'Yiddish Tales' is a delightful anthology of 48 tales by 20 different authors, translated by Helena Frank. This book aims to introduce the non-Yiddish speaking audience to the world of Russian Jewry, filled with wit, humor, and a passionate playfulness that shines through each page. Despite the varying literary merit of each tale, they all reflect the precious elements of a world that is in passing, yet will live on in the free development of their own culture and traditions. Through this book, readers can learn about the history and culture of the Jewish community and appreciate their unique literary voice.

Shining and Shadow is a translated anthology of Yiddish short fiction of the Lower East Side, the center of a vibrant Jewish (largely Russian Jewish) life. Waldinger's goal is to present both the past and present of a population forced by poverty and pogrom to leave its homeland, resettle in America, and adopt its ideals (and hopes) as well as its difficult urban realities, all while wrestling with the desire to preserve its cultural identity and system of beliefs and expectations.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Filled with princesses and witches, dybbuks and wonder-working rebbes, the two hundred marvelous tales that make up this delightful compendium were gathered during the 1920s and 1930s by ethnographers in the small towns and villages of Eastern Europe. Collected from people of all walks of life, they include parable and allegories about life, luck, and wisdom; tales of magic and wonder; stories about rebbes and their disciples; and tales whose only purpose is to entertain. Long after the culture that produced them has disappeared, these enchanting Yiddish folktales continue to work their magic today.