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Contemporary Yiddish Literature on Three Continents

September 2016

This collection, originally featured in the September 2016 issue of Words Without Borders, features literature translated from Yiddish, introduced by Sebastian Schulman.

Yiddish Literature and the Transnational Republic of Jewish Letters

By Sebastian Schulman

Yiddish literature occupies the precarious position of an informed outsider.

Two Miniatures

By Yekhiel Shraybman

How can you write something great, something fresh about the sea?

Translated from Yiddish by Sebastian Schulman

Sing Ladino

By Yankev Glatshteyn

Finegolden radiating, bursting— / Multicoloredthoughtingness.

Translated from Yiddish by Asya Vaisman Schulman

Ingathering of Exiles

Him I believe, even if he is Polish.

Translated from Yiddish by Ellen Cassedy

An Unexpected Guest

By Boris Sandler

A roaring clap of thunder and everyone’s wigs went flying through the air.

Translated from Yiddish by Sebastian Schulman