Shifra Lerer Interview on Yiddish Theatre

Partial Transcript: Well, my name is Shifra Lerer, and I was born in Argentina—not only in Argentina, Las Pampas, from Argentina, among the gauchos. Do you know what the gauchos are?—like the cowboys in America.

Partial Transcript: My father was a Yiddishist. You know what that is? Yeah, one who is in love and he thinks that everybody—I mean the children—should learn Yiddish.

Partial Transcript: I loved it when we had people at the house, you know, friends. And so they put me on the table, and I gave a performance.

Partial Transcript: And I was very angry that I have to go to the butcher and tell him that he should give me buffet para el gato for the cat. He knew. The butcher knew that it's not for the cat because he knew that we are very poor.

Partial Transcript: I used to when—when I was in the school for children—the art school—we used to perform every Sunday.

Partial Transcript: So, since 1942 and 1943, I came to America. And since 1943, I'm here. And it's about time that you know how old I am. I'm 90 years old.

Partial Transcript: Shifra's efforts to build her career in New York, including working in camps and developing a performance repertoire.

Partial Transcript: Shifra describes her performances and experiences in Miami, including vaudeville and collaborations with other actors.

Partial Transcript: It was, I mean, an active group because they—lectures and they brought a singer and it was —I mean, life but it wasn't—I mean big. It wasn't a big—was very nice, very modest. But they did—they did try to do everything. Now, it's almost nothing.

Partial Transcript: Shifra emphasizes the significance of maintaining Yiddish culture for a sense of identity and community among Jews

Partial Transcript: Shifra emphasizes the importance of Yiddish culture to younger individuals, encouraging them to learn and appreciate their heritage