|
Announcing the Winner of the CIYCL Fifth Annual International Yiddish-Into-English Poetry Translation Contest
We are pleased to announce the winner of the CIYCL Fifth Annual International Yiddish-Into-English Poetry Translation Contest. The winner is Dr. Michael Steinlauf, Ph.D, of Philadelphia, Pa., for his translation of Avrum Sutzkever’s poem, “Lid Fun Togbukh”/“Poem From a Diary (1974)”. Honorable mentions go to last year’s winner, Lena Watson of London, England, for her translation this year of “Di Balade Funem Blendenish Un Di Tsvey Brigantn”/ “The Ballad of the Blinding Light and the Two Brigands” by Itzik Manger, and to Dr. Robert Freedman, Ph.D of Pennsylvania for his translation of “Dos Lid Funem Tsigele/”The Song of the Little Goat”, also by Itsik Manger.
This year’s prize of $360 is being cosponsored by CIYCL and the International Association of Yiddish Clubs (IAYC). CIYCL Director, Miri Koral, made the announcement of the winner and read the translation at the 13th International IAYC Conference in Millbrae, California on April 23, 2010.
The 2009-10 translation contest had 20 fine entries from around the globe, including Australia, Canada, England, France, and the U.S.. Entrants ranged from seasoned Yiddish experts to student newcomers who tried their poetic and Yiddish language skills on everything from well-known ballads to unfamiliar gems. The tricky process of judging was assisted by Dr. Kathryn Hellerstein, Ph.D, herself a first-place winner of the second annual CIYCL translation contest and the editor/translator of books of Yiddish poetry, including the renowned Paper Bridges – Selected Poems of Kadya Molodowsky.
Avrom Sutzkever (1913-2010) is considered the greatest Yiddish poet of modern times and the greatest post-War Jewish poet (in any language). He is best known for his spiritual and physical resistance during the Nazi occupation of Vilna. Many of his most celebrated works commemorate the destroyed Jerusalem of Lithuania (Vilna) and were even written under the most harrowing circumstances in the Vilna Ghetto itself and in the partisan forests. His works are known for their musicality of language, with themes that celebrate nature and the human spirit, with probing ideas on philosophy, creativity, and spirituality. He lived most of his life in Israel, where he died in January of this year. Please visit the links under “Abraham Sutzkever” on our website for more in-depth background on the poet and his works.
Our winning translator, Michael Steinlauf, is an Associate Professor of History and Director of the Holocaust Studies Program at Gratz College, Pennsylvania. Though not an expert in Yiddish or poetry, he was inspired by a translation workshop given by Dan Kahn at KlezKanada last summer. He hit just the right note of faithfulness to the original in content and rhythm, as well as achieving a fine poem in its own right.
Click here to read the the winning poem.
|
