The grandfather of Yiddish literature, and one of the founders of “modern” Jewish literature, Mendele Mocher Sforim. He "wanted to be useful to his people rather than gain literary laurels,” and his satirical, critical stories got him chased from town.
Text: Of Bygone Days - translated by Rayomond P. Scheindlin. In A Shtetle and Other Yiddish Novellas” ed. Ruth Wisse. Wayne State University Press, 1986.
Music: Avraimi der Marvicher, performed by Chava AlbersteinDi Goldene Pave by Ana Margolin, performed by The Klezmatics & Chava Alberstein