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.
Dan Opatoshu's Oral History
Dan Opatoshu, grandson of Yiddish novelist and short story writer Joseph (Yosef) Opatoshu, was interviewed by Christa Whitney on March 12, 2014 in Los Angeles, California.
This interview was conducted in English.
Dan Opatoshu was born in 1947.
Video highlights from this oral history
Artifacts related to this oral history
Yosef and Dan Opatoshu at Croton Falls
Dovid Opatovski portrait
Nantshe Opatovski portrait
Young Yosef, a rather dashing figure
Young Adela Wolf, inveterate seductress
Yosef and Adela with baby son David Opatoshu
Di Yunge
Yosef Opatoshu writing at desk
Three families on porch of the summer house
Portrait of the Glantzes and the Opatoshus
Adela and Yosef Opatoshu portrait
Glatz, Leivik, and Opatoshu with walking sticks
Conference of Soviet Yiddish Writers
Yosef and Adela at desk
Yosef with fellow Yiddish writers
Yosef and Chagall's family
Chagall sketches Opatoshu
Young Yosef lounges
postcard to Dan from Yosef Opatoshu
Opatoshu's bilingual calling card
Wolf girls portrait
Yosef visits Sholem Asch's family
Opatoshu and Chagall at a conference
Adela portrait
Adela reads to Dan and friends
Yosef, David, and Adela Opatoshu in newspaper clipping
back of postcard from Yosef to Dan
Yosef in front of table selling his books
sketch of Opatoshu from Glitzenstein
chagalls yosef painting
Adela at desk
Yosef portrait
young yosef and friends
yosef on croton falls porch
yosef in adirondack chair
yosef outside of croton falls house
yosef at desk
yosef headstone
yosef and children during europe trip
yosef and baby dan
yosef and adela on porch
yosef and chagall informal
toddler dan with grandparents
Yosef reading on lawn
opatoshu and children in europe 2
opatoshu visits israel
Yosef wild hair with fellow writers portrait
Yosef on a boat
yosef portrait and caricature
Yosef in a cape with two women
Yosef and Adela marriage certificate
Yosef in a cape
Yosef and Adela in NY apt
Woodcut of Yosef by Glitzenstein
Opatoshu mini portrait in ivory
ostrowsky Yosef painting
Opatoshu portrait charcoal
opatoshu and children europe 3
Opatoshus, Glantzes, Leiviks portrait mixed up
croton falls house front
croton falls porch
dan on yosef's shoulders
chagall note to yosef
Dan's boxes of Opatoshu photos - open
croton falls backyard
baby dan with grandparents
benn painting of Yosef
Opatoshu certificate of naturalization
Dan's box of Opatoshu photos - closed
kibbitzarnie
yiddish typographic yosef portrait
Mlawa building
Adela Opatoshu and Fania Glantz portrait
More information about this oral history
Themes:
- Family histories
- Childhood
- Jewish Identity
- Yiddish language
- Yiddish scene
- Yiddish speaker
- Immigration and migration
- Theater
- Literature
- Books
- Newspapers
- Poetry
- Career and Professional Life
- Holocaust
- World War II
- Education
- Secular
- Family traditions
- Israel
- Eastern Europe
- Soviet Union
- Russia
- United States
- Politics and political movements
- Cultural transmission
- Heritage
- Descendants of Yiddish personalities
- Beyond the Books
- Yiddish personalities
- Jewish community
- Shtetl
- Travel
- Relationships
Series:
Listen later:
For other download options:
About the Wexler Oral History Project
Since 2010, the Yiddish Book Center’s Wexler Oral History Project has recorded more than 500 in-depth video interviews that provide a deeper understanding of the Jewish experience and the legacy and changing nature of Yiddish language and culture.
Tell Us Your Story
Do you (or someone you know) have stories to share about the importance of Yiddish language and culture in your life?