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Recording Content:
This recording is a continuation of a formal interview with Iosif Kunovich Burg in Chernivtsi, Ukraine on May 16, 2003. (Part 4 of 5. See MDV 405, MDV 406, MDV 407, and MDV 409)
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00:00:00
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Burg discusses prewar Jewish life in Chernivtsi. He then talks about his travels to Zurich, Switzerland, when he spent time at a reform community there. He recounts the differences in religious service. Burg then discusses the modernization of Jewish life during the Enlightenment period. |
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00:10:01
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Burg mentions his schooling at a Romanian school in Chernivtsi, as well as his cheder education with the teacher (melamed) Shloyme Hersh. From his childhood, Burg recalls different stories told by Eliezer Steinberg, with whom Burg studied at the Teacher’s Seminary. |
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00:16:55
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Burg briefly talks about prewar Jewish life in Vyzhnytsya and discusses the connotation of “geyen in bod arayn.” He then talks about Eliezer Steinberg and the stories Burg remembers him telling. Burg then discusses his young adult life. He was a member of the youth organization Hashomer Hatzair. He then joined the “Yiddisher Shulfarayn” (Yiddish School Union), headed by Steinberg. He recalls various Yiddish writers, such as Itzik Manger, Shloyme Bikl, and Moyshe Altman, who would attend evening events. He then talks about contemporary academic events in Chernivtsi, before Burg discusses prewar Yiddish culture and theater, as well as cultural events organized by the Yiddish School Union. In particular, Burg talks about the second Czernowitz Yiddish conference, held in 1928, and publication of the Czernowitzer Bleter. The publication was closed down in 1938. Burg remembers the well-attended funeral of Eliezer Steinberg in 1932. |
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00:34:37
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Burg talks about Yiddish culture after Perestroika and the founding of the “Yidishe kultkurgezelshaft Eliezer Steinberg” (Yiddish Cultural Association), which republished the Czernowitzer Bleter based on the prewar format, upon Burg’s initiative. Burg remembers that during Stalin’s terror after the war and the persecution of Jewish intellectuals, Jewish cultural activists burned any traces of Yiddish press, especially the entire Czernowitzer Bleter. Burg then shows a copy of the contemporary Czernowitzer Bleter. |
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00:45:41
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Burg talks about his career and recognition as Yiddish writer, inspired and professionalized during the “zumer kolone” (summer camp) ran by Eliezer Steinberg. |
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00:54:11
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Burg talks about his life as a Yiddish writer after the war, during Soviet rule. He lived in Chelyabinsk, Russia during evacuation. According to him, he did not have many opportunities to get his work published. Burg came to Moscow in 1945 to talk to the editor of Eynikayt, who encouraged him to write for the newspaper. Burg was not allowed to return to Chernivtsi and sent to study at the Ivanovo State Pedagogical Institute instead. Burg then talks about his studies at the institute, whose director was Levin. Burg met Dovid Hofshteyn, who published a children’s book together with Ful beShames* at the Russian center, which was part of the institute. |
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