Sholem Asch at the End of the World

Abstract

Sholem Asch belongs to those Yiddish authors who often defy rather than obey the conventions of Yiddish culture and Jewish sensibilities. Yet, his works have traveled the world, following Jewish immigrants and spreading the Yiddish culture, blending it with local concerns and interests. They traveled as far as Australia, where many Jewish immigrants found their home. The production and reception of his works in Australia can serve as a prism through which we can better understand the Australian Yiddish stage. For the most part, records related to Sholem Asch's presence in Australia are found in the Australian Jewish press, and focus on the acquisition of his works by local Jewish communities, meetings of literary groups, or reviews of his books. From these snippets of information one may gather that Asch's Australian presence was more literary-read, recited, and discussed-than staged. Indeed, there are not many records of theatrical productions of his works, although it is clear from various accounts that Asch was a significant part of the story of Yiddish theatre in Australia.