste meglekhkayt, shikt undz tsu mustern; oyb nit iz khotsh tseykhenungen oder bashraybungen fun di gebeksn.& ------------------------------------------------------- &. dafke oyf der frage vegn di yontef-gebeksn velkhe mir hobn geshtelt kemat in ale anketes hot men zikh biz aher vintsik opgerufn. efsher iz dos a bisl aroysgerufn durkh dem, vos tsushikn azoyns fodert shoyn a hetsoe. ober a sakh mer iz shuldik dos vos nit eyn zamler hot zikh geklert "zey meynen dort avade, az bay undz zaynen faran take epes gor vunderlekhe gebeksn. vos vel ikh zey shikn, a khale"? nit in oysterlishe zakhn geyt undz, nor in mustern fun geveynlekhe yontef|dike gebeksn. yeder yontef hot dokh zayne gebeksn un gebeks-formen, vos zaynen fun der traditsye geheylikt punkt vi yeder anderer mineg, un yede gegnt hot dokh nokh ire bazundere formen, andere nemen fun di zelbe gebeksn. fun vanen nemt zikh dos alts? mir kenen haynt nokh gornit bashtimts zogn, kol-zman mir hobn nit keyn fulshtendike zamlung gebeksn fun farsheydene yidishe yishuvem. eyns veysn mir ober, az di ale formen zaynen alte un a teyl fun zey zeyer alte, az a teyl zaynen oyfgekumen in di daytshishe, teyl in frantsoyzishe getos. s'ken gemolt zayn, az a gute zamlung fun alte gebeksn fun a geviser gegnt zol gebn a vikhtikn tsushtayer tsu der kultur geshikhte fun yidn in yener gegnt, un afile gor a geveynlekhe khale ken amol lozn epes hern. un akhuts alts ligt in der doziker formen-raykhkayt an alte yidishe folkskunst, vos vi alts in der folksshafung iz dos gegangen b|yerushe fun muter tsu tokhter, opgehit un oyfgehit biz oyfn hayntikn tog. undzere zamler muzn oyf lehabe dos shtendik hobn in zinen. ------------------------------------------------------- 7. vi azoy zet oys di purim|dike sude? 8. tsi shikt men bay aykh shalakhmones? alef) vos, tsu vemen un vi azoy shikt men? beys) ver trogt funander? 9. tsi geyen arum bay aykh baytog "purim-farshtelers"? oyb yo: alef) vos far a maskes trogn zey? beys) in vos far a kostyumen geyen zey? giml) oyb ir kent, shikt undz tsu fotografyes fun di maskes, kostyumen oder khotsh tseykhenungen, bashraybungen. oyb nit, fregt zikh nokh, tsi zey zaynen ven gegangen un vi azoy zey zaynen gegangen ongeton. 10. tsi geyt men bay aykh mit purim-shpiln iber di hayzer? oyb yo: alef) ven geyt men: baytog tsi oyfdernakht? beys) ver zaynen es di purim-shpiler? giml) vos shtelt men? daled) bakent zikh mit di purim-shpiler. farshraybt bay zey di purim-shpiln. oyb s'iz faran bay aykh a notnkener, zet im tsutsien tsu der doziker arbet, un zol er farshraybn di notn tsu di purim-shpiln un tsu di purim-lider. 11. vos far a purim-shpiln flegt men amol shteln? fregt zikh nokh. oyb ir kent beshum oyfn nit bakumen gantse purim-shpiln, farshraybt dos vos men gedenkt. oyb dos iz oykh nit meglekh, vert gevoyer vi azoy zey hobn geheysn. lemoshl s'geyen arum nokh haynt fragmentn fun alte purim-shpiln vos men flegt shpiln amol in galitsye vi: "di ayngemoyerte froy," "karmelin-shpil," "vesele," "dobosh-shpil" un and[ere]. 12. vi azoy geyen ongeton di purim-shpiler? vos far a kostyumen? oyb s'iz meglekh, fotografirt zey, oyb nit, shikt undz tsu tseykhenungen oder bashraybungen. 13. vu shpilt men un vu hot men geshpilt (in private hayzer, tsi in shenkn oder andershvu)? 14. tsi iz aykh bakant der "purim-ber"? oyb nit, fregt zikh nokh. 15. tsi kent ir purim-lidlekh: in yidish, in andere shprakhn? oyb s'iz meglekh, shikt undz tsu mit notn. 16. tsi klaybt men oys bay aykh (oder flegt men amol oysklaybn) a purim-rov? alef) vemen klaybt men oys far a purim-rov? beys) vi azoy geyt er ongeton? 17. tsi zaynen bay aykh bakant purim-droshes, purim-kideshn, purim-viduim? 18. oyb ir hot oder veyst alte megiles mit tseykhenungen un bilder, gedrukte purim-vitsn, parodyes, purim-shpiln, shikt undz tsu, oder, oyb dos iz nit meglekh, git undz tsu visn vu dos gefint zikh. 19. mir betn aykh zeyer spetsyel akht tsu leygn oyf di purim-shpiln (punkt 10-15), vayl zey vern farshvundn mamesh far undzere oygn, un oyb men vet itst nit oprateven vos es lozt zikh, vet in a kurtser tsayt arum shoyn zayn tsu shpet. (gedrukt in yanuar 1926 als ankete numer 2) peysekh mir betn aykh alts tsu farshraybn, afile dos klenste vos ir vet bamerkn, un zol aykh gornisht nit oyskumen vintsik vikhtik un vertloz. 1. vos far a vertlekh, mayses, gleybungen* zaynen aykh bakant, vos zaynen farbundn mitn khoydesh nisn. tsum bayshpil: roshkhoydesh nisn iz a tayerer bisn, ver s'shtarbt in nisn iz fray fun khibet hakeyver un and[ere]. 2. kukt zikh gut tsu un git a genoye bashraybung, vi azoy zeen oys di tsugreytungen tsu peysekh (dos kalkhn, shayern). 3. vos far a minhogem zaynen farbundn mit shabes hagodl? vos far anekdotn kent ir vegn di droshes? 4. vos koshert men un vi azoy koshert men di farsheydene keylem? 5. alef) vi azoy kumt for dos koshern in di matse-bekerayen (kalkhn, naye zek, vaser tsugreytn un azoy vayter? vi azoy pruvt men oys tsi di oyvns zaynen genug gekoshert? git a genoye bashraybung vi azoy kumt for dos bakn di matses? (ver iz basheftikt baym bakn, in vos far a geshir knet men teyg, vi azoy ruft men dos matse-bakn: podryad oder andersh?) vi azoy un mit vos gibn tsu visn di bekerayen, az zey bakn matses? ver tor nit onteylnemen in der doziker arbet? beys) ver bakt un vi azoy kumt for dos bakn fun shmure (tsum bayshpil tsu yedn teyg darf men nemen a frish-opgeskrobetn valger-holts)? 6. vu un in vos halt men di matses in shtub? (oyb dos zaynen nit keyn geveynlekhe nor spetsyele tsu dem tsvek gemakhte kastns oder kerb -- tseykhnt es on.) 7. alef) vu halt men bahaltn dos peysekh|dike geshir? beys) vi azoy zeen oys peysekh|dike keylem? (koyses un and[ere]. 8. vi azoy kumt for dos bdikes-khomets? vos far a simen iz es, az men gefint bay der bdike a farayorikn afikoymen? ver, vu un vi azoy farbrent dem khomets? 9. vos zogt men, az men brengt arayn in kikh dos peysekh|dike geshir? (men brengt arayn dem peysekh?) 10. alef) tsi fast men in tog fun erev-peysekh? beys) ver fast? giml) ven darf der bokher nit fastn erev-peysekh? daled) geyt men in dem tog oyf keyver-oves? hey) ven un vos est men oyf frishtik erev-peysekh? 11. vi azoy kumt for dos farkoyfn dem khomets? 12. vos est men oyf mitog erev-peysekh? 13. git a genoye bashraybung funem seyder. alef) vi azoy geyt ongeton der foter baym seyder? beys) tsi iz di servete mit vos di matses zaynen ibergedekt a kale-geshank? giml) tsi iz faran nokh der mineg, az kinder zoln aroysganvenen dem afikoymen un im lozn oyskoyfn? oyb nit, fregt zikh nokh. daled) vos far a maykholem est men in di seyder-nekht? vi azoy heysn zey un vi azoy makht men zey? hey) ver makht oyf di tir bay shfoykh-khamoskho? vov) tsi hot ir gehert fun aza mineg, az baym efenen di tir flegt a kind arayngeyn mit a zak oyf di pleytses farshtelt? fregt zikh nokh bay alte yidn, efsher veysn zey. vos dertseyln zey vegn dem? zayen) tsi iz aykh bakant a mineg, az der foter zol nemen a hantukh, aynviklen in im matse un vi a zekl farvarfn oyfn aksl, arumgeyn arum dem tish un ersht dernokh zikh zetsn tsum seyder? khes) in a teyl gegntn iz faran a mineg ayntsuheytsn dem oyvn in shtub vu m'rikht op dem seyder. dos zol zayn a zeykher fun di amolike blut-bilbulem vos flegn forkumen erev-peysekh. tsulib dem zelbn tam farmakht men nokh haynt tsum seyder tir un lodns. fregt zikh nokh oyf di minhogem. 14. fregt zikh nokh un bashraybt vi azoy s'hot amol oysgezen peysekh un vi azoy hot men amol opgerikht dem seyder bay aykh in shtetl? 15. vos far a mayses dertseylt men fun eliyohu hanovi un zayne nisem, vos hobn getrofn in di seyder-nekht? 16. tsi zaynen aykh bakant mayses fun blut-bilbulem un onshikenishn, vos hobn getrofn in di ershte seyder-nekht? 17. tsi zaynen aykh bakant: yidishe khad-gadyes un ekhod mi yedeye, oder andere peysekh|dike lider oyf yidish (tsum bayshpil: vi es kumt peysekh; zitsn mir baym seyder; di mame iz a malke). 18. alef) vi azoy zet oys khalemoyd in shtetl un in shtub? (bazukh, khasenes, naye opmakhn mit melamdem, dinstn un and[ere]. beys) vos est men khalemoyd-peysekh oyf tsubaysn, mitog un ovntbroyt? vi azoy heysn di peysekh|dike maykholem un vi azoy makht men zey? vos far a getranken zaynen di balibtste peysekh (med, vayn)? giml) in a teyl gegntn trogt men arum akhren-shel-peysekh ibern shtetl a shmate-figur. men ruft zi "khomets|diker borkhu". tsi iz aykh bakant der mineg? oyb nit, fregt zikh nokh. 19. in vos shpiln zikh kinder peyseykh-tsayt (nis un dos glaykhe)? vi azoy heysn di shpiln? vi azoy shpilt men zikh in zey? 20. tsi zaynen aykh bakant peysekh|dike forshtelungen? 21. tsi iz faran bay aykh der mineg fun shpaltn dem yam shvii shel peysekh in shul oder in shtub nokhn seyder? 22. tsi zaynen bay aykh faran alte hagodes mit bilder, mit sheyne shar-bleter? oyb ir kent, fotografirt zey, oder shikt zey undz tsu, oyb nit, git undz tsu visn vu dos gefint zikh. 23. oyb s'iz faran bay aykh a notn-kener, farshraybt di nigunem vos vern gezungen in der seyder-nakht, un biklal fun lider vos vern gezungen peysekh. 24. vi azoy hot men amol, oder vi azoy vert nokh itst opgerikht peysekh bay di khsidem un groyse rabonem? 25. tsi kent ir mayses vegn dem vi azoy s'hobn amolike kantonistn opgerikht dem seyder? 26. vi azoy hot oysgezen peysekh in der milkhome un in der tsayt fun okupatsye? 27. tsi kent ir mayses fun nit-yidishe gest (pritsem, meshumodem) bay yidishe sdorem? 28. tsi zaynen aykh bakant anekdotn vi azoy yeshuv|nikes rikhtn op dem seyder. (gedrukt in merts 1926 als ankete numer 3). sfire un legboymer A. sfire 1. vosere minhogem zaynen farbundn mit di sfire-teg? 2. in a teyl shtetlekh zaynen nokh faran alte lukhes gemakht spetsyel tsu sfire, azoy-gerufene "sfire-lukhes", mit sheyne fartsirungen un tseykhenungen. fregt zikh nokh oyf zey, dergeyt vu zey zaynen nokh faran un zet zey far undz tsu bakumen. yednfals git undz vegn dem tsu visn. B. legboymer 1. zamlt tsunoyf ideyes vegn amolikn legboymer bay alte layt, vos gedenken im nokh fun zeyere kheyder-yorn. 2. farshraybt genoy vi azoy zet oys der yontef haynt: in di khadorem vu er iz geblibn nokh in der alter form, in a nayer yidisher shul un azoy vayter. 3. vi azoy kumen for di tsugreytungen tsum yontef. 4. vi azoy farbrengen kinder un dervaksene dem tog. in vos shpiln maystns di kinder. vosere spetsyele kamf-un-shpil-makhshirem makhn di kinder un fun vos. shikt undz tsu mustern fun faylnboygns, fayln, fendlekh un azoy vayter. (gedrukt in may 1926 als ankete numer 4). shvues 1. git undz a genoye bashraybung fun shvues bay aykh (oyb s'iz meglekh oykh vi es hot oysgezen shvues amol in di "gute yorn"). 2. vosere maykholem un gebeksn bakt men un greyt men tsu oyf shvues?& ------------------------------------ &. ze di heore nokh: purim 6 giml ------------------------------------ 3. vosere gleybungen*, lider, mayses, vertlekh zaynen aykh bakant, vos hobn a shaykhes tsum dozikn yontef (lemoshl vegn dem vi azoy der himl shpalt zikh in der shvues|diker nakht)? 4. mit vos baputst men un bahengt men di shtub? vosere grinsn nemt men? tsi baputst men di shtub fun droysn oykh oder nor fun ineveynik? 5. tsi iz faran bay aykh der mineg tsu baputsn di fentster mit "reyzelekh" oder "shvues|lekh" (oder vi azoy heysn zey andersh)? fun vos makht men dos, vos shtelt dos for un vi azoy fartikt men dos tsu? oyb der min iz bay aykh faran, shikt undz tsu umbadingt mustern. oyb nisht, vert gevoyer tsi hot men ven gemakht azelkhe. alef) fun vos flegt men zey makhn un vi azoy? beys) vos hobn zey forgeshtelt? 6. tsi hobn kinder spetsyele shpiln oyf shvues? 7. vi azoy ruft men di goyishe "shvues" (grin-khoge?) (gedrukt in may 1926 als ankete numer 4) tishebov 1. vos far a minhogem zaynen farbundn mit di "dray vokhn" (tsum bayshpil: men tor zikh nit shern, nit shlofn oyf keyn hartn geleger, un azoy vayter), un velkhe mit di "nayn teg" (tsum bayshpil: men tor nit handlen mit keyn goy, vayl men vet farlirn)? mit vos derklert dos folk di dozike minhogem? 2. git undz a bashraybung fun tishebov bay aykh un fun di minhogem vos zaynen farbundn mit dem tog. 3. vos est men oyf der sudes-hamafsekes? [text has smikhes + definite article, where normally one sees _sude mafsekes_, and occasionally _sude hamafsekes]. 4. mit vos farnemen zikh di kinder? yomem-neroem A. elul 1. vos far a minhogem, gleybungen*, mayses zaynen farbundn mit der slikhes-tsayt? bashraybt vi azoy men vekt, ruft (oder flegt vekn, rufn) tsu slikhes. 2. vos far a vertlekh, lider, zabobones ud"gl zaynen farbundn mitn khoydesh elul (lemoshl: "roshkhoydesh elul tsitert a fish in vaser")? 3. tsi halt men (oder hot men gehaltn) bay aykh als a klal fun di taneysem: fun alef elul biz yonkiper, erev-rosheshone? B. rosheshone 4. tsi iz bay aykh ongenumen der mineg fun shikn leshonetoyves? ver tsu vemen shikt? tsi shraybt men oder molt men zey aleyn? shikt tsu mustern fun eygn-gemakhte leshonetoyves, iberhoypt fun amolike. 5. tsi zaynen faran velkhe s'iz spetsyele aynfirn baym dingen "shtet" oyf yomem-neroem? 6. dertseylt vegn mineg tsu banayen tsu rosheshone (bgodem, keylem). vi azoy zogt men, ven men zet yenem in a nayem beged? 7. vos far a minhogem zaynen ongenumen in batsiung tsu andere mentshn (teyln tsdoke mit a fuler hant, gebn iber vog un mos, mekhile-betn). 8. tsi iz bay aykh faran der mineg fun mekhile-betn bay geshtorbene far rosheshone oder um rosheshone? 9. vos kent ir dertseyln vegn khazonem un meshoyrerem oyf yomem-neroem? 10. vos far a vintshenishn vern gebroykht um rosheshone un ven ("derlebt iber a yor ale ingantsn," "oyf a fuln yor" un azoy vayter? 11. vi azoy zet oys di shul (der besmedresh) um r"h (vayser poroykhes ud"gl)? tsi zaynen faran velkhe bazunderkaytn baym davnen, baym farkoyfn aliyes? 12. vosere ayngleybenishn un azoy vayter zaynen farbundn mitn shoyfer blozn? vi azoy iz der mineg fun geyn hern shoyfer blozn (vayber, kinder)? vos veyst ir vegn bal-tekeyes? 13. tsi zaynen aykh bavust zabobones vos zaynen farbundn mit r"h, lemoshl: men tor nit shlofn baytog, men tor nit kern di shtub, men tor nit veynen; men darf hobn bay zikh in shtub mer gelt vi alemol? vosere derklerungen vern deroyf gegebn? 14. vosere lider (in yidish, hebreish, andere shprakhn) zaynen aykh bavust vegn r"h? farshraybt di verter un di nigunem. 15. vosere maykholem vern gemakht oyf r"h (lemoshl: kaylekhdike farfl, lebedike fish, fete fleysh)? tsi est men r"h davke mern, ribn, tsi farlangt men dem kop fun a baran, fun a fish? voser gebeks vert gebakn? tsi vern gegebn derklerungen oyf di ale zakhn? 16. bashraybt dem mineg fun geyn tsu tashlekh. vosere mayses, anekdotn adg"l zaynen dermit farbundn? C. aseres yemey tshuve 17. tsi vern nit di aseres yemey tshuve ongerufn "aseres yemey rakhmim" (vi bay di karaimen)? 18. ven un vi azoy kumt for dos feldmestn? 19. vosere minhogem zaynen farbundn mit tsom-gedalye (geyn oyf keyver oves, shteln matseyves un azoy vayter)? 20. shabes tshuve. D. yonkiper 21. tsi geyen derikersht mantsbiln oyfn feld erev yonkiper? tsi farbayst men baym aropgeyn fun feld mit lekekh-un-bronfn? tsi zaynen aykh bakant lider vos alte vayber zingen baym dreyen di veksene likht far yonkiper? 22. dos kapores-shlogn: mit vos, tsi farbayst men nokhn kapores-shlogn mit spetsyele lobungen (pireshkes, teyglekh)? vertlekh un anekdotn vos zaynen farbundn mit kapores-shlogn. 23. dertseylt vegn mekhile-betn, vide, malkes, tsi iz faran a mineg tsu bentshn di kinder erev yo"k? 24. dos farfastn. spetsyel gebeks (khales mit leyters ud"gl). vosere gerikhtn maydt men oys un farvos? 25. vosere likht vern geshtelt in shtub un besmedresh? vos far a nemen hobn zey un farvos (neshome-likht ud"gl)? tsi iz farshpreyt di gleybung*, az oyb a likht vet farloshn vern, vet emitser shtarbn? 26. vosere gleybungen* zaynen farbundn mit kol-nidre (lemoshl: di geshtorbene bateylikn zikh in der tfile)? 27. tsi veyst ir mayses vegn pasirungen mit kleyne kinder in der tsayt ven di eltern zaynen geven tsu kol-nidre? 28. tsi veyst ir faktn oder mayses vegn bazukh fun kristn (meshumodem) tsu kol-nidre? 29. vi azoy farlaykhtert men zikh dem tones (tropns ud"gl)? 30. vosere oysdrikn fun di yomem-neroem|dike tfiles zaynen arayn in yidish (lemoshl: "nokh ale hayems"). 31. vi azoy geyt men tsurik fun shul (lemoshl: mit brenendike shtiklekh likht)? 32. tsi iz bay aykh ongenumen arayntsuklapn a flekl fun suke motse yo"k? vi azoy tut men bay a fartiker suke? 33. tsi zaynen aykh bavust lider in velkher es iz shprakh vegn yo"k? farshraybt di verter un di nigunem. (gedrukt september 1926 als ankete numer 7) sukes A. di ershte teg 1. gleybungen* vos zaynen farbundn mit boyen di suke. der onteyl fun di kinder. oyb s'zaynen geven (oder faran) bay aykh velkhe s'iz oysterlishe sukes, shikt tsu tseykhenungen. 2. mit vos (skhakh, shtroy, verbe-tsvaygn) un vi azoy dekt men di suke? vi azoy vert zi baputst fun ineveynik (feygl fun eyer ud"gl) un fun oysnveynik? spetsyele oyfshriftn. 3. ver nekhtikt in suke? 4. shutfishe sukes. 5. keylem un maykholem in suke. 6. tsi iz faran a mineg tsu bavarfn di kinder um sukes mit rozhinkes? 7. esreg-bentshn, esreg-gelt, keholisher esreg, tsi zaynen faran spetsyele esreg-treger? shikt tsu zeyere fotografyes. 8. tsi zaynen aykh bavust legendes vegn bazukh fun di oves in suke? 9. vi azoy hot oysgezen sukes in der tsayt fun milkhome un okupatsye? 10. vosere vertlekh zaynen aykh bavust vegn esreg, lulev, pitem (lemoshl: "der esreg kost dos gantse gelt un ibern lulev makht men di brokhe")? 11. vosere lider un nigunem vern gezungen tsu sukes? farshraybt zey. 12. vi azoy zet oys khalemoyd in gas un in shtub? 13. tsi vert gepravet simkhes beys-hashoeyvo? oyb yo, iz vi azoy? B. hoyshayne rabe, shmini-atseres, simkhes-toyre 14. gleybungen* vos zaynen farbundn mit h"r (es shpalt zikh der himl un azoy vayter). 15. vi azoy vintsht men h"r? 16. farvos shlogt men hoyshaynes? vi azoy rayst men di hoyshaynes? 17. vos veyst ir vegn hoyshaynes als sgule (in veg)? 18. tsi farbrent men di hoyshaynes erev-peysekh tsuzamen mitn khomets? 19. tsi zaynen aykh bavust parodyes oyf "kol mevaser"? 20. tsi iz faran (oder geven) der mineg fun ayngebn a reynikayt in der nakht fun h"r? 21. tsi vern in der nakht fun h"r ayngeordnt yorike aseyfes fun khevres (kedishe, tilem)? 22. tsi veyst ir legendes vegn endikn un onheybn di toyre um simkhes-toyre? 23. hakofes amol un itst. farvaylungen erev di hakofes (farshteln zikh un tantsn oyf di tishn). 24. tsi iz faran bay aykh der mineg tsu geyn mit a shmate-figur um shmini-atseres ibern shtetl? 25. tsi iz aykh bakant der mineg fun shikn shalakhmones um simkhes-toyre? vos shikt men? der mineg iz an alter; s'ken zayn, az nor alte layt gedenken im nokh. fregt zikh nokh. 26. vertlekh vos zaynen farbundn mit hoyshane-rabe, shmini-atseres, simkhes-toyre, hakofes un azoy vayter. 27. kinder-farvaylungen un shpilerayen s"t (fener un azoy vayter), tsi shisn bay aykh di kinder fun kapslshiser? shikt tsu mustern fun di shpilekhtsn. 28. vi azoy farbrengen simkhes-toyre di dervaksene? tsi trinkt men bronfn in besmedresh? 29. tsi iz faran (oder geven) a mineg tsu farbrenen dem skhakh oyfn shul-hoyf? tsu farbrenen di suke moytse simkhes-toyre? (gedrukt september 1926 als ankete numer 7). khanike mir betn aykh undz tsutsushikn a genoye bashraybung fun khanike amol un haynt. spetsyel shtelt zikh op oyf di vayter oysgerekhnte fragn: 1. tsi shpiln khanike-tsayt klezmer in di bote-midroshem? tsi hobn zey amol geshpilt? vos far a nigunem? oyb ir kent, farshraybt do notn fun di nigunem; oyb bay aykh zaynen kayn notn-shrayber nishto, git undz tsu visn vegn dem. 2. vi azoy flegt men farbrengen amol di khanike-ovntn? vi azoy farbrengt men zey haynt? 3. in vosere shpiln shpilt men zikh geveynlekh? vi azoy heysn di shpiln un in vos bashteyen zey? tsi shpilt men zikh nokh haynt in kvitlekh? tsi makht men zey aleyn? shikt undz tsu mustern fun amolike un hayntike kvitlekh. in vos shpiln zikh meydlekh un froyen? in vos shpiln zikh kinder? 4. vi azoy heysn dreydlekh in ayer gegnt (tenderl, gor un azoy vayter)? shikt undz tsu mustern fun dreydlekh. 5. tsi kent ir nit bakumen far undzer muzey sheyne alte khanike-lemplekh? oyb nit, shikt undz tsu fotografyes, tseykhenungen, bashraybungen fun zey. 6. tsi zaynen aykh bakant spetsyele khanike-katovesn? 7. vosere lidlekh un vertlekh zaynen aykh bakant in shaykhes mit khanike? [8.] vosere maykholem makht men spetsyel oyf khanike? (gedrukt yanuar 1927 als ankete numer 9) khamishoser-bishvat 1. git undz a bashraybung vi azoy der yontef vert haynt gefayert. fregt zikh nokh bay eltere vi azoy er hot amol oysgezen. 2. vos far a frukhtn est men in dem tog? 3. vos dertseylt men vegn dem yontef? hoysofes 1. 15 kislev fastn in a teyl gegntn di khevre-kedishe-layt. nokhn tones makht men sudes, s'vern oysgefirt farsheydene minhogem. biklal hobn di khevres oyfgehit zeyer a sakh interesante minhogem nokh bizn hayntikn tog. fregt zikh nokh bay alte khevre-layt, zukht oyf zeyere pinkeysem un shikt zey undz tsu oder git undz vegn dem tsu visn. 2. nitl. alef) tsi fardekt men bay aykh in der nakht fun nitl ale flisike zakhn un voser derklerung vert deroyf gegebn. beys) tsi lernt men nitl in di khadorem un oyb nit, to farvos? giml) vosere andere minhogem, gleybungen*, dertseylungen bay yidn zaynen aykh bakant in shaykhes mit nitl? daled) tsi zaynen bakant bay aykh "toldes yeshu" tekstn in yidish oder hebreish? oyb yo, shikt zey tsu in original oder tsum veynikstn in pinktlekhe kopyes. ______________________________________________________ End of _The Mendele Review_ 02.019 Leonard Prager, editor The editor of _TMR_ can also be reached via _Mendele_'s homepage: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele Subscribers to _Mendele_ (see below) automatically receive _The Mendele Review_. Send "to subscribe" or change-of-status messages to: listproc@lists.yale.edu a. For a temporary stop: set mendele mail postpone b. To resume delivery: set mendele mail ack c. To subscribe: sub mendele first_name last_name d. To unsubscribe kholile: unsub mendele ****Getting back issues**** _The Mendele Review_ archives can be reached at: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele/tmrarc.htm _The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language (A Companion to _MENDELE_) ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 02.020 7 June 1998 YEHOYESH ISSUE 1) Yiddish Matters: From the Editor (Leonard Prager) 2) Yehoyesh's Life and Work (Robert Goldenberg); "Yehoyesh" (A.Sutskever) 3) Selections from his tanakh translation (Yehoyesh) 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 7 June 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: Yiddish Matters 1. In this issue: a) "shprakhn" by Note Manger b) Yehoyesh and his Bible translation (ed.). 2. Coming: Alefbeys Issue a) Note Manger [as reported by his brother Itsik Manger*] "shprakhn" di kleyne feygl oyfn dakh gibn-op tsu got a shvakh -- tshirik, tshirik -- in zeyer shprakh. di grine zhabes funem taykh gibn-op tsu got a shvakh -- kvo, kvo, kvo -- in zeyer shprakh. ikh leyen Yehoyesh|es tanakh un gib tsu got borekh-hu a shvakh in mame-loshn -- undzer shprakh. *Fun itsik mangers a briv: "di dozike dray strofes zaynen dos eyntsike, vos der shnayder-gezeln note manger hot ongeshribn. zey gefinen zikh in a briv tsu mir nokh dem, vos er hot bakumen un geleyent Yehoyesh|es t~a~n~a~k~h in y~i~d~i~s~h." [Shmuel Rozhanski, red., _Yidish in lid_ [antologye], Buenos-Ayres, 1967, p. 77.] b. Yehoyesh and his Bible translation No single work -- Shakespeare excepted -- has so influenced language and modes of thought and feeling in the English-speaking world as has the 1611 King James Version of the Bible. Despite scores of translations since -- more accurate, more accessible, often more readable -- it continues to occupy a special place among monuments of the English language. Historians have stressed the impact of Martin Luther's Bible translation on German nationalism and culture. Many peoples throughout the world received their alphabets and their first written literary work when linguist-missionaries translated the Bible into their native language. (For some of the world's more than six thousand or so languages this process continues.) A handmaiden of Yiddish literature, present at its genesis, Bible translation has occupied a strong if no longer central position in Yiddish writing. At a World Jewish Congress-sponsored conference in London around 1961, the alphabet scholar David Diringer and others suggested a project to retranslate the tanakh into a more modern Yiddish than that employed by Yehoyesh. Nothing came of this idea (which has perhaps been raised at other times and in other forums as well), and it seems even less worthy of high priority three and a half decades later. Yet it is certainly worthwhile to talk about Yehoyesh today. At a time when many new young readers are attracted to Yiddish we can ask ourselves if Yehoyesh's tanakh still has the status of a Yiddish classic or even whether it can still be regarded as a great Bible translation. We know that it drew the universal admiration of Yiddish writers and readers alike before the Shoa as reflected in numerous allusions to Yehoyesh in Yiddish poetry. Through the Yiddish press -- the chief reading material of the immigrant generation -- Yehoyesh was known to millions of readers. In today's far bleaker Yiddish world, how are we to view Yehoyesh's great life work? Half a century has passed since Y. Rozental analyzed it at length in _Yivo bleter_ (volume 34 [1950], 59-128). How do we respond today to Yehoyeshes bible language? Does it seem quaint, archaic, "poetic"? Is it pedantic to be critical of his orthography? How ought we view -- and use -- the _tanakh_ in mame-loshn that gave Note Manger and others so much pride and pleasure? [L.P.] 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 7 June 1998 From: Robert Goldenberg Subject: Yehoyesh's life and work** Yehoyesh (pseudonym of Yehoyesh-Shloyme Blumgarten [Yehoash-Solomon Bloomgarden]) was born 16 September 1872 in Varzhbolove (later Virbaln), near the Russian-German border. He died in New York in 1927. His father was a devout scholar, a maskil and an active member of Khovevey-Tsien ('Lovers of Zion'). His mother ran a small ironware store to support the family; she was also active in communal charitable organizations. Y. began kheyder at the age of 4, then studied tanakh, Talmud and Hebrew, first with his father and then with private tutors; at an early age he began to read the works of Haskalah writers such as Smolenskin and Gotlober. At 13 he was enrolled in the famous Volozhiner Yeshive, but soon returned home where, under his sister Sheyne's influence, he studied foreign languages and literature and wrote his first poems in Hebrew. For a time he was a private Hebrew tutor in wealthy homes, but not content with this, he resolved to emigrate to America. In 1889 he brought his first poems to Peretz in Warsaw. Peretz befriended him and foresaw a great literary future for him. David Pinski quotes Peretz's own words (in "The Jewish Worker," NY, 1927): "...Only a young man, in his early 20's, but filled with torah, with Jewish and worldly knowledge, a language scholar, with a great memory." In 1890, perhaps to avoid conscription into the Russian army, Yehoyesh emigrated to America. He earned his livelihood at first as a Hebrew teacher, and continued writing poetry in Hebrew. However, he was dissatisfied with his work and destroyed these early poems. He decided to try occupations other than teaching -- tailoring, peddling, bookkeeping in a glass factory; in this period he wrote nothing. He then met met Dr. Israel Davidson, a young Hebrew writer, under whose influence he began to write again. He composed a book of Hebrew poems, but sudden illness forestalled its publication; manuscripts of these poems are in the Yehoyesh archives. In 1900 Y. contracted acute tuberculosis, and spent the next seven years at the Jewish Sanitorium in Denver, Colorado, during which time he set aside his writing. He was married in 1903, and in 1908, cured of TB, he made a fund-raising trip across America on behalf of the Jewish Consumptive Relief Committee of Denver. These travels enabled Yehoyesh to become acquainted with the landscape and natural beauty of America, and to meet numerous influential people. Returning to New York in 1909, he wrote prolifically until 1914. He also participated actively in Jewish cultural life in New York in those years, especially for the Poale-Tsien (Labor Zionists). His _Dictionary of Hebrew and Aramaic words used in Yiddish_, co-written with Dr. Khayem Spivak while at the Denver Sanitorium, was published in 1911. (A second edition was published in 1926.) In January 1914, Y. and his wife, along with their daughter Evelyn, emigrated to Palestine, settling in Rekhovot. There he learned Arabic and studied the Koran and post-Koranic literature. The family lived for several months in Relvan, on the border of the Egyptian desert, not far from Cairo, but returned to New York in the summer of 1915, not long after World War 1 broke out. Y.'s travel experiences were serialized in _Der tog_, including "Biz Rekhoves un Tsurik" (To Rekhovot and Back), later published in book form. Yehoyesh's literary activity began with Hebrew poetry (which was never published) while he was still attending yeshive, but all of his published work is in Yiddish . Encouraged by the Hebrew writer Ben Avigdor, he sent some of his early poems to Peretz, who published them in his _Di yudishe bibliotek_ (Warsaw 1891). These poems included a translation -- from English --of a Byron poem, and a translation of Chapter 18 of the Book of Psalms, his first tanakh translation. He also wrote for Mordecai Spektor's _Hoyzfraynd_ (Warsaw 1894). In America, through the years 1891 to 1912 he published poetry and popular historical novels in _Der folks-advokat_. He wrote for _Di yudishe gazetn_, _Yidishes tageblat_, _Der forverts_, _Der varhayt_ and others: poetry, fables, translations, as well as Chinese, Japanese and Arab legends. From January 1902 until his death in 1927, he wrote for _Der tsukunft_: poetry, legends and fables, and translations of Byron, of Longfellow's "Hiawatha," and of Omar Khayam's "Rubaiyat." He contributed to Minikes' _Yontef-bleter_ and from November 16, 1916, was a regular contributor to _Der tog_, where he published most of his tanakh translations. From 1909-1919 he wrote for the humour and satire journal _Kundes_, including his version of "Around the World in 80 Days." From 1908-1915 he contributed to Zhitlovski's _Dos naye lebn_. Yehoyesh was a regular contributor to most of the Yiddish periodicals in North America, Canada, Russia, Poland, Argentina, Austria, Palestine and other countries. His poems were translated into English, Polish, Russian, French, German and Hebrew. Many of his poems were included in anthologies and in textbooks used in Jewish schools; many were set to music and performed widely. His first impulse to translate the Torah came to Yehoyesh in 1904. By 1909 he had completed a translation of Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Ruth, Job and, in 1910, Isaiah. He was dissatisfied with his first efforts and destroyed them. In preparation for his great project he read Bible translations and commentaries in many languages and versions (Septaguint, Vulgate, Onkeles; Ibn Ezra, Rambam, Ramban, etc.) and clarified hundreds of interpretations of words and sentences. His translation is not only a monument of the Yiddish language, it is a creative work. Yehoyesh labored at his translation from 1909 until his premature death in 1927. From 1922-1927, _Der tog_ published hundreds of letters from leading Bible scholars responding to the tanakh serialized in its pages. According to Leyeles, Yehoyesh destroyed his first tanakh translation of 1909-1910, including the printing plates and galleys, wanting to purge all daytshmerisms. Surviving today, and so long as Yiddish is spoken, read and understood, are the later translation of the khumesh (1927), the early neviyem (1927), the later neviyem (1929), the ksuvem (1936) and the revisions of 1933 and 1938 (aside from the special editions (_Der tog_, 1936 and 1941; _Der forverts_ in 2 volumes in 1939). YIVO also issued separately _Shir hashirem_ (1932), _Megiles Ester_ (1936). In 1940 a _Khumesh far kinder_ appeared. In 1949 Mortkhe Kosover edited a lexicon of commentaries based on Yehoyesh's prolific notes on the tanakh. Selections from Yehoyesh's tanakh (in English translation!) can be found in the anthologies by Joseph Leftwitch (_The Golden Peacock_, 1961) and by Howe and Greenberg (_Treasury of Jewish Poetry_, 1957). Shmuel Niger praised Yehoyesh's translation and claimed its utility in the study of the Hebrew original. Yankev Glatshteyn credited Yehoyesh with rescuing and immortalizing thousands of forgotten Yiddish words. Until his death Yehoyesh worked on a Syriac grammar to help him prepare an even better Bible translation. A memorial book in 1935 listed over 50 translations of his poems in 10 languages. His yortsayt was celebrated in the ghettos of Warsaw, Lodz and Vilne. We conclude with the poem, "Yehoyesh," written by Avrem Sutskever for a commemoration of Yehoyesh's yortsayt in the Vilna Ghetto on April 6, 1943. The poet buried this and other poems in the ghetto and retrieved them after Vilna was liberated. "yehoyesh"*** di erd, - a blinder zhipendiker shtrom, -- un oyfn shtrom -- a bintl kranke hayzer vi reshtlekh fun a shif... in zeyer tif -- neshomes fun aroysgehoykhte shoen. un kinder in di vinklen -- groe toybn in a shturem, farklamerte in zeyer letster midkayt. dos bintl hayzer trogt zikh shtrom arop, antkegn kokht a keslgrub mit yeder blik alts nenter. gezenenish. geplats fun morgns. verter sheydn zikh mit zakhn erev zeyer sof. nokh a rege, nokh, un mit a mol -- a nomen heylik-oysgeshmidt fun altn gold: y~e~h~o~y~e~s~h. un shoyn fargeyt mit karshnblitn der farshmakhter troyer. kvaln blo, mit zunen oyf di dekn, shnirlen zikh farbay di nakhtik-flaterdike shoybn un vartn me zol efenen. un anshtot grub un keler -- turemt tsvishn tsedern a templ mit zayln oysgeknotene oys dem gebeyn fun doyres. -- -- -- sara makhtik-oysgevakhter yontef! sara likhtik-rikhtike derkentshaft! yeder fun di goysesdike kinder in di vinklen -- iz itst farvandlt in a yungn novi, gevashn inem ershtn toy fun shneyik-vayse royzn. un oyf di lipn -- bentshung un nevue, ayngevebt mit zeungen fun oysgeleyzter freyd, fun yoyvldikn folk. der toyt aleyn dershtrekt zikh far der sheynkayt, un traybt avek tsurik zayn blotik-roykherdikn kesl -- -- -- [1943] ** The above sketch was abstracted and translated mostly from Khayem-Leyb Fuks's entry "Yehoyesh" in the _Leksikon fun der nayer yidisher literatur_. Also consulted were Sol Liptzin's _The History of Yiddish Literature_, and Charles Madison's _Yiddish Literature -- Its Scope and Major Writers_. [R.G.] ***"Yehoyesh" was published in New York in the April 1946 issue of _Yidishe kultur_, while Sutskever was still living in Moscow. It was also published in Sutskever's _Lider fun geto_ (1946) and his _Poetishe verk_ (Tel Aviv, 1963). 3)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 7 June 1998 From: Craig Abernethy Subject: Tanakh selections (Yehoyesh [Solomon Bloomgarden]) opklayb fun Yehoyesh|es tanakh iberzetsungen: breyshis beys:daled-kof"daled [Genesis 2:4-24] breyshis lamed"beys:kof"hey-lamed"beys [Genesis 32:25-32] Shmuel alef tes"zayin:alef-yod"gimel [1 Samuel 16:1-13] Shmuel alef tod"zayin:lamed"beys-nun [1 Samuel 17:32-50] Yeshayohu beys:beys-hey [Isaiah 2:2-5] tilim kof"gimel [Psalms 23] Koheles gimel:alef-zayin [Ecclesiastes 3:1-7] Rus alef:alef-yod"zayin [Ruth 1:1-13] Yoyne alef:alef-tes"zayin [Jonah 1:1-16] Yoyne gimel:alef-yod [Jonah 3:1-10] -------------------- bresyshis beys:daled-kof"daled [Genesis 2:4-24] dos iz di geshikhte fun dem himl un der erd ven zey zaynen bashafn gevorn, in dem tog vos got der har hot gemakht erd un himl. un keyn beyml fun feld iz nokh nit geven oyf der erd, un keyn kraytekhts fun feld hot nokh nit geshprotst, vorum got der har hot nit gemakht regenen oyf der erd, un a mentsh iz nit geven tsu baarbetn di erd; nor a nebl flegt oyfgeyn fun der erd, un flegt ontrinken dos gantse gezikht fun der erd. hot got der har gefuremt dem mentshn fun shtoyb fun der erd, un hot arayngeblozn in zayne nozlekher an otem fun lebn, un der mentsh iz gevorn a lebediker nefesh. un got der har hot geflantst a gortn in eydn, in mizrekh, un hot dortn arayngezetst dem mentshn vos er hot gefuremt. un got der har hot gemakht shprotsn fun der erd alerley boymer glustik ontsukukn un gut tsum esn; oykh dem boym fun lebn, in mitn gortn, un dem boym fun visn gut|s un shlekht|s. un a taykh iz aroysgegangen fun eydn ontsutrinken dem gortn, un fun dortn hot er zikh tsesheydt, un iz gevorn fir teyln. der nomen fun eynem iz pishon, dos iz der vos ringlt arum dos gantse land khavilo, vos dortn iz do gold; un dos gold fun yenem land iz gut. dortn iz der bdoylekh* un der oniklshteyn. un der nomen fun tsveytn taykh iz gikhon; dos iz der vos ringlt arum dos gantse land kush. un der nomen fun dritn taykh iz khidekl; dos iz der vos geyt tsu mizrekh fun ashur. un der firter taykh, dos iz pros. un got der har hot genumen dem mentshn, un hot im arayngezetst in gortn fun eydn, im tsu baarbetn un im tsu hitn. un got der har hot ongezogt dem mentshn, azoy tsu zogn: fun ale boymer fun gortn megstu esn; ober fun dem boym fun visn gut|s un shlekht|s, fun im zolstu nit esn, vorum in dem tog vos du est fun im, vestu zikher shtarbn. un got der har hot gezogt: es iz nit gut der mentsh zol zayn aleyn; ikh vel im makhn a gehilf vedlik far im. un got der har hot gefuremt fun der erd alerley khayes fun feld un alerley foyglen fun himl, un gebrakht tsu dem mentshn, tsu zen vos er vet zey rufn, un vos nor der mentsh vet rufn itlekh lebedike bashefenish, dos zol zayn ir nomen. hot der mentsh ongerufn nemen far ale beheymes, un far di foyglen fun himl, un far ale khayes fun feld; ober far Odem|en hot er nit gefunen a gehilf vedlik far im. hot got der har gelozt faln a tifn shlof oyf dem mentshn, un er iz ayngeshlofn; un er hot aroysgenumen eyne fun zayne ripn, un hot farshtopt ir ort mit fleysh. un got der har hot geboyt fun der rip, vos er hot aroysgenumen fun dem mentshn, a froy, un hot zi gebrakht tsu dem mentshn. hot der mentsh gezogt: dos mol iz dos a beyn fun mayne beyner, un fleysh fun mayn fleysh; didozike zol gerufn vern froy, vayl fun a man** iz genumen gevorn didozike. drum farlozt a man zayn foter un zayn muter, un baheft zikh on zayn vayb, un zey vern eyn layb. * min shmekedike boympekh. loyt andere: a min tayer shteyn, oder perl. **isho -- ish -------------------- breyshis lamed"beys:kof"hey-lamed"beys [Genesis 32:25-32] un az Yankev iz geblibn aleyn, hot a man zikh geranglt mit im biz der frimorgn iz oyfgegangen. un az er hot gezen az er ken im nit baykumen, hot er ongerirt dos lefl fun zayn dikh; un dos lefl fun Yankev|s dikh iz oysgelunken gevorn in zayn ranglen zikh mit im. hot er gezogt: loz mikh avek, vorum der frimorgn iz oyfgegangen. hot er gezogt: ikh vel dikh nit aveklozn, saydn vest mikh bentshn. hot er tsu im gezogt: vos iz dayn nomen? hot er gezogt: Yankev. hot er gezogt: nit mer zol Yankev gerufn vern dayn nomen, nayert Yisroel*, vorum host geshtritn mit got un mit mentshn, un bist baygekumen. hot Yankev gefregt un hot gezogt: zog mir, ikh bet dikh, dayn nomen. hot er gezogt: nokh vos den fregstu oyf mayn nomen? un er hot im dortn gebentsht. un Yankev hot gerufn dem nomen fun dem ort Pniel**, vayl: ikh hob gezen got ponem el ponem, un mayn zel iz nitsl gevorn. un di zun iz im oyfgegangen vi er iz aribergegangen Pniel***, un er hot gehunken oyf zayn dikh. *der vos shtrayt mit got. **der ponem fun got ***in tekst: penuel. ------------------- Shmuel alef tes"zayin:alef-yod"gimel [1 Samuel 16:1-13] un got hot gezogt tsu Shmuel|n: biz vanen vestu troyern vegn Shoel|n, az ikh hob im farakht fun tsu kinign iber yisroel? fil on dayn horn mit eyl, un kum ikh vel dikh shikn tsu Yishay|n fun beys-lekhem, vorum ikh hob mir gezen a meylekh tsvishn zayne zin. hot Shmuel gezogt: vi ken ikh geyn? az Shoel vet hern, vet er mikh hargen. hot got gezogt: a yunge ku vestu nemen mit zikh, un vest zogn: tsu shlakhtn tsu got bin ikh gekumen. un vest farrufn Yishay|n tsum shlakhtopfer, un ikh vel dikh lozn visn vos du zolst ton; un vest mir zalbn dem vos ikh vel dir zogn. hot Shmuel geton vos got hot geheysn, un er iz gekumen keyn Beys-lekhem. un di eltste fun shtot hobn geaylt im antkegn, un gezogt: frid tsu dayn kumen! hot er gezogt: frid! tsu shlakhtn tsu got bin ikh gekumen. heylikt aykh, un ir vet kumen mit mir tsum shlakhtopfer: un er hot geheysn Yishay|n un zayne zin zikh heylikn, un hot zey farrufn tsum shlakhtopfer. un es iz geven, vi zey zaynen gekumen, azoy hot er derzen Elyov|n, un er hot gezogt: farvor, antkegn got iz zayn gezalbter. hot got gezogt tsu Shmuel|n: zolst nit kukn oyf zayn oyszen, un oyf zayn hoykhn vuks, vorum ikh vil im nit; vorum es iz nit vi der mentsh zet; vayl der mentsh zet nokhn onblik, ober got zet nokhn hartsn. hot Yishay gerufn Avinodov|n, un hot im farbaygefirt far Shmuel|n, ober er hot gezogt: oykh demdozikn hot got nit oysderveylt. hot Yishay farbaygefirt Shamo|n, ober er hot gezogt: oykh demdozikn hot got nit oysderveylt. azoy hot Yishay farbaygefirt zibn fun zayne zin far Shmuel|n, un Shmuel hot gezogt tsu Yishay|n: got hot nit oysderveylt didozike. un Shmuel hot gezogt tsu Yishay|n: geendikt di yungen? hot er gezogt: es iz nokh geblibn der klenster; un ot iz er a pastukh bay di shof. hot Shmuel gezogt tsu Yishay|n: shik un breng im; vorum mir veln zikh nit zetsn, biz er kumt aher. hot er geshikt un im gebrakht. un er iz geven a geroytlter, mit sheyne oygn un a faynem oyszen. un got hot gezogt: shtey oyf, zalb im, vorum er iz dos. hot Shmuel genumen dem horn mit eyl, un hot im gezalbt in mitn fun zayne brider. un der gayst fun got iz gekumen oyf Dovid|n fun yenem tog on un vayter. un Shmuel iz oyfgeshtanen, un iz avekgegangen keyn romo. -------------------- Shmuel alef yod"zayin:lamed"beys-nun [1 Samuel 17:32-50 un Dovid hot gezogt tsu Shoel|n: zol keyn mentshns harts nit aropfaln iber im; dayn knekht vet geyn, un vet milkhome haltn mit demdozikn plishti. hot Shoel gezogt tsu Dovid|n: kenst nit geyn oyf demdozikn plishti, milkhome tsu haltn mit im, vorum du bist a yingl, un er iz a man fun milkhome fun zayn yugnt on. hot Dovid gezogt tsu Shoel|n: dayn knekht iz geven a pastukh far zayn foter bay di shof, un az a leyb iz gekumen, oder a ber, un hot avekgetrogn a sheps fun der stade, bin ikh aroysgegangen nokh im, un hob im geshlogn, un hob aroysgerisn fun zayn moyl; un az er hot zikh geshtelt akegn mir, hob ikh im ongenumen baym bord, un hob im geshlogn un im geteyt. i dem leyb i dem ber hot dayn knekht dershlogn; un derdoziker umbashnitener plishti vet zayn vi eyner fun zey, vayl er hot gelestert di reyen fun dem lebedikn got. un Dovid hot gezogt: got vos hot mikh matsl geven fun der hant fun leyb, un fun der hant fun ber, er vet mikh matsl zayn fun der hant fun demdozikn plishti. hot Shoel gezogt tsu Dovid|n: gey, un zol got zayn mit dir. un Shoel hot ongeton Dovid|n zayne kleyder, un er hot aroyfgeton a kupernem kiver oyf zayn kop, un im ongeton a pantser. un Dovid hot ongegurt zayn shverd iber zayne kleyder, un zikh gematert tsu geyn, vayl er iz nit geven tsugevoynt. hot Dovid gezogt tsu Shoel|n: ikh ken nit geyn in didozike, vayl ikh bin nit tsugevoynt. un Dovid hot zey oysgeton fun zikh. un er hot genumen zayn shtekn in zayn hant, un hot zikh oysgeklibn finf glate shteyner fun dem bakh, un arayngeton in dem pastukhzekl vos er hot gehat, in dem baytl; un zayn shlayderer iz geven in zayn hant; un er hot genent tsu dem plishti. un der plishti iz gegangen alts nenter, tsu Dovid|n, un der man vos trogt dem shild, im faroys. un der plishti hot a kuk geton un hot derzen Dovid|n, un hot im farakht, vorum er iz geven a yingl, un geroytlt, oykh sheyn oyfn ponem. un der plishti hot gezogt tsu Dovid|n: tsi a hunt bin ikh, vos du kumst tsu mir mit shtekns? un der plishti hot gesholtn Dovid|n bay zayn got. un der plishti hot gezogt tsu Dovid|n: kum tsu mir, un ikh vel gebn dayn fleysh tsum foygl fun himl, un tsu der khaye fun feld. hot Dovid gezogt tsu dem plishti: du kumst tsu mir mit a shverd un mit a shpiz un mit a pike, un ikh kum tsu dir in dem nomen fun hashem fun tsvoos, dem got fun di reyen fun yisroel, vos du host gelestert. hayntikn tog vet dikh hashem iberentfern in mayn hant, un ikh vel dikh dershlogn, un vel aropnemen dayn kop fun dir; un ikh vel gebn di pgorem fun der makhne fun di plishtem hayntikn tog tsum foygl fun himl un tsu der khaye fun der erd; un di gantse erd vet visn, az faran a got bay yisroel. un didozike gantse aynzamlung vet visn, az nit mit a shverd un mit a shpiz helft hashem; vorum di milkhome iz hashem|s, un er vet aykh gebn in undzer hant. un es iz geven, vi der plishti iz oyfgeshtanen un iz gegangen un hot genent antkegn Dovid|n, azoy hot Dovid geaylt, un iz gelofn tsum shlakhtfeld antkegn dem plishti. un Dovid hot arayngeshtekt zayn hant in zekl, un hot aroysgenumen fun dortn a shteyn, un a shlayder geton, un getrofn dem plishti in zayn shtern. un der shteyn iz arayngezunken in zayn shtern, un er iz gefaln oyf zayn ponem tsu der erd. azoy hot dovid ibergeshtarkt dem plishti mit a shlayderer un mit a shteyn, un getrofn dem plishti, un im geteyt; un keyn shverd iz nit geven in Dovid|s hant. ----------------- Yeshayohu beys:beys-hey [Isaiah 2:2-5] un es vet zayn in sof fun di teg, vet shteyn fest der barg fun got|s hoyz oybn on fun di berg, un derhoybn iber di heykhn; un ale felker veln tsu im shtromen. un fil umes veln geyn un veln zogn: kumt, un lomir aroyfgeyn tsum barg fun hashem, tsum hoyz fun dem got fun Yankev; un er vet undz lernen fun zayne vegn, un mir veln geyn in zayne shtegn; vorum fun tsien vet aroysgeyn a toyre, un got|s vort fun yerusholaim. un er vet mishpetn tsvishn di felker, un antsheydn iber fil umes; un zey veln shmidn zeyere shverdn oyf akerayzns, un zeyere shpizn oyf tsvaygmesers; a folk kegn a folk vet nit heybn a shverd, un me vet nit mer lernen milkhome. hoyz fun Yankev, kumt, un lomir geyn in dem likht fun got. ----------------- tilim kof"gimel [Psalms 23] a mizmer fun Dovid|n. got iz mayn pastukh, mir vet nit feln. oyf grozike fiterpletser makht er mikh hoyern, bay ruike vasern tut er mikh firn. er derkvikt mayn zel; er firt mikh in rikhtike shtegn fun vegn zayn nomen. afile az ikh gey in tol fun toytshotn , hob ikh nit moyre far beyz, vorum du bist mit mir; dayn shtekn un dayn onlen, zey tuen mikh treystn. du greyt|st far mir a tish antkegn mayne faynt; host bazalbt mit eyl mayn kop, mayn kos loyft ariber. nor gut|s un genod veln mir nokhgeyn ale teg fun mayn lebn, un ikh vel zitsn in got|s hoyz oyf lange teg. ----------------- Koheles gimel:alef-zayin [Ecclesiastes 3:1-7] oyf alts iz do a sho, un a tsayt far itlekher zakh untern himl. a tsayt geborn tsu vern, un a tsayt tsu shtarbn; a tsayt tsu flantsn, un a tsayt oystsuraysn dos geflantste. a tsayt tsu hargen, un a tsayt tsu heyln; a tsayt tsu brekhn, un a tsayt tsu boyen. a tsayt tsu veynen, un a tsayt tsu lakhn; a tsayt tsu klogn, un a tsayt tsu tantsn; a tsayt avektsuvarfn shteyner, un a tsayt oyftsuklaybn shteyner; a tsayt tsu haldzn, un a tsayt zikh tsu dervaytern fun haldzn. a tsayt tsu zukhn, un a tsayt ontsuvern; a tsayt tsu hitn, un a tsayt avektsuvarfn. a tsayt tsu raysn, un a tsayt tsu neyen; a tsayt tsu shvaygn, un a tsayt tsu redn. a tsayt lib tsu hobn, un a tsayt faynt tsu hobn; a tsayt far milkhome, un a tsayt far sholem. -------------------- Rus alef:alef-yod"zayin [Ruth 1:1-13] un es iz geven in di teg vos di shoftem* hobn gehersht, iz geven a hunger in land. un a man iz gegangen fun beys-lekhem-Yude zikh oyftsuhaltn in feld fun moyev. er mit zayn vayb un zayne tsvey zin. un der nomen fun dem man iz geven Elimeylekh, un der nomen fun zayn vayb Nome, un der nomen fun zayne tsvey zin Makhlen un Kilyen -- Efros|er fun beys-lekhem-yude. un zey zaynen gekumen in feld fun moyev un zaynen dortn geven. iz geshtorbn Elimeylekh, Nome|s man, un zi iz ibergeblibn, mit ire tsvey zin. un zey hobn genumen moyev|er vayber: der nomen fun eyner iz geven Orpe un der nomen fun der tsveyter Rus. un zey zaynen dortn gezesn arum tsen yor. un zey beyde, Makhlen un Kilyen, zaynen geshtorbn, un di froy iz geblibn farelndt fun ire beyde kinder un ir man. un zi iz oyfgeshtanen mit ire shnir, un hot zikh umgekert fun feld fun moyev, vorum zi hot gehert in feld fun moyev az got hot gedakht on zayn folk, zey tsu gebn broyt. un zi iz aroys fun dem ort vos zi iz dortn geven, un ire beyde shnir mit ir, un zey zaynen gegangen in veg, kedey zikh umtsukern tsum land yude. hot Nome gezogt tsu ire beyde shnir: geyt kert aykh um itlekhe tsu ir muters hoyz. zol got ton mit aykh khesed azoy vi ir hot geton mit di geshtorbene un mit mir. zol aykh got gebn ir zolt gefinen menukhe itlekhe in hoyz fun ir man. un zi hot zey gekusht; un zey hobn oyfgehoybn zeyer kol un hobn geveynt. un zey hobn tsu ir gezogt: neyn, nayert mir veln mit dir zikh umkern tsu dayn folk. hot Nome gezogt: kert aykh um, tekhter mayne, tsu vos zolt ir geyn mit mir? hob ikh den nokh zin in mayn layb, az zey zoln aykh vern far manen? kert aykh um, tekhter mayne, geyt, vorum ikh bin tsu alt tsu hobn a man; lomikh shoyn zogn, ikh hob a hofenung, ikh zol nokh di nakht hobn a man, un zol oykh gebern zin, vet ir den oyf zey oyskukn biz zey veln groys vern? vet ir tsulib zey blaybn zitsn nit tsu nemen keyn man? neyn, tekhter mayne! vorum mir iz fil biterer fun aykh, vayl got|s hant iz oysgegangen oyf mir. hobn zey oyfgehoybn zeyer kol un hobn vider geveynt. un Orpe hot zikh tsekusht mit ir shviger, ober Rus hot zikh baheft on ir. hot zi gezogt: ze, dayn shvegern hot zikh umgekert tsu ir folk un tsu ir got; ker zikh um nokh dayn shvegern. hot Rus gezogt: zolst mikh nit betn dikh tsu farlozn, zikh umtsukern fun hinter dir, vorum vuhin du vest geyn, vel ikh geyn, un vu du vest nekhtikn, vel ikh nekhtikn; dayn folk iz mayn folk, un dayn got iz mayn got. vu du vest shtarbn, vel ikh shtarbn, un dortn vel ikh bagrobn vern. zol mir got ton azoy un nokh mer! nor der toyt vet fanandersheydn tsvishn mir un tsvishn dir. *ze shoftem beys, 16. -------------------- Yoyne alef:alef-tes"zayin [Jonah 1:1-16] un dos vort fun got iz geven tsu Yoyne dem zun fun Amitay|n, azoy tsu zogn: shtey oyf, gey tsu der groyser shtot ninveh, un ruf oys oyf ir, vorum zeyer shlekhtikayt iz oyfgegangen far mir. iz Yoyne oyfgeshtanen tsu antloyfn keyn tarshish fun far got, un er hot genidert keyn yofo, un hot gefunen a shif vos geyt keyn tarshish; hot er opgetsolt ir loyn, un hot genidert in ir, kedey tsu geyn mit zey keyn tarshish fun far got. hot got ongevorfn a groysn vint oyfn yam, un es iz gevorn a groyser shturem oyfn yam, un di shif hot gehaltn baym tsebrokhn vern. hobn di shiflayt zikh dershrokn, un zey hobn geshrien itlekher tsu zayn got, un zey hobn arayngevorfn di zakhn vos oyfn shif, in yam, kedey zikh laykhter tsu makhn. un Yoyne hot aropgenidert in vinkl shif, un hot zikh geleygt un iz ayngeshlofn. hot der eltster fun di shiflayt genent tsu im, un hot gezogt: vos iz mit dir, vos du shlofst? shtey oyf un ruf tsu dayn got, efsher vet zikh got badakhtn on undz, un mir veln nit untergeyn. un zey hobn gezogt eyner tsum andern: kumt lomir varfn goyrl, kedey mir zoln visn iber vemen dosdozike beyz is oyf undz. hobn zey gevorfn goyrl, un der goyrl iz gefaln oyf Yoyne|n. hobn zey tsu im gezogt: zog undz akorsht, du iber vemen dosdozike beyz iz oyf undz: vos iz dayn ton? un fun vanen kumstu? vos iz dayn land? un fun voser folk bistu? hot er tsu zey gezogt: a ivri bin ikh, hashem dem got fun di himlen tu ikh forkhtn, dem vos hot gemakht dem yam un di yaboshe. hobn di mentshn moyre gekrogn a groys moyre, un zey hobn tsu im gezogt: vos hostu do geton? vorum di mentshn hobn farshtanen az er antloyft fun got, az er hot dos zey gezogt. hobn zey tsu im gezogt: vos zoln mir ton mit dir, kedey der yam zol zikh aynshtiln far undz? vorum der yam iz gevorn alts shturemdiker. hot er tsu zey gezogt: heybt mikh oyf un varft mikh arayn in yam, un der yam vet zikh aynshtiln far aykh; vorum ikh veys az iber mir iz derdoziker groyser shturem oyf aykh. un di mentshn hobn gerudert zikh umtsukern tsu der yaboshe, ober zey hobn nit gekent, vorum der yam hot nokhanand geshturemt akegn zey. hobn zey gerufn tsu got, un hobn gezogt: mir betn dikh, got, lomir nit untergeyn far dem lebn fun demdozikn mentshn, un zolst nit brengen oyf undz umshuldik blut, vorum du got, azoy vi du bagerst tustu. un zey hobn oyfgehoybn Yoyne|n, un hobn im arayngevorfn in yam, un der yam hot zikh opgeshtelt fun zayn shturemen. un di mentshn hobn moyre gehat a groys moyre far got un zey hobn geshlakht a shlakhtopfer tsu got, un genumen oyf zikh nedorem. ----------------------- Yoyne gimel:alef-yod [Jonah 3:1-10] un dos vort fun got iz geven tsu Yoyne|n a tsveyt mol, azoy tsu zogn: shtey oyf, gey tsu der groyser shtot Ninveh, un ruf oys tsu ir di oysrufung vos ikh red tsu dir. iz Yoyne oyfgeshtanen, un er iz gegangen keyn Ninveh, azoy vi dos vort fun got; un Ninveh iz geven a gevaltik groyse shtot fun dray teg gang. un Yoyne hot ongehoybn arayngeyn in shtot eyn tog gang, un er hot oysgerufn un hot gezogt: nokh fertsik teg un Ninveh vert ibergekert. un di mentshn fun Ninveh hobn gegloybt in got, un zey hobn oysgerufn a fasttog, un hobn zikh ongeton in zak fun zeyer grestn biz zeyer klenstn. un di zakh hot dergreykht tsum meylekh fun Ninveh, un er iz oyfgeshtanen fun zayn tron, un hot oysgeton zayn mantl fun zikh, un hot zikh tsugedekt mit zak, un zikh gezetst oyf ash. un er hot gelozt oysrufn un ongezogt in Ninveh oyf dem bafel fun dem meylekh un zayne groyse layt, azoy tsu zogn: keyn mentsh un keyn beheyme, rinder oder shof, zol nit farzukhn dos mindste; nit zey zoln zikh fitern, un nit zey zoln trinken vaser. mentshn un beheymes zoln zayn tsugedekt mit zak; un me zol rufn tsu got mit shtarkayt, un me zol zikh umkern itlekher fun zayn shlekhtn veg, un fun dem umrekht vos in zeyere hent. ver veys, efsher vider vet got kharote hobn, un zikh opkern fun zayn grimtsorn, un mir veln nit untergeyn. hot got gezen zeyere maysem, az zey hobn zikh umgekert fun zeyer shlekhtn veg, un got hot kharote gehat oyf dem beyz vos er hot geredt zey tsu ton, un er hot es nit geton. ______________________________________________________ End of _The Mendele Review_ 02.020 Leonard Prager, editor Subscribers to _Mendele_ automatically receive _The Mendele Review_. Archived (*.zip) versions of _The Mendele Review_ are to be found at: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele/tmrarc.htm _The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language (A Companion to _MENDELE_) ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 02.021 13 July 1998 70th anniversary of the first publication of Alter Kacyzne's "Der shidekh in partshev" 1) Yiddish Matters: From the Editor (Leonard Prager) 2) "Der shidekh in partshev" ['Matchmaking in Parczew'] (Alter Kacyzne) 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 13 July 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: Yiddish Matters In this issue: Introducing "The shidekh in parshev". In coming issues: a double issue on the alefbeys in memory of the great Jewish alphabet scholar Eliyohu Lipiner who died this past April Introducing "The shidekh in partshev" _The Mendele Review_ reproduces an unusual, indeed striking, story by the martyred Polish-Yiddish writer Alter Kacyzne (1885-1941), one first printed seventy years ago to this day (13 July 1928).ÿ We can be certain that the readers of Warsaw's lively literary journal _Literarisher bleter_ were not indifferent -- some may even have been shocked -- to find in no. 28 (pp. 545-548) not only an explicitly erotic story, but one with a lesbian theme.ÿ If some were shocked it was because Yiddish literature of that day was reticent in treating sexual matters, and generally did so fragmentarily or obliquely.ÿ We can also assume that many readers were not fazed, it being part of the "program" of modern Yiddish letters in the 1920s and 1930s to claim all subjects for its own.ÿ In "Der shidekh in partshev" we have the stretching of the bounds of Yiddish storytelling to encompass a facet of human experience which, at the time, required of an author a certain imaginative power. The author, a professional photographer whose camera has brilliantly captured the contours of Polish Jewish life between the two world wars, does more than aim his camera in the story presented here.ÿ Alter Kacyzne is the author of _Dukus_, one of the most successful plays of the Yiddish stage.ÿ His dramatic skills come to play in "Der shidekh in partshev," but he does not choose to be the objective author who activates his characters while remaining neutral himself.ÿ "Der shidekh in partshev" centers on a marriage match which is described as a gross, repulsive commercial transaction, yet one which is sought by the homely bride and her parents.ÿ Complicating this horrid domestic scene is a Jewish Cinderella, a beautiful orphan girl who earns her bread and keep by sewing buttonholes in her uncle's living room/workshop, her beauty a threat to the efforts of aunt and uncle to marry off their own daughter. Poverty, rustic crudity, lack of manners and of elementary refinement of feeling define the world of this (aborted) marriage match. The subtitle in the _Yidishe kultur_ version (vol. 53 [May/June 1991], pp. 29-32, 34-38) is "provintser skitsn" 'provincial tales', as though to "explain" some of the story's crudity as implicit in its locale. However, the author from the outset pleads that we discount the story's crudity generally in favor of the unexpected beauty which unfolds, a strange beauty which he refuses to dissect. Consider the opening and closing of the story:ÿ "oyf der provints iz azoy vi baym antikvar oyfn boydem. eyns in dem andern iz arayngevaksn. in dem iz der kheyn" ('The provinces are like the antique-dealer's attic.ÿ Everything is intertwined.ÿ That is their charm.')ÿ And in the closing lines we learn that despite an oppressive, rancid atmosphere which is likened to the odor of a dead animal's flayed skin ("vi di opgeshundene fel fun a neveyle"), the central character Rokhele, transported by the experience of being adored and desired, is oblivious of her surroundings.ÿ And the author, who has proved more than a recorder of scene, concludes:ÿ "... oyfn provints iz azoy vi baym antikvar oyfn boydem...."ÿ ('Provincial towns are just like an antique dealer's attic....')ÿ The "shiml" ('mold') is inextricable from the beauty, which in turn is inexplicable:ÿ "nisht di farkishefte blumen fun uraltn lesbos hobn geefnt zeyere bekhers tsu der oysterlisher misterye." ('it was not the bewitched flowers of ancient Lesbos which opened their chalices to the strange mystery'). Alter Kacyzne's daughter, Shulamis Reale Kacyzne of Rome, who for years has been energetically promoting the publication and study of her father's works, recommended that _The Mendele Review_ publish "The shidekh in partshev," which she described as "erotic but delicately executed."ÿ I think her judgement is just, yet I am not sure that the reader of the English translation will respond similarly (see Joseph C. Landis "A Betrothal in Partshev," in _Midstream_ [April 1981, pp. 17-21].ÿ I invite readers' comments on this question.ÿ Shulamis Reale Kacyzne also insisted that we use the _Literarishe bleter_ version (despite its several misprints) of the story and I would like to see a comparision of this version with others, including that which appeared in _Yidishe kultur_.ÿ Hopefully in some future edition of the _TMR_ we may publish readers' responses to this story.ÿ We definitely plan to publish this year a chapter from Kaczyne's celebrated novel, _Shtarke un shvakhe_. 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date:ÿ 13 July 1998 From:ÿ Lucas Bruyn Subject:ÿ der shidekh in partshev (alter katsizne) ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ der shidekh in partshev(1) ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ fun ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ alter katsizne z' 545 (a) oyf der provints iz azoy vi baym antikvar oyfn boydem. pruvt nisht opteylen dos sheyns fun dem shiml. eyns in dem andern iz arayngevaksn. in dem iz der kheyn. in kleynem alkern zitst Rokhl|e a farbiterte un kneytsht in di finger dos koronkenen-shirtsl -- dem gantsn shabes irn. zi kon nisht poyeln bay zikh aroystsugeyn fun danen in der groyser shtub, vu indervokhn [in der vokhn] iz dem feters varshtat un shabes -- dos es-tsimer. dort zitsn itst di gest, di mekhutonem tsuzamen mitn feter berl un di mume shprintste, knakn erets-yisroel-nislekh un redn vegn di por hundert kerblekh nadn, velkhe der feter halt nokh dervayl shtark farkvetsht. der khosn hot ongekukt di grine skhoyre, vos men hot im ongebotn -- dem feters yungere tokhter gnendl, un arayngeredt tsu zayn tatn -- dem mekhutn -- in horikn oyer arayn: -- sh'koshe, tate! der yid mog moysef zayn a hunderter! un baym feter berl tsit zikh es vi fun pekh. er tsebrekht a nisl gants gelasn un gants umgelumpert, forzikhtik trogt er tsu dem yoder tsum moyl un oyf zayn ledernem akshones|dikn kark iz ongeshribn mit gekestlte kneytshelekh: -- hobn zikh ongezetst oyf mir, sibirnikes:ÿ gib un gib! fun van zol ikh nemen? fun finger oysbrekhn -- vos? vorum khuts dem, vos feter berl iz a kamtsn, veyst zi, Rokhl|e, az er hot take nisht keyn iberikn drayer. un nisht eyn mol hot zikh ir in halz [haldz] geshtelt dos bisn broyt, vos zi est baym feter, khotsh zi arbet bay im in varshtat, baneyt lekhlekh. emes, fun finger vet er take nisht oysbrekhn. er vet dokh ober nisht lozn zayn gnendlen farzesn vern. genug hot er zikh ongelitn fun zayn elterer tokhter, blimele, vos iz, nebekh, arayn in di yorn un koym far a metsie gepakt a yadeshlivn [astmetishn] almen a kolektor fun loterey-tsetlekh. hostu gehert a parnose:ÿ loterey-tsetlekh? a kerbl aroyf, a kerbl arop, abi nor men hot araynbakumen dem bokher in shtub arayn un dertsu nokh, vi men shmuest, a bokher a fardiner! un gnendl darf take, nebekh, a khosn -- az eyn got zol zikh derbaremen. zi veyst, nishkoshe, aleyn, az zi iz a grine, a tsekrokhene, mit untergehakte oygn un shitere tseyn. un az zi kukt zikh nor on in shpigl -- vert zi a fartsiterte:ÿ ver vet zikh den kvapen oyf azoyne? brent take oyf ir di hoyt, fun mogern layb irn shlogt a shtendike hits. Rokhl|e iz amol mit ir geshlofn, iz zi aroysgeshprungen fun bet, vi fun a bak-oyvn. nishkoshe! aza gnendl vet nisht farzesn vern; zi vet khapn a khosn ibergevalt [iber gvald]. in mitn mark vet zi zikh z' 545 (b) aynbaysn in im mit di negl un nisht oplozn. un dem feters farkvetshte por hunderter, azelkhe farkvetshte, az zey veynen azh -- zey veln shoyn, mit mazl, unterfirn tsu der khupe. biter iz, nebekh, ir, Rokhl|en der yesoyme, vos darf zikh oyfhaltn oyf dem kargn feters laskes un zayn an iberik moyl tsum tish! vos vet shoyn do helfn der gantser onzen irer, di shlanke figur, di shvere tsep un akhtsn bliyendike yor oyf ire akslen, az zi meg zikh rikhtn oyf blimeles marokhe -- farzesn tsu vern. vorum ver vet den nemen a yesoyme vi zi shteyt un geyt, on a groshn nadn? Rokhl|e hot haynt a toplt farshtertn shabes. loy day vos es paynikn zi di makhshoves, az zi iz farmishpet farzesn tsu vern, darf zi nokh shtikn zikh in alkerl, vi a farmishpete in der tfise! emes, di mume shprintse hot zikh shoyn a por mol durkhgeslaykht durkhn finstern koridor, vos iz itst, lekoved shabes, eng farshtelt mit ale vokhedike bebekhes fun varshtat un oyslodndik ir harts oyf der mesukn|diker engshaft, hot zi shoyn a por mol geefnt di tir tsu Rokhl|e in alkerl arayn: -- vos zitstu epes, rokh|tshe, vi a shif mit zoyermilkh volt dir untergeyn? kum arayn in shtub, vestu dikh unterlenen dos harts. ober in ire reyd, in ire oysgebleykhte oygn, in ire tsuzamengetsoygene gedikhte bremen, vos hobn dem oyszen fun a por finstere vontses, hot Rokhl|e gehert un gezen eyn dershrokene bakoshe :ÿ vest dokh mikh nisht umgliklekh makhn, meydl! vorum vu vel ikh zikh ahintun mit mayn skhoyre, ven du vest zikh bavayzn far di mekhutonem? un az Rokhl|e hot der mumen nisht geentfert, hot yene fest tsugemakht di tir, brumendik fun yener zayt: -- az men hodevet a soyne in shtub! hot zikh in Rokhl|en oyfgehoybn a protest -- a harter knoyl aza, vos hot tsugeshlogn frier tsum hartsn, az es hot ongehoybn shtark tsu klapn un nakhher tsum halz [haldz], az dos blut iz ir tsugefaln tsum ponem. -- avade azoy! avade bin ikh nisht ayer glaykhn! es past mir takish nisht tsu zetsn zikh bay eyn tish mit di ferdhendler, katsovem un veyst zey dort der guter yor -- di mekhutonem ayere! ikh bin Rokhl|e, bin ikh! un az yo azoy, vel ikh mir takish aroysgeyn abisl shpatsirn, vel ikh mir! un zoln zey mir nokhkukn, di mekhutonem ayere! mayn eysek! ikh hob zey in drerd! mitn farroykhertn shpigl, vos iz aropgehongen krum, shier nisht fun untern sufit, hot Rokhl|e gelebt besholem. zey flegn zikh eyne di andere lib hobn tsu zogn z' 546 (a). shtile komplimentn. ven zi hot zikh oyfgeshtelt in ir fuln shlankn vuks -- a boygevdik yung beyml, un tsum shpigl aroyfgesmeykhlt, iz zayn farroykhert ponem azh likhtiker gevorn un er hot ir frayntlekh geeytset, vi zi zol ontun oyf di aksl dem blas-rozn vlutshkenem shal, un vi zi zol iber im di mate shvartse tsep farvarfn, vi azoy zi zol oysglaykhn un oysgletn ir tsekneytshtn koronkenem shirtsl. zi hot im alts gefolgt un geblibn mit zikh tsufridn. -- vorum -- a krenk zoln zey zen, az zi, Rokhl|e, iz bay zikh aropgefaln. zi vet durkhgeyn dem es-tsimer mit an oyfgehoybenem kop. punkt vi bay der mumen, hobn zikh bay ir itst tsuzamengetsoygn di gedikhte bremen, ober oyf ir ponem fun "blut-un-milkh" hobn di shvartse bremen gehat dem zibetn kheyn. zi hot zikh a kleyn bisele ongebisn di groblekhe lipn, khotsh zey zenen azoy oykh geven frish genug, gemakht a basheydene mine fun geroydeftn umshuld un gelozt zikh shvebn vi a pave durkhn koridor un durkhn es-zimer mit dem eyntsikn gedank: -- ikh bin mir Rokhl|e, ikh hob aykh in drerd. zi hot durkhgeshvebt farbay dem langn tish mit di gest -- di mekhutonem un, vayzt oys, men hot zi bamerkt. oho, nokh vi bamerkt! der tumldiker shmues hot zikh ibergehakt, s'iz gevorn sha-shtil oyf a vayle. ot di shtilkayt hot zi nokhbagleyt biz tsu der firhoyz mit der glezener tir oyf der gas. ober Rokhl|e hot zikh oyf keynem nisht umgekukt un keynem nisht gezen. oyfn ganik hot zi zikh ongeshtoysn oyf gnendlen di kale. yene iz geven azoy fareysekt, az afile di grinkayt iz fun ir ponem farshvundn un oyf di bakn hot aroysgezetst a blas-rozer kale-kheyn. unter der fatsheyle hobn bay ir temp geklungen eyne on di andere etlekhe flashn bir, velkhe zi hot aroysbakumen bay note-bern durkh der hintertir. un zey itst opgehit in farborgenish fun di shomre-shabes oygn, take nor tsulib ir kale-shtand hot note-ber gebrokhn dem printsip: shabes afile oyf borg nisht aroystsugebn. iz gnendl di kale itst geven farrisn bay zikh, mit der hant nisht tsu derlangen. Rokhl|en hot di kale azoy gut vi nisht bamerkt, oder gemakht zikh nisht bamerkn. shoyn hintn arum hot zi ir tsugevorfn a blik fun frayndlekher farakhtung un kimat mit fargenign a freg getun: -- vos epes avekgeyn in mitn drinen? ober Rokhl|e hot shoyn shtolts geshpant in ir rozn shal un glantsike letshlekh ibern leydikn mark un s'iz nisht geven ver es zol ir kheyn bavundern:ÿ ibern leydikn mark hot zikh nor arumgedreyt a hon mit etlekhe hiner. di kromen arum hobn geshlofn mit tsugemakhte oygn zeyer shabes|dikn shlof. oyfn shosey unter di boymer hot Rokhl|e getrofn ire khaver|tes un arumshpatsirt mit zey a rekhte por shoen. mitn nayem shidekh hot shoyn geklungen dos shtetl z' 546 (b) un di khavertes zenen geven naygerik tsu zen khosn-kale oyf zeyer ershtn shpatsir. oykh Rokhl|e hot gevart oyf gnendlen mit ir khosn, ober bloyz kedey tsu bavayzn, az zi kukt zikh afile nisht um oyf zey, az zey geyen ir nisht on.... zi iz Rokhl|e. zi geyt zikh shpatsirn mit ire khaver|tes. ober oyfn shosey, vu kimat dos gantse shtetl yungvarg hobn oysgeshotn, hot zikh der nayer ziveg nisht bavizn. ven Rokhl|e iz tsurikgekumen a heym, hot zi getrofn in shtub a gantse iberkerenish. fun di mansbiln iz keyner nisht geven; avade avek in besmedresh hern dem maged. ober in dem tunkeler nokh-minkhe-shtilkayt fun der groyser shabes|diker shtub zenen gezesn tsvey vayber:ÿ di mume shprintse un di mekhutenes|te -- beyde mit farleygte hent, beyde ongedrolene un gekukt -- yede in an andern fenster aroys. di kale gnendlen hot Rokhl|e gefunen in alkerl, take oyf irs, oyf Rokhl|es bet, ayngenuret mitn kop in kishn. di kale hot geveynt. un az Rokhl|e hot zi forzikhtik ongerirt farn aksl, hot di kale zi opgeshtoysn mitn shtekhikn elboygn un mit aza hast un sine, vi zi volt dem moment oysgekukt mi yedeye vi lang. -- avek fun mir! hot es Rokhl|en fardrikt baym hartsn. staytsh! farvos kumt es ir tsu paynikn? iz zi den nisht avek fun shtub, kedey zikh tsufil nisht varfn in di oygn? oy, a bitere yesoyme! a bitere yesoyme! mitn barankenem [sic; read:ÿ koronkenem] shirtsl bay di oygn iz zi arayngelofn tsu der shkheyne hintern shpanishn ventl, tsu Malke-Tirtse|n, dervisn zikh vos iz do azoyns geshen. un Malke-Tirtse di milkhikern, vos hot zikh ongeshtekt fun ire beheymes say mit a zoyern milkhikn reyekh, say mit a zoyerer kiyesher shtim, hot Rokhl|en bay der eydeler hant azh in shtal arayn avekgefirt un dos tirl farklapt. un vi vayt meglekh shtil, arayngetrubet der yesoyme in oyer di gantse gesheenish. taki zi, Rokhl|e, hot in dem a kheylek. zi iz kholile nisht shuldik, es hot zikh gemakht azoy:ÿ di mekhutonem hobn gevorfn oyf ir an oyg, beys zi iz durkgegangen durkhn es-shtub. -- ver iz di moyd? -- fregt der horiker mekhutn. -- ot a yesoyme nebekh -- entfert feter berl mit a krekhts -- a shvestern-tokhter irs, der yidenes mayner. makht der mekhutn: -- a moyd -- vi a tsimes! makht di mekhuteneste: -- tfu, tfu! keyn beyz oyg zol ir nisht shatn! a parshoyn! platst es plutslung aroys bay dem khosn: -- veyst, tate! bay der shvester-tokhter volt ikh shoyn ayngegangen oyf glaykhe tsvey hunderter. --emes, der khosn hot gekhapt fun zayn horikn tatn a bitern psak. -- du poyer du! du burile eyner! vos far a statik, vos? ober der khosn hot zikh itst ayngeshpart:ÿ oyb gnendl, to zol der tate irer moysef zayn z' 547 (a) nokh kan kerblekh.... hengt der gantser shidekh oyf a hor. itst filt zikh Rokhl|e baloynt far der gantser opkumenish irer. es tsegeyt ir mamesh dos harts oyf der kale gnendl, dos fremde grobe mentshn fargisn ir, nebekh, azoy dos blut. oyf dem yungnman dem khosn iz zi eysh-lehove, zi volt im mit di eydele hent di oygn mamesh oysgedrapet. -- aza ferd-yung! aza mark-hendler! tsu ir, tsu Rokhl|en vil er zikh gor shidekhnen! hostu gehert! getrofn dos ort! in shtub hot zi zikh farrukt in a vinkele un iz opgezesn dem ovnt -- shtil vi a toyb. men hot fun Rokhl|en keyn pips nisht gehert, khotsh dos harts hot ir gepishtshet fun rakhmones, fun nitsokhn-gefil un fun kaas oyf di mekhutonem, vos hobn nokh havdole oyfgebletert zeyer tumldikn shmues vider fun alef-beys. der feter berl hot gemakht kaykelekh fun broyt, mit a mider tempkayt ongekukt di mekhutonem, vi a hunt, vos men halt im tsum vinkl tsugeshpart. ober zayn akshonesdiker lederner kark untern kapl hot geredt klore diburem: -- kan kerblekh.... sibirnikes! vu zol ikh zey nemen, vu? fun finger oysbrekhn? es hot zikh ongerukt di shpete nakht mit a tumldiker engshaft in shtub. dos dingenish iz geblibn shtekn oyf a toytn punkt. ober di mekhutonem hobn gezolt farblaybn bizn montogdikn yarid, tomer vet zikh epes makhn mitn glaykhn gelt un men vet zikh oysshlogn di hoytsoes-haderekh. say-vi-say iz men gekumen mit ferd un vogn azh fun hinter lomzshe. der feter berl hot zey aleyn tsugeredt tsu farblaybn. aderabe! in di por teg kon zikh alts iberdreyen tsum gutn. dem feters mishpokhe mit di mekhutonem hobn zikh vi es iz ayngeteylt mit di gelegers in der groyser shtub un in der shkheynisher. gnendl hot opgetrotn ir bet farn khosn un aleyn iz zi gegangen shlofn tsu Rokhl|en, in alkerl.ÿ Rokhl|e hot di farvoglte kale gern arayngenumen in ir shmoln betl, khotsh zi iz nisht gevoynt geven tsu shlofn zalbenand. zi hot zikh take bald opgekert mitn ponem tsu der vant. vi groys iz nisht geven ir rakhmones oyf gnendlen, hot zi ober nisht gekont tsuhern yeners shtiln khlipen in kishn arayn, nisht gekont kaltblutik aribertrogn gnendls tsukn mit di shpitsike akslen. fun di ale treyst-verter, vos zi hot gehat far gnendlen tsugegreyt, iz gornisht ibergeblibn. zi hot nisht gehat vos ir tsu zogn. zi hot gefilt tsu der kale rakhmones un farakhtung. un zi iz ayngeshlofn mit a shver, klepik gefil, vos hot ir bagleyt in kholem arayn. hot zikh Rokhl|e take oyfgekhapt mit a tsiter, fun a shlekhte kholem. epes iz zi gelegn ayngeshmidt in an enger, ongegliter trune un iber ire nakete fis hot arumshpatsirt a groyser shtshur. mit breyt-oyfgerisene oygn iz Rokhl|e gelegn un nisht gevagt zikh a rir tsu tun biz der kholem vet zikh ingantsn nisht oysvebn. zi iz gelegn in engshaft tsu der vant tsugerikt, vi far der tsayt, vos zi iz geshlofn volt ir shkheyne fun z' 547 (b) bet, di kale gnendl, gevorn nokh amol azoy breyt. fun gnendls layb hot geshlogn a sharfe hits. di kale hot rashik-shver geetemt un gehaltn in eyn tsitern mit a drobnem tsiter. un ot filt Rokhl|e vider vi iber ire nakete fis, hekher far di kni volt zikh arumgeshart a faykhter opgekrokhener shtshur. mit an ekl, vos iz shtarker vi shrek hot Rokhl|e a shlayder getun di hant ire oyf yenem ort, vu der shtshur hot zikh geshart un ongekhapt.... a tsveyte hant, a horike mit harte, grobe finger. oyf a rege iz ir hant geblibn in toyt-khaloshes tsvishn di grobe harte finger ayngeklamert. in der tsveyter rege hot zikh ober Rokhl|e a rir getun fun ort un di hant iz antlofn. Rokhl|e hot in shrek farkvetsht di oygn un moyre gehat zey tsu efenen, khotsh in alker iz geven shtark-finster. zi iz halb gezesn mitn ponem tsu der vant, mit a fartayetn otem un bloyz gehert ir eygenem harts-klapn. oykh di kale hot nisht geetemt un oykh di harte hant, vos hot zikh fartayet ergets noent. enlekh [sic; read:ÿ endlekh] hot dos bet an ayzernem kvitsh getun un fun tsufusns hot zikh opgeteylt a shvere mase. s'iz plutsling gevorn gramer. Rokhl|e hot gehert borvese trit. zi hot gehert di tir a skripe tun, in engn koridor iz epes umgefaln fun di hiltserne bebekhes un s'iz gevorn shtil. itst hot Rokhl|e vider gehert hart hinter zikh gnendls farshtiktn khlipen in kishn arayn. zi hot moyre gehat oystsushrayen a vort. epes hot zi zikh nebldik ongeshtoysn ver do iz geven un zi hot zikh geshemt un es hot zikh geeklt. ober shvaygn hot zi oykh nisht gekont. s'volt dokh oysgekumen, az zi veyst epes un zi farborgt es, az zi iz a shutef|te tsu dem, vos hot aroysgerufn gnendls frish geveyn in kishn arayn. -- gnendl! vos veynstu, gnendl? nor di kale iz zikh fargangen in a shipen un a pishtshen. -- zi fregt nokh! ho-ho-ho! zi fregt nokh! gemeynt:ÿ er iz gekumen azoy abisl, shvayg ikh. ersht:ÿ er zukht gor ire fis! er krikht gor tsu ire fis! tsu der sheyner Rokhl|e! tsu der kosher|er neshome|le! un in tsinisher eyferzukht nemt di kale kopen Rokhl|en in di fis. -- na! na! ot hostu dir! ot hostu! Rokhl|e hot zikh ayngekortshet un shtil geveynt. epes iz ir in der rege geven klor, az zi iz take di shuldike, vayl zi hot kheyn in dem khosn|s oygn un zi iz vert, men zol zi kopen iber di sheyne fis. un s'iz ir shoyn mer nikhe geven der itstiker veytik, eyder dos eklhafte poyzen fun yenems harter hant. eyns hot zi in ir hartsn bashlosn:ÿ zi vet zikh betn tsu a khaver|te nekhtikn un nisht araynshmekn tsu der mumen azoy lang, vi di bande mekhutonem iz do hinen. Rokhl|e mit gnendlen hobn zikh shtil oysgeveynt, oysgezidlt yederer far zikh un ayngeshlofn mit a sine in z' 548 (a) hartsn eyne tsu der anderer un mit di layber bahoftn in dem engn ayzernem bet. fartog hot Rokhl|en vider oysgeshtoysn fun shlof a shrek un ekl-gefil. zi hot langzam oysgedreyt dem kop tsum gnendlen. fun gnendls layb hot geshlogn a hits -- farbrent tsu vern. zi hot ober geetemt tif un ruik, zi iz geshlofn. in alker iz zikher keyner nisht geven. ober Rokhl|en iz geven moyredik eng. zi hot gefilt, vi tsvey heyse shlangen voltn zikh arumgeviklt eyne arum ire fis, di tsveyte unter der brust, oyfn naketn layb. dos hot zi gnendl azoy in shlof arumgeklamert un vi Rokhl|e hot zikh nisht bamit oystsudreyen, iz zi alts geblibn in yeners heyse nakete orems. gnendl, du shlofst? es iz mir eng, ikh ver dershtikt.... ober gnendl hot ruik un tif geetemt. un ven Rokhl|e hot zikh tsurik opgekert tsu der vant un shoyn gehaltn in dremlen, hot zi plutsling derfilt a forzikhtikn kush oyfn naketn aksl. dos hot zi gnendl gekusht. der yarid in shtetl hot zikh ongehoybn in frien frimorgn un do hobn ersht di khevre mekhutonem aroysgevizn, vos far a maydems in handl zey zenen. yede halbe sho hot emetser fun zey gebrakht tsu shlepn an andere metsie un zi opgeleygt in mitn fun der groyser shtub. feter berl mit zayn varshtat mit di por gezeln un mit di meydlekh tsu-hilf hot shoyn opgerikht goles in a vinkl fun tsimer farshtupt. un in mitn der shtub is geshtanen a shtoys fun hiltserne emers un veykshafn un kindershe vegelekh, vos di mekhutonem hobn alts ongekoyft -- a gantse krom. dos roye gehilts hot fayn-zoyerlekh geshmekt un geblankt mit naketkayt. ober ot hot zikh arayngelozt di mekhutenes|te mit a goy in laptshes un der goy hot geshlept oyfn hoyker fun zayn peltsl a gantsn barg mit krents fun getriknte shvomen. iz plutsling di gantse shtub ful gevorn mit a reyekh fun neveyle. der khosn aleyn mit a durkhgeshvitst hitl iber di oyern hot gebrengt tsushlepn a mekendik gebundn kelbl oyfn kark un zi oykh opgeleygt in mitn tsimer. biz farnakht iz in shtub shoyn a halber yarid. es hot zikh aroysgevizn, az forn vet men ersht kenen morgn baginen, vayl fun ale glikn hot men fargesn ibertsushmidn dos ferd, vos hot zikh davke geneytikt in a por naye podkeves. berl hot gekukt oyf di mekhutonem mit kaas un derkherets. i der kaas i der derkherets hobn beyde geshtamt fun zayn balmelokhe|sher batlones, vayl im hot zikh gedukht, az di mekhutonem veysn di kunst fun fardinen dem laykhtn kerbl. to vos-zhe matern zey im? vos-zhe viln zey fun im di domem oyspresn? s'iz a kleynikayt tsu zogn:ÿ tsvey hundert kerblekh oystsuhoreven mit der nodl! hot take feter berl dem geshprekh vegn nadn nisht banayt, khotsh der shidekh hot im shoyn itst geshmekt zeyer un zeyer. di mekhutonem hobn oykh ongenumen a moyl mit vaser un der gantser inyen hot gehaltn baym vern tsu-nisht. gnendl, nokh ongetun in halb-shabesdikn, ober a grine, z' 548 (b) mit untergeshlogene oygn un a far|khalesht|n grekl oyf der zayt, iz gezesn, khotsh gis vaser unter ir, nisht oyfgehoybn di oygn, nisht oyfn khosn, nisht oyf Rokhl|en. in ovnt hot Rokhl|e zikh geklibn avektsugeyn tsu a khaverte nekhtikn. zi iz arayn in alkerl epes mitnemen, ober glaykh nokh ir iz arayngelofn gnendl un farkeytlt di tir. geyst take avek, Rokhl|e? du vilst nisht shlofn mit mir? Rokhl|e hot ongeblozn di grobe liplekh: avade vil ikh nisht. az du kopest zikh ... ober di fartsveyflte kale iz ir gefaln oyfn halz [haldz]. oy, zol ikh shtarbn! zoln mir di fis opdarn, Rokhl|e! ikh bin geven meshuge. ale geyen avek, ale varfn mikh avek! tsu vos leb ikh nor oyf der velt -- aza farzeenish! Rokhl|e hot zikh ibergenumen mit rakhmones tsu ir. zi hot ir geglet di far|khalesh|te hor un gevisht di trern fun di oygn, un gnendl hot zi gehaltn shtayf un heys arumgenumen. neyn -- hot zikh Rokhl|e getrakht -- gnendl iz gornisht keyn farzeenish. zi iz mer nisht oysgedart un oysgemutshet fun gedank, az zi kon farzesn vern. zi hot afile a modnem kheyn. nor di tseyn zenen bay ir shitere. zi hot gnendlen gevolt nokh epes zogn, ober zi hot keyn harts nisht gehat un zi hot zikh geshemt. bay der nakht, eyder di meydlekh zenen gegangen shlofn, hobn zey loyt a shtiln opmakh ongeleygt kotsheres mit lopetes in koridor, az oyb der khosn vet zikh dervegn tsu kumen, zol er frier tsebrekhn di hent mit di fis. di tir hobn zey farkeytlt un tsugerukt dem hoykhn kufert. dan ersht hobn zey zikh geleygt shlofn. ober keyn ruike nakht iz Rokhl|en nisht bashert geven. glaykh vi in di iberike tsimern hot zikh ayngeshtelt di shvere, khropendike ru, hot zikh far Rokhl|en ongehoybn iberkhazern der nekhtiker gehenem. ir hot shoyn shtark fardrosn, farvos zi hot nokhgegebn un geblibn shlofn mit gnendlen. dos bet iz take far tsveyen tsu-eng, ober ven gnendl zol nisht hobn aza umruikn shlof.... zi hot shoyn Rokhl|en ingantsn tsu der vant tsugedrikt un mit ir heysn, darn layb iz zi, dukht zikh, greyt in ir zikh arayntsudrikn. -- gnendl! gnendl! -- vos? -- bist aza heyse! -- un du -- aza kalte.... un Rokhl|e filt, vi trukene, heyse lipn drikn zikh tsu tsu ir aksl, frier forzikhtik, b|gneyve, nakhher alts shtarker, azes|diker. un ot iz shoyn vider ir layb in der makht fun tsvey brenendike shlangen, azoy vi nekhtn. gnendl klamert zi arum mit der hant un mitn fus. -- gnendl, herst, gnendl! az du vest mikh nisht lozn z' 549 (a) tsuru, vell ikh geyn oyfvekn di mumen. vestu hobn a finstern sof! oyf a vayle vert zi bafrayt un zi filt, vi gnendl ligt opgerukt in shtumer tsiternish. ober abisl shpeter muz shoyn Rokhl|e oyfshpringen fun bet. -- vos geystu tun, Rokhl|e? -- es eklt mikh, farshteyst? es eklt! Rokhl|e filt, vi dos blut hot ir tsugeshlogn tsum ponem far bushe. di luft iz ongelodn mit dem neveyle-reyekh fun dem shtoys getriknte shvomen dort in der groyser shtub. ober Rokhl|en dukht zikh, az der reyekh zetst fun bet, vu zi iz gelegn mit gnendlen, az dos shlogt aza heslekher reyekh fun gnendls brenendik layb un vilder laydnshaft. zi hot aylik ongetsundn dem lomp un genumen zikh arumdreyen ibern alkerl in ir kurts hemdl un mit beyde hent arumgenumen zikh aleyn. zi hot gevolt oysmaydn zikh umtsukukn oyfn bet. es hot zi geshrokn un geeklt. es hot ober oykh getsoygn zikh umtsukukn. un az zi hot derzen gnendlen zitsn oyfn bet vi a shikere, mit an ofn moyl un ayngefalene oygn un ot di ayngefalene oygn mit di zis-veynendike akshones ayngebisn in ir, Rokhl|s naketkayt, hot zi zikh farshemt oyfn gantsn layb un zikh ayngekortshet. gnendl hot geshtamlt: -- farshteystu khotsh, Rokhl|e, farshteystu khotsh? Rokhl|e hot ayngetsoygn ire runde aksel. es hot geshrokn un geeklt un ibldik gekitslt fun gnendls blik un verter, ober farshtanen hot zi gor veynik. un gnendl hot geredt mit a farhaktn otem: -- kh'hob dikh faynt gehat, Rokhl|e! azoy faynt gehat nekhtn, az ikh bin greyt geven tsu dervargn dikh mit mayne hent.... got mayner! farvos klepn dos ale tsu dir? farvos hobn zey dikh lib? afile eltere layt.... der mekhutn, di mekhutenes|te. meynst kh'hob nisht gehert? meynst ikh hob keyn seykhl nisht?.... az ikh bin ober blind geven.... kh'hob nisht farshtanen. nisht gezen, Rokhl|e, vi sheyn du bist. nisht gevust:ÿ vos iz sheynkayt. antloyf nisht, Rokhl|e! trayb mikh nisht avek. neyn, gey nisht, gey nisht vekn di mame! az ikh hob dokh dikh lib. az ikh vil dokh.... ikh vil dokh far dir koyrem faln.... un in kleynem alkerl iz epes geshen azoyns, vos hot nisht geshtimt, nisht mit der oremer engshaft un nisht mit dem knapn shayn fun dem farroykhertn naft-lomp: Rokhl|e iz tkhiles aroyfgeshprungen oyfn hoykhn kufert, in shrek far gnendls koyrem faln. plutsling iz in ir opgefaln di shrek, iz zi geblibn zitsn oyfn kufert, di fis farvorfn eyner oyf der anderer, in zeyer fuler, vayser naketkayt un di hent oyf der brust farleygt, geblibn zitsn a shvaygndik-ruike, a mayestetishe [text:ÿ mayestetite] un a shtrenge, vi a vayse marmorne figur. un gnendl hot zikh tsu ir tsugeshart oyf di kni, arumgenumen ire fis, zikh z' 549 (b) gedrikt tsu zey mit ire heyse, oyfgeregte brustn un bagosn zey mit trern. -- vi a sheyne du bist, Rokhl|e! vi a kalte du bist! hot zi gekhlipet. un Rokhl|e hot aropgekukt fun oybn arop oyf der farpaynikter elterer meydl, vos hot farblondzhet in di derner fun ir eygener laydnshaft un Rokhl|es harts hot zikh nisht opgerufn. ir shrek hot zikh oysgevebt. un dos gefil fun rakhmones un ekl, vos hobn zikh alts shvakher gehoydet in hartsn, zenen oykh langzam tserunen gevorn, vi der roykh fun a papiros. ir harts hot itst langzam ongefilt eyn zis gefil fun shtolts un fun oybermakht, fun bavustzayn fun ir eygener sheynkayt, un vos art es ir, vos a froy knit far ir vi far a heylik bild un badekt mit heyse, kimat baysndike kushn ir kalt layb? zi bavilikt tsu lozn zikh kushn. fun oybn arop kukt zi oyf der oremer kale, shtreng un mayestetish, vi zi volt zi mit a keniglekhe matone bashonken. -- ikh bin mir Rokhl|e ... un nisht di ekzotishe perfumen fun a parizer buduar demfn zikh oys in der ongegliter nakhtiker luft, un nisht di farkishefte blumen fun uraltn lesbos hobn geefnt zeyere bekhers tsu der oysterlisher misterye. shver un faykht, vi di opgeshundene fel fun a neveyle, hengt in der luft dos geshmak fun getriknte shvamen. ober Rokhl|e aleyn filt im shoyn nisht mer. oyf der provints iz azoy vi baym antikvar oyfn boydem. ---------------- romanized by Lucas Bruyn ---------------- Notes: 1) Partshev/Parczew lies between Lublin and Brest. ______________________________________________________ End of _The Mendele Review_ 02.021 In coming issues: a double issue on the alefbeys in memory of the great Jewish alphabet scholar Eliyohu Lipiner who died this past April Leonard Prager, editorÿ Subscribers to _Mendele_ (see below) automatically receive _The Mendele Review_. 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To unsubscribe kholile: unsub mendele ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ****Getting back issues**** _The Mendele Review_ archives can be reached at: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele/tmrarc.htm _The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language (A Companion to _MENDELE_) ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 02.022 1 August 1998 ___________________________ | | | Eliyohu Lipiner | | | | (1910-1998) | |___________________________| der alef-beys (I) 1) Yiddish Matters: "The alef-beys in the 21st century" (Leonard Prager) 2) _der alefbeyz_ (Alef kats) 1)---------------------------------------- Date: 1 August 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: "The alef-beys in the 21st century" The name Eliyohu Lipiner and the subject "alef-beys" ('alphabet') [often spelled "alef-beyz"] are inextricably interwoven. _The Mendele Review_ has for many months been preparing an issue on the alef-beys centered around the work of this scholar, who died before he could enjoy the cybernetic celebration of his achievement. May this triple issue dedicated to his memory help make his alef-beys research known to new generations of students of Yiddish the world over. Eliyahu Lipiner's magnum opus on the alef-beys is entitled _ideologye fun yidishn alef-beys_. It has been translated into Hebrew under the title _khazon haotiot; torat haideyot shel haalefbet haivri_ (meturgam al-yedey yaakov hokherman. yerushalaim: hotsaat sefarim al-shem y"l magnes, hauniversita haivrit, 1989). Lipiner's Yiddish work on the "Jewish" alphabet -- which is the Hebrew _and_ the Yiddish alphabet -- becomes, in the title of the Hebrew translation, a study of the Hebrew alphabet. Is this merely a semantic matter? In Max Weinreich's charming _di shvartse pintelekh_ (Vilna 1939), the section "undzer yidisher alef-beys" includes the earliest Semitic scripts while a later chapter on Yiddish spelling is called "der yidisher oysleyg haynt un a mol." We know of course that in Yiddish _yidish_ means both 'Jewish' and 'Yiddish'. The use of the term _Hebrew_ (or in certain contexts _Israeli_) rather than _Jewish_ often has ideological implications, the negation of the Diaspora being one of them. For Weinreich and Lipiner the Hebrew and Yiddish alphabets, which share all but a few of the same graphemes, are part of a single indivisible cultural construct. The Yiddish and Hebrew alphabets are both alike and unlike. Yiddish employs the Hebrew alphabet in its Hebrew-Aramaic component and has adapted the Hebrew alphabet in its other components. In practice a knowledge of the Hebrew alphabet does not enable one to read Yiddish, just as the reverse is true. On the other hand, Yiddish written in the Hebrew alphabet alone, without the special signs and letter combinations of Yiddish, is comprehensible to people who know Yiddish -- who supply the necessary vowels and diphthongs as easily as Hebrew readers do in reading unvocalized text. For largely technical reasons, _Mendele_ and _The Mendele Review_ transcribe Yiddish into Latin letters, adhering to the Yivo rules of Standard Yiddish spelling. The romanized texts thus presented are sometimes the only existing texts in modern Yiddish orthography. Scholars can always manage with old-spelling texts, but for widespread use in schools and universities, standardized texts are a necessity. It is very sad indeed that only a fraction of Yiddish classics can be read in modernized orthography. All Yiddish websites -- there are new ones all the time! -- should be encouraged to employ the Standard Yiddish Orthography [SYO] and, if they romanize, to use the Standard Yiddish Romanization [SYR] which is based upon it. Romanized Yiddish does not compete with Yiddish-in-Yiddish-letters. Refoyl Finkl's Yiddish Typewriter, if not always accessible and simple, makes conversion from romanized to Yiddish-letter text possible. Romanized Yiddish is helpful to persons who heard Yiddish in their childhood, have forgotten the alphabet but are now striving to reconnect with their earlier experience of the language. Romanized Yiddish texts are especially appreciated by people for whom the Hebrew letters are a block (in much the same way that for centuries _galkhes_ 'gentile script' was to European Jewry in learning to read coterritorial languages). A scholar can master an alphabet in a day. For a great many people an alphabet other than the one they have grown up with throws up a barrier. I often see advertisements in Israel these days in which Hebrew is written in Cyrillic letters (cf. the reverse phenomenon of German-in-Hebrew letters.) But in the final analysis there is no substitute for the Yiddish _shvartse pintelekh_. Alphabets, like language generally, fire passions. The alef-beys has traditionally figured in emotional rituals such as praying at the grave of a deceased parent/child/sibling on the anniversary of death [yortsayt]. In some communities mourning customs have imcluded studying the Mishna, both mishnayos 4-7 (which begin with the letters that spell _neshomo_ [the same letters that spell _mishna_]) and the mishnayos that begin with the letter of the first name of the deceased. There are kabbalists in Israel today who attach the greatest cosmic -- and political -- significance to various letter combinations. At the opposite pole we find functionalists who (in addition to scorning mystical alphabet symbolism) see no reason for perpetuating an archaic right-to-left alphabet in a largely Latin-letter (western) world. We constantly hear new proposals for emulating Kemal Ataturk's romanization of Turkish and writing Hebrew left to right in Latin letters. Such notions have little chance of making headway. Which leaves Yiddish-lovers facing the paradox that an almost-Yiddish right-to-left alphabet will be thriving while its utility as the alphabet for reading Yiddish texts evaporates. Many if not most Jews in the Diaspora learn to read Hebrew sufficiently to recite prayers -- there are said to be over 600 Jewish day schools in North America, with almost 1/4 million students. But to read Yiddish these students require additional instruction. During the next decade the Yiddish world, limited though its resources are, must mobilize for this basic task of keeping the treasures of Yiddish language and culture available by developing effective channels for teaching, at all levels, the Yiddish alef-beys. Without this key, itself an object of folk adoration in the past, the avenues to a rich heritage will radically narrow. It is unfortunate that so little of the discussion in _Mendele_ centers on problems of teaching Yiddish, an area begging for creative solutions. I do not know how Yiddish is best taught today, but I suspect that the answer does not lie in some of our best known and best loved poems about the alef-beys. The following four chords -- nostalgic, plaintive, chauvinistic and elegiac -- do not seem "right" for the teaching effort that lies before us: mark varshavski, "oyfn pripetshik" oyfn pripetshik brent a fayerl un in shtub iz heys, un der rebe lernt kleyne kinderlekh dem alefbeys. zog zhe kinderlekh, gedenk zhe, tayere, vos ir lernt do. zogt zhe nokh a mol un take nokh a mol komets-alef o. [See the version of this song in Refoyl Finkl's "Yiddish Poems" website]. *** Arn tseytlin, "alef-beys" Arn tseytlin "alef-beys" (folkish), _gezamelte lider_, driter band. new york: matones, 1957, p. 359. zest? dos iz an alef'l. oybn ot dos pintele iz, mayn kind, a khoylem'l. alef-khoylem -- oy! zog zhe, yankele: oy! zest? dos iz a beyz'ele. nem aroys dos pintele -- vert derfun a veyz'ele. dos-do iz a tseyre'le. veyz mit tseyre'le -- vey! zog zhe, yankele: vey! s'drite iz -- a gimele. gimel tseyre'le -- gey, zog zhe, yankele: nokhamol: gimel tseyre'le -- gey! oy, vey, gey -- me darf nisht mer. oy, vey, gey -- un shoyn! kenst dem yidns alef-beys, yankele mayn kroyn. **** Yisroel ashendorf "oysyes" di gotishe oysyes zaynen shpitsike -- bagnetn, shpitsrutn un mesers, lataynishe oysyes zaynen kaylekhdike -- mit roytn vayn gefilte feser. di yidishe oysyes -- nisht keyn shikere fun yenems blut un nisht fun vaynen, nor kantike, flekldike, hoykerdike, vi dos mazl fun folk fun maynem. *** Arn leyeles, fun "mayn loshn" Di letste tsu shraybn mayn loshn, mayn yidish Zey veln gehern tsum noblstn shtam. Zey veln oyf itlekhn os makhn kidesh. Batamen dos vort mit dos glustikstn tam. 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 1 August 1998 From: Leah krikun Subject: Alef kats, _der alefbeyz_ [Learning the alef-beys -- at age three for boys! -- was traditionally the first step in learning _yidishkayt_ (see Yekhiel Shtern, "an iberzets-kheyder in tishevits," _shriftn far psikholgye un pedagogik_, 2ter band, Vilna: Yivo, 1940, zz' 270-272). Before learning its sound value, the child learned to identify and name the letter; the visual element was here uppermost. A much later mnemonic aid was the abecedary, which tied a letter to a word beginning with that letter, a word which might suggest the shape of the letter (e.g. _khes_ as a _khupe_). Yiddish poets and educators have written numerous abecedaries. We give here that of the poet Alef kats.(1) For the twenty-first century we need new abecedaries and alphabet-teaching strategies.-- ed.] _fun alef biz tof_ fun Alef kats farlag _alef_, nyu-york [on a date] [the poet omits veys, kof, sin and sof but not fey and khof: ed.] alef iz an aker vos akert dos feld. beyz iz broyt vos shpayst di velt. giml iz a glok vos klingt un vekt. daled iz a dakh mit shindlen badekt. hey iz a hant oyf arbet un shpil. vov iz a veg vos firt tsum tsil. zayin iz di zun vos shaynt far ale. khes iz a khupe far khosn kale. tes iz a tiger -- vild un frekh. yud iz a yazhik mit nodl-shtekh. khof iz a khor vos zingt a gezang. lamed iz a lire mit a rirndikn klang. mem iz a mil vos molt keseyder. nun iz a nodl tsum neyen kleyder. samekh iz a sove bay tog is zi blind. ayen iz an eroplan vos flit durkhn vint. pey iz a palme hoykh un shlank. fey iz a fus tsum geyn a gang. tsadek iz di tsvang gemakht mit a tsvang. kuf is a keml mit a shpitsiker pleytse. reysh is a rod vos dreyt zikh un dreyt zikh. shin is a shif mit koymens dray. tof is di toyre alt un nay. sof khof harkh! harkh! zogt der shtarkh. sof mem m e e e! mam! makht der lam. sof nun kuku-rir-an! kreyt der hon. sof fey hav! holf! bilt der volf. sof tsadek miau! miats! veynt di kats. shtarkh. lam. hon. volf. kats. ***** dos gebot far a sod iz aza: pasekh shin - sha! a tsadek a shlekhter, a tsadek in pelts -- dem emes farbrekht er dem lign farshtelt. ikh zog es aykh ale fun groys biz kleyn, az loy mit an alef iz dray mol neyn! a ferdl mit mogere glider zukht a bisl _hey_ in sider. ***** alef iz nisht beyz [the poet covers the Yiddish alef-beys except for sin and veys: ed.] alef iz nisht beyz lamed iz nisht mem kalt iz nisht heys. geb un nisht nem. beyz iz nisht giml mem is nisht nun erd iz nisht himl. levone is nisht zun. daled iz nisht hey samekh is nisht ayen milkh iz nisht tey. mel is nisht kleyen. hey iz nisht vov pey iz nisht fey tsig iz nisht shof. regn iz nisht shney. zayin iz nisht khes tsadek iz nisht kuf es iz nisht fres. neshome is nisht guf. tes iz nisht yud kuf iz nisht reysh shlekht is nisht gut. beyn iz nisht fleysh. yud iz nisht kof reysh iz nisht shin vakh iz nisht shlof. gel iz nisht grin. khof iz nisht lamed shin iz nisht tof zayd iz nisht samet. onheyb iz nisht sof. *** alef iz eyner [here the poet relates to the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet: ed.] alef iz eyner -- aleyn un mer keyner 1 beyz iz beyde -- a bobe mit a zeyde 2 gimel iz a geshpan fun dray ferd 3 daled iz dorem -- di ferte zayt erd 4 hey iz a hant -- a land mit finf hofns 5 vov iz di velt -- in zeks teg bashofn 6 zayin iz der zibeter tog un nakht 7 khes iz khanike likhtlekh akht 8 tes iz a top mit nayn mos reyd 9 yud iz a yid tsum minyen greyt 10 kof iz 20 lamed iz 30 mem iz 40 nun iz 50 samekh iz 60 ayen iz 70 pey iz 80 tsadek iz 90 kuf iz 100 reysh iz 200 shin iz 300 tof iz 400 tof kuf 500 tof reysh 600 tof shin 700 tof tof 800 tof tof kuf 900 alef' 1000 beyz' 2000 giml' 3000 daled' 4000 hey' 5000 hey' tof reysh tsadek tes 5699 [= 699 (+1240) = 1939/1940] hey' tof shin 5700 [= 700 (+1240) = 1940/1941](2) *** 1). Alef kats is especially associated with the alef-beys. Reviewing his children's play where the characters are letters [ see _gut morgn alef, purim-shpil un yosele_ (nyu-york, 1950)], Sh. Niger wrote: "di kleyninke yidishe oysyes zaynen far Alef katsn lebedike bashefenishn: alef, beys, giml, lamed un vov, nun un samekh zaynen di heldn un shpiln roles in dem dozikn dramatishn verk. (...) di tragishe drame fun di yidishe oysyes iz bay Alef katsn gevorn a remez oyf der tragedye fun yidishn folk, vos iz dos folk fun os." [cited in _leksikon fun der nayer yidisher literatur_, b. 4, nyu-york: alveltlekhn yidishn kultur-kongres, 1961 zz' 345-6]. 2) The Israeli Kneset has just passed a law making it manditory for all government institutions to use the Hebrew date in correspondence (in addition to the secular date). Yiddishland cannot legislate; but it can cogitate. ______________________________________________________ End of _The Mendele Review_ 02.022 Leonard Prager, editor Subscribers to _Mendele_ (see below) automatically receive _The Mendele Review_. Send "to subscribe" or change-of-status messages to: listproc@lists.yale.edu a. For a temporary stop: set mendele mail postpone b. To resume delivery: set mendele mail ack c. To subscribe: sub mendele first_name last_name d. To unsubscribe kholile: unsub mendele ****Getting back issues**** _The Mendele Review_ archives can be reached at: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele/tmrarc.htm _The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language (A Companion to _MENDELE_) ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 02.023 1 August 1998 ___________________________ | | | Eliyohu Lipiner | | | | (1910-1998) | |___________________________| der alef-beys (II) 1) "der alef-beys in folklor" (Eliyohu lipiner) 1)----------------------------------------------------------- Date: 1 August 1998 From: Leah Krikun Subject: der alef-beys in folklor (Eliyohu lipiner) [endnotes will be found in _The Mendele Review_, vol. 2, no. 024] der alef-beys in folklor fun Eliyohu lipiner [kapitl zibn-un-draysik, _idielogye fun yidishn alef-beys_. buenos-ayres: yidisher visnshaftlekher institut -- yivo, 1967. 1. barir-shetekh tsvishn lomdes un folklor nisht nor bay di lomdem un mekubolem iz der alef-beys geven shtark balibt. oykh der poshet|er mentsh fun folk, der anonimer mekhaber oyf ale folklor-gebitn, hot dershpirt b|khush az in di oysyes gufe, opgeret fun zeyer hoypt-eygnshaft zikh tsu bindn in verter, iz faran a gantse velt mit kombinatorishe meglekhkaytn -- un er hot arayngenumen dem alef-beys in zayne shafungen. a groyse tsol mayselekh, gleybungen, folkslider, vertlekh un kheyder-shpiln zenen geboyt oyf di oysyes un oyf zeyer traditsyonel oyfgehitenem seyder oder tsolvert, zogndik eydes far der geshikhte vegn der madreyge fun gaystik-toyre|sher antviklung tsvishn di proste mentshn fun folk. kharakteristish, in dem prat, zenen di farshidene versyes fun a bakant khsidish maysele, al-pi velkhn afile di ameratsem zenen mesugl, in zeyer frumer primitivkayt, neene tsu zayn fun der revolutsyonerer oytonomishkayt vos shtekt in di oysyes merubes. der hoypt-held fun maysele iz a yishuv|nik velkher hot in a groyser eys-tsore oyf yidn keyn tfiles un slikhes nisht gekent zogn, vayl mer vi dem alef-beys hot er zikh in der goyisher dorf-svive nisht gehat oysgelernt. dos hot im ober nisht geshtert optsushrayen di bitere gzeyres un tsu rateven klal-yisroel; er hot mit groys kavone un k|seyder gezogt nor dem alef-beys; in himl hot men shoyn di bazundere oysyes fun dem yishuv|nik metsaref geven in a gantser tfile.... an andern genyaln amorets, velkher hot gelebt in berberye, in der shabtse-tsvi tkufe, hot men fun oybn megale geven vi azoy tsu leynen dem bloyzn alef-beys, vos er hot gekent, in a gants nayem seyder, az es zoln durkh dem oyfgedekt vern gvaldike soydes vegn der geule.(1) [endnotes will be found in _The Mendele Review_, vol. 2, no. 022] es merkt zikh do a kuryozer barir-shetekh tsvishn der frukht-trogndiker ameratses fun di proste mentshn un der sharfer lomdes fun di baley-sod, velkhe flegn oykh mevatl zayn dem traditsyoneln tekst, tsulib mistishe kavones, un operirn, k|retsoynom, mit di eyntslne, tseshotene oysyes. oyf der gas fun alef-beys hobn zikh bagegnt, un di hent gegebn, der proster folklor un di meyukhes|dike kabole. in di folks-gleybungen treft men oft dominirn di stam-oysyes, umfarshtendlekhe rosheteyves un gimatriyes oyf matbeyes, shtiklekh parmet tsi afile bletlekh poshet papir. baley-sheymes flegn gebn di dozike kameyes tsu trogn oyfn haldz oder oyftsuhengen ibern bet fun a kimpetorn, vi a shmire kegn ayn-hore, rukhes un sheydem, oder gor vi a mitl tsu bakumen bashtimte zgules. der iker zenen bakant di _heyelekh_ far kinder, tsu trogn oyfn haldz. dos zenen geven matbeyes oyf velkhe es flegt kumen oysgegosn di hey -- an os vos men hot im in der folksgleybungen tsugeshribn aza mistishe virkung, mestame in skhus fun dem 'shem' fun velkhn es iz a komponent. di mistishe zgules vos men iz meyakhes tsu di oysyes in di folks-gleybungen -- gor bazunders tsu yene vos zenen bashtand-teyln fun di farshidene sheymes, gots, in der mesore -- vortslen in der alter alef-beys mistik fun di mekubolem. der _zoyer_ farnemt zikh oft mit der doziker kategorye gleybekhtsn. er farzikhert, lemoshl, az der rayznder vos iz mesugl zikh ayntsukukn in himl, erev-nisiye un in der rekhter sho, vet derzen vi in di heykhn shtartsn aroys likhtikerheyt oysyes vos zenen zikh metsuref in a vuntsh az zayn nisiye zol zayn mit hatslokhe.... di dozike ayngleybenish, velkhe iz afile farbundn mit der gleybekhts az men tor nisht kukn oyf di koyanem b|shas zey dukhenen, saydn men iz a koyen, hilt ayn der bal-ha|zoyer, vi zayn shteyger, in a poetish-magishn stil: "vi nor es kumt der morgn, farshvint dos likht vos hot geveltikt bay nakht, un lozt iber ort farn likht fun tog. es hersht damolt der morgn un di memshole fun nakht fargeyt. es iz der morgn fun or-likht, es iz der morgn vos dergentst dos guts fun ale veltn. fun im shpayzn zikh eybershte un untershte. er trinkt-on dem gortn. er iz der shoymer fun der gantser velt. un do iz a sod far di farshtandike; ver es darf zikh lozn in veg arayn, zol er oyfshteyn fartog un zikh gut aynkukn, loyt der sho, in mizrekh-zayt, vet er derzen di tmune fun oysyes vos zeyer likht shlogt fun himl, un vos zey shtaygn un nidern nokh anandik. dos zenen di likhtike oysyes mit velkhe es iz bashafn gevorn himl un erd. oyb er farshteyt dem sod fun di dozike oysyes, vos trogn dem sod fun heylikn nomen tsunoyfgeshtelt fun tsvey-un-fertsik oysyes, un er vet zey dermonen vi es darf tsu zayn, mit viln in hartsn, vet er derzen in dem likht vos shaynt in himl zeks yudn -- dray rekhts un dray links -- un dray vovn, vos shtaygn un nidern un shaynen in himl. un dos zenen di oysyes fun birkes-koyanem (gemeynt di rosheteyves fun birkes-koyanem, vos zenen zeks yudn un dray vovn) -- un dan zol er betn zayn gebet un zikh lozn in veg arayn, vorum di shkhine geyt dan far im. voyl iz tsu im."(2) oyf an andern ort farzikhert der _seyfer h|zoyer_, b|derekh klal, az ver es iz zoykhe bay der toyre, vet yeder os irs, bazunder, im vern a malekh aroystsuhelfn in a shas-tsore.(3) fun dem reshus-hayokhed hot di mesoyre aribergetrogn di magishe peule fun di oysyes in tkhum fun natsyonaler martirershaft. in tsaytn fun redifes kegn yidishn das iz farshpreyt gevorn a klang tsvishn di mentshn fun folk az b|shas dem groysn nisoyen darfn zey farshteln zikh far di oygn dem forkhtikn _shem_. demlt veln zey derzen vi di oysyes zayne shtartsn un flakern in kholel fun der velt, un vern alts greser un greser. dos vet zey koyekh gebn baytsushteyn dem nisoyen fun kidesh-hashem nisht filndik afile di inuyem, un der toyt vet zey in gantsn nit shrekn....(4) di dozike zgule tsu stoishn bitl-khush, geboyt oyf der magisher kraft fun alef-beys, zet oys vi tsugemostn far di karbones fun di inkvizitsye-shaytern. der kontakt tsvishn lomdes un folklor shtamt fun der derekh-erets batsiung fun di folks-yidn tsu loshn-koydesh, velkhe vert natirlekh aribergetrogn oyf di oysyes, nekudes, taymem un tagn zayne. deriber zenen ot-di oytonome grafishe tseykhns, vos hobn zikh koyne-shem geven in der yidisher kultur-geshikhte vi kabolistishe ilustratsyes far di dinste lomdishe rayoynes, oykh arayn vi elementn in di grobere folks-gleybungen. baym aroysendikn a seyfer fun tilem, betn frume yidn oyf zikh guts, nisht bloyz in skhus fun zayne maymorem, psukem tsi verter, nor oykh in skhus fun zayne _oysyes_ ("uveskhus oysyoysov"). un, kemat in di remen fun a fetishistishn kult, glaykhshtelndik mamesh dem alef-beys mit got, treft men in seyfer _raziel_ a tfile tsu di oysyes. es iz a min kishef-shprukh tsu zogn beys men bagert a bashtimte antplekung in kholem.(5) 2. kheyder-shpiln, sikhes-khulin un folkslider in der toyre-svive fun kheyder, yeshive tsi besmedresh, beys dem vokhadik-soykhrishn mekekh-umemker, bay di shmuesn un gezangen in shtub un oyf der gas, iz shtark niker geven di hashpoe fun alef-beys. in kheyder flegn di yinglekh shpiln di _pey-samekh_-shpil iber a bashtimter tsol sedres. eyn tsad hot zikh genumen di groyse _feyen_ un der tsveyter -- di groyse _samekhn_ vos tseteyln dem tekst fun di sedres. gevunen hot yener tsad velkher hot ongezamlt a gresere tsol fun geherikn os; tsi gor di _mem-shin-hey_ shpil, vos bashteyt in a farmest ver es vet opzukhn frier di oysyes fun vort _Moyshe_ in di bleter fun khumesh. di beys-medresh|nikes un yeshive-batlonem flegn in zeyer svive oykh operirn shpasik mit di oysyes: in dem posek _katsti bekhayay_ (_breyshis_ kof"zayen, mem"vov) lefi velkhn di muter Rifke klogt zikh az s'iz ir nimes dos lebn, iz di onheyb-kuf, al-pi mesore, klener vi di iberike oysyes fun tekst. deroyf, vi oyf ale iberike gresere tsi klenere oysyes fun tanakh (oysyes rabosi uzeiro) brengen di meforshem kolerley eksegetishe taymem. ober di yeshive-bokhrem brengen daroyf zeyern a shpasikn teyrets: di kuf iz klener, elehey a remez az ven a yidene klogt zikh iz es a blof.... a tsveyter kharakteristisher diolog, vi eyn yid pruvt zikh klign iber a tsveytn: - vos toyg mir di fey in homen? - staytsh, vu gefint zikh den di fey in vort homen? - farvos gefint zi zikh nisht? - staytsh, vos toyg den dortn di fey? - dos freg ikh dokh take!.... di veyniker lomdishe folksmentshn flegn oyf dem alef-beys boyen gegramte shures in velkhe es zenen geblibn oyfgehit zeyere umshuldik-provintsyele rayoynes, un zey hobn shoyn far eynvegs gedint vi a mnemotekhnish mitl, far dertsierishe tsvekn, tsu helfn farhaltn in zikorn di nemen un dem seyder fun di oysyes: alef - an odler tut untern himl flien, beys - a barnboym tut ale zumer blien, giml - a galekh tut zikh tsu der avoyde-zore knien. daled - a dokter tut gebn oyf shvitsn, hey - a himl tut ale zumer dunern un blitsn, vov - a vayner tut oyf di feslekh vayn zitsn, zayen - a zelner tut in der milkhome shisn, khes - a khazn tut zikh baym davnen mit trern bagisn, tes - a taykh tut loyfn un flisn. yod - a yatke-klots, tut men oyf im fleysh hakn, kof - a kale tut men far ir lekekh bakn lamed - a leber tut men brokn un hakn. mem - a meydl tut zikh putsn un tsirn, nun - a noz tut ale vinter opfrirn, samekh - a sod, tut men in im geyn shpatsirn. ayen - an ekdish tut in di fis baysn, pey - a poyer vos der porets tut im shmaysn, tsadik - a tson tut der dokter aroysraysn. kuf - a kokhlefl tut dem top oysmishn, reysh - a rov tut ale dinem visn, shin - a sheygets tut fun keyn alef nisht visn. tof - a tate in himl hobn mir, a foter, ven veln mir shoyn vern fun goles poter? (6) oykh tsvishn di soldatn- un rekrutn-lider vos shpiglen op, in yidishn folklor, der ikersht, nikolayes fintstere kantonistn-tsayt, mit ire inkvisitsye-pkhodem un shmad-tsvang, bazunders far minderyerike yidishe kinder, zenen faran strofes fun payn un vey, ongeshparte oyfn alef-beys: lomir avekleygn ale zakhn, lomir zikh nemen tsu der alef: az men firt a yidele tsu dem asentirung ligt oyf im der khalef. lomir avekleygn di alef, lomir zikh nemen tsu der beys: az men firt a yidele tsu der asentirung vert im kalt un heys. lomir avekleygn di beys, lomir zikh nemen tsu der giml: az men firt a yidele tsu der asentirung vert a rash in himl. lomir avekleygn di giml, lomir zikh nemen tsu der daled: az men firt a yidele tsu der asentirung vert a groys gevald. lomir avekleygn di daled lomir zikh nemen tsu der hey: az men firt a yidele tsu der asentirung vert im vind un vey. lomir avekleyygn di hey lomir zikh nemen tsu der vov: az men firt a yidele tsu der asentirung kumt oyf im gots shtrof. lomir avekleygn di vov, lomir zikh nemen tsu der zayen: az men firt a yidele tsu der asentirung vert er a yire-shomayim. lomir avekleygn di zayen, lomir zikh nemen tsu der khes: az men firt a yidele tsu der asentirung vert er toyt vi a mes. lomir avekleygn di tes lomir zikh nemen tsu der yid: az men firt a yidele tsu der asentirung vert er shvakh un mid. (7) 3. eyfamizmen, psevdo-lomdishe oysdrukn un rosheteyves fun vegn der kroyve|shaft tsvishn dem alef-beys un loshn-koydesh, zenen di oysyes, un afile di nekudes, bazunders mesugl tsu dinen vi a yesod far eyfemizmen. oyf tsu mildern di harbe oysdrukn in a sho fun dertsernung, oder oyf tsu makhn dem onshtel az men iz in kas -- nutst men bloyz dos onheyb-oys fun dem grobn idyom, oder men tseleygt gor di umbakovedike verter oyf zeyere bazundere oysyes. --gut iz fun a khes a hey: gut iz fun a khazer a hor. --shtark vi a khes: shtark vi a khazer. --er iz a kof-lamed-beys: er iz a kelev. --der shin-daled zol im nemen: der shed zol im nemen. --mayse shin-tes: mayse sotn. --er iz a samekh-mem: er iz a sotn (samael). --es zoln oyf im kumen di fir pasekhn (fun dem klole-vort 'uvakadakhas'_) -- a farshtelte klole, loyt _dvorem_ kof"khes, kof"beys. di netiye tsu boyen eyfamizmen oyfn yesod fun alef-beys iz niker shoyn in di talmudishe tsaytn, vi es iz tsu dringen fun a tekst, in velkhn dos grobe vort _shes_ ('hintn') [homophone of the name Seth, son of Adam --ed.] iz tseleygt oyf zayne bazundere oysyes.(8) in der moderner tsayt iz oykh bakant a vertl az "vos men shemt zikh tsu zogn in yidish, zogt men in loshn-koydesh." afile der tsolvert fun di oysyes dint tsu boyen eyfemizmen: --er iz a tsvey-un-fuftsiker: er iz a kelev (kof=20, lamed=30, beys=2). der tsolvert iz biklal arayn in halb-lomdishe oysdrukn vos geyn arum tsvishn folk: --dales al dales(9): fir (eyln) oyf fir (eyln); a groys engshaft. --er hot deroyf tarp"t taymem: tarp"t batreft 689. do vert es ober gebrakht vi an umbashtimte, guzme|dike tsol. --khotsh gib im di tarp"t alofem: ironish, vegn a khosn vos bet a tsu groysn nadn, lemoshl. --di reysh alofem: di tsveyhundert toyznt; dos groyse gevins [the latter = title of a Sholem-Aleykhem play -- ed.]. --a beyser: a matbeye fun tsvey gildn, kopikes, ad"gl. --lamed-alef shpil: eyn-un-draysik shpil; a kortnshpil. --er hot shoyn di pey: er iz a ben-shmoynem. di psevdo-lomdishe folks-khokhme in shaykhes mit der banutsung fun alef-beys drikt zikh oys mit bazunderer kreftikayt in di rosheteyves|n velkhe zenen megulgl gevorn durkh di talmudishe tsaytn un shpeterdike rabonishe sforem, biz tsu der geredter yidisher folksshprakh, in velkher zey vern genutst zeyer oft: _tanakh_ -- toyre, neviem, ksovem; _shas_ -- shishe sdorem; _teyku_ -- tishbi yitarets kushies veabayes; _khazal_ -- khakhomeynu zikhroynem levrokhe; _akum_ -- oyvdey koykhovem umazoles; _yaknehoz_ -- yayin, kidesh, ner havdole, zman -- ad"gl, shoyn opgeredt fun di umtsolike rosheteyves vos zenen arayn in shrift. fun di _rosheteyves|n_, in velkhe men shtelt tsunoyf a nay vort mit di onheyb-oysyes fun shoyn bakante verter, say der hipekh zeyerer, di _nutrikn_, loyt velkhe a shoyn bakant vort kon geleynt vern elehey tsunoyfgetsoygn fun di onheyb-verter fun farshidene andere -- ot-di beyde kuryoze operatsyes iber di oysyes zenen arayn in yidishn folklor der iker vi hebreizmen. amol treft men oykh a faryidishtn nutrikn. _betsedek_, lemoshl, vert b|derekh nutrikn geleynt: ~b~iz ~ts~u ~d~er ~k~eshene. dos folk batseykhnt mit dem dozikn nutrikn, b|derekh-halotse, a kargn mentshn velkher iz a tsadik nor biz der keshene.... un _melamed_ -- zogt dos folk -- makht: ~m~er ~l~ernen ~m~er ~d~ales.... 4. glaykhvertlekh geboyt oyf oysyes, nekudes, tagen un taymem zis-kontsentrirte folks-khokhme gemisht mit bitern muser treft men der iker in di kurtse anonime glaykhvertlekh velkhe geyen arum oyf der yidisher gas, un zenen geglikhn -- loyt a glaykhvertl take -- tsu binen, fun vegn zeyer honik, gift un kleynem guf. di balibte oysyes, zeyere nemen, der batayt fun di nemen, der batref, di grafishe tsure, un afile di nekudes, tagn un taymem vos bagleytn zey, hobn gedint vi a yesod far kolerley idyomen un vertlekh mit sharfzinike ontsuherenishn vegn mides un maysem-toyvem. ot zenen di vikhtikste, onheybndik fun di oysdrukn in velkhe di verter _os_ un _alef-beys_ kumen arayn vi komponentn: --os b|os: pinktlekh; bukhshteblekh; akurat ("ibergebn os-b|os"). enlekh zayn; gerotn zayn in emetsn ("os-beos der tate"). --nisht nokhgebn an os: nisht mevater zayn afile oyf a kleynikayt. --loytn os fun gezets: formal, on dem mindstn opneyg. --a toyter os: an umnutslekhe zakh; an umfarshtendlekher inyen. --di kleyne oysyes; di shvartse pintelekh: di toyre; di sforem vos zenen gedrukt mit kleyne oysyes far lomdonem ("er iz boke in di kleyne oysyes"; "er iz bahavnt in di shvartse pintelekh"). --kidesh-levone oysyes: groyse oysyes ("gedrukt mit _kidesh levone oysyes_").(10) --oysyes makhkimes: oysyes makhn klug; geshribn iz zikherer vi geredt; geshribn iz gringer tsu farshteyn; shvarts oyf vays. --blaybn on oysyes: nisht visn vos tsu entfern; blaybn on diburem. --an alef-beys emes: an emes gomer; a zakh vos yeder muz visn, un es zenen deroyf nisht khal keyn vikukhem. (11) --an alef-beys b|alma: oysyes stam, on shum inhaltlekher farbindung (loyt _bove basre_, kuf samekh"khes ayen"beys). --alef-beys yingl; alef-beys|nik: a yung kind; an onheyber. 1. oysyes --fun alef biz tof: fun onheyb bizn sof.(12) --onheybn fun alef: onheybn fun onheyb; onheybn fun dos nay. --loy mit an alef; loy mit a groysn alef: neyn; an energisher opzog.(13) --lamed alef: loy; nisht; a kategorishe negatsye. --nisht kenen keyn alef, nisht visn fun a tsures alef: zayn an amorets. --nisht kenen keyn tseylem fun keyn alef; nisht kenen a tseylem far an alef: zayn an analfabet; nisht kenen onshraybn a tseykhn (tseylem) onshtot an os; nisht derkenen dem khilek tsvishn a tseykhn un an os. --zikh shteln bay der alef: nisht avekgeyn vayter; nisht progresirn; nisht zayn aktiv; zikh nisht rirn fun ort. --ver es zogt alef muz zogn beys: nor der onheyb iz shver; kol haskholes koshes; zayn oysgehaltn bizn sof. --fun beys biz lamed: di gantse toyre (vos heybt zikh on: _breyshis_, un endikt zikh: _yisroel_). --zol ikh azoy visn fun beyz, giml un dalet: a verter-shpil geboyt oyf der enlekhkayt fun oysshprakh tsvishn beyz (shlekhts) un beys (der nomen fun os). --ver es veyst nisht fun beyz, veyst nisht vos giml batayt: der zelber verter-shpil mit a nayem element _giml_ vos batayt: guts. ver es hot nisht durkhgemakht shlekhte tsaytn, filt nisht dem emesn tam fun gute tsaytn. --du bist beyz, bin ikh giml: vider a vort-shpil tsvishn _beyz_ un _beys_. _giml_ batayt: gut. --makhn tomed giml: hobn mazl, gevinen; avekgeyn emetsn gut; zayn in a gutn matsev ("az voyl iz dem vos makht tomed giml"). (14) --es vet zayn giml: es vet zayn gut. --es vet zayn gitl: vi frier (shpasik, tsulib der enlekhkayt tsvishn der tsure fun _tes_ un _mem_; oykh tsulib der enlekhkayt tsvishn _gut_ un _gitl_, vos iz a froyen-nomen). --vayzn dem ferdl a hey in sider: opnarn; yoytse zayn mit hoyle haftokhes; opkumen yenem mit reyd ("er git im tsu esn dem hey fun sider"). verter-shpil tsvishn hey (nomen fun os) un hey (vos di beheymes esn). --lang vi di vov fun Vayzose: zayn lenger vi geveyntlekh (elehey di vov fun Vayzose in megiles-Ester, vos iz loyt der mesoyre lenger vi di iberike oysyes). (15) --araynleygn in der khes; araynleygn in khes reysh; araynleygn in di dray oysyes arayn: araynleygn emetsn in kheyrem. --kholile mit tsvey khesn: kholile vekholile; khas vekholile. --a bokher on a khes: a grober yung (bur). ("a bokher on a khes zet oys vi a pyes." hayne, a grober yung iz geglikhn tsu a hunt). [cf. Polish _pies_ 'dog' -- ed.] --geld mit a tes: kelt (ironish). --kutse shelyud: der tag ibern os yud; dos eybershte shpitsikl fun der yud; a kleynikayt; a tofl; a bayzakh ("zikh ampern iber a kutse shelyud"; "nisht optretn kekutse shelyud"). --avekshteln dos pintl unter der yud: batonen; zogn klor; redn mutik. (16) --yud: der kleyner finger fun der hant. (17) --kleyn vi dos yudele fun Vayzose: a farglaykh tsu kleynkayt. --er klapt mitn lamed un vil a maymed: er barimt zikh mit falsher lomdes (tsi er zogt ligns) un vil durkh dem dergreykhn a maymed. (18) a lav mit a kleyn lamedl: a kleyn aveyrele. --skhoyre mit a mem: umtoyglekhe skhoyre (hayne, mit a mum). --beser a farkerte nun eyder a farkerter tsadik: vort-shpil. a teyrets oyf der eksistents fun tsvey farkerte nunen in tanakh-tekst (_bamidber_ yud' lamed"hey-lamed"vov) vos iz shoyn far eynvegs a moshl kegn tsviyes ("farkerter tsadik"...). --bay im iz der pey far dem ayen: er redt eyder er zet. (19) --tsvey feyen: farfaln; a farfalener khoyv ("shrayb deroyf tsvey feyen"; "shtel deroyf tsvey feyen"). --men badarf zikh hitn far finf feyen: hayne, fonye, feldsher, furman, fleysher un fisher. --verter fun di dray feyen: hayne, fisher, fleysher un furman; verter un oysdrukn mit velkhe es banutsn zikh di mentshn vos gehern tsu ot-di dray profesyonele kategoryes, un, biklal, di sotsyal veyniker khosheve shikhtn fun folk. (20) --a tsig oder a fertsiker, abi beyde zenen mit a tsadik: ironish, vegn kloymershter erlekhkayt. fun a tsadik kon men alts aropnemen, ober der yud blaybt: a frumer man blaybt orem ober er zindikt nisht. an oysyes-shpil geboyt deroyf, az oyb fun den nomen fun os _tsadik_ zol men aveknemen di _ts_, di _d_ un di _k_ -- blaybt nokh alts di _y_ [yud]. --a tsadik in pelts: a falsher mentsh; a hipokrit; der vos makht dem onshtel fun a frumen; der vos zorgt nor far zikh. (21) --eynem opgebn di reysh: opgebn koved (onrufndik yenem r' [reb]). --avekshteln dos pintl iber der shin: zogn klor, mutik; batonen. (22) a toyve mit a tof: a shpitsl; a miese zakh (vort-shpil tsvishn _toyve_ un _toeyve_). 2. nekudes un tagn --pasekh shin (sha): shvaygn; haltn sod; haltn dos moyl. mit di dozike verter, un nokh tsuleygndik, al-pi-rov, dem finger tsu di lipn, heyst men yenem shvaygn ("der orl iz oymed ba|pesakh, pasekh-shin" ['Quiet, the gentile is in the doorway!']). --az dos mazl geyt nisht, makht komets beys -- ba; az dos shlimazl vil, makht komets alef -- be; az got vil, makht komets beys -- ba; az s'geyt nisht, makht komets beys -- me: a basherte zakh; a fatalitet. --tseyre giml (gey): azoy iz men yenem meshaleyekh (katoves). --khoylem nun, nu: azoy traybt men unter a foyln (katoves). --a yid iz vi a segl: in velkher zayt men dreyt im, blaybt er alts a yid (elehey der segl vos hit oyf zayn figur in ale meglekhe pozitsyes). --a melupem-kind: ver es halt baym onheyb; a mentsh on derfarung. --mit ale tagn: mit ale baputsungen; in gantsn aroysgeendikt; gemakht di arbet b|shleymes (elehey der soyfer vos endikt shraybn a seyfer-toyre gentslekh, ersht ven er baputst di oysyes mit di tagn). 3. taymem --makh an esnakhto!: hayne, an opshtel, shvayg! her oyf reydn. --tsien pozer: tsien farn oyer. --oysdreyen a pozer: gebn a shtarkn patsh. --loy mit pozer: ze "loy mit an alef". --kadmo veazlo fis: krume fis. --oysdreyen a shalsheles: ze "oysdreyen a pozer". (biklal kumt arayn der oysgekrimter bavegung: "a kvitsh mit a tsen-gorndikn shalsheles" -- mendele; "a khsime mit a shalsheles"; "oysgekrumt vi a shalsheles" (ad"gl). 4. der alef-beys folklor in pedagogishn tkhum loyt an altn mineg flegt dos yidishe kind onheybn lernen alef-beys in der elter fun dray yor, (23) un fun vegn der khshives vos men iz meyakhes geven der doziker gesheenish, hot zi b|derekh-klal zikh opgeshpilt in di remen fun a farbikn tseremonyal. kefi es bashraybn dem mineg rashi"s talmid, reb Simkhe vitri (_makhzer vitri_ sy' tk"kh)) un der bal-harokeyekh (_halokhes atseres_ d' m"g, omed khes') bakt men op dray honik-khales oyf velkhe es zenen oyfgeshribn tsugeklibene psokem; me kokht op dray eyer, un me greyt tsu epl un kolerley peyres. dernokh zukht men oys a _khokhem vekhoshev_ velkher firt dos oysgevashene un yontef|dik ongetuene yingele, unter a tsudek, in shil arayn, vu me git im tsu esn di gute zakhn un me leynt far im for tsum ershtn mol dem alef-beys, fun a tovl. lesof shmirt men on a bisl honik oyf di oysyes fun tovl, un me heyst dem kind lekn di zise oysyes...(24) der mitl-elterlekher mineg tsu makhn kishef|dik dem alef-beys farn kind, fun di ershte yorn on, iz oyfgehit gevorn in farshidene versyes b|meshekh di shpeterdike doyres, un hot goyrem geven dem oyfkum fun kolerley folksshafungen, velkhe shteyen in same pedagogishn tkhum, vi di farshpreyte kinder-mayse vegn malekh pimper velkher varft rozhinkes oyfn alef-beys. in di nayere tsaytn iz bakant, in der prat, di melamd|ishe shite fun onheybn lernen mitn kind durkh ayn|khazer|n mit im di _nemen_ fun di oysyes, un glaykhtsaytik di figurn zeyere. kedey tsu farfiksirn di nemen un di tsures in zikorn fun di yunge talmidem, hobn di melamdem gemuzt onkumen tsu kolerley hamtsoes un kuntsn, zikh dertrakhtndik derbay tsu der shite fun farbindn di oysyes mit enlekhe, shoyn bakante figurn fun der kindersher svive: --alef iz a koromisl mit tsvey kendelekh, oder emerlekh --beys iz a shtibele mit an ofn tirele --giml iz a shikhele (25) --daled iz a hekele --hey hot an untergehakt fisele --vov iz vi a bitshikl (shtekele) --zayen iz vi a shverdele --khes iz vi a benkele --tes hot oybn a tirele --yud hot a kleyn kepele --kof hot a kaylekhdik rukndl --lamed hot a lang heldzele --mem hot a tirele untn --nun iz vi a fishele, oder vi a zekele (diminutiv fun 'zok') --samekh iz vi a shlos --ayen hot tsvey kepelekh --pey hot an aropgeboygn kepele --tsadik hot a horb oyf di pleytses --kuf hot a lang fisele --reysh iz vi a kaylekhdik shtekele --shin hot dray kepelekh --tof hot a krum fisele der doziker sistem iz bakant geven shoyn tsu di eltere melamdem, kefi es zogt eydes in zayne khidushem tsu masekhes _sanhedrin_ (perek yud-alef) der mekhaber fun _seyfer toyres-khayem_, reb avrem-khayem shor, velkher iz geshtorbn in yor shats"b; di giml hot a min baytele ongehangen oyfn rukn -- a remez oyf gmiles-khsodem; di daled hot a kurts fisele; di alef iz a man mit eyn krug in hant un mit a tsveytn oyfn rukn, elehey er volt on oyfher geshept toyre fun a tifn brunem; di beys hot a breyt tseefnt moyl tsu zogn toyre, ad"gl. (26) az di melamdey-tinoykes zenen zikh noyeg geven tsu gebn simonem di kinder baym lernen zey alef-beys, zogt eydes an anderer mekhaber, reb binyomin-volf b"r matisyohu, in zayn seyfer _tares hakoydesh_ (kheylek b' perek t'), opgedrukt tsum ershtn mol in amsterdam, tats"g.(27) nokh an anderer, kloymersht mer modernistisher mekhaber, Yude-leyb ben zev, in zayn lernbikhl _beys haseyfer_ opgedrukt in vin, 1816, lakht op fun dem melamd|ishn simonem-metod: "men brengt farn yingl -- zogt er in der hakdome -- an alef-beys tovl, un men lernt im di tsures fun di oysyes durkh di farshidnste simonem, lemoshl: a krug oybn, a krug untn un a koromisl in mitn, iz an alef; an oyfgeefnt moyl iz a beys....un nokh azelkhe narishkaytn." (28) nisht gekukt ober oyf reb Yude-leybs kritisher bamerkung, iz der system fun di gedenk-simonem geblibn ongenumen bay di melamdem, velkhe flegn im fil mol endern un baraykhern, mit der kavone tsu makhn di oysyes vos heymisher, durkh farglaykhn zey oft mol tsu figurn fun der eygener svive un fun dem eygenem shtetl. ot iz a bashraybung vi azoy di melamdem fun poylishn shtetl mlave hobn tsugemostn dem system fun gedenk-simonem tsu zeyer eygener svive: "kinder kleyntshike heybn on zeyer veg in yidishkayt fun Borekh melamed|s kheyder. etlekhe geyen nokh a zman-tsvey tsu Peysekhn. beyde khadorim gefinen zikh antkegniber der shil. groyse tovlne alef-beysn lign oyf tishn. der dorfisher melamed "Borekh sobyesrol" fort mit a fishbeynernem "taytl" iber di tovlen. bay yedn os dershaynt a nay geshtalt: "alef" -- trogt a mentsh a mase oyf di pleytses, geyt er ayngeboygn, "giml" -- a baytl mit gelt -- lernt, lernt kinderlekh, veln baytlekh fule gelt faln aykh fun himl -- zogt der rebe. eygelekh glantsn. far a groshn krigt men in gevelbl bay Khaye-Soren a mandl, eyer-beygelekh, bay der alter bobsertshine mitn horn oyf der noz -- a hiltsern mestele fun gekokhte arbes. "daled" -- iz der degn (degl) fun simkhes-toyre. arum der "hey" tantst der lomer Simkhe, Yankev-Moyshe mitn kurtsn fus. "khes" -- iz der arayngang in kheyder. dos "yudele" iz azoy kleyn, aza pitsele, az es krikht aleyn in hartsn. lange "kofn" "feyen", zenen yankl tseytogs hoykhe gasn-lamtern. "lamed" iz dos hoykerl, Moyshe-soyfers vayb. "samekh" -- a fesl bir, vos shteyt baym kleynem "foterl" in fentster. "ayen" -- a noz mit oygn. laykht iz di "shin", dorozhkarske ferd trogn lederne briln, trogn "shinen" zilberne, fun beyde zaytn oygn." (29) oykh byalik, in zayn oytobiografisher dertseylung "safiakh," bashraybt an enlekhn epizod fun di kinderyorn. in poets shtetl iz di alef geven a koromisl mit tsvey emerlekh, di giml a shtivl, di lamed a bushl, ad"gl. akhuts di traditsyonele-ongenumene farglaykhn vos zenen mit kleyne, heymishe shinuyem genutst gevorn mitsad di melamdem fun ale shtetlekh, flegn nokh di oysyes onnemen kolerley geshtaltn, lefi der fantazye fun yedn kheyder-yingl bazunder: "nokh dem ershtn tog -- shraybt byalik -- beys der belfer hot mir gevizn dem alef-beys-tovl mit zayne shures, zenen mir teykef antkegngeshprungen gantse polkn mit soldatn, fun yene vos geyen a mol durkh far undzer shtub, mit dem poyker b|rosh: tam-tara-dam! der iker zenen tsu zey enlekh geven di shures _alefn_ un _gimlen_ mit der nekude _kubuts_ unter zey. zey zenen dokh mamesh soldatn, bavafnt fun kop biz di fis. di alefn trogn zeyere torbes oyf di pleytses, un shpanen a bisl ayngeboygn unter zeyer mase, glaykh zey geyen oyf manevres; un di gimlen shteyen mit oysgeshtrekte fis oyf faroys, greyt tsum marsh...."(30) un fun der doyres|diker fantazye fun di kheyder-yinglekh iz der alef-beys, haynttsaytik aribergeshprungen in der politisher vor fun yidishn folk. Khayem liberman dertseylt es in rayze-ayndrukn fun medines yisroel, in shaykhes mit a bazukh zaynem in tel-oviv|er armey-kvartal, vu di yidishe oysyes dinen vi militerishe kentseykhns: "un bald derfilstu, az do, in dem kvartal armey, hot der yidisher alef-beys gevunen a gants nayem zin, vos der rebe in kheyder hot lang gehat fargesn, un efsher gor keyn mol nisht gevust; s'iz epes gor an ander alef-beys: "s'iz an alef vos shist! a beys, vos az er git a brum, faln ayn di domem bay zibn felker, un der giml shteyt un hit heylike grenetsn, un der kuf shlept a kanon, un der tsadik trogt a biks oyfn aksl.... "du kukst oyf di yidishe oysyes in der doziker merkvirdiker umgebung un trakhst: vi modne es zenen di vegn fun der geshikhte! ot ersht der daytshisher soyne vos hot zikh farmostn optsumekn dem yidishn alef-beys fun dem ponem fun der erd in eynem mitn folk. der daytshisher soyne iz nokh nisht geven rekht ayngeleygt, iz gekumen der rusisher soyne in geshtalt fun stalinen un hot opgemekt dem yidishn alef-beys fun der leng un breyt fun rusland, dem yidishn os in eynem mit zayn shrayber. "un do, do iz oyfgeshtanen a yidishe medine, un di medine hot oyfgeshtelt an armey, vos hot aroyfgeshtelt dem yidishn os oyf ir fon un iz greyt far im blut tsu fargisn. der yidisher os iz ir gevorn a symbol fun kraft un kamf.... "mitn yidishn os oyf zayn kakarde, oyf zayne epoletn, oyf zayn brust, shteyt der yidisher zelner oyf der vakh fun yidishn kiem. fun di yidishe oysyes shept er koyekh un vizye...._ (31) 6. di mayse iz oys ot haltn mir baym soyf fun der shneler ekskursye vos ir tsvek iz geven oyftsuzukhn dem alef-beys in di farvorfnste gebitn fun yidishn folklor. di arbet iz nisht ongekumen tsu shver: historish un inhaltlekh farnemt loshn-koydesh a khoshev ort in der anonimer yidisher vort-shafung; mimeyle treft men di eyntslne oysyes fun dem dozikn loshn arayngevebt vi feste elementn in di gleybungen, zgules, aynredenishn un shpasike tsi tifzinike mayses un vertlekh fun folk. vi emese shlikhem fun gedank, zenen di oysyes mesugl tsu vern tipishe motivn in dem yidish-folkloristishn shafn, vos zayn hoypt-eygnshaft iz di idealizatsye fun gedank un fun gayst. un vi emese kinder fun yidishn alef-beys, hobn zey baygeshtayert tsu der faryidishung fun a groyser tsol folkloristishe motivn vos zenen dos b|shutfes|dike hob-un-guts fun ale umes. ----------------------------------- End of _The Mendele Review_ 02.023 Leonard Prager, editor Subscribers to _Mendele_ (see below) automatically receive _The Mendele Review_. Send "to subscribe" or change-of-status messages to: listproc@lists.yale.edu a. For a temporary stop: set mendele mail postpone b. To resume delivery: set mendele mail ack c. To subscribe: sub mendele first_name last_name d. To unsubscribe kholile: unsub mendele ****Getting back issues**** _The Mendele Review_ archives can be reached at: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele/tmrarc.htm _The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language (A Companion to _MENDELE_) ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 02.024 1 August 1998 ___________________________ | | | Eliyohu Lipiner | | | | (1910-1998) | |___________________________| der alef-beys (III) 1) Endnotes to Chaper 37 ["der alef-beys in folklor"] (Eliyohu Lipiner) 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 1 August 1998 From: Leah Krikun Subject: Endnotes to Ch. 37 ["der alefbeys in folklor"] (Eliyohu Lipiner) Endnotes 1. ze _inyaney shabtay tsvi_ im hakdamot vehearot, aharon freimann, berlin [1913], zayt 73. ze nokh kap' elef, bamerkung 20. 2. kad asey tsafra, nehoro dshraga dshalta baleylya.... [kaasher ba boker, or shel ner sholetet balayla] [the remainder of this long Aramaic quotation is omitted here -- LP] (_zohar truma_, daf kuf"lamed, ayen"beys). 3. im tizke beorayso kol os veos yihyeh malakh deezrokho (_Zohar khadash_, midrash Rus, daf ayen"hey, tur g'). 4. im yekaven beshaa hahi et hashem hanikhbad vehanora beyn eynav veyigmor belibo lekadsho veeynav lekodesh yisrael tireyna veyadbik bo kavanat libo vemakhshavto vehashem hakadosh eysh lohet vehaotiot mitnotsitsot yoshvot al meloo shel olom o kaasher yukhal lehagdilam kefi kokho, halo ze batuakh lo sheyamod banisayon nakhon libo batuakh behashem velo yargish keev hamakot vehainuyim velo yarideyhu hamavet (fun an oksforder ksav-yad vos anthalt a droshe tsu stimulirn dem kidesh hashem tsvishn folk). ze "prakim metoldot sifrut hakabala" fun Gershom sholem, in _kiryat sefer_ VII, zayt 153, yor 1930/31). 5. Yehi rotsoyn _milfonekho_ adonoy elohey veelohey avoysay _umilfoneykhem_ osiyos kedoshos venoroos shetiru li halaylo bedovor kakh vekakh (_Sefer raziel_ hotsaas yerushalmi, yerusholayim, daf kuf"hey). 6. y.-l. koyen. _yidishe folkslider_, yivo, nyu-york 1957, z' 354. 7. dortn, z' 380. 8. omar rav huna bar manoakh ... veankhi bashin taf shelo (_megila_ kaf"hey, ayen"beys). 9. Ma tofes daled amos (_brakhos_ yod"khes, ayen"alef). 10. Der oysdruk, keyedue, nemt zikh derfun vos di tfile mit velkher frume yidn zenen mekadesh di levone, iz in sider gedrukt mit groyse oysyes, tsu konen geleynt vern baym levone-shayn. 11. in der alter midresh-literatur fun vanen der folklor hot fil mol ibergenumen zayne glaykhvertlekh, treft men agodes velkhe konen dinen vi an ilustratsye far dem dozikn oysdruk. bay Hilel ha|zokn, lemoshl, iz di oytentishkayt fun der toyre-shebalpe geven an "alef-beys emes": maase beakum ekhad sheba lifney shamay. omar lo kamo toros yesh lokhem. omar lo shtayim. toro shebikhsov vetoro shebalpe. omar lo shebikhsov ani maaminkho veshebalpe eyni maaminkho. gayerni al-menas shetelamdeyni toro shebikhsov. gaar bo vehotsio benezifo. ba lifney Hilel.... [omission] an enlekhe agode treft men in _koheles rabo_ parasha z', yud"tes). ze an andere versye in _ovos derabi Nosn_, perek tes"vov). 12. eylu bney odom shekiyemu es hatoro kulo mealef ad tof (_shabos_ nun"hey" ayen"alef). [omission].. (_zoyer_, breyshis, daf khes"tes, ayen"beys), hayne: dos vort _es_, vos iz dermont gevorn, iz meramez oyf dem koyekh fun ale 22 oysyes fun alef-beys (mit velkhe s'iz bashafn gevorn himl un erd), fun alef biz tof. vekol haatsiles hanikhlal bealfa beysa min haalef ad tof (_sefer shefa tal_, fun reb sheftl horvits, bruklin tash"kh, daf ayen"alef, omud alef'). verabeynu hamagid hagadol mimezritsh omar breyshis boro elohim es -- beoysyes mealef ad tof (gebrakht in peyresh _or bahir_ tsum _sefer habahir_, oysgabe mosad horav kuk, yerusholayim tashy"a, daf yud). 13. azoy derklert men az yener zol keyn toes nisht makhn un meynen loy (mit a vov) vos redt zikh aroys oyfn zelbikn oyfn, un batayt gor epes andersh. oyf dem dozikn oysdruk zenen faran parodyes mitn zelbn batayt: "loy mit a spodik; loy mit a pozer; loy mit a shtrayml" ad"gl. 14. der oysdruk shtamt fun dem khanike-dreydl, oyf velkhn es kumen oysgekritst di fir oysyes nun giml hey shin, b|derekh-klal, un tsulib dertsierishe tsvekn, vern di dozike oysyes geleynt vi roshey-teyves fun di verter "nes godl hoyo shom." hayne, der nes-khanike, ober in dreydl-shpil vayzn zey oyb men farlirt oder gevint in shpil, un vifl: nun batayt -- nisht; giml batayt -- gut, oder gor, hayne, gevunen ingantsn; hey batayt -- halb; un shin batayt -- shlekht, oder shtel! vi es zol, ober, nisht zayn der batayt fun di fir dreydl-oysyes, iz "voyl dem vos makht tomed giml." 15. ze ben-Yehude|s _milon_, baym os vov. 16. dos iz nisht keyn reyn-yidisher oysdruk, nor a faryidishte forem fun "shteln dos pintl oyf der _i_," vos vert genutst bay di umes-ha|oylem. enlekh iz der oysdruk "avekshteln dos pintl iber der shin," velkher vet shpeter gebrakht vern. 17. es iz a vortshpil mit _goy_ (a shpasiker nomen farn grobn finger), vi men dringt fun folgndiker muter-un-kind shpil, vos heybt zikh on fun den kleynem fingerl: yidele shpil fidele knak nisele puter shisele grober _goy_. (ze y.-l. koyen. _yidishe folkslider_ tsit' oysg', z' 357). 18. ze stutshkovs _der oytser fun der yidisher shprakh_, yivo 1950, z' 340. 19. a verter-shpil geboyt oyf der enlekhkeyt fun oysshprakh tsvishn di nemen fun di oysyes fey, ayen, fun eyn zayt, un di verter pe, ayen (moyl, oyg) fun der tsveyter zayt. der doziker oysdruk shtamt fun a peyresh tsu _eykhe_ b', tet"zayen. in ot-dem kapitl, vos iz geboyt loytn a"b seyder, kumt der posek vos heybt zikh on mit "pey" far dem posek, vos heybt zikh on mit "ayen." di gemore derklert dem dozikn opnayg fun traditsyoneln oysyes-seyder, vi a remez oyf der zind fun di meraglem, velkhe hobn gezogt mit zeyer moyl (pe) vos zey hobn nisht gehat gezen mit zeyere oygn (ayen), hayne, zey hobn dertseylt ligns (ze: _sanhedrin_ kuf"daled, ayen"beys). 20. ze yudl marks arbet "vos iz a vort in der yidisher shprakh" in _yuda a. yofe-bukh_, yivo 1958, z' 292; un "di fish-virtshaft in yisroel" fun sh. avivi (_idisher kemfer_, 30 Nov 1951). 21. a verter-shpil geboyt oyf der identishkayt tsvishn dem nomen fun os tsadik un dem vort tsadik, vos batayt: a frumer. es zenen do farsheydene oyfanem tsu derklern fun vanen es nemt zikh der batayt fun falshkayt un egoizm tsu dem oysdruk "a tsadik in pelts:" a) nisht der emeser tsadik (frumer man) nor der sof-tsadik fun vort "pelts," velkher vert, keyedue, oykh ongerufn "shlekhter tsadik." "shlekhter" heyst in alt-yidish: "glaykher, grader" (ze maks vaynraykhs _di shvartse pintelekh_, vilne 1939, z' 248); b) ven es iz kalt, hitst der emeser tsadik ayn in oyvn kedey tsu dervaremen oykh andere, b|shas der falsher tsadik tut zikh on dem pelts un dervaremt nor zikh aleyn.... kroyvish tsu "a tsadik in pelts" iz der faryidishter nutrikn "er iz a b|tsedek|l", hayne, er iz a guter, nor "biz tsu der keshene"; oykh di parodye fun yeshive-bokherem oyf der posek "eyn tsadik baarets asher yaase tov velo yakhte"; "yesh tsadik baarets aval ra," hayne in vort "baarets" iz faran a tsadik, ober a shlekhter (a langer tsadik); un, lesof, der oysdruk "a volf mit a shepsenem pelts," mit velkhn dos folk batseykhnt a falshn mentshn. (ze nokh kap. 4, bam. 21). 22. Der doziker oysdruk, vi der oybn-gebrakhter, "avekshteln dos pintl unter der yud," iz a faryidishte nokhmakhung fun a goyishn oysdruk. n. prilutski in _yidish far ale_ (April 1938) kritikirt di dozike imitatsye, ober der oysdruk iz shoyn arayn in yidishn loshn, un vert genutst (ze: tsinbergs _geshikhte fun literatur_, band 4, z' 214; un eriks _di geshikhte fun der yidisher literatur_, z' 311). 23. ze: sh. asaf "mekorot letoldot hakhinukh beyisrael," kerekh alef, daf pey"beys, kerekh beys, daf samekh"hey, pey"hey, pey"zayen, kuf ayen"daled, kuf ayen"hey; kerekh giml, daf yud"tet, pey"zayen; kerekh daled, daf 12 un kuf"daled. 24. dortn, kerekh alef, daf beys un giml; kerekh daled, daf yud"alef. 25. loyt an andern nusekh: "hot an opgehakt fisele," oder: "a man mit a baytele gelt." der farglaykh tshvishn os giml un a man vos trogt fun hintn a baytele mit gelt, iz farbundn nisht azoy mit der tsure fun os, vi mit der kavone ayntsulernen mit di talmidem far eynvegs di mide fun maysem-toyvem. mashmoes, az di tsure fun os giml dermont di figur fun dem goyml-khsodem, velkher trogt oyf di pleytses a sak mit gelt, az di oreme-layt zoln kumen un zikh nemen keos nafshom (ze: _oysyes de|rabi Akive_, os gimel un _hakdomes seyfer ha|zoyer_). 26. shin asaf, tsit. verk, kerekh alef, daf pey"hey. 27. dortn, dortn, daf kuf pey"khes. 28. dortn, kerekh daled, daf reysh samekh"giml. 29. ze: "getseltn fun toyre," dokter Zev yunis, in _pinkes mlave_, nyu-york 1952, z' 75. 30. ibergezetst loyt byaliks "safiakh" in "kitvey kh.n. byalik," tel oviv, trts"g, kuf lamed"alef, kuf lamed"beys. 31. _Forverts_, 30ster marts 1956. ______________________________________________________ End of _The Mendele Review_ 02.024 Leonard Prager, editor Subscribers to _Mendele_ (see below) automatically receive _The Mendele Review_. Send "to subscribe" or change-of-status messages to: listproc@lists.yale.edu a. For a temporary stop: set mendele mail postpone b. To resume delivery: set mendele mail ack c. To subscribe: sub mendele first_name last_name d. To unsubscribe kholile: unsub mendele ****Getting back issues**** _The Mendele Review_ archives can be reached at: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele/tmrarc.htm _The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language (A Companion to _MENDELE_) ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 02.025 1 September 1998 1) Yiddish Matters: From the Editor (Leonard Prager) 2) "sheydemlekh," a kapitl fun _shtarke un shvakhe_ (alter katsizne) 3) Table of Contents of _idielogye fun yidishn alef-beys_ (Eliyohu Lipiner) 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 1 September 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: Yiddish Matters a. The short story "Der shidekh in partshev" in _The Mendele Review_ v02.021 brought Alter Katsizne [Kacyzne] to the attention of many readers unfamiliar with his work. In this issue of _TMR_ we give a single chapter from Katsizne's two-volume novel, _shtarke un shvakhe_, one which stands up very well as a long short story in itself. The text is reproduced from Alter Katsizne, "sheydemlekh", [tsveyter teyl _sheydem-tants_, kapitl 11], band dray, _shtarke un shvakhe_, bukh eyns, _gezamlte shriftn_, tel-oviv: farlag y.-l. perets, 1972, zz' 227-237. b. In response to letters about the recently deceased scholar, Eliyohu Lipiner, we print here the table of contents of his magnum opus, _idielogye fun yidishn alef-beys_, a single chapter of which (on the alef-beys in folklore) appeared in _TMR_ 02.023 (with endnotes in _TMR_ 02.024). 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 1 September 1998 From: Leah Krikun Subject: "sheydemlekh," fun _shtarke un shvakhe_ kapitl 11, zz' 227-237 (alter katsizne) sheydem|lekh 227 yidishe gvirishkayt kon nisht lang onhaltn. dos iz an alter klal. ober di podlaskis zenen geven an oysnam un dos hot laytn di oygn geshtokhn. vi kumt es, az yidn zoln zayn gvirem-adirem nokh fun zeydn un fun elter-zeydn? mistame iz do epes nisht glat, nisht b|derekh hateve, hobn take skeynem gevust tsu dertseyln a fayne geshikhte vegn der gvirisher mishpokhe podlaskis, az zey hobn shoyn kimat aleyn in ir gegleybt. a mol, a mol, nokh in napoleons tsaytn, hot gevoynt in a shkheyn|ishn dorf a yid -- a kremer, a groyser oreman. hot er gekoyft bay a goy a zekl arbes. gekumen a goy mit arbes -- hot er es gekoyft in glaykhn gelt. heyst er dem goy aropshteln dos zekl arbes in krom un aleyn nemt er arop a mestele arbes optsukokhn lekoved shabes. der goy is shoyn lang avek zayn veg, es kumt shoyn bald on der heyliker shabes oyf der velt un der arbes kokht un kon zikh nisht opkokhn. efsher tsum tsentn mol shept on dem kremers tokhter fun groysn top mitn hiltsernem lefl, blozt oys, pruvt tsekayen -- vore shteyndlekh. -- tate, vos far a arbes hostu gekoyft? nokh fun meylekh sobyeskis tsaytn, avade! -- a ganev a goy! -- klogt zikh der yid -- oysgenart mayne oreme por groshn un gey shit im zalts oyfn ek. -- un far kaas khapt er dem zudikn top arbes un gist oys far der tir. vos den? in tsholnt vet er zey farrukn? ersht -- es git im epes a blank far di oygn, dem yid. di oysgegosene arbes blanken. er beygt zikh on, er hoybt oyf a por. er iz 228 mevulbl. dos zenen nisht keyn arbes -- samerodne perl. loyft er, der kremer, tsum zekl in krom, bindt oyf -- oykh perl. -- Sore! shrayt er tsu der tokhter -- Sore! farmakh di lodn, gikher! farmakh di tir! mit vos far a gemit der yid is mekabl shabes geven, kont ir aykh shoyn forshteln. fun sider hobn zikh geshotn shures shvartse perl, fun sider hot aroysgekukt der goy. epes a modner goy mit koltenes. vi hot er es frier nisht bamerkt, vos far a goy dos iz? un ot klapt men shoyn in di lodns. ot zetst men shoyn in der tir. der yid entfert nisht. er klapt mit di tseyn. er hot den tseyn? bay im zenen perl in moyl. Sore hot far shrek ayngegrobn ir likhtik ponem in kishn arayn. un ot kukt shoyn aroys der goy nisht fun sider, nor fun geefntn oyvn. men hot im nisht arayngelozt durkh der tir, dem gast, iz er gekumen durkhn koymen. er kukt fun oyvn aroys un shmeykhlt, shvarts, vi a ruekh, in sazhe oysgeshmirt un fun zayn breytn moyl blanken di tseyn -- perl. -- du vilst mikh take nisht araynlozn? un a shprung un a klap, vi mit ferdishe kopites, un er shteyt shoyn in shtub. dos hitl hot er ibergelozt in koymen un dem pelts trogt er oyf der linker zayt. un epes klapt zikh bay im fun hintn vos shtekt fun untern pelts aroys, klapt zikh on dr'erd mit tkifes un mit rugze, vi men klapt mitn foyst in tish arayn. -- shoyn zolstu mir opgebn di arbes, du herst? s'iz nisht mayn zekl arbes, s'iz der bobes zekl arbes. di bobe hot far di hor mikh aroysgevorfn, ikh zol brengen di arbes tsurik. nemt zikh on der yid mit gvure un tselakht zikh: -- farkofyt is gekoyft! -- shrayt dokh yener: -- mekekh-toes! entfert im der kremer: -- toes goy -- muter -- un lakht im in fintstern partsef arayn. fun vanen hot zikh tsum yidn genumen aza aynshtelenish iz take khidushem. ober der yid geyt nokh vayter: 229 hiney, zolst visn, az shabes fir ikh nisht keyn miskhorem. un nokh shabes, az du vest aropkumen, vel ikh ersht mit dir lernen bolek. un dayn boben zolst ibergebn -- na, ot o dem ksav. un, fargesn, az s'iz fraytik tsu nakht, git er a ris arop fun der vant ibern bet an altn shir-hamayles, vos iz do gehangen korev akhtsn yor, fun der tsayt ven zayn yidene, olehasholem, iz do gelegn mit Sore|len in kimpet. -- na! ze! kenst ivre? makhsheyfe loy tikhye, loy tikhye makhsheyfe... der shvartser parshoyn hot zikh mitn kop on dr'erd a zets geton, vi a fintsterer zak. -- loz op! loz op! shelt nisht mayn boben! un ersht itst, rakhmone litslan, iz geven tsu zen, vos bay im fun hintn, fun ibergekertn peltz hot aroysgeshtekt far a shayndl. in a vayle arum iz er farkrokhn in a vinkl, vi a kats. -- gut -- hot er gezogt, ikh shenk dir di arbes, ober aheym kon ikh shoyn nisht geyn. ikh tor far der boben di oygn nisht vayzn, ikh blayb do bay dir. -- vos heyst epes bay mir? -- un der yid iz plutslung blas gevorn, opgefaln der kurazh. es klapn im di tseyn in moyl -- perl. der gast ober zitst shoyn baym tish, bay di khales. er patsht mit di lapes on vaysn tishtekh -- un der tishtekh iz shoyn badekt mit opgeshtemplte shvartse hent. di likht tsitern. -- ikh blayb do bay dir, bay dir in shtub. ikh vel zikh mit dir miskhatn zayn. kh'vel nemen far a vayb dayn Sore|len. Sore|le hot aroysgelozt a kvitsh, der yid -- a geshrey. der gast hot zikh tsehirzhet, di likht hobn zikh farloshn. di khales zenen aroysgefloygn fun untern tishtekhl un arumgeshvebt ibern fintstern tsimer, vi di tsvey vayse toybn, navenad. s'hot zikh geton khoyshekh. ober, vayzt oys, az der kremer mitn bal-dover zenen tsvishn zikh durkhgekumen un geshlogn blat. a shpilkhele -- a zak perl!... azoy hobn dertseylt skeynem di geshikhte fun dem plutslungn gvirishn oyfkum fun der mishpokhe podlaski mit yorn tsurik. di mishpokhe iz zikh tsevaksn un di geshikhte hot zikh geshtarkt. di podlaskis mit zeyer ashires, mit zeyer hanhoge, mit zeyer yedn nayem dor zenen mit der geshikhte alts mer zikh 230 tsunoyfgevaksn. in der gegnt vayt arum hot men zey gerufn nisht andersh vi di sheydem|lekh. un di sheydem|lekh hobn oyfgeboyt zeyer yishev oyf yener zayt taykh, hinter der shtot lyasove. fun danen shtamt es der baynomen podlaski. der yishev iz zikh tsevaksn in a raykh shtetl mit gertner, mit prits|ishe moyern, mit miln un mit tartakes arum, iber dem taykh iz oysgevaksn a mekhtike brik oyf rizike palyes, vos fun vayt flegt men forn oyf khidushem zi onkukn un nisht farshtanen oyf vos zi halt zikh. zi hot ingantsn nisht gehat keyn onshpar in der mit un iz dokh geven ayzn-shtark. vayzt oys, az oykh tsu der brik hot der tayvl tsugeleygt a hant. ober in dem raykhn shtetl hot keyn zaytiker, akhuts der farmerter mishpokhe padloski nisht gevoynt. zey hobn faynt gehat tsu mishn zikh mit zaytike. un di sine iz ariber oykh oyf shidukhem fun der fremd. di podlaskis zenen geven shtoltse, farrisene negidem. gehaltn nor fun eygenem yikhes un eygener ashires un zikh miskhatn geven nor mit eygene. karg zenen zey nisht geven. geshotn mit nedoves fun der breyter hant. vayzt oys, di gantse kargshaft zeyere iz nor arayn in der moyre, az zeyere groyse farmegns zoln nisht farfremdt vern. un efsher hobn zey gehat a shtar aza mitn ershtn bal-dover, az keyn zaytike shidukhem zoln zey nisht ton. say vi say dos nisht-gute blut fun dem ershtn shidekh zeyern hot zikh ongehoybn aroystsuvayzn alts mer un mer. modne mentshn zenen gevaksn bay di sheydem|lekh. es hot bay zey farfelt der geveynlekher min mentsh. zey hobn gehat gerotene kinder, meydlekh un yinglekh, vos hobn oyf mayln vayt ge|shem|t nisht nor mit zeyere sheynkayt, nor oykh mit zeyer khokhme. un zey hobn gehat kinder mieskaytn azelkhe, vos shvangere froyen in lyasove hobn moyre gehat in gas aroystsugeyn, az azoyns zol zey nisht antkegn kumen. un vayber -- groys vi de dembes un vayber mit vontses un mit a mansbilshn kol. un mentshlekh kleyninke mit lange hent un groyse shterns, un hoykhe dare mansparshoynen mit shterns farvaksene, on a simen bord un vontses. dos zenen alts geven di sheydem|lekh. ober di sheyne fun tsvishn zey zenen geven sheyn mit alemen. s'iz geven di oygn nisht optsuraysn fun zeyere sharf-getokte groyse penimer. kukndik oyf aza ponem hot zikh gevolt oyshrayen: ot azoy badarf oyszen a mentshlekhe noz! ot azelkhe badarfn zayn mentshlekhe lipn, oygn, bremen! farvos zenen ale mentshn nisht azoy! un es hot zikh shoyn 231 gedakht, az in di penimer ligt mer kishef, vi sheynkayt. un az m'hot lang oyf zey gekukt iz gevorn umheymlekh. vayl men hot gefilt -- men kon zikh nisht opraysn. un dos dozike gefil fun nisht konen zikh opraysn hot nisht veynik agmes-nefesh farshaft der shtot lyasove. un umglikn afile. men dertseylt vegn getn un dibukem, rakhmone-litslan, tsulib di sheydem|lekh, vos yidishe tekhter fun lyasove un der umgegnt zenen farkisheft gevorn fun zeyere penimer. un az der alter porets fun zatsishye hot zikh arayngeshosn in kop arayn tsulib a sheyner shedikhe iz oykh a bavuste zakh. yo, ver es hot gehat tsu ton mit zey, mit di podlaskis, hot getsitert far zeyer sheynkayt, punkt vi far zeyer mieskayt, gevaykht fun zeyer gutskayt, azoy vi fun zeyer akhzoryes. vayl vi in sheyn un mies hot gefelt bay zey di mos, azoy hot zi oykh gefelt bay zey in guts un shlekhts. vegn eyner fun di shedikhes, -- a yidene mit vontses (zi iz, dakht zikh, geven berl podlaskis an elter-bobe) dertseylt men, az dos iz geven a vaybl -- a kozak, eyn soykher|te in der velt. der man irer hot gehat darinke hentelekh, dininke fiselekh un a groysn shtern. er hot gekent toyznt blat gemore oyf oysnveynik un iz geven a shoysek, a shvayger, in der vaybs gesheftn zikh nisht gemisht. ver zhe hot ir geholfn in di miskhorem? farshteyt zikh di fayne kroyvem ire nokh fun ershtn ziveg, di lapitutn. vayl der bal-dover, zogt men, hot arayngeshribn dem kremer in nadn nisht nor dem zak perl, nor zayne brider un glid-shvesterkinder hot er avekgeshenkt tsu di podlaskis far eybike knekht. zenen zey geshtanen, di sheyne kroyvem, bay ir ibern kark, bay der yidene mit di vontses. mekhutenes|te! git undz arbet! es hot gebrent unter zeyere hent. iz di yidene zikh meyashev: zi darf shoyn nisht zeyere treyfe|ne hilf. zi hot shoyn, borekh-hashem, fun kol-tuv. ober opmakh iz opmakh. lapitutn muzn arbetn. loz zey geyn leydik, konen zey nokh, khas-vesholem, emetsn shedikn. ver veys? efsher untertsindn di shtot. hot zi zey avekgeshtelt tseyln mon. berg mit mon hobn zey ir oysgetseylt in eyntsike kerndlekh. un emes iz emes, di gegnt, hot oyfgelebt. az di lapitutn zenen farnumen baym tseyln mon, konen zikh yidn farnemen mit zeyere gesheftn un es geyt zey keshure... ot di dozike soykher|te, di bobe mit di vontses -- dertseylt men -- iz oyf di eltere yorn arayngefaln in a meykhesh fun gutskayt. gut tsu gut iz 232 dokh nisht glaykh. men badarf dokh nisht aroysvayzn dem negid|ishn untershlak. nor itst, az di skeynem dertseylen dos, shpayen zey far oyfregung. vos hot zi geton? nisht mer, nisht veyniker, zi hot genumen ire draytsn baytshn perl, vos yeder perl is geven di groys vi a shporer arbes, gegangen iber di derfer un farteylt perl tsu di poyerem. vemen dray perl, vemen finf perl -- oysgeteylt. tfu! es kert tsu der gal! un az es hobn zikh oysgelozt di perl (draytsn baytshn!) hot zi zikh genumen tsu farteyln di zilberne keylem.... hot ir, heyst es, a bayshpil fun zeyer gutskayt. un geven vider a feter Yekusiel podlaski (az di erd zol im aroysvarfn!), iz dos geven shoyn eyn mol a feter. (in vos far a kroyve|shaft er iz geven tsu berlen kon ikh, oser, nisht zogn. say vi say, ale podlaskis zenen geknipt un gebundn mitanand). hot der doziker feter Yekusiel gehat a teve|le, vi, lehavdl, Avrem- ovinu, tsu zitsn bay zayne getseltn un opvartn oreme-layt. tsum tish, vos emes, flegt er zey nisht farbetn, derfar ober flegt er shenken fayne nedoves. vos shayekh -- shenken? az gold valgert zikh mamesh in der blote. kum un nem. geven bay im an ayzerner parkan, tsvishn eyn prent un tsveytn koym di hant arayntsushtekn. hot der nogid nokh geheysn di ayzerne prentn arumviklen mit shtekhers fun drot. un oyf yener zayt parkan hot er oysgeshotn gantse un halbe imperyaln, vi tsum trikenen oyf der zun. nemt, kinderlekh! vos ir vet aroystsien -- iz ayers! hobn gantse teg farn parkan zikh geshtupt kaptsonem mit kinderlekh. tsu vos -- kinderlekh? vayl a kindish hentl vet zikh gikher araynbakumen tsvishn di prentn un shtekhers. un der feter Yekusiel iz gezesn bay zayne getseltn un tsugezen, vi kindishe hentlekh vern tseblutikt, zikh tsiendik tsum gold. un er hot gelakht. -- vos den hot ir gevolt, kinderlekh? azoy gring zol es aykh onkumen? di tsayt geyt zikh ir gang. di sheydem|lekh hobn zikh farmert un zikh tseshpreyt iber der velt. in der gegnt fun lyasove zenen shoyn gor veynik podlaskis farblibn. ober di legende vegn zeyer oyfkum un hanhoge hot nokh ongehaltn fest. un az mit tsen yor tsurik is ongekumen berl podlaski, der sibirnik, un genumen balebateven in zayn tatns groyse 233 mayontkes un aroysgelozt a kolkoyre: kumt, yidn, ver es vil! lomir arbetn tsuzamen un makhn a lebn beshutfes -- iz gevorn a freylekher gemurml: - aha! di elter-bobe hot zikh in im opgerufn. di treyfe|ne sheyd|ishe gutskayt. yene hot tseteylt ire perl (draytsn baytshn!) un der geyt far|takhl|even dem tatns mayontek! berlen is ongekumen nisht shver arayntsunarn tsu zikh di ershte fuftsik yidishe mishpokhes, ober ven in der gegnt hobn zikh farshpreyt grusn fun podlaskis nayshtetl, az in shtetl un in der hute arbet men shver un biter, az khuts der eygene malokhe darfn nokh yidn flantsn gertner, az yidn -- vey geshrign -- darfn in eynem mit di poyerem krikhn trikenen zumpn -- dan hot men zikh gekhapt in dem bitern toes. nisht di elter-bobe mit di vontses hot zikh opgerufn in berl dem sibirnik, nor der barimter feter Yekusyel (az di erd zol im aroysvarfn). er hot a zog geton: nemt, kinderlekh, un aleyn hot er gemakht a drotenem parkan. un er lakht, der sibirnik. -- vos den hot ir gevolt? azoy gring zol es aykh onkumen? an anderer oyf zayn ort volt shoyn lang oyfgegebn ale breyte plener un funandergelozt dem kheyder. berl hot ober geshtamt fun di sheydem|lekh. un vi zey hobn nisht gehat keyn mitn tsvishn sheyn un mies, gut un shlekht, azoy hot zey oykh gefelt der mitn tsvishn veykhkayt un akshones. berl hot gehert tsu di akshonem fun di sheydem|lekh, er hot zikh ayngegebn in foter zaynem un di dozike mayle zayne hot im gegebn tsu filn ir emes|n tam nokh in di kindershe yorn. s'iz nisht meglekh geven, az der alter zol im nokhgebn, vi tsvey milshteyner hot zikh geribn zeyer akshones eyne on der anderer un nisht eyn mol flegt der alter oysshrayen in shrek: -- vey tsu mayne yorn! dos vakst dokh a blutiker soyne oyf mayn kop! an eltern bruder hot berl gehat a hoykhn un a darn, a genyaln bal-kheshbm, ober a yingl a shmate. on a viln, on a kharakter. der iz dos geven dem tatns shayndl. mit im flegt zikh der alter barimen far di umtsolike gest, sokhrem, rabonem un, lehavdil, genereler (nokh fun der 234 terkisher milkhome, ven der alter hot fardrayfakht zayn farmegn hot er gefirt a gut-frayndshaft mit a por demisyonirte genereler). far di gest flegt dos oysgetsoygn, dar bokherl darfn bavayzn zayn bekies in kheshbm in keyfl un khilek fun rizike tsoln un brokhtsoln. di gest hobn gegaft un der alter hot zikh geshmoltsn. ober bay berishn hot er keyn mol nisht gekont poyeln, er zol a zing ton far di gest. khotsh ven keyn zaytike zenen nisht geven, flegt dos yingl farhilkhn di tsimern mit zayn zilbernem alt, un nokhmakhn dem shtot-khazn mit ale shtiklekh. keyn tse|lokhes|nik iz berl nisht geven. er hot ober nisht gekont laydn ven men bafelt im. un der tate hot nisht gekont andersh vi bafeln. -- fun ayzn zolstu zayn, herst? vel ikh dikh tsebrekhn. mit vos hot berish geentfert oyf dem altns vorenung? er iz antlofn fun der heym. fun fertsn yor on hobn zikh ongehoybn zayne gilgulem. fun a yingl bay a minsker shloser -- biz dem farshiktn revolutsyoner berl podlaski. der darer bruder -- der bal-kheshbm -- hot shoyn lang nisht gelebt. der alter aleyn iz paralizirt gevorn un in shrek far der shlekhter elter un in moyre, az zayn farmegn zol nisht farfremdt vern, hot er sholem gemakht mit zayn vidershpenikn zun. -- nu -- itst veln mir zen vi du vest firn -- hot er shver aroysgeshtamlt mit zayn geleymter tsung un gepruvt derbay a beyzn shmeykhl ton. iz eyn halber ponem farblibn shtayf un kalt tsu dem inyen, dos andere halbe ponem hot zikh tseveynt. er hot zikh farshpart in zayn groysn hoyz hinter der brik in lyasove, kedey mer shoyn fun dort nisht aroystsukrikhn. un berl hot zikh bazetst in rizikn vildn mayontek, in di zumpn bay der mil. di hute bay der sotshi (vayser zamd geven) un dos nayshtetl, vi oykh di dray naye derfer oyfn ort fun di oysgetriknte zumpn -- dos iz shoyn geven berls eygener oyftu. ober di ershte por yor fun zayn arbet zenen geven di shverste far im. im hot getrofn a shverer klap fun der zayt, vu er hot zikh amveynikstn gerikht. loytn mineg fun di podlaskis hot berl khasene gehat mit a kroyve. der alter hot nokh tsugeaylt di khasene, kedey dem zun tsutsubindn tsu der heym. fun dem zuns plener hot der alter keyn anung nisht gehat. un az 235 der zun hot aroysgezogt zayn farlang khasene tsu hobn -- is dokh matoyv. vert er dokh a gezetster mentsh. farvos hot berl nokhgeton dem meshune|dikn mineg fun di ale podlaskis un genumen far a vayb a vayte kuzine? s'iz shoyn, vayst oys, geven bay zey in blut. fun der fremd hobn zey nisht gekont zikh tsuklaybn keyn vayber. un gekent hot er dos meydl nokh fun kindvayz. emes, dos iz shoyn nisht geven di kleyne shvarts-kheyn|evdike berte mit di tseplekh, nor a dervaksener, zelbshtendiker mentsh, a froy mit hekherer bildung, a bakteryolog in pensne un mit tsunoyfgevaksene bremen. ober berlen iz gefeln gevorn dafke der ernst irer, der knaper shmeykhl bay di freylekhste shmuesn, di umophengike manir tsu farrikhtn di pensne, ven zey haltn baym aropglitshn zikh, un dos gantse ponem irs, groys un fayn geshnitst, mit dem kaltblut fun a heldishn soldat oyfn front, hot di dozike berte durkhgemakht a shvere kholere-kampanye in di vayte rusishe gegntn. mit aza froy kon men zikh aveklozn oystrikenen zumpn un aynfirn a groyse kolektive landvirtshaft. berl hot keyn toes nisht gehat. zayn froy hot vi geherik opgeshatst zayne plener. a gut, khaver|ish lebn hot zikh ongefedemt bay zey, ober dos umglik iz gekumen umgerikht. in dorf is berte aropgekumen shoyn oyf der tsayt. un in gikhn hot zi geboyrn a kind. ot dos ershte kind zeyers hot arayngetribn berlen in fartsveyflung. s'iz im antkegn gekumen di gantse sheydem-legende fun zeyer mishpokhe. dos kind iz geven nisht nor mies -- es hot aroysgevizn boylete simonem fun idiotizm. in keyn legendes hot ober berl nisht gegloybt. di ale podlaskis, velkher er hot gekent, zenen geven sheyn oder mies, ober kerperlekh un gaystik gezunte, feike mentshn. afile der farshtorbener bruder mit di lange, oysgetsoygene beyner iz geven a genyaler bal-kheshbm. nu yo, ober der bruder hot gehat oysgetriknte beyner. un der foter iz geven a paralitiker. un berlen is bafaln a moyrediker khshad, az in zayne odern flist krank blut, az er kon vern a foter bloyz fun idiotn un kalikes. darf men, heyst es, ibershnaydn dem veg un vos gikher -- alts zikherer. vi azoy? oyfshnaydn zikh di odern, oder araynshisn zikh in moyl -- alts eyns. der gedank vegn nemen zikh dos lebn iz im nokhgegangen vi 236 a shotn. er hot ongehoybn oysbahaltn fun zikh shtrik, mesers, dem revolver. er hot dokh lib gehat dos lebn un gekont lebn. er hot lib gehat tsu arbetn un iz geshtanen bay der shvel fun a groyser, sheyner arbet. nisht shoyn zhe iz keyn ander oysveg nishto? ober a tate fun a idiot? gut, zol zayn er vet mer shoyn keyn kinder nisht hobn. ober er hot dokh shoyn! un in a fintstern geviter-ovnt iz er gekumen tsu a fintstern bashlus. berte hot zikh oyfgekhapt, vi fun a shtoys in hartsn. zi hot derzen berlen un aroysgelozt a vildn geshrey. er iz geshtanen far dem kinds vigele: -- vos shraystu, berte? s'iz dokh nokh keyn zakh nisht geshen? es iz ober zeyer fil geshen. far a halb yor tsayt iz er tsum ershtn mol geshtanen far zayn kinds vigele. er hot di gantse tsayt oysgemitn tsu kukn oyf dem. er hot afile nisht gekont hern vi dos kind shrayt. im hot zikh dan oysgevizn, az dos shrayt fun keyver der tate der paralitiker. er hot zikh afile opgevoynt tsu redn mit zayn vayb, zint dos umglik iz geshen. un plutslung -- berl nebn kind. zi iz shoyn geshtanen in eyn hemd nebn dem vigele. - vos tustu do, berl? - ikh trakht. ikh shtey un ikh trakht, berte. aza kind tor men nisht lozn lebn. s'iz a farbrekh! zi hot gekukt oyf im mit ire dershrokene, kirtszikhtike oygn, bashitsndik dos vigele. -- azoy redt a tate? -- yo, s'iz mayn zun. mayn ershter zun. un ikh zog dir, berte, az s'iz glaykher, er zol nisht lebn. -- ober s'iz mayns, mayns! fun ir geshrey hot dos kind zikh oyfgekhapt un zikh tseveynt, nebekhdik un ketsish. berl hot zikh farshtelt di oyern un iz aroysgelofn. dem kinds geshrey hot geshtekt in di oyern. oyf der velt hot dan geshpilt dos geviter. der regn hot geroysht. fun yedn duner hot zikh berlen gedakht, az dos hoyz, mit im in eynem, falt in a fintstern thom arayn. fun yedn blits iz der thom gevorn baloykhtn biz in vaytstn 237 vinkele. di blitsn hobn baloykhtn dem thom fun zayn gemit. a sakh zakhn zenen im klor gevorn. es iz nisht nor zayn kind, es iz oykh irs. s'iz nisht nor zayne akhrayes -- oykh ire. zi vet nisht lozn dos kind umbrengen. er vet nisht veln -- es zol blaybn lebn. zeyer tsuzamenlebn iz tserisn, tserisn oyf eybik. oyb zi vil -- zol ze trogn di akhrayes. -- tu, berte, vi du farshteyst. un berte iz avekgeforn mitn kind keyn oysland. geheysn hot es, az zi fort zikh an eytse haltn mit profesorn. ober in oysland iz zi shoyn geblibn. berl hot farkoyft dos groyse hoyz vos iz farblibn fun foter in lyosove un dos gelt farzikhert in an oyslendishn bank oyf bertes nomen. ersht itst hot er zikh oyfgekhapt vi fun a shvern slof un mit nayer akshones zikh arayngevorfn in der arbet. er iz farblibn der eygener berl, vos geven, mit a libe tsum lebns tog-teglekhe freydn un zorg, ober mit eyn kleyner enderung. berl hot fargesn vi men lakht tsvishn mentshn mit a fuln moyl. vi er volt ibergenumen bertes ayngehaltenem, knapn shmeykhl. *** 3)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 1 September 1998 From: Leah krikun Subject: Table of Contents of _idielogye fun yidishn alef-beys_ (Eliyohu Lipiner). eliyohu lipiner. _idielogye fun yidishn alef-beys_. buenos-ayres: yivo, 1967. [Elias Lipiner. _Ideologia del alfabeto hebreo_. Buenos Aires: Instituto Cientifico Judio, 1967.] inhalt [pp. 589-595] ershter teyl: dray toyznt yor yidish ksav --kapitl eyns: grafishe antviklung. 1. prehistorisher beyn hashmoshes. -- 2. oyfkum fun alt-hebreishn ksav. -- 3. di groyse shrift-reforme. -- 4. darshn zi tsu barekhtikn. -- 5. psikhishe tnoem tsu ir farfestikung. -- 6. grafishe gilgulem biz undzer tsayt. --kapitl tsvey: ideologishe antviklung. 1. andershkayt fun yidishn alef-beys. -- 2. sfor, sipur un seyfer.-- 3. ideologish-biologishe eygnshaftn fun alef-beys. -- 4. der drash-metod un zayn hoypt-instrument. -- 5. eksegetishe operatsyes fun di baaley-sod. -- 6. kabalistishe relativizirung fun traditsyoneln tekst. -- 7. di toyres-hashmites un ire yesoydes. -- 8. ir farbindung mit dem yidishn alef-beys. -- 9. di utopye fun dray-un-tsvantsikstn os. --kapitl dray: ideologishe hashpoe in der grafisher antviklung. 1. di ideye un ir grafishe skheme. -- 2. nyuansn fun dem getlekhn rotsn. -- 3. der _borekh sheomar_ un zayne takones. -- 4. di mistishe un etishe peyrushem fun seyfer _alfa beysa_. -- 5. der _keses hasoyfer_ ['The Scribe's Writing Materials'] fun r' Shloyme gantsfrid. -- 6. takhbules tsu farshenern dos sofrishn tekst. -- 7. eysh shkhoyre al gabe eysh levone. -- 8. etish-religyeze hiskhayvusn fun dem soyfer. -- 9. sofrisher intentsyonalizm. -- 10. der revolt makhmes an iberiker vov. -- 11. opshlus fun ershtn teyl. tsveyter teyl: khkire un drosh in der ksav-eksegetik --kapitl fir: der alef-beys in zohar. 1. di instrumentn tsi ur-modeln fun bashaf. -- 2. bashaf-sgules fun di oysyes.-- 3. di harmonye tsvishn eybershtn un untershtn alef-beys. -- 4. der oyfhel fun makhshove. -- 5. der alef-beys in sod fun genetik. -- 6. di mentshlekhe fizyonomik. -- 7. mistishe anatomye fun dem mentshns guf.-- 8. di aktivkayt fun di oysyes un zeyer dinamishkayt. -- 9. nogilo venismekho bokh [bokh = beys (2) + kof (20), the 22 letters of the Tora]. -- 10. di orkhem bay gots tish. --kapitl finf: der seyfer yetsire. 1. der ershter dokument vegn oysyes-khkire. -- 2. di tsvey-un-draysik mysteryeze vegn.-- 3. baginen fun shprakhvisnshaft. -- 4. der bashafndiker shprakhrod. -- 5. di dray _muters_. -- 6. stires un hipukhem fun univers. -- 7. di oysterlishe yetsire-piramide. --kapitl seks: nokhfolgers fun seyfer-yetsire. 1. khidesh un fardinstn fun seyfer-yetsire. -- 2. di alef-beys mistik fun r' Avrem abulefye. -- 3. r' Yoysef gikatila un zayn _ginas egoz_. -- 4. di khokhme fun tseyref-haoysyes. -- 5. an aynfal fun meshumodem. -- 6. magye un metafizik. -- 7. tsvey antipodn in der geografye fun kabole. -- 8. der _gortn fun milgroymen_. -- 9._pe-eylo_ ['upper mouth'] un _pe tatoo_ ['lower mouth']. -- 10. der _bris oylom_ un zayn topl-sistem. -- 11. durkh kabole tsu khsides.-- 12. di lingvistishe bashaf-teorye. -- 13. di kosmogonishe formula _ato_ ['you']. --kapitl zibn: der seyfer oysyes _derabi Akive_. 1. zayn didaktisher stil. -- 2. grafish-ideologishe tabele fun alef-beys. -- 3. nemen-tabele oyfn yesod fun yidisher tsutsiung. -- 4. der alef-beys in piet. --kapitl akht: der _seyfer-hatmuno_. 1. zayn soydesdiker stil. -- 2. identifitsirung fun di oysyes mit der getlekhkayt. -- 3. konflikt arum di tsvey lukhes. -- 4. di oysyes viln nisht gegebn vern in mentshns hent. -- 5. rukhniesdike un gashmiesdike shtrikhn. -- 6. mekhanishe un gaystike dinamik fun alef-beys. -- 7. _heykhl vemakhoyn lerukhnies_. -- 8. metodishkayt kegn umbaholfnkayt.-- 9. shabes oyf der gantser velt. --kapitl nayn: di kristlekhe ideologn fun alef-beys. 1. di kloyster-foters un kristlekhe humanistn. -- 2. Elye bokher, der lerer far kristn. -- 3. pika de mirandola un Yoykhenen reukhlin. -- 4. di ksav-yadn fun der vatikan-bibliotek. -- 5. kristlekhe hebreistn fun 19tn yorhundert. -- 6. der egiptolog un hebreist fabre d'olivet. -- 7. der kabalistish-far|dveyke|ter shprakhforsher garsie blanko. -- 8. der ezoteriker un bal-guzme peralta. -- 9. di alef-beys-eksegetik fun dem oryentalist barzilay. -- 10. di tirkhe un ir skhar. driter teyl: problematik fun alef-beys --kapitl tsen: di figuren un di nemen fun alef-beys. 1. di bilder-teorye vegn zeyer opshtam. -- 2. sfeykes benegeye ir rikhtikayt. -- 3. di simonem-teorye.-- 4. hipotetishe restavratsye fun dem nemen-tekst. -- 5. di nemen al-pi drash un al-pi sod. -- 6. der seyder-haoylem un di ortografye. -- 7. di figuren al-pi sod.-- 8. di madreyge fun aroysfartikung. -- 9. substantsializirung fun ibererdishe bagrifn. -- 10. _hamshokhes khiyes vekoyekh miyukhad prati_. -- 11. di bilder-teorye in zohar. --kapitl elf: seyder-nuskhoes fun di oysyes. 1. opshtam un heylikayt fun traditsyoneln seyder.-- 2. barekhtikung fun dem akrostikh-printsip.-- 3. der bunt kegn traditsyoneln seyder. -- 4. asb"sh, di bakantste fartsaytike geheymshrift.-- 5. asb"sh-instsenizatsye in zohar. -- 6. seyder-nuskhoes mit an aritmetishn yesod. -- 7.farheylikung fun di andere seyder-nuskhoes.-- 8. alef-beys-boym un alef-beys-leyter. -- 9. takhles fun der mistisher algebre. --kapitl tsvelf: klasifikatsye fun alef-beys. 1. di traditsyonel ongenumene tsol.-- 2. tsol oysyes in der toyre.-- 3. di tsvey kriteryes fun seyfer-yetsire. -- 4. grupirung lefi dem geometrishn boy. -- 5. tsvey makhnes glaykhe loyt der tsol. -- 6. grupirung lefi dem grad mistishn yikhes. -- 7. oysyes fun rakhmim un fun din. -- 8. di alef vos iz shokul keneged kulom. -- 9. makhshove, diber un mayse.... -- 10. groyse, kleyne un meshune|dike oysyes. -- 11. di oysyes vern gefirt tsu der khupe. -- 12. opshtam un funktsye fun di sof-oysyes. -- 13._meyshorem ahavukh_.... -- 14. der tam un dos zalts fun alef-beys. -- 15. di zayln fun der geule. -- 16. finf sof-oysyes keneged finf khushem. -- 17. shvartse un vayse figuren. --kapitl draytsn: arbaa shenikhnesu lapardes. 1. di fir tnoem un zeyere madreyges.-- 2. kegnzaytike eydes-zogeray fun di fir vunder-oysyes. -- 3. der gevagtster oyrekh fun pardes. -- 4. rebe Akive in tkhum fun der lamed. -- 5. ben-zuma bay di toyern fun der shlos-mem. -- 6. ven Elishe zol geven derkenen di samekh. --kapitl fertsn: nekudes, tamem un tagin. 1. imos-hakrie. -- 2. sfeykes benegeye der rikhtiker oyshprakh. -- 3. oyfkum fun nikud. -- 4. di nekudes in zohar. -- 5. mistish-botanishe morfologye. -- 6. mistik fun di nekudes. -- 7. der yesod fun univers.-- 8. nekudes-yesod, nekudes-binyen un nekudes-tnue. -- 9. di nekudes in _pardes-rimonem_. -- 10. di himlishe gitares. -- 11. der _shefe tal_ oyf igeres hatamem. -- 12. paraleler nayer peyresh. -- 13. dray madreyges fun bashaf. -- 14. di _breklekh_ fun der toyre. ferter teyl: "kidesh oyf itlekhn os".... --kapitl fuftzn: di alef. 1. farvos farnemt zi dem oybnon. -- 2.ire epitetn in zohar. -- 3. opshtam un simbolik fun ir figur. -- 4. grafisher tsunoyfshtel loyt di mekubolem.-- 5. der sod fun ire grafish-positsyonele detaln. -- 6. yikhes-briv fun mentshlekhn min. -- 7. di umzebare alef.-- 8. di misterye fun ir nomen. -- 9. filologish-gramatikalishe sgules. --kapitl zekhtsn: di beys. 1. ir figur un simbolisher batayt. -- 2. simbolik fun der arkhayisher figur. 3. darshn oyf ir kvadratner figur. -- 4. farvos hot zi oysgekhapt di bkhoyre. -- 5. emblem fun der or-khokhme. --kapitl zibetzn: di giml. 1. der nomen un di figur. -- 2. dos derbaremdike os. -- 3. di oysgeloshene giml. -- 4. ir ideishe ashires. -- 5. a gematerte hashore mit a filologishn yesod. --kapitl akhtsn: di dalet. 1. opshtam fun ir figur un ideologisher vert.-- 2. dos bal-tsoke|dike alef-beys-porl. -- 3. ir batayt in der filosofisher sfere. -- 4. di mitologishe shmite fun khesed. --kapitl nayntsn: di hey. 1. dos os fun frukhperdikayt un shprotsungen.-- 2. grafish-mistishe anatomye. -- 3.di hey vert a sof-mem. -- 4. muser-peyresh oyfn grafishn boy -- 5. ir funktsye in der simbolik fun toyres hashmites.-- 6. ideologisher un gramatikalisher vert. --kapitl tsvantsik: di vov. 1. der simbol fun fareynikung. -- 2. der zayl fun der velt. -- 3. Eliyohu hanovis "vov" far|mashken|t bay Yankev ovinu.-- 4. der utopisher alef shatiso.-- 5. di universale "eybershte teg". -- 6. filologish-teyofizishe hashore vegn vov hamehapeykh. -- 7. imazhinere grafish-ideologishe oysshpreytung. --kapitl eyn-un-tsvantsik: di zayen. 1. der simbol fun kraft.-- 2. Moyshe's vander-shtekn un zayn orem. -- 3. di vov gekroynt mit a yud oyfn kepl. -- 4. simbolik fun ir aritmetishn batref. -- 5. radikale enderung fun seyder hooylem. --kapitl tsvey-un-tsvantsik: di khes. 1. der vikuekh arum ir nomen. -- 2. simbol fun der umgefuremter substants. -- 3. zind un rehabilitatsye.-- 4. grafishe elementn. -- 5. a nayer peyresh oyfn nomen. -- 6. di geenderte ortografye fun ir nomen. --kapitl dray-un-tsvantsik: di tes. 1. fun vanen shtamt ir nomen. -- 2. simbolisher batayt fun ir figur. -- 3. der ziveg fun sfires. -- 4. dos ayngefalene dekhele. -- 5. ir groyser skhus un di vundershtot unter ir hershaft. --kapitl fir-un-tsvantsik: di yud. 1. batayt fun ir nomen. -- 2. darshn oyf ir tsure un ksav ashuri. -- 3. dos hekhste un ershte pintl. -- 4. der moker fun ale oysyes. -- 5. troyeriker yud-monolog. 6. "vebo eleho melekh godol" -- 7. "hayofo benoshim" -- 8. a droshe fun dem vunderkind. -- 9. ir funktsye in der erotisher simbolik. -- 10. moker fun ir ideologishn koyekh. -- 11. opshlus fun a meyukhesdiker oysyes-grupe. --kapitl finf-un-tsvantsik: di kof. 1. opshtam fun ir nomen. -- 2. di ayngeboygene un glaykhe shvester.-- 3. di shaykhes tsvishn ir gramatikalisher funktsye un simbolishn vert. -- 4. an alter peyresh oyfn hebreizm "kavyokhl". --kapitl zeks-un-tsvantsik: di lamed. 1. opshtam fun nomen un gramatikalishe funktsye.-- 2. der shlos vos flit in der luftn.-- 3. dos oysgetsoygene heldzl irs.-- 4. grafisher boy un zayn mistisher batayt. --kapitl zibn-un-tsvantsik: di mem. 1. ir nomen un figur. -- 2. soydes fun der shlos-mem. -- 3. etisher glaykhgevikht fun univers. -- 4. grafishe elementn. -- 5. dos os fun toyt. --kapitl akht-un-tsvantsik: di nun. 1. ir nomen, figur un ideologisher vert. -- 2. grafish-mistishe anatomye. -- 3. di hengendike, di farkerte un di krume nun. -- 4. molkhos droshe vegn keyts hayomin. -- 5. "tereyn rokhamin" [Aramaic: 'two lovers']. -- 6. di bales hageules tsvishn di oysyes.-- 7. di nun vos hot goyver geven di khes. --kapitl nayn-un-tsvantsik: di samekh. 1. taytsh un simbolik fun ir nomen. -- 2. bagrifn un simboln vos es tsit nokh zikh ir figur.-- 3. der nes fun der samekh oyf di lukhes. -- 4. ire grafishe elementn un zeyer mistisher batayt. --kapitl draysik. di ayen. 1. di fridlekhkayt tsvishn nomen un der arkheyisher figur. -- 2. darshn oyfn nomen un oyf ir asorisher tsure. -- 3. di materye un ir eybikayt. -- 4. der peyresh fun _seyfer hatmune_ un seyfer _mogn Dovid_. -- 5. galgl hu hakhoyzer booylem. -- 6. dos mistishe tsveytl. --kapitl eyn-un-draysik. di fey. 1. shaykhes tsvishn nomen un figur. -- 2. muser kegn iberike reyd. -- 3. di nisem|dike formule "keyle godl besokh keyle kotn"-- 4. meshiekh in gefengenish. --kapitl tsvey-un-draysik. di tsadik. 1. ir nomen un figur-simbolik. -- 2. tsadi oder tsadik? -- 3. der emblem fun bezdn. -- 4. mistishe anatomye fun der tsadik. -- 5. di misterye fun epl-sod. --kapitl dray-un-draysik. di kuf. 1. der vikuekh arum taytsh fun ir nomen. -- 2. der roshe vos shtaygt oyfn leyter fun tshuve. -- 3. di kuf vos iz gevorn a hey. -- 4. ir antitezis in alef-beys. -- 5. di kuf un ir khates-kain. -- 6. der politsyant fun alef-beys. -- 7. kuf un "kipo". --kapitl fir-un-draysik. di reysh. 1. simboln fun ir nomen. -- 2. dos os fun yerushe un oremkayt. -- 3. di tsure fun os un ir mistisher batayt. -- 4. di reysh vos hot nisht gevolt farlozn Avrem|en. --kapitl finf-un-draysik. di shin. 1. etishe firshriftn farbundn mitn nomen un mit der tsure. -- 2. di mistik fun ir grafishn boy. -- 3. like-shin. -- 4. dos fatale pintele fun der linker shin. -- 5. der toykhn fun a bukh in eyn os. --kapitl zeks-un-draysik. di tof. 1. ir nomen un simbolik. -- 2. der toyt vert geboyrn. -- 3. ir grafish-mistishe anatomye. -- 4. di soydes fun ir krumen fisele. -- 5. der breg fun misteryezn yam. -- 6. di rizikalishste intelektuele ekspeditsye. finfter teyl: der alef-beys in folklor un in der literatur --kapitl zibn-un-draysik: folklor. 1. barir-shetekh tsvishn lomdes un folklor. -- 2. kheyder-shpiln, sikhes-khulin un folkslider. -- 3. eyfemizmen, psevdo-lomdishe oysdrukn un roshey-teyves. -- 4. glaykhvertlekh geboyt oyf oysyes, nekudes un tamem. -- 5. der alef-beys-folklor in pedagogishn tkhum. -- 6. di mayse iz oys. --kapitl akht-un-draysik: moderne yidishe literatur. 1. a blik oyf tsurik. -- 2. der nesoyen fun di fliendike oysyes. -- 3. reb Yude haleyvis "yud". -- 4. rehabilitatsye fun an alter shite. -- 5. kroyv|eshaft tsvishn der alter un nayer oysyes-mistik. -- 6. a harbe kabalistishe vorenung. -- 7. ode gehilt in mistishn ekstaz. -- 8. oysyes-mistik in der moderner lirik. -- 9. di oysyes in der didaktisher literatur.-- 10. shpilevdike oytonomye fun di oysyes. -- 11. verk vegn yidishn alef-beys. -- 12. sof dover. ______________________________________________________ End of _The Mendele Review_ 02.025 Leonard Prager, editor Subscribers to _Mendele_ (see below) automatically receive _The Mendele Review_. Send "to subscribe" or change-of-status messages to: listproc@lists.yale.edu a. For a temporary stop: set mendele mail postpone b. To resume delivery: set mendele mail ack c. To subscribe: sub mendele first_name last_name d. To unsubscribe kholile: unsub mendele ****Getting back issues**** _The Mendele Review_ archives can be reached at: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele/tmrarc.htm _The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language (A Companion to _MENDELE_) ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 02.026 10 September 1998 1) Yiddish Matters: From the Editor (Leonard Prager) 2) Yiddish bibliography for 1997-98 with addenda for 1996 (Hugh Denman) 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 10 September 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: Yiddish Matters: TMR Bibliography 1997-1998 (the editor) Though the field of Yiddish is relatively small, it is not small enough for any one person to encompass with any thoroughness. The books (not to mention the periodicals, disks, pamphlets, posters, etc.) issuing annually in, on and around Yiddish language, literature, Eastern-European Jewish history, and all the many related areas touching or illuminating Yiddish studies are far too many for even the most assiduous bibliographer to notice. Nonetheless, Hugh Denman, the TMR Bibliographer, has managed to assemble an impressive "Yiddish bibliography for 1997-1998 with addenda for 1996." Let us make this a truly cooperative effort: please send your corrections, additions and suggestions to Hugh Denman so that we can have an even more complete record of the published (including privately published) books of this lively world of Yiddish studies. Write to: Hugh Denman Benzion Margulies Lecturer in Yiddish Hebrew and Jewish Studies University College London Gower Street London WC1E 6BT, England (UK) tel. + fax: 00 43 5556 74881 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 10 September 1998 From: Hugh Denman Subject: Yiddish bibliography for 1997-1998 with addenda for 1996 YIDDISH BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR 1997-1998 WITH ADDENDA FOR 1996 by Hugh Denman Now that information is available concerning most books in the field of Yiddish that were published in 1997 the present moment would seem to offer an appropriate point at which to release a further issue of the TMR-Yiddish Bibliography. The need for such a bibliography becomes ever more apparent. The Yiddish listings in RAMBI are very far from comprehensive and the delay with which they appear has now grown to four years. Meanwhile, with the demise of _The Jewish Book Annual_, the excellent Yiddish listings that were formerly collated by Zachary Baker, Head Librarian of the YIVO Institute, have come to an abrupt (but, one would hope, temporary) halt with his 1995-1996 issue. There is room for argument as to the best periodicity for such a publication as this. On the one hand, there is much to be said for the convenience of complete calendar years. On the other, there is an obvious need to place bibliographic information in the hands of the reader as soon as possible. In this issue we have first as complete a listing for 1997 as it has been possible to achieve, followed by as many 1998 items as have come to attention so far this year. In addition we have a number of 1996 addenda that escaped attention in both Iosif Vaisman's original listing (TMR 01.003) and in my own supplement thereof (TMR 01.009). This is probably the best basis on which to continue these annual listings, i.e. each issue should consist of the whole of the previous year, as much as is available of the current year and addenda to cover omissions in the previous issue. These considerations will become obsolete when, as we hope, before long the bibliography becomes permanently available online. Very shortly I plan to issue my listings for 1995. This is probably as far back as it is worth while to go. Thus 1995 will become the TMR-Bibliography's year one. I should like to take this opportunity to thank those Mendelyaner and especially Ms. Estelle Souche of Lyon who were kind enough to draw omissions to my attention. Only if Mendelyaner continue to point out lacunae, whether by writing to Mendele, TMR or to me directly, will we be able to approach something like exhaustive coverage. The fact is that the Yiddish publishing market is exceptionally `tsezeyt un tseshpreyt' and many books appear with a degree of discretion that might lead one to believe that the publisher was anxious to avoid the vulgarity of wide distribution. Unfortunately there are still gaps in the bibliographic information below, particularly ISBN's and total numbers of pages. One can only appeal to readers having anything to do with the publication or sale of Yiddish books to try and ensure that full information is included in all publicity material. Naturally, I shall be most grateful for all emendations and augmentations. This bibliography aims to list all items in Yiddish, on Yiddish and translated from Yiddish. Normally it is clear whether an item meets these criteria. However, in a few cases (e.g. Dobroszycki and Perl below) the title of a publication may give the impression that the item belongs to some other area of Jewish studies. In such instances an attempt is made to determine whether there is sufficient of Yiddish interest in the work to justify its inclusion. In one or two cases a few brief words of explanation are offered in square brackets, but at the present moment a bibliographie raisonee is beyond the scope of these lists. One of the hardest areas to keep under observation are the publications of the various hasidic organisations. Even Zachary Baker was unable to keep track of the majority of these items, despite the fact that he was better placed to do so than I am. This omission is to be regretted, since many of these items are of potential interest to the secular Yiddishist, whether for literary, linguistic or pedagogic reasons (as can be attested by those items I have been able to list). Attentive readers will notice that I have reneged on my previous proposal to employ the bibliographic conventions advocated by Chicago U.P. This, I must admit, is for reasons of personal convenience only. For several decades now I have been accustomed to using the MHRA standards which intrinsically are equally, if not more, cogent than those of Chicago U.P., though somewhat less widely disseminated. Anyone for whom the miniscule differences are of significance can employ a number of software packages (none of which I have to hand at the moment of writing) to convert from the one system to the other. Orthographic and transcription problems intrinsic to a medium limited to ASCII characters remain as intractable as ever. Fortunately, there is no problem with the YIVO transcription of Yiddish, but inevitably some fine distinctions are lost in the Hebrew transcriptions, especially between vav and vet as well as between hey and het and it is inelegant to have to employ the sh-digraph to represent shin. All diacritics are lost in Polish and French and in German it is necessary to use the clumsy conventional substitutions for the umlauts. However, in the vast majority of cases the reader will be able to make the necessary adjustments. Only in the case of the odd proper name is information permanently lost as in the case of Bramson-Alperniene below, where one might not know that the name is spelled with an acute accent over the final e. 1997 Bartal, Israel & Israel Gutman (eds.), Qiyum veshever: yahadut polin ledoroteyhem, Jerusalem: Merkaz Zalman Shazar letoldot Yisra'el, 1997 [ISBN: 9652271179]. Binevich, Evgenii, Istoriia evreiskogo teatra v Rossii [Preprints and Reprints Series 38], Moscow: Jewish Heritage Society, 1997, 50pp. Birnbaum, Salomo, Die jiddische Sprache, Ein kurzer Ueberblick und Texte aus acht Jahrhunderten, durchges. und erw. Auflage mit einem Vorwort von Walter Roell, Hamburg: Buske, 1997 [new edition with important additions]. Bramson-Alperniene, Esfir, Yivo in Wilna: Zur Geschichte des "Juedischen Wissenschaftlichen Instituts", tr. Hubert Witt, Leipzig: Simon-Dubnow-Institut, 1997. Bronshteyn, Arn Sh., Lider, Tel Aviv: Y.L. Perets, 1997, 55pp. [ISBN: 965-7012-08-2]. Burg, Yoysef, Tsvey veltn: dertseylungen, skitsn, Chernivtsi-Odessa: Mame-Loshn (Rydva Mova), 1997?, 140pp. [ISBN: 966-7109-03-8]. Cassedy, Steven, To the Other Shore: The Russian Intellectuals Who Came to America, Princeton, NJ: Princeton U.P., 1997, xxiii+197pp. Chernenko, Miron, Iudaika na ekrane: kinematograficheskaia istoria evreev v SSSR 1919-1934 [Preprints and Reprints Series 42], Moscow: Jewish Heritage Society, 1997, 20pp. Cunz, Martin, Die Fahrt des Rabbi Nachman von Brazlaw ins Land Israel (1789-99): Geschichte, Hermeneutik, Texte, Tuebingen: Mohr Siebeck, 1997, 393pp [ISBN: 3-16-146628-4]. Dobroszycki, Lucjan & Robert Shapiro (eds.), The Individualization of the Holocaust, NY, 1997. Eggers, Eckhard, Sprachwandel und Sprachmischung im Jiddischen, Frankfurt: Peter Lang, 1997. Elberg. Yehudah, Ship of the Hunted, [= Oyfn shpits fun a mast], tr. from Yiddish by the author, Syracuse U.P., 1997, 299pp. [ISBN: 0-8156-0449-1]. Elberg. Yehudah, The Empire of Kalman the Cripple, [= Kalmen kalikes imperye], tr. by the author, Syracuse U.P., 1997, 326pp. [ISBN: 0-8156-0448-3]. Felzenbaum, Mikhael, Der nakht-malekh, Tel Aviv: Y.L. Perets, 1997, 229pp. Fishman, David E. & Avraham Nowersztern (eds.), YIVO bleter NS 3, [Khurbn-lite], New York: YIVO, 1997, iii+456pp. Fuchs, Abraham M., Unter der Bruecke [Jiddische Bibliothek 3], Novelle, tr. with afterword by Armin Eidherr, Salzburg: Otto Mueller, 1997. Gebirtig, Mordkhe, Mayn fayfele: umbakante lider, ed. Nosn Gros, ill. Aleksander Bogen, Tel Aviv: Keren Avrom-Y. Lerner & Farlag Yisroel-Bukh, 1997, 199pp. Glinert, Lewis (ed.), Mamme Dear: A Turn-of-the-Century Collection of Model Yiddish Letters, Northvale, N.J.: Aronson, 1997, [ISBN: 0765759829]. Goldsmith, Emanuel, S., Modern Yiddish Culture, The Story of the Yiddish Language Movement, revised edition, New York: Fordham U.P., 1997, 321pp. [ISBN: 0823216950]. Grinberg, Uri Zvi, To God and Our Race, Tel Aviv: Gesharim, 1997?, 48pp. Groezinger, Karl E. (ed.), Die Geschichten vom Ba'al Schem Tov - Schivche Ha-Bescht [Juedische Kultur 1], complete Hebrew and Yiddish versions with German tr., Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 1997. Groezinger, Karl E. (ed.), Juedische Kultur in Frankfurt am Main von den Anfaengen bis zur Gegenwart [Juedische Kultur 2], Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 1997. Guri, Yosef, Vi kumt di kats ibern vaser? ('elef nivim beyidish)/ 1,000 Yiddish Idioms and Their Equivalents in English, Hebrew and Russian, Jerusalem: HUP, 1997, 169pp. [ISBN: 965-223-970-4]. Hadda, Janet, Isaac Bashevis Singer: A Life, New York: OUP, 1997, 243pp. [ISBN: 0-19-508420-9]. Jendrusch, Andrej (ed.), Jiddische Kultur in Russland: 100 Jahre Arbeiterbund [Begleitheft zu den Berliner "Tagen der jiddischen Kultur"], Berlin, 1997. Karpinovitsh, Avrom, Geven, geven amol vilne, Tel Aviv: Y.L. Perets, 1997, 174pp. Khayet, Moyshe-Dovid, Der horizont: zikhroynes, dertseylungen un fartseykhenungen, Jerusalem: Yidishe Kultur, 1997, 272pp. Kipnis, Itsik, Yidishe mayselekh far kleyn un groys, ed. & glossary Boris Sandler, ill. Itella Mastbaum, Jerusalem: Kind-un-Keyt, 1997, 53pp. Klepfisz, Heszel, Der kval far doyres: yidish mizrekh-eyrope, eseyen, Jerusalem: the author/ Tel Aviv: Y.L. Perets, 1997, 608pp. Kogos, Fred, The Dictionary of Popular Yiddish Words, Phrases and Proverbs, Carol Publishing, 1997, 224pp. [ISBN: 0806518855]. Kritz, Ori, The Poetics of Anarchy: David Edelshtat's Revolutionary Poetry, [Europaeische Hochschulschriften. Reihe XVIII, Vergleichende Literaturwissenschaften 88] New York: P. Lang, 1997 [ISBN 0820435341]. Kruk, Herman, Diary of the Vilna Ghetto, augmented edition, tr. Barbara Harshav, with introduction by Benjamin Harshav, New Haven: Yale Univ. Press, 1997. La Fonten/ La Fontaine, 36 mesholim, tr. Shloyme Shveytser, Tel Aviv: Y.L. Perets, 1997, 72pp. Levine, Glenn Scott, Incomplete L1 Acquisition in the Immigrant Situation: The Case of Yiddish in the United States, University of Texas at Austin PhD dissertation, 1997. Loewy, Henno, and A. Bodek (eds.), Les vraies riches - Notizen am Rand: Ein Tagebuch aus dem Ghetto Lodz (Juni bis August 1944), Leipzig: Reclam, 1997 [quadrilingual diary: German, English, Yiddish and Polish in German translation with a facsimile of the original]. Lukin, Veniamin & Boris Khaimovich (eds.), 100 evreiskikh mestechek Ukrainy: Istoricheskii putevoditel'. Vypusk 1: Podoliia, Jerusalem/ St Petersburg: Jerusalem Center for Documentation of the Diaspora Heritage and the Institute for Investigation of the Jewish Diaspora (St. Petersburg Jewish University), 1997, 255pp. [ISBN: 5-89007-008-9]. Mlotek, Chana & Yosl, Songs of Generations: New Pearls of Yiddish Song/ Lider fun dor tsu dor: Naye perl fun yidishn lid, with introductions by Elie Wiesel & Dov Noy, New York: Arbeter-ring, 1997, 303pp. [ISBN: 1-877909-65-3]. Mohrer, Fruma & Marek Web (eds.), Guide to the YIVO Archives, New York: YIVO, 1997, 448pp. [ISBN: 0-7656-0130-3]. Neugroschel, Joachim, The Great Works of Jewish Fantasy, new edition, Woodstock: Overlook Press, 1997. Niborski, Yitskhok with the assistance of Shimen Noyberg, Verterbukh fun loshn-koydesh-shtamike verter in yidish/ Dictionnaire des mots d'origine hebraique et arameenne en usage dans la langue yiddish, Paris: Bibliotheque Medem, 1997, 306pp. Parim-Margulyes, Hulyet kinderlekh!: a yidish lernbukh far kinder, Paris, 1997. Peltz, Rakhmiel, From Immigrant to Ethnic Culture: American Yiddish in South Philadelphia [Stanford Studies in Jewish History and Culture], Stanford U.P., 1997 [ISBN: 0804730202]. Perec, Icchok Lejbusz, Opowiadania chasydzkie i ludowe, tr. Michal Friedman, preface by Salomon Belis-Legis, Wroclaw: Wydawnistwo Dolnoslaskie, 1997, 302pp. Perl, Joseph, Revealer of Secrets, The First Hebrew Novel, introduction & tr. Dov Taylor [Modern Hebrew Classics], Boulder Colorado-Oxford: Westview Press, 1997, 377pp. [ISBN: 0-8133-2312-5] Reershemius, Gertrud, Biographisches Erzaehlen auf Jiddisch, Grammatische und diskursanalytische Untersuchungen (Beihefte zum Language and Culture Atlas of Ashkenazic Jewry 2), Tuebingen: Niemeyer, 1997, viii+423pp. [ISBN: 3-484-73102-8]. Richarz, Monika & Reinhard Ruerup (eds.), Juedisches Leben auf dem Lande: Studien zur deutsch-juedischen Geschichte [Schriftenreihe wissenschaftlicher Abhandlungen des Leo Baeck Instituts 56], Tuebingen: Mohr Siebeck, 1997, xi+444pp. [ISBN: 3-16-146842-2]. Rosenfeld, Moshe Nathan (ed.), Jewish Printing in Karlsruhe, London: Rosenfeld, 1997, 144pp. [09525634-52] Rotner, Yehoshue, Seyfer hilkhes-shabes, far talmidim mit a baylage fun tabeles, BB?: Fridman, 1997, 268pp. Rozmarin, Rokhl, Perl fun mames shtub/ Pninim mebet 'ima', Jerusalem: Feldheym, 1997, 271pp. Rozntal, Zalmen, Geklibene verk/ Mivhar ktavim, bilingual edition ed. by M. Kutik, Y. Mazor & B. Sandler, Tel Aviv: 'Igud 'olami yehudei beserbiah, 1997, 252pp. Sagi, Hanah, 'Ivrit behotam yidish: shinuim morfo-sintaqtiim 'ahadim bilshon hatargum hasifruti miyidish 'al-pi targumim mikitvei shalom-'aleikhem, Bar-Ilan PhD thesis, Ramat-Gan, 1997. Scholem Alejchem, 75000 und andere Geschichten um Gott, Gelt und Glueck, ed. & tr. Dan Wiener, Leipzig: Reclam, 1997. Schwarz, Jan, When the Lamp of Art is made to Shine through Life's Foolscap: A Study of the Yiddish Literary Autobiography, Columbia PhD dissertation, 1997. Seidman, Naomi, A Marriage Made in Heaven, The Sexual Politics of Hebrew and Yiddish [Contraversions 7], Berkeley: California U.P., 1997, x+160pp. [ISBN: 0-520-20193-0]. Shavit, David, Hunger for the Printed Word, Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 1997 [concerning Jewish libraries in Eastern Europe before the war, their destruction at the hands of the Nazis, rescue attempts with focus on Herman Kruk, founder of the Vilna Ghetto Library]. Shchedrin, Vasilii, Uravnenie GOSETa: problemii istorii evreiskogo teatra v SSSR [Preprints and Reprints Series 41], Moscow: Jewish Heritage Society, 1997, 12pp. Shklyar, Moyshe, Moln di amoln, proze un lid, Tel Aviv: Y.L. Perets, 1997, 258pp. [ISBN: 965-7012-13-9?]. Shmeruk, Chone & Shmuel Werses (eds.), Ben shtei milhamot 'olam: praqim mehayei hatarbut shel yehudei polin lelashonotehem, Jerusalem: Magnes, 1997, 436pp. Sholom Aleichem, A Treasury of Sholom Aleichem Children's Stories, tr. Aliza Shevrin, Northvale, N.J.: Jason Aronson, 1997, xviii, 346pp. [ISBN: 1568219261]. Sholem-Aleykhem, Motl-peyse dem khazns, ed. with introduction and apparatus by Khone Shmeruk, glossary by Vera Solomon, Jerusalem: Magnes, 1997, 399pp. [ISBN: 965-223-955-0]. Shraybman, Yekhiel, Shtendik...: gresere un klenere dertseylungen, minyaturn, Tel Aviv: Y.L. Perets, 1997, 272pp. [ISBN: 965-7012-12-0]. Siegel-Schildt, Sylvia, Tsaytvaylike lider, Baltimore: Schildt, 1997. Simkhonovitsh, Simkhe, Funken in zhar, lider un poemes, Toronto, 1997, 116pp. Singer, Isaac Bashevis, Le Spinoza de la rue du marche: nouvelles, Paris: Denoel, 1997, 267pp. [ISBN: 220724156]. Singer, Isaac Bashevis, Der Koenig der Felder, tr. Gertrud Baruch, Munich: dtv, 1997, 280pp. Singer, Isaac Bashevis, Die Narren von Chelm, Zuerich: Sanssouci, 1997. Singer, Israel Joshua, Die Familie Karnowski, tr. Dora Winkler, Wien: Zsolnay, 1997. Singer, Israel Joshua, Die Brueder Aschkenasi, tr. Gertrud Baruch, Frankfurt/M: Fischer, 1997. Smolyakov, Tsvi-Hirsh, Geblibn iz di trer..., Tel Aviv: Y.L. Perets, 1997, 224pp. [ISBN: 965-7012-10-4]. Sutzkever, Abraham, Laughter beneath the Forest: Poems from Old and New Manuscripts, facing page edition, tr. Barnett Zumoff, introduction by Emanuel S. Goldsmith, Hoboken, NJ: Tel Aviv, 1997, xix+179pp. [ISBN: 0-88125-555-6]. Trunk, Jeszaja Jechiel, Pojln. Obrazy i wspomnienia z Lodzi, tr. Anna Clarke, Lodz: Biblioteka "Tygla Kultury", 1997, 144pp. Tsanin, M., Dos vort zayn shverd, essays, Tel Aviv: H. Leyvik, 1997, 159pp. Tshernin, Velvl, Beyn-hashmoshes, Tel Aviv: Yisroel-Bukh, 1997 [ISBN: 965-430-037-0]. Tsuker, Yitskhok, Lakhn iz gezunt: anekdotn, aforizmen, Tel Aviv, 1997, 180pp. Vorzoger, Shloyme, Mit zikh un mit andere, Tel Aviv: H. Leyvik, 1997, 254pp. Vozner, Sholem, Seyfer eylu metsies hamefoyresh, Jerusalem: Feldheym, 1997, 517pp. Warszawski, Ozer, On ne peut pas se plaindre ou Residences, tr. Marie Warszawski, with additional corrections by Lydie Lachenal & Angelique Levi, with afterword by Lydie Lachenal, Paris: Liana Levi, 1997, 126pp. [ISBN: 2-86746-160-x]. Weber, Annette, Evelyn Friedlander & Fritz Armbruster (eds.), Mappot... gesegnet, der da kommt: Das Band juedischer Tradition, [Katalog einer Ausstellung von bestickten und bemalten Torawimpeln], Osnabrueck: secolo, 1997. Weiner, Miriam, Jewish Roots in Poland: Pages from the Past and Archival Inventories, New York: Routes to Roots Foundation/ YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, 1997, 446pp. [ISBN: 0965650804]. Weinreich, Beatrice, Yiddish Folktales, revised edition, New York: Schocken, 1997 [paperback, ISBN: 0-679-73097-4] Le Yiddishland en France depuis 1880, Paris: Liana Levi, 1997, 142pp. [ISBN: 2867461618]. Zhelazo, Noyekh, Di farheylikte zamenhof-gas un andere publitsistishe refleksn, Tel Aviv: Y.L. Perets, 1997, 392pp. [ISBN: 965-7012-13-9]. Zucker, Sheva, Answer Key to Yiddish, An Introduction & English-Yiddish Verb Key, Durham, North Carolina: Zucker, 1997, 73pp. Zuckerman, Marvin & Marion Herbst, Learning Yiddish in Easy Stages, 1997. 1998 Alexander, Edward, Irving Howe: Socialist, Critic, Jew, Bloomington: Indiana U.P., 1998, 272pp. [ISBN: 0-253-33364-4]. Ansky, S., A Dybbuk and Other Tales of the Supernatural, adapted by Tony Kushner & tr. Joachim Neugroschel, New York: Theatre Communications Group, 1998, 199pp. [ISBN: 1-55936-1146-8]. 'Aharonprayz, Mordekhay, le'an?, masot sifrutiyot, kines veziref mavo' vehe'arot 'avner holzman, Jerusalem: Bialik Institute, 1998, 316pp. [ISBN: 965-342-689-3] [essays on Sholem Ash, Avrom Reyzn; Ehrenpreis (1869-1950) bibliography (Hebrew and German)]. Bartal, Yisroel & Khave Turnyanski, Lezikro shel hone shmeruq: dvarim shene'emru bimla'ut shlosim lemoto, Jerusalem: Israeli National Academy of Sciences, 1998, 33pp. Corbea-Hoisie, Andrei, Juedisches Staedtebild, with photographs by Guido Baseglia & Renata Erich, Frankfurt-am-Main: Juedischer Verlag, 1998, 320pp. [on Yiddish, German & Romanian literature in Czernowitz]. Fishman, David E., Dem Feuer entrissen: Die Rettung juedischer Kulturschaetze in Wilna, tr. Maria Kuehn-Ludewig, Yiddish and German text, Hannover: Lautentius, 1998. Greenbaum, Avraham, A History of the Ararat Publishing Society/ Toldot bet hahoza'ah 'ararat, introduction by William Margulies, correspondence between Benzion Margulies and Simon Rawidowicz, two essays on Simon Rawidowicz, Jerusalem: Rubin Mass, 1998, 76+38pp. [ISBN: 965-09-0091-8] [casts light on Rawidowicz's attitude towards Yiddish and on Hebrew-Yiddish relations in Britain]. Hoffman, Eva, Shtetl: The Life and Death of a Small Town and the World of the Polish Jews, New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1998, 269pp. Kolitz, Zvi, Josl Rakover wendt zich tot God, bilingual edition with commentary by Paul Badde. Dutch translation by Dorien Veldhuizen, transcription of the Yiddish in Roman script with facsimile of reconstructed text, Baarn (Netherlands): Ten Have, 1998 [ISBN: 90-259-4747-6]. Mendele Moicher Sforim, Les voyages de Benjamin III, Paris: Astral, 1995; Paris: Editions Circe, 1998 [ISBN: 2842420497]. Patten, John, Yiddish Anarchist Bibliography, London: Kate Sharpley Library/ Cambridge, MS: The Anarchist Archives Project, 1998, iv+32pp. [ISBN: 1-873605-27-7]. Podlovski, Sh., Fun hofenung a letster funk. [privately printed], [no place of publ.], Israel, July 1998, 111pp. [verse] Rocker, Fermin, The East End Years: A Stepney Childhood, London: Freedom, 1998. Shneour, Zalman, Oncle Uri et les siens, tr. Daniele Peylet Rozenszir, Paris: Liana Levi, 1998, 300pp [ISBN: 2867461871]. Sigal, Goldie (ed.), A Garment Worker's Legacy: The Joe Fishstein Collection of Yiddish Poetry, Catalogue, with preface by Ruth R. Wisse, Montreal: McGill University Libraries [Fontanus Monograph Series 9], 1998, 489pp. [ISBN: 0-7735-1457-0]. Singer, Isaac Bashevis, Shadows on the Hudson, tr. Joseph Sherman, New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1998, 548pp. [ISBN: 0-374-26186-5]. Singer, Isaac Bashevis & Anthony Burgess, Rencontre au sommet, conversation, Paris: Mille et une nuits, 1998 [ISBN: 2842053338]. Stephani, Claus (ed.), Ostjuedische Maerchen, Muenchen: Diederichs, 1998. Telushkin, Dvorah, Master of Dreams: A Memoir of Isaac Bashevis Singer, New York: William Morrow, 1998, 350pp. Tuszynska, Agata, Lost Landscapes: In Search of Isaac Bashevis Singer and the Jews of Poland, tr. Madeline Levine, New York: William Morrow, 1998, 184pp [ISBN: 0-688-12214-0]. Wernberg, Robert, Stalin's Forgotten Zion: Birobidzhan and the Making of a Soviet Jewish Homeland, an Illustrated History, 1928-1996, Berkeley: University of California Press, 1998, ix+105pp. Winer, Gershon & Yizhak Alperovitz, Sefer Vidz - Widze Memorial Book, Tel Aviv: World Council for Yiddish Culture, 1998, 550pp. Zamir, Israel, Mon pere inconnu, tr. Carine Chichereau, Paris: Editions Arlea, 1998 [ISBN: 286959397-x]. Zychlinsky, Rajzel, God Hid His Face, tr. Barnett Zumoff, Aaron Kramer & Marek Kanter, with introduction by Emanuel Goldsmith, Santa Rosa, CA: Word & Quill Press, 1998, 225pp. [ISBN: 0-96-58640-0-6]. Addenda for 1996 Bernshteyn. Moyshe, A toyb in fentster (lirik un tseykhenungen), Tel Aviv: H. Leyvik, 1996, 28pp. Bruenel, Gabriele, Maria Fuchs and Walter Roell (eds.), Die 'Hiob-Paraphrase' des Avroham ben Schemuel Pikartei in Handschriftenabdruck und Transkription [jidische schtudies 6], Hamburg: Buske, 1996. Bulow, Joseph, Yossik, Paris: Phoebus, 1996. Farrell, Grace (ed.), Critical Essays on Isaac Bashevis Singer, New York: G.K. Hall, 1996. Kerler, Dov-Ber (ed.), Politics of Yiddish: Studies in Language, Literature, and Society [Winter Studies in Yiddish 4], Oxford: Oksforder yidish press (sic), 1996 [ISBN: 1-897744-12-9], 213pp. Mendele Moykher Sforim, Fishke le Boiteux, tr. Aby Wieviorka & Henri Raczymov with introduction by Carole Ksiazenicer-Matheron, Paris: Cerf, 1996, 237pp. [ISBN: 2-204-05309-0]. Mortara di Veroli, Elena & Laura Quercioli Mincer (eds.), Il mondo yiddish: saggi, = La Rassegna Mensile di Israel 1-2 (1996), 503pp. Schulman, Salomon, Jiddischland: Bland Rabbiner och Revolutionaerer, Nora (Sweden): Nya Doxa, 1996, 255pp. [ISBN: 91-88248-61-5]. Ueda, Kazuo (with the assistance of Troym Kats-Hendler), Shmuesn yapanish-english-yidish/ Idisshugo Kaiwa Renshuu-cho, Tokyo: Daigakushorin Publishing Co., 1996 [4-475-01298-8]. ______________________________________________________ End of _The Mendele Review_ 02.026 Leonard Prager, editor Subscribers to _Mendele_ (see below) automatically receive _The Mendele Review_. Send "to subscribe" or change-of-status messages to: listproc@lists.yale.edu a. For a temporary stop: set mendele mail postpone b. To resume delivery: set mendele mail ack c. To subscribe: sub mendele first_name last_name d. To unsubscribe kholile: unsub mendele ****Getting back issues**** _The Mendele Review_ archives can be reached at: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele/tmrarc.htm _The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language (A Companion to _MENDELE_) ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 02.027 29 September 1998 1) Yiddish Matters: From the Editor (Leonard Prager) 2) Yiddish _khnyok_: a progress report (Leonard Prager) 3) inhalt fun _yerushalaimer almanakh_ 26 (1998) [23ter yorgang] 4) Yinglish in India (Leonard Prager) 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 29 September 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: Yiddish Matters: a. _khnyok_; an unfamiliar Yinglish; b. _Yerushalaimer almanakh_ 26; c. corrigendum (ed.) Yiddish Matters: a. In this edition of _The Mendele Review_, the editor surveys that expressive Yiddish word, _khnyok_, about which a surprising number of Yiddish-speakers have different, often conflicting, notions. He also describes an encounter with an unfamiliar Yinglish. b. _Yerushalaimer almanakh_ 26 (1998), edited by Yoysef and Dov-Ber Kerler, has now appeared and we are pleased to give the entire Table of Contents below. A rich volume, splendidly illustrated, it is recommended to all _TMR_ readers. Among its offerings is an essay by Dovid Katz in which the Gaon of Vilna helps explain why Yiddish-speakers and their offspring are called _Ashkenazim_. The address of the journal is: c/o Josef Kerler, ed., Sderot Eshkol 12\6 Jerusalem 97764, Israel. The co-editor Dov-Ber Kerler may be reached at dov.kerler@lincoln.ox.ac.uk. By agreement with the editors of _Yerushalaimer almanakh_ and the authors, "Der gzar-hadin" by Tsvi Kanar and "Guter dokter vey-tsu-mir" by Yoysef Kerler will appear in the next issue of _The Mendele Review_ (a joint issue with _Der bavebter yid_, ed. Refoyl Finkl and Sholem Berger). c. corrigendum: The email address of Hugh Denman given in the last (bibliographical) issue of TMR lacked a necessary pintele; it should be: h.denman@ucl.ac.uk. Many thanks to the readers who responded with addenda and corrigenda -- please continue to send these. 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 29 September 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: Yiddish _khnyok_: a progress report The word _khnyok_ is easily located in several standard dictionaries, but there are differences of opinion regarding meaning and the etymology is uncertain. Aleksander Harkavi (_Yidish-english-hebreisher verterbukh_, 1928) defines the noun as 'mollycoddle; ish she-eyn bo omets/ish rakh lev ke|isha' and ventures an origin: 'efsher fun rusish _khnika_ 'a baveynte neshome'? [perhaps from Russian XHiKa, 'a whiner; baal bekhi']. Notice that Harkavi says "perhaps" -- an absolutely indispensable word, apparently, in the armory of the intrepid souls who venture to etymologize. Harkavi's etymology makes no effort to account for the vowel /o/. Checking Y.-M. Lifshits' _Yidish-rusish verterbukh_ (1869) we find that the only two entries for the consonant cluster /xnj/ are the two related words _khnikat_ 'khlipn, shlikertsn, ziftsn' and _khnikn_ 'di klog-miter; baveynte neshome'. Harkavi seems to have consulted Lifshits here. Uriel Weinreich (_Modern English-Yiddish Yiddish-English Dictionary_, 1968) defines the noun _khnyok_ as 'bigot, philistine; petty / unreasonable conservative' and the adjective _khnyokish_ as 'philistine, unreasonably conservative'. In _Mendele_, vol. 5.163, Eliyahu Juni wrote: "Yiddish doesn't just borrow vocabulary from loshnkoydesh and the sforimakdoyshim. It borrows a universe of discourse from Judaism, from haymishe, farfrimte, farkhnyokte Judaism, from lernen (not learning)." How would one translate "farkhnyokte" here? I would suggest 'old-fashioned'; instead of bearing a negative value such as 'reactionary' or 'ultra-conservative', the word in question is used here to imply that the old-time religion is dafke good. Nokhem Stutshkov (_Der oytser fun der yidisher shprakh_, 1950) provides other uses of the word and fails to mention those of MEYYED, Harkavi and Tsanin (see below). My thanks to Meyer Wolf for locating all the instances of _khnyok_ in Stutshkov: [page/column] [category] [sub-group] p. 404 col. B #umreynikayt [umreyne mentshn] p. 440 col. B #umfeyikayt [yolop, shmoyger 'fool'] p. 655 col. A #guthartsikayt [kvatsh, shmate 'mollycoddle', soft-hearted person'] p. 709 col. B #emune, frumkayt, tsvies [itshe-meyer, tslap, katshelap] p. 113 col. A (arum)khnyoken zikh* = (arum) valgern zikh = batlen) #geyn, forn [*not in _Groyser verterbukh_] The index to Stutshkov lists two principal sense-groups for _khnyok_: 1) an unflattering nickname for a hasid, a synonym of _tslap_; _khnyok_ appears in the same word group as _katshelap_ (which also means 'bungler'), _flyaskedrine_ 'name for an ugly person', and _itshe-meyer_ 'a [Polish] hasid'; 2) in the category of "umreyne mentshn" 'unclean people', we find the same group of words: _khnyok_, _flyaskedrine_, _tslap_, _katshelap_ and many others. Tsanin's not very scientific but often useful _Milon yidish-ivri shalem_ (2 vols., Tel Aviv, 1960) introduces further senses: 'shakhtsan, khaser sovlanut; batlan'. The sense 'batlan' is reinforced by the intransitive verb _opkhnyokn_ defined in _Groyser verterbukh fun der yidisher shprakh_ (vol 4, 1980) as 'a lengere tsayt zayn (zikh oyffirn vi) a khnyok. zikh valgern, opkhnyokn in di kleyne yeshives." [The "kleyne yeshives" caught my eye -- lingering would have been less possible in the larger yeshivas, which presumably had higher standards. --LP] Meyer Wolf [private communication] is undoubtedly right in his suggestion that the word _khnyok_ came into active use early in the Haskala period among maskilim ridiculing hasidim and strictly observant Orthodox Jews. I recently came across an instance of the word _khnyok_ in an essay written by Elye Palushak [Shulamit Aloni's uncle] fifty years ago. Palushak is discussing the beginnings of the Nazi movement ca. 1933: "S'iz geven in mitn fun der daytsher revolutsye, zeyer revolutsye, der revolutsye fun di khnyokes: funem kremer, shtivl-knekht, yunker, fraygelozte ofitsirn, oysgedinte soldatn, bankrotirte ekzistentsn, avanturistn, farbrekher, psevdo-proletariat, lumpn-proletariat un lumpn-inteligents.... Zayne diner: di milyonen mase fun di khnyokes." ('"Kameradn soldatn" oder di revolutsye fun di khnyokes', [_Loshn un lebn_ (London) 4 (1948) 23-26]. In every instance in Yiddish, as noun, adjective or verb, the word has a negative connotation. But while it seems to have attached itself to several quite varied contexts in Yiddish, in modern Hebrew slang the term is fairly focused to mean 'kinui le-adam bazui, hameorer slida' ('term for an abject and repulsive person') (Ben-Amots/Ben-Yehuda, _Milon olami leivrit meduberet_, 1972), 'kinui le-adam ha-meorer khoser ha-aracha ve-slida' ('term for a disreputable and repulsive person') (_Leksikon haslang ha-ivri ve-ha-tsvai_, [1993]). Note that the Hebrew slang lexicons do not indicate an etymon, but the immediate source in Hebrew is doubtless Yiddish. Many young people in Israel, incidentally, do not seem to know the word at all; its dictionary position is no sure guide to its distribution and use. In a private communication, one linguist suggested that "This verb is apparently from Russian _XH61KAT6_. The _-KA_ suffix, like Yiddish _-ke_, is added to onomatopoetic morphemes to make verbs. So khnyok < khni + ok." But since _khnyok_ cannot be traced to a similar word in another language, perhaps we can hypothesize that it was created in Yiddish to exploit the cacophonous effect of its initial (and virtually unique in Yiddish) consonant cluster /xnj/ plus the peculiar effect of suffixal _-ok_. This is no more than an assumption -- one needs to search in the heavy-weight dictionaries, especially those recording dialectal forms. Both elements of the word seem obviously Slavic, but again this does not mean that Yiddish borrowed the word ready-made. Another private communication pointed me to Ukrainian: "I think Harkavi should be looking for a Ukrainian, Polish, Belorussian or even Czech etymology, while on the other hand I suspect he is on the right track in considering the Russian verb _khnykat_ 'snivel' [which is surely distantly cognate with Uk. _khnyupytysya_ 'hang head in dejection' and _khnyura_ 'sullen, morose individual' (both given in Andrusyshen and Krett's _Ukrainian-English Dictionary_, 1955). The -ok suffix also sounds quite Ukrainian to my ears. My suspicion therefore is that we are dealing with a cognate Ukrainian dialect form that the dictionaries at our disposal do not list." Relevant to this view is a communication from Meyer Wolf pointing to what seems to be a variant of _khnyok_, namely _ukhnyok_ which the _Groyser verterbukh_ regards as of Ukrainian origin (vol. 1, 1961, p. 507), citing uses by Mendele and Grade. In Mendele's _Binyomen hashlishi_ [end of ch. 6], a partshik (coachman) addresses Binyomen and Sender as "ukhnyokes" [cited in GV]. "Nor eyder nokh Binyomen hot geendikt dem shmies, hot zikh gelozt hern a shtarker geshrey fun a partshik, vos iz undzere parshoynen ongeforn fun hintn un hot zey shier nit mazik geven mit dem dishel. -- 'ukhnyokes!' hot der partshik geshrign in eyn otem un gemakht oyf zey mit der baytsh, -- 'vos krikht ir, tsu ale shvartse yor, vu di rakes un farshtelt dem veg! hey, hey, yoldn! hey, hey, flokhtn!'" Hillel Hankin freely and skilfully (some would say too freely) renders the above: "Benjamin was only halfway through his dissertation when he was interrupted by the cry of a coachman who nearly ran them both over. 'Looksmartyoutwo!' he shouted in one breath, cracking his whip, which scuttled devilishly in front of them like a crab and blocked their path. 'Heads up, you hayseeds.'" _khnyok_can be found in Khayem Grade's works: 1) "Der ben-horav," _Di mames shabosim_, p. 211: "Der balegole iz shoyn tsereytst. Ale zogn im deyes. A dertsorenter git er a kuk un derzet far zikh a khnyok in shpakuln un mit a bord." 2) p. 213: "Ver hot es im tseshlogn, ot der khnyok in di shpakuln mit der bord?" 3) _Tsemekh atles_, passim. _khnyok_ also appears in Mendele's _di klyatshe_ (1888), at the end of chapter 14 (but not in later deslavicized editions, Meyer Wolf warns us). Not finding _khynok_ in works of other authors, Meyer Wolf wrote [private communication]: "Originally, I took _khnyok_ to be a pan-EY word, but now I think perhaps it started out as a NEY term. I dont have access to a Belorussian dictionary, but I think BR is more likely than Russian or Ukrainian. _khnyok_ does not seem to be used by CY writers, and may not have been current in CY before the 20th century. Of course I don't KNOW any of this, I only suspect it at this point." At my question whether _khnyok_ might not be an apocapated form of the supposed variant _ukhnyok_, Meyer Wold replied: "_khnyok_ could indeed be a decapitated form of _ukhnyok_, but I would like to be sure (1) that _ukhnyok_ indeed means the same thing as _khnyok_ -- I dont know whether that's more than a guess by the GVB; (2) whether _ukhnyok_ derives from _khniken_ or from something else (such as _ukho_ 'ear' and means 'long-eared' or the like)." We note that -ak and -uk endings in Yiddish are pejorative, i.e. _frumak_, _bordak_, _shnayderuk_ [but cf. _shmurak_ 'emerald']. What of -ok? _Groyser verterbukh_ 4:1986 at -ok, writes that this suffix appears in Slavicized [non-Standard] Yiddish, and we are given the example of _b(e)nok_, which in Harkavi is _benok_ 'wanton son' [Hebrew _ben_ + Slavic _-ok_]. _GV_ claims that suffixal -ok is similar to -ak in being a word of _bitl-batayt_ 'sense of scorn'. Not all Yiddish monosyllabic words ending in -ok, of course, are pejorative, e.g. _zok_, _shtok_ (see Stutshkov, _Yidisher gramen-leksikon_, p. 105). Pejorative -ok, however, is found in at least half a dozen monosyllabic words in Yiddish (if _b(e)nok_ is sounded as a monosyllable, then this is due to syncopation). The word expressed euphemistically as _shin mem kuf_ also belongs here. Browsing the pejorative terms with the core sense 'fool' that end in -ok yields _yok_, _bok_, _mok_ (cf. too _baydok_, _bedzhok_); those that end in -ak include _durak_, _ferdak_, _shturmak_ [all these a fraction of the terms given by Stutshkov under # 340 Narishkayt]. _khnyok_ is monosyllabic but because of its initial consonant cluster it seems atypical. One possibility, then: Yiddish borrowed the stem _khny-_ from the Yiddish verb _khniken_ (Stutshkov: p. 557, col A #layd, zorg, troyer [_pkhiken_, _pishtshen_, _khlipen_, _ritshen_, _kvitshen_, _vizgen_, etc.]), which was borrowed from Russian _khnekat_. To this stem was attached the Slavic pejorative suffix -ok, which was also familiar in Yiddish, especially in its similarity to the more widespread -ak and -uk suffixes of despite. In the Shapiro, Spivak and, Shulman _Rusish-yidisher verterbukh_ (Moscow 1984), the only entries with XH are XH6lKaT6 [khnikat] (defined in Yiddish as _pkhiken_, _khniken_, _kanyukn_; _baklogn zikh_) and XHa. Another possibility is that the word was borrowed whole from some Slavic or even Lithuanian dialect. Wolf Moskowitz has assured me that there are many Yiddish words whose etymology is difficult to determine since they were borrowed from dialects -- and this might include Lithuanian as well as Slavic dialects, dictionaries of which (where they exist, and many do) are difficult to get at. Etymologizing should perhaps (that indispensable word again) be left to specialists with rigorous linguistic and every other kind of training. But -- especially in the case of _khnyok_, where the experts are (rightfully) cautious, who but amateurs will dare to speculate? 3)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 29 September 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: inhalt fun _yerushalaimer almanakh_ 26 (1998) [23ter yorgang] Avrom sutskever (tel-oviv)/ finf naye lider.................... 7 Dovid volpe (yohanesburg)/ far dir avrom -- sutskevern (lid).. 11 oyf der vakh fun zikorn meyer yelin (kiron)/ oyf heyse shpurn (in kovner geto)...... 12 Tsvi kanar (tel-oviv)/ der gzar-din........................... 22 binem heler [z"l]/ "in varshever geto iz khoydesh nisn"... 26 mishe lev (rekhoyves)/ berekh shlezinger un vagner-mendel..... 31 kiem Mortkhe tsanin (tel-oviv)/ meyse un zayne kets................ 51 Rivke basman (tel-oviv)/ ovntike farbn (naye lider)..........57 hirshe-Dovid meynkes/ (kapelulu, veylz) nakhes fun binyomin.....59 Dovid volpe (yohanesburg)/ der malekh fun mayn mames kholem....73 Yoysef kerler (yerusholaim)/ di velt (naye lider)..............76 yente mash (ashdod)/ der nay-venadnik [hemshekh]...............81 Yoysef kerler (yerusholaim)/ zyame... zyame ...............96 zyame telesin [z"l]/ farvalgerte lider [fun izovn]..............98 Rokhl boymvol (yerusholaim)/ shive.............................101 musye landau (tel-oviv)/ der samovar..........................109 velvl tshernin (kedumim)/ es lekhol dover [et lekol davar] (hayntike un nekhtike lider).........129 Tsvi ayznman (kibuts alonim)/ der fartribener malekh..........134 tomas soksberger (vin)/ yoyne (naye lider)....................138 boris sandler (nyu-york)/ lamed-vovnikes fun mayn zikorn.......142 Yankev beser (tel-oviv)/ mayn mame in khoyshekh fun shank......158 Ofra aligon (tel-oviv)/ der prayz..............................159 alek natas (tel-oviv)/ zelbstmord..............................166 aleksander lizen (lemberg)/ umshterblekhkayt...................169 boris karlov (oksford)/ trayshaft (naye lider).................174 oyfn seyder hayom hirshe-Dovid kats/ (kapelulu, veylz) telegrame tsum manger-ovnt in tel-oviv........................179 Yoysef mlotek (nyu-york)/ av. kahan, der _forverts_ un di yidishe literatur..................182 Yitskhok luden (tel-oviv)/ yidishe literatur lebt un shaft oykh haynt.........................186 Eliezer vizel (nyu-york)/ an oysdruk fun yidisher hofenung un oysdoyer...........................192 Borekh mitshel (oksford)/ yidish bay lyubavitsher un der _algemeyner zhurnal_...............193 fun yene yorn Avrom karpinovitsh (tel-oviv)/ geven, geven amol vilna........196 Shloyme kholavski (kibuts eyn-hashofet)/ vegn der-o nyesvizh..204 Shmuel halkin [z"l]/ der ber ..................................207 Nekhome lifshits (tel-oviv)/ mit halkinen......................209 Yoysef kerler (yerusholaim)/ bay halkins orn..................213 Yirmiyohu druker/ an entfer oyf a "replik" fun eynem a Donyel shaydberg fun 1968...............214 kunst Rokhl vishnitser-bernshteyn/ vi azoy hot zikh antviklt di yidishe kunst-moleray in rusland un poyln....217 Akive fishbin (yerusholaim)/ feliks nusboym -- der moler fun erev khurbm.......................224 mishe lev (rekhoyves)/ dos iz geven amol, amol (a vort vegn mendl gorshman.........................229 literatur un loshn hirshe-Dovid kats/ (kapelulu, veylz) farvos heysn mir ashkenazim................235 Avrom lis (tel-oviv)/ Yankev glatshteyns yidishe vertn.........250 velvl tshernin (kedumim)/ tsvey shlikhey-tsiber: heshl rabinkov un Tsvi preygerzon..........257 Gershn vayner (yerusholaim)/ vegn Mortkhe-tsanins ani maymin...271 bikhervelt Elisheve koyen-tsedek (rekhoyves)/ di andershkkayt fun tsvi kanar.......................276 Avrom grinboym (yerusholaim)/ vikhtike naye zamlung vegn yidishn teater in ratnfarband...280 Avrom karpinovitsh (tel-oviv)/ vilner gubernye amol -- in lebidikn zikorn.................283 Eli beyder (yerusholaim)/ Moyshe shklyar's "moln di amoln".....286 Pinkhes erlikh (rekhoyves)/ Elisheve koyen-tsedeks "farges-mikh-nit" ................289 aleksander lizen (lemberg)/ vilne als elegisher laytmotif......292 mit a shmekhl Eli beyder (yerusholaim)/ "gots velt iz raykh mit lebedike bruem..." ........................295 Miryem shmuelevitsh-hofman (nyu-york)/ "klogen" oder "nisht klogen"...........................298 Yoysef kerler (yerusholaim)/ guter dokter vey-tsu-mir.........302 bio-biblyografye naye bikher ...................25, 56, 72, 75, 128, 133, 137, 165, 173, 180, 181, 191, 195, 203, 206, 279, 285, 288, 301, 304. *** Authors participating in _Yerushalaimer almanakh 26 (alphabetically arranged) Aligon, Ofra Ayznman, Tsvi Basman, Rivke Beser, Yankev Beyder, Eli Boymvol, Rokhl Druker, Yirmiyohu Erlikh, Pinkhes Fishbin, Akive Grinboym, Avrom Halkin, Shmuel Heler, Binem Kanar, Tsvi Karlov, Boris Karpinovitsh, Avrom Kats, Hirshe-Dovid Kerler, Yoysef Kholavski, Shloyme Koyen-Tsedek, Elisheve Landau, Musye Lev, Mishe Lifshits, Nekhame Lis, Avrom Lizen, Aleksander Luden, Yitskhok Mitshel, Borekh Mlotek, Yoysef Mash, Yente Meynkes, Hirshe-Dovid Natas, Aleks Sandler, Boris Shmuelevitsh-Hofman, Miryem Soksberger, Tomas Sutskever, Avrom Telesin, Zyame Tsanin, Mortkhe Tshernin, Velvl Vayner, Gershn Vishnitser-Bernshteyn, Rokhl Vizel, Eliezer Volpe Dovid Yelin, Meyer 4)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 29 September 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: Yinglish in India In a curious little volume I came across by chance, I encountered a _Yinglish_ I had never heard of before. The _Yinglish_ I was familiar with was the portmanteau neologism for Yiddish-English. (I long preferred the term _Jewish-English_, but my opposition to _Yinglish_ has long ceased). Yiddish-origin terms like _shlep_, _mavin_ [ < Y. _meyvn_], _klots_, _nash_, _chutspa_ [ Subscribers to _Mendele_ (see below) automatically receive _The Mendele Review_. Send "to subscribe" or change-of-status messages to: listproc@lists.yale.edu a. For a temporary stop: set mendele mail postpone b. To resume delivery: set mendele mail ack c. To subscribe: sub mendele first_name last_name d. To unsubscribe kholile: unsub mendele ****Getting back issues**** _The Mendele Review_ archives can be reached at: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele/tmrarc.htm JOINT ISSUE _The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language (A Companion to _MENDELE_) and _Der Bavebter Yid_ ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 02.028 9 October 1998 1) Yiddish Matters (Sholem Berger and Leonard Prager) 2) Yoysef kerler, "guter dokter vey-tsu-mir" 3) troym kats handler, "valfish' 4) Dovidl koysev, "kadish-yosem" 5) Tsvi kanar, "der gzar-din" 6) mendele moykher-sforim, "mayn (letste) nesie" 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 9 October 1998 From: Sholem Berger and Leonard Prager Subject: Joint Issue of _Der Bavebter Yid_ and _The Mendele Review_ der doziker b|shutfesdiker numer fun _The Mendele Review_ un _Der Bavebter Yid_ vayzt aroys say di sheferishe oytsres fun der lebediker yidisher shprakh, say dem doykhek in yingere talantn. baym iberkukn dem numer zet men in "der gzar-din" vi dos bestyalish akhzoryes vert antkegngevirkt fun oysleyzerisher libe. in "mayn letste nesie" iz tsar-balekhayem efsher bekoyekh undz umtsukern tsu emesdiker mentshlekhkayt. "valfish" un "kadish-yosem" bahandlen dos retenish fun eybiker aveyde in di oygn fun kleyn un groys. "guter dokter vey-tsu-mir" vet zayn shver tsu farshteyn far di, bay velkhe sovetishe dreydlekh zaynen nor fartsaytishe geshikhte: dos lid bet fartaytsht tsu vern. keday do tsu dermonen, vos di redaktsye hot nor mit groyse shverikaytn dershlogn zikh tsu naye drukfeike verk af yidish. dos iz dokh nisht keyn khidesh, ubifrat far di, vos dos tsunoyfshteln yidish-shprakhike zhurnaln iz zeyer geveyntlekhe arbet. ober _Der Bavebter Yid_ in zayn loyfiker redaktsyoneler arbet hot oysgefunen, az nokh ale betenishn un monungen bay shrayber klekt dos arayngeshikte af a tseyn: dos heyst, der mangl bay undz in der elektronisher literatur iz erger vi bay andere. efsher iz eyn sibe, vos s'iz nishto keyn shtarke farbindung tsvishn der elterer yidisher literatur-velt un dem nayem, dem internetishn. say vi vet _Der Bavebter Yid_ vayter farbetn, zukhn, un oyszukhn naye yidishe literatur. _The Mendele Review_ vet zikh vayter farnemen mit yidish-limudem afn hekhstn nivo. This joint issue of _The Mendele Review_ and _Der Bavebter Yid_ displays the creative resources of the living Yiddish language while also revealing the shortage of younger talents. Surveying the issue's contents, we see bestial depravity countered by redemptive love in "Der gzar-din." In "Mayn letste nesie," tsar-balekhayim ('pity for animals') returns us to a humanity which can be softened by its relationships with animals. "Valfish" and "Kadish-yosem" center on the mystery of irreparable loss as experienced by child and adult. "Guter dokter vey-tsu-mir" will puzzle many readers for whom the Soviet misadventure is a remote historicial event -- the poem invites explication. It is appropriate to mention here the difficulty with which the editors have managed to solicit only a few new Yiddish works of acceptable quality. While the lack of new writers and new material is familiar to every Yiddish editor, the Yiddish Web journal seems to be a particularly ill-starred enterprise. This may be due to the lack of a strong connection between the older Yiddish literary world and its newer counterpart on the Internet. _Der Bavebter Yid_ will nevertheless persevere in its efforts to encourage new writing in Yiddish; _The Mendele Review_ will continue its engagement with Yiddish studies at the highest possible level. 2)-------------------------------- Date: 9 October 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: guter dokter vey-tsu-mir (Yoysef Kerler) Yoysef Kerler guter dokter vey-tsu-mir(1) dem "veterinar" fun der yidisher literatur z. vendrovn tsu zayne 90 biz hundert un tsvantsik.(2) guter dokter vey-tsu-mir ale kumen tsu dayn tir baley-khayem alerley shteyen in a langer rey. s'kumt a hozikhe tsu loyfn vi a rebitsin a frume: -- git an eytse, liber royfe, ale vegn zaynen krume, vi prilishet fun meridn, kh'veys keyn ru nit un keyn shlof: az der volf zol zayn tsufridn, i s'zol gants blaybn di shof... s'flit a kvoke tsepaloshet glaykh fun sidele arop mit ir piskl, mit ir loshn pikt zi in gegoltn kop: -- gvald geshrign, vu iz yoysher guter dokter vey-tsu-mir lomir loyfn, shrayen, royshn, protestirn on a shir... s'kumen brengen tsvey gordonen(3) dem analiz fun hashtone say der rosh fun opozitsye say der dos... der tsvey-shtul-zitser. shtil, basheydn, untertenik kumt dos fuksele remenik un der khushem vos iz enlekh oyf dem dikhter lifshits mendl. ober shat nor, makht a vare -- s'kumt arayn fadey gontarin, der vos nasht fun fremde litkes fefers, halkins oykh leyb kvitkes; ober mer tut im gefeln lekn eyns an ort baym geln... un fun ale zaytn shitn, proze-shmatnikes, piyetn s'kumt a kats un s'kumt a hunt. ober erger ven se kumt der ansambl pesnye-plyaske(4) eyn grubyan mit fuftsik maskes... liber dokter vey-tsu-mir, ale klapn in dayn tir say gekhapte, say di khapers, say geklapte, say di klapers; ale -- "ikh un mayne shikh", ale viln heyln zikh -- hob rakhmones, vey tsu mir, shpar a vayle tsu di tir! heores ('notes') [L.P.] -------- 1. The title echoes the name of a famous song by the popular (and philosemitic) Russian children's writer, Korney Tshukovski. 2. In his long life Zalmen Vendrof/Vendrov (1879 (1877?)-1972) knew a great many Yiddish authors, including the great classical figures. 3. Soviet Yiddish authors mentioned in the poem include: Fefer, Itsik (1900-1952) Gordon, Elye (1907-19??) [nayer leksikon: 1903-] Gordon, Shmuel (1909-1998) [nayer leksikon: 1908-] Grubyan, Motl (1909-1972) Halkin, Shmuel (1897-1960) Kvitko, Leyb (1890-1952) Lifshits, Mendl (1907-19??) Remenik, Hersh (1905-1981) 4. Song and Dance Ensemble 3)--------------------------------- date: 9 October 1998 from: Sholem Berger subject: "valfish" (troym kats handler) troym kats handler valfish [far dir, simkheshi, mayn flinkn shvimer --- ] der letster valfish af der velt hoykert toyznter yortoyznt in vaserdiker kelt, shvimt yomerdikerheyt aleyn, on kind-un-keyt, on simen fun a stade, krakhndik a troyerike serenade, an elnt-un-vey yam-balade, a klog-lid vos shrayt aroys fun der luft bizn dno az keyn ander valfish iz mer nito. der varem-blutiker bal-khay varft zikh meshugenervayz mit benkshaft-mut in mayem-khayem, aruf un arop mit kolosaln shtoystrot-- trasket fun di nezlekher fontanen shpayekhts aroys, fun zunikn shoym bizn tifstn roym un zukht zayn hofenungslozn troym. vi iz dos alts tsushtand gekumen? farfolgt un nokhgeyogt, hot men zayne tayere tsugenumen. geblibn iz er a levyosn on a ku, a valfish-yid on ru. 4)--------------------------------- date: 9 October 1998 from: Sholem Berger subject: "kadish yosem" (Dovidl koysev) Dovidl koysev "kadish yosem" der tate iz geshtorbn di yinglekh zogn kadish zey hern oyf tsu shpiln un loyfn zogn kadish di bakn vern royt fun di bushes funem kadish zey shoklen zikh in sider es bagrobt zey funem kadish di verter zenen fremd zey kenen nit dem kadish zey shtompern oyfn ivre fun dem rabonon-kadish der mame hert gut tsu vi zey zogn untn kadish der feter hot gezogt men darf hoykh zogn kadish ale vayber loybn vi sheyn zey zogn kadish der mame trakht bay zikh zoln zeyere zogn kadish es tsipt ir ire nakhes zi vil nit hern kadish oykh di tates kukn, vartn -- a lange kadish nor der sider hert dem gants gants kleynems kadish di bleter vern geler fun aynzapn dem kadish a khaver kumt zey rufn zogt shoyn op dem kadish 'tate kum tsurik es doyert tsu lang der kadish' hern hert men nor 'yisgadal veyiskadash...' 5)--------------------------------- date: 9 October 1998 from: Leah krikun subject: "der gzar-din" (Tsvi kanar) Tsvi kanar der gzar-din "akhtung! akhtung! ale heftlungen zofort tsum apelplats!" -- hot der hilkher gerufn. in getseylte minutn iz der gantser lager geshtanen oysgeshtelt vi a vire loyt di blokn, un di kapos b|rosh mit shtekns in di hent. in mitn dem apelplats shteyt shoyn greyt di tlie mit a groysn mogn-dovid oyfn shpits. keyner veyst nokh nisht ver s'hot do di ere tsu shtarbn mit aza koved loyt dem psak fun a "bezdn," un nisht dershosn vern oder avekge|harg|et vern vi a hunt, stam azoy. "akhtung! mitsen op! augen links!" -- hert zikh a bafel, un funem "trenhayzl" -- vi de heftlungen rufn dem plats fun der komendantur, vu men paynikt di mentshn -- kumen di ershte aroys der lager komendant mitn vakhfirer. hinter zey geyt a horde vakhmener, un in mitn der far|mishpet|er, a yung yingl fun a yor 15-16. funem kop, funem moyl un fun der noz rint im blut. dem kop halt er aropgelozt. afile az er pruvt im oyfheybn gelungt im nisht. di vakhmener shteln zikh arum der tlie mitn gever oysgeshtrekt tsu di heftlingen. tsvey kapos firn tsu dem far|mishpet|n tsu der tlie un shteln im avek oyf a tishl. der lager-komendant, a diker mit a lakhndik lyalke ponem trogt lekoved dem maymed zayn oysgeputstn gala-mundir un vayse zaydene hentshkes. pamelekh nemt er aroys fun zayn tash a papir, kukt zikh arum mit a zis shmeykhele un hoybt on tsu leynen oyfn kol: "haynt hob ikh andekt a farbrekherishn sabotazh-akt. -- der heftlung numer 37852 funem blok 19 hot bay zikh gehat oysbahaltn a gumene shlangrer, vos er hot aropgeshnitn fun a transport-vagon, mit tsvey broyt, un a pekl margarin vos er hot gekoyft bay a poylishn arbeter mitn nomen mayevsky, velkher gefint zikh shoyn inem arest. -- der heftlung numer 37852 iz bashuldikt in di folgendike farbrekhns: 1) kumen in privatn kontakt mit a polyak oyf zayn arbetplats. 2) bazitsn bay zikh gelt.. 3) traybn shvartshandl. 4) sabotirn dem eygntum un di krigs onshtrengung funem daytshn dritn raykh. -- derfar hot dos gerikht funem daytshn dritn raykh farurteylt dem farbrekherishn heftling numer 37852 funem blok 19 tsum toyt durkh oyfhengen. mit dem urteyl vorn ikh, az fun haynt on vet yeder blok zayn farantfertlekh eyner farn tsveytn, un der gantser blok heftlingen vet vern shver geshtroft far yedn klenstn sabotazh! ir hot farshtanen?!" pamelekh leygt der lager-komendant tsurik arayn dos papir in zayn tash, un git a tseykhn tsum kapo az er zol aroyfleygn di petlye oyfn haldz funem farurteyltn. der farurteylter shteyt di gantse tsayt mit a farglivertn kuk, vi nisht im volt men do gemeynt. arum is toyt shtil, bloyz in der heykh flien arum shvartse vorones, vos vartn shoyn oyf zeyer korbn. mit amol dernentert zikh a heftling tsum lager-komendant, tsit zikh oys mit derekherets un zogt: "her lager-komendant, ikh heftlung numer 37851 melde gehorzam, ikh bin der foter funem farurteyltn. -- ikh bet aykh zeyer lozt im lebn. -- ikh bin greyt umtsukumen oyf der tlie anshtot mayn zun. on der minster reaktsye git der lager-komendant a vunk tsum kapo az er zol aropnemen di petlye funem yingl un zi aroyfleygn oyfn foters haldz. dos yingl vos is ingantsn tse|meymes|t un tse|tam|t blaybt shteyn bay der tlie un rirt zikh nisht fun ort. der lager-komendant fregt im: "bistu zayn zun?!" "yavol her lager-komendant," -- entfert dos yingl, azoy vi er volt zikh ersht itst oyfgevekt fun a tifn shlof. "oykh dayn foter, genoy, vi du iz a sabotazh farbrekher kegn dem daytshn dritn raykh, vayl er hot dikh azoy oyfgetsoygn. -- bistu aynshtimik mitn urteyl?" dos yingl entfert nisht. "an entfer vil ikh hern! yo oder neyn?" -- un derbay nemt er aroys dem revolver un leygt im tsu tsum yingls kop. "ey-n-sh-ti-m-ik," entfert dos yingl. "nisht azoy entfert men a lager-komendant, hoyptsharfirer fun der es es! -- men zogt hoykh oyfn kol az ale zoln hern: yavol her lager-komendant, ikh bin aynshtimik mit dem gerekhtn urteyl funem daytshn dritn raykh kegn farbrekherishn foter maynem vos hot mikh azoy nidertrekhtik oyfgetsoygn!" dos yingl zogt nokh mit a shtime vos varft zikh in gantsn fun pakhed. der lager-komendant lozt aroys a gelekhter un zogt: "oyb azoy, oyb du bist aynshtimik oyf der gerekhtn urteyl funem daytshn dritn raykh, dan velstu mit dayne eygene hent oyfhengen dayn farbrekherishn foter!" dos yingl kukt mit oyfgepralte oygn glaykh in di oygn funem lager-komendant. der lager-komendant vert mitamol ernst funem drastishn yingls kuk un leygt vider tsu dem revolver tsum yingls kop, un git a geshrey: "faroys! farflukht nokh eynmol!!" a farshteynter kukt itst dos yingl oyfn foter. "Gavriel, mayn zunzeshi, -- hob nisht kayn moyre! zogt der foter. say vi say bin ikh farurteylt tsu shtarbn, -- du ober bist nokh azoy yung, efsher vestu iberlebn?"-- tu mayn kind, ikh bet dikh, beser tsu shtarbn fun dayne reyne hent eyder fun di reshoems hent, got vet dir moykhl zayn!" dos yingl ober git zikh nisht kayn rir. nor a trer rint im aroys fun an oyg un glitsht zikh arop oyf zayn blase oysgedarte bak. "vayter makhn!," -- oder ikh knal dikh avek vi a hunt, dernentert zikh der revolver tsum yingls kop. "Gavriel! in nomen fun kibed-ov bin ikh oyf dir goyzer! -- hoybt der foter zayn koyl, -- got vet dir moykhl zayn! er muz dir moykhl zayn!!" Gavriel|s tsiterdike hant shtrekt zikh pamelekh oys un git a tsi baym shtrikl. dos gantse lager git zikh a vokl un halt ayn dem otem. dos tishl rukt zikh avek un dem foters kerper hoybt on konvulsirn in der luft un blaybt hengen. mit a vild ritsheray varft zikh dos yingl oyf dr'erd un rayst iber di shtilkayt rufndik, "ta - te!!! vos hob ikh geton!!!" der lager-komendant blaybt a rege vi gepleft fun der stsene vos er hot do ahergeshtelt. bald ober kumt er tsu zikh un shtelt tsu dem revolver tsu Gavriel|s kop un mit eyn knol vert alts tsurik shtil. mit a rege shpeter tsezingt zikh der lager-komendant: Es geht alles vorueber, Es geht alles vorbei, Nach dem Dezember Kommt wieder der Mai 6)------------------------------------------ date: 9 October 1998 from: Leonard Prager subject: "mayn (letste) nesie" (mendele moykher-sforim) [In the "Abstracts of _Khulyot_ 4 (1997)," which appeared in _The Mendele Review_ vol. 01, num. 010, there were two abstracts connected to a relatively unknown story by Mendele Moykher-Sforim, a figure of central importance in Yiddish literature. We have been asked to give the Yiddish text of this story as reprinted in _Khulyot_ 4 [Summer 1997], which reproduced it from _Shtern_. The Soviet journal followed the original manuscript (except for its use of the Soviet spelling system) then in the Mendele Museum in Odessa, but since lost by a fire that burned down the museum. _Khulyot_, in addition to printing abstracts (Yiddish and English) of the story and of Arn Vorobeytshik's article which ties the text to Mendele's _Di kliatshe_, presented the text in the Standard Yiddish Orthography and numbered paragraphs for ease of reference. We thank the editors of _Khulyot_ for permission to reproduce these pages.] a) abstrakt: "mayn (letste) nesie" dos iz mashmoes eyner fun di same letste tekstn, vos zaynen farefntlekht gevorn fun mendeles gnize. do handlt zikh vegn mendele dem moykher-sforim, beshas er iz in klem, mamesh ayngetunkt in dayges parnose. vu nemt men oyf hetsoes? blaybt, nebekh, tsu farkoyfn zayn ferdl, zayn hungerikn, oysgemoretn mitgeyer. nor ven er bagegnt zikh oyfn mark mit di grobe reyd fun di ferd-hendler -- tsit er zikh tsurik, un vert ful mit kharote un rakhmones far zayn koym zhipedikn fir-fisikn khaver. ibergedrukt fun minsker _shtern_ (10 yuli 1939, 1-4). a) Abstract: Mendele Moykher-Sforim, "My (Last) Journey" This is one of the very last texts in the Mendele archives to be published. Its subject is Mendele the Bookseller in an hour of extreme financial need when he is forced to consider selling his hungry and exhausted old companion, his horse. But when he encounters the foul talk of the horsedealers at the market, he pulls back, ashamed and full of pity for his barely breathing four-legged friend. Reprinted from _Shtern_ (Minsk, 10 July 1939, 1-4) and translated into Hebrew. b) abstrakt: Arn vorobeytshik, "fun mendele moykher-sforims laboratorye" arn vorobeytshik (1895-1941), velkher hot gearbet in alukrainisher muzey far yidisher kultur oyf mendeles nomen in odes, un iz geven der redaktor funem zamlbukh _mendele un zayn tsayt_ (1939), iz gevis geven a boki in mendeles ksav-yadn. vil er take in zayn kleynem esey gebn dem leyener an ontsuherenish vegn di meglekhe farbindungen tsvishn der novele 'mayn (letste) nesie' un mendeles vayterdike plener un verk. der iker halt er fun a smikhes tsvishn der o novele un mendeles barimte 'di kliatshe'. b) Abstract: Arn Vorobeytshik, "From Mendele Moykher-Sforim's Laboratory" Arn Vorobeytshik (1895-1941), who worked in the Alukrainisher Muzey far Yidisher Kultur Oyf Mendeles Nomen (Mendele All-Ukrainian Institute for Jewish Culture) in Odessa and edited the miscellany _Mendele un zayn tsayt_ ('Mendele and His Times') (1939), and was undoubtedly an expert on Mendele's manuscripts, sketches the relationship between Mendele's story "My (Last) Journey" and his later plans and works. He argues for a connection between the story and Mendele's famous novel _Di kliatshe_ ('The Mare'). mendele moykher-sforim, "mayn (letste) nesie"(*) 1. dem tsveytn elul, far a yorn, tarkh"t [1869](1), hob ikh mikh mit mayn baydl sforem arayngepekelt in kiev. ikh zog arayngepeklt, makhmes, vi ir veyst, iz a yid in kiev treyfe skhoyre. er tor zikh dort nit gefinen, saydn mit a blomb(2), dos heyst, az er tsolt poshline(3) un nemt a kupetshestvo(4). Vi es hot a ponem, torn keyn yidn dort nit zitsn, nit vayl me halt zey far umerlekhe, grobe, umgebildete mentshn, vorem reyshis, azoy fayn, azoy erlekh zaynen zey dokh, lekhol hapokhes, vi tsigayner. Far vos zhe geyen arum dortn tsigayner mit nokh andere shlek frank und fray? tsveytns, vos iz kupetshestvo far a simen fun erlekhkayt? me ken zayn a kupets un fort a groyser moshenik.(5) dritns, voltn dokh dortn gemegt zitsn di, vos hobn a mol gelernt in shkoles, in rabiner-shuln, oykh mekhabrem un nokh azelkhe, vos zaynen zeyer fayne gelernte mentshn, khotshe-nebekh, zey hobn nit keyn gelt tsu tsoln gilde.(6) vos den zhe iz der emeser tam? dos, zayt moykhl, geyt fregn andere, kliger, farshtenderike fun mir. ikh bin nit oysn zikh do arayntsulozn in khkires un geyn in hoykhe drokhem, farkrikhn biz dem elef hashishi... un iberikns, vos makht es oys, geloybt iz h|shem yisborekh, yidn zitsn dokh fort in kiev. dortn gefint zikh haynt, on nehore, a groyse eyde yidn, zoln zikh mern. zey hobn shoyn, dankn got, a takse mit nokh azelkhe gute tekones, bald efsher azoy, vi in glupsk. es kost a mol a kerbl, nu, meyle, khe!... 2. mayne gesheftn zaynen in kiev nit gegangen in bestn. der pidyen far di sforem iz geven zeyer veynik un shtekheven hot zikh nit gemakht mit vemen. beklal iz mir dos gantse yor nit gegangen. es iz geven a fintsterer, a bitere yakres. keynem iz nit gelegn in kop oystsugebn gelt oyf sforem. mayn hoypt-handl iz geven shtekh, vi der shteyger iz fun yidishe moykhrey-sforem, haynu, gor tkhiles bin ikh aroysgeforn mit tikn-shvueslekh, tikn toyde|lekh, mit etlekhe mesikhtes "beytso" ukhedoyme, hob ikh zey arum rosh-khoydesh ov oysgebitn oyf kines, oyf tkhines, oyf mesikhte "gitin" ukhdoyme. dernokh hob ikh di minem vider oysgebitn oyf lukhes, oyf "tikuney-zoyer," oyf slikhes, oyf makhzorem, mayne-loshns un tfilin-zekelekh. di dozike minem vider hob ikh osyen-tsayt oysgebitn oyf "gdoyles-Yoysef|'s," oyf grine shaln, broder gearbete layblekh, breslever zokn un oyf dubrovner taleysem, ukhedoyme. nokh dem hob ikh vayter di zakhn gebitn oyf brekh, oyf mesh un kupervarg. kurts, ikh hob gearbet, gemakht gesheftn, oft zeyer gute, gildene gesheftn, kh'hob ibergehandelt mit a velt, un nokh ale zakhn iz bay mir in keshene geven pust. ikh veys nit, efsher geyt es in andere miskhorem oykh punkt azoy. efsher, az men zol zikh gut tsukukn, geyt es azoy mit ale bries un goldshpiners. nor ikh bin dos nit oysn. 3. ikh bin arumgegangen in eyne tsores. vos tut men do? --hob ikh getrakht. oyf der stantsye kumt; my vayb shraybt mir, ikh zol l|man h|shem kumen aheym; ikh bin shoyn tsvey yor na-v|nad in der fremd. zi shraybt gevald, men darf dem eltern zun khasene makhn, ad mosay vet er zitsn a bokher? Nokh im zitst a psule a kale, der mekhuten pikt in kop arayn me zol shoyn khasene makhn. der khosn ken mer nit zitsn. Nokh ir iz faranen nokh a psule, un me muz zi oykh farknasn, shadkhonem shlogn op dos shvel. dertsu nokh hobn zikh nokh bay mir tserisn di shtivl, krikhndik oyf di kiever berg. haklal es iz mir gevezn gor nit freylekh. 4. ligndik baynakht oyfn geleger, iz bay mir geblibn ikh zol farkoyfn mayn ferdl. eyn mol, vel ikh es farshporn tsu hodeven, un tsveytns, vet nor dos gelt vos ikh vel far im nemen, tsu nuts kumen oyf hetsoes aheym. avade hot mir shtark bang geton zikh tsesheydn mit mayn ferdl, vos es iz shoyn bay mir azoy fil yorn. shoyn gants lang, az ikh hob es gekoyft, akurat in dem yor, vos ikh bin arop fun kest, un mayn vayb iz gelegn gevorn mit a finft meydl aleho-h|sholem. ikh hob es genumen in shtekh far ruml un alt mesh, un fun yener tsayt on hob ikh mit im gemakht ale mayne nesies un oysgeforn a velt. avade iz mir nit nikhe geven zikh tsu sheydn oyf der elter mit aza gezeln, vos iz tomed gevezn azoy getray, vos hot mir nit fun eyn blote aroysgefirt u n gelitn, farshvartst gevorn mit mir ineynem. nor vos hob ikh gekent beser makhn? vos tut den a mentsh nit fun zayn gezunt vegn? vifl fraybd, vifl getraye, gute fraynd, farkoyft men den nit fun parnose vegn? vos zog ikh parnose ken den nit itlekher fun undz azelkhe mentshn, i raykhe, i gebildte, vos farkoyfn zeyere harts-fraynd take gor far a kleynikayt, far a khnife, far a kerbl. oder far a gutn mitog? nit dos ober bin ikh oysn. 5. der ershter mentsh, vos hot mir in der fri opgegen a gur-morgn bay mir oyf der stantsye, iz geven di baleboste. 6. -- gut morgn, reb mendele -- hot zi gezogt mit a kheyn -- nemt nit far umgut, vos ikh bezpokoye(7) aykh gants fri, tomer kent ir mir gebn etlekhe kerblekh, ikh vil geyn epes aynhandlen oyf yontef, haynt iz a mark-tog, efsher vet mir der reboyne-sheloylem bashern a metsie. ikh bin dokh an orem mentsh, a viste almone mit kleyne kinder. 7. -- haynt iz a mark-tog -- hob ikh mir ongerufn zeyer tsemisht -- nu, elke, haynt vel ikh aykh gebn, haynt. 8. di baleboste hot gemakht a krum ponem un iz aroysgegangen. mir iz gevorn zeyer paskudne(8) oyfn hartsn, mayn gantse hofenung iz itst gevezn dos ferdl. 9. nor eyn got veys, vi s'iz mir geven oyf dem hartsn beshas ikh bin arayngegangen in shtol. mayn ferdl, nebekh, iz gelegn ayngehoykert in tsentn, es hot gesopet, gekrekhtst un shtark gemakht mit di zaytn. lebn im iz nit geven afile keyn eyn hey, fun hober hot men shoyn gornit tsu shmuesn, zayt etlekhe teg hot der shlimazlnik es afile in di oygn nit ongekukt, khuts a bisl sitshke. az ikh bin tsu im tsugegangen neenter, hot er zikh mit tsores geshtelt, zikh oysgetsoygn oystsuglaykhn di alte beyner, hot oyfgeshtelt zayne oyern un oysgeshtrekt dem haldz tsu mir mit vos du vilst. ikh vel dir shlepn mit dayne sforem kol zman es shlogt zikh nokh in mir an oder." ikh hob aropgelozt dem kop un hob mikh geshemt kukn mayn ferdl in ponem, glaykh vi ikh bin bagangen a farbrekhen. akh, hob ikh a krekhts geton un hob es ongenumen far dem poved(9) un im aroysgefirt oyf der gas. 10. ikh hob mit mayn ferdl arumgefirt hin un tsurik lebn di liverantn. eyner iz tsu mir tsugegangen, er hot a vayz geton mitn finger oyf dem ferdl un mir gefregt mit a shmeykhele: 11. -- feter, ir vilt dos farkoyfn? 12. yo -- hob ikh geentfert -- ir vilt dos koyfn? 13. -- vos toyg mir aza pgire -- hot er zikh ongerufn mit a gelekhter --ir zolt es mit shenkn, feter, vel ikh es nit nemen. 14. nokh etlekhe zaynen tsugegangen, hobn batrakht mayn ferdl mit a gelekhter un zaynen avekgegangen, nit tsu reydn mit mir afile a vort. tsum sof iz nokh eyner tsugegangen tsu mir un hot prost a zog geton: 15. a fertsiker efsher vel ikh aykh gebn far ayer drinde. vos ken den vert zayn in gantsn zayn fel? es iz durkh tsebisn, dos veydl oysgekrokhn, afile podkoves, mishteyns gezogt, vel ikh fun im nit kenen aropnemen. nu, vilt ir? -- hot er zikh nokh a mol ongerufn tsu mir -- zogt, vos shvaygt ir, feter? 16. azelkhe bizyoynes, mit azelkhe reyd hob ikh shoyn nit gekent oysshteyn. s'taytsh, farkoyfn mayn ferdl far a shpot-gelt me zol im harg|enen un aroptsien dos fel? mayn ferdl, vos hot mir gedint, un bay mir gebidevet azoy lang getray, vos bay a shlekhter tsayt fleg ikh im nit eyn mol zogn, er zol zukhn a hey in sider, vos nit eyn mol flegt er onnemen far lib a torbe mit dare shtiklekh broyt, vos ikh fleg opkoyfn oyf dem veg bay oreme layt, vos hot ongevoyrn bay mir zayn gezunt, zayn layb un lebn un a mol anidergeleygt zayn veydl, nebekh, bay di glupsker vayse khevre? 17. neyn, neyn, hob ikh gezogt, azoy shlekht akegn im vel ikh nit zayn. ikh vel ikh es nit farkoyfn. es meg zikh zayn mit mir vos es vil zikh. un bald take hob ikh es genumen un gegangen tsurik oyf der stantsye. ------------------- heores (notes') [fun Shalom Luria] *. ibergedrukt loytn nusekh fun minsker _shtern_ (10 yuli 1939, z' 1-4). dort gufe vert fartseykhnt az dos iz geven a ksav-yad, velkher hot zikh gefunen in alukrainisher muzey far yidisher kultur oyf mendeles nomen, in odes. der muzey iz, leyder, tseroybt un farbrent gevorn beshas der daytsher okupatsye in meshekh fun der tsveyter velt milkhome. 1. beys elul tarkh"t: mashmoes zumer 1869. 2. blomb: a plombe, gemeynt, mashmoes, a derloybenish gekhasmet mit a plombe. 3. poshline: an optsol, a shtayer. 4. kupetshestvo: a khazoke tsu firn a miskher. 5. moshenik: shvindler, dreyer, opnarer. 6. gilde: shtayer fun profesyonele balmelokhes un sokhrem; an optsolder branzhe. 7. bezpokoyen: matriekh zayn, madrikh-menukhe zayn. 8. paskudne: mies, shlekht. 9. poved: fun rusish: _povod_ meynt 'leytse'. *** ______________________________________________________ End of _The Mendele Review_ 02.028 and _Der Bavebter Yid_ 2:3 Leonard Prager, editor, _The Mendele Review_ Sh. Berger and Refoyl Finkl, eds. _Der Bavebter Yid_ Der Bavebter Yid: http://www.cs.uky.edu/~raphael/bavebter/ Sholem Berger, literarisher redaktor, bergez01@med.nyu.edu [manuskriptn] Refoyl Finkel, tekhnisher redaktor, raphael@cs.uky.edu [vebdizayn] _The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language (A Companion to _MENDELE_) ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 02.029 1 November 1998 1) Yiddish Matters: From the Editor (Leonard Prager) 2) Review of _Stalin's Forgotten Zion_ (Abraham Brumberg) 3) Abstracts of Khulyot ('Links') 5 (1998) (Leonard Prager) 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 1 November 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: Yiddish Matters a) Statement. _The Mendele Review_ strongly and categorically censures abusive criticism of respected colleagues in the academic Yiddish community. b) Birobidzhan. We are pleased to publish Abe Brumberg's review of a recent book on Birobidzhan, a subject which cannot be separated from the history of Yiddish in the Soviet Union and from that of Yiddish in the modern period as a whole. The disheartening Birobidzhan story is illuminated in numerous Yiddish sources, two of which are particularly notable: Yisroel Emyot [Israel Emiot], _Der birobidzhaner inyen_, ca. 1960 [translated into English as _The Birobidzhan Affair_, Philadelphia: JPSA, 1981] and Ester Rozental-Shnayderman, _Birobidzhan fun der noent; zikhroynes, gesheenishn, perzenlekhkaytn_ (Tel-Oviv: Leyvik farlag, 1983). c) _Khulyot ('ringen'); zhurnal far yidish forshung_ 5 (1998). Continuing the special relationship between _The Mendele Review_ and _Khulyot_, we are happy to give the English abstracts of the coming issue of _Khulyot_, vol. 5. It can be ordered from: _Khulyot_, Dept. of Hebrew and Comparative Literature, University of Haifa, Mt Carmel, Haifa 31905, ISRAEL. Subscription rates per volume in Israel are 45 shekels; abroad they are $15 for individuals and $28 for institutions. Max Weinreich"s Yiddish essay "What Would Yiddish Be Without Hebrew?," translated into Hebrew in _Khulyot_ 5, will appear in a future issue of _The Mendele Review_. 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 1 November 1998 From: abe brumberg <102142.2545@compuserve.com> Subject: retsenzye vegn birobidzhan [review of a book on Birobidzhan] Abraham Brumberg A Dream Gone Awry* [Robert Weinberg, _Stalin's Forgotten Zion -- Birobidzhan and the making of a Soviet Jewish homeland_: An illustrated history, 1928-1996. With an Introduction by Zvi Gitelman. Photographs by Bradley Berman. Berkeley: University of California Press, l998, iv, 105 pp., maps; 27 cm.] Of all the projects launched by the Soviet government, the attempt at creating a "Jewish Homeland" in the country's Far East was probably among the strangest and its results among the most pathetic. It was the brainchild of Jewish Communist ideologues eager to confer the status of "nation" on the three-million Soviet Jews, a classification reserved -- according to Lenin and his prize pupil Joseph Stalin -- for a linguistically-homogeneous ethnic group boasting its own territory. The idea was to channel hundreds of thousands of unskilled laborers and petty bourgeois merchants into "productive" professions, mainly agriculture. Soviet Yiddishists welcomed the project in the hope that it would help render Yiddish the lingua franca of Soviet Jews; others regarded it as a way to counteract the appeal of Zionism. In the higher reaches of the Kremlin, the idea of a barrier of settlements to deter potential Chinese and Japanese territorial appetites struck a particularly responsive chord. In l928, the Soviet government proclaimed the Birobidzhan District available for Jewish agricultural settlement. Soviet sympathizers abroad hailed the decree, a few of them even departing for the Soviet Union to lend a hand in the construction of a glorious Jewish socialist future. Alas, the grand design ran aground from the very beginning. The thousands of Jews from Ukraine and Byelorussia who embarked on the arduous two-week trip to the other end of the USSR found a land, about the size of Belgium, covered with forests, swamps and marshes, alive with ravenous mosquitoes, lashed by rains in the summer and icy winds in the winter. The wretched conditions drove the colonists into abject poverty, beggary and prostitution. Many of them immigrants left, but colonizing efforts continued, and some improvements were introduced. In l934, the Birobidzhan District was officially upgraded to Jewish Autonomous Region. Several Yiddish schools and other Yiddish cultural institutions opened, and delegations of Yiddish writers and actors came from Moscow and Kiev, though less for the purpose of settling there than "pour encourager les autres." By l937, the capital city boasted l0,000 inhabitants, but still lacked a sewage system and electricity. Two years later Jews constituted only l8,000 out of the Region's l09,000 residents. Despite a postwar campaign to bring more Jews from Russia's war-ravaged territories, most of them seething with antisemitism, few showed any inclination to eke out a living in tumbledown kolkhozes or primitively equipped factories thousands of miles from home. And so "productivization" turned out to be a delusion, the whole "experiment" a bust. Only 9000 Jews live in Birobidzhan today. What continues to thrive is the Potemkin village tradition: the autonomous region is still nominally "Jewish," the names of the streets and towns are written in Cyrillic and Yiddish (Hebrew) lettering, the local radio occasionally broadcasts concerts of Yiddish folk songs, and the paper _Birobidzhanskaya zvezda_, features a Yiddish column. What explains this doleful denouement? Weinberg, in his cogent and lively account, rightly points out that the steady decline of Yiddish all over the Soviet Union was due largely to the lure of the Russian language and culture. Why should Jewish children learn algebra or history in Yiddish, if the one sure path to professional advancement and cultural integration was signposted in Russian? Weinberg is right, too, in stressing Stalin's furious attack on Jewish "bourgeois nationalism," part of the Great Terror of the l930s, which resulted in the wholesale disbanding of Yiddish schools, journals and other cultural institutions, as well as the arrest of some leading Jewish personalities. Stalin decimated other national cultures, too. Yet there was always something sui generis about the Jewish case. From the l920s on, Yiddish writers were subjected to humiliating attacks on grounds of "clericalism," "Zionism" and "nationalism," in fact for any seeming expression of Jewishness, or sense of commonality with Jews outside the USSR. For a long time, Jewish religious practice was combatted by the (Jewish) Association of Militant Atheists (_krigerishe apikorsim_, an inane mistranslation, literally "quarreling heretics"). Hebrew was banned, Hebrew words in Yiddish had to be spelled out phonetically rather than retaining their original form, Yiddish orthography was revised. And so eventually Jewish culture was denuded and Yiddish became little more than the instrument for composing flatulent hosannas to Lenin and Stalin and hymns to socialist tractors tilling socialist soil. There was also the problem of antisemitism. Weinberg writes about it, but fails to make the connection between the l930s and the l940s, when Jews were singled out -- quite unlike any other nationality -- for brutal treatment, with all the familiar images of traditional anti-Jewish hatred. In the l920s and l930s, parents were reluctant to send their children to Yiddish schools because they saw no future in Yiddish, but also because they wished to protect them from antisemitic attacks. By the late l940s, antisemitism had graduated from the level of communal attitudes to that of state policies. Like many others whom he brought to power after the mammoth purges of the l930s, Stalin himself was an authentic antisemite. The demise of secular Jewish culture in the Soviet Union and of the JAR might have occurred anyway, earlier or more likely later: there were certainly plenty of "objective" reasons for it. But Stalin provided the coup de grace. _Stalin's Forgotten Zion_ contains splendid photographs edited by Bradley Berman and an informative historical introduction by Zvi Gitelman. My minor caveats notwithstanding, the book is to be heartily recommended to anyone with the slightest interest in the curiosities of contemporary history. [*This is a lightly revised version of a review entitled "Israel in Siberia" that appeared in the _Times Literary Supplement_ on September 11, 1998 (No. 4980), p. 29. -- L.P.] 3)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 1 November 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: Abstracts of Khulyot ('Links') 5 (1998) ______________________________________________________ _Khulyot ('ringen'); zhurnal far yidish forshung_ 5 (1998) / _Khulyot; dapim le-mekhkar be-sifrut yidish ve-zikoteha le-sifrut ivrit 5 (1998) / Khulyot/Chulyot ('Links') 5 (1998) ABSTRACTS Shmuel Werses How Maskilic Writers Viewed Yiddish The author surveys the openly hostile attitudes toward Yiddish held by writers of the Haskala ['Enlightenment'] and their efforts to convince their readers, especially in Germany, that Yiddish must be eliminated from all pedagogic spheres and that efforts to translate the Scriptures into Yiddish must be discouraged. These were the views of Moses Mendelssohn and his disciples, and of Naphtali Herz Weisel as expressed in his _Divrei shalom ve'emet_ ('Words of Peace and Truth'). The author discusses the analogous situation in Eastern Europe, where the most militant maskilim (Joseph Perl in Galicia, Ayzik Meir Dik in Lithuania, and Avraham Ber Gotlober in Russia) wrote in both Hebrew and Yiddish -- though they were by no means exponents of Yiddish. Ambivalence towards Yiddish can be found in the great Hebrew poet and opponent of Yiddish, Yehuda-Leib Gordon, who published a booklet of his own Yiddish verse, _Sikhes kholin_ ['Weekday Talk']. The author surveys the career of Shalom-Ya'akov Abramowicz [Mendele Moykher-Sforim], who began with typical maskilic hostility to Yiddish but cane to write in both Hebrew and Yiddish and grew into a classic figure, the "grandfather" of modern Yiddish literature. ---------------- Avraham Greenbaum Mikhl Gordon and his _History of Russia_ Mikhl Gordon (1823-1890) was a well known maskil and a Yiddish popular poet many of whose Yiddish poems became songs. He undertook to write a _History of Russia_ with the aim of teaching Yiddish-readers "in plain Yiddish" the history of a country and people among whom Jews had been living for generations. The first volume appeared in Zhitomir in 1869, in the halcyon years of Alexander the Second's reforms. The manuscript of the second volume (which was ready for publication) was apparently lost. The present essay succinctly discusses a work which was an innovation in its day. ---------------------- Avraham Keren The Conflict over Rabbinic Posts in Joseph Perl's _Megale Tmirin_ ('Revealer of Secrets') Joseph Perl (1773-1839), in his bilingual _Megale Tmirin_, illuminates all kinds of dark corners of society in early nineteenth-century Jewish communities. The subject here is a vicious clash between the hasidim of two different rebes over filling a vacancy for a rabbinical post. The Hebrew and Yiddish texts illustrate the actions and the intrigues as though they were actual historical documents. --------------------- David Assaf "My Beloved Friend, The Magid of Dubno": Satirical Letters in the Style of _Megale Tmirin_ ('Revealer of Secrets') Exchanged between Shalom Aleichem and Simon Dubnov In the 1890s Shalom Aleichem and the historian Simon Dubnov both lived in the great Jewish literary center, Odessa, but in different parts of the city. Since Dubnov's home was outside the postal boundary, Shalom Aleichem agreed to receive all of Dubnov's mail and forward it to him by special courier. Taking advantage of this arrangement, the two authors corresponded with each other frequently. These unique short letters from the summer of 1891 are composed in the ridiculing style of _Megale Temirin_ ('Revealer of Secrets'), Joseph Perl's famous anti-hasidic satire (1819). The humoristic correspondence contains rich historical, biographical and literary material that reveals the dynamics of everyday life among an important group of writers which included Shalom Aleichem, Dubnov, S.Y. Abramowitsh (Mendele Moykher-Sforim), Y.Ch. Rawnitzki and M. Ben-Ami, most of whom (with the exception of Mendele) were in their thirties. The article describes the social context of the letters (unpublished, though Dubnov tried to issue them), analyzes their content and style, and reviews their history. The twenty-five extant letters in the Shalom Aleichem Archive are critically edited from the original manuscripts (twenty of Shalom Aleichem and five of Dubnov). -------------------- Sophie Grace-Pollak Shomer in the Light of _Shomers mishpet_ ('Shomer's Judgement') Shm"r [= Shomer], the acronymic pseudonym of Nokhem-Meyer Shaykevitsh (1846-1905), was famous in his day as the author of hundreds of novels and stories, mainly in Yiddish. While beloved by his numerous readers, critics and writers attacked his work as harmful and stamped it as "shund" ('trash'). The principal attacks on Shomer appeared in the Yiddish press between the years 1887-1888, but their culmination point was Sholem-Aleykhem's pamphlet _Shomers mishpet_. Sholem-Aleykhem not only criticized Shomer's artistic taste, he called for banishing him from Yiddish literature totally. Sholem-Aleykhem's influence was enormous and Shomer's name was gradually forgotten. What has remained is the impression of a mass-circulation pulp fiction by Shomer and his imitators. The present essay discusses the debate surrounding Shomer's writings, analyzing in detail Sholem-Aleykhem's _Shomers mishpet_, which is today little known. A retrospective-historical overview must acknowledge the cultural-historical value of Shomer's work, which in its time created thousands of new readers for Yiddish literature. The sharp criticism of Shomer is based on a limited body of his work and intentionally ignores its positive qualities. A just approach must redraw the crooked picture presented by _Shomers mishpet_, restoring to Shomer the position owed him in the annals of Yiddish literature. -------------------- David G. Roskies The Shtetl in Jewish Collective Memory Whether viewing the shtetl through the lens of emancipation, which exaggerated all the ills of traditional Jewish life, or viewing it through the lens of nationalism, which focused on the Jewish collective ethos, Yiddish and Hebrew writers did not experience a "crisis of representation" vis-a-vis the Jewish market towns of Eastern Europe. By the 1860's, they had developed a "metonymic" (in Miron's formulation) or symbolic landscape, which was then tested and refined in the light of subsequent upheavals: the Revolutions of 1905 and 1917, the World War and Civil War, the emergence of Poland as an exclusive nation state, the Holocaust. Every piece of that landscape -- the besmedresh, the bathhouse, the marketplace, the kohol-shtibl, the tavern-teashop, and especially, the cemetery -- was recycled from one decade to the next, and then traveled from the native realm to the Americas and the Palestinian Yishuv. The ultimate vindication of this complex and many-layered literary construct was the grass roots phenomenon of the yizker-bikher, in which the deconstructed shtetl landscape was reconfigured into an archetypal narrative: from obscure birth, to full flowering, to suffering and mass martyrdom, to rebirth in the Promised Land. Most recently, this paradigm has resurfaced in the writings of third- and fourth-generation American Jews. ------------------ Ziva Shamir Bialik's Comic Dramatic Monologue "Mayn Gortn" ('My Garden') Despite its comic facade, Bialik's pseudo-folkloristic poem "Mayn gortn" ('My Garden') is a serious debate on the precarious situation of East European Jewry at the turn of the century. Its speaker, an arrogant provincial nouveau riche (a kinsman of Arye Ba'al Guf, the protagonist of Bialik's first short story) brags about his fruitful garden which he claims is unique in the shtetl for its beauty and yield. The reader gradually senses contradictions in his monologue and is able to see 1) that the proud estate owner is a self-made man afraid of a future financial crisis; 2) that he is not an authentic countryman, but an old-fashioned Jewish merchant; 3) that he belongs to a half-assimilated materialistic society caught up in making money and playing cards; 4) that the idyllic picture of the owner who takes pride in his garden is a short-term illusion about to end in personal and national catastrophe. The picture of the impoverished garden standing naked with the symbolic staff and haversack of the Wandering Jew is a premonition of future crises. This 1903 poem resembles Bialik's well known "In the City of Slaughter" ("In shkhite shtot" in the author's own Yiddish translation). A comic dramatic monologue rich in luxurious pleasures, it turns out to be a bitterly ironic tragic prophecy. The complacent Jew who is so sure of his real estate is totally unaware that an earthquake is imminent, and that his own fate will not differ from the collective fate of his smug brethren, old-fashioned Jews who own no garden, symbol of earthly delights. ----------------- Avner Holtzman Hillel Zeitlin, M.Y. Berdyczewski and _Dos idishes vokhnblat_ The article surveys the personal and literary relationship between the writers Hillel Zeitlin and Micha Yosef Berdyczewski between 1900 and 1921. The focus of this long relationship is 1907, when Berdyczewski participated regularly in _Dos idishes vokhnblat_, a weekly Warsaw Yiddish magazine edited by Zeitlin. Ten of Zeitlin's letters to Berdyczewski from that period are published here for the first time together with explanatory notes. The letters reveal the complex, tense nature of Berdyczewski and Zeitlin's attitudes toward each other. While Zeitlin was eager to develop a deep, spiritual lasting contact with Berdyczewski, the latter kept a formal distance from him. Berdyczewski's essays on Zeitlin (written in 1909 and in 1920) expose the reason for his suspicious reactions. He saw Zeitlin's writings as noisy, hysterical public utterances lacking a private voice and quiet reflection, vital signs to Berdyczewski of a sincere spiritual message. ------------------------------ Bilhah Rubinstein: The Messiah Has Not Arrived and Satan Dances in the Streets: On I. Bashevis Singer's _Satan in Goray_ _Satan in Goray_ is a modern metaphysical allegory based on a poetic pattern of the traditional "Dybbuk-Tale". The novel represents a model of a recurrent phenomenon in history: intense yearning for salvation follows a traumatic experience and swells to a monstrous false messianism. The article discusses the novel's poetic frame, its symbolic substructure and the ways in which it absorbs and employs kabbalistic and folkloristic source-materials. The novel leaves the reader asking: Is it possible to exorcise the Dybbuk of evil and destruction from human nature? Is it possible to prevent the recurrence of false messianism? -------------------------- Jacob Steinberg "In a shlitn" ('In a Sled' [source and translation]) -------------- Nirit Mitrani The Dialectic Basis of Jacob Steinberg's "A yidishe tokhter" ('A Jewish Daughter') This analysis of the story "Bat yisrael" ('Daughter of Israel') presents the protagonist Tsipora in a light different from that of previous critical inquiries. The author claims that the conventional perception of Tsipora as the "Innocent Daughter of Israel" ignores the complexity of her character. While the story does open with light radiating from Tsipora's eyes, she behaves in a morally suspect manner. An unequivocal denuciation of her actions does not follow. The story makes possible two interpretations of the protagonist which, when combined, reveal a character of great mental intricacy who is compelled to repress her individuality because of social pressure. ------------------ Yechiel Szeyntuch _a.dm.e._ [alef.daled/mem.ayin] -- A Symbolic Concept in the Works of K. Tsetnik** The known corpus of K. Tsetnik's works includes six books, each of which deals with the experiences of Jews in and after the Shoa: _Salamandra_, _Dos hoyz fun di lyalkes_, _Pipls_, _Der zeyger vos ibern kop_, _Kakhol me'efer_ and _Tsofen: adme_. K. Tsetnik began his bilingual writing career at the end of his twenties, yet to this day no serious attempt has been made to study and uncover the secrets of his art. One generally reads him without looking for connections among his books, even though they are all artistic explorations of Shoa experiences, analyses of their nature. One can imagine that the author has divided a single work into multiple parts for both aesthetic, compositional reasons as well as for the practical reason of avoiding inordinate book length. The author has himself discussed this question in the introduction to his _Salamandra_ (1947). This introduction was deleted from all subsequent editions. Few of K. Tsetnik's Hebrew-readers know that he is a bilingual writer who composed all of his Shoa novels originally in Yiddish. His principal theme is life and death in the Jewish towns of Eastern Upper Silesia in the years 1939-1945. His last book _Tsofen: adme_ (1987) is in some sense a summing-up and a commentary on his works. The unraveling of the symbolical abbreviation "a.dm.e." [alef.daled/mem.ayin] is the main theme of this essay. These four letters serve as a motto for all of K. Tsetnik's works, from 1946 to today, in Yiddish, Hebrew, and in all the fifteen languages into which he has been translated. -------------------- **Known in Yiddish as "Katsetnik," he was born Yisroel Fayner and in Israel changed his name to Yisrael Di-Nur. His general pseudonym is K. Tsetnik. -------------------- Nathan Cohen The Contribution of the "Bund" to Jewish Cultural Life in Poland between the Two World Wars Alongside its diversified political activity, and sometimes as a part of it, the Jewish Workers' Party (the Bund) paid much attention to secular Jewish culture and education. To provide an education imbued with class-consciousness, the Bund was the first to establish a modern Yiddish secular school-system. During the interwar period the Bund's impressive TSISHO school-network included kindergartens, elementary schools, high-schools (gymnasia) and evening schools for adults. In spite of great difficulties TSISHO became the second largest Jewish secular school-system in Poland. Initially under the Russian Empire and later in independent Poland, the Bund published a large number of periodicals, legal and illegal, in Warsaw and the provinces, mainly in Yiddish but also in Russian and Polish, which were literary as well as political. The Bund encouraged talented young Yiddish writers (not necessarily Bundists) by providing them with platforms for their works. The Bund's daily newspaper, the _Folkstsaytung_ (Warsaw), included a weekly literature and art supplement edited by the well known poet Meylekh Ravitsh. As the Bund's political power grew, it reached a central position in Jewish cultural life. It controlled the Kultur-lige organization and its publishing house, turning it into one of the most active Yiddish cultural institutions in Poland. The Bund also promoted libraries, dramatic studios, popular university courses, lectures and symposia, summer-camps for children and adults. In the early 193Os the Bund also tried -- with a degree of success -- to dominate the Association of Jewish Writers and Journalists in Warsaw. Even under the Nazi occupation of Poland the Bund maintained its cultural and educational activities and contributed significantly to Jewish spiritual resistance. ------------------------------- Dov Sadan Fragments: A Letter; On Israel Tsinberg; On _Tse'ena ure'ena_ ["the Yiddish pentateuch"] Here we present a letter by Dov Sadan to Shalom Luria together with two interesting fragments: one about the genial literary historian Israel Tsinberg and the other on _Tse'ena ure'ena_ (also known as "the Yiddish pentateuch") much beloved (but not exclusively) by women. ------------------ Shalom Luria On Two Poetic Gems (by Avraham Sutskever and Itsik Fefer) Here are presented two Yiddish poems and their Hebrew translations, one by Itsik Fefer and the other the first of Avraham Sutskever's "koymenlider ('Chimney Poems') cycle, written in the first days of the Nazi occupation of Vilna. A brief interpretation of each poem is also given. ---------------------------- Sh. An-ski On Jewish Folk-Creativity [Hebrew translation] -------------------------------- Haya Bar-Yitzchak Comments on An-ski's Jewish Ethnopoetics This article deals with An-ski's seminal 1908 Russian essay on Jewish ethnopoetics which appeared in _Perezhitoye_ (here translated for the first time into Hebrew; cf. Zalmen Reyzn's Yiddish translation in Sh. An-ski, _Gezamlte shriftn_, Vilna/Warsaw/New York: Ferlag "An-ski", 1928, vol. 15, pp. 29-95). An-ski's own dramatic life experiences help explain his credo regarding the centrality of folklore in understanding Judaism. An-ski saw Jewish folklore as the spiritual expression of the Jewish people and urged that its particulars be collected from respondents in their natural settings. ---------------------- Max Weinreich What Would Yiddish Be Without Hebrew? This essay, which appeared in _Di tsukunft_ (New York) in 1931 (pp. 194-205) is a polemical response to Nokhem Shtif's "Social Differentiation in Yiddish: The Hebrew Elements in the Language," published in Shtif's journal _Di yidishe shprakh_ (Kiev) 17-18 (1929). Shtif was highly learned and an expert on Yiddish. His effort to conform the Yiddish language to Soviet ideological doctrines was strongly opposed by Yiddish scholars abroad. Max Weinreich analyzes the Hebrew elements in Yiddish and clearly shows the weakness of Shtif's ideological position. -------------------------- BOOKS Velvl Tshernin [Chernin] The Kneeling Rebel: National History in Soviet Yiddish Prose (1960-1990) This article surveys Yiddish prose works written in the Soviet Union after the Stalin period on themes of Jewish national history. Soviet ideology made it impossible to write about the Palestine roots of Soviet Jewry and there were limitations with regard to presenting Judaism as an integral part of Jewish national life. An exception is Nosn Zabara's unfinished tetralogy _Galgl hakhoyzer_ ("The Revolving Wheel'), which was later published in _Sovetish heymland_, and in book form after the author's death. This novel about medieval Jewry in western Europe called forth opposing responses: the readers were enthusiatic but the critics strongly disapproved of the novel's sympathetic treatment of the Jewish religion. The Haskala ('Enlightenment') theme has a special place in Soviet Yiddish literature. It deals with events in Jewish life at the end of the eighteenth and in the nineteenth centuries on the territory of the Russian Empire. After Stalin's death several prose works on the Haskala theme were published in the Soviet Union. Irma Druker and Ber Halpern are two notable authors of such works. One should also mention the bilingual (Russian and Yiddish) Birobidzhan writer Roman Shoykhet, author of _Khuzarim_ ('Khazars'), two fragments of which appeared in the periodical _Birobidzhaner shtern_. ---------------------- Adina Bar-el Mordecai Halter's Novel of a Pioneer Training Commune ["hakhshara-kibuts"] in Poland Mordechai Halter's Yiddish novel _Mir greytn zikh: roman fun hakhshore-lebn_ ['We Are Preparing Ourselves -- A Novel of Communal Life'] was published in Warsaw in 1937. It describes a group of Halutsim in a training commune in a small town in Poland who suffer from unemployment, cold and hunger, but do not give up their dream of Aliya to the Land of Israel while creating a communal social and cultural life. Halter (Poland 1906 - Israel 1976) edited and translated the book into Hebrew three times: From 1937 to 1939 he published a version for youth in the "Tarbut" educational network's periodical _Olami_, with the chapters bearing the title: "Lekhayim khadashim" ('Towards a New Life'). In 1939 a book with the latter title was published in Warsaw by "Avoda". In 1942, after Halter's aliya, he published a book titled _Khalutsim ba'u ha'ira_ ('Halutsim Came to the City'). Comparing the various translations into Hebrew shows in both Warsaw translations the desire to spread the Hebrew language and propagate the ideas of the communal life and of aliya to the Land of Israel. The version published in Erets-Yisrael is more faithful to the Yiddish original; it memorializes and preserves a picture of the life of the Jews in interwar Poland for the Hebrew readers in Erets-Yisrael. ----------------------- Yiddish Abstracts English Abstracts [ed. and/or tr. L.P.] ------------------------ End of _The Mendele Review_ 02.029 Leonard Prager, editor Subscribers to _Mendele_ (see below) automatically receive _The Mendele Review_. Send "to subscribe" or change-of-status messages to: listproc@lists.yale.edu a. For a temporary stop: set mendele mail postpone b. To resume delivery: set mendele mail ack c. To subscribe: sub mendele first_name last_name d. To unsubscribe kholile: unsub mendele ****Getting back issues**** _The Mendele Review_ archives can be reached at: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele/tmrarc.htm _The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language (A Companion to _MENDELE_) ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 02.030 15 November 1998 1) Yiddish Matters: From the Editor (Leonard Prager) 2) A Note on Soviet Yiddish (Leonard Prager) 3) di yidishe avtonome gegnt (Lucas Bruyn) a. Arn Vergelis, "dos land birobidzhan" b. fun der tsaytung _birobidzhaner shtern_ c. "di yidishe avtonome gegnt" d. Itsik Fefer, "a khasene in birobidzhan" e. Itsik Fefer, "birobidzhaner freylekhs" 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 15 November 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: Yiddish Matters 1. Soviet Yiddish Abraham Brumberg's review of Robert Weinberg's book on Birobidzhan (see _The Mendele Review_ 02.029) invites us to look closely at some of his comments on Soviet Yiddish, a subject about which all too many of us know little. With the Cold War behind us we can review vexed questions dispassionately. In a short "Note on Soviet Yiddish" I ask "What happened to the Yiddish language during the long period of Soviet Communism?" In the late 1920s Nokhem Shtif, a leading Soviet Yiddish linguist, lead a campaign to dehebraicize Yiddish. In a famous 1931 _Di tsukunft_ essay, Max Weinreich showed how poor Yiddish would have been without Hebrew [see the last _TMR_ for an abstract of this essay]. Weinreich's essay will be given in the near future in the _TMR_, together with other materials that will help us understand the tense and tangled history of Yiddish in the Soviet Union. Readers may be reminded that our fellow Mendelist Craig Abernethy's website "derekh erets un dermonumg" is dedicated to Soviet Yiddish writing. See http://angelfire.com/ma/khaver. 2. Birobidzhan Lucas Bruyn had the bright idea of presenting TMR readers with a picture of Birobidzhan and its Yiddish culture as it officially wished to be seen. The selections are all taken from Sh. Sandler, _yidish lernbukh far oyslernen zikh yidish zelbshtendik_, moskve: "ruski yazik", 1989. In 1989 the old Soviet Union was still more or less intact and the official policy was to allow a minimal amount of controlled Yiddish publications, largely aimed at foreign consumption. Though Stalin had been long dead, the language still bears the damage marks of his era. With regard to Sandler's textbook as a whole, Lucas Bruyn (private communication) writes: "Sandler managed to give his students more than just Soviet propaganda. For instance, there is quite a lot of Sholem-Aleykhem in it, as well as a choice of poetry. Besides, it is a good primer. Old-fashioned grammar-translation method (target group: speakers of Russian), but solid. Well proportioned _limudim_ giving lots of grammar, interesting vocabulary, a wordlist, a verblist. It compares very favorably, for instance, with Sheva Zucker's textbook." The lineation and numeration in the selections below are provided in the original for pedagogic purposes and are retained here with additional line spaces as well. # marks the start of a new paragraph. 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 15 November 1998 From: Leoanrd Prager (lprager@research.haifa.ac.il) Subject: A Note on Soviet Yiddish Abraham Brumberg, in his review of Robert Weinberg'a _Stalin's Forgotten Zion -- Birobidzhan and the making of a Soviet Jewish homeland_: An illustrated history, 1928-1996 (Berkeley: University of California Press, l998) [in _The Mendele Review_ 02.029] spoke of "the steady decline of Yiddish all over the Soviet Union" and observed that "essentially... Yiddish became little more than the instrument for composing flatulent hosannas to Lenin and Stalin and hymns to socialist tractors tilling socialist soil." Thus Brumberg summarizes -- with considerable justification to my mind -- two kinds of decline, the first in the number of Yiddish-speakers and the range of Yiddish-language use, and the second in the expressiveness of the language itself (certainly in its public registers), i.e. external and internal deterioration. The fate of Yiddish letters was the fate of all the arts in all the languages of the Soviet Union under the aegis of socialist realism. The retreat of Yiddish before a dominant national vernacular was essentially no different in the Soviet Union than in Poland, North America, France, Argentina and other lands. Brumberg's generalization touching the changes within Yiddish itself is valid to a degree. Despite the official repression and the noxious initiatives of the Yevsetktsye, Soviet Yiddish culture has to its credit real achievements. In the field of literature one thinks of figures such as Der Nister, Dovid Hofshteyn, Dovid Bergelson and others. As repression increased many writers wrote for the drawer, many wrote in a manner that disguised their true intent, many wrote for translation only -- in short Yiddish writers struggled to keep alive the Yiddish muse and their best work that has reached us reveals a resourceful and flexible Yiddish. But a sodden, cliche-ridden Yiddish was created in the Soviet Union and we need not deny this. Brumberg connects the Soviet orthographic reform with the denuding of Jewish culture, but this is a complex matter. It is true that the reform was effected in the context of deliberate impoverishment of Judaic tradition, but it itself was rationally defensible and actually preserved the traditional pronunciation of Hebrew-Aramaic origin words by spelling them phonetically. Preservation of the traditional Hebrew spellings marks a victory of eye-culture over ear-culture; the vital link to Hebrew and Aramaic is visually maintained, but in actuality the Ashkenazic Hebrew -- i.e. authentic Yiddish -- pronunciations are often mangled by those who only know Israel pronunciations or know no Hebrew at all. The Soviet spelling code preserves aural tradition. On the subject of Soviet Yiddish as a whole, Lucas Bruyn is prepared to question our generally critical attitude. He writes (personal communciation): "Even if Soviet Yiddish is a poor language, to some extent it is a living, naturally developing language, incorporating modern words. Besides introducing modern (Soviet) terminology it also preserves Yiddish words and expressions that were lost in other parts of the Yiddish-speaking world. _Kolvirtniks_ driving their Socialist tractors brings to mind the Stalinist policies that brought misery to the Jews; but those same _kolvirtniks_ are also closer to the Israeli kibbutzniks than are, say, the pseudo-shtetl characters wailing at the Wall in Jerusalem." The following selections are not distinguished. The prose is wooden and the verse, minimally competent, seems little more than orchestrated glee. Vergelis grew up in Birobidzhan and, conceivably, may have felt strongly the grandeur of its rivers and woods. Yet for this reader as for many others in the West, the "voice" of this longtime editor of the closely censored _Sovetish heymland_ (subservient to Soviet official directives -- i.e. to propaganda) always sounds somewhat disingenuous. Reading Fefer is an especially challenging exercise. A first-rate poet, he recognized -- with what alacrity one hesitates to judge -- what one was required to do to survive and wrote embarrassingly sycophantic odes to Stalin. Perhaps we need to read Soviet Yiddish literature the way I.A. Richards many years ago suggested students learn to read poems -- without names of authors. Soviet Yiddish literature demands sharpened reading skills because the writer often is whispering to us between the lines. 3)--------------------------------- Date: 1 December 1998 From: Lucas Bruyn Subject: di yidishe avtonome gegnt Arn Vergelis [1918- ] dos land birobidzhan [p. 221] 1. ir hot nokh nit gezen dem bire-taykh? 2. in sheynkayt iz er mitn dnyeper glaykh, 3. un flisn flist er funem dnyeper shneler. 4. makht zikh amol an afdernakht a heler, 5. iz veyst ir, vi di bire zet dan oys? 6. ay, ay iz zi groys! 7. ay, ay iz zi breyt! 8. zi yogt azoy fartrakhterheyt, 9. un ale beymer kukn fun ir nase, 10. aleyn der himl tukt zikh in ir vaser. 11. ir hot nokh nit gezen dem kleyn khingan? 12. af zayne sopkes voynt der ber un der fazan 13. un bloy iz er, vi himl nokh a regn... 14. ir hot nokh nit gezen dem tayge-vald? 15. gedikht iz er! a boym a shverer falt, 16. un vilde hirshn yogn tsu a kval. 17. ir hot nokh nit gezen birobidzhan 18. mit bire un khingan, 19. mit tayge, velkhe iz nokh vild atsinder? 20. ay, iz dort hoykh der himl! 21. un veyst ir, vifl raykhkayt hot der kant? 22. nit mestn mit der hant, nit tseyln af di finger, 23. nit alts arayntsushteln in ot der lid -- 24. azoy iz raykh dos land birobidzhan! **** fun der tsaytung "birobidzhaner shtern" [pp. 119-121] 1) #di tsaytung "birobidzhaner shtern" iz der organ funem gegentlekhn komitet fun der komunistisher partey fun sovetnfarband un funem gegentlekhn rat fun folks-deputatn fun der yidisher avtonomer gegnt. 2) #der "birobidzhanisher shtern" dershaynt fun noyaber 1930 un dem akhtsntn avgust 1985 iz dershinen der tsentoyznster numer fun der tsaytung. 3) dem "birobidzhaner shtern" leyent men nit nor in der gegnt, nor oykh in a sakh shtet fun ukraine, rusland, vaysrusland, moldavye un andere sovetishe republikn un oykh in oysland. 4) di tsaytung brengt fil materyaln vegn dem politishn, gezelshaftlekhn, virtshaftlekhn un kultureln lebn in land un in oysland. 5) yedn zuntik git di tsaytung a spetsyele zayt, gevidmet literatur un kunst. 6) ot zaynen eynike oystsugn un fragmentn fun di tsaytungs-materyaln. 7) #tsum ershtn yortog fun der nayer sovetisher konstitutsye hot men in dem gegnt-tsenter birobidzhan ufgeshtelt a denkmol v. i. leninen. 8) der denkmol shteyt af dem nayem sovetn-plats. 9) #der khabarovsker bikher-farlag hot aroysgelozt dem bukh "di gliklekhe erd fun valdheym". 10) der valdheymer kolvirt "ilitshs gebotn" hot zikh oysgetseykhnt in der antviklung fun der landvirtshaft. 11) di valdheymer kolvirtnikes hobn ufgeboyt filshtokike voynhayzer, virtshaftlekhe gebayen, a kulturhoyz, shuln un magazinen. 12) far di derfolgn in der antviklung fun der landvirtshaft hot di sovetn-regirung baloynt dem kolektiv "ilitshs gebotn" mitn orden fun royter arbets-fon. 13) #fil yorn hot ongefirt mitn kolvirt vladimir izraylevitsh feler -- a mentsh fun an interesantn goyrl. 14) er hot ongehoybn zayn arbets-tetikayt als traktorist. 15) ven di fashistn zaynen ongefaln afn sovetenfarband, iz er frayvilik avek afn front. 16) aheym hot er zikh umgekert als fuler kavaler funem rom-orden. 17) di valdheymer hobn im oysgeveylt als forzitser funem kolvirt, un er hot lange yorn genit ongefirt mit der virtshaft. 18) me hot im tsugeeygnt dem titl "held fun sotsyalistisher mi," oysgeveylt als deputat funem oyber-sovet fun fssr, als mitglid fun der tsentraler revidir-komisye fun kpsf, als mitglid funem khabarovsker kantishn un funem gegntlekhn komitet fun kpsf. 19) #inen gegntlekhn kultur-palats hot men ufgefirt a lebenslustike muzikale fantazye "di birobidzhaner palitre". 20) der avtor hot tsunoyfgeshtelt di program loyt di motivn fun der muzik tsu farsheydene folkstents. 21) oysgefirt hot di kompozitsye der fidler-ansambl bam birobidzhaner folks-teater -- laureat funem alfarbandishn festival fun kinstlerisher zelbstetikayt. 22) der birobidzhaner fidler-ansambl, vos trogt dem titl "folks-kolektiv," ekzistirt shoyn hekher 20 yor. 23) letstns hot er tsugegreyt a yubiley-kontsert fun geklibene muzikverk, velkhe er hot oysgefilt di letste yorn. 24) #der yidisher muzikaler kamer-teater ba der birobidzhaner filharmonye hot fayerlekh opgemerkt zayn fuftsikstn uftrit mit zayn ershtn spektakl "a shvarts tsayml far a vays ferdl." 25) #der moskver muzikaler kamer-teater hot ufgefirt di opere "mazltov!" loyt sholem-aleykhems pyeske mit dem zelbn nomen. 26) der kompozitor hot vunderbar pinktlekh oysgedrikt in zayn muzik dem eygntimlekhn far sholem-aleykhemen eydeln humor, a bahoykhtn mit laykhtn troyer. 27) di muzik iz ongeshribn mit a klorer haynttsaytiker shprakh, glaykhtsaytik noent tsu di natsyonale intonatsyes. **** di yidishe avtonome gegnt [pp. 217-219] 1) #in tsarishn rusland zaynen di yidn geven eyne fun di same rekhtloze nationalitetn. 2) zey hobn nit gehat keyn rekht voynen in di groyse shtet, tsu arbetn in der industrye, tsu farnemen zikh mit landvirtshaft. 3) far zeyere kinder iz geven bagrenetst der tsutrit in gimnazyes un hoykhshuln. 4) #loyt der initsyativ fun vladimir ilitsh leninen hobn di bolshevikes nokh in 1914 arayngetrogn in der iv-ter melukhe-dume fun rusland a gezets-proyekt vegn natsyonaler glaykbarekhtikung. 5) #inem dritn punkt fun dem dozikn dokument iz gezogt gevorn: 6) "es vern opgeshaft ale un alerley gezetsn... velkhe bagrenetsn di yidn in velkher-nit-iz sfere funem gezelshaftlekhn un melukhishn lebn." 7) #reydndik vegn dem dozikn gezets-proyekt, hot vladimir ilitsh lenin batont, 8) az di yidn-frage kon geleyzt vern bloyz tsuzamen mit di ikerdike sotsyale un demokratishe fragn, 9) velkhe shteyen af der tog-ordenung in rusland. 10) batonendik di neytikayt fun fuler eynhayt tsvishn dem yidishn un nit-yidishn proletariat, hot vladimir ilitsh lenin ongevizn, 11 ) az dos iz bazunders neytik oykh farn derfolgraykhn kampf kegn antisemitizm. 12) #di groyse sotsyalistishe oktyaber-revolutsye hot tserisn di keytn fun sotsyaln un natsyonaln yokh. 13) di "deklaratsye fun di rekht fun di felker fun rusland," 14) untergeshribn funem grinder fun der komunistisher partey un fun der ratn-melukhe, fun v.i. leninin dem 16-tn noyaber 1917, 15) hot geleygt a festn fundament far der frayer antviklung fun ale natsyes un felkershaftn in undzer land. 16) di yidn, vi di andere felker fun der sovetisher melukhe, hobn tsum ershtn mol bakumen dos rekht af natsyonaler zelbstbashtimung. 17) #dem 7-tn may 1934 iz loytn bashlus funem hekhstn makht-organ -- funem alfarbandishn tsentraln oysfir-komitet -- geshafn gevorn di yidishe avtonome gegnt. 18) #di gegnt gefint zikh afn vaytn mizrekh, arumgeringlt mit di berg funem kleynem khingan, lengoys dem amur, tsvishn zayne baytaykhn bire un bidzhan. 19) di gegnt farnemt a shetekh fun iber finf un draysik toyznt kvadrat-kilometer un iz greser vi di teritorye fun azelkhe eyropeishe lender vi holand un belgye tsuzamen genumen. 20) mit der hilf fun di briderlekhe felker fun ale farbandishe republikn iz birobidzhan gevorn a gegnt fun groyser industrye, mekhanizirter landvirtshaft un hoykher kultur. 21) in der gegnt zaynen geshafn ale badingungen far der antviklung fun der kultur un kunst. 22) in der gegnt zaynen tetik a profesyoneler yidisher kamer-teater, a filharmonye, a yidisher un a rusisher folks-teater, di yidishe shou-grupe "freylekhs." 23) a breyte antviklung hot bakumen in di arbeter-kolektivn un in di kolvirtn di kinstlerishe zelbstetikayt. 24) in birobidzhan geyen aroys tsvey gegntlekhe tsaytungen: "birobidzhaner shtern" af yidish un "birobidzhanskaya zvezda" af rusish. 25) af yidish un af rusish kumen for yedn tog di translirungen funem gegntlekhn radio- un televizye-komitet. 26) di birobidzhaner literatn gibn aroys zeyere verk af yidish un af rusish in farsheydene farlagn un drukn zikh in di zhurnaln "sovetish heymland," "dalni vostok," in der gegntlekher un kantisher prese. 27) in der gegntlekher bibliotek af sholem-aleykhems nomen iz faran a groyser fond fun der yidisher literatur. 28) a glaykhe tsvishn glaykhe, hot di gegnt geteylt mitn gantsn land say freydn fun fridlekher mi, say leydn fun der milkhome-tsayt. 29) far gevagtkayt un heroizm in di yorn fun der groyser foterlendisher milkhome zaynen hekher zibn toyznt aynvoyner fun der gegnt baloynt gevorn mit ordens un medaln fun fssr. 30) fertsn fun zey iz tsugeeygnt gevorn der titl "held funem sovetnfarband." 31. der arbeter funem zavod "dalselmash" Yoysef bumagin hot ibergekhazert dem heldntat fun aleksander matrosov. 32. nokhn toyt iz im tsugeeygnt gevorn der titl -- "held funem sovetenfarband" un zayn nomen trogt an arbeter-yishev inem gegntlekhn tsenter. 33. di bafelkerung fun der gegnt halt in eyn vaksn un itst (1984) batreft zi ba di 200 toyznt mentshn. 34. in an eynhaytlekher briderlekher mishpokhe lebn un miyen zikh in guter frayntshaft yidn un rusn, ukrainer un vaysrusn, moldavaner un forshteyer fun andere natsyes un natsyonalitetn funem sovetnfarband. 35. far di groyse derfolgn in der landvirtshaftlekher un kultureler boyung iz di yidishe avtonome gegnt baert gevorn mit der hekhster baloynung funem haymland -- mitn lenin-orden (1967), mitn orden fun felker-frayntshaft (1964), un di shtot birobidzhan -- mitn orden fun ern-tseykhn (1984). 36) di gedankn un gefiln fun di sovetishe yidn zaynen oysgedrikt inem ofenem briv fun di arbeter, kolvirtnikes un forshteyer fun der inteligents fun der yidisher avtonomer gegnt (vos iz farefntlekht gevorn in der tsaytung "sovetskaya rosiya" dem 26-tn fevral 1970): 37) "der sovetnfarband iz dos land, vu mir zaynen geboyrn un vu mir khoven undzere kinder. dos iz undzer ekhte, emese un eyntsike heym un keyn andere darfn mir mit." **** Itsik Fefer [Itzik Feffer] (1900-1952) a khasene in birobidzhan [pp. 168-169] 1. ay-ay, iz dos a khasene a freylekhe geven, 2. di velt hot aza khasene nokh keynmol nit gezen. 3. iz tut a shpil, klezmoremlekh, der bas un der bayan, 4. zol tantsn di geretenish in gants birobidzhan. 5. der korn zol a heyb ton zikh hekher funem barg, 6. der vayntroyb zol zikh ongisn, der vayn zol vern shtark... 7. iz dremlt nit, klezmoremlekh, zol shpiln der bayan*, 8. dos paykl zol a paykl ton af gants birobidzhan! 9. gedenken zol di khasene di klezmer un di por, 10. un yeder mekhuteneste biz hundert tsvantsik yor! 11. un ven di khosn-kale veln vern alt un groy, 12. zol zogn undzer zeydenyu der bobenyu azoy: 13. "nu, nu iz dos a khasene a freylekhe geven, 14. di velt hot aza khasene nokh keynmol nit gezen!" *A bayan is a particular Russian type of accordion different from the common Western types. Some writers derive the name from that of a legendary ancient Russian bard (sometimes called Boyan). The Akhmanova Russian-English dictionary gives both 'accordion' and '(ancient Slav) bard' as the meanings. The modern instrument is played in all kinds of ensembles in Russia, where it was developed from a simpler folkloric instrument in 1929 by Sterligov. A photo of a bayan is given in C. Gazaryan's _V Mire Muzikalinikh Instrumentov_ (Moscow, 1985), p. 38. [I thank Viktor Khristosov for this information.] In Yiddish the word is a Russicism. In the 1984 Shapiro, Spivak, Shulman Russian-Yiddish dictionary it is not defined but simply transcribed; I have not found it in any other Yiddish dictionary. In this poem, which was doubtless set to music, a bayan provides the melody and the bass and drum the rhythm. In the poem that follows the ensemble includes fiddles, flutes and bass.[L.P.] **** Itsik Fefer [Itzik Feffer] (1900-1952) birobidzhaner freylekhs [pp. 169-170] 1. shpilt a freylekhs! shpilt a freylekhs! 2. in dem rod arayn geshvind, 3. ale poles un fatsheyles 4. vi di zeglen afn vint! 5. fidlen, fleytn, kontrabasn, 6. zoln tantsn ale gasn, 7. zoln dunern trumeytn, 8. un di grinsn af di beytn 9. zoln zaftik zayn un gut! 10. fidlen, fleytn nit gerut! 11. vi geshmake hoykhe zangen 12. zoln royshn di gezangen! 13. shpilt a freylekhs! 14. meydlekh! yungen! 15. s'iz a lebn do farflantst. 16. oyb gezungen, iz gezungen 17. oyb getantst, zol zayn getantst! -------------------------------------------- End of _The Mendele Review_ 02.030 Leonard Prager, editor Subscribers to _Mendele_ (see below) automatically receive _The Mendele Review_. Send "to subscribe" or change-of-status messages to: listproc@lists.yale.edu a. For a temporary stop: set mendele mail postpone b. To resume delivery: set mendele mail ack c. To subscribe: sub mendele first_name last_name d. To unsubscribe kholile: unsub mendele ****Getting back issues**** _The Mendele Review_ archives can be reached at: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele/tmrarc.htm _The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language (A Companion to _MENDELE_) ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 02.031 1 December 1998 1) Yiddish Matters: From the Editor (Leonard Prager) 2) Birobidzhan Songs: Robert Goldenberg 3) Helene Khatskels: Ester Rozental-Shnayderman 4) Helene Khatskels Bibliography: Robert Goldenberg 5) Helene Khatskels, selections: Leah Krikun 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 1 December 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: Yiddish Matters 1. Variants of Birobidzhan Songs Robert Goldenberg provides variants for two of the Birobidzhan poems/songs given in the last issue of _The Mendele Review_. There are very likely many more variants to be found. 2. Helene Khatskels (1882-1973)* One area of Yiddish creativity which has been neglected in _The Mendele Review_ -- women's writing -- receives some redress in this issue devoted principally to a remarkable woman educator and writer, Helene Khatskels. In her day and place a viable secular Yiddish school system existed and she helped meet its needs for texts in geography and natural sciences. She was also a travel writer who gave her young audience a series of little booklets on foreign places which to this day may serve as examples of a pleasant informal Yiddish essay style. She edited and wrote for a number of lively children's journals, bringing to young readers in Vilna, Kovno and many other cities Yiddish versions of some of the best-loved children's stories in the West. Under the most difficult political conditions she worked to sustain Yiddish education in Lithuania a half-century ago. The biographical sketch below of Helene Khatskels is written by an another remarkable woman writer and educator. Ester Rozental-Shnayderman (born in 1902), lived in Poland and the Soviet Union before settling in Jerusalem in 1962; author of the three-volume _oyf vegn un umvegn_ ('On Roads and By-ways') (Tel-Aviv, 1974-82) and _birobidzhan fun der noent_ (Tel-Aviv, 1983), she is eminently qualified to write about her fellow Yiddish-educator Helene Khatskels. * H.K.'s name is spelled/transliterated in a variety of ways. One finds Helena Chatzkels, Helena Khatskeles, Helene Khatskels. We employ the last form. 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 1 December 1998 From: Robert Goldenberg Subject: Songs about Birobidzhan [Robert Goldenberg writes in response to _TMR_ 02.030: (1) In your notes, on Fefer's "a khasene in birobidzhan," you mention that "it was doubtless set to music." I can confirm this, with qualifications. Sidor Belarsky and Emil Gorovets recorded a song called "a yidishe khasene," words by Fefer, melody by L.Y. Yampolsky. Lines 1 and 2 constitute the chorus, and the rest of the song is similar but not identical. Could this be another poem by Fefer? The words and music can be found in _Sidor Belarsky Songbook_ published by Queens College, NY (n.d.). (2) "birobidzhaner freylekhs," according to Belarsky's book, was written by Izi Kharik, not Itsik Fefer(*). It was put to music by S. Polansky, also recorded by Belarsky and Gorovets. In Belarsky's book we find an additional verse as well. (My wife included both of these songs in a concert in 1996 at the Workmens Circle "Jewish Cultural Experience" program in New York, commemorating August, 1952.)] *) Authorship is not clearly shown in Sandler's _yidish lernbukh_: Fefer's name appears on page 168 as author of "a khasene in birobidzhan"; there is no name at all at the head of "birobidzhaner freylekhs." The reader normally assumes both poems to be attributed to Fefer. Other possibilities: a) the second poem is of anonymous authorship; b) Sandler did not know who the author was. Itsik Goldenberg has submitted the following two variants [L.P.]: "a freylekhs" (words: i[zi] kharik, music: s. polansky) shpilt a freylekhs, shpilt a freylekhs, in der rod arayn geshvind; ale poles un fatsheyles vi di zeglen oyfn vint. fidler, fleytn, kontrabasn, zoln tantsn in ale gasn. zoln dunern trumeytn; un di grinsn in di beytn zoln lustig zayn un gut. fidler, fleytn, nit gerut! vi geshmake hoykhe zangen, shpilt a freylekhs, meydlekh, yungen -- s'iz a lebn do faran, oyb gezungen iz gezungen, oyb getantst, zol zayn getantst! tantsn shniter, tantsn ale, tantst a meydl fun volin mit a bokher fun poltava -- ale felder zenen grin ale velder kutsherove; rogatshover un odeser zol di rod zikh heybn greser; ven es tantsn di tsherkaser heybt in taykhl zikh dos vaser. ven es tantsn di voliner vern ale sopkes griner. sopke < Russ. sopka 'mound, hill' shpilt a freylekhs, meydlekh, yungen, s'iz a lebn do faran, oyb gezungen iz gezungen, oyb getantst zol zayn getantst! ******* "a yidishe khasene" (words: i. fefer. music: l. yampolsky) iber shlyakhn freylekhe vos zenen do faran, iz men oyf a khasene a yidishe gegan; un fun yedn gesl un fun yeder tir zenen makhatonemlekh gegangen on a shir. oy, iz dos a khasene a yidishe geven; di velt hot aza khasene nokh keyn mol nit gezen. makhatonem trogn zikh fun noent un fun vayt, me tuplt un me tentslt un me tupet un me rayt. meydlekh in kosinkes, zeydenyus mit berd, zey trogn zikh oyf oytos, zey fliyen oyf di ferd. oy, iz dos.... zog undz, kale, kalenyu, ver iz der khosn, ver? se ken di gantse gegnt im un trefn iz nit shver. iz vos hostu gegebn far dem khosn nadn, zog? tsvey lefelekh, tsvey goldene un alts vos ikh farmog. oy, iz dos.... un vos hostu bakumen fun dem khosn meyer-ber? tsi oyringlekh, tsi fingerlekh, keyn eyntsikn brilyant; a fraynt -- un oykh dem shenstn yung, dem bestn in dem kant. oy, iz dos.... to, dremlt nit, klezmoremlekh, zol shpiln der bayan, dos paykl zol a paykl ton un freylekh zol do zayn! gedenken zol di khasene di klezmer un di por, un di makheteyneste biz hundert tsvantsik yor! oy, iz dos..... ***** 3)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 1 December 1998 From: Robert (Itsik) Goldenberg Subject: Helene Khatskels (Ester Rosental-Shnayderman [Esther Rosenthal (Schneiderman)]) CHATZKELS, HELENE (1882-1973), pedagogue, writer, and translator. Born in Kovno she attended the pedagogical institute at St. Petersburg. From 1905 to 1908, she was a member of the illegal Bund. In the period 1916-1918, she was one of the founders of the Yiddish school network in Lithuania, remaining one of its leaders throughout its existence. The author of numerous works on education, Yiddish textbooks, children's stories, and travelogues, she also compiled the first curriculum for the study of natural sciences and geography in Yiddish schools (1918). In 1925, when the Yiddish Kultur-Lige ("culture league") was disbanded by the Lithuanian authorities, Chatzkels, together with Samuel Levin, set up an illegal leadership for the educational institutions affiliated to the league, thereby saving them from extinction. Although she supported the Soviet Union, she was also on friendly terms with Siegfried Lehmann and acted as adviser to the educational institutions he directed at Kovno and Ben Shemen (Erez Israel), visiting the latter institution in 1929. In 1931 she published a pamphlet entitled _Araber_, in which she expressed great admiration for the Zionist pioneers and denounced the Arabs for the murderous riots against the yishuv. After World War II she struggled for the reestablishment of the Jewish school system in Soviet Lithuania, and headed the last Jewish children's home and elementary school in Kovno, until it was finally closed down by the Soviets in 1949/50. During the anti-Jewish "struggle against cosmopolitanism" she wrote letters to the press and to Stalin himself, protesting against Soviet anti-Semitism. She was given the honorary title of "meritorious teacher" in 1947, and awarded the Order of the Red Flag in 1955. Until 1966 she was a teacher of Russian literature at a Lithuanian secondary school in Kovno. [Esther Rosenthal (Schneiderman)] [from _Encyclopaedia Judaica_ (Jerusalem: Keter, 1971)]. 4)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 1 December 1998 From: Robert (Itsik) Goldenberg Subject: Helene Khatskels Bibliography Helene Khatskels Bibliography A. Works by Helene Khatskels "analiz fun leyen-materyal, ('Analysis of Reading Material'), _dertsiyungs entsiklopedye_, band 1, nyu-york, 1957, zz. 295-306. _araber_. vilne: farlag "naye yidishe folkshul," 1931, 47 zz. _a rayze keyn england_. vilne: farlag "naye yidishe folksshul," 1931 [biblyotek "grininke beymelekh," redaktirt fun Sh. batomski. serye n' 2]. [Polish t.p.: Printed in Poland / Bibljoteka "Grininke Boymelech" redagowano przez S. Bastomskiego / Helena Chackels / Podroz po Anglji / Drukarnia "Expres" Wilno, Wielka 33] 45 zz., 4"x5" [not listed in Fuks]. _a zumer in amerike_. vilne: farlag "naye yidishe folkshul," 1931, 78 zz. _di erd un di velt_ ('The Earth and the World') [a geography textbook for schools and self-study, with 24 figures in the text], teyl 1, berlin, 1924, 133 zz. _di natur arum undz_ ('Nature Around Us') [textbook for folk schools, with afterword for teachers], berlin, 1922, 117 zz. _di natur arum undz un mir aleyn_ ('Nature Around Us and We Ourselves') [a textbook for folk schools], Berlin, 1922, 160 zz., illustrated). _di program fun naturvisnshaft un geografye mit metodishe onvayzungen_ ('The Program of Natural Science and Geography, With Methodological Instructions'), vilne, 1918, 64 zz. [mit di baylages _A musterheft fun naturvisnshaft_ un Zalmen Reyzn's _Terminologye far geografye_ ('with the supplements _A Master Work of Natural Science_ and Zalmen Reyzen's _Terminology for Geography_ (iberdrukt in _kultur un bildung_ (moskve), 1918 (reprinted in the journal _Culture and Education_, Moscow, 1918)]. _finland_, vilne: farlag "naye yidishe folkshul," 1931, 40 zz. _fun oslo biz bergen_ ('From Oslo to Bergen') (a trip across Norway), vilne: farlag "naye yidishe folkshul," 1931, 59 zz.) _groyse dergreykhungen un derfindungen_ ('Great Discoveries and Inventions') [popular talks about physics] Part 1, moskve, 1927, 127 zz. [with a foreword from the author and complementary supplements by Y. Zhiv], Part 2, 1927, 110 pp.] _shmuesn far di ershte tsvey lernyorn folksshul_ ('Talks for the First Two Grades of Folk School'), kovne, 1924, 12 zz. B. Pedagogical and Children's Journals H.K. wrote for _di naye shul_ ('The New School') (vilne-varshe), 1920-1930; _shul bletl_ ('School Page') (kovne); the children's supplement of the _folksshtime_ (Varshe). She edited _kinderblat_, the children's supplement of _folksblat_ (kovne) 1931-1939. C. Translations (items marked [?] not yet identified) bernet, f. _der kleyner lord_ ('The Little Lord'), vilne, 1940, 151 zz. [ = F.H. Burnett, _Little Lord Fauntleroy_). _der nayer alef-beys_ ('The New Alef-Beys') (tsuzamen mit Meyer yelin), moskve, 1948, 64 zz. [?] _di zilberne glitshers_ ('The Silver Skates') [loyt stal], vilne, 1939, 48 zz. [? = Mary Mapes Dodge, _Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates_, Philadelphia: David McKay, 1918 -- L.P.] irvin, v. un v. stefenson, _kek -- der kleyner eskimos_ ('Kek -- The Little Eskimo') vilne, 1939, 131 zz. [?] malo, hektor. _on a heym_ ('Homeless'), vilne, 1940, 151 zz. [?] oyda, _vos mit a kleynem yingl hot pasirt_ ('What Befell a Small Boy'), vilne, 1939, 40 zz. [?] perkins, lyusi fitsh. _di kleyne holender_ ('The Little Dutchmen'), vilne, 1938, 37 zz. [= Lucy Fitch Perkins, "The Dutch Twins."] perkins, lyusi fitsh. _mini un moni, der eskimosisher tsviling_ ('Mini and Moni, The Eskimo Twins') vilne, 1938, 55 zz. [= Lucy Fitch Perkins, _The Eskimo Twins_] perkins, lyusi fitsh. _di gevagte_ ('The Daring Ones'), vilne, 1939, 51 zz. [= Lucy Fitch Perkins, _The Cave Twins_] zand, zhorzh. _di fliglen fun mut_ ('The Wings of Courage'), vilne, 1939, 52 zz. [ = George Sand, "The Wings of Courage."] D. Articles on Helene Khatskels anilovitsh, m. and m. yafe, _shriftn far psikhologye un pedagogik_ ('Writings in Psychology and Education'), vilne, 1933, z. 499. bloshteyn, h. _folksshtime_ (varshe), 1.12.1959. _eynikayt_ (moskve) 22.3.45, 20.9.45 and 2.11.48. f[uks], kh[ayem]-l[eyb]. "helene khatskeles [sic]," _leksikon fun der nayer yidisher literatur_, ferter band, nyu-york: alveltlekhn yidishn kultur-kongres, 1961, zz' 378-380. gar, y. _viderklangen_, tel-oviv, 1961, zz' 144-158. gotlib, n.-y. _lite_ ('Lithuania'), vol. 1, nyu-york, 1951, zz. 1110-1111. kagan, berl. "khatskeles, helena," _leksikon fun yidish-shraybers_. nyu-york: berl kagan, 1986, p. 314 (provides death date [1973] and correct spelling of name [khatskels]). _litvisher id_ ('Lithuanian Jew'), nyu-york, yanuar 1947. mark, yudl, _zamlbukh lekoved dem 250stn yoyvl fun der yidisher prese, 1686-1936_ ('Writings in Honor of the 250th Anniversary of the Yiddish Press, 1686-1936'), nyu-york, 1937, z. 258. poznanski, kh.-l. _zikhroynes fun a bundist_ ('Memoirs of a Bundist'), varshe, 1938, zz. 121-124. reyzen, zalmen. "helene khatskels," _leksikon fun der yidisher literatur prese un filologye_. vilne: kletskin, 1927, band 2, zz' 35-36 [with small and faded but fascinating photo-portrait]. Rosenthal (Schneiderman), Esther. "Helene Chatzkels," _Encyclopaedia Judaica_ (Jerusalem: Keter, 1971). shnayderman, sh.-l., _forverts_ (nyu-york) 2.12.1959. yelin, m. _eynikayt_ (moskve) 29.11.1947. 5)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 1 December 1998 From: Leah Krikun Subject: Helene Khatskels, selectons helena khatskeles, _a rayze keyn england_ (vilne: "naye yidishe folkshul" farlag, 1931). pages 5-9 in a shtiln zumerdikn farnakht hob ikh derzen, shteyendik oyfn dek fun shif, vayslekhe kalkhike felzn. dos iz geven der englisher breg, der shtiler hofn dover. oyfn breg, nit vayt fun shif, hot shoyn gevart a tsug, vos hot gedarft opfirn di pasazhirn keyn london. di vagones fun 3-tn klas zaynen bakveme, mit veykhe zopes, vi bay undz in 2-tn klas. ikh farnem a plats lebn fentster un gib a kuk oyf mayne shkheynem. ale ernste, ruike, shvaygedike. keyner fregt mikh nit, vuhin ikh for, fun vanen ikh kum. dem ershtn moment dukht zikh mir, az di englender zenen shtoltse un kalte mentshn. shpeter ober, az ikh hob opgelebt a gevise tsayt in england, hob ikh zikh ibertsaygt, az dos iz nit rikhtik. vifil mol iz mir shpeter oysgekumen tsu forn! dakht zikh, ale shvaygn, keyner interesirt zikh nit mit mir, ober vi nor zey flegn bamerkn, az ikh fil zikh do fremd, az ikh kuk zikh tsu shoyn tsu oyfmerkzam tsu di oyfshriftn, flegt men mikh shtil fregn, vuhin ikh darf forn. un me flegt shoyn zorgn, ikh zol aropgeyn oyf dem rikhtikn ort, mir helfn aropnemen di zakhn, mikh ibergebn oyf der stantsye tsu a zikhern mentshn, vos zol mir vayter gebn rikhtike onvayzungen. oder vifil mol flegt zikh trefn, az ikh fleg zikh opshteln in farlegnheyt in mitn veg, nit vagndik aribertsugeyn a gas, vu es trogn zikh on an oyfher otomobiln, otobusn, tramveyen. dan flegt tsugeyn a shutsman, eydl fregn, vuhin ikh darf, un mikh far der hant ariberfirn oyf der ander zayt. an englender fregt aykh nit oys, ver ir zayt un vu ir fort, fun eydlkayt. er vil nit zayn lestik mit zayne fragn, ober er iz greyt aykh tsu kumen tsu hilf. der ershter ayndruk fun london iz geven, az do hot epes pasirt, az mentshn ayln zikh, loyfn ergets. dos glaykhn -- di otomobiln, otobusn, tramveyen. a gepilder, a geroysh, a loyfenish; es hot zikh mir alts gedakht, az ikh darf zikh opshteln oyf a vayle un opvartn, biz vanen me vet farbayloyfn, farbayforn, biz vanen di mentshn veln zikh baruikn. ikh hob gevust, az ikh nar zikh, az in der emesn iz do dos lebn azoy, az di eylenish, der gelaf, der tuml vet zikh nit aynshtiln biz shpet in der nakht. ober s'iz geven azoy umgeveynlekh, az ikh hob zikh aleyn nit gegloybt, az do tumlt un roysht ale mol. shpeter hob ikh zikh ayngevoynt, hob shoyn nit gevart, biz vanen me vet farbayloyfn, farbayforn. ikh hob genumen aleyn zikh ayln, mithaltn mit di toyznter mentshn, vos bavegn zikh oyf di londoner gasn. ikh hob genumen bamerkn, az in der loyfenish iz do a merkvirdike ordenung. toyznter otomobiln forn in farsheydene rikhtungen. di vegn kraytsn zikh iber, ober me shtoyst zikh nit tsuzamen, me tsetumlt zikh nit, me shtert nit eyner dem andern. nit kukndik oyf der gikhkayt, der aylenish, zenen ale ruik, kaltblutik. ikh fleg bavundern di firer fun di otobusn, vi kuntsik zey flegn durkhforn in der grester engshaft, shtupenish. nokh mer ken men bavundern di shutslayt, vos shteyen oyf di groyse pletser oder oyf vinklen vu es kraytsn zikh a fule gasn un vu es forn durkh toyznter otomobiln un tramveyen in di farsheydnste rikhtungen. zey shteyen in rekhtn mitn un vayzn on alemen dem veg mit a ruiker bavegung fun der hant. oftmol, ven es forn zikh tsuzamen tsufil otomobiln un vagonen un es iz ummeglekh far di fusgeyer aribertsugeyn a gas, shteln zey op di gantse bavegung un lozn durkh di mentshn. london iz zeyer an alte shtot, un a fule ire gasn zaynen shmole, gedreyte. un fundestvegn trefn zikh do veyniker umglikn, vi in andere shtet. dos derklert zikh mit der ruikayt fun di shofern un di shutslayt. zey vaysn, az ven zey zoln zikh tsetumlen, zikh farlirn oyf a rege, kenen umkumen toyznter mentshn. zey filn di groyse farantvortlekhkayt un filn oys mit koved zeyer shvern un geferlekhn dinst. **** helena khatskeles fun _araber_ (vilne: farlag "naye yidishe folkshul," 1931) 1. [Jaffa port] (page 5, 1-4) mayn ershte bagegenish mit araber iz forgekumen oyf der italyenisher shif "adria," vos hot mikh gebrakht fun triest keyn ertsisroel. (page 6, 5-9) azoy vi in yafo is nokh dervayl keyn hofn nito, shtelt zikh di shif op vayt fun breg, un tsu ir forn tsu shiflekh, vos nemen ariber di rayznder un zeyere zakhn tsum breg. (pages 7 - 9) ir hot mit azoy fil umgeduld gevart oyfn breg, ir zayt geven in a gehoybener yontefdiker shtimung -- ir kumt dokh in asye, in an ander erdteyl, ir fort tsu tsum breg fun ertsisroel, ir vilt, es zol zayn ruik, shtil, keyn zakh zol aykh nit shtern tsu zen un tsu filn dos naye, nit bavuste, un do bagegnt men aykh mit a tuml, a geshrey, a shtupenish, a khapenish, un ir kukt oyfn araber, vi oyf a grobn, a vildn mentshn. ober ot baruikn zikh ale in shifl, di bloye khvalyes fun yam shpiln zikh mit undz, heybn undz oyf un lozn undz arop, bashpritzn undz mit gezaltsene tropns. di araber vern oykh ruiker. di pasazhirn zenen in shifl, keyner vat zey nit oyskhapn, der fardinst fun hayntikn tog iz gezikhert. der shifer zitst ruik in shifl un kirevet es kuntsik tsvishn di felzn, shnayt mit zayn ruder di khvalyes. di bavegungen fun zayne farhorevete hent zenen makhtik un sheyn; di shvartse oygn farlirn dem vildn oysdruk. mit a frayndlekhn shmeykhl baruikt er di pasazhirn, vos shrekn zikh, vos dos shifl heybt zikh on shtark tsu varfn; er beygt zikh ayn tsu a pasazhir, vos im iblt, un makht far im an ort in der engshaft, der kranker zol kenen dem kop avekleygn. di fremdkayt, vos hot zikh gefilt tsvishn di pasazhirn un araber, farshvindt. ale vern fareynt in dem likhtikn frimorgn oyfn bloyen yam, vos shpilt zikh mit undz, varfndik undzer shifl oyf zayne khvalyes. 2. [Arab woman] pages 14 - 18 oyf der arabisher froy ligt di shverste arbet. der man koyft zi bay ir foter, vi me koyft a gutn arbets-ferd. hot er genug gelt, koyft er zikh etlekhe froyen. demolt hot er shoyn veynik zorg mit zayn virtshaft. di froyen veln opton far im dos vikhtikste un shverste. oftmol kent ir oyf di vegn, vos firn fun di derfer tsu di groyse shtet, zen aza bild: an araber, a hoykher un a balaybter, rayt oyf a kleynem eyzl, un nokh im geyt zayn froy mit a shvern korb grins oder eyer oyfn kop un a kleyn kind oyfn hant. di arabisher dorfishe froy, di felakhin, trogt geveyntlekh a lange kleyd, velkhe zi neyt oys mit sheyne mustern. di farb fun kleyd vendt zikh fun der gegnt. itlekh ort hot zikh zayn balibte farb. oft iz dos oder bloy oder shvarts. oyfn haldz un oyfn kop hot zi lib tsu trogn a band, fun matbeyes; dem untershtn teyl fun ponem farbt zi mit kleyne shvartse pintelekh. zi hot yung khasene un vert fri fareltert fun der shverer arbet. in farglaykh mit der shtotisher arabisher froy iz shoyn di felakhin a frayerer mentsh. zi fardekt nit dos ponem, geyt arum frank un fray. andersh iz di shtotishe froy, iberhoypt di froy fun a raykhn araber. er halt zi farshpart in a bazundern teyl fun zayn hoyz, vu keyn fremd oyg tor nit araynkukn. oyb di fentster fun dem froyenhoyz kumen aroys oyf a gas, vet ir zey glaykh derkenen: zay zenen farmakht mit lodns, in velkhe es gefinen zikh a fule kleyne lekhelekh. azoy karg lozt men arayn tsu der froy di likhtike shayn. a raykher araber hot geveyntlekh a fule (?) froyen un zey farbrengen zeyere teg in umet un pustkayt. oyfn gas geyen zey aroys in shvartsn ongeton, mit a gedikhtn shvartsn shleyer oyfn ponem; di froy ken koym zen dem veg durkh dem shleyer, ober derfar ken shoyn keyn anderer ir ponem gornit zen. 3. Arab fellakh [peasant] pages 19 (1 - 2) - 23 der arabisher fellakh iz a guter erd-arbeter. er hot zikh gut tsugepast tsu der natur fun zayn land, veys, ven un vu tsu zeyen un tsu flantsn. er tsit oyf gute gortngrins, iberhoypt pomidorn, blumen-koyl (blumen-kroyt), kavenes; er iz oykh a guter seder -- er farshteyt zikh oyf vayntroybn, oranzhn (apelsinen). ober er halt zikh nokh far di alte oyfonem fun der arbet, vos er hot ibergenumen fun zayn foter, fun zayn zeydn. biz hayntikn tog akert er zayn feld mit a hiltsernem aker, un azoy vi der hiltserner aker ken nit nemen di harte erd, vart er op di ershte harbst-regns, vos hoybn zikh on sof oktober oder in november. in der tseveykter erd geyt gring der altfrenkisher aker. nokh poshet|er iz zayn dreshn. di tvue shnayt men op un men lozt es lign oyfn feld, kayn garbn bindt men nit vi bay undz. trikenen es darf men oykh nit, ayln zikh arayntsunemen in shayer oykh nit. zumer regnt keynmol nit. di kerner vern trukn nokh in di zangen, un oyb me aylt zikh tsu shnaydn, -- iz es nor tsulib eyn sibe -- ven zey veln vern tsu trukn, veln zey zikh aleyn aroysshitn fun di zangen. der shnit hoybt zikh on sof yuni, onhoyb yuli. oyf di opgeshnitene tvue traybt men aroys di beheymes, iberhoypt di ki un di kelber; zey tretn di tvue, un derbay vern opgeton tsvey arbetn -- der shtroy vert tseribn, un di kerner vern oysgetreyslt fun di zangen un zey klaybn zikh tsunoyf oyf der trukener erd. kedey keyn eyn kernl zol nit blaybn in di zangen, traybt men durkh di beheymes fil mol. geveyntlekh shpant men zey ayn in a dresher, vos bashteyt fun tsvey shvere shtiker holts; di beheymes traybt men arum un arum, un di tvue vert oysgedroshn. dernokh varft men unter di kerner in der hoykh oyf lopetes, der vint khapt unter di shtroyelekh, tseveyt zey, un di shvere kerner faln tsurik arop oyf der lopete shoyn opgereynikte. di arabishe froyen sortirn dan di kerner, klaybn op di klenere bazuner fun di gresere. oyb dos feld is vayt fun dorf, nemt der araber tsunoyf dem tsuribenem shtroy un di kerner in groyse zek un me lodt zey on oyfn hoyker fun a keml. oyf ale shtegn un vegn treft ir zey di ongelodene kemlen; zeyer gang iz ruik, yeder trit azoy vi opgemostn. zey shprayzn mit azoy fil virde. iberhoypt zenen sheyn di vayse kemlen, vos trefn zikh oft in ertsisroel. modne iz, ven oyfn veg tsit zikh a karavan kemlen, eyner nokh dem andern, azoy vi a langer shnur, un es forn on mitamol otomobiln. zey trogn zikh farbay vi a vint, un di kemlen shprayzn zikh ruik vayter mit zeyere oysgemostene langzame trit. nit vilndik dermonstu zikh on alte lang-fargangene tsaytn. in ertsisroel zenen faran ayznbanen, do zenen oykh faran a fule otomobiln; ober der keml trogt nokh alts zayn dinst. nit nor tvue firt er fun feld, oyf im firt men nokh biz aher ariber skhoyre fun eyn ek land in dem andern, iberhoypt durkhn midber. durkh ertsisroel geyen durkh karavanen, vos geyen fun mitsrayim keyn sirye. tsulib der hits geyen zey durkh a groysn teyl fun zeyer veg baynakht; un ikh fleg lib hobn zikh tsutsuhern in der shtilkayt fun der nakht, vi es klingen di gleklekh, vos hengen oyf di heldzer fun di kemlen; un oftmol flegt zikh derbay oykh hern a troyerik eyntonik lid fun di trayber. 4. [stars] pages 26 - 27 mir zenen forzikhtik gegangen tsvishn di tsign, nit velndik shtern zeyer ru. a por kleyne tsigelekh, shvartse, mit lange hengendike oyrn (azoy zenen do ale tsign) hobn zikh dershrokn un genumen shrayen "me". mir zenen besholem durkhgegangen dem hoyf un hobn zikh oyf a shteynernem trep oyfgehoybn oyfn breytn dakh. mikh hot fardrosn, vos s'iz gevorn fintster, vayl fun dakh muz zikh efenen a vunderlekher blik oyf der gantser gegnt arum un arum. derfar iz de baynakhtike luft geven kil un zi hot gekvikt di neshome un dem guf nokhn heysn tog, un iber undzere kep hot zikh gehoykht a vunderlekeher himl mit toyznter shtern. aza himl ken men zen baynakht nor in ertsisroel. di luft iz do bazunders trukn un reyn, derfar zet men do vayter ve bay undz, un di shtern zeen oys likhtiker un neenter. 5. [city Arabs and language] pages 37 - 38 in di shtet kent ir shoyn trefn araber eyropeish gekleydet. a fule fun zey farshteyen etlekhe eyropeishe shprakhn, firn groyse gesheftn un farnemen melukhe shteles. zey hobn zikh oysgebildet in an englisher oder frantsoyzisher shul do in ertsisroel. andere afile zenen geven in eyrope un hobn dortn gelernt. bikhlal zenen araber feyik tsu shprakhn; di fellahn, vos arbetn oyf yidishe felder oder vos farkoyfn yidn grins, frukht, eyer, lernen zikh oys reydn hebreyish un afile yidish, un dos nor fun hern. tsvishn di araber, afile di dorfishe, gefint men fil, vos kenen leynen un shraybn arabish. me lernt di kinder oyfn altn shteyger, onhoybndik fun di heylike sforem, vi bay undz in amolikn kheyder. in der letster tsayt hobn zikh geefnt a fule shuln far arabishe kinder, vu men lernt oyfn eyropeishn shteyger. me git aroys bikhlekh, tsugepaste far di kinder, bilder, geografishe kartes. 6. [Arab-Jewish relations] p. 41 zeyer frumkayt dergeyt oftmol tsu fanatizm, dos heyst, zey zenen ayngegloybt, az zeyer gloybn is der bester, az ale, vos gloybn andersh vi zey, zenen soynem. der fridlekher araber vert a vilde khaye, ven me reytst oyf zayne religieze gefiln; dos hobn bavizn di shreklekhe pogromen oyf yidn in ertsisroel, vos zenen do nit lang forgekumen. emes. es hobn zikh gefunen araber, vos hobn zikh nit ibergegebn di vilde fanatishe gefiln. zey zenen geblibn mentshn un hobn afile geshtelt in sakone zeyer eygn lebn un nit derlozn, me zol bafaln umshuldike yidn. ot di dozike araber zenen a bavayz, az mit der tsayt veln zikh di yidn un di araber kenen farshteyn un aynlebn tsuzamen. 7. Concluding Words page 46 - 47 di araber zenen umtsufridn. zey viln lebn zelbstshtendik. far di englender hobn zey moyre. di yidn ober zenen nit groys in tsol, gist men oys dem kaas un di umtsufridnhayt oyf di yidn. di englishe regirung veys, az di araber zenen nit tsufridn mit ir hershaft. zi vil ober, az de umtsufridnhayt zol zikh beser oysgisn in a sine tsu yidn, eyder tsu ir makht. derfar lozt zi, rikhtiker de forshteyer ire, vos hershn in land, lozn, az fanatiker zoln hetsn di fintstere araber, zoln farshpreytn tsvishn zey klangen, az yidn viln bafaln zeyere moshen, oyslakhn zeyer gloybn, fartraybn zey fun ertsisroel. di englishe baamte hobn gevust vegn der vilder hetse un hobn nit ongenumen keyn mitlen tsu shitsn di yidn. farkert, zey hobn nokh geshtert di yidn zikh tsu shitsn aleyn. vos vet zayn vayter? vu iz der oysveg? di araber veln mit der tsayt muzn farshteyn, az nit di yidn zenen zeyere soynem; ober di yidn kenen oykh nit leygn keyn groyse hofenung oyf dem land, vayl es iz tsu kleyn un tsu orem, vayl di beste erd iz shoyn farnumen fun di araber un zey veln dos keynem nit veln optretn. ______________________________________________________ End of _The Mendele Review_ 02.031 Leonard Prager, editor Subscribers to _Mendele_ (see below) automatically receive _The Mendele Review_. Send "to subscribe" or change-of-status messages to: listproc@lists.yale.edu a. For a temporary stop: set mendele mail postpone b. To resume delivery: set mendele mail ack c. To subscribe: sub mendele first_name last_name d. To unsubscribe kholile: unsub mendele ****Getting back issues**** _The Mendele Review_ archives can be reached at: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele/tmrarc.htm _The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language (A Companion to _MENDELE_) ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 02.032 10 December 1998 1) Yiddish Matters: From the Editor (Leonard Prager) 2) Transmutation of a Folksong (Ariela Krasny) [Part I] 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 10 December 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: Yiddish Matters a. Vol. 2, issues 32 and 33 contain an essay by Ariela Krasny, whose work has appeared in earlier editions of _The Mendele Review_. Dr. Krasny's interests embrace a number of subjects within the fields of Jewish folklore (e.g. lullabies) and Jewish popular culture (e.g. the batkhn) and include their relationship with Yiddish literature. Writing from the perspective of an ideal normative Judaism with its clear division of gender roles, she traces the transmutation of a widespread Yiddish lullaby motif into central elements in the verse of a major Yiddish poet, H. Leyvik [Leivik]. The maleness of the child addressed in the lullaby is both a textual and a sociological-cultural given. b. Eliezer Niborski of Lyon, France has identified the original of one of Helene Khatskeles' translations listed in _The Mendele Review_ vol. 02.031: Hector Malot, _Sans famille_ [Yiddish: Hektor Malo, _On a heym_]. 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 10 December 1998 From: Ariela Krasny Subject: Transmutation of a Folksong FROM CRADLE TO SACRIFICE On the Transmutation of a Song by Ariela Krasny [translated from Hebrew by Refael Alroy] *** Abstract This paper shows the metamorphosis of a folksong into the Shoa poems of H. Leyvik [Leivick]. "Under the Baby's Cradle" is a prototype of Jewish lullabies which symbolizes the spiritual-cultural world of the Jewish believer. On one hand it crystallizes a yearning for a utopic salvation ("ge'ula"), and on the other hand it anxiously expresses hope for continued Jewish existence. The ideas in the lullaby are questioned in the Shoa poems on two levels: the philosophical level which refers to loss of faith in God, and the individual level which reflects loss of the parents' harmonious world. The lullaby conflicts with Leyvik's poems, yet lullaby and poems carry on a wide-reaching dialogue between them. ---------------- Part One: TMR vol 2. 032 A. The Subject B. "Under the Baby's Cradle"-- Conceptual and Poetic Assumptions B1. Circles and Layers B2. Components of Content B2.1. Non-Actual Reality -- B2.1.1. -- B2.1.2. B2.2. Actual Reality -- B2.2.1. B2.2.2. Time and Location B2.2.2.1. Past B2.2.2.2. Present B2.2.2.3. Future B2.2.2.4. Locations B2.2.3. The Function of Verbs B3. Components of Form B4. Musical Components C. Questions Discussed in this Study D. From Lullaby to Shoa Poems D1. Shattering the Kid's Dream D1a. "mayn viglid" ('My Lullaby') D1b. "unter der geler late" ('Under the Yellow Patch') -------- Part Two: TMR vol 2. 033 D2. Sacrifice of the Kid D2a. "dos tsigele" ('The kid') D2a. "dos tsigele" ('The kid') D2b. "khad-gadye" E. "From under the cradle" to the sacrifice -- fate or mission F. "ovnt lid" Endnotes References ------------------------- A. The Subject The Yiddish lullaby "Untern kinds vigele" ('Under the Baby's Cradle') is one of the best known Yiddish songs. Its 65 versions in Yiddish, as well as numerous Hebrew ones(1), indicates how thoroughly rooted the song is among Jews:(2) unter dem kinds vigele shteyt a vayse tsigele, di tsigele iz geforn handlen rozhinkes mit mandlen; rozhinkes mit mandlen iz zeyer zis, mayn kind vet zayn gezunt un frish. gezunt iz di beste skhoyre, mayn kind vet lernen toyre; toyre vet er lernen, sforem vet er shraybn; a guter un a frumer vet er im yirtse hashem blaybn. ('Under the baby's cradle There stands a white kid, The kid has gone away to trade In raisins and almonds; Raisins and almonds are sweet indeed, My child will be hale and alert. Health is the best of goods, My child will study Torah; Torah will he study, Books will he write; Good and pious will he, God-willing, ever remain.')(3) The influence of the song has not been limited to its many versions and translations. Its motifs were borrowed by Hebrew and Yiddish authors, and incorporated in their works in a variety of genres.(4) In a considerable number of Shoa songs, not only motifs from the lullaby but also its poetic elements have been adopted.(5) "Under the Baby's Cradle" may be seen as a prototype of Jewish lullabies that symbolize the believing Jew's spiritual and cultural world and reflects his yearning for utopian "ge'ula" ('redemption') on the one hand, and concern for Jewish survival on the other. The transmutation of this popular lullaby into Shoa poems will be illustrated in the following poems by H. Leyvik [Leivik](6): "Ovnt lid," ('Evening Song'), _Ale verk fun H. Leyvik_, vol. 1, New York, 1940, pp. 458-59; "Unter der geler late," ('Under the Yellow Patch'), ibid., p 641; "Dos tsigele," ('The Kid'), ibid., p 607; "Khad-gadye," {'A Kid'), _A blat oyf an eplboym_, Buenos Aires, 1955, p. 82; "Mayn viglid," ('My Lullaby'), _Ale verk fun H. Leyvik_, ibid., pp 430-33; "Akeyde," ('Sacrifice'), _In Treblinke bin ikh nit geven_, vol. 1, New York, 1945, pp. 6-8. B. "Under the Baby's Cradle" -- Conceptual and Poetic Assumptions In this study I assume that the father, yearning for a better world, one of "raisins and almonds," goes off in search of this paradise.(7) He symbolizes the eternal dreamer in search of "ge'ula" ('redemption'), never despairing, ever believing that "af al pi sheyitmameyha bo yavo" ('even though He is delayed, He will come'). In contrast to the father, the mother is rooted in the here and now -- to bringing up her children to study Torah and behave properly. She believes that education will advance her children as individuals, who will also constitute a link in the ancient chain of the Jewish people. This people's continued existence depends on them and on their education. Her basic obligation as an educator is thus stressed. She must assure that the culture and character of the people through Torah study be kept alive. She is concerned for the continuance of spiritual life and for the preservation of the people's uniqueness: Torah will he study, Books will he write; Good and pious will he, God-willing, ever remain. The father and the mother complement each other and jointly symbolize the viability of their Jewish world. B1. Circles and Layers Jewish existence is expressed by way of three concentric and interdependent circles. The innermost circle represents the personal dimension -- the education of the child and his molding towards life as an adult; the intermediate circle represents the national dimension -- preparation of the child as a member of his people, as one link in the chain that guarantees the lasting spiritual and physical existence of the Jewish people; the outermost circle represents the spiritual-permanent dimension, expressed by the father's yearning for "ge'ula" ('redemption'), the dimension that nourishes the nation's existence and its spiritual-cultural future. The family relationships -- father-mother-son -- reflect the three circles of Jewish existence: the mother is of one mind with the father, with his having gone off to trade in "raisins and almonds." She is partner to his yearning for them, but knows that her role differs from his. She brings up the next generation, and so her place is in the home. Role assignation between the couple within this family is clearly defined -- each knows his or her place and what he or she must contribute towards the preservation of the eternal values essential to Jewish existence. The dynamics of the circles, moving within each other, imbue the song with an atmosphere of wholeness and harmony, an atmosphere that crystallizes out of components of content and form: B2. Components of Content B2.1. Non-Actual Reality: B2.1.1. The little tale of the kid introduces a legendary element into the song, one known in Jewish sources. The Torah has numerous similes for flocks.(8) In the song under review the kid probably symbolizes the Jewish people, the Eternal Wanderer, the father. The kid carries with it a long trail of legendary connotations, and these lend the song a charmed air, which is not alterd by suggestions of harsh reality. B2.1.2. In Yiddish "rozhinkes mit mandlen" ('raisins and almonds') is symbolic, standing for things good and sweet that do not belong to the field of commerce ('the kid has gone away to trade') but rather to a spiritual yearning for an essence beyond this world. And "raisins and almonds" possibly point to the vine and the fig tree, elements of the idyllic biblical picture of "each under his vine and under his fig tree." The connotative range of "raisins and almonds" imparts to the song an otherworldly aura. B2.2. Actual Reality: B2.2.1. Bringing a child up according to a distinct set of values ("my child will study Torah") also contributes to the overall harmony, since the integration of the individual in the traditional spiritual web is an ongoing and fixed process that assures lasting Jewish existence. B2.2.2. Time and Location B2.2.2.1. Past: The kid's gone away to trade In raisins and almonds; The kid has gone away and the purpose of its voyage is altogether clear: to trade in far-away places; yet the timing of the voyage is not specific. When did it go? Nor is the destination. Where did it go? Moreover, the fact that the father does not appear as the song's subject, but is substituted by the kid, hints at its symbolic nature. B2.2.2.2. Present: Under the baby's cradle There stands a white kid; The kid's position under the child's cradle is fixed, continuous and authoritative, and although the father may have gone away, his teachings, his values and his spiritual authority remain in force. His image fills the home and influences the events there. The father's teachings are thus anchored in a world of unchanging time. B2.2.2.3. Future: The future focuses in the song on the upbringing of the next generation. Although the mother is speaking of the future of her own son, she does not at all address him personally, as is the rule in a lullaby. This points up the song's symbolic nature -- the child as symbol of the Jewish people's future:(9) Torah will he study, Books will he write; Good and pious will he, God-willing, ever remain. B2.2.2.4. Locations: Although it is understood from the song that the father has gone to trade in distant places, and that the mother is staying home to tend her children, no clue as to specific locations is given. The one and only defined location in the song is one far removed from reality -- the kid's position under the cradle. The realistic elements have been obscured in the song, so as to emphasize its symbolism. The action takes place now. This stasis induces the feeling that nothing changes in the world of this lullaby. B2.2.3. The Function of Verbs The verbs in the song, too, contribute to its non-realistic mood, either due to their static nature ("there stands a snow-white kid") or to their generality ('went off to trade; he will write books'). B3. Components of Form The song is constructed as a concatenated sequence in one long stanza, with no break or deviation. Its rhyming couplets are each linked by content to the following line. This continuity creates an atmosphere of calm and security. The progression from one theme to the next is clear-cut and orderly. The song's first couplet constitutes a kind of motto introducing the "credo" of the singer's persona. The second couplet sums up the father's Weltanschauung and his way of achieving it. The fourth couplet presents the mother's view of the father's path. In the last six lines the mother consecrates the son as a member of his family and his people. The division of the song is balanced: the first five lines relate to the father and his world; the last five to the child's future, based on the father's ways and on his world-view; the five intermediate lines present the mother as the mediator between the worlds of the father and the son. Raisins and almonds are sweet indeed, My child will be hale and alert; Health is the best of goods(10) B4. Musical Components The song's musical components intensify the feeling of roundness. The rhythm is monotonous and unruffled, without sudden changes or deviations. The recurring "le" sound contributes to the creation of a typical lullaby rhythm -- slow-paced, rocking, suggestive of steadiness and security, and complementing the song's air of wholeness and harmony. The song incorporates a two-dimensional conception, a horizontal and a vertical one. The horizontal conception is the realistic one, relating to the here and now. It is not necessarily rooted in details of reality -- the mother tends her family and brings up her children, and the father trades in far-away places to earn his livelihood. The vertical, the historical-philosophical conception, sees the realistic events of the Jewish inheritance as links that, once integrated into the chain, are no longer bound to specific time and place. This two-dimensional conception affects the two levels of the song. On the realistic level there is the lullaby in which the mother pours out her heart as she tells of the father's travels to earn a livelihood, leaving her alone with her child.(11) Yet she is not caught up in the treadmill of painful reality and does not dwell on her day-to-day troubles. Understanding her situation, aware of her role in assuring the future greatness of the child(12), she accepts her lot. The spiritual-essential level that expresses the yearning for the realization of the dream of "ge'ula" becomes the principal substance of the song. Even the child's Torah study and his upbringing towards "derkherets" ('decorum') become part of this substance, and turn into symbolic rungs on the ladder leading to the exalted purpose of the dream of "ge'ula." C. Questions Discussed in this Study The ideational system of "Under the Baby's Cradle" is examined in Shoa poems by means of querying and probing, expressed on two levels: the philosophical one, relating to the loss of belief, and the personal one, reflecting the loss of the harmonious world of the parent's home. The discussion of the chosen poems and their comparison with the prototype song will center on the changes in the singing persona's attitude towards the conceptual system of our prototypic lullaby, and on the poetic manner by which the system is presented. D. From Lullaby to Shoa Poems Lullabies, and "Under the Baby's Cradle" in particular, have become an immensely popular genre among Shoa poems, both those written in camps and ghettoes under Nazi occupation by well-known and anonymous poets, as well as those written by poets who did not personally experience the Shoa. Analysis of these poems reveals that many of their authors knew the text of the lullaby under discussion.(13) The song inspired Hebrew and Yiddish Shoa poets, and they dwell on it again and again with nostalgia and longing for that world in which the Jewish mother, full of hope, sang to her child in the cradle. The song symbolizes the deep-rooted, warm Jewish home. In seeking solace in the song, the Shoa poets express their pain over the loss of the mother's world -- a world of Torah and "derkherets" ('decorum') -- and loss of the father's world -- a world of yearning for "ge'ula" and of the firm belief that "af al pi sheyitmameha bo yavo" ('even though He is delayed, He will come'). These poets seek solace in this world at a time when their expectations and hopes have been shattered; and they long for a touch of warmth and love, so bountiful in that lost world. This perhaps explains the prevalence in their poems of a contrastive ambience. They lament the loss of their Eden, and yet their poems do not express despair; occasionally they even give off a spark of life. One of the major Shoa poets, H. Leyvik has been so influenced by "Under the Baby's Cradle," that the lullaby serves him doubly: as 1) lullaby whose elements, though borrowed from "Under the Baby's Cradle," aim not at embroidering the kid's legendary world, but at refuting and destroying it and as 2) lullaby that borrows the motif of the kid from the song, adding to it the tale of the kid from the Haggadah, thus turning the baby's cradle into a scene of sacrifice. D1. Shattering the Kid's Dream The poems in this section aim at shattering the traditionalist Jewish world-view, nurtured on the belief in a better future, in the "ge'ula" that will indeed come, notwithstanding the reality of hardship. The dominant mood of these poems is starkly pessimistic, accompanied by a sense of impotence, of loss and of acquiescence in one's fate. D1a. "Mayn viglid" ('My Lullaby') In the lullaby "Mayn viglid" ('My Lullaby'), the singer's persona examines his childhood via the patterns of "Under the Baby's Cradle." In the poem the poet's credo is juxtaposed with that of the father in the prototype song:(14) yeder zingt zayn viglid biz in sof arayn; zing ikh oykh mayn viglid -- shlof, neshome mayn. ('Everyone sings his own lullaby Till the very end; I, too, sing my lullaby -- Sleep, my soul.') The life-song of the singer's persona is contrasted with the song of the child in "Under the Baby's Cradle." The persona's father and mother differ from those of the prototype song. In "My Lullaby" questions are asked that express doubt concerning what is said in "Under the Baby's Cradle," and painful and courageous answers are given. "My Lullaby" interprets the beliefs and opinions of the prototype song. The father of this singer's persona also has dreams; he, too, is a wayfarer, although he did not get very far: tate is a vandler iber vegn vist, rozhinkes mit mandlen zukht er oyfn mist. rozhinkes gefinen iz im nit bashert, mit gerirtn zinen falt er tsu der erd. ('Father is a wanderer Along desolate roads, Raisins and almonds He looks for in the rubbish. Finding raisins Is not granted him, With distressed senses He drops to the ground.') The reflection of the prototype song in "My Lullaby" finds expression in various ways. The legendary mood prevailing in "Under the Baby's Cradle" is absent in "My Lullaby." In its stead reality is bared. The two fathers of the two songs both wander, but the location of the father's wanderings in "My Lullaby" is defined. There is also a difference in the characterization of the figures. In the poem under review the father is not a romantic and idealistic figure. He has not gone to faraway places to purchase sweets and trade in exotic merchandise. He does not symbolize a kid, and he lacks a legendary aura. He is an anti-hero, wandering along uncharted byways, exposed to hostile powers, "A father thrown into the thorns." The Jew from "Under the Baby's Cradle" who floats in an ideal world and is nurtured by a charmed dream of a flowering country of raisins and almonds, is cast into the wilderness, into the bitter reality of "My Lullaby": Raisins and almonds He looks for in the rubbish. In "Under the Baby's Cradle" there is no mention of whether the father was successful in his raisins and almond trade, since it is not the success of his trading in distant lands, but rather the yearning for "ge'ula" which matters, and it is the eternal wandering of the Jew that expresses this yearning. By contrast, in "My Lullaby" the father's wanderings express a totally different reality: Finding raisins Is not granted him, With distressed senses He drops to the ground. The two mothers, too, differ. Like the father in "My Lullaby," who deals with the mire of reality, bereft of distant dreams, so also the mother is engaged in everyday pettiness -- both are involved in the struggle of existence, and their entire dream centers on their survival from one day to the next: mame hot a kreml oyfn altn mark, beygl, broyt un zeml shlept zi oyf ir kark. ('Mother has a grocery In the old market, Bagels, bread and rolls She lugs around her neck.') They do not engage in questions concerning the conservation of the Jewish inheritance and the unbroken link of generations, but are immersed all day long in basic existential struggles. It goes without saying that the son received messages different from those transmitted to the child of "Under the Baby's Cradle," and he then transmits to his son the truths about the bitter and barren reality -- that of a world without raisins and almonds: yoyresh funem vandler harts dayns gib a ris; rozhinkes mit madlen zaynen mer nit zis. ('Wanderer's inheritor, Rip your heart asunder; Raisins and almonds Are no longer sweet.') D1b. "Unter der geler late" ('Under the yellow patch') "Under the Yellow Patch", an antithesis of the popular lullaby, is set to shatter the generations-old idea of the believing Jew that beyond the harsh everyday reality a better world awaits him. It is shattered by the very stuff from which the idea has been molded in "Under the Baby's Cradle." This quasi-confrontation of the two songs notwithstanding, a dialog takes place between them. The song's first stanza immediately arouses expectations due to its first line, in which the words "the baby's cradle" are replaced by "the yellow patch": unter der geler late makh dayne oygn tsu -- in dakho iz dayn tate, shlof, mayn kind, lyu-lyu. ('Under the yellow patch Shut your eyes tight -- Your father is in Dachau, Sleep, my child, lyu-lyu.') This stanza seems to reply provocatively to questions raised in "Under the Baby's Cradle." There the father goes far away, and no one asks where he is going, since only the purpose of his travels is important. In this father's world, a world of simple belief, no questions are asked. Everybody is confident that the father goes about his business wisely, that he will succeed in his travels, achieve his aim and return with the long-awaited goods. No questions are asked and no answers are expected. Everything was done that had to be done and the Almighty will help. In Leyvik's poem questions are asked, even if the answers are foregone conclusions or, on the other hand, even if the purpose of the father's travels is totally obscure: in dakho wos tut er? un vu is dakho vu? ('What does he do in Dachau? And where is Dachau, where?') These are rhetorical questions that the song's persona asks, not so as to receive an answer, since it is clear to everybody what the father was doing in Dachau, and where it was. The questions are asked to make certain that those irrational occurrences indeed happened, since who would believe that such hell can exist on earth. The mother of "Under the Baby's Cradle" knows, as does the mother of "Under the Yellow Patch," that there are things beyond human understanding, and that one must accept events as they are. She, too, brings up her children in the same spirit as does the mother of "Under the Baby's Cradle;" she, too, knows that the children are the people's future: der tate iz a yid a guter, zay a guter yid oykh du. ('Father is a Jew, a good one, You be a good Jew too.') But here ends the similarity between the two mothers: the mother of "Under the Yellow Patch" does not live in the reality of the mother of "Under the Baby's Cradle" -- in a world of simple believers, but in a reality of a daily battle for survival, and therefore her legacy to her son is a very harsh one: amol iz di late mit ekn, amol iz di late rund. amol iz royt di late, un merer mol iz zi gel. ('Sometimes the patch has corners, Sometimes the patch is round. Sometimes the patch is red But more often it is yellow.') This mother acquiesces in the Jew's fate and believes it cannot be altered. These lines reflect a particular view of the Jew's condition: the shape and shade of the patch keep changing, but the patch itself endures as long as the Jew does. In this poem, then, the dream of "raisins and almonds" is thrust aside. eybiker dayn tate, azoy vi di eybike ru, azoy vi di gele late -- shlof, mayn kind, lyu-lyu. ('Your father is as eternal As eternal rest, As the yellow patch -- Sleep, my child, lyu-lyu.') The poem has the typical elements of a lullaby. However, the feminist note -- the father seen as forsaking mother and her children -- does not appear. The mother relates to the spiritual and national aspect of her role and puts aside her personal problems. She nurtures the impossible dream of the father's return: er git di tir an efn, er kumt in shtub arayn, dayn hengbetl tsu trefn far vos zol shver im zayn? ('He thrusts the door open, And steps into the room, To come upon your cradle Why should it be hard for him?') For a brief moment the commonplace scene of the father returning from work and opening the door of his home creates the illusion of an idyll, of hope that such a situation is still possible. The illusory picture admits a momentary ray of hope, a fantastical dream which quickly shifts to a no less fantastical scene of death. The father is represented surrealistically rocking himself to death: er nemt zikh vign, vign un vigt zikh ayn aleyn; der tate ligt, blaybt lign, darf men shoyn in dakho nit geyn. ('He sets himself a-rocking And rocks himself to sleep; The father lies, stays lying, No need now to go to Dachau.') The father here symbolizes the Jew condemned to perdition as opposed to the father who believes in "ge'ula." [continued in TMR vol. 2.033] ______________________________________________________ End of _The Mendele Review_ 02.032 Leonard Prager, editor Subscribers to _Mendele_ (see below) automatically receive _The Mendele Review_. Send "to subscribe" or change-of-status messages to: listproc@lists.yale.edu a. For a temporary stop: set mendele mail postpone b. To resume delivery: set mendele mail ack c. To subscribe: sub mendele first_name last_name d. To unsubscribe kholile: unsub mendele ****Getting back issues**** _The Mendele Review_ archives can be reached at: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele/tmrarc.htm _The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language (A Companion to _MENDELE_) ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 02.033 10 December 1998 FROM CRADLE TO SACRIFICE On the Transmutation of a Song by Ariela Krasny [translated from Hebrew by Refael Alroy] *** Part Two: TMR vol 2. 033 D2. Sacrifice of the Kid D2a. "Dos tsigele" ('The kid') D2a. "Dos tsigele" ('The kid') D2b. "Khad-gadye" E. "From under the cradle" to the sacrifice -- fate or mission F. "Ovnt lid" Endnotes References ------------------------- D2. Sacrifice of the Kid The songs in this section describe the bitter lot of the sacrificed kid. However, in contrast to the pessimistic songs above, they carry the hope that the absent father will return, bringing with him "raisins and almonds," as well as belief in the future of his life path. D2a. "Dos tsigele" ('The kid') The kid of "Under the Baby's Cradle," absent from "My Lullaby" and "Under the Yellow Patch," appears again in "The Kid," but is different. It is childlike, itself in need of protection, condemmed to die -- it is the kid from "Khad-gadye": hot es tantsndik arayngetantst in dorn -- khay gelebt! un nokhdem vi mit letste trit aheym zikh koym dershlept. gelegn in farshnitkayt tseblutikt un tseglutikt, -- zol zayn mayn lid itst, halevay, treyst-vort vos dermutikt. ('Skipping lively, It danced into the thorns, And then, utterly exhausted, It barely dragged itself home. Mangled it lay, Bloodied and feverous, May my song serve As consolation and encouragement.')(15) In "Under the Baby's Cradle" the kid, full of hope and yearning, runs off to distant places and trades in raisins and almonds; in "My Lullaby" a wandering father strives to achieve, but fails. By contrast, in "The Kid," the kid no longer travels, trades, nor dreams. Rather it has the new, strange and alienated dream of approaching the gentile peasant. This naive kid believes that it can alter the "Khad-gadye" story, that its neighbors, who hate it, will be glad to admit it into their midst. Briefly an idyllic illusion flares and the kid frolics like a free spirit. But as soon as the kid is no longer content to stay within his own courtyard -- "to scamper and skip about in the yard and its surroundings" -- and wants to leap into the neighbor's courtyard, the quasi-idyll is broken off; the peasant neighbor disdains it. Leyvik's kid believed that at the neighbor's it would find the quiet and the repose for which it yearns. However, when it attempted to approach the neighbor's courtyard, it was caught in thorns and thistles, escaping bruised and bloodied. The dream was shattered, and the reality of "Khad-gadye" again struck it in the face. The idyllic mold that had been cast in "Under the Baby's Cradle" is shattered in this poem, and instead of trading in raisins and almonds, the loving and hopeful kid becomes a sacrificial victim: "Mangled it lay, bloodied and feverish." The kid's tale ends in the spirit of the sacrifice of "Khad-gadye," but it is not the end of the poem. The poet steps in and comments that, despite the story's tragic and painful events, there still is a glimmer of hope: "may my song serve as consolation and encouragement." This is because the kid of "Under the Baby's Cradle" has not been forgotten, and its ideals still serve as signposts in the poet's world:. ikh zukh itst dayne trit-tseykhns alts ofter un alts gerner -- vays tsigele, vays tsigele, kleyn-kindishe on herner. ('I'm now looking for your footprints With ever growing ardor -- White kid, white kid, So childlike without horns.') Notwithstanding this poem's dramatic nature, its many events and developments, its form does not reflect its content: the four lines of each stanza are organized throughout the entire poem to be alike in their length as well as in their rhyming.(16) By contrasting content and form, the poet possibly sought to point up the kid's tragedy as against it idyllic dream, fragmentation as against wholeness. D2b. "Khad-gadye" A sequel to the above poem, "Khad-gadye" presents the post-Shoa Jewish reality. The shtetl is no more, nor is the mother who shaped for her son a world with a past and a future; only the kid is left to watch over a bare cradle: zing, zing! in a land a nitoikn, in a hek vos gerufn zikh shtetl, vigt tsigele mit a fus a tloikn dos vigele fun shtrikl un bretl. dos kind iz nito inem vigele a khuts nor an onvunk fun zakhn. ('Sing, sing! in a nonexistent land, In a nook that was called shtetl, The kid with its cloven hoof rocks The cradle made of string and of slats. The baby's not in the cradle Save for a hint of mere things.') In "Khad-gadye" there is reflected the void that prevailed in the Jewish world after the Shoa, and that emphasized the eclipse of the shtetl culture. Yet the dirge turns into a song of hope for the future of the Jewish people. From the depths of the land of the incinerated, the speaker's persona looks upward toward the eternality of the Jewish spirit. The eternal Jewish melody turns into a leitmotif in Leyvik's Shoa poetry: tsu zingen dos eybike nignle durkh alerley gramen un kharuzem, -- khad-gadye -- dos shney-vayse tsigele, vos tate hot gekoyft far tsvey zuzem. ('To sing the eternal melody In all kinds of meters and rhymes, Khad-gadye -- the snow-white kid, That father bought for two zuzim.') In the face of indescribable tragedy, the poet will sing a melody of sacrifice, the melody of the kid that father bought for two zuzim: khad-gadye -- dos shney vayse tsigele, vos tate hot gekoyft for tzvey gildn -- shteyt alts nokh un hit dem kinds vigele zingt alts a nign a mildn. ('Khad-gadye -- the snow-white kid, That father bought for two guilders -- Still stands and guards the baby's cradle Still singing its mild tune.') This is the tune that accompanies the father in his search for raisins and almonds and it is the tune of the mother who sees the essence of her life in the upbringing of her children. It is the tune from the Haggadah and it is the poet's tune. It is a tune turned into an idea. This tune lives even when there is no baby in the cradle, or mother rocking it. The tune goes on, even when there is no one left to sing it. It goes on independently, taking over the qualities of those who had been singing it; it fills the void left by the mother: it rocks the empty cradle, around which dwells the desolation of death, and it sings of hope and of belief. It is a tune of yearning for a new life, for hope, and it is a tune of belief in a new future. This tune is not influenced by the here and now; nurtured by other interior worlds, it has the power to overcome surrounding death: ze, eybik iz oykh dokh dos vigele in elnd fun sofloze shoen,-- farshtipt zikh aleyn do dayn tsigele mit zikh in a velt fun nitoen. ('Lo, the cradle, too, is yet eternal In the misery of endless hours,-- Oppressed there alone is your kid With itself and a voided world.') By means of the tune and the image, the sound and the sight, this world, fantastic beyond everyday reality, is transmitted to the reader. This tune is a symbiosis of technique and essence, of the sounds, originating in the letter, the syllable, the word and the combination of these, and the essence -- the conceptual world behind the words. The kid's song is accompanied by the confrontation between actuality and utopia: at times this confrontation takes the shape of realistic and cruel pictures, as that of the kid entangled in the thorns, or that of the collapsing father, or the mother in the marketplace, or else the confrontation is expressed through beliefs and opinions. E. "From under the cradle" to the sacrifice -- fate or mission The poet's conception of the Jewish essence/fate/mission, on which his Shoa poems lean, crystallizes in the poem "Akeyde" ('Sacrifice').(17) The background of this poem is the sacrifice of Isaac (Gen., 22). The poet repeatedly compares the present situation of the Jewish Shoa victim to the bound Isaac. (18) The central theme is the Jew's spiritual strength in the diaspora, greater than that of the biblical Isaac, who goes with his father Abraham to the altar. Isaac is unaware of what to expect, whereas the Jew in the diaspora was not only aware of the fate awaiting him, but also was prepared to go to the sacrifice alone -- without help and without a father: der tate geyt nit bay mayn zayt, der tate shteyt nit oyf fun keyver, di shvere foystn fun der tsayt ikh muz aleyn in gang zayn goyver. ('My father does not walk beside me, My father does not rise from the grave, Alone must I overcome The heavy fists of time.') There are in the poem no complaints, no protests, no claims against God. The hero accepts the verdict and accedes to the fate assigned him. The conclusion he draws is an extremely hard one. To be worthy of being a Jew, scion of the Chosen People, he must ever anew go to the sacrifice: tsu vern eyner fun gots eyde -- badarf ikh vider fun dos nay zikh lozn geyn tsu der akeyde mayn guter mames shvel forbay. ('To become one of God's congregation -- I must once again from the start Let myself be led to the sacrifice Past my good mother's doorstep.') The sacrifice is repeated again and again in every generation, and in each one the sons must face up to this difficult experience and be prepared to go through all its stages. The poet knows that this readiness to be sacrificed again opens up for the Jew the Gates of Mercy and the way to obtaining the illumination that shines on those who have understood the essence of their fate and have accepted it. This is perhaps the moment of grace which points to that "ge'ula" which the father is looking for in his travels in "Under the Baby's Cradle": di yorn geyen -- tsu alie un ven mayn kop iz shoyn gro dergraykh ikh yene hele sho, vos loykht arop fun barg moriye. ('The years advance towards an ascent And when my head will be all gray I shall achieve that luminous moment That shines down from Mount Moriah.') The closed circuits of this well-organized poem suggest the feeling of being trapped with no way of escape. F. "Ovnt lid" Leyvik identifies with the ideas and symbols of "Under the Baby's Cradle" even when he challenges them. At times he is skeptical, but he never remains indifferent towards them. The Jew's faith in the "ge'ula" pervades Leyvik's poems. Through the hell-fire of the Shoa, experiencing the Sacrifice, it remains a model of the Jew's eternal belief in whose light generations of faithful Jews have been reared, and in which light the poet has written his many poems. The last poem to be discussed is not a lullaby, nor does it have any elements of a lullaby -- there is no singing mother and no child sung to. Yet it includes singers as well as those sung to, and the silvery-white fans, the poem's heroines, sing for everybody. The poet limns a cosmic picture, an outline for a poetics of a lullaby: iber ale shtiber, iber ale dekher, trogn zikh ariber zilber-vayse fekher, un zey fokhn, un zey trosn treyst, bitokhn tsu di vos klogn, -- un tsum shvakhn -- ru, -- un farmakhn oyg fun mide tsu. ('Over all the houses, Over all the roofs, Silvery-white fans Are being carried, And they wave, And they carry Consolation and security To those that mourn, -- And to him that is weak -- Rest, -- And close Eyes of the tired.') This is a mythological picture of fans flying over all the houses and all the roofs to grant to each what he lacks -- encouragement, security, serenity, rest. It would seem that these giant fans are symbols of soothing hands of motherhood. The second part of the poem picks up the tune of the mother's traditional "Ay lyu lyu" in the lullaby. The poet amuses himself with this tune as with a jigsaw, and creates different variations, each of which can serve as a distinct musical unit. Such a unit creates a mood in which affecting emotional moments abound, in contrast to the mood created in a unit constructed of words with semantic and conceptual content.(19) The poem's distinctive feature is the symbiosis of tune and word: e.g. the word _ale_ ('all') which serves both as a meaningful lexeme and a musical unit, becomes, as it were, a ball bouncing from function to function throughout the poem:(20) ale - lyu, ale lider -- ale lib; ale lipn -- ale tsu. ale lyu, ha - lu - li, ale do, ha - lu - li, ale hi, ale tsu-- ('All - lyu, All the songs -- All the love; All the lips -- All are shut. All the lyu, All are present, All are here, All are shut --') The form of the poem complements its contents. The very short lines and the truncated ones suit the lullaby rhythm. The rhyming, too, adds to the rocking rhythm and to the "ay- lyu- lyu" tune in all its variants. A sense of the perfection of the Creation, of pre-human existence, hovers over the poem. This is the world of the newborn, the world of the poet-artist, and possibly the poet relates to his art like a mother who sings a lullaby to her children. Leyvik's poems, like a mother's songs, console and encourage. Endnotes (1) For different versions of the song see Geffen 1986, pp. 18-22, and for translations see Raz 1984, p. 38; Lampel, ed., 1953/54, p 3; Bialik 1970/71, p. 83. (2) For the origins of the song see Geffen 1986, pp. 13-15, and for different versions and translations see Geffen 1986, pp. 247-53. (3) All Yiddish translations in the original Hebrew text are by the author. All English renderings are by the translator. (4) See e.g. Alterman 1952/53, p. 6, and Goldfaden 1883, pp. 11-12. (5) See Baruch 1985, pp. 19-23. (6) For biographical traits see Weiner 1992, pp. 13-17; Noy 1992, pp. 140-43; Shoham 1992, pp. 156-57. Leyvik did not experience the Shoa personally, yet his poetry is filled with the pain of the victims through identification and guilt-feelings over not having been among them, as evidenced in his book _In Treblinka bin ikh nit geven_. (7) On the overtly and covertly recurring motif of the longing for Zion, see Raz 1984, p. 38. (8) See e.g. Ezek. 36:38 -- flocks of men; Jer. 50:6 -- lost sheep; Zech. 11:4 -- flock of the slaughter; Ps. 50:17 -- Israel is a scattered sheep; Song of Sol. 1:8 -- and feed the kids [translations from King James version.] (9) Among the numerous variants of this song, some add a personal address to the child at the end. See _Yidishe folkslider in Rusland_, eds. S.M.Ginzburg and P.S. Marek 1990/1991, p. 39. One basic element of lullabies is the mother addressing the child personally with a term of endearment. See Mlotek 1978, p. 8: "Yankele mayn sheyner...mayn kluger khosn-bokher." (10) See Sadan, pp. 124-130. (11) On the mother's distress see Baruch 1985, p. 18. (12) These are recurring elements in numerous lullabies. The feminist note, expressed in the mother's protest over the father's absence as well as in the weaving of the dream of the baby's greatness, is repeated over and over in the popular Jewish lullaby. (13) See e.g. the lullaby that Yeshayohu Shpigl composed in the Lodz ghetto after the death of his little daughter (Shpigl 1978, p. 306). (14) For Leyvik as probing investigator see Bertini 1977, p.88. (15) This translation [i.e. the one in the Hebrew text] is taken from Geffen 1986, p. 40. (16) See Hrushovski 1976/77, pp. 112-27. (17) For the poet's credo see his essay, 1963, p. 47; also Segal 1949, pp. 525-26. (18) For the reflection of the period in the poet's work, see Huxley, 1933. (19) On this subject see Sekulets's introduction, 1959, pp. 41-43. (20) For musical elements as central functions in speech see Nov 1984. References Baruch, Miri. _Sugiot vesugim beshirat yeladim_ ('Problems and Categories of Children's Poetry'). Tel-Aviv: University of the Air, 1985. Bertini, K.A. "Acharit davar," _H. Leyvik, al tehumot holech veshar_ Tel-Aviv, 1977, p. 88. Geffen, Menashe. _Mitachat laarisa omedet gediya_ ('Under the Cradle Stands a Kid'), Tel-Aviv: Sifriyat Hapoalim, 1986. Ginzburg, S.M. and P.S. Marek, comps. and eds. _Yidishe folkslider in Rusland_, Ramat-Gan: Bar-Ilan University Press, 1990-91. Goldfaden, A. _Shulamis oder Bas Yerusholaim_, Odessa, 1883. Grade, Khaym, "Khad-gadye," _Doyres, lider un poemes_, New York: Ikuf, 1945, p. 145. Hrushovski, Benjamin, "Al habayit hatipusi beshir am beyidish," ('The Typical Stanza in a Yiddish Folksong') _Sefer Dov Sadan_, Jerusalem, 1976-77, pp. 112-27. -- --. "Haim yesh latslil mashmaut -- lebaayat haekspresiviut shel tavnit hatslil beshira," ('Is Sound Relevant? -- On the Problem of the Expressiveness of Sound-Pattern in Poetry," _Hasifrut_ (Tel Aviv) 1:2 (1967-68), pp. 410-20. Lampel, M., comp. _Machrozet shirey eres_ ('A String of Lullabies'), Tel-Aviv: Sifrey Tsabar, 1953/54. Leyvik, H. _A blat oyf an eplboym_, Buenos Aires, 1955. ---. _Ale verk fun H. Leyvik_, vol. 1, New York: H. Leyvik yubiley komitet, 1940. ---. _In Treblinka bin ikh nit geven_, vol. 1, New York, 1945. Mlotek, Khane. _Mir trogn a gezang_, New York: Arbeter ring, 1987. Nov, Yael. "Yesodot musikaliim kemafteakh lemashmaut vetokhen besifrut yeladim," ('Musical Elements as a Key to Meaning and Content in Children's Literature') _Research in Children's Literature_, eds. Miri Baruch and Maya Fruchtmann. Jerusalem: Otsar Hamore, 1984, pp. 77-101. Noy, Dov. ""Hersh Lekert bamitsiut, babalada haamamit ubamakhazehu shel Leyvik," " ('Hersh Lekert in Reality, in the Popular Ballad and in Leyvik's Drama'), _Shtudyes in Leyvik_, Bar-Ilan University Press, Ramat Gan, 1992, pp.140-43. Raz, Herzlia. "Shirey eres kebitui leachdut haam," ('Lullabies as Expression of National Unity'), _Research in Children's Literature_, eds. Miri Baruch and Maya Fruchtmann. Jerusalem: Otsar Hamoreh, pp. 28-45. [Hebrew] Sadan, Dov. "Tsimukim ushekeydim," ('Raisins and Almonds'), _Makhanayim_, vol. 53, pp. 124-30. Segal, Y.Y. "H. Leyvik (tsu zayn 60tn geboyrntog),", _Idisher kemfer_ (Nov. 1949), pp. 525-26. Sekulets, Emil. _Yidishe volks-lider_, Bukarest: Muzik Verlag, 1959. Shpigl, Yishayohu. "Nit kayn rozhinkes un nit kayn mandlen," _Tsvishn tof un alef_, Tel-Aviv: Yisroel bukh, 1978. Viner, Gershn. "Shtrikhn tsu der geshtalt," _Shtudyes in Leyvik_, Ramat Gan: Bar-Ilan University Press, 1992, pp. 9-12. ***Translated from Hebrew by Refael Alroy ______________________________________________________ End of _The Mendele Review_ 02.033 Leonard Prager, editor Subscribers to _Mendele_ (see below) automatically receive _The Mendele Review_. Send "to subscribe" or change-of-status messages to: listproc@lists.yale.edu a. For a temporary stop: set mendele mail postpone b. To resume delivery: set mendele mail ack c. To subscribe: sub mendele first_name last_name d. To unsubscribe kholile: unsub mendele ****Getting back issues**** _The Mendele Review_ archives can be reached at: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele/tmrarc.htm _The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language (A Companion to _MENDELE_) ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 02.034 13 December 1998 Khanike numer tashna"t [Hanukka Issue 1998] 1) Yiddish Matters: From the Editor (Leonard Prager) 2) "The Yiddish Text of Sholem-Aleykhem" (Leonard Prager) 3) "Menakhem-mendl tsu Sholem-aleykhem|en" [aka "a gebentsht land"] (Sholem-Aleykhem) 1)--------------------------------- Date: 13 December 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: Yiddish Matters The recent announcement by the National Yiddish Book Center that it proposes, thanks to a subvention from Steven Spielberg, "to digitalize all of Yiddish literature" excites the imagination. Such digitalization would effectively preserve existing (often antiquated) texts, but what of the need to create modern ones -- in particular of the works of Sholem-Aleykhem? In this issue of _The Mendele Review_ Khanike merriment (via a relatively unknown Menakhem-Mendl letter) contests with sober considerations: the need for academic editions of our classic authors. 2)--------------------------------- Date: 13 December 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: "The Yiddish Text of Sholem-Aleykhem" (Leonard Prager) "The Yiddish Text of Sholem-Aleykhem" Debra Braverman, speaking for the "Sholom Aleichem Memorial Foundation" recently announced to _Mendele_ readers [see _Mendele_ vol. 8, no. 023, item 9] the launching of an ambitious project to translate the works of Sholem-Aleykhem into English, a project to be directed by leading Yiddish scholars and to be guided by the highest academic and literary standards. All who love Sholem-Aleykhem were delighted by this notice and especially by Debra Braverman's forthright words: "Without ongoing critical debate, without the most advanced level of scholarship, we will be right back where we started from: patronizing and partial translations that paraphrase, bowdlerize, and distort the original." The editors of Sholem-Aleykhem in English translation presumably will determine which Yiddish (and Hebrew) text of each selected work is to be translated, following textual criteria that the best editorial practice has sanctioned, comparing all relevant published and manuscript/typescript texts -- no simple matter. We are told that the translations will include critical introductions and textual notes. No specific mention, however, was made of the original Yiddish and Hebrew texts. A few volumes excepted (e.g. _Motl peysi dem khazns_ edited by the late Khone Shmeruk -- see _The Mendele Review_ vol. 1, no. 012), we lack a reliable edition of Sholem-Aleykhem's Yiddish works in Standard Yiddish Orthography (the 15-volume Buenos-Aires 1952-9 Ikuf edition is closer to the SYO than any other). Does not Sholem-Aleykhem, perhaps the single most important figure in all of Yiddish (and much of Hebrew) literature deserve better? I think of the Loeb Classics, those marvelous bilingual volumes of the great works of classical Rome and Greece. Could we not have an edition with Yiddish and opposite English translation, not only for present-day readers who should not have to read texts in antiquated spelling, but to help those who want to read Yiddish in Yiddish letters yet need the help of a translation. A bilingual edition would increase the expense of the project as well as extend the time needed to prepare it, but use can be made of the textual (and bibliographical and lexicographical) work that has already been done. Quite aside from the needs of the translation project, textual research on Sholem-Aleykhem is basic to Yiddish Studies. It would be good to hear a progress report on the now almost forgotten Hebrew University-Hebrew Union College project to prepare an academic edition of Sholem-Aleykhem's works. Among Sholem-Aleykhem's greatest creations is his epistolary novel _Menakhem-Mendl_. The author began writing Menakhem-Mendl letters as early as 1892 and continued as late as 1913. The important 1910 second edition of the six-part _Menakhem-Mendl_ is represented in the 28-volume Folksfond edition (1917-1925) in Vol. 10 and in the Collected Works (Forverts oysgabe, 1942) in volume 5. In 1969, Sholem-Aleykhem's granddaughter Tamara (nee Berkowitz) Kahana produced the first English translation of this work. In her "Introduction" she wrote: "Now that Sholom Aleichem's archives have found a permanent home in the Sholem Aleichem House in Tel Aviv, it is hoped that an academic edition of his works, including all works which have hitherto not appeared in book form, will be prepared." This thirty-year old hope can certainly be considered a pious one. As a matter of prosaic fact not a single _academic_ edition of any of Sholem-Aleykhem's works have emanated from Bet Shalom Aleichem. The bibliographic situation is no better than the textual one, incidentally. In 1954 Uriel Weinreich wrote: "No authoritative bibliography of S. A.'s works is available." [_The Field of Yiddish_, p. 278] This statement still holds forty-four years later. It is interesting that the "Sholom Aleichem Memorial Foundation" has earmarked "Menakhem-Mendl" as its first challenge -- well chosen first challenge indeed. Whether referring to the epistolary novel proper or the forty-nine (or more?) letters to or from Menakhem-Mendl scattered about in the humorist's uncollected writings (mainly in newspapers around the world), "Menakhem-Mendl" is a mighty subject for Yiddish scholarship. In 1939 Y. Mitlman and Kh. Nadel included several Menakhem-Mendl pieces in their _fargesene bletlekh_ (kiev: melukhe-farlag far di natsyonale minderhaytn in ussr, 1939 [henceforth: FB], among them "a gebentsht land," a letter from Menakhem-Mendl to Sholem-Aleykhem which first appeared in the Warsaw _Fraynd_ in 1904 (no. 246). Mitlman and Nadel used the newspaper text but modified its spelling to conform to the Soviet code. In 1976 the late Avraham Lis, director of Bet Shalom Aleykhem in Tel-Aviv included this letter in his modern-spelling _Menakhem-Mendel_ collection [= MM], presumably based on the Sholem-Aleykhem ms. collection. There are many differences between FB and MM, especially in punctuation, but also occasionally in phrasing and vocabulary. FB uses _zaynen_ whereas TA has _zenen_. Both contain typographical errors; neither is a completely satisfactory text for the translator. One would like to know what Sholem-Aleykhem actually wrote in his last corrected version of this feuilleton-like epistle. This is a very minor part of the Sholem-Aleykhem canon, but is not this a serious problem for some of the major works, especially since Sholem-Aleykhem never stopped editing his works? The publishing history of the story is as follows: It was first printed in _Fraynd_ no. 246 (1904). It was reprinted in the Soviet spelling in _fargesene bletlekh_, oyfgezukht un tsunoyfgezamlt fun y. mitlman un kh. nadel (kiev: melukhe-farlag far di natsyonale minderhaytn in ussr, 1939, zz' 222-229) [henceforth: FB] and again in _Sovetish heymland_ (February 1969). It was last (to my knowledge) reprinted in Sholem-Aleykhem, _Menakhem-Mendl_ (Nyu-york -- Varshe -- Vin -- Yehupets), Tel-Aviv: Bet Sholem-Aleykhem / Y.L. Perets Farlag, 1976, pp. 29-34 [henceforth: MM]. Arye Aharoni translated it into Hebrew and included it in an appendix in his 1980 Hebrew _Menakhem-Mendl_ translation. We follow the spelling of MM (though it does not fully adhere to Yivo standards) and give several salient variants from FB; _MM_ regularizes punctuation, supposedly on the basis of the ms. or author-corrected printed story at Bet Sholem-Aleykhem in Tel-Aviv. _MM_ has an introduction by Avraham Lis, director of Bet Sholem-Aleykhem, but no editor is given for the volume. Tsvi Tseplyovitsh is thanked for comparing texts and Tamara Kahana is thanked for her help, but no single person assumes responsibility for the text, which is a readers' text and not designed for scholars. In short, there is no academic Yiddish text of this story in print. A skilful translator could probably produce a highly readable translation without working from a properly edited Yiddish original, but would it not be well to start with a reliable Yiddish text? Textual scholarship, of course, is not an end in itself. We want a reliable text so that we can read what the author -- and not some intrusive editor -- wrote. It is the work itself rather that its cruces that we want to discuss. "A gebentsht land" happens to be of great intrinsic interest, especially for its sociological acumen. Here we have an accurate depiction of the role of the press in the Jewish immigrant's life in turn-of-the-century New York City. Sholem-Aleykhem does not hesitate to use Americanisms to define the concrete moment -- the greenhorns are not buying _tsaytungen_ or _zhurnaln_ or _tsaytshriftn_, they are buying "peypers" ('(news)papers'). We know that the newspaper was the principal printed medium for the immigrant masses -- few read books and the intellectuals, literati and political activists who read journals were a minority. The mildly satiric but ultimately positive view of the "blessed land" is captured in the scene of immense bustle which threatens to trample the "griner" ['greener'] but also acclimatizes him to the tempo of a new life. This new life entails the breakdown of social barriers and, frequently, the highly significant change of names. America, which was not the goal of the educated and wealthy classes of Eastern European Jewry, became the scene for proletarianization of large numbers of immigrants with subsequent awareness of and positive integration into labor organizations. Conscious of themselves as fugitives from Czarist justice, the newcomers cultivated their greenhorn solidarity and built extensive networks of landsmanshaftn. But they also confirmed the fears of their Old World rabbis in the low level of their Jewish scholarship. Sholem-Aleykhem gets all this and more into his epistolary feuilleton without losing his comic stride. 3)--------------------------------- Date: 13 December 1998 From: Leah Krikun Subject: "Menakhem-mendl tsu Sholem-aleykhem|en" [aka "a gebentsht land"] (Sholem-aleykhem) "Menakhem-mendl tsu Sholem-aleykhem|en" [FB: "a gebentsht land"] [FB: a briv fun Menakhem-mendlen fun amerike, tsum drukn ibergegebn fun Sholem-aleykhem]. mister Sholem-aleykhem! [FB: ser Sholem-aleykhem!] olrayt! hot keyn faribl nit, vos ikh shrayb aykh azoy khapndik -- amerike iz nit yehupets. do hobn ale keyn tsayt nit. "taym is mone" -- ['time is money'] azoy zogt der amerikaner. der pshat iz: a rendl a minut! itlekher iz do farnumen. un nor mit zikh. me hot keyn tsayt nit arumkukn zikh oyf yenem, -- yener meg zikh oystsien in mitn gas, vet im keyner nit zatshepen, "help-yor-self" [FB: "helft-yor-selp" (sic)] -- zogt der amerikaner. der pshat iz: itlekher far zikh. krikh fun der hoyt, aker mitn noz di erd, rays zikh ayn dos gezunt, gey mitn kop arop, mit di fis aruf -- vemens [FB: vemes] eysek iz dos? a gebentsht land! me horevet un me vert farshvartst un me makht a lebn. [FB: "mek a leveng," dos heyst, gemakht a lebn]. itlekher makht a lebn, un ikh oykh besoykhem. vet ir dokh fregn: vos heyst "men [FB: me] makht a lebn"? badarf men aykh dertseyln akurat fun onheyb biz sof, vi azoy es hot do mit mir pasirt, vet ir farshteyn, vos badayt [FB: batayt] a gebentsht land amerike. di ershte tsayt vos ikh bin aher ongekumen bin ikh geven, geveyntlekh, a "griner," nit [FB: nisht] gevust, vu a tir efnt zikh, nisht farshtanen a vort funem hign loshn, vos tsum ershtn mol vayzt zikh aykh oys, az nit zey redn, nor zey shpayen un makhn zikh narish, balebetshen [FB: belebetshen] epes mit di tsinger un loyfn arum der aher, der ahin, vi di meshugoyem, glaykh vi emetser zetst zey in haldz-un-nakn. di ershte tsayt bin ikh arumgegangen iber di tumldike gasn, vos es rasht in zey [FB: vu s'rasht] vi in genem, farisn dem kop un batrakht di moyredike moyern, mit di mentshn, mitn gantsn trask. nor lang azoy arumgeyn hot men mikh nit [FB: nisht] gelozt; far engshaft a ponem, un far groys aylenish hot men mikh mekhabed geven ale mol mit a shturkh in zayt arayn un mit a shtoys fun hintn un mit a zog beshas-mayse: "gey-de-devl," der pshat iz: "tsu al di shvartse yor!" fun aza min banemung hob ikh oysgezen bay zikh in di oygn vi gefaln, epes vi iberik, vi a min hintl, vos plontert zikh under di fis, un itlekher, ver es hot [FB: nor] got in hartsn, tut dos a varf, a shlayder: pashol von! un geyt zikh vayter. avade bin ikh in yehupets tsu azelkhe zakhn nit gevoynt gevorn, un ver shmuest bay mir in mazepevke tsi in kasrilevke. ver volt dos gor gehat di hoze mir zogn a krum vort, ubefrat nokh derlangen fun hintn a stusak -- funkn zoln flien fun di oygn! un khutz loze iz geven an ander zakh, vos hot mikh getribn tsu der arbet: es hot mir shtark geklemt dos harts, der mogn hot ongehoybn monen mezoynes, un in keshene -- ir zolt zogn a sent! ikh bin afile yenem tog aroysgegangen yo mit a por penis (groshns) in keshene, zenen [FB: zaynen] zey ober gikh tsetrentslt gevorn, tsegangen vi shney oyf der zun. reyshis-khokhme, hob ikh mir gekoyft far eyn sent a peyper, a gazet heyst dos, un dafke oyf yidish. azoy iz men zikh do noyheg in amerike, az itlekher mentsh muz ale frimorgn, vi a frumer yid davnen eyder er nemt epes in moyl arayn, zikh koyfn a peyper, horkhn, vos tut zikh epes oyf gots velt. un geyn zukhn a peyper darft ir nit, me trogt aykh im antkegn oyf ale gasn un me shrayt oyf alerley koyles. m'kon fun zeyer geshrey toyb vern! nokh dem peyper hob ikh gekhapt a "kek," dos iz aza min fledl, vi bay undz, lemoshl, purim-gret, un oykh oyf der gas, un oykh getrogn akegn [FB: antkegn]. nor lebn mit a "kek" a gantsn tog iz a zakh vos s'iz nit meglekh. hot mir ongehoybn khaleshn dos harts gor oyf an ander oyfn! vos tut men? volt ikh khotsh gekent dos loshn zeyers, volt ikh mir tsefregt oyf mayn bal-akhsanye|te fun yehupets, vos mir zenen mit ir gekumen aher tsuzamen un vos funem ershtn tog nokh in "kestel-gard" [FB: "kestl-gardn"] hot men undz tsesheydt [FB: gesheydt]. zi iz aribergeforn mit ire kinder tsu ire kroyvem, vos zenen ir aroysgekumen akegn mit frishe khale, mit gebrotene hiner-pupikes un mit "orandzhes" [FB: "orandzhn"] ("paltshines" heyst bay zey "orandzhes"). me hot zikh shtark [FB: gefreyt un gekusht] gekusht un gefreyt zikh, azh geveynt far freyd, un me hot zey farnumen oyf der ban un me hot zey avekgefirt oyf aza gas, vos az ikh vel do opzayn nokh tsen yor vel ikh oykh nit konen oysreydn dem nomen irn. der nomen fun der gas heybt zikh on mit a "tshglrd" [sic] [FB: "tshenlrod"] un lozt zikh oys mit a "dzhonstonstrit" [FB: "dzhonz-ston-strit]," un gey khazer iber [FB: ayn] oyf oysnveynik [FB: oysveynik]! bekitser, ikh gey un gey, es heybt on vern nakht, ikh ze der polismen, der gorodovoy heyst dos, kukt oyf mir mit di oygn; zogn zogt er mir gornit, nor er kukt. un ikh hob faynt, az se kukt oyf mir a polismen.... dervayle, azoy vi ikh gey, derze ikh a yid a shlimazl geyt ayngehoykert in drayen, trogt oyf di pleytses a groysn tshemodan un shpant mit ale koykhes. derkent, az dos darf zayn an undzeriker, gey ikh tsu tsu im un makh mit im a shmues: vu iz do ergets a yidishe gas, a yidisher mark, a yidishe shul? vu zenen do ergets akheynu-bney-yisroel, proste yidn, vos me kon mit zey oysredn a yidish vort? entfert er mir nit, nor er tut a makh mitn kop. [FB: vi] eyner redt: kumt mit mir! un mir hobn zikh gelozt beyde in veg arayn. gegangen mit im vald-ayn, vald-oys, on an ek, ikh hob koym mit tsores aroysgetsoygn baym yidn etlekhe getseylte verter, az er iz aleyn oykh a griner, nit lang heyst dos fun undzere kantn, un er hot mir dertseylt, az er iz aleyn oykh genug farshvartst gevorn di ershte tsayt do in dem gebentshtn land, biz got hot im geholfn, er hot "geketsht a pleys," der pshat iz: er hot bakumen an ort in a veshfabrik un er makht a lebn. molt aykh, az okh un vey iz tsu aza "makhn" un aza "lebn"! nor dokh beser fun gornit iz dos shoyn. zayn uvde iz -- tseyln un sortirn dos koytike gret oyf der fabrike: menerhemder bazunder, un froyenhemder bazunder, un nokh dem geyen, mekhile, takhtoynem, zokn un kaptsis. a kaptsi tsu a kaptsi -- dos alts badarf er, zogt er, sortirn koytikerheyt un makhn simonem, me zol zey, kholile, nit farbaytn. zeyer a miese melokhe, zogt er, un a nudne. ubifrat az er iz, zogt er, dertsu gornisht gevoynt gevorn, er iz fun der heym, zogt er [FB: kholile, nisht keyn bal-melokhe. geven, zogt er, amol] a yid a balebos mit a dire an eygene, mit sheyne mekhutonem, un kinder, zogt er, hot er in der heym laytishe, gor laytishe; zey, di kinder, zogt er, zoln visn, az er, der tate zeyerer... azoy zogt tsu mir der yid un visht op mitn arbl dem shveys funem ponem un bederekh-halikhe varft er arop a trer... meyle, dos altsding volt nokh geven, zogt er, numer erger, vos zol men ton? m'darf, zogt er [FB: "mek mone" -- makhn gelt] onseyfen a bisl gelt -- onkleybn heyst dos. der khisorn iz nor, zogt er, vos s'iz bay zey atsind oyf der fabrike a strayk. der pshat iz: di arbeter hobn zikh gemakht yadakhes un viln nisht geyn oyf der arbet biz me vet zey nit moysef zayn dos vos zey fodern. iz er dervayle, zogt er, geblibn on a shtokh arbet, derfar veln zey ober oysfirn dos vos zey viln! azoy makht tsu mir der yid mit gadles un tut tsu mir a makh mitn kop un a zog: "gu-ud bay," dos heyst: zay gezunt, un farkerevet in a hoyf arayn un -- an ek, oys yid! der yid is take nelem gevorn. derfar iz ober oyf zayn ort oysgevaksn a sakh andere yidn un vayber, ober take vos yidn heyst, yidn mamesh, kimat di eygene vos bay undz in yehupets un in mazepevke. un oykh di gasn zenen kimat azoy vi bay undz, un der reyekh, vos se shmekt, iz a bakanter reyekh, un [FB: dos loshn, un di koyles -- alts, alts, vi bay undz.] ikh hob mikh derkvikt, vi a fish, az m'lozt im arayn tsurik in vaser, mamesh mekhaye geven! [FB: oykh zey hobn zikh mit mir mekhaye geven.] m'hot mikh arumgeringlt fun ale zaytn un es hobn ongehoybn flien sholem-aleykhems: fun vanen iz a landsman (a yid heyst dos), vos hert zikh in rashe (in rusland heyst dos)? vos makhn epes undzere [FB: "dzhues"] landslayt (yidelekh heyst dos)? un ver bin ikh? un vos bin ikh? derhert, az ikh for fun yehupets, un aleyn bin ikh a [FB: mazepevker] kasrilevker, dos heyst a geboyrener mazepevker, -- iz gevorn oyf zey a simkhe, a gedule: staytsh, bay zey iz dokh der rov a mazepevker, der shoykhet a mazepevker un der khazn a mazepevker! avade bin ikh geven naygerik tsu zen zikh mitn rov, mitn shoykhet un mitn khazn fun mayn shtot. un ikh hob gebetn m' zol mir onvayzn, vu zey voynen. un shtelt aykh for, az der rov mitn shoykhet mitn khazn -- zenen ale dray eyn parshoyn, un dos iz undzer berl Dovid-Moyshe|s, a yid vos ker zikh azoy on mit rov, mit shoykhet un mit khazn, azoy vi ikh ker zikh on mit prezident. az be|sakhakl iz er bay undz in der heym geven gor a yid fun di, vos kotori velkhe... gehat hot er afile a nishkoshe fun a kelekhl tsum davnen farn omed, amol a shakhres|l unter a yontev, nor vi kumt er tsu a khazn, tsu shoykhet un tsu rov, az handlen hot er gehandlt mit treyfe skhoyre, mies arayngefaln, gehat oyf zikh a pekl un gemuzt makhn a vayivrakh azh aher keyn amerike?... ikh bin geshtanen un gekukt un batrakht mayn berl Dovid-Moyshe|s, dem rov mitn shoykhet mitn khazn. ot vos heyst a gebentsht land amerike! geshtoysn zikh, a ponem, vos ikh kuk, hot mikh der doziker rov mitn shoykhet mitn khazn opgerufn oyf a zayt un makht tsu mir: "her nor oys Menakhem-mendl, s'zol zayn yehudi b|loy" ... hob ikh mikh geshtoysn, az m'badarf makhn a shvayg, un er hot mikh farufn tsu zikh oyf "soper" (oyf vetshere heyst es), un dort ersht hot er mir oysdertseylt in gantsn di [FB: biografye] bigrifye [sic -- LP] zayne, vi azoy er hot zikh do frier ongegesn mit tsores inem dozikn gebentshtn land. ibergedint frier ale avoyde-zores, gehorevet, gearbet kol avoydes-parekh, biz got hot im arayngegebn a shtikl zinen, er zol zikh farlosn a por peyelekh, onton a bisl a lengere kapote mit a gartele, zikh avekshteln farn omed un vern bay zey lemazl a khazn. "a sheynem kol-negine, zogt er, hob ikh dokh gehat fun tomed, un a bisele hob ikh mikh untergelernt, bin ikh gevorn itster a khazn tsvishn khazonem!" beshas-mayse tut berl Dovid-moyshes a makh mitn kop, a hustl un a katshe zikh oyfn heldzl, vi an emeser khazn. "nu, zog ikh, meyle, a khazn -- dos farshtey ikh nokh; ober a shoykhet -- vi kumt ir, reb berl, tsu shkhite?" -- "a tayere metsie, zogt er, vos iz? ikh bin nit gegangen in kheyder? ikh hob nit gelernt keyn hilkhes-shkhite?" un er nemt zikh reynikn di negl, vi a yuster shoykhet. "bin ikh aykh, zog ikh, dos oykh moykhl, ober a rov, zog ikh -- vi kumt ir paskenen shayles? gevald, reb berl, shayles paskenen?" "e, makht er tsu mir, Menakhem-mendl, bist nokh gor grin, vi a grine ugerke! vart oys, vest opzayn do in amerike a shtikl tsayt, vestu ersht demolt aroyszen khidushem, vos far a land dos iz -- a gebentsht land!" un er nemt mikh far a hant un firt mikh arayn tsu zayn etl-Dvoyre|n un shtelt mikh for far zeyn "mises;" bay undz hot zi geheysn etl-Dvoyre un getrogn a parik biz di oyern, un do heyst zi shoyn "mises," un iz a gantse madam. "un ver zenen yene tsvey panitshlekh?" -- freg ikh im. -- "dos zenen, zogt er, mayne [FB: "tshildern." vos heyst dos, zog ikh, "tshildern"? -- "tshildern heyst, zogt er, kinder; dzhem un per -- dos zaynen mayne tsvey zin," -- makht er tsu mir un firt mikh tsu tsu zayne tsvey bokhorem|lekh, dem dzhem mitn per] "boyes." "Vos heyst dos, zog ikh, boyes?" "boyes heyst, zogt er, zin." "sem" un "heri" -- dos zenen mayne tsvey zin, makht er tsu mir un firt mikh tsu zayne tsvey bokherem|lekh, dem sem mitn heri. geheysn hobn zey bay undz in mazepevke Khayem un Perets -- a min iberkerenish, zol got shoymer umatsl zayn! "vart oys, makht tsu mir der rov mitn shoykhet mitn khazn, vart oys, Menakhem-mendl, vest ersht zen khidushem ot do, in dem gebentshtn land, in amerike!" un makhmes ikh ayl mikh zeyer vos frier avekshikn aykh dem dozikn ershtn briv maynem fun amerike, makh ikh dos bekitser. mirtseshem shpeter vel ikh aykh aroysshraybn altsding barikhes, dervayle mutshe ikh mikh nokh afile zeyer shtark oyfn shtikl broyt, nor danken hashem-yisborekh, ikh makh a lebn un hof tsu dem, vos lebt eybik, az ikh vel mit der tsayt, mirtseshem, vern an emeser [FB: "amerikans onti" -- ? L.P.] "amerikaner tsitester," [sic -- LP] dos heyst oyf ayer loshn: "polnopravne grazhdanin," ['equal citizens'], un vel vern gut-ap, dos heyst, a mentsh glaykh mit ale, zikh mishn in "politishen," in der politike heyst dos, makhmes es geyt bay undz a "lekshenyor," aza yor ven men kloybt a prezident un do baym kloybn a prezident hobn ale a deye, un ikh oykh besoykhem. lesate darf men geyn ton "biznes," gesheftn heyst dos, makhmes ikh hob nokh nisht oyf "rent," meyn ikh dire-gelt, far der vokh, nor got iz a foter, er vet mistame helfn un es vet zayn, mirtseshem, olrayt! fun mir, ayer bester fraynt menetshmend, (g~e~v~e~z~e~n~e~r M~e~n~a~k~h~e~m - m~e~n~d~l. notabene, meyn ikh iker shokhakhti: es zol aykh keyn khidesh nit zayn, mister Sholem-aleykhem, vos ikh hob mir meshane-shem geven, ibergebitn zikh fun Menakhem-mendl oyf "menetshmend." vos zol ikh ton, az men ruft mikh do azoy? ale heysn do mit andere nemen: Borekh-yankl iz bay zey "dzhen," Meyer-kalmen -- "ken," leyzer peysi -- "pen"; un di vayber, di zenen gor meshuge! di vos hobn geheysn bay undz tseytl-beyle, Sore-Leye -- heysn shoyn do: tshita-bella, sere-leyshen -- un gey tu zey epes. han"al ______________________________________________________ End of _The Mendele Review_ 02.034 Leonard Prager, editor Subscribers to _Mendele_ (see below) automatically receive _The Mendele Review_. 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To unsubscribe kholile: unsub mendele ****Getting back issues**** _The Mendele Review_ archives can be reached at: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele/tmrarc.htm _The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language (A Companion to _MENDELE_) ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 02.035 25 December 1998 |-------------------------------------------| | In Memory of | | | | | | Zosa Shaykovski [Szajkowski] | | (ne Shayke Fridman [Frydman]) | | | | (1910-1978) | |-------------------------------------------| 1) Yiddish Matters: From the Editor (Leonard Prager) 2) "Preface" to Zosa Shaykovski's _Dos loshn fun di yidn in di arbe kehiles fun komta-venesin_ (Max Weinreich) 3) "Introduction" to _Dos loshn fun di yidn in di arbe kehiles fun komta-venesin_ (Zosa Shaykovski) 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 25 December 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: Yiddish Matters a. This issue: Though several months late, we are pleased to honor the memory of Zosa Shaykovski two decades after his death (on 26 September 1978). Shaykovski [Szajkowski] was an outstanding historian of French-Jewish life who was for years associated with YIVO and who published much of his work in Yiddish. He deserves to be remembered by students of Yiddish as well as of the related areas which he assiduously investigated. We here give the English versions of his "Introduction" and Max Weinreich's "Preface" to a pioneer linguistic work of his, _Dos loshn fun di yidn in di arbe kehiles fun komta-venesin_.* This essay was preceded by the author's "Yidishe motivn in der folkskultur fun komto-venesen in 17tn-19tn y'h" [_Yivo bleter_ 19:3 (May-June, 1942, 312-341], whose English abstract tells us: "After a brief introduction concerning the life of the Jews in the four towns of Comtat Venaissin: Avignon, Carpentras, Cavaillon, Isle sur Sorgue, the author shows Jewish influences in the non-Jewish folk culture of that region. References to Jews, their way of life, their religion and their rabbis are to be found in Christmas carols, Christmas plays, comedies and satires, proverbs, etc. The Jewish motifs are introduced either for burlesque or in an attempt to convert the Jews." A footnote in the _Yivo-bleter_ essay tells us that a discussion of Shuadit, the Comtadine Jewish language, will appear in the next volume of Yivo's _Filologishe shriftn_. This promise did not materialize, but six years later the linguistic essay appeared as a separate publication. Many Ashkenazic Jews call Christmas _nitl_ , which also means 'Christmas carol'. Shaykovski devotes a section of his study to "yidishe" nitlen -- the term 'Jewish carols' stems from Christians. He writes: "in komta-venesin iz geshafn gevorn a tshikave provansalishe nitl literatur mit yidishe un nit-yidishe motivn, vos iz umbakant in andere provintsn fun frankraykh; afile in provans mi|khuts komta-venesin, vu es zaynen yo geven andere provensalishe lider vegn un kegn yidn, veys men nisht fun dem min shafungen. mir meynen do di azoy gerufene Noue Juzioou 'yidishe nitlen' (nitl-lider)." (p. 22) ['A curious Provence Christmas-carol literature with Jewish and non-Jewish motifs, unknown in other French provinces, was created in Comtat-Venaissin. Works of this sort are unknown outside of Comtat-Venaissin even in Provence where Provencal songs about and against Jews did exist. We are referring to the so-called "Jewish Christmas-songs" [yidishe nitlen]' (transl.: LP)] This work reminds us not only that Yiddish is central to the study of Jewish interlinguistics but that significant works on Jewish languages are written in Yiddish. However, if we regard Modern Hebrew as a Jewish language -- not all do -- a half-century after Max Weinreich wrote these words, history has rendered them inapplicable: "[among Jewish languages, Yiddish] has the largest number of speakers, and the richest supply of available literary sources." Fifty years ago these words were true. There are a number of Yiddish strands connecting to the Comtadine Jews. M. Bernfeld has written of Chuadit in _Kiyum_ (Kiem) 12 (Paris 1948). The burial in 1925 of Ashil Zhakob Astrik, the last Jew in Cavaillon, inspired Sholem Ash [Shalom Asch] to write a story, the title of which some Ash expert can recall for us. Moshe Lazar's edition of macaronic Hebrew-Provencal poems is a feature of Comtadine Jewish culture that will be of interest to many _TMR_ readers. We are reminded of macaronic poems with alternate Yiddish and Slavic lines. [See Moshe Lazar, "Lis Obros: Chansons Hebraico-Provencales" (Edition Critique D'Apres Tous Les Mss. Connus) in Moshe Lazar, ed. _Romanica et Occidentalia; Etudes dediees a la memoire de Hiram Peri (Pflaum)_. Jerusalem: Magnes Press, 1963, pp. 290-346.] b. Correction: The email addresses of Eliezer Niborski are: eniborsk@ens-lyon.fr or: Eliezer.Niborski@ens-lyon.fr * Z. Shaykovski. _Dos loshn fun di yidn in di arbe kehiles fun komta-venesin_. mit a hakdome fun maks vaynraykh. nyu-york: aroysgegebn fun mekhaber mit der mithelf fun yidishn visnshaftlekhn institut-yivo, 1948. [English title page: Z[osa] Szajkowski. The Language of the Jews in the Four Communities of Comtat Venaissin. With a Preface by Max Weinreich. New York: Published by the Author with the aid of the Yiddish Scientific Institute - YIVO, 1948. 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 25 December 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: "Preface" to Zosa Shaykovski's _Dos loshn fun di yidn in di arbe kehiles fun komta-venesin_ (Max Weinreich) Max Weinreich Preface Zosa Szajkowski's study will undoubtedly arouse among students of the Jewish past in France considerable interest. Although a good deal was written on the Jewish communities in Avignon and Comtat-Venaissin, their language was never submitted to a systematic study. In this work the author presents in a comprehensive manner the very considerable material that he had gathered on this subject. Students of Romance Languages will be grateful to him. But in addition to the new material, the author has adopted a new methodological approach to the subject and in this respect, the work transcends the sphere of interest of the Romance scholar. All Jewish languages that came into being after Hebrew originated in the following manner: the Jews adopted foreign language elements and recreated them in their own linguistic pattern. (It appears that the history of the Hebrew language, too, does not in the main deviate sharply from this scheme.) Hence, the earlier students of Yiddish sought in it the Germanic components, the students of Dzudezmo (Judeo-Spanish) the Spanish components, and so on. Gradually, students of Yiddish began to realize that this is not the proper procedure. Surely, it is quite interesting to see what German elements have been preserved in Yiddish and what Spanish elements in Dzudezmo. But far more significant are the language patterns that originated with the Jews. In analyzing these "Jewish" patterns, the easiest task is the identification of the Hebrew-Aramaic components. More difficult (and more important) is the task of determining the morphological and semantic modifications that these elements have undergone in their adaptation to the new language. Even more significant is a study of the process of recreating the non-Jewish elements in the Jewish linguistic pattern. Finally, the synthesis of these different elements into a functional whole is to be studied. Herein lies the significance of the author's pioneer work. He begins -- and this is the proper procedure -- with a description of the geographic and social locale in which the language of the Jews of Avignon and Comtat-Venaissin originated. Then, in treating of the language proper, he not only points up the words of Hebrew origin but also analyzes their subsequent morphological and semantic developments as well as the modifications of the Romance elements in the speech of the Jews. To what extent he has succeeded in describing particular phonemes and forms, Romance scholars will judge. Of one thing I am certain: The author has set out on the proper path in maintaining that in the Four Communities of Avignon and Comtat-Venaissin a new Jewish language had been in the process of development and had already attained to substantial stature when suddenly arrested in its growth by a new turn in the history of those communities. In respect to the so-called "Judeo-Provencal" texts of the 17 - 18th centuries, the author's accomplishment is specially noteworthy. Earlier students had concluded that since these texts were translations from Hebrew and written in Hebrew characters, or new original texts in Hebrew characters, they fully represented the language of the Jews of the Four Communities of that period. However, a comparison with a similar phenomenon in Yiddish will serve as a warning against such hasty conclusions. Following Mendelsohn's translation of the Bible, for a period of some fifty years, there came from publishing houses of Vienna, Karlsruhe, Bruenn, and others, scores of so-called "Yiddish" books. Older catalogues designated these books as Judeo-German. Recently, they came to be catalogued as Yiddish. But in these cases the term Yiddish is a misnomer. Judeo-German may be applied if we agree beforehand that the term denotes something different from Yiddish. Throughout the entire history of the Yiddish language, from the oldest Bible translations to late 19th century Shomer, the tendency to germanize Yiddish is noticeable in many writers. But germanized Yiddish is still very different from German. In the aforesaid Vienna, Karlsruhe, and similar editions, although they are printed in Hebrew characters, we have nothing but German, unless a stray Yiddishism found its way into the book against the will of the author. This kind of literature can not be classified in the same category with Yiddish. Similarly, a detailed study is needed to determine whether the Judeo-Provencal texts of the 17-18th centuries are pure Provencal in Hebrew characters or they represent a special literary style based on the actual spoken language of the Jews; in other words, whether they are to be compared to the aforesaid works, which were German in Hebrew characters, or to our older Yiddish literary language. One thing the author clearly establishes: the Judeo-Provencal texts do not reflect the spoken language of the Jews of the period. Whence the new approach to a Jewish language that our author manifests? His work was completed in the Yivo. He applied to his subject the approach elaborated in the study of Yiddish. The study of Jewish languages must take a lead from research in the Yiddish language, since Yiddish is the most widespread and the most differentiated of Jewish languages, and has the largest number of speakers, and the richest supply of available literary sources. On the other hand, research in the Yiddish language should benefit from the author's contribution. Let us hope that the fact that the author's study was accepted by the Yivo will lead students of Yiddish to a general interest in all Jewish languages. It becomes increasingly clear that the need of "Jewish interlinguistics (or "Jewish philology," as Solomon Birnbaum phrased it in 1937, _Yivo Bleter_, vol. XI, p.198, to distinguish it from the "philology of Yiddish") is an urgent matter. One can attain to a more profound grasp of the essence of one Jewish language through an understanding of other Jewish languages. Then, by comparing different Jewish languages we come close to understanding the essence of Jewish linguistic creativity, which is so pronounced an element in Jewish culture history, and thereby we gain a clearer perspective of the Jewish genius in general. Max Weinreich February 29, 1948 3)---------------------------------------------------- Date: 25 December 1998 From: Leonard Prager Subject: "Introduction" to _Dos loshn fun di yidn in di arbe kehiles fun komta-venesin_ (Zosa Shaykovski) Zosa Shaykovski Introduction In the Comtat Venaissin which was a Papal province in Southern France there lived prior to the French Revolution some 2000 Jews who united mainly into four communities of the cities Carpentras, Avignon, Cavaillon and Isle-sur-Sorgue. In the studies made until now about these communities mention is made of a language of the Jews (in these four communities) who are known in historical writings as _Comtadine Jews_. _Geographical Boundaries of the Speech of the Comtadine Jews_. A distinction must be made between the speech of Comtadine Jews and the language of the Jews in the other parts of Provence: there was no single language among all Provence Jews which we could term Judeo- Provencal as is done by some scholars. The Comtadine Jews surely had their speech and the Sephardic Jews in other parts of Provence surely had languages of their own. The Sephardic Jews who had settled in South-Western France as far back as in 1492 had brought with them their own tongue, traces of which have been preserved to this day. The Jews of Nice had a dialect of their own. For this reason we speak exclusively of the tongue of the Comtadine Jews. _Name of the Tongue_. To this day we have no name for the speech, merely various designations and characterizations by various chroniclers and investigators. In a Carpentras manuscript written by a gentile, the speech of the Comtadine Jews is called CHUADIT, which stems from the Hebrew _yehudit_. Apparently, the Comtadine Jews themselves thus called their speech. Owing to the unreliability of the source and the lack of clarity as to the pronunciation of this word we refrain for the present from applying this name to the speech. _Other Tongues among the Comtadine Jews and the Rise of a New Language_. At a certain period the Comtadine Jews made use simultaneously of the three languagea: Hebrew, Provencal and French. In the course of time, from elements of these languages there arose a new dialect, a fusion of the three languages. In general the four ccmmunities were a melting pot of various influences and doubtless had their influence also on language. Chronologically Hebrew came earlier among the Jews, but Provencal, too, was familiar to them: at a certain period Provencal was the language of intercourse among the Jews. But French also was familiar to the Jews to a certain extent. There are numerous testimonies concerning the existence of a new tongue springing from elements of those three languages. However, from 1789 onward the speech of the Comtadine Jews was on the decline owing to the emancipation of those Jews who turned to speaking Prench and the exodus of Jews to other parts of France. Of this tongue only a handful of words have survived in use until our days. _Sources_. We possess no single linguistic monument entirely written in this tongue and by a person who spoke the language. The speech of the Comtadine Jews evoked an interest among the surrounding Jewish population already in the XVII century and possibly earlier. In Comtat Venaissin there sprang up a curious literature of ecclesiastic creations and worldly comedies and satires written in Provencal with interspersed words from the speech of the Jews and for this reason they are the most important source for us in studying the speech of the Comtadine Jews. _Prior Investigations_ In transcribing copies of these curious literary productions the Carpentras bibliophiles of early XIX century added glossaries with translations of the words from the language spoken by the Comtadine Jews. However, these allusions to the speech of the Comtadine Jews remained for a long time unknown to modern investigators. The first person to evince a close interest in this dialect was the Alsatian cantor R. Hirschler who had settled in Southern France and took an interest in the expressions of the speech that had survived among the Comtadine Jews. In 1894 he published a glossary of some 200 words. The comedy _Harcanot et Barcanot_ which Hirschler published in 1896 is the most important linguistic monument in the speech of the Comtadine Jews that has come down to us. Subsequently, the Avignon scholar Dr. P. Pansier, published another text of the comedy. However, the comedy was not written prior to 1789, as is assumed by some. As a matter of fact, the comedy was written as late as at the beginning of the XIX century. Its author was probably the weli-known French-Jewish attorney and historian Bedarride of Montpellier. Consequently it was written by an outsider who had not known since his birthday the speech of the Comtadine Jews. _The researches of Dr. P. Pansier_ of Avignon are the most notable of all those carried out to-date concerning the speech of the Comtadine Jews. However, he has committed no end of errors and his contributions can serve only as a source for further investigations. French author A. Lunel, the historian Cecil Roth, F. Mistral and a considerable number of other authors of Provencal dictionaries also touched upon this subject. _The Statutes of the Jewish Communities_ in the Comtat Venaissin have been included by the generality of investigators till now as a source in their attempts to compile glossaries of the Comtadine Jews as have likewise been notarial acts and other similar documents. However, the statutes of the comunities are translations from Hebrew originals which have not come down to us. The notaries recorded the translations according to the by-word-of-mouth translations made by the emissaries of the communities. Consequently we cannot know positive1y as to how far the special turns of phrase in the Statutes are indeed words from the language of the Comtadine Jews. Por this reason as well as for many others, the specific expressions of the Statutes should not find any place in a glossary of the speech~ of the Comtadine Jews. _Critical Appraisal of the Sources_. The make-up of the linguistic monuments that are known to us is singularly fortuitous and not overly reliable. We do not know a single document of which we could say positively that it has been written by a Comtadine Jew and in his own tongue throughout. The linguistic documents that have been preserved for us were not written by persons who spoke the tongue of the Comtadine Jews but by outsders who positively did not know that tongue. One has to be cautious as to the words of the Jewish manner of speech with which are interlarded the Comtadine ecclesiastical productions and worldly comedies of the XVII century. These are by-and-large productions with a tendency to caricature the Jews; the words are interspersed, above all, in order to produce a comical effect and, accordingly, they might have easily been distorted. Owing to this chance make-up of the sources it is also impossible to determine the chronological date of origin of this new language of the Jews. The earliest documents (known to us) interlarded with words of Provencal origin that already had assumed clear-cut new forms in the mouths of the Comtadine Jews come from as late as the 17th century. All-in-all we possess more numerous secure data and testimony _concerning_ the existence of a tongue of the Comtadine Jews, than linguistic monuments _in that tongue_. _A spoken tongue or a written language?_ A question comes up as to which alphabet the Comtadine Jews used in writing their language. According to common sense and as exemplified by other languages among the Jews, the Comtadine Jews, too, should have used the Hebrew alphabet. The Provencal texts of the Comtadine Jews are indeed rigged out in the Hebrew alphabet. But, quite to the contrary, all known sources in the speech of the Comtadine Jews are written down in the Latin characters. But this becomes understandable when one takes into account the fortuitous make-up of the sources that are known to us. The question is whether the speech was at all used in writing. Here we have to do with a language which owing to the emancipation went out of existence even before it had managed to reach the status of a more or less developed written language. At the present stage of research of this speech and with the present-day make-up of the sources which are not over-reliable it is difficult to reconstruct the entire grammar of this speech and we can analyze but several rules. Several characteristic rules are indeed an exception in the midst of the surrounding Provencal language and there still remains the task of finding out the causes of the peculiar phenomenon, e.g. of the transition s > f. But the data in favor of the existence of the phenomenon are such that one cannot deny it as a reality. Likewise we can merely give the characteristic features of the phonetics of this speech. Some of the laws (x > i) are conjecturally nothing but graphic phenomena, i.e. non-Jews have found only the definite Latin characters for certain Hebrew sounds. Other phenomena (a > e) are not peculiar to the speech of Comtadine Jews, merely a burlesque of the Jews in the monuments that have reached us. The author is compiling a glossary of approximately 500 words in the speech of the Comtadine Jews. This study was started in Carpentras and Avignon in 1941 and concluded in 1942 in New York, while the author was a member of the Research Training Division ("Aspirantur") of the Yiddish Scientific Institute - YIVO. --------------------------------- End of _The Mendele Review_ 02.035 Leonard Prager, editor Subscribers to _Mendele_ (see below) automatically receive _The Mendele Review_. Send "to subscribe" or change-of-status messages to: listproc@lists.yale.edu a. For a temporary stop: set mendele mail postpone b. To resume delivery: set mendele mail ack c. 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