NYT: Jewish Identity, Spelled in Yiddish
Modern Yiddish transliteration was created by early-20th-century scholars who saw Judaism as a nationality based on language and were fighting rising anti-Semitism.
The YIVO Institute for Jewish Research is one of the five partners of the Center for Jewish History.
In Memory of Frank Lautenberg
by David P. Rosenberg, M.P.A., Reference Services Research Coordinator, Center for Jewish History
Frank Lautenberg, the last World War II veteran in the United States Senate (he served from 1982-2001 and 2003-his death, today June 3, 2013), played an important role in allowing many Soviet Jews to come to America. His “Lautenberg Amendment” in 1990 relaxed certain standards for…
“Knaidel” is the Winning Word
by David P. Rosenberg, M.P.A., Reference Services Research Coordinator, Center for Jewish History
Perhaps you heard that a Yiddish word won the National Spelling Bee for Arvind Mahankali. Yes, knaidel is spelled K-n-a-i-d-e-l according to Webster’s Third New International Dictionary–the official dictionary of the National Spelling Bee. As you may know, Yiddish is a fusion language of principally German,…
Reflecting on Memorial Day
by J.D. Arden, M.L.I.S. candidate, Reference Services Research Intern, Center for Jewish History
Above image: National Jewish Welfare Board Records, 1952, Passover in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Dave Starr, 1575 Federal. Pfc. Morton Gutstadt of Fitzsimons Army Hospital tried out the gefilte fish of Mrs. Starr. From the Collections of the American Jewish Historical Society.
Honoring the…