Hi Mary Beth! According to the National Yiddish Book Center-- "Even Isaac Bashevis Singer used a Hebrew layout typewriter to draft his Yiddish masterpieces." But here are some links on Yiddish typewriters and Singer's typewriters:
I have taught IBSinger and have had to explain such things as why the coins that drop of out the phone in A Day in Coney Island is a miracle. "It's like less than two dollars, another student said. His work is difficult for students not steeped in religion and spirituality.
HI Peral--I have had to explain a lot, too, but my students have also understood so much on their own. One student thought "cholent" was bread, but said he knew it was a food and decided to "just ride with it." I thought that was beautiful!
Aviya, I love that you're reading Singer and sharing it with your students. The short story, Teibele and her Demon, and the novel, Shosha are two of my favorites. Thank you for turning a light on his immense work.
What an interesting essay! I delved into Singer's short stories during the pandemic and was awed and charmed by In My Father's Court. The silence around stories and fiction by Jewish writers is terribly alarming, a tacit anti-Semitism that relies on the passage of time to remove these writers from our shared conversation about literature.
Thank you! I appreciate this thoughtful comment and I share your concern about our shared conversation on literature -- and much more. And I agree on Singer....awesome & charming!
Zlateh the Goat and the other stories in that children's book were always favorites in my household, along with Gimpel the Fool...
Love Gimpel the Fool! Saw the play too.
Art Historian here -- After Oct 7, I started teaching Marc Chagall and 25 years of ignoring him.
That's really interesting! I have always loved Chagall, but I understand this reaction to 10/7--deeply.
Aviya, didn't Singer use a typewriter with Yiddish keys to write his books? I'll have to put this book on my already long reading list for this year.
Hi Mary Beth! According to the National Yiddish Book Center-- "Even Isaac Bashevis Singer used a Hebrew layout typewriter to draft his Yiddish masterpieces." But here are some links on Yiddish typewriters and Singer's typewriters:
https://www.yiddishbookcenter.org/language-literature-culture/vault/story-behind-yiddish-book-centers-yiddish-typewriter-collection
And most excitingly, you can actually watch a video on YouTube of Singer's typewriter. (I know you are into this stuff, so am posting!!):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBemfqi9h7c
Isaac Bashevis Singer’s Typewriter (youtube.com)
Don’t forget his lesser known but equally impressive (my parents thought even better) brother I.J.Singer.
Yes! I.J. has many fans. Adam Kirsch wrote about I.J. Singer in The New Yorker:
The Forgotten Giant of Yiddish Fiction | The New Yorker
Some of his work went out of print but was republished when IB Singer became prominent.
Interesting, thank you for commenting!
This is great. I learned so much. Thank you so much for sharing.
Thank you so much, Rey! I'm so glad you enjoyed it.
I have taught IBSinger and have had to explain such things as why the coins that drop of out the phone in A Day in Coney Island is a miracle. "It's like less than two dollars, another student said. His work is difficult for students not steeped in religion and spirituality.
HI Peral--I have had to explain a lot, too, but my students have also understood so much on their own. One student thought "cholent" was bread, but said he knew it was a food and decided to "just ride with it." I thought that was beautiful!
Sorry--Pearl! I mistyped!!
Aviya, I love that you're reading Singer and sharing it with your students. The short story, Teibele and her Demon, and the novel, Shosha are two of my favorites. Thank you for turning a light on his immense work.
I love that story too! It's been really wonderful re-reading Singer, and teaching him.
What an interesting essay! I delved into Singer's short stories during the pandemic and was awed and charmed by In My Father's Court. The silence around stories and fiction by Jewish writers is terribly alarming, a tacit anti-Semitism that relies on the passage of time to remove these writers from our shared conversation about literature.
Thank you! I appreciate this thoughtful comment and I share your concern about our shared conversation on literature -- and much more. And I agree on Singer....awesome & charming!