Upcoming Public Event: Jonathan Boyarin on "Funny, Strange, and Serious Stories of Yiddishland's Jews"
On Monday, October 12, Cornell University's Mann Professor of Modern Jewish Studies Jonathan Boyarin will visit UVA Jewish Studies for a public talk about his 2025 translation of 20th century journalist Mordekhai Lipson's collected anecdotes, As the Story Goes: Funny, Strange, and Serious Stories of Yiddishland's Jews (Ben Yehuda Press). The book features stories from Eastern European Jews that reveal both the imperfect humanity and the ready, resourceful wit these people deployed as they dealt with their colleagues, community members, imperial authorities and the pressures of rapid change.
The event will take place in the UVA Bookstore on the mezzanine at 5:30 PM; reception to follow. In-person attendance is free but registration is required. The event will also be livestreamed on the UVA Jewish Studies YouTube channel.
During the reception, Dr. Boyarin's book will be available for purchase and signing. Also available for purchase will be Cornell Jewish Studies Research Associate Elissa Sampson's 2026 book From Popular Front to Cold War: The Interracial Left and the International Workers Order, 1930–1954 (ILR Press). Dr. Sampson will deliver a presentation on the Yiddish origins of the International Workers Order earlier the same day for UVA students and faculty.