Mendele: Yiddish literature and language ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 4.038 June 23, 1994 1) A proposal (Leybl Botwinik) 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu Jun 23 07:43:01 1994 From: leybl@telecomm.tadiran.co.il Subject: Proposal: CENTRE FOR YIDDISH AND TECHNOLOGIC NEWWARE The following, is a proposal for a project to create a Pedagogical and Media Resource Centre: Let me know what you think. If you know of any potential investors or supporters, let me/them know. A SHAYNEM DANK IN FOROIS. (Note: The original Yiddish version is available too. This is the English translation. However Internet doesn't yet support the Hebrew alphabet). CENTRE FOR YIDDISH AND TECHNOLOGIC NEWWARE ____________________________________________________ Looking to the Future New times require new ways, methods and materials, new approaches and ideas. The Centre for YIDDISH and Technologic Newware has a goal of carrying the Yiddish living language and culture into the 21st Century --- right foot first. The Centre will serve as a collection and resource institute, as well as a developer, producer and distributer of audio-visual, film, music and computer Media for Education and Entertainment purposes. These will contain suitable assisting material and instructions in Yiddish and other languages. A part of the work will be carried out in the Centre's own studios. A part of the work will be jointly undertaken with specialized individuals, firms and institutions. The most uptodate (as well as traditional) methods and materials will be utilized and presented --- in Yiddish --- to the Yiddish user and consumer. Both Young and Old will benefit from the Centre, as well as students, academics, artists, musicians, writers and researchers, and every lover of living Yiddish in Word and Sound. The Centre will contain a Library with a reading room, an Audio-video room, a Children's section, a computer room and a study area, as well as a store for serving the general public. The Centre will also contain work rooms, class rooms, a small Theatre studio, a Sound-studio, and Audio-Video-, Film-, and Computer-labs. The employees and co-workers will either be users of Yiddish, or will become so through continuing education and training. The day-to-day as well as the specialized work will be carried out in the Yiddish language, except for necessary communication in other languages. All those employed by the Centre will use Yiddish as the living communication medium at work. Back to the Roots The work of the Centre is based on that which has already been done in the general development of the Yiddish language and culture: - Folklore, Folks song, Folks Humour; - The Modern Yiddish Literature; - The Jewish Lifestyle and Traditions of Ashkenazic Jewry. As we know, Yiddish was spoken by about 10 million Jews around the world in the later 1930s. Yiddish developed naturally, as all languages do: A rich cultural life of Theatre, Music, Press and Literature. In the widespread network of Jewish schools and educational institutions, the Yiddish language was used foremost. Learning materials for children and youth were printed and taught in Yiddish in subjects such as Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, Mechanics, Medicine, Linguistics, Art, Music, Literature, etc. Yiddish films were produced, as well as Theatre performances, Concerts and even Opera in Yiddish translation. Conferences and seminars of professionals such as Doctors or Engineers were conducted in Yiddish. The end of a dream Daily life for Jews before the Holocaust of World War II was not easy. However, there grew up a generation of Dreamers and Builders, Revolutionaries, Idealists and Halutzim-Pioneers: - Where every working Man and Woman, and every Rabbi and Yeshiva student had a prayer on his/her lips for a better world; - Where every Woman, every Child was full of hope and dreams for a more beautiful tomorrow. All this, however, came to a brutal end, when the German-Nazi Murder-Machine took it upon itself to carry out its "SWASTIKA-CRUSADE" war against the Jews, in order to wipe off all that was Jew and Jewish from the face of the Earth. Six Million Jews were then murdered by the Germans with their helpers. Among the innocent victims, more than one and a half million Jewish children. In the Ghettos, in the camps, in the forests with the Partisans, the moral and spiritual strength of the Jew overcame his sufferings. And he continued to write and to produce in Yiddish, what we now call the "literature of the Holocaust". Their last appeal was "REMEMBER". The weight of Remembering and Reminding. The Centre for YIDDISH and Technologic Newware takes upon itself the duty and the heavy weight this entails, of carrying out the last appeal of the martyrs --- which, for the great majority of them, Yiddish was the most integral and natural part of their lifestyle, --- to remind and not forget, and not forgive those who forget. The work is not easy. Three important tasks face us: 1) To help preserve that which is still possible to save; 2) To help rebuild that which was destroyed; 3) To continue forward in the steps of the builders and dreamers by producing new creations in and for Yiddish Language and Culture. Practically, what is required is a lot of work and effort, an earnest approach, and a coordinated budget and work plan. Professionals and experts in the fields of Language, Culture, Art, Education, Theatre, Entertainment, Music, Media, Psychology, and Technology will be hired with a respectable salary. The Centre will bring together these professionals with skilled Legal, Administrative, Financial, and Business directors and advisors. They will bring out the best of their knowledge and talents and have at their disposal the best and most modern materials and tools of the trade. Together, they will continue to draw the Golden Thread of Yiddish for the present, and for future generations. It remains for us now, to create the necessary financial means for this extremely important project. ***** Respond Now ***** Help ensure the dreams for a better tomorrow, for the Jewish People and its National treasure, Yiddish. Support the Centre for YIDDISH and Technologic Newware with a warm heart and with an open hand. Please send us your comments and critique, and if possible, your financial support: I am happy to be a Yiddish Lover $ ___ ___ Yiddish Builder $ ___ ___ ___ Yiddish Halutz $ ___ ___ ___ ___ Yiddish Dreamer $ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ================================================================== I've sent the above to many individuals and institutions around the world, and have had a very good response. The response has so far been 'moral support' ... Zayt gezunt Leybl Botwinik ______________________________________________________ End of Mendele Vol. 4.038 A Table of Contents is now available via anonymous ftp, along with weekly updates. Anonymous ftp archives available on: ftp.mendele.trincoll.edu in the directory pub/mendele/files Archives available via gopher on: gopher.cic.net Mendele has 2 rules: 1. Provide a meaningful Subject: line. 2. Sign your article. Send articles to: mendele@yalevm.ycc.yale.edu Other business: nmiller@mail.trincoll.edu