Shtetl Fabulous

The shtetl (Yiddish for “small town”) is one of the most recognized symbols of Jewish life in Eastern Europe before the Holocaust. But what exactly was it? Since the mid-nineteenth century, Yiddish writers have mythologized, mocked, and memorialized the shtetl. In this four-session course, explore literary representations of the shtetl ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous. How has the shtetl been portrayed, and why does it still have such a strong hold on the Jewish imagination? Back after her hit Melton class, “Yiddish: Wanted Dead or Alive”, join Yiddish culture expert Dr. Rachel Seelig as she explores the ups and downs of shtetl living.