Jewish Post, Indianapolis, Marion County, 4 December 2002 — Page 7

December 4. 2002 IN 7

Continued from prev. page speech, she focuses in on the 9th century Jews living in Western Germany, bordering the Rhine and Mari Rivers, who spoke a Jewish version of German. She discusses aspects of the language like the tekhines, personal prayers of women and the 17th century Yiddish books of Bible commentary read by women, the Tsenerene. She emphasizes Poland and the growth of the language there, where it really was developed in the 17 ,h and 18 lh centuries. Seventy-five percent of the words were Germanic; 10 to 20 percent were Hebrew; 1 to 2 percent were Romance words; and the rest were Slavic. "If you don't know He-

brew, you're an ignoramus. If you don't know Yiddish, you're a gentile," wrote one commentary. Today, we read the history of the language and the history of the Jewish people in Europe - those in the Paleof Settlement where Yiddish was the real mame loshen (mother tongue); there was the rise of the shtetl; the Haskalah (enlightenment), or movement of Jews for whom Yiddish was loathsome; and the Hasidim who used it as a celebration of their Jewish spiritual life. Into the 20th century, she takes us to pre-Holocaust Europe where 80 percent of Polish Jewry considered Yiddish their primary language in 1931. After the Holocaust we know

what happened to Yiddish and the people who spoke it. We are introduced to the renaissance that has occurred with American Hasidim, klezmer music, and the founding of the World National Yiddish Book Center. How does she conclude? "It is unlikely Yiddish will ever revive as a widely spoken language. But Yiddish can be remembered. It can still connect Jews to each other and to their past. It can link Jews and nonJews alike to one of the great expressive traditions of the world." I really loved this book! It said a lot to me and it reads so beautifully, one cannot help but enjoy it. For anyone who remembers hearing Yiddish; for

anyone who knows a little Yiddish and wishes they knew more; for anyone who wants to fall in love with Yiddish, this is a wonderful history book to read. Prophets and Dreamers. By Miriam Weinstein. Steerforth Press. 214 pages. $14. Once you are turned on to the beauty and richness of the Yiddish language that you may never be able to speak or read, you can find pleasure in this new book of selections of great Yiddish literature. Eight authors and selections from their writings are in-

cluded: Mendele MoykherSforim, Yitzhak Leib Peretz, Sholon Aleichem, Shimon Anski, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Morris Rosenfeld, Yankev Glatshteyn, and Abraham Sutzkever. Following this is a selection of translations of eight Yiddish folksongs, a glossary, and a bibliography. It is clear to me after reading Ms. Weinstein's wonderful book about the history of Yiddish that she has brought out this collection to further her desire to try to awaken some interest in the silent world of Yiddish literature.

You will be full & happy or you will not pay plzza<f>UCCini’S pasta NW 1508 West 86th at Ditch Rd. 875-9223 NE 3944 East 82nd at Dean Rd. 842-4028 N 13674 N. Meridian St. 580-0087

Farringtons

rcMUria, Wine Cntx * Cafe Holiday Shoppers,

Conic in, nit down. Enjoy a glaMt* of wlm* ... or u cup of tea. Heat, relax. Have a wholesome lunch or Join im for the “evening meal** Kc-enerjjizc. Browse our intcnuitioiiul army of holiday treats front which to select the very' lies! tflfts! Catering and s|»ecial orders to meet your holiday business & entertaining needs. Ctft imskcts made to order. Only ut 'rarkln^ton’s... only Downtown!! Holiday Open House - Register to win Holiday Goodies! Dec. 1st 2-6 pm “tea & crumpets” Dec. 3rd 6 - 8pm “mulled cidar & hors ‘d’ oeuvres” loco.Hen. Qrd* Cmlre-153 South Hindi Street "Let us rediscover the flavors Vatoft 317.635.4635 Fax 3T7.635472V and savors of regional cocteUtq E-maU: tnJoOtarWngtonaccm an - d txmish the Web tuum/.tarldnglonscom degrading effects VSBar Monday - Saturday 8am. - 9pm Sunday 10am - 6pm of Fast Food