Early Closure Friday, February 20, 2026
February 18, 2026
Manchester Community Library has been selected as one of 40 libraries nationwide to participate in the Yiddish Book Center’s Public Libraries Program on the theme “Between Two Worlds: Exploring Jewish Culture and Religion through Yiddish Literature.” Through this selective program, the Yiddish Book Center provides grants, resources, and training to public libraries across the country to host reading groups and related programming that explore how Yiddish literature can serve as a springboard for powerful conversations about religion, assimilation, identity, and immigration.
With this opportunity, Emet Koffman, Patron Experience Specialist from MCL, attended a three-day workshop onsite at the Yiddish Book Center campus in Amherst, Massachusetts, in November 2025. Following this training, the library has been organizing reading groups to discuss three books of Yiddish literature in translation.
The Yiddish titles in the book discussion group include:
- Tevye the Dairyman by Sholem Aleichem (translated by Aliza Shevrin)
- The Zelmenyaners: A Family Saga by Moyshe Kulbak (translated by Hillel Halkin)
- A Jewish Refugee in New York by Kadya Molodowsky (translated by Anita Norich)
This six-month reading group will feature three titles that, while not Yiddish in origin, are thematically impactful. Deep North: Stories of Somali Resettlement in Vermont by Shadir Mohamed will bring these themes closer to home. Babel by R.F. Kuang demonstrates the power of translators and reminds us of what remains beyond our understanding in these texts. Additionally, the group will read Thistlefoot by Vermont author GennaRose Nethercott, chosen by Koffman for its exploration of the timelessness of stories of identity and their role as bridges between generations. In April, Nethercott will participate remotely to discuss her book, and she will visit the library in May for an in-person puppet performance.
“Attending the training at the Yiddish Book Center was illuminating. It was truly remarkable to witness an institution so dedicated to language and cultural preservation,” said Koffman. “I think the Between Two Worlds programming will not only provide our community with excellent literature, but remind people that we have so much to learn from our past and that stories are powerful tools for merging two worlds and bringing people together.”
Anyone interested in reading the books or participating in the discussions can obtain a free copy of the Yiddish titles at the Manchester Community Library Help Desk, available while supplies last. Additional titles can be borrowed from the Library or nearby libraries. All discussions will take place in person at the Library on the fourth Thursday of each month, with a limited number of spots for remote participation.
The supportive programming kicks off on Saturday, March 7th, at 4 pm for a free screening of Fiddler on the Roof (1971), the movie-musical adaptation of the first book on the reading list, Tevye the Dairyman. Audience members are encouraged to dress up, bring an instrument, and get loud.
