A Bridge of Books: The Story of the National Yiddish Book Center 2001
Distributed by Filmakers Library, 124 East 40th Street, New York, NY 10016; 202-808-4980
Produced by Sam Ball
Directed by Sam Ball
VHS, color, 13 min.
Jr. High - Adult
Jewish Studies
Date Entered: 05/16/2006
Reviewed by Debra Mandel, Head, Media Center, Northeastern University Libraries, Boston, MAIn A Bridge of Books: The Story of the National Yiddish Book Center, Center founder Aaron Lansky narrates the touching story of this enterprise, which evolved in 1980 when, as a student of Yiddish, he lamented the scarcity of Yiddish material. At that time, Yiddish books were only available from “either an obscure book dealer in Amsterdam or a garbage pail in Brooklyn.” Even then, Yiddish was a dying language, and many Yiddish-speaking Jews had perished in the Holocaust. Aaron put up a simple Yiddish sign in a Jewish shop in New York requesting books and soon received phone calls from elderly Jews willing to help. Almost overnight, Aaron’s avocation was born, and he developed a special bond with his donors who were delighted that a young person shared their passion. The growing mountain of books, which Aaron and volunteers collected, found a new home in Amherst, Massachusetts.
Today the National Yiddish Book Center includes over 1.5 million books and 30,000 members; it is one of the largest Jewish cultural centers in the country, with the motto, “You don't need to know Yiddish to enjoy our programs!” This brief video serves as both a tribute to the Center and Aaron’s zeal to preserve the Yiddish language and spread the literature to others. Well filmed and paced, with pleasant Klezmer background music, this documentary will appeal mostly to Jewish groups, academics, librarians, archivists, and book lovers. Members of all cultural groups will be inspired by the success of Aaron’s mission.
You might be interested in reading Aaron’s book, Outwitting History or learning more about the National Yiddish Book Center and their events.