Dan Okrent, co-creator of "Old Jews Telling Jokes Onstage," talks somewhat seriously about the comedic off-Broadway production, or as he refers to it, his first project "specifically designed to make people happy."

Episode 0030

June 26, 2012

Yiddish Book Center

Amherst, Massachusetts

Erik Greenberg Anjou, director of the acclaimed documentary "The Klezmatics: On Holy Ground," talks about the making of the film and the upbeat message he hopes to spread to his audiences.

Episode 0029

June 19, 2012

Yiddish Book Center

Amherst, Massachusetts

There’s no shortage of news from the Yiddish Book Center these days: classes have begun for the Steiner Summer Yiddish Program students, we’re gearing up for our Yidstock music festival and the 2012 alumni reunion, and Asya Vaisman, head of the Center’s Yiddish Language Institute, arrives in the fall. Emma Morgenstern visits with Aaron Lansky to hear it all firsthand.

Episode 0028

June 19, 2012

Yiddish Book Center

Amherst, Massachusetts

The Fugs, a 1960s garage band, made frequent use of bongos, curse words, and protest poetry. They also used Yiddish songs and other Jewish source material. Music critic Seth Rogovoy, in conversation with Emma Morgenstern, plays clips from The Fugs' first album and ponders what makes their music Jewish.

Episode 0027

June 12, 2012

Yiddish Book Center

Amherst, Massachusetts

Aaron Lansky visits with Chana Mlotek. The ninety-year-old Mlotek works three days a week as the music archivist at YIVO, where she began working as Max Weinreich's assistant in 1944. She shares stories, reflects on Yiddish music and musicians, and ends the visit with a verse of her favorite song.

The National Folksbiene Theater's gala, honoring Chana Mlotek, Neil Sedaka, and Jay Wisnicki, will take place on Tuesday, June 12, 7:30PM, at Town Hall (123 W. 43rd St.). Among the performers and speakers will be Elie Wiesel, Dudu Fisher, and Lorin Sklamberg. For information about the event visit www.nationalyiddishtheatre.org.

Episode 0026

June 7, 2012

Yiddish Book Center

Amherst, Massachusetts

Seth Rogovoy talks with Yiddish vocalist Eleanor Reissa about her upcoming performance at Yidstock. Reissa will be singing with Frank London's Klezmer Brass Allstars at Yidstock on Sunday, July 15th, 2012.

Episode 0025

June 5, 2012

Yiddish Book Center

Amherst, Massachusetts

Yidstock will bring some of the top names in klezmer to the stage at the Yiddish Book Center. Seth Rogovoy, Yidstock's program organizer, explains how the bands, which include the Klezmatics and Socalled, represent the many incarnations of klezmer.

Episode 0024

May 30, 2012

Yiddish Book Center

Amherst, Massachusetts

Jewish educator Fradle Pomerantz Freidenreich talks with Aaron Lansky about her work documenting every Yiddish school in North America. These schools, whose reach and influence were greater than Freidenreich imagined, are chronicled in her book, "Passionate Pioneers: The Story of Yiddish Secular Education in North America, 1910-1960."

Episode 0023

May 22, 2012

Yiddish Book Center

Amherst, Massachusetts

When asked what's new at the Yiddish Book Center, Aaron Lansky had plenty to report: the opening of a new interactive exhibit, a recap of the recent Chaim Grade weekend program, new initiatives to jumpstart Yiddish translation, arriving students, and, believe it or not, there's more.

Episode 0022

May 16, 2012

Yiddish Book Center

Amherst, Massachusetts

Two years and four thousand pounds of Cor-Ten steel in the making, Simon Kogan's sculpture "Yiddish" has been installed on the grounds at the Yiddish Book Center. Kogan and Lee Hutt, the head of the Center's sculpture committee, talk with Aaron Lansky about what the sculpture represents and the massive effort - artistic and physical - of creating it.

Episode 0021

May 9, 2012

Yiddish Book Center

Amherst, Massachusetts