Between Two Worlds

The Yiddish Book Center’s Public Libraries Program brings Yiddish literature in translation to public libraries across the United States to deepen their engagement with Yiddish literature and Jewish life, religion, and culture, and to foster vibrant cross-cultural dialogue and discussion in their communities.

Scott County Public Library is selected for The Yiddish Book Center’s Public Libraries Program

Scott County Public Library has been selected as one of 40 libraries nationwide to participate in the Yiddish Book Center’s Public Libraries Program on the theme “Between Two Worlds: Exploring Jewish Culture and Religion through Yiddish Literature.” The books and programs are presented as part of the Yiddish Book Center's Public Libraries Program, a partnership with the American Library Association, and made possible by the Lilly Endowment, Inc."

Book Discussions

Moyshe Kulbak

Kadya Molodovsky

Sholem Aleichem

Additional reading resources

authors

Yiddish literature offers a powerful window into Jewish life, faith, humor, and resilience—especially in times of change. Three influential Yiddish writers, Kadya Molodowsky, Sholem Aleichem, and Moyshe Kulbak, each captured the tensions of living between two worlds: tradition and modernity, faith and doubt, homeland and diaspora.

Kadya Molodovsky

The Zelmenyaners book

Zelmenyaners

he Zelmenyaners by Moyshe Kulback, a comic novel that tells the story of a large family dragged from the countryside by Stalin's government and made to enter the modern world whether they want to or not. They are literally between two worlds yet there is much about them that relates to us all.
Discussion May 6 @ 5:00 pm (A Novel Idea Book Discussion)

Moyshe Kulbak, a bold modernist, experimented with language and form while drawing heavily on Jewish folklore, mysticism, and history. His writing captures the energy and uncertainty of Jewish life in the early 20th century, revealing how tradition could be reshaped—sometimes fractured—by revolution, secularism, and political upheaval.

Biography of Moyshe Kulbak

Reading Resources

Kadya Molodovsky

A Jewish Refugee in New York

A Jewish Refugee in New York by Kadya Molodowsky, the perspective of one young lady as she navigates a new world in America, learning English, American customs and tries to find true love. It is a fascinating look at our own culture through the fresh eyes of a newcomer.
Discussion July 1 @ 5:00 pm (A Novel Idea Book Discussion)

Kadya Molodowsky gave voice to women’s experiences, education, and spiritual questioning in a male-dominated literary tradition. Her poetry and prose reflect both devotion and rebellion, blending religious imagery with modern concerns such as migration, loss, and identity. Writing across Europe and later the United States, Molodowsky’s work bridges old-world faith and new-world realities.

Biography of Kadya Molodovsky

Podcast

Kadya Molodovsky

Tevye the Dairyman

Tevye the Dairyman by Sholem Aleichem, the final book of our Yiddish series. This is the original story of Tevye and his family, familiar through the musical Fiddler on the Roof but here you will learn the whole story.
Discussion November 4 @ 5:00 pm (A Novel Idea Book Discussion)

Sholem Aleichem, often called the father of modern Yiddish literature, brought humor and humanity to everyday Jewish life in Eastern Europe. Through unforgettable characters like Tevye the Dairyman, he explored religious tradition, social change, and the challenges of adapting to a rapidly shifting world—always with warmth, wit, and deep compassion.

Biography of Sholem Aleichem

Resource Guide

Explore more Yiddish literature and cultural history at the Scott County Public Library.

Translators

Yiddish literature carries the voices of Jewish history, belief, humor, and struggle, but for many readers today, those voices are heard through translation. Translators play a vital role in bridging between two worlds: the Yiddish-speaking past and contemporary readers. Hillel Halkin, Anita Norich, and Aliza Shevrin are among the scholars and translators who have helped bring Yiddish literature, culture, and religious life to a wider audience.

The Zelmenyaners book

Zelmenyaners

Hillel Halkin is widely recognized for his elegant translations that preserve the voice, humor, and emotional depth of Yiddish writers. His work introduces English-language readers to the moral questions, religious traditions, and everyday experiences embedded in Yiddish storytelling, while maintaining the rhythm and spirit of the original language.

A Jewish Refugee in New York book cover

Jewish Refugee in New York

Anita Norich, a leading scholar of Yiddish literature, has shaped how Yiddish texts are studied, translated, and understood today. Through her translations and critical work, she highlights themes of faith, gender, memory, and modern Jewish identity, helping readers see Yiddish literature as both deeply rooted in tradition and boldly innovative.

Tevye the Dairyman_cover (No credit)

Tevye The Dairyman

Aliza Shevrin brings a contemporary perspective to Yiddish translation, focusing on poetry and prose that explore spirituality, displacement, and cultural survival. Her translations emphasize the emotional and religious nuance of Yiddish texts, allowing modern readers to connect with voices shaped by migration, loss, and resilience.