Outwitting History: The Amazing Adventures of a Man Who Rescued a Million Yiddish Books by Aaron Lansky | Algonquin Books Paperback | Perfect for Jewish History Enthusiasts & Book Collectors
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Product Description
"In 1980, a twenty-three-year-old student named Aaron Lansky set out to rescue the world's abandoned Yiddish books before it was too late. Precious volumes that had survived Hitler and Stalin were being passed down from older generations of Jewish immigrants to their non-Yiddish-speaking children - only to be thrown away or destroyed. With little more than his own chutzpah, Lansky issued a worldwide appeal for unwanted Yiddish books, and the response was overwhelming." "Outwitting History is an adventure tale filled with unforgettable characters and told with the exuberance of a man whose passion led him from house to house, country to country, collecting treasured books and heartfelt, often hilarious stores of the vibrant intellectual world these older Jews inhabited. Lansky and a team of young volunteers crisscrossed America, shlepping books from attics and basements, demolition sites and dumpsters, while shmoozing with their owners, who insisted on feeding them a little nosh - gefilte fish, kasha, blintzes, latkes, kugel - before handing over, one book at a time, their beloved literary heritage." When Lansky started out, experts believed that fewer than 70,000 Yiddish-language books still existed. Twenty-five years and 1.5 million books later, the organization Lansky founded, the National Yiddish Book Center, is one of the largest and fastest-growing Jewish cultural groups in the world. As he takes us along on his journey, Lansky explores the roots of the Yiddish language and introduces us to the Yiddish writers - from Mendele to Sholem Aleichem to I. B. Singer - whose lasting cultural relevance is evident on every page.
Customer Reviews
In reading Lansky's book, I experienced the similar thrill of an evening of going from one Jewish home to another eating the first superb meal followed by an extravaganza of delectable dishes in the next homes, and then mouth watering desserts at yet another home. These extraordinary feasts represent the outstanding features of Lansky's book. He examines the Yiddish language, culture and diversity, and all who have contributed to making these important aspects of Judaism persevere over centuries. He brought to life Jewish writers, scholars, philosophers, politicians, artists, philanthropists, comedians, artists, survivors of the Holocaust, ordinary Jews living decent lives, and decades of Jews lost in pogroms, ousted from almost every country in the world, despised, vilified, tortured and ultimately put to death. Lansky accomplished this with poignancy, intelligent writing, and humor. All of the idiosyncrasies and concerns of his characters, real people with names and places, made for fascinating reading.So much of Yiddish writing and literatures concerns itself with Yiddishkeit, what it means to be Jewish, and how it plays a role in the day to day lives of all Jews. The writings teach us about humanity, performance of mitzvahs, regard for one's fellow man, respect for education, and continuity of family and tradition. Lansky has helped many of us who fail to understand why we cling to our roots in this modern world; we go to shul maybe once or twice a year, have an occasional Passover dinner, or attend a children's Purim festival. His book has served as a wake up call. There is more to Yiddishkeit than marginal participation. He has opened my eyes to the extensive world of Yiddish literature. Even though my memory of the language is vague and I can only read a little in Yiddish, the fact that these books are now available in English translation is a phenomenal achievement. Up until now, I have read only books by Isaac Bashevis Singer and Malamud; available is a myriad of genius writers that I can access.When the feast ended, I realized the feat of his travail. His book is a testimony to the efforts of one, and many others as well, to preserve our Jewish history and language. Lansky made me laugh and cry from page to page as he educated me in the re-appreciation of Yiddishkeit.
