Feld Lecture: The Wild Within: Exploring Yiddish Literature

Before the Second World War, Yiddish literature painted vivid, intricate maps of Jewish life in Eastern Europe—charting not just the physical terrain, but the imagination itself. Robert Adler Peckerar’s recent translations unearth powerful stories rooted in this terrain, and this talk delves into how the region’s history and geography shaped the works of three very different writers. Moyshe Kulbak’s modernist poetry, Itzik Manger’s novel with its seemingly naive takes on religious themes, and the captivating Hasidic tales of Nachman of Bratzlav, all share a common thread: a deep connection to place. Join us as we explore these literary landscapes, uncovering the silent echoes and haunting memories that linger in these places.

Robert Adler Peckerar is a cultural historian and translator dedicated to sharing the complex richness of Yiddish literature and East European Jewish culture. He holds a PhD in Comparative Literature from UC Berkeley and was professor of Jewish literature and culture at the University of Colorado at Boulder. His acclaimed translations and cultural programs delve into the historical and personal landscapes of pre-Holocaust Jewish life. He is currently the CEO of Topa Institute, an intercultural arts center based in Ojai and Los Angeles, California.

Reception at 5:00, talk at 5:30

Attend online via Zoom (register here: https://huc.edu/libraries/library-events/library-event-registration/) or in-person.

Host or Publisher Klau Library