| All videos are 30 minutes and are $19.95 each unless otherwise noted.
A CONVERSATION WITH MARIE WAIFE-GOLDBERG
Marie Waife-Goldberg, author of My Father, Sholom Aleichem, recalls
her childhood in Kiev as one of six children of the famous Yiddish folk
humorist, Sholom Aleichem. She also describes her father's roles as a
stockbroker, ardent Zionist and contributor to many literary journals.
A CONVERSATION WITH ISAAC BASHEVIS SINGER
Isaac Bashevis Singer, Yiddish novelist and storyteller whose works have
been widely translated into English, describes the various influences
in his development as a writer, and offers a number of observations on
the literary scene.
KASRILEVIKA ON THE MISSISSIPPI
In this play, Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn meets Sholom Aleichem’s
Motel, the cantor’s son. What emerges is the amazing resemblance
between these two authors, who agree on the basic truth about life.
THE MIGRATIONS OF A MELODY
Based on a story by Yitzhak Leib Peretz, the “Father of Yiddish
Literature,” and presented in commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary
of his death. The film dramatizes the history of a melody, which for years
remained lost, unsung, and presumed dead, but which periodically returned
to life in different situations.
THE POWER OF THE TONGUE
The dramatic story of Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, the “Father of modern
Hebrew.” The film portrays Ben-Yehuda's efforts to revive the language
after nineteen centuries (during which time it has been used mainly in
prayer, legal responses, and medieval poetry), to develop it into a spoken
language for daily use.
START WITH THE WORLD
Based on the writing of the late Martin Buber and dedicated to his memory,
this film presents a Hasidic legend in dramatic form, using folk tales
as a means of exploring aspects of Buber's philosophy. Buber wrote extensively
on, and was influenced by, the Hasidic movement which spread though Eastern
Europe in the eighteenth century.
A VISIT IN THE WORLD OF SHOLOM ALEICHEM
Part I - A conversation program featuring Maurice Samuel and Mark Van
Doren, based on the writings of Sholom Aleichem with occasional reference
to the book The World of Sholom Aleichem by Maurice Samuel. Discussion
of “shtetl” life as reflected in the works of Sholom Aleichem
and his role as the representative of that world. Discussion on one of
his most familiar characters, Tevya, the dairyman. Illustrative selections
read.
Part II - Continuing the discussion in Part I, Maurice Samuel and Mark
Van Doren deal with a second Sholom Aleichem character, Menachem Mendel.
Reference is also made to the significance of the Sabbath in the world
of Sholom Aleichem. Discussion of two stories, “The Seat by the
Eastern Wall,” and “The Judgments of Reb Yozifel,” with
selected readings.
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