Yiddish Storytelling

All stories and storytelling have many commonalities. They have a beginning middle and an end. This differentiates them from news reports and coverages of events.

Yiddish storytelling like all other ethnic groups is unique because of the experiences and culture they have had and continue to have.

Fishl's becoming a storyteller was predestined and his developing his style of storytelling was determined when three children were born 20 months and then 19 months apart. Putting them to bed necessitated a story. Like magic the style came when each child wanted to hear a story about another object. Each evening they changed. The range went from a fly, the eye of a needle, and a sleepy town that was on the edge of stream on the bend of a mountain; to the hair on a Shirley Temple doll, a mezuze and a crater on the moon.

Naturally as the children grew up, their requests became more bizarre.No longer does Fishl tell stories to his own children or grown grandchildren. Now as I step in and out of the Fishl-role, the stories are of people and places in the Yiddish World.

Friends tell stories--be my friend--tell me a story--it'll be in Der Bay.