The Yiddish Book Center's

Wexler Oral History Project

A growing collection of in-depth interviews with people of all ages and backgrounds, whose stories about the legacy and changing nature of Yiddish language and culture offer a rich and complex chronicle of Jewish identity.

Jacob Waislitz, Rachel Holzer and the Melbourne Yiddish Theater

Watch now:

Doodie Ringelblum—medical doctor and Yiddish activist based in Melbourne—shares his knowledge of and experience with Yiddish Theater in Melbourne, which centered around two famous actors from the Vilne Troop: Jacob (Yankev) Waislitz and Rachel (Rokhl) Holzer.

This is an excerpt from an oral history with Doodie Ringelblum.

This excerpt is in Yiddish.

Doodie Ringelblum was born in Melbourne, Australia in 1963.

Jump to map

This interview is part of the Yiddish and the Arts: musicians, actors, and artists series.

Other video highlights from this oral history

Choosing Australia to Raise a Son in a Secular Yiddish-Speaking Way

2 min 6 sec

"You Lied! You Said You Didn't Understand English!": Being Raised in Yiddish in Melbourne

1 min 19 sec

Melbourne Yiddish Youth Theatre

2 min 32 sec

What is the Bund? A Short Description

1 min 36 sec

A Personal Definition of Doykayt (Bundist Tenant of "Hereness"): Living Demonstrably Jewishly

3 min 28 sec

Yiddish Radio in Australia

3 min 44 sec

More information about this oral history excerpt

Themes: