Jan Schwarz

Transnational Ashkenaz: Yiddish culture after the Holocaust

Introduction

Transnational ashkenaz: yiddish culture after the holocaust. Contrary to belief, Yiddish culture dynamically thrived transnationally for decades post-Holocaust. Explore its network fostering publications, performances, and new talents.

Abstract

After the Holocaust’s near complete destruction of European Yiddish cultural centres, the Yiddish language was largely viewed as a remnant of the past, tragically eradicated in its prime. This article reveals that, on the contrary, for two and a half decades following the Holocaust Yiddish culture was in dynamic flux. Yiddish writers and cultural organisations maintained a staggering level of activity in fostering publications and performances, collecting archival and historical materials, and launching young literary talents. This article provides a cultural historical map of a Yiddish transnational network that derived its unity from the common purpose of commemorating and bearing witness to the destruction of the Jewish heartland in Central and Eastern Europe. 

Full Text

Comments

You need to be logged in to post a comment.