A lively and informative visit with Jules Chametzky, critic of Jewish American literature and author of the recently published "Out of Brownsville: Encounters with Nobel Laureates and Other Jewish Writers." Professor Chametzky recalls his encounters with notable Jewish writers - everyone from Isaac Bashevis Singer, Grace Paley, and Irving Howe to Allen Ginsberg and Amoz Oz.

Episode 0071

October 9, 2013

Yiddish Book Center

Amherst, Massachusetts

In a visit with film historian Bruce Lawton, we learn about the early work of Danny Kaye - from his first appearances on stages in the Borscht Belt to his screen debut in four little known 'two-reelers'. Lawton will be presenting his multi-media presentation "Meet Nikolai Nikolaevich!...The Not Yet 'Re-Fined' Danny Kaye!" at the Yiddish Book Center on September 29, 2013.

Episode 0070

September 11, 2013

Yiddish Book Center

Amherst, Massachusetts

Aaron Lansky visits with Mark Cohen, author of the recently released "Overweight Sensation: The Life and Comedy of Allan Sherman." We learn about Sherman - whose songs are legendary to a generation - and the representation of Jews in popular culture in the early 1960s. Cohen helps us understand who Sherman was and where he fits into the landscape of twentieth century Jewish comedians. Sherman influenced many great contemporary comics including Larry David, Jason Alexander, and Jerry Seinfeld.

Episode 0069

August 6, 2013

Yiddish Book Center

Amherst Massachusetts

In a recent visit with Heidi Urich, co-chair of the IAJGS conference, we learned how Urich has spent the past twenty years working to build her family tree. Urich also shared a preview of what's in store at the upcoming conference on Jewish Genealogy that will take place in Boston August 4-9, 2013.

Episode 0068

July 23, 2013

Yiddish Book Center

Amherst, Massachusetts

We visit with film critic Kenneth Turan to talk about the documentary film "The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg." The film will be screened at the Yiddish Book Center on Sunday, July 7th, 2013, at 2PM.

Episode 0067

July 2, 2013

Yiddish Book Center

Amherst, Massachusetts

Sebastian Schulman visits with scholar and author Dr. Jess Olson to learn about Olson's newly published book "Nathan Birnbaum and Jewish Modernity."

Episode 0066

June 18, 2013

Yiddish Book Center

Amherst, Massachusetts

Aaron Lansky visits with Christa Whitney, the Yiddish Book Center's Wexler Oral History Project director, to talk about her recent fieldwork in Poland and her new project to interview the children of Yiddish writers.

Episode 0065

June 11, 2013

Yiddish Book Center

Amherst, Massachusetts

We visit with scholar Sasha Senderovich to learn about "The Zelmenyaners," one of the great comic novels of the twentieth century, now in a new English translation by Hillel Halkin. The translation, published by the New Yiddish Library, is a collaboration between Yale University Press and the Yiddish Book Center.

Episode 0064

June 4, 2013

Yiddish Book Center

Amherst, Massachusetts

We visit with author, music critic, and Yidstock program director Seth Rogovoy to learn about Yidstock 2013 - from the opening concert with the Klezmer Conservatory Band to the Yidstock All-stars closing concert, as well as the workshop and talks that will take place at Yidstock 2013 (July 18-21 at the Yiddish Book Center).

For more information and to purchase tickets http://www.yiddishbookcenter.org/yidstock

Episode 0063

May 21, 2013

Yiddish Book Center

Amherst, Massachusetts

We visit with artist Liana Finck to learn about her illustration exhibit "A Bintel Brief." On display at the Yiddish Book Center through October, 2013, "A Bintel Brief" is a graphic novel based on letters to the Forverts newspaper's advice column.

Episode 0062

May 7, 2013

Yiddish Book Center

Amherst, Massachusetts