Monday, 3:00 – 4:30 PM ET: Oct. 20, 27, Nov. 3, 10, 17, 24, Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22
Women's ritual and women ritualists in modern Yiddish literature
Course Goals: In the traditional Jewish world of Eastern Europe, some aspects of spiritual belief — like the evil eye or connection with ancestral spirits—were commonly thought of as "women's business." In many places, professional women — shprekherins (healers), klogerins (wailers), zogerins (preachers) and feldmesterins (cemetery measurers) — were even paid to conduct this business for their communities. This course will look at how these women and their rituals were depicted in Yiddish literature, reading excerpts from the work of Itsik Manger, Mendele Moykher Sforim, Itsik Meyer Dik, Sholem Aleichem, Moyshe Kulbak, Bella Chagall, Rokhl Brokhes, Kadya Molodovsky, Y. Y. Trunk, and others. The class will be conducted mostly in Yiddish with English explanations where needed, and many of the texts will be provided in English translation for those who need them. For more about women ritualists and their customs, visit course instructor Annie Cohen's website www.pullingatthreads.com.
Course Tools: All materials will be provided by the instructor.
Monday, 3:00 – 4:30 PM ET: Oct. 20, 27, Nov. 3, 10, 17, 24, Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22
Women's ritual and women ritualists in modern Yiddish literature
Course Goals: In the traditional Jewish world of Eastern Europe, some aspects of spiritual belief — like the evil eye or connection with ancestral spirits—were commonly thought of as "women's business." In many places, professional women — shprekherins (healers), klogerins (wailers), zogerins (preachers) and feldmesterins (cemetery measurers) — were even paid to conduct this business for their communities. This course will look at how these women and their rituals were depicted in Yiddish literature, reading excerpts from the work of Itsik Manger, Mendele Moykher Sforim, Itsik Meyer Dik, Sholem Aleichem, Moyshe Kulbak, Bella Chagall, Rokhl Brokhes, Kadya Molodovsky, Y. Y. Trunk, and others. The class will be conducted mostly in Yiddish with English explanations where needed, and many of the texts will be provided in English translation for those who need them. For more about women ritualists and their customs, visit course instructor Annie Cohen's website www.pullingatthreads.com.
Course Tools: All materials will be provided by the instructor.
