Comments for Chicago YIVO Society's Blog http://chicagoyivoblog.com The YIVO Institute for Jewish Research embodies the wisdom, hopes and dreams of Ashkenazi Jewry. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:12:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ Comment on Jewish Humor by Sum of Squares http://chicagoyivoblog.com/2011/06/03/jewish-humor/#comment-563 Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:12:03 +0000 http://chicagoyivoblog.com/?p=1431#comment-563 Here’s a funny song-and-dance called “Kichel and Hamentasch!”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thVvCVsRCok

]]> Comment on Berger Poetry Reading by Not in the Same Gust // Zackary Sholem Berger http://chicagoyivoblog.com/2011/09/13/berger-poetry-reading/#comment-496 Wed, 12 Oct 2011 03:29:09 +0000 http://chicagoyivoblog.com/?p=1566#comment-496 [...] reading poetry on the 18th in Chicago, 6:30pm at the Harold Washington Library Center. You should come, or send a Chicago [...]

]]> Comment on Berger Poetry Reading by Adrienne http://chicagoyivoblog.com/2011/09/13/berger-poetry-reading/#comment-489 Wed, 28 Sep 2011 09:34:54 +0000 http://chicagoyivoblog.com/?p=1566#comment-489 Good luck in Chicago. Have a great trip!

]]> Comment on Berger Poetry Reading by Adrienne http://chicagoyivoblog.com/2011/09/13/berger-poetry-reading/#comment-488 Wed, 28 Sep 2011 09:34:17 +0000 http://chicagoyivoblog.com/?p=1566#comment-488 Hi, Micah, Happy New Year, m’love. Don’t expect you to make it to this, but just wanted to let you know my nephew is coming to your town for a book reading! Tell ALL the hundreds of Yiddish fans you know, ha,ha. x0x0 Ade

]]> Comment on Berger Poetry Reading by Jan Lisa Huttner http://chicagoyivoblog.com/2011/09/13/berger-poetry-reading/#comment-487 Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:23:09 +0000 http://chicagoyivoblog.com/?p=1566#comment-487 This just in: The Spertus Shop has received approval to sell copies of “Not in the Same Breath” @ HWLC, so you can purchase one (if you like) & have ZSB sign it while he’s in town.

]]> Comment on Irwin Weil Lecture by Misha Mugica http://chicagoyivoblog.com/2010/06/08/irwin-weil/#comment-261 Mon, 29 Nov 2010 18:55:19 +0000 http://chicagoyivoblog.com/?p=968#comment-261 Thanks, that was very interesting. I was born in Moscow in 1970 but my parents fled and settled here in the UK. Honestly, I didnt care much about my russian heritage until my mother died last month, now I’ve been trying to find out as much as I can. Seemed like the food was as good a place as any to start from! You dont generally hear much about russian cooking do you? Anyway, I found a a good russian recipe site here that your readers might be interested in too.

]]> Comment on Huttner Lectures by jlhyivo http://chicagoyivoblog.com/2010/06/08/huttner-lecture/#comment-226 Wed, 15 Sep 2010 18:47:23 +0000 http://chicagoyivoblog.com/?p=954#comment-226 Feedback much appreciated, R.

Your question about Jerome Robbins is a fascinating one. Few clues are provided in any of the voluminous bios on my shelf, & I have not had time/money/opportunity yet to see if he left unpublished papers that give specific answers…

But let me add this: I have now done almost a decades’ worth of interviews with many amazing artists in all media & one thing I’ve learned from them is that they can’t always give answers. Sometime I ask a question & the answer is: It just felt right. Sometime I offer an interpretation & the response is: Ya know, I never thought of that, but I love it.

So I’ve decided to treat Fiddler as if it were Hamlet: all honest, coherent attempts at analysis can only advance the dialogue. If, in the end, I’m only 50% “right” in my interpretation, that’s 50% “more” than was there before, & maybe in years to come, others will build on what I’ve done & do better.

For now, I feel my primary obligation is to help people understand that Fiddler is “a many splendored thing.” In some cases, yes, sentimental & nostalgic, but in other cases the exact opposite. And why do I consider Rebecca Finnegan’s Yente the best Yente I’ve ever seen? Because she came closest to the performance I believe Jerome Robbins intended!

That’s MY interpretation & I’m sticking to it… at least for now :-)

L’Shannah Tovah,
Jan

]]> Comment on Huttner Lectures by jlhyivo http://chicagoyivoblog.com/2010/06/08/huttner-lecture/#comment-225 Wed, 15 Sep 2010 18:43:58 +0000 http://chicagoyivoblog.com/?p=954#comment-225 Reply from Jan: Believe me, S, I take this comment VERY seriously!

What I intended to say (but obviously didn’t), is that costumes are not “fashion” per se, but theatrical tools used by a director to subliminally define character in all its historical & psychological complexity.

In the film, Yente’s costumes depict her as a poor old widow, but on stage, Yente’s costumes depict her as one of the richest women in town –> a successful businesswoman. From my POV, this makes choice of Yente’s costume a very feminist issue indeed!

Writers live in their own heads, often thinking they’ve actually said things they may only have thought. So we need really, really need people to say: “OK, I get one & one, now please add them up because I’m not getting two.”

Thanks so much for sending your message :-)
Jan

]]> Comment on Irena Sendler Screening Skokie by jlhyivo http://chicagoyivoblog.com/2010/06/08/irena-sendler-skokie/#comment-206 Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:11:50 +0000 http://chicagoyivoblog.com/?p=964#comment-206 “Donation” That’s great, Donna! I’m sure filmmaker Mary Skinner will be delighted to hear from you: http://www.irenasendlerfilm.com/

As for DVDs, I’m not sure when they will be available, but as soon as I know, I will post an update here on the Chicago YIVO Blog.

Zay gezunt!
Tzivi

]]> Comment on Irena Sendler Screening Skokie by Donna Dean http://chicagoyivoblog.com/2010/06/08/irena-sendler-skokie/#comment-204 Wed, 25 Aug 2010 17:03:07 +0000 http://chicagoyivoblog.com/?p=964#comment-204 I am interested in purchasing the DVD along with a donation.

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