"When Twain heard of the writer called 'the Jewish Mark Twain,' he replied 'please tell him that I am the American Sholem Aleichem.'" -Richard S. Levy's Antisemitism: a historical encyclopedia of prejudice and persecution, Volume 2

In 1964, the characters of Yiddish author Sholem Alecheim's stories lept off the printed page and into the imaginations of the entire world, with the premiere of the classic Broadway musical Fiddler on the Roof. But who was this Eastern European writer many referred to as the "Jewish Mark Twain," and what made his characters some of the most iconic of any art medium? It's time to delve into the backstory of an incredible writer, his beloved characters, and a remarkable musical that changed the world.

Join New York Adventure Club as we explore the life and works of Solomon Naumovich Rabinovich, who published under the pen name of "Sholem Alecheim" (Yiddish for "peace be unto you") with the original intention of showing how Yiddish was not just the "language of the streets," but one that could also be used to tell serious stories.

Led by Will Friedwald, columnist for the Wall Street Journal, our virtual analysis of the legendary Rabinovich and his iconic writings and characters will include:

The life story of Yiddish author Sholem Rabinovich, from the shtetls of Ukraine to New York City
The early successes of Rabinovich's entertaining and popular Yiddish literature
The 50-year transformation (and translation) of Rabinovich's revered story characters — like Tevya and Golde — from the old country to new world
A discussion of how the stars aligned to successfully adapt Rabinovich's stories into a musical — one that would become a Broadway sensation
The "afterlife" of Fiddler on the Roof, which included a film release, international productions, Broadway revivals, and more recently, a highly-acclaimed Yiddish language off-Broadway production
Afterward, we’ll have a Q&A with Will — any and all questions about Sholem Rabinovich are welcomed and encouraged!