Stories

Wonder of Wonders: A Cultural History of Fiddler on the Roof
In her new book, Columbia University professor and former Village Voice theater critic Alisa Solomon chronicles the transformation of Sholem Aleichem's Tevye stories into Fiddler on the Roof, the longest running Broadway show during its original lifetime. A fifth Broadway revival has been announced for 2015.

Alisa Solomon Interview
In this 20-minute interview with Pereyaslav KehilaLinks co-creator Bob Levy, Solomon discusses how 20th century America romanticized the image of the shtetl, a reinterpretation of history that laid the groundwork for Fiddler on the Roof's popularization of Sholem Aleichem's original material. (Depending on your browser, you may need to approve loading the embedded audio player. Patience may also be required to allow the player and the content to load.)

Ellis Island Oral History Project
In 1973 the National Park Service began an oral history project to document the memories of immigrants who had come through Ellis Island which the Park Service oversees. More than 2,000 interviews were recorded and are in the public domain. While no interviews were done with immigrants from Pereyaslav, one was recorded with an immigrant from nearby Kiev, and the subject's memories help paint a personal portrait of life in the Kiev and Poltava gubernias in the early 20th century and the immigration experience of Jews from that region.

Elizabeth Friedman
Born in Kiev in 1902, Elizabeth Friedman emigrated to America with her family in 1914 and settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Sadly, Mrs. Friedman died two years after this 42 minute recording was made in 1989. (Depending on your browser, you may need to approve loading the embedded audio player. Patience may also be required to allow the player and the content to load.)

Sam Resnick Family Memoir
Sam Resnick was born Shaya Prasnik in Pereyaslav shortly after the turn of the 20th century. His granddaughter Tamar Gold submitted these memories of his childhood, immigration and life in America.

Do you have memories or mementos of Pereyaslav-born ancestors you can share with this website? We'd love to hear from you: Send Email

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© 2014 Bob Levy