Tag Archives: Poetry

I, the Keidaner

The song below was composed by “Yankele Moshe Yoneh’s, also known as Braverman” and appeared in the Keidan Association’s 1930 Anniversary book. A note says it is meant to be sung to the tune of a popular Yiddish marching song … Continue reading →

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Hirshel Bloshtein, Yiddish Poet

By Monty Starr (Birmingham, UK) Hirshel Bloshtein 1895-1978 My mother’s uncle was the well-published Yiddish author Hirshel Bloshtein. Hirshel lived in Czernowitz from 1932 until his death in 1978. Hirshel was born in Kėdainiai, Lithuania to Dovid Bloshtein, a poor … Continue reading →

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My Brother

By Hirsh Bloshtein First published in the anthology “Horizons” in Moscow in 1965. (“Composed after the author’s visit to the mass grave in Keidan.”) Reprinted in the 1977 Keidan Yizkor Book.  “In memory of my brother, Mane-Yosl, the wonderful storyteller.“  … Continue reading →

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Mama

By David Wolpe From the 1977 Keidan Yizkor Book.  Nineteen forty-one. May In Lithuania the sun is molten with red lead   Father says, with sadness in his face, that Mother, unfortunately, is lying in hospital   I waited not … Continue reading →

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My Youth in Keidan

By Hirsh Bloshtein From the 1977 Keidan Yizkor Book.  My youth in Keidan, come back to me, I just want to hear your voice once more It’s not yet time to say the final “stop” and cut the string for … Continue reading →

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Keidan, My Town

By Nathan Berger (Meyer Yanusevers) Originally published (in Yiddish) in the 1950 anniversary booklet of the Keidaner Society of Johannesburg. Reprinted in the 1977 Keidan Yizkor Book.  With simple words, in a few score lines I will set down, to … Continue reading →

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Thinkers and Doers

From “Yahadut Lita” Vol. 3, Tel Aviv, 1967.  Einhorn, Aharon (1884-1942) Journalist, born in Keidan. He studied Talmud until he was 17. Completed secondary school in Paris, afterwards studied at the Sorbonne. He began his career as a journalist in … Continue reading →

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My Vanished Keidan

By Pesach Weitzer-Chittin (Beit Zera, Israel) Writing down memories of the town where you were born and spent close to 40 years evokes strong longings and yearnings. It is many times more difficult to write about the town whose Jews, … Continue reading →

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