Italy is having a Yiddish moment. An unprecedented I.J. Singer translation is part of the boom.

A new Italian translation of I.J. Singer's 1932 American dispatches for the Yiddish Forverts, 'Viaggi in America,' is part of a broader Yiddish literary revival in Italy, driven by new translators, digital archives, and the expiration of copyrights. The boom, which includes over 50 new Yiddish editions since Adelphi's 2013 publication of 'The Family Carnovsky,' is not closely tied to anti-Israel sentiment, though some Yiddishists note renewed interest from those embracing diasporic traditions.

A new Italian translation of I.J. Singer's 1932 American travel dispatches for the Yiddish Forverts, collected as 'Viaggi in America' (Travels in America), is part of a broader Yiddish literary revival in Italy. The collection, published by the historic Italian Jewish publishing house Giuntina and translated by Enrico Benella, follows Singer from New York's Lower East Side to Hollywood and a General Motors factory. The revival is driven by new translators working directly from Yiddish, digital archives, and the 2015 expiration of Singer's copyrights in Europe. Adelphi's 2013 publication of Singer's 'The Family Carnovsky' sold over 120,000 copies and was a watershed moment. Since then, over 50 new editions of Yiddish books have appeared in Italy. The article notes that the Yiddish publishing boom is not closely tied to anti-Israel sentiment, though some Yiddishists report renewed interest from those embracing diasporic traditions. The article's framing is neutral, relying on attributed quotes from publishers, translators, and cultural figures.

Italy is having a Yiddish moment. An unprecedented I.J. Singer translation is part of the boom.