FAR VOS DARF MEN A YIDISHE KULTUR LIGE IN AMERIKE פארװאס דארף מען א אידישע קולטור ליגע אין אמעריקא
New York: Jewish Writer’s Club, 1910-1915? Item #43533
No Date [ca 1910-1915?] First edition. Original paper wrappers, 8vo, [4] pages (single fold pamphlet), 21 cm. In Yiddish. Title translates as “Why Do People Need a Jewish Culture League in America?”
Pamphlet written by three leading Yiddish writers, all members of the Jewish Writers Club, on the importance of unifying Yiddish cultural work under a centralized organization. It would appear that they saw the Eastern European “[Yidishe] Kultur Lige” as their model. Alas, a “Kultur Lige in Amerike” seems to have never gotten off the ground.
These three Yiddish writers, however, were perhaps uniquely positioned to bring such an organization into existence.
Arnold Kritshmar-Yizraeli (born Arn Kritshmar; 1878-1962) was a Jewish journalist and writer who primarily contributed to Yiddish and Russian-language periodicals.
“Niger [1883-1955] was the embodiment among us of modern Yiddish literary history with which he cohabited and which practically from the beginning he helped to fashion. He alone was born to plan a vital part in it” (Mortkhe Shtrigler in Leksikon fun der Nayer Yidisher Literatur)
As to Zeldin (1882-1949), his vision, may have been filled when he became “one of the founders of the Y. L. Perets Writers’ Union and for several years its president” (Leksikon fun der Nayer Yidisher Literatur); the same Writer’s Union published Niger’s Tsum Tsentn Yortsayt Nokh Mendele Moykher Sforim (Sholem Yankev Abramovitsh), a Kurtse Bashraybung fun Mendeles Lebn (To the Tenth Anniversary of the Death of Mendele Moykher Sforim, Sholem Yankev Abramovitsh, a short description of Mendele’s life) in 1928.
“The I.L. Peretz Yiddish Writers’ Union (YWU), also sometimes called the Jewish Writers’ Union, was founded in New York in 1915 as a labor and mutual aid organization for Yiddish journalists. Its first president was Hillel Rogoff, of the Forverts, and its first secretary was Joseph Margoshes, of the Tog. The Union represented all Yiddish writers and journalists at the three major New York City Yiddish papers, the Tog, Morgn Zhurnal and the Forverts.
The Yiddish Writers’ Union was a member of the United Hebrew Trades, an association of Jewish labor unions in New York City. The Union participated in strikes and labor disputes and fought for job security, severance pay benefits and a minimum wage for Yiddish journalists.
In November 1939, together with the Jewish Labor Committee, the Union decided to found a Fund for Jewish Refugee Writers, a relief fund for Yiddish writers in Europe as well as for American members in financial need. The Fund was ultimately established in January 1940. This Fund conducted a one-time emergency appeal among Yiddish writers in America and their supporters and readers. Through the efforts of this Fund, the Union was able to sponsor the immigration of several thousand writers and political and cultural activists and also to send money to those writers whom they were unable to bring over. In 1929 the Union had 200 members.
Although the Union continued to be active in labor disputes after World War II, its membership declined steadily. While still in existence in the 1980s, the Yiddish Writers’ Union had relinquished much of its role as a labor union and functioned primarily as a literary association.” (YIVO) Not in OCLC or WorldCat. Unrecorded, perhaps a unique surviving copy of a pamphlet by some of the world’s leading Yiddishists. .
Many creases and folds, bit of edgewear, but otherwise nice, Good+ Condition (PSB-1-32).
Price: $375.00