Isaac Bashevis Singer: Writings on Yiddish and Yiddishkayt

From the late 1950s, as Isaac Bashevis Singer became a major figure in American letters- one of the first Yiddish authors to do so- the future Nobel Laureate thought deeply about the fate of Yiddish culture in posterity. In this provocative series of essays, he advocates for Yiddish as a unique symbol of spiritual power in the face of adversity, a symbol forged during centuries of Jewish exile. Diaspora assimilation may continue apace, while a Hebrew-speaking homeland grows in population, and yet Yiddish remains inseparable from Jewishness- because, Singer writes, " what Yiddish has created can never be lost."

In a lucid translation by David Stromberg, who also provides thoughtful introductions to each piece, Singer' s prose is captured in all its persuasive verve and precision. From his central theme of Yiddish as the animating pulse of Jewish life, Singer shines a light on the gravest threats to wider civilized society.

A fiery love letter to Yiddish, alive with psychological nuance and startling insight, this volume confirms Singer as not only a profound philosopher of human nature, but a social critic for the ages.