Honor Wall
In honor or memory of your loved one, or friends, or your Yiddish heritage.
Tony Phillips
My connection to Yiddish might be typical for a California native of my generation. My grandparents Carol and Irving grew up speaking Yiddish but, living in New York City, spoke it mainly to avoid being understood by their children and grandchildren. In contrast, Uncle Joseph, who immigrated when older, mainly spoke and read Yiddish, and his English was limited and thickly accented. That generation’s origins in the Yiddish-speaking world is a treasure to be passed on to subsequent generations who enjoy easier circumstances.
August 2019
Jacob Koff
Three of my grandparents were born here but becoming American meant being Jewish was the religion only. They did not think Yiddish important enough to teach to their descendents. Our home was devoid of Yiddish literature (in any language) and music. My father, who played 4 instruments and (to my later surprise) knew traditional Yiddish songs, never played them or taught them to us. When he bought me the Yiddish Fake Book, I fell in love. The more I played, the more crushing the realization of what was lost. Thank goodness for those who work to preserve this beautiful culture.
August 2019
Harvey Leonard Gotliffe
TO HONOR
those who have taught me so much about life, in and out of classrooms, and are no longer around to offer me more of an education. I am grateful for the opportunity I had to share time, thoughts, and love with each of them: Misha Caspi, Gordon Greb, Michael Ego, Jimi Yamaichi, Great Uncle Samuel Goldsmith, Chayale Ash, Leonard Salle, Chungliang Al Huang, Jack Fields, Robert Dale Johnson, Roger Tatarian, Wallace Sheldon Shanbrom, Edith Tarjan, and my dear parents Hilda and Henry Gotliffe
June 2019
Millie Chazin
IN MEMORY OF
Julian Chazin, Beckie & Abraham Becker
In memory of my husband, Julian Chazin, and my parents, Beckie (Rivka Sklar) Becker and Abraham (Abie) Becker who did not let me forget our Yiddish language and culture and who inspired me to learn more of our history and to work to perpetuate our Yiddish culture
Pinny [Paul] Switzer
IN HONOR OF
Teachers at the Peretz School
I wish to honor my teachers at the Peretz School in Winnipeg, Canada, 1945-1952. We had classes in Yiddish all morning Monday through Friday on an array of subjects, starting with learning to read and write, and progressing through history, literature, tanakh, and Hebrew language. These teachers included Lapin, Zolf, Cantor, Halper, Greenberg, Tseitlin, Taft, and Fiterman.
April 2019
Judith Offer
IN MEMORY OF
Sigmund & Rosa Spitzer
I was raised a Catholic, but my paternal great grandparents, Sigmund and Rosa Spitzer, were Orthodox Jews. They immigrated in 1905 from Hungary to Niagara Falls, opening the first kosher restaurant in upstate New York. Their son, my “Grampa Rudy,” married a Catholic; their children were raised Catholic. I married a Jew, Stuart Offer. My work includes two plays based on Jewish themes/history, “A Shirtwaist Tale” and “It Could Always be Worse; a poem about Yiddish published in J Magazine, and one coming out in September in “CCAR Journal: A Reform Jewish Quarterly,” “On Studying Sacred Texts.”
April 2019
Nava Shaham
IN HONOR OF
Talia Shaham
for her hard work for KlezCalifornia and her extended family.
April 2019
Preeva Tramiel & Leonard Tramiel
IN MEMORY OF
Chaya Adler
February 2019
Elaine Moise & Bob Grodsky:
IN MEMORY OF
Joseph & Lillian Grodsky
who loved the Yiddish language and culture.
February 2019
Robin Braverman
IN MEMORY OF
Pauline & Andres "Bundy" Lang
my maternal grandparents.
February 2019
Judy Kunofsky
IN MEMORY OF
Pauline (Levine) Kunofsky
& Israel Kunofsky
my parents.
February 2019
Howard Freedman
L'KOVED
Judy Kunofsky
January 2019
Betsy Eckstein
IN HONOR OF
Renee Enteen
January 2019
Lea Delson
IN MEMORY OF
Michael J. Harrison
I am remembering my beloved Uncle, Michael J. Harrison, who knew a lot more Yiddish than I do! He was a physicist, a college professor, college Dean, and researcher. He had a great sense of humor and great devotion to the Jewish people, loved good food and good company, travel and information. He was a very warm, caring and loving person and uncle. He passed away on April 7, 2018 at age 85 in East Lansing, Michigan, and is survived by his devoted wife Ann Tukey Harrison. May his soul be bound in the bounds of eternal life.
September 2018