The Remarkable Life and Afterlife of Sholem Aleichem

This episode of New Books in Biography & Memoir features a rich conversation about Sholem Aleichem, the legendary Yiddish writer, with author Jeremy Dauber and moderator Adam Kirsch. Jonathan Brent, executive director of the Evo Institute, opens with a poignant reflection on visiting Sholem Aleichem’s museum in Kiev, lamenting the neglect of Eastern European Jewish heritage and the fragility of cultural memory. The discussion explores Sholem Aleichem’s literary ambition, his complex relationship with language—particularly his passionate defense of Yiddish as a vehicle for high literature—and his role as a cultural bridge across Jewish identities. Dauber emphasizes Sholem Aleichem’s dual nature: the beloved storyteller of Tevye and the shtetl, and the sharp-eyed critic of Jewish communal self-sabotage and ideological naivety. The conversation delves into his afterlife, including how his stories were adapted into Fiddler on the Roof, repurposed by Soviet theater, and transformed into folk songs, illustrating how his work transcends its origins. The episode also touches on his personal life, his children’s multilingual upbringing, and his unfulfilled dream of emigrating to Palestine. Ultimately, the discussion affirms Sholem Aleichem’s enduring relevance as a writer who captures universal human struggles—optimism, hubris, loss, and resilience—through a uniquely Jewish lens.