Join us at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, April 23, 2014 at the Siegel Jewish Community Center for the launch of the JHSD’s newest publication. This attractive volume is an artful translation of poems written by Rabbi Simon Krinsky and originally published in Yiddish in 1936. This work, is now available to a wider audience in the skillful and sensitive translations of Rabbi Edward Zerin.
The JHSD program will feature Rabbi Peter Grumbacher who will introduce the book and Yiddish scholar, Ruth Fisher Goodman, will read selected poems. Archivist Gail Pietrzyk will talk about the adventure of transcontinental proofreading with Rabbi Zerin.
Copies of A Tribute to my Teacher Rabbi Simon Krinsky will be available at the program.
Rabbi Peter Grumbacher to introduce A Tribute to My Teacher Rabbi Simon Krinsky, a new book by Rabbi Edward Zerin
The Jewish Historical Society of Delaware will hold its annual meeting on Wednesday, April 23, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. at the Bernard and Ruth Siegel Jewish Community Center, 101 Garden of Eden Road, Wilmington, Delaware 19803.
Rabbi Peter Grumbacher, Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Beth Emeth, will introduce to the Delaware community the JHSD’s new publication, A Tribute to My Teacher Rabbi Simon Krinsky: His Poetry until 1936 by Rabbi Edward Zerin. Yiddish scholar, Ruth Fisher Goodman, will read selected poems from the collection. A brief video of Rabbi Edward Zerin will also be shown.
Seating is limited in the Jewish Community Center auditorium and reservations are recommended. All are welcome to share the JHSD annual meeting which is open to the public free of charge. Light refreshments will follow the meeting. Please RSVP by April 20 to 302-655-6232, email jhsdel@yahoo.com or make a reservation now.
Rabbi Zerin in 1933 was a Bar Mitzvah student of Rabbi Krinsky and refers to him as “my teacher for life.” Although Rabbi Krinsky was a distinguished published author in Hebrew and Yiddish, the JHSD believes this book of sixty poems to be his first work translated into English.
Well-known and beloved to older Delawareans, Rabbi Krinsky had served in many congregations in Delaware as a religious leader, or Hebrew school teacher. Upon retiring from his role as Hebrew School director at Congregation Beth Emeth in 1963, Krinsky became the rabbi of Temple Beth El’s fledgling congregation and served there until his retirement in 1970. Rabbi Krinsky was the founder, editor and publisher of the Jewish Voice, and later sold the paper to the Jewish Federation of Delaware.
In Rabbi Zerin’s tribute, the Yiddish and the English translation appear side-by-side on facing pages. Organizations committed to the preservation of Yiddish are extensive in the U.S. and have been seeking copies of the book for their followers.
Rabbi Grumbacher, who provided the book’s Introduction, is well-known for his long, distinguished leadership of Congregation Beth Emeth until his retirement five years ago. He frequently appears in “The Rabbis’ Voices” column in The Jewish Voice. He comments that, “Our community did not fully appreciate all that Rabbi Krinsky brought with him from Europe. In part, that is because Rabbi Krinsky did not flaunt his scholarship or his literary abilities.”
Ruth Fisher Goodman was educated at the Workmen’s Circle Yiddish School in NYC where her teacher was Yudel Mark. She is a retired reading specialist and now teaches Yiddish and courses in Judaic Studies at the University of Delaware Continuing Education Program. Her translation of Der Yidisher Poyps by Yudel Mark is her third award-winning book. Her other three books are: Yeshiva Boy, Pen Pals (ages 9-13) and Easy Steps to the Hebrew Aleph Bet.
Gail Pietrzyk, the JHSD archivist, will also speak at the meeting about working with Rabbi Zerin to bring the book to life. Coordinating with Rabbi Zerin, who lives in California, she handled the myriad details of publication, such as font, paper, cover, printer, ISBN number, editing and proofreading of drafts. She is a professional archivist who has served the JHSD for over 10 years. She has been the JHSD liaison with the Delaware Historical Society where the JHSD archives are maintained.
“The JHSD was honored to have the privilege of bringing this unique publication, with roots in Delaware, to life,” said Dan Kristol, JHSD President.
“Fascinating introductory comments by Rabbi Zerin on the Krinsky family, Hebrew transliterations, ‘My Teacher,’ why he undertook the translation and his acknowledgements greatly add to the reader’s appreciation of Rabbi Zerin’s accomplishment,” added Kristol.