Feld Lecture: The Wild Within: Exploring Landscape and Memory in 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

View event on Jlive: https://jlive.app/events/10948

Click here to join the Zoom livestream.
[]()