The power of language: understand yiddish in the shadow of the Holocaust

Pollin galay will present two key terms in your lecture that have arisen in this new sociolect. These terms refer to the topics of theft and German-Yiddish encounters during the time of the Holocaust. Authors and intellectuals such as Nachman Blumenthal, Yisrael Kaplan and Chava rose color contributed to the documentation of this new language elements. They processed their traumatic experiences by creating a language that was taken into account the moral and existential dilemma with which they were confronted.

For example, new terms such as "Shaubrivin" (looting) and "Kuzinka" (exploitial sexual practice) are called, which impressively reflect the challenges and conflicts of survival. The poetic and literary meaning of "Holocaust Yiddish" is expressed in the works of writers such as rose color and Ka-Zetnik. In their texts, these authors deal with topics such as corruption, identity and resilience, which are also of great relevance for today's discussions about Jewish history and identity.

extended context

In addition to the linguistic aspects, the lecture is also seen in the historical context. The Eichmann process, for example, changed the social perception of the German language in Israel and created a special acoustic presence. People who did languages and testimonies in this process treat German less than a "Nazi language", but as part of their specific historical reality. These developments contribute to developing current perspectives on the German language and its cultural importance according to the Holocaust.

Hannah Pollin-Galay has deepened the subject of linguistic changes during the Holocaust in her research and publications, especially in her book "Occupied Words: What the Holocaust Did to Yiddish". This work received the National Jewish Book Award in the Holocaust Studies category in 2024. Pollin-Galay summarizes the importance of the Yiddish language and its transformations in dealing with the Holocaust story.

The research of these linguistic innovations opens up a new perspective on Jewish history and the associated question of identity. The lecture thus promises a profound examination of language, trauma and history.