Hindi Diamond

Partial Transcript: Hindi Diamond introduces herself and gives some background. Hindi was the first person in the state of Florida to introduce Yiddish at a college level. The ages were 18 -80. She would always ask “Why do you want to study Yiddish now?” Some hadn’t used it in a while and some were traveling and they wanted to be able to speak to family. She has always found that people, where ever she traveled, who were excited to learn she spoke Yiddish.

Keywords: Yiddish at a college level

Subjects: Hindi's love of Yiddish

Partial Transcript: Hindi describes what she would see if she went back in a time machine 30 – 40 years to old South Beach. She found South Beach to be a wonderland for old people. The seniors felt like an extended family all speaking Yiddish. There was a warm wonderful feeling.

Keywords: South Beach

Subjects: what would she see

Partial Transcript: Hindi talks about what she was doing when she came to South Beach. She was learning all about Miami. In the early days, there were places where Jews were not allowed. All the activity was centered around the downtown part of the Beach. There were grocery stores and Temples.

Keywords: Temples

Subjects: early days of Miami Beach

Partial Transcript: Hindi talks about the people who came to Miami Beach and how they felt. People who came from the Holocaust felt they had found a safe place, they had found a home. They were welcome. There were many activities, including singing, music, acting, and Yiddish theater. This was a flourishing Yiddish community.

Keywords: Holocaust; flourishing Yiddish Community; Miami Beach

Subjects: Yiddish community

Partial Transcript: Hindi talks about her favorite memories. She remembers going to the park and seeing people enjoying themselves there was a feeling of love and affection. No matter where these people came from they felt at home. Everyone found a place to be a Jew and they felt safe.

Keywords: Jews

Subjects: memories

Partial Transcript: Hindi talks about Wolfie’s restaurant which was a landmark in Miami Beach for years. Joe Nevel who was the owner nurtured many Yiddish organizations; art groups, music, and anything that had any spark of Yiddish passion. Joe was very intense and helped Isaac Singer translate some of his songs. Joe came and spoke to her Yiddish class. He spoke about Peretz and read some of his work. Hindi talks about performances her group performed. People loved the performances because they were in Yiddish. Joe was the nucleus of anything happening on the beach.

Keywords: Isaac Singer; Joe Nevel; Wolfie’s

Subjects: Wolfie’s and Joe Nevel

Partial Transcript: Hindi explains why it is important for the younger generation to know all about what South Beach was like. When Hindi started teaching there were 15 colleges in the United States teaching Yiddish. When she stopped there were 45. The National Yiddish Book Center, in Amherst MA, has done a lot to bring Yiddish books to people. There is a return to Yiddish because people are looking for the human touch. Where ever Hindi went Yiddish has been spoken and welcome. She spoke Yiddish until she was six years old. There is no other language like Yiddish, it has so much heart. Hindi tells a joke about 2 salesmen meeting on the street. To Hindi speaking Yiddish and understanding it is more unifying than religion.

Keywords: The National Yiddish Book Center

Subjects: Why Yiddish is important

Partial Transcript: Hindi discusses what she would tell the younger generation about how important Yiddish is. It is important for them to know their background and how it was brought to the world. Every country has people who speak Yiddish. They need to know about Jews what they are about and what they have gone through. Their art, their culture, and their theater all show what Jews have gone through. Knowing Yiddish gives you an insight into the Stehel life before Hitler and that after Hitler they were able to go on. Jews have survived.

Keywords: Stehel life; Younger generation

Subjects: Yiddish is so important

Partial Transcript: She loves to sing in Yiddish