Between Two Worlds: Yiddish Books in Translation series
The South San Francisco Public Library is proud to present "Between Two Worlds," a cultural exploration series made possible by a grant from the Yiddish Book Center. This multi-month program invites community members to discover the rich literary and cultural heritage of Yiddish-speaking communities through works in translation, complemented by films, discussions, and workshops led by librarians and cultural educators.
Beginning in March 2026, we'll explore essential works of Yiddish literature alongside events that brings these stories to life. Whether you're curious about Jewish cultural history, interested in immigrant narratives, or simply love discovering new literary traditions, this series offers accessible entry points for learners at all levels. Join us for individual events or follow the entire series as we bridge past and present through the timeless power of storytelling.
Featured Books: A limited number of free copies of the upcoming discussion books will be available at the Library | Parks & Recreation Center's 3rd Floor Adult Services Desk.
Program Schedule
March 2026
Book Discussion: A Jewish Refugee in New York by Kadya Molodovsky - Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 6:30 PM, Library | Parks & Recreation Center's 2nd Floor Community Room
Our inaugural book discussion of the Between Two Worlds series. Molodowsky's semi-autobiographical novel follows young Yiddish woman's arrival in New York City during World War II, navigating the tensions between her European cultural heritage and American life while grappling with the devastating news from war-torn Europe. This work captures the psychological and emotional landscape of displacement, offering an intimate view of immigrant experience, artistic survival, and the struggle to maintain cultural identity in a new world.
Resources
May 2026 - Jewish American Heritage Month
Book Discussion: Tevye the Dairyman by Sholem Aleichem - Monday, May 4, 2026 at 5 PM, Library | Parks & Recreation Center's City Council Chambers
The beloved stories that inspired Fiddler on the Roof, presented in their original literary form. Sholem Aleichem's Tevye is more than a lovable character—he's a complex portrait of a man navigating modernization, poverty, and the tensions between tradition and change in turn-of-the-century Russia. Through Tevye's monologues filled with humor, biblical references, and hard-won wisdom, these stories reveal the daily struggles and spiritual resilience of shtetl life while exploring timeless questions about faith, family, and survival in an uncertain world.
Resources
Film Screening: Fiddler: Miracle of Miracles - Monday, May 4, 2026 at 6 PM, Library | Parks & Recreation Center's City Council Chambers
This engaging documentary explores the extraordinary cultural impact of Fiddler on the Roof, tracing how a story rooted in specific Yiddish source material became a universal tale of tradition, family, and resilience. Through interviews with scholars, actors, and creators—including insight into the original Broadway production and its many adaptations worldwide—the film examines why Fiddler resonates across cultures and generations, while also grappling with questions of authenticity, appropriation, and what happens when a distinctly Jewish story becomes "everyone's story."
Film screening following our discussion of Sholem Aleichem's original stories
Cap off Jewish-American Heritage Month with a day of celebration! We'll start with a family‑friendly Storytime in the Youth Library, featuring picture books and songs that explore Jewish traditions, culture, and identity.
Later in the morning, patrons of all ages are invited to drop in to the Makerspace for Jewish Papercutting, a hands‑on art activity inspired by Eastern European Jewish folk art—no experience required and all materials provided.
The celebration concludes with a lively Yiddish Dance Workshop led by Bruce Bierman, where participants will learn traditional Yemenite, Hasidic, klezmer, and folk dances in an inclusive, welcoming environment.
Storytime: Saturday, May 30, 2026 at 10:30 AM, Library | Parks & Recreation Center's 2nd Floor Youth Library
Jewish Papercutting - Saturday, May 30, 2026 at 11 AM, Library | Parks & Recreation Center's 2nd Floor Makerspace
Yiddish Dance Workshop - Saturday, May 30, 2026 at 11:30 AM, Library | Parks and Recreation Center's Large Dance Studio
Instructor Bruce Bierman is a celebrated Jewish dance leader and meyvn known for his joyful, inclusive, and whimsical approach to teaching. With warmth, humor, and a deep love of tradition, Bruce gets everyone on the dance floor—circling, spiraling, and connecting through dances rooted in Yemenite, Mizrachi, Khasidic, Sephardic, klezmer and classic Israeli traditions. His transformative dance workshops have brought communities together across the West Coast, inviting dancers of all backgrounds to rediscover the ecstasy and soul at the heart of Jewish culture. Where there is Bruce, there is truly a party—and an unforgettable experience of movement, music, and connection.
September 2026
Book Discussion: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee - DATE AND TIME TBD
This multigenerational saga follows a Korean family's journey from Japanese-occupied Korea to Japan, exploring themes of displacement, cultural identity, and the immigrant experience across generations. Selected for its resonance with central themes in Yiddish literature—diaspora, resilience in the face of discrimination, and the preservation of cultural heritage in hostile environments—this modern classic offers contemporary perspective on the enduring questions of belonging and survival that connect diverse immigrant narratives.
Selected from the Yiddish Book Center's curated list of thematically related works
Resources - Coming Soon!
- About the Author
- Discussion Guide
- Historical Context
November 2026
Book Discussion: The Zelmenyaners by Moyshe Kulbak - DATE AND TIME TBD
Set in 1930s Soviet Minsk, this darkly comedic novel follows the sprawling Zelmenyaner family as they navigate the absurdities and dangers of life under Stalin's regime. Through the chaotic household of the Zelmenyaners—with their scheming, their survival strategies, and their stubborn vitality—Kulbak creates a tragicomic portrait of Jewish life caught between tradition and revolutionary ideology. Written with sharp wit and deep compassion, this rediscovered masterwork captures a vanished world on the brink of catastrophe, offering both intimate family drama and a window into a pivotal moment in Eastern European Jewish history.
Resources - Coming Soon!
- About the Author
- Discussion Guide
- Historical Context
These events are presented as part of the Yiddish Book Center’s Public Libraries Program, a partnership with the American Library Association. Made possible by the Lilly Endowment, Inc.