Playing with English and Yiddish words:
Yermiyahu Ahron Taub

eYiddish speaks with Yermiyahu Ahron Taub about his new book of poems, What Stillness Illuminated/Vos shtilkayt hot baloykhtn. The poems are like snapshots or sketches, composed of English and Yiddish words, which capture moments of change or revelation in the lives of their protagonists. The poet also provides an afterword, where he reflects on some of his challenges and strategies as well as his own relationship to Yiddish. Through wide-ranging play with English and Yiddish words, Taub has created a work that will enchant readers in both languages.

Listen to the interview with Yermiyahu Ahron Taub, in which he discusses his motivations in writing this book and hear him read selected poems in English and Yiddish.

About the Author

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Yermiyahu Ahron Taub has been active in new Yiddish culture for over fifteen years. He was a longtime member of the Yugntruf shraybkrayz (writers’ circle) and is currently a board member of Yiddish of Greater Washington. In addition to What Stillness Illuminated/Vos shtilkayt hot baloykhtn (West Lafayette, Ind.: Parlor Press, 2008), he is the author of The Insatiable Psalm (Hershey, Pa.: Wind River Press, 2005). His Yiddish language poems have appeared in such publications as Der bavebter Yid, Five Fingers Review, Forverts, Jews, Lilliput Review, Tsukunft, and Yugntruf. He lives in Washington, D.C.

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Credits:

• Photo: Ken Giese
• Music at end of the interview: Shimon Ben-Shir Group