Chaim Grade
Encyclopedia
Chaim Grade was one of the leading Yiddish writers of the twentieth century.
Chaim Grade, the son of Shlomo Mordecai Grade, a Hebrew
teacher and maskil (advocate of the European Enlightenment), received a secular as well as Jewish religious education. He learned for several years with Rabbi Avrohom Yeshaya Karelitz, the Chazon Ish (1878–1953), one of observant Judaism's great Torah scholars. In 1932, Grade began publishing stories and poems in Yiddish, and in the early 1930s was among the founding members of the "Young Vilna" experimental group of artists and writers. He developed a reputation as one of the city's most articulate literary interpreters.
Towards the German invasion of Vilnius in World War II
, Grade fled eastward and sought refuge in the Soviet Union
. When the war ended, he lived briefly in Poland
and France
before relocating to the United States
in 1948.
Grade's postwar poetry is primarily concerned with Jewish survival in the wake of the Holocaust, among whose victims were his wife Frumme-Liebe Grade, the daughter of the Rabbi of Glebokie, and his mother Vella Grade Rosenthal, daughter of Rabbi Rafael Blumenthal.
Grade's most highly acclaimed novels, The Agunah (1961, tr. 1974) and The Yeshiva (2 vol., 1967–68, tr. 1976-77), deal with the philosophical and ethical dilemmas of Jewish life in prewar Lithuania
, particularly dwelling on the Novardok Mussar movement
. These two works were translated from the original Yiddish into English by Curt Leviant
. Grade's short story, "My Quarrel with Hersh Rasseyner," describes the chance meeting of a Holocaust survivor with an old friend from the mussar
Yeshiva. The narrator has lost his faith, while the friend has continued to lead a pious and devoted religious life. The former friends debate the place of religion in the postmodern world. The story has been made into a film, The Quarrel
and a play.
Grade's second wife Inna (née Hecker) died in New York
on May 2, 2010. She had translated a number of his books into English.
While less famous than Isaac Bashevis Singer
or Sholem Aleichem, Chaim Grade is considered among the foremost stylists in Yiddish. His work is now hard to find in English.
and YIVO
to assist in cataloging his papers. As of August 31, 2010, the papers have been transferred to YIVO offices, for sorting.
Chaim Grade, the son of Shlomo Mordecai Grade, a Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
teacher and maskil (advocate of the European Enlightenment), received a secular as well as Jewish religious education. He learned for several years with Rabbi Avrohom Yeshaya Karelitz, the Chazon Ish (1878–1953), one of observant Judaism's great Torah scholars. In 1932, Grade began publishing stories and poems in Yiddish, and in the early 1930s was among the founding members of the "Young Vilna" experimental group of artists and writers. He developed a reputation as one of the city's most articulate literary interpreters.
Towards the German invasion of Vilnius in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Grade fled eastward and sought refuge in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. When the war ended, he lived briefly in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
before relocating to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1948.
Grade's postwar poetry is primarily concerned with Jewish survival in the wake of the Holocaust, among whose victims were his wife Frumme-Liebe Grade, the daughter of the Rabbi of Glebokie, and his mother Vella Grade Rosenthal, daughter of Rabbi Rafael Blumenthal.
Grade's most highly acclaimed novels, The Agunah (1961, tr. 1974) and The Yeshiva (2 vol., 1967–68, tr. 1976-77), deal with the philosophical and ethical dilemmas of Jewish life in prewar Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
, particularly dwelling on the Novardok Mussar movement
Mussar movement
The Musar movement is a Jewish ethical, educational and cultural movement that developed in 19th century Eastern Europe, particularly among Orthodox Lithuanian Jews. The Hebrew term Musar , is from the book of Proverbs 1:2 meaning instruction, discipline, or conduct...
. These two works were translated from the original Yiddish into English by Curt Leviant
Curt Leviant
Curt Leviant is a retired Jewish Studies professor, as well as a novelist and translator.He came to the United States in 1938 and received his BA from CUNY , his MA from Columbia, and his PhD. from Rutgers, where he taught Hebraic studies from 1960. He writes for The Nation.-Novels:*The Yemenite...
. Grade's short story, "My Quarrel with Hersh Rasseyner," describes the chance meeting of a Holocaust survivor with an old friend from the mussar
Mussar movement
The Musar movement is a Jewish ethical, educational and cultural movement that developed in 19th century Eastern Europe, particularly among Orthodox Lithuanian Jews. The Hebrew term Musar , is from the book of Proverbs 1:2 meaning instruction, discipline, or conduct...
Yeshiva. The narrator has lost his faith, while the friend has continued to lead a pious and devoted religious life. The former friends debate the place of religion in the postmodern world. The story has been made into a film, The Quarrel
The Quarrel
The Quarrel is a 1991 Canadian film directed by Eli Cohen and starring Saul Rubinek and R. H. Thomson. The film was written by David Brandes and Joseph Telushkin.- Summary :...
and a play.
Grade's second wife Inna (née Hecker) died in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
on May 2, 2010. She had translated a number of his books into English.
While less famous than Isaac Bashevis Singer
Isaac Bashevis Singer
Isaac Bashevis Singer – July 24, 1991) was a Polish Jewish American author noted for his short stories. He was one of the leading figures in the Yiddish literary movement, and received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1978...
or Sholem Aleichem, Chaim Grade is considered among the foremost stylists in Yiddish. His work is now hard to find in English.
Literary estate
His papers were very numerous and consumed much space of his and Inna's apartment. The public administrator of his papers, Bonnie Gould made requests to several institutions, including Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and YIVO
YIVO
YIVO, , established in 1925 in Wilno, Poland as the Yidisher Visnshaftlekher Institut , or Yiddish Scientific Institute, is a source for orthography, lexicography, and other studies related to the Yiddish language...
to assist in cataloging his papers. As of August 31, 2010, the papers have been transferred to YIVO offices, for sorting.
External links
- Portrait of the author, Moshe Berenstein, Art Collection of the Ghetto Fighters' HouseGhetto Fighters' HouseThe Ghetto Fighters' House , full name, Itzhak Katzenelson Holocaust and Jewish Resistance Heritage Museum and Study Center, was founded in 1949 by members of Kibbutz Lohamei Hagetaot, a community of Holocaust survivors, among them fighters of the ghetto undergrounds and partisan units...
