Enjoyment in translation - The Jewish Standard

Miriam Rinn’s Dec. 23 article “Schlemiel the first a charmer” carried the subhead, “Yet, alas, some of its Yiddish flavor is lost in translation.” I was charmed as never before by “Schlemiel the First” in English. Although I do not speak Yiddish, I am long-time fan of Folksbiene’s “Yiddish Theater.” This English translation added greatly to my enjoyment of the performance. My attention no longer had to be divided between reading the translation above the stage and the actions taking place on it. For the first time, I was able to focus completely on the feeling of a Yiddish story and its characters. I plan to take my 9-year-old granddaughter to see the play before it closes. And I congratulate Bryna Wasserman on her courage!

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