Sunday, February 7, 2021, 1 pm (EST) via Zoom
Some Ferocious Yiddish Poets
New York’s Yiddish-speaking Lower East Side was the scene of intense literary, theatrical, cultural and political activity in the early Twentieth Century. If you were “on the Right”, that meant you were Socialist. If you were “on the Left”, that meant you were Communist. It’s an America that’s hard to remember. The Yiddish newspapers were full of literature and poetry. I’ve read an estimate that Moyshe-Leyb Halpern was read by a million people a week. A poet. In America.
I’ll talk a little bit about Yiddish, a little bit about Yiddish literature. I’ll read some poems, mostly in translation, but occasionally along with the originals. I’ll bemoan the perils of translation. I’ll show some of my artwork inspired by these poems. I’ll recommend some books.
This event will take place on Zoom; the link will be sent out in the member newsletter a day or two before the event. If you’re not a member yet, please consider joining–it’s easy! https://nepoetryclub.org/membership/
