Painter Felix Lembersky resisted the strictures imposed by the state during the Soviet era to follow his own artistic inclinations, at great personal cost. Joel Berkowitz, director of the Sam and Helen Stahl Center for Jewish Studies at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, talks about Lembersky's choices and his work, as the Yiddish Book Center hosts the traveling exhibit "Felix Lembersky: Soviet Form, Jewish Context," on exhibit in the Brechner Gallery through March 2015.

Episode 0090

October 13, 2014

Yiddish Book Center

Amherst, Massachusetts

Three high-school students share what it's like to spend a week reading, discussing, and arguing about modern Jewish literature at the Great Jewish Books summer program.

Episode 0089

October 2, 2014

Yiddish Book Center

Amherst, Massachusetts

Former Vermont Governor and Ambassador to Switzerland Madeleine Kunin tells us about the Lost Shul Mural Project. An effort is underway in Burlington, Vermont, to save its historic synagogue mural, a unique example of Eastern European Jewish folk art.

Episode 0088

September 23, 2014

Yiddish Book Center

Amherst, Massachusetts

During a visit with Yiddish Book Center Steiner Summer Yiddish Program students Liza Wahlberg, Zeev Duckworth, and Michael Yashinsky, we learn what drew them to study Yiddish, what they've learned at the summer program, and how they imagine Yiddish will play out in their future.

Episode 0087

September 10, 2014

Yiddish Book Center

Amherst, Massachusetts

For nearly thirty years Bess Selevan has been a zamler for the Yiddish Book Center. Over the years Bess has shipped over 3,600 books to the Yiddish Book Center. During our visit we learn what drew her to become a volunteer, what boxes she recommends for shipping, and much much more.

Episode 0086

August 21, 2014

Yiddish Book Center

Amherst, Massachusetts

Aaron Lansky visits with Professor Devin Naar to discuss Ladino, the Judaeo-Spanish language which was developed in parallel with Yiddish. We learn about the origins of the language and Naar's groundbreaking work collecting Ladino books.

Episode 0085

August 6, 2014

Yiddish Book Center

Amherst, Massachusetts

We visit with Myra Melamed, daughter of Yiddish singer Herschel Melamed, to learn about the recently produced CD, "Herschel Melamed: 18 Songs."

Episode 0084

July 8, 2014

Yiddish Book Center

Amherst, Massachusetts

Curator Laura Kruger discusses the work of artist Nathan Hilu. Kruger is the curator of "Nathan Hilu's Journal: Word, Image, Memory" which is currently on exhibit in the Yiddish Book Center's Brechner Gallery. Hilu's work draws on biblical stories and his Lower East Side surroundings.

Episode 0083

June 10, 2014

Yiddish Book Center

Amherst, Massachusetts

We visit with Anita Garlick, a ninety-year old 'sit-down' Jewish comedian who came to comedy late in life. Anita's comedy draws from her Jewish roots and her early exposure to the Borscht Belt comedians.

Episode 0082

June 2, 2014

Yiddish Book Center

Amherst, Massachusetts

We visit with translator Faith Jones to learn about the recently published "The Acrobat: the Selected Poems of Celia Dropkin." Jones, who collaborated on the translation of Dropkin's (1887-1956) experimental poetry, shares a bit about the poet and reads a few verses.

Episode 0081

May 14, 2014

Yiddish Book Center

Amherst, Massachusetts