Image Source: פֿאָרװערטס, Friday, January 03, 1975
Der Dibek (The Dybbuk) is a play of Jewish folklore written by the renowned Jewish playwright S. Ansky. Ansky, who lived in the Russian city of Vitebsk, originally published the play in Russian but later translated it into Yiddish. The above image is an advertisement that appeared in the The Forward newspaper about a performance of Der Dibek at the 92nd Street Y. The Forward is an American publication that is still published monthly in New York City for an American-Jewish audience in both English and Yiddish. It has a very progressive political alignment and was first published in 1897, which emphasizes that the publication has been part of the Jewish culture in New York for more than a century.
This particular production of Der Dibek was performed at the 92nd Street Y in the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The 92nd Street Y has been presenting performing arts programs since its inception in 1874 and was an important hub of Yiddish theater in the 20th century. In 1919 the Y opened its own school of music and 9 years later, Henry Kaufmann of Pittsburgh donated a gift of $200,000 to build the Theresa L. Kaufmann Auditorium as a memorial to his wife. Many productions of Jewish plays and musicals were performed in this auditorium. In addition, the event detailed in the advertisement was hosted by Der Arbeter Ring, or The Workmen’s Circle. Der Arbeter Ring is an American Jewish nonprofit organization that promotes social and economic justice, Jewish community and education, including Yiddish studies, and Ashkenazic culture. The organization has existed in New York since 1930 and currently operates schools and Yiddish education programs, and year-round programs of concerts, lectures and secular holiday celebrations.
The performance of Der Dibek was significant as the play is a revered work of Yiddish literature and culture. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, a dybbuk is, “A malicious, possessing spirit believed to be the dislocated soul of a dead person.” The play takes place in the shtetl of Brinitz in the Pale of Settlements and centers around a young girl named Leah. On the day of her wedding, Leah appears to be possessed by a dybbuk. It is later revealed that Leah was possessed by Khanan, a young man who was in love with her but dropped dead upon learning of Leah’s engagement to Menashe. The play is also significant in that it demonstrates the influence of Eastern European culture on the Jewish arts.
Translation of the Advertisement:
The Workmen’s Circle and 92nd Street Y Present:
A Modern Interpretation of S. Ansky’s “The Dybbuk”
Monday, January 6th at 7:30 in the evening
Wednesday, January 8th at 8:00 in the evening
Saturday, January 11th at 8:00 in the evening
Monday, January 13th at 8:00 in the evening
Tuesday, January 12th at 5:30 in the afternoon
Tickets are $5.00 to receive in the 92nd Street Y
1395 Lexington Avenue, New York 10028
For Workmen’s Circle Members – $2.50
(If reservations will be made 3 days before the performance)
References:
https://www.92y.org/about/timeline
https://circle.org/who-we-are/our-history/
http://www.yivoencyclopedia.org/article.aspx/Dybbuk_The
