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The Prime of Yiddish

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At least three important strands of the Jewish experience are woven in this slim volume. It is almost impossible to read it straight through. Every page will evince nostalgia, reflection and rage. Passow tells the story graphically of how Yiddish newspapers, magazines,books and lectures transformed the new Jewish immigrants into new Americans. Even English was taught via the medium of Yiddish. The Yiddish press gave tips on conduct and deportment. In fact, the totality of Yiddish literature -- over a period of about four decades -- was the most extensive non-English creation in the history of the United States. The issues raised in this work reverberate throughout the contemporary Jewish scene, and are still headlines in our newspapers: the secular-religious divide, Jewish bi-lingualism, what is and what is not Jewish literature, will Yiddish ever be a vernacular again. Having shared his profound knowledge with us, sometimes entertained us, often made us angry, David Passow ends on a sad and poetic note. How shall we regard our Yiddish heritage today?

Alex Auswaks -- The Jerusalem Post