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.
Noami Leaf Halpern's Oral History
Noami Leaf Halpern, Jewish dancer and centenarian, was interviewed by Christa Whitney on January 27th, 2017, in Woodstock, New York.
This interview was conducted in Yiddish.
Noami Leaf Halpern was born in Jerusalem, Palestine in 1914.
Video highlights from this oral history

Dancing in Maurice Schwartz's Last Play
1 minute 29 seconds
The Beauty of a Jewish Life
1 minute 18 seconds
Dancing in the Ziegfeld Follies
1 minute 44 seconds
It was Heaven: Camp Kinderwelt
1 minute 40 seconds
Stories from the Road: A Jewish Dancer's 1930s European Tour
3 minutes 47 seconds
Find What Makes You Feel Good to Be Alive: Advice from a Centenarian
1 minute 10 seconds
Choreographing and Performing Dances about the Women of the Tanakh
1 minute 30 seconds
"They Knew A War Was Coming": Zionism At Home and Leaving Palestine Before World War Two
1 minute 29 seconds
Losing the Gefilte Fish
1 minute 15 secondsArtifacts related to this oral history

Noami Performing with an Instrument

Noami Performing Dance in a Gown and Shawl

Noami Performing with a Basket Balanced on her Head

Noami Performance with Dagger

Drawing of Noami Performing with Basket Balanced on Her Head

Painting of Noami Peforming with Instrument


Color Drawing of Noami Performing with Basket of Fruit Balanced on Her Head

Decorated Tile of Noami Performing with Instrument

Photograph of Group Dance Performance, Four Seated Performers and One Standing

Photograph of Group Dance Performance, Five Performers in Unison

Painting of Noami Performing with Basket of Flowers

Performance Poster Naomi Aleh Leaf in Dances of the Bible & the Near East

Performance Poster 2 Naomi Aleh Leaf in Dances of the Bible & the Near East

Noami and Daughter Photo

Ornamental Hanukiah

R. Leaf Studio Gold Sign

Photo of Noami Performance with Basket Balanced on Her Head

Noami Performance Photo with Pottery

Gold Metal Vessel with Spout

Brass Mask Wall Ornament

Painting of Man Close Up

Painting of Man
More information about this oral history
Themes:
Keywords:
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?