Mendele: Yiddish literature and language ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 10.050 March 23, 2001 1) Yiddish Radio Melbourne on the Internet (Alex Dafner) 2) Megile of Itsik Manger (Marjorie Schonhaut Hirshan) 3) Megile of Itsik Manger (Sylvia Schildt) 4) Megile of Itsik Manger (Marisa Romano Cufaro) 5) Megile of Itsik Manger (Gershon Winer) 6) Megile of Itsik Manger (Hershl Hartman) 7) vi got in odes/ades (Libor Zajicek) 8) yahrzeit and branja (Ida Selavan Schwarcz) 9) Yiddish and Disney (Sheinele Mankovsky) 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 25 Feb 2001 19:05:37 -0500 (EST) From: "Alex Dafner" Subject: Yiddish Radio Melbourne on the Internet Tayere Yiddish Libhober Tzu vayst ir az ir kent hern oystzugn fun undzere Yiddishe programen fun SBS Radio oyf der internets?? Oyb yo iz gut, un oyb nisht vet ir avade zayn farinteresirt in geshprekhn in Yiddish un English mit Prof Yehudah Bauer; Eugene Orenstein; Aaron Zable; Dovid Ringelblum; Prof Rafoyl Finkel; Chava Alberstein; Dudu Fisher, Arieh Braun, Moishe Shulhof, Avram Fried, Rafoyl Golvasser, un nokh fil andere perzenlekhkaytn fun der Yiddisher velt. Ir kent oykh hern vekhntlekhe barikhtn fun Isroel fun Adam Gruzman un Gideon Remez, un vegn di parshes fun vokh in Yiddish mit Rav S Rutzki. Oyb ir vayst nisht "vi azoy es kumt di katz ibern vaser", iz hert. Koydem makht oyf der Internet un klapt, oder kvetcht oyf dem addres:- http://www.sbs.com.au/radio/radio_set.html Naher, zukht oyf "Yiddish", oyf der liste vos haybt zikh on mit "Radio news-mp3", un kvetcht oyf dos vort "Yiddish" baym sof. Dan, shoyn oyfn Yiddishn zaytl, gayt arop biz ir gefint dem program oyf der reshime, lemoshl Chava Alberstein, un kvetcht oyfn knepl "Click for Audio" ("High speed" iz gevaynlekh shneller...). Oyb es "toyg in drerd", ober "gedoyert a yor mit a misles", iz ken zayn az ayer "mp3" shpiler iz nish ongetzundn. Oyb azoy iz hert a mayse... Tzvishn ayere computer programen darf zayn ayne velkhe hayst "Windows Media Player". Kvetcht un macht es oyf. Nakher gefint tzvishn di oybershte verter dort, dos vort "View" un kvetcht deroyf. Oyf dem nayem menu kvetcht dos vort "Options", hintn. Oyf dem nayem menu vider, kvetcht dos vort "Formats". Tzvishn di alle kestelekh velkhe bavayzn zikh dortn, gefint s'kestele lebn "MP3 Format Sound" un oyb es is derin nisht faran kayn "tick" (\/) kvetcht in kestele es zol zikh bakumen a "tick" (\/ - vi zogt men a "tick" oyf mameloshn, hayb ikh nisht on tzu visn..) Itst kvetched "Apply/OK" un es vet zikh farmakhn. Nakher, oyb ir gayt tzurik tzum knepl "Click for Audio" oyf der Yiddisher zaytl, darft es alayn oyfmakhn dem "Windows Media Player", un alayn onhoybn shpiln gantz shnel. Nokh azoy fil kvetchn muz men zikh ober opruen, emes.... Iz makht a glezele varems un hofntlekh kent ir shoyn hern dem program. Iz hert zikh tzu, un rirt zikh op gezunter hayt. Un oyb dos alts "helft vi a toytn bankes", zogt mir un dem computer "hak mir nisht in tshaynik", un varft es aroys, vayl vi mir vaysn iz an alter computer vert "kadukhes, bobkes, un an oysgeblozerner ay", un anshtot hert zikh tzu tzum radio... Dos iz nisht kayn Purim vitz, un efsher davke yo... Alzo, probirt zikh tzukhern durkhn computer, un hot a fraylekhn Purim. (English version) Dear Yiddish Lovers at Mendele, Are you aware that you can listen to excerpts of our Yiddish programs at SBS Radio Melbourne on the Internet?? If you do, great, and if you don't you will no doubt be interested in conversations in Yiddish and English with personalities such as Prof Yehuda Bauer; Prof Eugene Orenstein; Aaron Zable; Dr Dovid Ringelblum; Prof Rafoyl Finkel; Chava Alberstein; Dudu Fisher, Arieh Braun, Moishe Shulhof, Avram Fried, Rafoyl Golvasser and others in the world of Jewish/Yiddish affairs and entertainment. You can also hear weekly reports from Israel by Adam Gruzman in Yiddish and Gideon Remez in English, and about the weekly parsha in Yiddish with Rabbi S Rutzki. If you don't know how to go about it (Yiddish idiom: "How does the cat cross the water?"), then listen:- First of all open the internet browser to http://www.sbs.com.au/radio/radio_set.html Once there find "Yiddish" on the drop menu which begins with "Radio news-mp3", and click on the word Yiddish at the end of the list. This takes you to the Yiddish page and a list of audio segments. Click on chosen listing or scroll down to it and click on "Click for Audio" under that item's description. ("High speed is usually faster...he, he...) If that doesn't do anything, (Yiddish idiom c.f.: "It lays six feet under") or/ but takes forever (Yiddish idiom:"A year and a day") then perhaps your "mp3 player" is not switched on. If so then here goes:- Amongst cour computer programs you should find one called "Windows Media Player". Click and open it. Then find on the drop menu headings "View" and click on it. In that drop menu find and click on "Options". In this new box click on "Formats". Amongst the list with tick boxes next to them find "MP3 Format Sound" and if there is no tick in the box next to it, click the box to get a tick. Now click on "Apply" &/ "OK" and it should close it. Now go back to the Yiddish SBS site and click on "Click for Audio" and it should open the "Windows Media Player", and start playing by itself quite quickly. Well, after that much clicking (Yiddish/English idiom: "kvetching"/squeezing....) you must have a rest. Make yourself a hot drink and hopefully you can hear the segment. So, listen and relax. And if all that above didn't help,(Yiddish idiom: "Helps like suction cups to a dead person") tell me or the computer don't bother me (Yidish idiom: "Don't bang my kettle"), or throw it out, because as we know an old computer is worth peanuts (Yiddish idiom: "Malaria, patties and a blown egg") and listen to the radio instead (in Australia only I'm afraid...) I'm joking really, and then again, perhaps not. So, try it out and have a happy Purim, Regards, Alex Dafner 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2001 08:25:20 -0500 (EST) From: Marjorie Schonhaut Hirshan Subject: Megile of Itsik Manger The lines quoted by Lori Cahan-Simon [10.046] open the very playful and pondering _Di Megile fun Itsik Manger_ (that Yiddish poet unique and extraordinaire). Add toe-tapping music by Dov Seltzer, and performances by the wonderful Bursteins - Peysakhke, Motele (today known as Mike) and Lillian Lux, and its sweet, seductive sounds and story become an outstanding experience, a mekhaye a tife! It made the rounds in the 60s as a vinyl LP, but now yoiu can enjoy a modern, clear, unscratchy, well=packaged Israeli CD which I purchased online (no sweat) from Mark David (http://store.yv.org) which helps support Boston Yiddish Radio. It is packaged as "two original classic albums on two CD", the second being _Fiddler Oyfn Dakh_ in Yiddish! You will be convinced that the original Fiddler was written in mameloshn, it flows so gently and smoothly. Buy it! Support these wonderful things! You'll enjoy it and share it often! Marjorie Schonhaut Hirshan Boynton Beach, Florida 3)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2001 13:58:04 -0500 (EST) From: Sylvia Schildt Subject: Megile of Itsik Manger Dos iz der onheyb fun Manger's "Di Megile" - nito mer kin strofes - nor an araynfir lid tzu der vunder sheyner mayse. Me ken dos bakumen in dopl-disc CD(jewishmusic.om) vi eykh in bukh-form - Itzik Manger's "Die Megille" - Yiddish, English Deutsch - tzuzamen mit verter un notn. isbn 3000025006. Sylvia Schildt Baltimore, Maryland 4)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2001 05:46:12 -0500 (EST) From: Nicola Cufaro Petroni Subject: Megile of Itsik Manger "Zayt zhe yidn sha un shtil" is the introductory song to Itsik Manger's book "Megile lider" (1936), a collection of poems and ballads in the style of an ancient Purimshpil transposed in a polish shtetl and performed by a group of taylor-apprentices. It has recently been re-edited in CD-form an old CBS record of the seventies in which Manger's "Megile lider" have been put in music by Dov Seltzer and sung by The Bursteins (20386, 1999 NMC, Israel). On occasion of Manger's centenary (1901-1969), an Italian yiddish theater company performed the "Megile lider" (texts in Italian and songs in Yiddish) in Fiesole (Florence) under the direction of the very fine Italian-Polish actor and director Olek Mincer and staging Enrico Fink. I hope others in the world will follow the Italian example and not forget to perform Manger's play in this Purim period of his centenary. "Nor Khane-Dvoyre, di tokhter shteyt baym fentster un trakht: vifl shtern, a shteyger, farmogt aza Purim-nakht?" (End of the Megile Lider) Zayt gezunt Marisa Romano Cufaro 5)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2001 13:20:31 -0500 (EST) From: Nechama & Gershon Winer Subject: Megile of Itsik Manger This is the opening song of Itzik Manger's Megileh Lieder. It has many more verses. The edition I have was published in Israel by Amikam, in 1967. It carries the following inscription: published on the presentation of Megileh Lieder by the Chamam Theatre in Israel." It first appeared in 1936 in Warsaw. I believe that the music was provided by Dubie Seltzer. The entire series is available in a cassette or a cd. The leading role was played by Mike Burstein. Gershon Winer 6)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2001 03:07:39 -0500 (EST) From: Hershl@aol.com Subject: Megile of Itsik Manger The "song" Lori Cahan-Simon is seeking isn't really a song at all, but part of the introduction to "di megile fun itsik manger" (Itsik Manger's Megile), a rousing, wonderful musical with music by Dov Seltzer. (The original cast recording has recently been re-released in a CD set that also includes the Yiddish version of "Fiddler on the Roof.") The staged production was based on Manger's "megile lider," first published in Warsaw in 1936, and as part of "Medrish Itsik," published by the Yiddish Department at Hebrew University in 1969 and 1984, with introductory essays by Dov Sadan and Chone Shmeruk. Manger entitled the poem that became the curtain-raiser "dos lid funem loyfer," (The Song of the Herald.) Following the sung verses Lori quoted (music published in "Die Megille," in Dresden, in conjunction with a production in that German city in 1998) is a series of sing-song couplets introducing the play's characters. Both the CD and the lovely German book with the music for most of the songs are available, I believe, from the Arbeter Ring/Workmen's Circle bookstore. Following is the transcribed Yiddish text of the opening number and my English translation, as it appears in a booklet published by Yiddishkayt L.A. with Manger's verses in Yiddish (not transcribed). zayt-zhe yidn sha un shtil! mir fangen on dem purim-shpil. a purim-shpil in gramen, vos hot toyznt tamen. ver s'vet es leynen, vet vi a biber veynen. un ver s'vet es hern, vet lakhn mit trern. ot geyen zey ale shtile, di heldn fun der megile: akhashveyrosh der keynig, vos vifil er trinkt iz im veynik. ester hamalke, di grine, un vashti in der krinoline. mordkhe der khokhem atik un homen haroshe, der latik. zeyresh di makh'sheyfe, vos shelt vi a mageyfe. vayzusu der redakter, vos hakt a tshaynik hakt er. un tsvishn di ale groyse layt shteyt fastrigose bay der zayt. er vet aykh aleyn dertseyln, vos s'tut im nagn un kveyln. hakitser, di ale zakhn, oyf tsum veynen un tsum lakhn, un oyb ikh zog aykh a lign... herts un verts antshvign! The Song of the Herald Hear now, Jews, be quiet and still! We're starting up the Purim shpil. A shpil in rhyme and graces, Cast with a thousand faces. Who reads it by eye Will, like a beaver, cry. And those who use their ears Will laugh through their tears. And here they all come still...eh: The heroes of the megile: Akhashveyrosh, the king, Who can't get enough to drink: Queenie Ester, the "virgin," And Vashti, dressed in crinoline; Mordkhe, the ancient wise one, And evil Haman, the despised one; Zeyresh, in witch's attire, Curses like a forest fire; Vayzusu, the editor, who Is boring to me and you; And among all these folks of pride Phastrigossa stands aside. He himself will tell you all Why his life's more bitter than gall. In short, each and every thing For to cry and for to sing - And if you think it'll all be crap: Just listen...and shut your trap! (Translation copyright 1980-1998 Hershl Hartman) Hershl Hartman [Moderator's note: the answers about Manger's purim song were also sent by Ida Selavan Schwarcz, Meyer Zaremba, and Moshe Taube. - i.v.] 7)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 17 Feb 2001 05:17:03 -0500 (EST) From: libor zajicek Subject: vi got in odes/ades In response to "odes or ades" question: It may have been truncated to make it more yidish morphologically. Odessa (with stress on e) is both in Ukrainian and Russian femininum. It would be more natural the form Odesse (like broche from bracha, kehile, kopeke, Lite, mame, mishne) but, as I have seen, some yiddish dialects omit the final e. So it is my explanation, Libor Zajicek, Prague, Czech Republic. 8)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2001 09:27:44 -0500 (EST) From: "Ida & Joseph Schwarcz" Subject: Yiddish and Jerusalem Post To Mendele, I wrote a letter to the Jerusalem Post objecting to their use of Yahrzeit as a mongrelization, and was told that that is the accepted spelling. Yortsayt is not considered proper. I find "yahrzeit" all over and wonder if anything can be done about correcting it. Here in Israel one encounters the word "branja" occasionally to mean "the in crowd." I was told it was Yiddish, but it does not sound Yiddish to me. Does anyone know the word's origin. Last week the Jerusalem Post Magazine featured Yiddish with quite a few errors in the articles. I wrote, byt my letter was ignored. Ida Selavan Schwarcz Arad, Israel 9)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 10 Mar 2001 23:44:32 -0500 (EST) From: "Mankovsky, Sheine" Subject: Yiddish and Disney In September I wrote and asked for suggestions on how to respond to the mistaken reference to Shaina as a name of Hebrew origin on the Disney website. A few chaverim responded with their thoughts, including address information. Briefly, so as not to make a big megile out of it, I wrote to Michael Eisner, Chairman and CEO, and copied Steven Bornstein, Chairman of the Walt Disney Internet Group and Ken Goldstein, Executive Vice-President and Managing Director of Disney Online Inc. I received a reply in February from Emily Smith, Editor in Chief, Family.com. She refers to three names because I also brought to Mr. Eisner's attention that both Hershel and Haskel were similarly referred to as names of Hebrew origin. Ms Smith replied as follows: We received you second letter to Mr. Eisner dated January 1, 2001. Thank you for taking such an interest in our website. Attached is the previous response that Sally Jones wrote to you. In that letter she explained the reasoning that went into our categorization of the name Shaina. As you know, the name Shaina is derived from a German word. Yet its use as a name is distinctly Yiddish. Because at this point we do not have a Yiddish category and because Yiddish is written using the Hebrew alphabet, we initially put the name in our Hebrew category. Because you were offended by this compromise, we opted to remove the name from the database. We in no way meant to diminish, trivialize, or erase your personal or cultural history. We are constantly updating our site so that it is accurate and are grateful to you for pointing out some of our errors. Because we do not currently have the resources to create a Yiddish category in the Baby Name Finder, we will remove all three Yiddish names that are misclassified as Hebrew names from our database no later than March 1, 2001. As you know, not every name or categorizationis in the Baby Name Finder yet. In the future we hope that our Baby Name Finder includes many more names and anguage categories". All three names were indeed removed. Es iz tsum lachen, nor nisht in gansen. Zeit mir alle gezunt! Sheinele Mankovsky ______________________________________________________ End of Mendele Vol. 10.050 Address for the postings to Mendele: mendele@lists.yale.edu Address for the list commands: listproc@lists.yale.edu Mendele on the Web: http://www.mendele.net http://ibiblio.org/yiddish/mendele.html