Zalmen Zylbercweig:The Boswell of the Yiddish Theatre

Faith Jones

May 2006

Overview of Leksikon fun Yidishn Teater:

Vol. 1 (alef-khes) published New York, 1931

Vol. 2 (tes-ayin) published Warsaw, 1934 (actually Polesye)scarce; existing copies in poor condition; not available through NYBC reprint-on-demand project

Vol. 3 (pey) published New York, 1959

(first three volumes edited jointly with Jacob Mestel, d. 1958)

Vol. 4 published New York, 1963introduces “unzere boyer” section

Vol. 5 published Mexico City, 1967kdoyshim volume

Vol. 6 published Mexico City, 1969

Vol. 7 in page proofs at Mexico City, 1972copies of page proofs at YIVO and Mount Scopus (Israel)

Statistical overview:

• ~ 3,000 individuals listed in six published volumes

• 28% or around 840 are women; another 40 among “unzere boyer”

• 491 individuals listed in volume 5, the “kdoyshim band” (yizkor volume)

• ~ 100 entries for organizations, theater groups and types of Yiddish theatre (e.g. Purim shpiln)

• six published volumes comprise 6,132 columns (3,066 pages)

• unpublished volume 7: another 224 columns (112 pages) of biographies and 622 columns (311 pages) of Zylbercweig’s history of Yiddish theatre