Wolf Pasmanik presented Greenwich Village intellectuals and the cognoscente with something new last night in the way of poetry appreciation. The noted Yiddish poet held the spotlight for an hour at the Cafe Feenjon on McDougal St. in the heart of the Village reading his poetry in Yiddish which was translated for those unacquainted with “moma lushen.” This was the first time a Yiddish poetry reading had been held in the Israeli-oriented cafe and the 150 people present showed their appreciation by prolonged applause.
Pasmanik, a member of the PEN Club, has had many of his poems published in Yiddish and English simultaneously in magazines and periodicals in this country and abroad. In 1971 his book, “Meine Lieder” (My Poems), won an award from the PEN Club. Regarding his poetry reading presentation last night, Pasmanik said, “I helped, I hope, to show that Yiddish poetry speaks in a universal language and can reach the hearts and minds of all people. Communication is becoming a lost art, but last night there was communication.”
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