JCC presents ‘Jewish Poets of the Past’ in 19th annual ‘Jewish Poets – Jewish Voices’ programming

Tussman was born in Vollhynia, Ukraine, the second of eight children from a  Hasidic family. They lived on a farm and she was educated by private tutors in Yiddish, Hebrew, Russian and English. She began writing poetry at an early age and followed her older brother to America when she was 16, settling in Chicago. At the age of 18, she married Cantor Shloyme Tussman with whom she had two sons, Joseph and Judah. While living in Milwaukee for a short period, she studied at the University of Wisconsin and then, moving to Berkeley, she studied at the University of California, Berkeley.

In 1941, she moved to Los Angeles, where she taught at the Arbiter Ring Shule in Boyle Heights and, later, became the Yiddish teacher at the University of Judaism. Her poetry appeared in many Yiddish newspapers and in six books published during her lifetime.

Abraham Sutzkever, the famed Yiddish poet, said that the older Malka Heifetz Tussman got, the younger her poetry became.  “Everything she touched turned into poetry” he added.

Following her husband, Shloyme’s death, Malka moved to Israel for a year. There, in 1981, she was awarded the Itzik Manger Prize for Yiddish Literature. She returned to spend her final years in Berkeley, California.

Opening the program, Annette Friend, set to take over the co-chairmanship of the Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices Committee for the 2027-28 season, will present a biographical sketch of Malka Tussman. English translations by Marcia Falk, who worked closely with Tussman, will be read by Susie Meltzer, former JCC president, and members of the Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices Committee, Felicia Morgenstern, Lisa Schwartz, Phyllis Schwartz, and Jane Zeer. The poems in their original Yiddish will be read by David Chait, Jack Cohen, David Gmach, Rita Heller, Iska Koth, and Sylvia Rosenthal. They range from poems about her eating an apple to songs about being a woman and planting roots in her new country.

The second featured poet, Haim Hefer, was born in Sosnowiec, Poland, an industrial hub in southern Poland, and moved to Palestine in 1936. He served in the Palmach and was one of the founders of “Chizbatron,” the army’s entertainment troupe. Many of Hefer’s poems appeared in the newspapers, and he authored a weekly column for the newspaper Yediot Aharonot. In addition, he published several collections of his verses.

Hefer is well-known for his contributions to Israeli music. Many choral groups have performed his songs. He wrote lyrics for theaters and cabarets, as well as for the popular musical, Kazablan. Among his most famous works are “Hafinjan” (The tea kettle), one of the songs to be sung by the Ohr Shalom Choir under director Elisheva Edelson, and “Hamilkhama Ha’achrona” (The Last War), to be sung by Myla Wingard. In 1983, Hefer was awarded the Israel Prize.

Guri Stark, a member of the Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices Committee, and curator of the Hefer lyrics for the program, will present the biographical information about this outstanding writer.

Members of the Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices Committee, Michael Horvitz and Michael Moskowitz, will read Hefer’s lyrics in their English translations and Israeli artist, Sari Esserman, and Israeli native, Tomar Haye, will read Hefer’s lyrics in their original Hebrew. Members of the Ohr Shalom Choir, Morris Lazard, Saby David, Ezra Schachar, Allyson Darroch, Daniel Vinograd, Sherri Berlin and Judy Gainswill introduce the choir’s selections.

The free event will take place in the renovated Astor Judaica Library. Joy Heizmann will serve as moderator and Jane Zeer has arranged for the refreshments following the program.