Mendele: Yiddish literature and language
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Contents of Vol. 15.032
November 2 , 2005
1) gehakte bankes (Berish Goldstein)
2) gehakte bankes (Hershl Hartman)
3) gehakte bankes (Jack Berger)
4) Chaim Zhitlowsky in translation (Tao-Yee Lau)
5) kaprosh and other game dances (Helen Winkler)
6) Shura Volovets z"l (Amanda Miryem-Khaye Seigel)
7) The Jewish Socialist Ferband (Arieh Lebowitz)
1)----------------------------------------------------
Date: October 21, 2005
Subject: Re: gehakte bankes
poshete bankes shtelt men af glater hoyt, zey makhn royte erter af der
hoyt, mit blut bloyz unter der hoyt (vi zogt men "hickeys" af yidish)?
mit gehakte bankes shnayt men uf di hoyt frier, vos heyst af english
"scarification".
inem nayem Niborsky iz dos "ventouses scarifees".
Berish Goldstein
2)----------------------------------------------------
Date: October 21, 2005
Subject: Re: gehakte bankes
"gehakte" is used in at least one other instance that springs to mind to
intensify a negative image: "gehakte tsoris" is trouble squared. Similarly,
the dubious effectiveness of bankes is underlined by calling them "gehakte
bankes," since chopping up the glass cups renders them useless.
Hershl Hartman
3)----------------------------------------------------
Date: October 25, 2005
Subject: Rr: gehakte bankes
I have heard of 'gehakte tsoris,' but never 'gehakte bankes.'
Jack Berger
4)----------------------------------------------------
Date: October 30, 2005
Subject: Chaim Zhitlowsky in translation
I'm writing an honours thesis on Chaim Zhitlowsky at the University of
British Columbia. I unfortunately do not have Yiddish language reading
skills, so am currently searching high and low for English translations of
his works. Does anyone have a better sense than me what English language
material exists out there, published or archival? I'm also looking for
anyone who themselves has Zhitlowsky essays in translation they would be
willing to share.
I'm looking for some key essays (listed below), and am especially
interested in his writings from 1887-1908, but I would jump at the
opportunity to access _any_ material in English. Please let me know what
you have.
Essays contained in Zhitlowsky, Chaim, Collected Works. 1912 Gezamelte
Shriften / Hayim Zshitlovski. Yubileum Oysgabe, V 1-4 Edition. Nyu York: c
1912-1919. 10 v, 21 cm. / 1641 (v. 1-10).
Das Program Fun 'Das Naye Lebn' (The Program of Das Naye Lebn), GS, Vol 3
Vegn Faraynigung (Concerning Unity), GS, Vol 4
A Brif Fun A Idishn Sotsialist (A Letter from a Jewish Socialist), Gs, Vol.
5.
Tsionizmus Oder Sotsializmus (Zionism or Socialism), GS, Vol 5.
A Id Tsu Idn (A Jew Speaks to Jews), GS, Vol 6
In Shverer Tsaytn (In Difficult Times), GS, Vol 8
Di Asimilatsie, Vos Zee Zogt Tsu Un Vos Zee Git (Assimilation: What it
Claims to Do and what it actually accomplishes), GS, Vol 8
Alter un nayer natsionalizm (Old and New Nationalism), GS, Vol 8
Di Klayn-Kolonizatsie in erets-yisroel un ir politishe badaytung (The Small
Colonization effort in the land of Israel and its Political Significance),
GS, Vol 9.
Di Russishe Revolutsie Un Dos Idishe Folk (The Russian Revolution and the
Jewish People), Vol 10.
Der Arbayter Ring (the Workmen's Circles), GS, Vol 10.
Der Kamf far idish-natsionale rekht (1900-1907) (The Struggle for Jewish
National Rights, 1900-1907) Zukunft 38 (Dec 1933)
Teritorializm - bemzumn oder oyf borg? (Territorialism in Cash or on
Credit), GS, Vol. 5
Di Problemn Fun Dem Golus-Natsionalizm (the Problems of Diaspora
Nationalism), Zuklunft 38 (November 1933)
I can be reached at taoyee.lau@gmail.com or at (604) 736-8322. Any help
people can offer on this matter would be very appreciated.
Tao-Yee Lau
5)----------------------------------------------------
Date: October 30, 2005
Subject: kaprosh and other game dances
I wonder if anyone can lead me to some sources. I have lots of information
about the standard Yiddish dance genres (see my web page
www.yiddishdance.com ), but I know that this
only scratches the surface of dances that were once done. I am
particularly interested in finding out more information about dances that
are game-like. I have been sent information about the shtockshpil, and I
am certain there are other such dance/games in existence, but am not sure
where to locate music (either notations or recordings), or instructions as
to how to do the dances. Below is an example of one such dance that I
would love to track down. I wonder if there are others.
Helen Winkler
Toronto
Some time ago in a Yizkor books about shtetls in the Ukraine, I read about
a dance that I had never heard of before called Kaprosh. Here is what the
yizkor books have on it:
http://www.jewishgen.org/yizkor/Rozniatow/roz103.html
"He was a good conversationalist. He was able to tell stories and gather
around him interested people who would drink up his words with thirst,
words that were spiced with humor and jokes. Despite his Hassidic
appearance, he did not hesitate at weddings to be at the head of those who
entertained and danced in front of the bride and groom. He speedily removed
his outer cloak and hat, and with a kippa (skullcap) on his head he began
to sing and dance "keitzad merakdim, keitzad merakdim" [14]. Accompanied by
the enthusiastic group of singers and dancers, he would speedily arrange
the well-known "Kaprosh" dance. He would direct it and issue the orders.
Woe to the dancer who was not able to remove his shoe quick enough after
been issued the command, or to take out his fringes from the four corners.
He would have to pay good money to the band."
http://www.jewishgen.org/yizkor/gorodenka/gor169.html
We had many different activities for all ages and in all subjects including
the history of the Zionist movement, the history of Socialism, the history
of the labour movement, etc. Saturday was our activity day. Especially
popular was the Shabbat evening parties, where we had panel discussions and
later singing, eating and humorous sketches. The highlight of the evening
would be a "krentzchen" or dancing to the tunes of our friend Shmuel
Shekhner (the son of the Kleyzmer Mosh Babitzky) who played the violin. We
would dance the Hora and other types of dances. One dance in particular,
the "Kaprosh" has its roots in both the Hasidic and Polish folk traditions.
Our friend Monya Shtachel was an expert. He was our leader and led us
during many winter nights to sweat and fun, sometimes for four to five
hours in a row. We had some nights. it will never come back.
I asked many Yiddish speakers and klez musicians if they knew of this dance
and nobody did. So I contacted Andriy Nahachewsky, a professor at the
University of Alberta in Edmonton who is an expert in Ukrainian village
dances and he had heard of this dance. The one he knows of was called
kopirush and was a men's dance game played like follow the leader. The
leader has a towel or belt and if someone fails to follow the leader, the
leader hits the person with a towel or belt. This dance was done in Canada
by Ukrainians in the first half of the 20th century and isn't done anymore.
Not sure if it is still danced in the Ukraine. Apparently there is
specific music used for this dance and it may have been notated by someone
named Roman Harasymchuk. I am interested in finding out if there is
anything more written about the Jewish version of the music and the dance
itself.
6)----------------------------------------------------
Date: October 30, 2005
Subject: Shura Volovets z"l
Di zingerin Shura (Shprintsye) Volovets iz nifter gevorn fraytik dem 21tn
oktober 2005. Zi iz geven akhtsik yor alt.
Shura iz geboyrn gevorn in Mezhbzh, Ukraine, un iz geforn als a yunge froy
keyn Moskve zikh lernen in der barimter yiddisher teater-shul fun Shloyme
Mikhoels.
Ven di regirung hot farmakht di shul, hot Shura nokhdem a lange tsayt nisht
gehat keyn gelegnhayt zikh tsu lernen vayter oder zingen yidishe lider af
der bine.
In di 70er yorn iz Shura geforn keyn amerike mit ire tsvey zin un hot zikh
bazetst in St. Paul, Minnesota. Dortn hot zi ufgeboyt a nay lebn un
ongehoybn vider uftsutretn. Zi hot derkvitkt dem oylem mit ir kheynevdikn
oystaytsh fun yidishe un rusishe lider un iz geven a vegvayzerin far
yingere doyres zingers un yidishistn.
Akhuts ir zingen, iz Shura oykh geven a vareme un a breythartiske froy mit
a vunderlekhn khush fun humor, un ir mishpokhe un gute-fraynd veln shtark
benken nokh ir.
Koved ir ondenk!
The Yiddish singer Shura (Shprintsye) Volovets passed away on Friday,
October 21, 2005, at the age of eighty.
Shura was born in Mezhbizh, Ukraine, and as a young woman traveled to
Moscow to study in the famous Yiddish theater school of Solomon Mikhoels.
After the government closed the school, Shura did not have the opportunity
to study or to perform Yiddish songs for a long time.
In the 1970's Shura immigrated to the United States with her two sons and
settled in St. Paul, Minnesota. There she built a new life and began once
more to perform Yiddish and Russian songs, delighting audiences with her
charming and unique style. She was also an important mentor for younger
generations of Yiddish singers and Yiddishists.
Besides her singing, Shura was also a warm and generous woman with a
wonderful sense of humor. She will be greatly missed by her family and
friends.
Honor her memory!
Amanda Miryem-Khaye Seigel
7)----------------------------------------------------
Date: November 2, 2005
Subject: The Jewish Socialist Verband
I'm doing a bit of research. When did the U.S. social democratic group,
the Jewish Socialist Verband, "fold," and the last issue of Der Wecker
appear? I have an approximate date as 1986 or so. Thanks for any details.
Arieh Lebowitz
ariehnyc@prodigy.net
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