July 2023: Handpicked

Jeff Hayes is the manager of publishing and book programs at the Yiddish Book Center. He earned his MLIS from the University of Alabama in 2019, his MA in higher education administration from Bay Path University, and his BA in international studies and Spanish from Stonehill College. He worked for over 10 years in academic affairs and student services at Harvard College, and he also completed archival internships with the National Archives and Records Administration and Brandeis University’s Archives and Special Collections Department.

“Daddy’s Day,” by Boris Sandler, translated by Jordan Kutzik 

My daughter is the same age as young Vira in this short story by Yiddish writer and journalist Boris Sandler. Since Father’s Day was just this past Sunday here in the United States, I felt compelled to find something that speaks to the father-daughter relationship. Although young Vira struggles to understand the complicated relationship of her parents, the story is filled with colorful imagery as Vira makes her way from the cafe to the amusement park with her father on a beautiful weekend day. It’s hard not to be reminded of childhood innocence as you read this story in which a little girl is learning about the world around her. 

A Concert of Traditional Judeo-Spanish Songs 

I’m a big fan of music from around the world, particularly when it marries musical and cultural influences from different peoples and countries. This concert of Judeo-Spanish music took place in 1987 at the Jewish Public Library in Montreal. It’s a wonderful showcase of the linguistic, cultural, and geographic breadth of Sephardic music.  

“A Room Named Ruth: Searching for a Jewish Home in Cuba,” by Ruth Behar 

Cuba is an island nation with a dramatic and complicated history. Not until I discovered Ruth Behar’s book Letters from Cuba did I know that Jews have been present in Cuba for centuries. After the Cuban Revolution, 95 percent of Cuba’s Jewish population emigrated, with many ending up in Miami. These facts paint an interesting picture, but Behar, born in Cuba but raised in Queens in New York City, has spent years as a cultural anthropologist documenting the story of Jews who have remained in Cuba. Her “search for a Jewish home in Cuba” likely resonates with many immigrants, and it points to the importance of exploring and celebrating the different facets of one’s identity and family story.  

The Rich History of Jewish Papercuts, with Deborah Ugoretz 

I first learned about the art of Jewish papercuts in 2019 when I noticed a bunch of examples framed on the walls of the Yiddish Book Center. These framed papercuts were created by Tsirl Waletzky (z”l), a pioneer of papercutting as a more modern form of Jewish art, and they also adorn the pages of Pearls of Yiddish Song, an anthology of classic and rediscovered Yiddish songs. “The Rich History of Jewish Papercuts,” one of the Yiddish Book Center’s virtual public programs, was delivered by renowned papercut artist Deborah Ugoretz. In the program she explores the traditional roots of Jewish papercuts (dating back to the 17th century) as they were used to commemorate and celebrate Jewish customs and ceremonies. 

“The Hotel That Doesn’t Exist,” by Eitan Kensky 

One can immediately become lost within the pages of nearly any book. Many books that the Yiddish Book Center has collected over the years, however, reveal fascinating stories (and oftentimes mysteries) about where they’ve traveled, who has owned them, and how they ended up in Amherst, MA. So much of Yiddish literature remains to be translated, but it’s captivating to learn about the international reach of postwar Yiddish publishing by looking at just one book or one author among the many out there. This From the Vault piece by Eitan Kensky does just that and shows how so many Yiddish books are artifacts themselves, with a story to tell.  

Q&A

Tell us about your selections and what they say about your relationship with Yiddish language and culture. 

I was first exposed to Yiddish through my wife’s late grandmother, who was a native Yiddish speaker. She passed before I started working at the Yiddish Book Center, but because of her and my love of languages (I’ve studied Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Irish, and Yiddish) I truly enjoy being surrounded by the wonderful resources and collections here. My first selection is of course inspired by my role as a father to two young girls who are already extremely curious about the world. The remaining selections are inspired by my passion for Spanish, traveling, modern Jewish art, and the excitement of trying to unravel a mystery. What I find especially relevant about my selections is that Yiddish language and culture are not confined to one country, region, age group, genre, or form of expression. As this is my first time being featured in Handpicked, I’ve set a goal for myself to continue exploring our amazing collections and dive a bit deeper in my study of Yiddish. 

What are you working on next? 

Since I started working at the Yiddish Book Center in 2019 one of the projects in my portfolio has been to assist with the development of a new core exhibition here. We’re now in the final stages of bringing this exhibition, titled Yiddish: A Global Culture, to life (with an official launch date of October 15, 2023). I’ll continue to be hard at work acquiring images from institutions around the world to be displayed in the exhibition. And with my involvement in the Center’s publishing imprint, White Goat Press, we’re furthering our goal of bringing Yiddish literature into the hands of English readers by releasing many new titles this year and next.