Classes for New York Public School Teachers and a Course on Yiddish Orthography (1965)

Rachel (Shoshke) Erlich (1909-1991) was a research associate of YIVO for nearly half a century, specializing in Yiddish language and literature. In this episode of YIVO’s radio program on WEVD, originally broadcast on September 26, 1965, she speaks with host Sheftl Zak about classes that YIVO is offering that fall, including “Antecedents of American Jewish Life,” for New York public school teachers, and “Standardized Yiddish Orthography” taught by Dr. Mordkhe Schaechter. Sheftl Zak provides historical background about the development of  standards for Yiddish orthography.

From 1963-1976, YIVO had its own program on WEVD, the radio station established by the Socialist Party of America in 1927 (its call letters stand for the initials of American socialist leader Eugene V. Debs), which was purchased by the Jewish Daily Forward in 1932 and became a major venue from Yiddish programming.

YIVO used its spot on WEVD for Yiddish-language interviews and discussions with leading New York Yiddish cultural figures, as well as for reporting on its own scholarly and cultural work.

A new podcast of this program in the order in which it was originally broadcast will be posted here every two weeks.

Presentation of series curated by Matt Temkin, YIVO Sound Archives.

Listen to the program [in Yiddish].