Mendele: Yiddish literature and language ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 5.103 September 6, 1995 1) Song query (Leah Zazulyer) 2) Oxford program (Sarah Benor) 3) Some questions about yiddish grammar (Adah Lappin) 4) An-Ski's _Der Dibek_ (Martin Davis) 5) Alveltlekh yidish/Global Yiddish (Zachary Baker) 6) Birobidzhaner shtern (Zachary Baker) 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 4 Sep 1995 15:38:56 -0400 (EDT) From: watson@uhura.cc.rochester.edu Subject: Song query A friend writes me asking if I can locate a song for her: She spells it thus: Ver hot a zindele, a zindele a sein [sheyn?]. Oy gen lekh vi sher endlekh, a nu hu mele a reins [reyns?]. La la, la....... Does this mean anything to anybody? Thanks. Leah Zazulyer 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 5 Sep 1995 16:48:22 -0400 (EDT) From: seb28@columbia.edu Subject: Oxford program In response to Rudi Roth's comments from Aug. 15 [5.086]: I attended the Oxford Program this summer and did indeed have several problems with the administration. Because of a misunderstanding, the Institute charged me for an extra room, adding about $1000 to my Visa bill. It took me the whole month (and caused me more than a bisl tsures) to get a refund. Other students had similar problems. There was also discontent among some of the Program participants about the classes and one or two of the afternoon activities. It seems to me that the Summer Program would benefit greatly from hiring a professional administrator. However, aside from a few problems, the Program (in my opinion) was a great success. It brought together people ages 16-95 (!) from at least 15 countries. Participants were exposed to a great deal of literature, several regional dialects, some grammar, and many aspects of Yiddish culture. The "exotic" setting of Oxford makes the Program even more interesting -- participants have access to great Yiddish libraries and all the culture and opportunities of the University city (including the throngs of tourists). I would strongly recommend the Oxford Summer Program for anyone interested in improving his Yiddish and experiencing a month of Oxford life. Two suggestions: request the inexpensive, off-campus housing; and be prepared for some difficulties with the administration. Sarah Benor New York City 3)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 05 Sep 95 22:52:49 IST From: f46047@vm.biu.ac.il Subject: Some questions about yiddish grammar In response to Beatrice Santorini's queries [5.102]: (1) Oy, ligt men in drerd! (2) Vinter fun dire varft men nisht. (3) Lomir geyn, ver vuhin es geyt. (4) Vos mir shtot un ven mir, ven yarid, az keyn ferdl darf ikh nit. 1. 'Ow, are we lying in the ground', which of course means nothing in English. It actually means: 'Are we ever screwed' (pardon the vulgar slang). 2. Literally: One can't throw winter out of the apartment; actually 'One can't get rid of misery'. 3. Literally - Let's go wherever anyone is going; actually: Follow the crowd. 4. Who needs the city, who needs the market, when I don't need a horse (to buy). what is "a lange tsung"? A 'lange tsung' is literally a 'long tongue' or: a big talker. I'm not certain what the question about 'es' is. As used, the "s'" is simply a contraction of 'es' and it certainly isn't restricted to poetry. Indeed, it is used in the contracted form in most ordinary speech, as for example: s'iz mir kalt. Zaretski is absolutely right about not using the question word order for exclamations. To a native Yiddish speaker (which I am) it sounds quite ridiculous, as if the meaning were not definite. Note: I have been receiving Mendele for some time, but have simply not had time to respond. I am a native Yiddish speaker and translator from Yiddish and Hebrew. Adah Lappin Netanya, Israel 4)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 5 Sep 95 17:51:55 EDT From: davism@turing.cs.nyu.edu Subject: An-Ski's _Der Dibek_ To Zellig Bach's message about Anski's wonderful play, I only want to add that there exists a very powerful Yiddish film based on the play. The cinematography is reminiscent of German expressionism. Martin Davis 5)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 5 Sep 95 15:09:16 PDT From: bm.yib@rlg.stanford.edu Subject: Alveltlekh yidish/Global Yiddish I would like to bring to the attention of all Mendelnikes (Mendelyaner?) the appearance of the first issue of a new, Yiddish-English newsletter, "Alveltlekh yidish/Global Yiddish," published by the Arbeter ring/Workmen's Circle (45 East 33rd St., New York, NY 10016). The editor is Reyzl Kalifowicz-Waletzky, an occasional contributor to Mendele. (Now I understand what has been keeping her so busy of late.) "The purpose of the bulletin is to gather and disseminate news and information about Yiddish language and culture in America and internationally to both speakers and non-speakers of Yiddish. We hope that this bulletin will serve as an informational clearinghouse in a manner and breadth not available in any other single publication. The bulletin will cover literature, media, computers, exhibitions, language instruction materials and programs, e-mail, services, conferences, as well as performances, meetings, events and activities sponsored by various groups and organizations around the world. It should be useful to all lovers of Yiddish, whether the interest be of an ideological, popular, or academic nature. We plan to publish this bulletin quarterly. It will be sent to everyone on our mailing list and to anyone who requests it, at no cost at this time. By the end of July, an electronic edition will also be published on Internet (on yiddishnet@shamash.nysernet.org) and B.B.S.'s (Bulletin Board Systems), locally and internationally, requiring only a phone and modem connection. More detailed information will soon follow." The address is given above; the phone no. is 1-212-889-6800, ext. 208; fax 1-212-532-7518. Zachary Baker 6)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 5 Sep 95 15:16:41 PDT From: bm.yib@rlg.stanford.edu Subject: Birobidzhaner shtern There have been reports of late, that the "Birobidzhaner shtern" is no longer being published. (See, for example, vol. 1, no. 1 of the bulletin "Alveltlekh yidish/Global Yiddish": "The Israeli newspaper Maariv just reported that the newspaper Birobidjaner Shtern has ceased publication 'for lack of readers.'") I am relieved to report that "Birobidzhaner shtern" continues to appear. YIVO receives its subscription via Victor Kamkin, a bookdealer specializing in books and press from the former Soviet Union. It is sent airmail and arrives about two weeks after the date of publication. The latest issue we've received (as of September 5th) was for August 22, 1995. "Birobidzhaner shtern" is in Russian and Yiddish these days. Zachary Baker ______________________________________________________ End of Mendele Vol. 5.103