Shtetlization

[Peter Rushefsky <rushefsky_p...>]

Enjoyed Ari's musings on Shtetl romanticism, but also don't think the posting
tells the full story (which it probably wasn't meant to do).  Here's a couple
comments:

1)  As a fan of the European klezmer recreationists (Budowitz, Khevrisa, Di
Naye Kapelye-- sorry Josh and others to throw you guys together again), I think
the best bands are attempting to reclaim and celebrate the artistry of European
Jewish life.  I agree that in less-skilled hands this can degrade into
romanticism.  

2) I had a problem with the following statement Ari made:  

"the real flowering of Yiddish culture happened not in those towns, or the even
smaller villages, but in the cities--in places like Vilna, the Jerusalem of
Lithuania, or in Warsaw, where Habima and so much of Yiddish Theatre was born,
as was much Jewish socialist and Zionist political activity, or it happened in
the new industrial cities like Lodz, or New York. To be nostalgic, today, for
the shtetl is to romanticize poverty and disease and racism, as though that
represents the good old days"

Ouch!  One of the things that has impressed me in my readings of the Pale is
the extent and sophisticaiton of Jewish cultural and social organization in even
the smallest of settlements.  Just look at any of the small town Yiskor
translations (see them on www.jewishgen.org, which is emerging as a great
cultural treasure).  I'm amazed how in towns of a couple thousand Jews or less
the number of competing social and cultural movements were active (Haskalah,
Hasidism, Zionism, Bund, etc., etc.).  Yes, many of these movements arose from
the cultural capitals (Hasidism is an exception here), but there was a constant
flow of commerce, culture and ideas to the hinterlands.  Is there romanticism in
these Yiskor books?-- of course, but they clearly show the robustness and
strength of Jewish organizational instincts.  

Closer to our topic, at least a few authors have noted with some surprise that
even small villages could support professional klezmer kapelyes.  

Sorry for the pontificaiton-- this may have hit a nerve because I'm from a
smaller Jewish community.

Zay gesund, 
Pete Rushefsky
Buffalo, NY




>>> Ari Davidow 01/02 11:53 AM >>>
Judy,

As long as this has gone to the jewish-music list, let me publicly acknowledge
that the insight that what I am calling "re-shtetlization" has much to do with
the quest for community was yours. Thank you for discussing the article with me
while it was in progress.

ari

At 11:02 AM 1/2/01 -0500, you wrote:
>Ari:
>I actually took a few minutes just now and read your article on the
>'shtetlization' thing.
>
>Actually, I thought it was very good and you're making some important
>points for people to think about. Kol HaKovod.
>
>
>Judy


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