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Where? Why? What Does it Mean?: The Depth of Itzik Manger's Poetry

Jack Wolofsky, co-founder of KlezKanada, reflects on Yiddish poet Itzik Manger, and what his writing reveals about the Jewish psyche.

Baal Shem

Memories of Chaim Grade, Avrom Sutzkever, and Itzik Manger

Benjamin (Binyomen) Harshav, z"l - professor emeritus at Yale University - remembers how his father taught writers Chaim Grade and Avrom Sutzkever Jewish history - and recounts an infamous story about Itzik Manger.

Reciting Itzik Manger From Memory

Moshe Fiszman—z"l, Holocaust survivor from Radom, Poland—recites a poem and short story by Itzik Manger from memory and remembers hearing Itzik Manger recite his poems in person.

Updating the Poetry of Itzik Manger

Poet and translator Murray Citron shares an example of a time when he felt justified in rewriting one of Itzik Manger's poems, although he's confident the new English translation maintains the playful spirit of the original.

Going to Coney Island with Itzik Manger

Norman, son of the Yiddish writer Leon Feinberg, remembers when Itzik Manger (the writer and close family friend) bought him a lollipop on a trip together to Coney Island.

One Foot in Shushan, One in Warsaw: Reflections on Manger's Megillah

Motl Didner, associate artistic director of the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene, speaks about his love for Itzik Manger's "The Megillah of Itzik Manger," a play that blends the classic Purim story of the Book of Esther with the anti-semitic reali...

Driving Under the Influence of a Yiddish Poem

Poet and translator Murray Citron shares the story of how he discovered Yiddish poetry and translated his first work, "Eve and the Apple Tree" by Itzik Manger.

Naomi Says "God of Abraham"

Poet and translator Murray Citron reads "Naomi Says 'God of Abraham,'" his translation of Itzik Manger's "Nomi zogt got fun avrom."

Uwe von Seltmann

Uwe von Seltmann, German author and journalist, was interviewed by Agnieszka Ilwicka on January 3, 2016 in Krakow, Poland. As his family was loathe to discuss such things, it took a while for Uwe to figure out that his grandfather served in the SS i...

2016-01-03

Norman Feinberg

Norman Feinberg - retired college professor of music at Mercy College and youngest son of the late Leon Feinberg, Yiddish poet, author of many books, and regional editor for the Yiddish paper Der Tog - was interviewed by Christa Whitney on October 28...

2010-10-28

"Saturday Night was like a Salon at Our House": Growing Up in the Feinberg Household

Harriet Bonfeld, educator and daughter of Yiddish poet and journalist Leon Feinberg, describes a typical social gathering with her parents' friends, Yiddish "intelligentsia" from Itzik Manger to Chaim Grade.

Joanna Nalewajko-Kulikov

Joanna Nalewajko-Kulikov, chair of the Polish Association for Yiddish Studies, was interviewed by Christa Whitney on May 1, 2013 in Warsaw, Poland. Joanna, who grew up in Warsaw, has a Polish and Ukrainian family background. She is not Jewish and on...

2013-05-01

Avi Hoffman

Avi Hoffman, actor, was interviewed by Christa Whitney on March 12, 2013 in Boca Raton, Florida. He grew up in the Bronx, part of a group of Yiddishist families who raised their children surrounded by Yiddish language and culture. His father survived...

2013-03-12