Sample Sources
The sources below are those contained in our three curated collections—covering themes of Passover, Gender Roles, and Holocaust Resistance. They represent a fraction of the thousands of sources that will be available when the full site launches in 2024.
Tradition and Revolt in Yiddish Poetry
As Yiddish poetry grew more modern, even modernistic, as it grew freer in rhythm, subtler in tonality, more artful and sophisticated in imagery, it also grew more Jewish—I was almost going to say more…
Di yugend Editorial Statement
With this number, Di yugend passes into new hands—the hands of its writers.
It is no secret that Yiddish writers, especially young Yiddish writers—and most of the contributors to this monthly journal…
Colophon: Tefilah le-Moshe (Prayer of Moses)
I set the Yiddish letters with my own hands.
Elle, daughter of the respected rabbi Moses from Holland.
I am not more than nine years old.
Among six children I am the only daughter.
Therefore, if you…
The Four Classes
The Yiddish language is our mother tongue. But is it the language of education, by means of which we can best understand each other? Does anyone even make the suggestion that…
A Few Remarks Regarding the Education of Women
So, is it not an injustice for girls to be so neglected that the refined feelings which are God’s gift to all mankind are often destroyed in them? But if you speak to Jewish parents they will tell you…
Yudl and Yehudis
Yehudis:
Yidele—a question. Hear me out.
And please don’t interrupt and start to shout.
Yidele:
I’m not exactly in the mood, my dear,
But go ahead and…
Letter to Tuvie Feder
“You are angry about the language into which my book has been translated? You sound like chirping birds and clattering animals and wild beasts in the forest! Kindly recall, my dear friend! What…
With God’s Help
With God’s help I set myself the aim,
And with God’s aid I hope to achieve the same.
The holy book of Psalms in Taytsh [Yiddish] to make known,
Hoping that all shall praise and extol God, blessed be…
Yiddish Literary Café
The puritanically strict observance of the closing hour in London, the lack of continental-style coffee-houses, and perhaps also the isolated situation of the by no means untroubled British Isles may…
Jewishness (Yidishkayt) and Other Problems
Our generation came to this country from lands where Jewish life had been lived within its own boundaries, and where our communal leaders had instilled in us a sense of responsibility to ensure that…
Anshel of Kraków, Merkeves ha-mishne (The Second Chariot)
Frontispiece of Anshel of Kraków’s Merkeves ha-mishne (The Second Chariot), a Hebrew-Yiddish dictionary of biblical words. The earliest Yiddish book printed in Poland, it was published in 1534 in…
The Sermon
For a while there was quiet—a total, final quiet in the room. Then the chairman stirred, beetling his heavy eyebrows, and spoke with gruff, ironical severity: “Comrade Yudka, I call you to order! If…