רעקאָרדירונגען

Recordings

Handclasp: Between Poetry and Research
Conversation on YouTube with
Prof. Dov-Ber (Berl) Kotlerman
Prof. Kotlerman is marking the publication of his new Yiddish poetry collection,
Tkiyes-kaf: Diptikhlekh (Handclasp: Diptychs), recently released by
CYCO in New York. The book presents poetic pairs – diptychs – that explore
shared themes through shifting voices and reflections. In this conversation,
we’ll read selected poems and explore the creative path behind them,
alongside reflections on his wider work in Yiddish culture, literature, and
memory. Kotlerman is a leading Yiddish scholar, author, and
director of the Rena Costa Center for Yiddish Studies at Bar-Ilan University.
(In Yiddish, released on YouTube May 11, 2025)

Pages of Vienna: The Yiddish Publishing Story
Conversation on YouTube with
Thomas Soxberger
We discuss Soxberger’s new book, Gründen wir einen jiddischen Verlag!
Jiddische Bücher, Zeitschriften und Broschüren aus Wien. Eine kommentierte
Bibliographie (“Let’s Found a Yiddish Publishing House! Yiddish Books, Journals, and
Pamphlets from Vienna – An Annotated Bibliography”). This work explores
Yiddish publishing in Vienna, offering insight into its books, periodicals, and
pamphlets. We explore the rich history of Yiddish publishing in
Vienna and its broader impact on Jewish life in the city.
(In Yiddish, released on YouTube March 27, 2025)

Vilna of the Second Generation — A Glimpse Through My Eyes
Conversation on YouTube with
Eli Sharfstein
Eli Sharfstein, the son of active Yiddish theater artists in Vilna
who currently lives in Israel, has documented his memories and stories in
books such as Mayn vilner zavulik (My Vilna Alley), and Der zelner shloft, un
di dinst geyt vayter: Bilder fun der rusisher armey (The Soldier Sleeps, and
the Maid Continues: Images from the Russian Army), which will be published soon.
We discuss Vilna after the Holocaust, focusing on the 1950s and 1960s.
Sharfstein is also the author of Plutsem yidish (Suddenly Yiddish),
a poetry e-book that carries a deep personal voice from a Vilna-born writer.
We hear about his memories and read selected passages from his works.
(In Yiddish, released on YouTube February 13, 2025)

Yiddish in the 16th Century
Conversation on YouTube with
Prof. Claudia Rosenzweig
Prof. Rosenzweig and Eli Benedict discuss the fascinating history of
Yiddish books and printing in the 16th century, and especially Yiddish in Italy.
Among those publications are well-known books such as Bovo-Bukh by Elye Bokher
(Elijah Levita); Ku-Bukh and more. They also talk more broadly about
Old and Middle Yiddish, and how they differ from Modern Yiddish,
drawing on Rosenzweig’s research on these topics.
(In Yiddish, released on YouTube January 6, 2025)

Did the Rabbis Wage War Against the Enlightenment Thinkers?
Conversation on YouTube with
Yohanan Lowen
About Lowen’s research which addresses this topic. In particular, we delve into the
untold facts surrounding the issue, such as the support given by rabbis to
prominent Enlightenment figures like Moses Mendelssohn and Naphtali Hirz Wessely
(Naftali Hirtz Vizel). We also explore the development of the bans and
conflicts against them within religious circles, which continue to the present day.
(In Yiddish, released on YouTube December 1, 2024)

The Girl from Williamsburg Who Became a Rock Star
Conversation on YouTube with
Riki Rose
Riki Rose grew up in a Satmar family, got married, and later left the
Hasidic community. Today, she is known in the Yiddish world as a composer and
singer of Yiddish music, a comedian in short films, and a social media influencer.
(In Yiddish, released on YouTube October 13, 2024)

We Were Captured in the Hands of Hamas Terrorists
Conversation in Yiddish on YouTube between Miriam Trinh and
Moshe Mordechai (Moty) Rozen
This heartbreaking interview was conducted in April 2024. Today—almost a year
after the horrific events of October 7th, as the war in Gaza continues—we are
releasing it because the atrocities committed by Hamas remain critically relevant and
must not be forgotten. The recent murder of six young captives serves as a
stark reminder that the world is confronting a ruthless terrorist organization,
willing to kill the innocent even during supposed ceasefire negotiations.
(In Yiddish, released on YouTube September 10, 2024)

Conversation on YouTube with
Yermiyahu Ahron Taub
A Yehsiva Boy Who Became a Poet
About his books and translations, especially about his new book
Blessed Hands: Stories, an English translation of Frume Halpern's
Gebentshte hent: dertseylungen. We also read from his poetry
and discuss Taub's own life story.
(In Yiddish, released on YouTube August 11, 2024)

Conversation on YouTube with
Prof. Daniel Soyer
Hidden Autobiographies:
200 Stories of Jewish Immigrants in America
About the history of the autobiography contest held by YIVO in 1942,
on the topic “Why I left my old home, and what I achieved in America,”
when over 200 “ordinary,” everyday people sent in their life stories.
We will read some examples and get to know some of the writers.
We will also discuss Soyer's own history, and his books and research that
deal with Jewish immigrants, Jews in America, and left-wing ideologies.
(In Yiddish, released on YouTube July 21, 2024)

Yiddish Today — Episode 26: Conversation between Eli Benedict and
Nikolaj Olniansky
The Yiddish Publishing House in Sweden
About the history of his Yiddish publishing house
Olniansky Tekst; the writers who publish there and their books,
including well-known translations such as The Hobbit and Harry Potter,
as well as original works such as Sonim by Isaac Bashevis Singer.
Also about his personal history and his own creation of children's books.
(In Yiddish, released on YouTube June 23, 2024)

Yiddish Today — Episode 25: Conversation between Eli Benedict and
Shifra Lowen
From Kiryas Tosh to the Unknown
Hear about her journey of growing up and raising a family
in a small Hasidic village in Quebec. Delve into her experiences with girls' education,
and Yiddish creation within the community, including the resonance of her Yiddish songs
across the Hasidic world. Explore her transformative decision to leave the community
together with her entire family and gain insights into her current life path.
(In Yiddish, released on YouTube May 17, 2024)

Yiddish Today — Episode 24: Conversation between Eli Benedict and
Rabbi Mendel Hersh Paneth
The Royal Hasidic Child and Yiddish Comics
Hear about his life as the son of a Hasidic rebbe; stories about his dynasty,
and about the clothes and customs that are specific to descendants of Hasidic rabbis.
Learn how he introduced comics in Yiddish to the Hasidic world through magazines and
books that he published. Also about his various types of creative work as a
cantor, lecturer, writer, graphic artist, painter and even a cooking instructor.
(In Yiddish, released on YouTube April 19, 2024)

Yiddish Today — Episode 23: Conversation between Eli Benedict and
Dr. Yaad Biran
Yiddish in Tel Aviv
About Yiddish creativity and writers in Israel,
especially in Tel Aviv, and about the status of Yiddish versus Hebrew
historically and now. We will also discuss Yiddish in Tel Aviv today,
including  Dr. Biran’s work as a Yiddish tour guide and creator of Yiddish cabarets.
(In Yiddish, released on YouTube March 6, 2024)

History of Yiddish — Episode 3: Conversation between Eli Benedict and
Prof. Dov-Ber Kerler
Modern Literary Yiddish
About the development of the modern Yiddish literary language and script —
what it means, when and where it developed. A look at some early Yiddish books.
Also a discussion on the beginning of poetry in Yiddish, and Kerler's own poetry.
(In Yiddish, released on YouTube February 1, 2024)

Yiddish Today — Episode 22: Conversation between Eli Benedict and
Avrum-Leib Burstein
The Klezmer Tradition in Israel
Hear about the influence of Hasidic tunes on the klezmer world, and the place
of klezmer in the Hasidic world, especially in the Breslov community;
how Burstein established a new generation of klezmers; his activities
with “Yung Yidish”; and his work as an actor, both on Shtisel and in movies.
(In Yiddish, released on YouTube December 23, 2023)

Raising Children in Yiddish
Video of a Zoom panel with
Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath, Yankl-Peretz Blum,
Eli Benedict, Ethel Niborski, Naftali Ejdelman
About raising children in Yiddish from several perspectives
and discuss the importance of maintaining up-to-date terminological lists,
children's books and programs to educate children in Yiddish;
and the approach of former Haredim to child-rearing in Yiddish.
We will also relate our own stories and share our practices and solutions.
(In Yiddish, released on YouTube November 26, 2023)

History of Yiddish — Episode 2: Conversation between Eli Benedict and
Prof. Simon Neuberg
The Beginning of Literature in Yiddish
About the early development of Yiddish literature,
the various theories regarding the origin of our language,
and the first Yiddish texts that we have. Also about
Alt (Old) Yiddish versus Mitl (Middle) Yiddish; the different types of texts,
books, writers, readers, and print shops which existed in that era.
(In Yiddish, released on YouTube October 31, 2023)

Yiddish Today — Episode 21: Conversation between Eli Benedict and
Chana Pollack
A View of the Forward Archive
About the longest-running Yiddish newspaper, the Forward;
the history of the archive and what kind of materials are housed there;
where you can find all the old issues; and the newspaper’s former radio station.
We also touch on Chana's own history, and her work at the archive.
(In Yiddish, released on YouTube September 15, 2023)

Yiddish Today — Episode 20: Conversation between Eli Benedict and
Frieda Vizel
A Taste of Hasidic Brooklyn
About life in the Hasidic world, her leaving the community,
and her work as a tour guide in Hasidic Brooklyn.
Also topics such as Hasidic education, children's games in Yiddish,
Hasidic newspapers and more.
(In Yiddish, released on YouTube August 14, 2023)

History of Yiddish — Episode 1: Conversation between Eli Benedict and
Dr. Paul (Hershl) Glasser
The Beginnings of Yiddish
About the early development of Yiddish; the various theories
regarding the origin of our language, and the first sources. They also discuss
Dr. Max Weinreich's theory which has been accepted by most researchers,
and Dr. Glasser’s role in editing Max Weinreich's translated book
History of the Yiddish Language.
(In Yiddish, released on YouTube July 18, 2023)

Yiddish Today — Episode 19: Conversation with
Elliott (Elye) Palevsky
About his family's history and their work on behalf of Yiddish in Lithuania and
then in America, what it was like to grow up in a Bundist home,
and what it means to be a Bundist today.
Also about his various roles in Yiddish organizations over the years.
(In Yiddish, released on YouTube June 7, 2023)

Yiddish Today — Episode 18: A new video
in honor and in memory of the famous Yiddish singer and rhymer
R. Michael Schnitzler z”l
(1961 – April 14, 2023)
 Listen to Eli Benedict discuss his life and work, emphasizing
his importance in the Hasidic world, and in the world of Jewish music.  
Eli also talks about what R. Michael has innovated throughout his life, and
why it's worth getting to know him if you don't know him yet.
(In Yiddish, released on YouTube May 19, 2023)

An edited video
of the Zoom workshop in honor and in memory of
Rivka Basman Ben-Hayim z”l
(Vilkomir/Ukmergė, 1925 – Herzliah, 2023)
You will get to know her poems from various stages of her life.
They were read and discussed under the guidance of Dr. Miriam Trinh,
who placed the poet’s oeuvre in a historical-biographical context.
The workshop was given by the League for Yiddish
in conjunction with YIVO and “YO” - Yiddish-Ort
(In Yiddish, released on YouTube May 4, 2023)

Yiddish Today — Episode 17: Conversation with
Bella Briks-Klein
about Yiddish in Israel, especially about her monthly publication "Vos? Ven? Vu?"
(What? When? Where?), also about her father, the writer Rachmil Bryks,
in light of her research and works which she wrote about him,
also about her various roles in Yiddish organizations and more.
(In Yiddish, released on YouTube April 6, 2023)

Yiddish Today — Episode 16: Conversation with
Philip Schwartz
about Yiddish in Eastern Europe, especially Poland and Polish Jews;
what it means to be a contemporary Yiddishist in Eastern Europe;
what Neo-Hasidism means and where you can find it
in the literature; as well as Yiddish journalism and teaching.
(In Yiddish, released on YouTube March 17, 2023)

Yiddish Today — Episode 15: Conversation between
Dr. Itzik Gottesman and Josh Waletzky
(In Yiddish with English subtitles,
released on YouTube March 5, 2023)
Hear about Josh Waletzky and Jeyn Levison’s new Yiddish theatrical
concert  presented by National Yiddish Theater Folksbiene and
the Museum of Jewish Heritage (New York City)
  Pleytem tsuzamen / Refugees Together
 which will be held on March 26, 2023

Yiddish Today — Episode 14: Conversation with
Izzy Posen
about his YouTube channel where he has a series
about physics and science in Yiddish. He also discusses
his leaving the Hasidic community and his
current relationship with that community.
(In Yiddish, released on YouTube February 17, 2023)

Yiddish Today — Episode 13: Conversation with
Prof. Sandra Fox
about feminism and her podcast “Vaybertaytsh,”
Jewish summer camps in America, and about
her personal history: her adulthood, how she learned Yiddish,
and her contemporary Yiddish roles and activism.
(In Yiddish, released on YouTube February 3, 2023)

Yiddish Today — Episode 12: Conversation with
Avremi Zaks
about his work as the Yiddish radio broadcaster and producer
at the weekly Israeli radio program "Kan Yidish." 
He will also discuss his research work on
daytshmerish in Yiddish, and his Yiddish teaching. 
(In Yiddish, released on YouTube January 6, 2023)

Historic Bilingual Conference!
Yiddish in the Heights:
Exploring Yiddish Academia and Activism in Post-War New York
Commemoration of the 15th yortsayt of Dr. Mordkhe Schaechter
See the whole conference here!
(recorded at the conference November 20-21, 2022)

Yiddish Today — Episode 11: Conversation with
Dr. Zoë Belk
about her connection to Yiddish,
her research, and the development of Hasidic Yiddish.
(In Yiddish, released on YouTube November 12, 2022)

Yiddish Today — Episode 10: YouTube Conversation (in Yiddish) with
Dr. Eve Jochnowitz
Hear about her relationship to Jewish food, her translations of Yiddish cookbooks,
and even about an interesting "vegetarian tombstone"!
(In Yiddish, released on YouTube October 28, 2022)

Yiddish Today — Episode 9: Conversation between Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath and
Dr. Miriam Trinh
about her relationship with Yiddish and her teaching program "Yo - Yiddish Ort,"
as well as her work as the editor-in-chief of Afn Shvel
(the magazine of the League for Yiddish),
a little bit about the history of the magazine and more besides
(In Yiddish, released on YouTube October 22, 2022)

Yiddish Today — Episode 8: Conversations about
the play The Sages of Chelm
and the Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre in Montreal
(released on YouTube September 23, 2022)
(in Yiddish with English subtitles) 

Yiddish Today — Episode 7: Conversation with
Shane Baker
about Yiddish theater, what it means to be a Yiddish actor
through his eyes, and his acting through the years;
also about his role as the director of the
Congress for Jewish Culture
(released on YouTube September 2, 2022)
(in Yiddish with English subtitles) 

Yiddish Today — Episode 6: YouTube conversation with
James Holz
The artist, actor, and puppeteer in London
about his puppet theater in Yiddish, "Punch and Judy",
about the history of this play, and how he adapted it to Yiddish.
(released on YouTube August 13, 2022)
(in Yiddish with English subtitles)

Yiddish Today — Episode 5: A lecture with
Prof. Lily Kahn
 “Heavy Metal in Yiddish:
A Pre-war Musical Tradition in a New Guise”
(released on YouTube July 29, 2022)
(in Yiddish with English subtitles) 

Yiddish Today — Episode 3: Conversation with
Mendy Cahan
about his work in movies, TV shows, and theater,
as well as his poetry, his badkhones, and his music
(released on YouTube July 14, 2022)
(in Yiddish with English subtitles) 

Yiddish Today — Episode 2: YouTube conversation (Part 2) with
Tomas Woodski
the young artist, librarian and cultural worker in Stockholm, Sweden
In this video you will hear about Yiddish in Sweden,
his Instagram blog on Yiddish books,
and his efforts on behalf of Yiddish in Sweden.
(released on YouTube June 16, 2022)
(in Yiddish with English subtitles) 

Yiddish Today — Episode 1: YouTube conversation (Part 1) with
Tomas Woodski
the young artist, librarian and cultural worker in Stockholm, Sweden
In this video you will hear about the new season of
his Yiddish-language TV show “Woodski's World”
and the children's radio programs which he has recorded.
(released on YouTube June 2, 2022)
(in Yiddish with English subtitles) 

Yiddish Writers Chat
Chat with the young Yiddish writer
Emil Kalin
who recently published his short story
“The Revolution” in Afn Shvel
(released on YouTube December 18, 2021)

Yiddish Writers Chat
Encounter with
Dr. Alec (Leyzer) Burko
who published his travel essay “Corona – Iceland – Yiddish”
in the current issue of Afn Shvel
(released on YouTube April 18, 2021)

Yiddish Writers Chat
Encounter with
Dr. Marc Caplan
who published his article “We Were Slaves? Racism, Jews and
American Privilege” in the current issue of Afn Shvel
(released on YouTube April 9, 2021)

Yiddish Writers Chat
Encounter with the young Yiddish writer
Shiri Shapira
who published her short story “Last Breath”
in the current issue of Afn Shvel
(released on YouTube March 24, 2021)

Have You Heard? — No. 7
“The First Snow” — by Bella Rosenfeld Chagall
Whatever the season right now, listen to Miryem-Khaye Seigel read
Bella Rosenfeld Chagall’s story about a child’s joy at the first snowfall….
(released on YouTube February 7, 2021)

Have You Heard? — No. 6
The Upside-Down World of Birobidzhan
In the summer of 2007, Sheva Zucker, editor of Afn Shvel from 2005-2020,
was invited to teach Yiddish in Birobidzhan, the Jewish Autonomous Region
in the Far East of Russia, where Yiddish is still an official language.
In this recorded piece, she explores the tragic past and enigmatic present
of this extraordinary, upside-down world.
(released on YouTube December 3, 2020)

Have You Heard? — No. 5
Sholem Aleichem's charming Sukkos story:
"Der Esreg" (The Esrog)
Listen to Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath's reading of “Der Esreg”,
where we get to know a boy who can’t wait to get his hands on the esrog,
but in his case, not necessarily to make the blessing…...
(released on YouTube October 2, 2020)

Have You Heard? — No. 4
Shloyme Bastomski’s Yiddish Folk Riddles
They allow us to challenge our thinking with playfulness and humor,
and are full of cultural content. The following riddles,
read by Perl Teitelbaum, are from Shloyme Bastomski’s
Yidishe Folksretenishn (Yiddish Folk Riddles), published in Vilne in 1917.
(released on YouTube August 20, 2020)

Have You Heard? — No. 3
The Declaration of Independence in Yiddish
“When in the course of human events....”
Listen to the inspiring Yiddish translation of the Declaration of Independence,
read by Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath in honor of the 4th of July, 2020.
(released on YouTube July 3, 2020)

Have You Heard? — No. 2
How Does Freud Get to Chelem?
Listen to a tale of fools, as Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath reads
“How does Freud get to Chelem?”, written and adapted by Daniel Galay (Tel Aviv).
This story was published in issue no. 386-387 of Afn Shvel.
(released May 26, 2020 on YouTube)

Have You Heard? — No. 1
Harry Potter — Excerpt in Yiddish
Listen to Arun (“Arele”) Schaechter Viswanath’s dramatic reading
of chapter 1 of his authorized Yiddish translation of
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
(released on YouTube April 2, 2020)

Video Series of All-Day Yiddish Seminar—
The Full Yiddish Dialects Seminar by
Paul Glasser and the League for Yiddish
(released on YouTube July 6, 2019)

Video of Panel Discussion following the
American Premiere of the film:
Yonia Fain: With Pen and Paintbrush
(Released on YouTube August 9, 2018)

Annual Program in Memory of Dr. Mordkhe and Charne Schaechter z"l
Bilingual Celebration in Honor of
Uriel Weinreich's 50th Yortsayt
Keytnote Speaker: Dr. Rakhmiel Peltz
"Uriel Weinreich as a Bridge in Jewish Culture between Eastern Europe and America"
Musical Program: Inna Barmash
(recorded July 9, 2017 at YIVO)

Video: Annual Program in Memory of Dr. Mordkhe and Charne Schaechter
Bilingual Celebration of our new Comprehensive English-Yiddish Dictionary
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Solon Beinfeld
Artistic Program: Lorin Sklamberg
— Sunday, November 13, 2016

Video Recording of the
Panel Discussion following the American Premiere of the film:
Chava Rosenfarb: That Bubble of Being
Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Video Recording:
8th Annual All-Yiddish Program in Memory of Dr. Mordkhe and Charne Schaechter z"l
"Nationalism, The State and the New Antisemitism
in Zionist, Diasporist, and Territorialist Thought, 1929-1939"
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Kenneth (Binyomen) Moss - Sunday, July 12, 2015

Audio Recording:
7th Annual All-Yiddish Program in Memory of Dr. Mordkhe and Charne Schaechter Z"L
The YIVO's Newest Treasure:
The Chaim Grade and Ina Hecker-Grade Archive
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Miriam Trinh - Sunday, July 13, 2014

Video: A Celebration of Yiddish Creativity, Sunday, May 5, 2013

A Bilingual Evening of Contemporary Yiddish Poetry
— Sunday, August 1, 2010
Listen to and read the poems.