...once Yiddish has taken hold of you and moved you–and Yiddish is everything, the words, the Chasidic melody, and the essential character of this East European actor himself… –Franz Kafka
In conjunction with the exhibition Franz Kafka, playwright and Yiddish theater scholar Nahma Sandrow will present an intimate lecture in J. Pierpont Morgan’s historic library on the cultural significance of Yiddish theater in pre-war Europe. As a regular audience member, Kafka’s enthusiasm for Yiddish theater makes its way into his diaries, writings, and dreams.
Dr. Nahma Sandrow is a playwright, librettist, and scholar of theater. She is the author of Vagabond Stars: A World History of Yiddish Theater; God, Man, and Devil: Yiddish Plays in Translation; and Surrealism: Theater, Arts, Ideas. She has developed award-winning musicals based on Yiddish material including Kuni-Lemi and Vagabond Stars that enjoyed long Off-Broadway runs before touring. Sandrow is Professor Emerita at Bronx Community College of the City University of New York, and has lectured at institutions including Oxford University, Harvard University, and the Smithsonian Institution.
This program takes place in J. Pierpont Morgan’s historic library. Doors to the library will open 30 minutes before the lecture begins. Seating is general admission. Franz Kafka will be open to visitors before the program.
Dorot Jewish Division, The New York Public Library. “Der vilder mensh” New York Public Library Digital Collections.