Yiddish in Israel
Book • 2020
Rachel Rojanski's Yiddish in Israel: A History offers a detailed archival and cultural history of Yiddish language and culture in Israel from 1948 through the late 20th century.
Challenging the received view that Yiddish was banned or systematically persecuted by Israeli authorities, the book documents moments of support, institutional engagement, and vibrant Yiddish press, theater, and literature within Israel.
Rojanski analyzes tensions between Hebrew's localizing force and Yiddish's transregional Jewish networks, showing how political needs, public opinion, and cultural prestige shaped policy and practice.
The book highlights key episodes such as Yiddish newspapers' circumvention of bans, Mapai's purchase of a Yiddish paper, Sutzkever's Golden Akats, and waves of revival tied to broader social change.
Combining cultural, political, and memory studies perspectives, it reframes Yiddish as integral to the development of Israeli culture rather than solely its opponent.
Challenging the received view that Yiddish was banned or systematically persecuted by Israeli authorities, the book documents moments of support, institutional engagement, and vibrant Yiddish press, theater, and literature within Israel.
Rojanski analyzes tensions between Hebrew's localizing force and Yiddish's transregional Jewish networks, showing how political needs, public opinion, and cultural prestige shaped policy and practice.
The book highlights key episodes such as Yiddish newspapers' circumvention of bans, Mapai's purchase of a Yiddish paper, Sutzkever's Golden Akats, and waves of revival tied to broader social change.
Combining cultural, political, and memory studies perspectives, it reframes Yiddish as integral to the development of Israeli culture rather than solely its opponent.
Mentioned by
Mentioned in 0 episodes
Presented by ![undefined]()
Rachel Rojanski
Yiddish in Israel: A History
