Sholem Aleichem (born Solomon Rabinovich, 1859-1916), sometimes spelled Sholom Aleichem, was a Yiddish author and playwright whose tales ranged from Jewish life in Russian villages to immigration to New York City. Often using the epistolary format (letters written and received by characters), the best known stories center on Tevye the dairyman, forming the basis of film and stage adaptations and especially the musical Fiddler on the Roof. Other writings focus on the entrepreneur Menachem-Mendl.
An off-Broadway anthology The World of Sholem Aleichem (blending two Aleichem stories and ""Bontche Schweig" by fellow Yiddish writer I. L. Peretz) was staged in 1953, followed by TV versions and a 1982 Broadway revival.
References[]
- Mr. Hooper donates a volume of Sholem Aleichem to the bookmobile in Sesame Street episode 1087. Ms. Rice admits she's not familiar with it.
Connections[]
- see also Fiddler on the Roof
- Ossie Davis was stage manager of The World of Sholom Aleichem (Off-Broadway, 1953)
- Ruby Dee played the defending angel in The World of Sholom Aleichem (Off-Broadway, 1953)
- Jack Gilford played Bontche Schweig in The World of Sholom Aleichem (Off-Broadway, 1953), the Play of the Week version (TV, 1959) and the 1982 Broadway revival, also playing the Melamed, Sholem Aleichem, and Aaron Katz in the latter, and played Sholem Aleichem in the NBC Experiment in Television episode "This Is Sholom Aleichem" (1969)
- Wolfgang Kieling played Poperill in Tevye and His Seven Daughters (1968 film)
- Will Lee played the Melamed, Father Abraham, and Uncle Maxl in The World of Sholom Aleichem (Off-Broadway, 1953)
- Zero Mostel played the Melamed, an angel, and Uncle Maxl in "The World of Sholom Aleichem" on Play of the Week (TV, 1959)
- Charlotte Rae played the angel and Aunt Reba in "The World of Sholom Aleichem" on Play of the Week (TV, 1959)
- Joe Silver played Mendele the bookseller and the bandit in The World of Sholom Aleichem (Broadway, 1982)
- Nancy Walker played Rifkele in "The World of Sholom Aleichem" on Play of the Week (TV, 1959)