Yom HaAtzmaut with Burstyn, Trinh, Sharfstein, Zaks

This week we observe Yom HaAtzmaut (Israel Independence Day) talking with Mike Burstyn, Miriam Trinh, Eli Sharfstein and Avremi Zaks.

Mike Burstyn is a distinguished actor and singer known for his roles in Yiddish, Hebrew, and English theater and film across Israeli, American, and international stages. Recently, he starred in the German comedy drama The Zweiflers, awarded Best Series at the 7th annual Canneseries festival in April 2024. Burstyn first gained prominence in Israel as a child actor with his family's troupe, The Four Bursteins, and later through significant roles in The Megillah of Itzik Manger (1965) and Two Kuni Lemel (1966).

Miriam Trinh is the editor-in-chief of Afn Shvel, teaching Yiddish language and literature at Hebrew University and online platforms like Workers Circle and YIVO. She has written for the Yiddish Forward (Forverts), including the interview with Tzili Venkert described on our show and a recent article published post-show, "לכּבֿוד יום-הזכּרון זאָל דער געדענק־פּלאַקאַט פֿון קיבוץ בארי נישט לאָזן פֿאַרגעסן." Trinh moved to Israel after high school and resides in Jerusalem with her family.

Eli Sharfstein is a contemporary poet and writer living in the Israeli kibbutz Ma’agan Michael. Born in Vilna and moved to Israel in 1972, he is a veteran of the Yom Kippur war. He has published two books of Yiddish poems, פּלוצעם ייִדיש and מײַן ווילנער זאַוווּליק.

Avremi Zaks the host and producer of the weekly Israeli Yiddish radio program "Kan Yidish." He was born in Israel and lives in Jerusalem with his wife and children.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Beit HaLochem (Los Angeles): https://www.israeliwoundedveterans.org
• The Zweiflers TV series starring Mke Burstyn, home page
• League for Yiddish: https://leagueforyiddish.org
• Afn Shvel Issue #400-401 at League for Yiddish
• Yiddish Forward (Forverts): https://forward.com/yiddish/
• Forverts Article on Interview with Tzili Venkert, grandmother of hostage Omar Venkert
• Yiddish Branzhe: https://yiddishbranzhe.com
• Kan Yiddish (כאן יידיש) archive (Avremi Zaks's Yiddish radio show)

Music/recordings:

• Dovid Esheth: Yerusholayim Shtot fun Gold
• Moshe Stern: A Gezang Tzu Yisroel
• Barry Sisters: Vi Ahin Zol Ikh Geyn
• Yakov Sandler: Tel Aviv
• Richard Inger: Israel
• Leo Fuld: Vi Ahin Zol Ikh Geyn
• Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz

Air date: May 8, 2024