My interest in Yiddish Literature was sparked in November of 2013 when Yale University Press kindly gave me the then nine volume Yale Yiddish Library (now expanded to ten). I knew next to nothing about Yiddish literature so I was eager to expand my reading life into a brand new to area. I began with a collection of short stories by I. L. Peretz. (Born 1852, died 1915, from Poland).
Since then I have posted upon seven of his short stories. Today’s story, “Bryna’s Mendel” in just a few pages lets us see how Yiddish women held society and their families together while their men studied religious texts and supported the activities of their faith. Mendel was considered not real intelligent by those who knew him but all admired his devoted to his synagogue and his studies of the Talmud, he did one very smart thing as a young man, he married Bryna. Byrna was totally devoted to her husband, she said her biggest wish is to be his footstool in heaven. She started a grocery store and supported six children over decades, getting them all well married while Mendel brought in nothing. Mendel’s dream was when the children were all married to move to Palestine. Just as they are ready to move, Brnya, who did not think the move a good idea, dies. The story ends as a neighbour comes in the house to see why Mendel is screaming. He had lost everything.
I found this a very moving story. I admit I could see myself in 1900 or so in a Polish shtetl relying on my wife, figuring it is how things should be, to do everything.
ISAAC LEYBUSH PERETZ is heralded as one of the most significant figures of modern Jewish culture. Born in 1852 in Zamosc, a small city in Poland, he was well schooled in Jewish ideology as well as secular/ Christian literature. Peretz began his literary career writing Hebrew poetry in the 1870s and practiced law until a false accusation ended his career. His new job was as an official in charge of the Jewish cemeteries in Warsaw; while not as lucrative, the position gave him more time to dedicate to his writing and his socialist activities. A great proponent of Yiddish as a national language of the Jewish people, he received vast acclaim as a Yiddish writer. When he died in 1915, one hundred thousand people followed his coffin to the cemetery. I read this story in Beautiful as the Moon, Radiant as the Stars, Jewish Women in Yiddish Stories.
It can also be read in The I. L. Peretz Reader published by Yale University Press.
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