Another notable role was Keats' memorable performance in the celebrated movie Hester Street (adapted from author Abraham Cahan's original Yiddish story "Yekl.")

He also edited and translated many Yiddish stories, and commissioned the first English translation of Isaac Bashevis Singer for the Partisan Review.

A treasury of Yiddish stories, editor with Eliezer Greenberg New York, Viking Press, 1954.

Singer is best known for his Yiddish stories, which have a universal appeal.

'There's an old Yiddish story about mirrors,' said Father Quinlan.

In addition to translating folk tales and Yiddish stories for children, she wrote several children's books herself, including "The White Stallion" (1982), a popular novel.

Similarly the Yiddish stories of the "wise men" of the town of Chelm could be argued to be as rich in self-mockery as in mockery.

Hirshbein began giving Hebrew lessons to support himself while publishing Hebrew poetry and writing Yiddish stories.

The pianist himself will double as narrator in these humorous settings of nine tales culled from the famous Yiddish short stories.

That there is a living author at all comes as something of a surprise because, although Kolitz signed the original Yiddish story, Yosl Rakover soon took on a life of his own.