Kol Mevasser
Encyclopedia
Kol Mevasser a Yiddish language
periodical that appeared from October 11, 1862 into 1872, is considered by Sol Liptzin
and others to be the most important early Yiddish-language periodical (although by no means the first: the short-lived Die Kuranten
in Amsterdam
pre-dated it by centuries).
Originally founded by Alexander Zederbaum as a supplement to his Hebrew language
weekly Hamelitz
, during its last three years Kol Mevasser functioned independently. Unlike any earlier Yiddish publication, it circulated over a wide territory, with readers throughout Eastern Europe, but was based on the Southeastern ("Ukrainish") Yiddish dialect, indigenous to the region of its production (Odessa
).
Coverage included events both in the Jewish and gentile
world, and extended to science, education, history, geography, and literature. It ran biographies of famous rabbi
s, reviewed Yiddish writers such as Israel Aksenfeld
, Shlomo Ettinger, and A. B. Gotlober
, and launched the careers of generation of Yiddish writers.
In 1863 it published the first Yiddish-language fiction of Mendele Mocher Sforim
, a tale called "Dos kleine mentshele" ("The Little Man"). Yitzhok Yoel Linetzky got his start in Kol Mevasser, and it was the first to publish Yiddish poetry by Abraham Goldfaden
, who, like Mendele, had already published in Hebrew.
The decade-long run and relatively professional editorial standards of Kol Mevasser helped to standardize Yiddish spelling and vocabulary, establish patterns of written usage, and increase the prestige of the language.
Yiddish language
Yiddish is a High German language of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, spoken throughout the world. It developed as a fusion of German dialects with Hebrew, Aramaic, Slavic languages and traces of Romance languages...
periodical that appeared from October 11, 1862 into 1872, is considered by Sol Liptzin
Sol Liptzin
Sol Liptzin was a scholar, author, and educator in Yiddish and German literature.- Life :Liptzin was born in Sataniv, Ukraine, and moved to New York at the age of nine. He graduated from City College of New York and did postgraduate work at the University of Berlin. He earned a master's degree and...
and others to be the most important early Yiddish-language periodical (although by no means the first: the short-lived Die Kuranten
Die Kuranten
Die Kuranten was the earliest known Yiddish language periodical. It was a semi-weekly founded in Amsterdam in 1686, and it lasted for only two years. It covered local news and news from other Jewish communities, including those as far away as India...
in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
pre-dated it by centuries).
Originally founded by Alexander Zederbaum as a supplement to his Hebrew language
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...
weekly Hamelitz
Ha-Meliz
Ha-Meliẓ was the first Hebrew newspaper in Russia. It was founded by Alexander Zederbaum, in Odessa, in 1860, as a weekly, and was transferred to St. Petersburg in 1871....
, during its last three years Kol Mevasser functioned independently. Unlike any earlier Yiddish publication, it circulated over a wide territory, with readers throughout Eastern Europe, but was based on the Southeastern ("Ukrainish") Yiddish dialect, indigenous to the region of its production (Odessa
Odessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
).
Coverage included events both in the Jewish and gentile
Gentile
The term Gentile refers to non-Israelite peoples or nations in English translations of the Bible....
world, and extended to science, education, history, geography, and literature. It ran biographies of famous rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
s, reviewed Yiddish writers such as Israel Aksenfeld
Israel Aksenfeld
Israel Aksenfeld was a Judæo-German writer. Although he spoke other languages perfectly , he chose to write in Yiddish...
, Shlomo Ettinger, and A. B. Gotlober
Avrom Ber Gotlober
Avrom Ber Gotlober was a Jewish writer, poet, playwright, historian, journalist and educator. He mostly wrote in Hebrew, but also wrote poetry and dramas in Yiddish. His first collection was published in 1835.Gotlober's last name is often transliterated as Gottlober...
, and launched the careers of generation of Yiddish writers.
In 1863 it published the first Yiddish-language fiction of Mendele Mocher Sforim
Mendele Mocher Sforim
Mendele Mocher Sforim , December 21, 1835 = January 2, 1836 , Kapyl — November 25, 1917 = December 8, 1917...
, a tale called "Dos kleine mentshele" ("The Little Man"). Yitzhok Yoel Linetzky got his start in Kol Mevasser, and it was the first to publish Yiddish poetry by Abraham Goldfaden
Abraham Goldfaden
Abraham Goldfaden ; was an Russian-born Jewish poet, playwright, stage director and actor in the languages Yiddish and Hebrew, author of some 40 plays.Goldfaden is considered the father of the Jewish modern theatre.In 1876 he founded in...
, who, like Mendele, had already published in Hebrew.
The decade-long run and relatively professional editorial standards of Kol Mevasser helped to standardize Yiddish spelling and vocabulary, establish patterns of written usage, and increase the prestige of the language.