How Yiddish Changed America and How America Changed Yiddish

Yiddish, a language generated by European Jews many centuries ago, has spread with the diaspora of its speakers from Europe, but its vitality still remains. Within this impressive anthology of Yiddish publications from the early 1900s to the present, the reader is exposed to an array of expressive styles, including stories, memoirs, poetry, graphic art, cartoons, plays, essays, and even traditional mouthwatering recipes. Familiar names such as I. B. Singer, Michael Chabon, Sholem Asch, Cynthia Ozick, and, surprisingly, Sophie Tucker, along with so many others, leave samples of their contributions to this collection. Some of the reading is poignant, reflecting back to the old familiar shtetl of Europe, which is contrasted with the pains of immigration to the new country; much is heart warming in detailing the warmth of human relationships; some selections play on the ironic humor of life; but all the readings engage attention and focus on analysis of the tie between Yiddish and our culture. Yiddish has not only penetrated the nation’s lexicon, but it is the glue that connects its adherents from Europe throughout North and South America as well as Cuba. One can start reading in any section of the volume and just roam through the pages to feel the essence and influence of Yiddish.