Mendele: Yiddish literature and language ____________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 18.007 August 6, 2008 1) Theatrical adaptation of "The Travels of Benjamin the Third" (Yelena Shmulenson) 2) Theatrical adaptation of "The Travels of Benjamin the Third" (Myra Leysorek) 3) Theatrical adaptation of "The Travels of Benjamin the Third" (Leybl Botwinik) 4) tsebalavet/tatele (Dina Levias) 5) Shimen Dzhigan routines sought (Daniel Mintz) 6) mukte, bukte (Matt Hoffman) 7) Clara Lemlich speech (Cyril D. Robinson) 8) Film about Jewish life in Lemberg (Roberta Newman) 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: July 22, 2008 Subject: theatrical adaptation of "The Travels of Benjamin the Third" The most famous one was done in 1927 by the GOSET (Moscow State Yiddish Theatre) with Shloyme Mikhoels and Veniamin (Benjamin) Zuskin playing the two lead characters. Yidishpil, the Yiddish Theatre in Tel Aviv, presented it in 2007 with Yaakov Bodo. Here is a link to the article that Zuskin's daughter, Alla, wrote after seeing the play: http://www.jewish-theatre.com/visitor/article_display.aspx?articleID=2293 Yelena Shmulenson 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date: July 18, 2008 Subject: theatrical adaptation of "The Travels of Benjamin the Third" There was a Soviet Yiddish theatre play--here's a link to an article: http://www.jewish-theatre.com/visitor/article_display.aspx?articleID=982 And a film, "The King and the Fool," I believe has film footage of that play in performance. Myra Leysorek 3)---------------------------------------------------- Date: July 20, 2008 Subject: theatrical adaptation of "The Travels of Benjamin the Third" Dakht zikh, az Dora Vasermans theater in Montreal (Saidye Bronfman Centre Yiddish Theatre) hot mit yorn tsurik adurkhgefirt aza shpil: Masoyes Binyomen Hashlishi. Kontaktirt ir tokhter, di naye direktorin funem teater: Brayne Wasserman Leybl Botwinik 4)---------------------------------------------------- Date: July 18, 2008 Subject: tsebalavet/tatele The word comes from the Russian verb balovat' meaning "to spoil (someone)." In Yiddish it is probably "tserbalevet," the suffix "tser" stemming from the German. "zer" (zer-reissen, zer-brechen, etc..) indicates an action that is negative and also total. A "tserbaleveter yingl" is a child spoiled through and through! As for "tatele," I find Sylvan Beer's explanation less credible than the simpler one, i.e. both "tatele" and "mamele" are terms of endearment stemming from the love we bear our fathers and mothers: as a matter of fact, I have heard "mamele" addressed to people other than children! Romanians use the word "mamica" (mommy) as a term of endearment, and will even use it for boys (or adult men!) in the masculinized form "mamicule"! I have not heard them use the word for father "taticu" in the same manner. Dina Levias 5)---------------------------------------------------- Date: July 29, 2008 Subject: Shimen Dzhigan routines sought I'm looking for transcripts of several of Shimon Dzigan's comedy routines. Does anyone know where I could find print versions of: The Shimon Dzigan Show (Israel Music, released on VHS and DVD: "Vifl ir farshteyt," "Goldenyu," "Der meylekh Faysl," "A briv tsu rabeynu tam," "Der oyle fun shankhay," "Nor meshuge tsu vern," "Di khasene," "Dray zin," and "Menakhem Mendl un Tevye") -Yidishe Humor (Israel Music audio cassette: "Menkhem Mendl shraybt a briv tsu Sholem Aleykhem," "Vifl ir farshteyt," "Shlimazl," "Mayn familyen-album," "Mekhile betn," "Dort vu toyre iz khokhme," "Dr. Nebekh," "Aynshtayn Vaynshtayn," and "Oy ale, ikh leyg in adome") -Sh. Dzigan (Audio cassette: "Yom ha'atsmaut," "Oy, der kop," "A naye klale," and "A levaye fun a klal-tuer") -Hot a yid a lendele (Galton audio cassette: "Yisroel-arabisher futbol metsh," "Der yored," "Gest fun pariz, nyu York, rumenye," and "Der tel-aviver shnorer") -Dzigan un Shumakher, Sketches and Monologues, v.3 (Israel Music audio cassette: "A nayer shtayer," "Der nakht-vekhter," "Dr. Nebekh," and "Der briv treger") A groysn dank, Daniel Mintz 6)---------------------------------------------------- Date: July 17, 2008 Subject: mukte, bukte I am trying to find out more about a Yiddish expression, "mukte, bukte" or "mukhte, bukhte" or some variation of that supposedly derives from "matke boga" and refers to the expression on Jesus' face at the time of his death. I have looked into this phrase before, about 10 years ago, but don't have any record of what I discovered and don't remember much either. I seem to remember that the expression is used to describe a strange facial expression, and that the etymology was the mother of god/Jesus' dying look explanation. Any insight into this phrase, its origins, usage, spelling variants, etc. would be appreciated. best, Matt Hoffman 7)---------------------------------------------------- Date: July 18, 2008 Subject: Clara Lemlich speech Martin Cohen can look at: Gerard Sorin, "The Prophetic Minority" (Indiana UP 1985) and Kenneth Kann and Joe Rapoport, "The Life of a Jewish Radical" (Temple UP 1981). Cyril D. Robinson 8)---------------------------------------------------- Date: August 3, 2008 Subject: film about Jewish life in Lemberg I have very belatedly just now read the query about a film on Jewish life in Lemberg. Could this possibly be the documentary short produced by the Goskind brothers in 1939 along with films about four other communities (Vilna, Krakow, Warsaw, and Bialystok)? (There was supposedly also one about Lodz, but it has been lost.) These films are available for purchase on video from both Ergo Media and the National Center for Jewish Film. Roberta Newman ______________________________________________________ End of Mendele Vol. 18.007 Please do not use the "reply" key when writing to Mendele. Instead, direct your mail to one of these, as appropriate: Responses to Mendele Personal Notices & Announcements must be sent directly to the person or organization posting the material. 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