The New World

In our fifth episode of the season, presented in collaboration with Lilith magazine, we explore the Yiddish short story “The New World,” written by Esther Singer Kreitman in the first half of the twentieth century. The English translation by Barbara Harshav, which you can hear excerpts from in the episode, was published in Lilith in 1991.Dr. Anita Norich, Professor Emerita of English and Judaic Studies at the University of Michigan, takes us through the story, while also discussing the author’s life and the ways in which her work speaks to the themes and complexities in Yiddish literature. She also touches on the role that societal assumptions about gender have played in the lack of awareness around Yiddish fiction written by women. Learn more at theatredybbuk.org/podcast.

Om Podcasten

What do poems, plays, and other creative texts from throughout history tell us about the times in which they were written? And what do they reveal about the forces still at play in our contemporary societies? Using interviews with artists and scholars combined with readings performed by actors, The Dybbukast examines and gives context to creative works while exploring their relationships to issues still present today. ​ The Dybbukast is produced by theatre dybbuk. While the company is no longer producing full seasons, it will continue to use this platform to present live recordings of its illuminated lectures – which share The Dybbukast format – as they are available.