hshgu, hshgu, No. 189 IVOIVO Winter 1999 YYNEWS hHuu† pui Alter Kacyzne’s Photographs YIVO Celebrates Publication of Historic Album IVO began its 75th Anniversary year with a Ycelebration for Poyln — Jewish Life in the Old YIVO Institute Country, a new book of pre-Holocaust photo- for graphs taken throughout Poland by the renowned Yiddish author and photographer Alter Kacyzne. Jewish (A selection of photographs from the book appears Research on pages 18 – 21.) Edited by YIVO Chief Archivist hHshagr Marek Web and published by YIVO in cooperation uuhxbaTpykgfgr with Metropolitan Books/Henry Holt, Poyln has thbxyhyuy ≈ thbxyhyuy received excellent reviews from the Forward, the Atlanta Jewish Times and the Canadian Jewish News hHuu† and has been named a Book-of-the-Month selection. Its initial printing in English is 17,000 copies. Marek Web, Chief Archivist and editor of Poyln, with YIVO “A simultaneous German edition of Poyln was Board member and author Fanya Gottesfeld Heller. released just in time for the Frankfurt Book Fair,” Kacyzne had a remarkable sensibility for his Board Chairman Bruce Slovin told the 100 people subjects, whether in studio portraits, on a Warsaw who attended the November 4th reception and street, or in a shtetl marketplace. He was known to book signing in the Center for Jewish History have been unusually painstaking in his work, library. “Marek Web has done Herculean labor in never satisfied until he had achieved exactly the bringing this book to publication.” right effect. This new book provides a window “We are very proud to be here today,” Dr. Carl into the lost world of Polish Jewry through the Rheins, YIVO Executive Director, commented. “It eyes of one of its keenest observers. is a very fitting way to begin our 75th year.” As Marek Web notes in his introduction, in the Kacyzne (1885-1941) was an acclaimed writer late 1930’s, Kacyzne “had been granted a U.S. visa, who published novels, plays, and poetry. How- which he did not use. He could not bring himself ever, he earned his living as a photographer. He to leave behind all that was meaningful to him had a portrait studio in Warsaw and also traveled and become an immigrant, physically and the country photographing scenes of traditional culturally.” Jewish life. He was first commissioned by HIAS in When war broke out in 1939, Kacyzne fled with 1921 to photograph Jews seeking to leave Poland. his wife and daughter, Sulamita, to Lwow in After finishing this assignment, Kacyzne was, as eastern Poland, which had been [continued on page 6] he wrote, “hired to be the photo correspondent for the New York Jewish Daily Forward. My task is to cover all the places in Poland that may be of interest to the reader in America.” Although he was slated to work for two years, he eventually spent a decade as the Forward correspondent. Hold the CONTENTS: Date Chairman’s Message . .2 New Book on Litvaks . .13 YIVO’s Annual Major New Grants . .2 Vilna Library On-Line . .14 Dinner Executive Director . .3 Distinguished Guests . .15 April 6, New Projects . .4 Music Archives . .16 2000 Jewish Studies . .6 YIVO Donors . .18 Max Weinreich Center . .8 Poyln Book Photos . .18 Pierre Hotel Yiddish Classes . .10 New Accessions . .22 New York Library . .12 Letters . .25 Message from the Chairman of the Board Time for Reflection and Renewal It is the 75th Anniversary of For seventy-five years YIVO tionally, with Israel, Canada and the founding of YIVO! As this has been a central force in Mexico, as well as the countries turbulent twentieth century recording, studying, preserving in the former Soviet Union. So winds down, it is a perfect time and honoring every aspect of many young people want to for reflection, evaluation and a Jewish life, language and study Yiddish and Yiddish Bruce Slovin renewal of our commitment to culture. YIVO has embraced an culture — to trace their family the mission of YIVO and future inclusive definition of Jewish histories in Eastern Europe. generations. Once Eastern continuity, one that spans the YIVO must help them — and Europe was the center of a generations and looks to the you — to make those connec- whole Jewish culture. YIVO was future. The new century and tions. Join with us, as we begin founded as part of that thriving millennium bring unique oppor- our 75th year. Together we will and strong community which tunities to forge links — among face the future and make it our was destroyed. Those people the generations and interna- own. who survived built new lives. They, like YIVO, rose from the NFJC Funds Two Major YIVO Projects ashes despite all obstacles. We honor their memory and IVO is receiving two grants writer, is a skilled researcher, celebrate their dignity and Ytotaling nearly $117,000 from and is knowledgeable about perseverance. the Fund for Jewish Preservation Jewish history and culture. Ms. of the National Foundation for Newman recently helped YIVO News Jewish Culture (NFJC). The produce the DVD-ROM format Founded in 1925 in Vilna, Poland as the Yiddish grants will help YIVO redesign of Thirteen/WNET’s “Heritage: Scientific Institute and headquartered in New York its Web site and publish autobio- Civilization and the Jews.” since 1940, YIVO is devoted to the history, society graphies written in 1942 by The other grant — $91,000 — and culture of Ashkenazic Jewry and to the influence Jewish immigrants to the United is for the creation of an English of that culture as it developed in the Americas. States. In addition, NFJC will language anthology of American Today, YIVO stands as the preeminent center for award a special grant to help Jewish immigrant autobiogra- East European Jewish Studies; Yiddish language, defray the costs of YIVO’s move phies. This volume will feature literature and folklore; and the study of the American into permanent quarters at the about 20 of the 233 responses to Jewish immigrant experience. Center for Jewish History. YIVO’s 1942 contest for the best The Web site project, which autobiography by a Jewish Chairman of the Board: Bruce Slovin will receive $25,800, will en- immigrant to America. Of the Executive Director: Carl J. Rheins hance public access to YIVO. It responses to the contest, 176 Director of Development will explain YIVO’s mission and were from men and 47 from and External Affairs: Ella Levine rich history, provide an introduc- women; just over half came from Director of Research: Lisa Epstein tion to Yiddish, showcase the New York, while others came Director of Finance and Administration: YIVO archives and library, and from 62 locations in the U.S., Assaf Astrinsky provide a calendar of YIVO Canada, Argentina, Mexico and Chief Archivist: Marek Web events and programs. The site Cuba; and the majority of the Head Librarian: Aviva Astrinsky will also facilitate public access writers were between 51 and 70 Head of Preservation: Stanley Bergman to YIVO through e-mail, serve as years old. They had immigrated Editor: Elise Fischer an online YIVO publications from Eastern Europe, Germany Yiddish Editor: Hershl Glasser catalog, offer membership and and Palestine, from the 1880s to Production Editors: Jerry Cheslow, Kim Hirsh donation forms, and provide the 1940s; most came between links to related sites. The site 1882 and 1924, the years of mass Contributors immigration. Dina Abramowicz, Nikolai Borodulin, Chava Boylan, Krysia will feature audio clips from the Fisher, Shaindel Fogelman, Leo Greenbaum, Batya Kaplan, Chana Sound Archives, online versions Professor Daniel Soyer of Mlotek, Fruma Mohrer, David Rogow, Jenny Romaine, Yankl of recent YIVO exhibitions and Fordham University will serve Salant, Elisheva Schwartz, Yermiyahu Ahron Taub, Bella Hass the YIVO News. as Project Editor. Soyer is a Weinberg, Bina Weinreich Former YIVO photo archivist former archivist at YIVO and is 15 West 16th Street Roberta Newman will be the the author of Jewish Immigrant New York, NY 10011-6301 Project Coordinator. She knows Associations and American Identity Phone: (212) 246-6080, YIVO’s library and archives, has in New York, 1880-1939. The Fax: (212) 292-1892 e-mail: [email protected] professional experience as a anticipated publication date is multimedia/film producer and 2002. 2 YIVO News Message from the Executive Director Some Thoughts on YIVO’s Future In the coming century, Jewish communal life in survival and expansion, we must also develop a the United States will require strong institutional strategic plan that addresses the interests of leadership. This is especially true for institutions YIVO’s many constituencies and friends. such as YIVO, ones with a mandate to preserve the In the September 1996 issue of the Harvard material artifacts of Jewish civilization and pro- Business Review, James C. Collins writes that mote the study of Jewish history. The vitality of institutions that enjoy “enduring success have core Dr. Carl J. Rheins Jewish archives and research libraries will also values and core purposes that remain fixed while depend on their continuing adherence to the their [daily] strategies and practices endlessly highest scholastic standards, combined with free adapt to a changing world.” Preserving the core and unfettered intellectual inquiry. The while stimulating progress are the key dynamics overarching acceptable institutional ideology must of organizations that become elite institutions, embrace the legitimacy of all forms of Jewish institutions able to transform themselves and to expression. achieve superior results. Other challenges must also be met if we are to As YIVO approaches its 75th anniversary, a keep YIVO and other Jewish research institutions renewed commitment from the board, staff and strong. These include, but are not limited to: YIVO’s many benefactors and supporters is • Identifying and raising substantial new sums of essential for strengthening the Institute’s archives, money; library and research departments; for reevaluating • Supporting and energizing staff, while recruiting its distinguished publications series; and for the most distinguished scholars available in expanding its genealogical services program.