Mendele: Yiddish literature and language ________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 22.006 August 13, 2012 1) gehakte vundn (Aaron Krishtalka) 2) gehakte vundn (Eliezer Greisdorf) 3) New Translations of Yiddish Poetry (Andrew Firestone) 4) "Es loyfn, es yogn shvartse volkns" (Oscar Berland) 5) "Es loyfn, es yogn shvartse volkns" (Bob Rothstein) 6) bakhmalyet (Bob Rothstein) 7) bakhmalyet (Steve Berr) 8) Now available: translations of biographies from Zylbercweig's "Lexicon of the Yiddish Theatre" (Steven Lasky) 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: July 26 Subject: gehakte vundn Literally, in English: chopped wounds, meaning "in agony," or "great suffering." In the usage I'm familiar with, this locution could refer to psychological or emotional suffering, as well as physical, and is usually contrasted with some bystander's uncaring attitude. For example: er dreyt zikh / er kortshet zikh / er geyt arum / in gehakte vundn, un zayn khaver makht zikh nisht visndik: he twists / he doubles up / he walks about / in agony, and his friend ignores it. Aaron Krishtalka 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date: July 23 Subject: gehakte vundn Gehakte vundn is very likely the same as gehakte tsores. When someone is at the end of his rope or has extreme problems, we might say "er is oyf gehakte tsores" or "gehakte vundn." Eliezer Greisdorf. 3)---------------------------------------------------- Date: August 6 Subject: New Translations of Yiddish Poetry *www.YiddishPoetry.org* is pleased to announce that four poems by *Zalman Shneour*, beautifully read by Isaac Apel, have been added to the section "Anthology of Yiddish Poetry of Poland between the Wars," together with English translations. And attention is drawn to the superb Polish translation by Marek Tuszewicki of Sutzkever's epic farewell poem */Tsu Poyln,/* in the section "Postwar Poetry." Andrew Firestone, Melbourne. *www.YiddishPoetry.org* : Mir meldn az fir lider fun Zalmen Shneyer zenen aroyfgeshtelt gevorn, tsuzamen mit englishe iberzetzungen. Deklamirt hot Itzkhok Apel. Zey gefinen zikh in der opteylung "antologye fun der yidishe poezye in poyln tsvishn beyde velt milkhomes." In der opteylung "nokhmilkhomedike yidishe poezye" iz aroyfgeshtelt gevorn Sutzkever's epopeye "Tsu Poyln", prekhtik ibergezetst oyf Poylish fun Marek Tuszewicki. Endru Fayershtayn, Melburn. 4)---------------------------------------------------- Date: July 24 Subject: "Es loyfn, es yogn shvartse volkns" In response to Joe Mankowits's question I remember my mother singing (beautifully - and the only thing she ever sang) es loyfen, es yogn (or flien) shvartse volkn - es fayft, es bumt di vint fun subia shikt dayn tate dir a grus mayn kind. Hope this connects with what you remember. Oscar Berland 5)---------------------------------------------------- Date: July 23 Subject: "Es loyfn, es yogn shvartse volkns" Joe Mankowitz asked (22.0004). about the lyrics of a song that begins "Es loyfn, es yogn..." The collection "Yiddish Folksongs from the Ruth Rubin Archive," edited by Chana Mlotek and Mark Slobin, contains the following text, which was written by H. D. Nomberg (1876-1927): Es loyfn, es yogn shvartse volkns, Es fayft un brumt der vint. Fun sibiryen shikt dayn tate Dir a grus, mayn kind. Di vintn, di vintn, zey brengen grusn Fun dem vaytn land. Dortn shteyt er, a lopete Halt er in der hant. Er grobt un grobt alts tifer un tifer, Un varft di erd aroys. Zorg nit, kind mayns, far dem sheker Grobt er kvorim oys. Nit der ershter un nit der letster, Falt er afn feld. Zorg nit, kind mayns, dikh geboyrn Hot a groyser held. Bob Rothstein 6)---------------------------------------------------- Date: July 23 Subject: bakhmalyet Alan Schuchat asked (22.0004) about the word "bakhmalyet," which he thought meant "something like sad or disappointed". It might be related to the verb "khmalyen," which means to hit hard, to administer a strong blow (no obvious etymology). Bob Rothstein 7)---------------------------------------------------- Date: July 23 Subject: bakhmalyet When I grew up the term khmalye was a form of physical violence on a person. A knip was a pinch, a frask was a forehand blow to the face, a patsh was a smack of any small sort, and a khmalye was best described as an uppercut. I would suspect that bakhmalyet was expression that the blow had been delivered. Er hot bakhmalyet im. And I think that would definitely lead to sadness! Steve Berr 8)---------------------------------------------------- Date: July 23 Subject: Now available: translations of biographies from Zylbercweig's "Lexicon of the Yiddish Theatre" Khaveyrim, I would like to announce to you that I have to date translated from Yiddish to English more than sixty percent of the biographies included within seven volumes of Zalmen Zylbercweig's opus, the "Lexicon of the Yiddish Theatre," a virtual "bible" of Yiddish theatre. There are more than 2,800 individual biographies and many histories of now-defunct Yiddish theatrical organizations included within these volumes, and I have translated nearly 1,900 of them. They are now available for your perusal on my virtual Museum of Family History website. All of those who have been "biographied" are listed alphabetically by first letter of their surname, and each listing is linked to the particular webpage on which the biography is located. The biographies range in length from a single sentence to dozens of pages. They not only include bios of actors and actresses, but also playwrights, journalists, other theatre personnel and many others whose paths have crossed with the Yiddish theatre throughout the world. The first volume was published in 1931, the sixth in 1969; the seventh remains in galley form but most of volume 7 can be found (only) on my website, along with Zylbercweig's unpublished "Yiddish Art Theatre in America." I am also working on an eighth volume, which will include biographies of those who were either not included in the previous volumes, or those who merit an amended one. Also included will be biographies of those currently involved in the Romanian Jewish State Theatre et al. If anyone knows someone who has worked professionally in the Yiddish theatre and has not yet been included in the Lexicon, please contact me. These some 1,900 translations are a permanent part of a larger exhibition entitled "The Remarkable Zalmen Zylbercweig and his Lexicon of the Yiddish Theatre," which can be accessed via the banner atop the Museum website's first page. Here, you can read more about Z.'s life, and the history behind the Lexicon. Z. and his wife Celia also had a Yiddish-language radio program, broadcast out of their Los Angeles home between 1949 and 1969, of which I have the only copies of theprograms. I have started to include these in my "On the Air!" radio program on my site. I will be changing the program every month or two. You can begin with the introduction to the Zylbercweig radio programs at www.museumoffamilyhistory.com/yw/radio/zz/ota.htm. One can acess the list of translated biographies at www.museumoffamilyhistory.com/yt/lex-biography.htm, though I would like you to visit the entire Zylbercweig exhibition when you have the time. Also, please visit my exhibition entitled "Lives in the Yiddish Theatre: Tributes to a Bygone Era," found at www.museumoffamilyhistory.com/yw/lyt-main.htm. Just click on the word "Enter" on the door handles. Lastly, I'd like to remind you of the assets that I wish you would feel free to make use of (though they are not currently online, you can contact me for information): 1. A full listing of those biographied, as mentioned above, in the seven volumes of the "Lexicon of the Yiddish Theatre," including birth towns, dates of birth, page number. Also a translation of all photo captions from these volumes. 2. A full listing of those biographied in Zalmen Reyzen's "Lexicon of Yiddish Literature, Press and Philology", etc. 3. A massive listing of Yiddish plays performed in New York City, beginning in the late 1800s, including play title, season and date first performed, sometimes casts, theatre performed in and its location. 4. Information on memberships in the Professional Yiddish Actors Union in Poland (pre-war). 5. Listing, and often cast information, for more than one hundred plays staged by Maurice Schwartz and his Yiddish Art Theatre (www.museumoffamilyhistory.com/yat-D.htm). Any questions, just ask. Mit grusn, Steven Lasky ______________________________________________________ End of Mendele Vol. 22.006 Please do not use the "reply" key when writing to Mendele. Instead, direct your mail as follows: Material for postings to Mendele Yiddish literature and language, i.e. inquiries and comments of a non-commercial or publicity nature: mendele at mailman.yale.edu IMPORTANT: Please include your full name as you would like it to appear in your posting. No posting will appear without its author's name. Submissions to regular Mendele should not include personal email addresses in the body of the message, as responses will be posted for all to read. 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