At the turn of the 20th century, Jewish families scattered by migration could stay in touch only through letters. Jews in the Russian Empire and America wrote business letters, romantic letters, and emotionally intense family letters. But for many Jews who were unaccustomed to communicating their public and private thoughts in writing, correspondence was a challenge. How could they make sure their spelling was correct and they were organizing their thoughts properly? A popular solution was to consult brivnshtelers, Yiddish-language books of model letters. Dear Mendl, Dear Reyzl translates selections from these model-letter books and includes essays and annotations that illuminate their role as guides to a past culture.
- ISBN10 0253012031
- ISBN13 9780253012036
- Publish Date 15 April 2014
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Indiana University Press
- Format Paperback (US Trade)
- Pages 248
- Language English