Conference to celebrate Jewish art and literature

Leonard Milberg '53 hunted in archives, collections and college libraries for unpublished works of some of the greatest writers in Jewish-American history. At the University of Texas, the passionate book collector found two stories by the literary giant Isaac Beshevis Singer in its original Yiddish. Newly translated, the stories are just one exciting aspect of a collection featuring over 130 authors, poets and playwrights.

The Leonard L. Milberg '53 Collection of Jewish-American Writers goes on display Sunday at Firestone Library's exhibition gallery.

A conference dedicated to former University President Harold Shapiro will begin the same day Milberg's collection is unveiled. Thirteen artists featured in the collection will read selections from their work this weekend.

At a luncheon to publicize the weekend's events, English professor Esther Schor expressed her enthusiasm for the long-awaited event. "[I've been] looking forward to this week for two years," she said.

Those two years included an extensive scholarly effort to decide who should be included in the collection. The process was, according to Greek language and literature professor Froma Zeitlin, a "collaborative process . . . an eye-opener in terms of discovery."

Including the works of writers and illustrators from the 18th century to the present, the Milberg collection features the works of such luminaries as Saul Bellow, David Mamet, Bernard Malamud, Emma Lazarus and Woody Allen.

A double volume of the Princeton University Library Chronicle, published in conjunction with the opening of the library's new collection, will include some of the featured unpublished work. To solicit new works, organizers of the Chronicle sent letters to all living writers included in Milberg's gift.

They also commissioned essays, several written by University professors, to analyze themes of Jewish literature explored in the pieces.

Playwright Tony Kushner, former Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky and humanities professor C.K. Williams, a Pulitzer-winning poet and translator, will open the conference with readings of their work.

But the three-day long event will be more than "a conventional academic conference," according to Schor. "We wanted writers and critics together," she said. Both she and Milberg stressed the accessibility of the weekend's activities, which will be free and open to the public.

Zeitlin, director of the Program in Jewish Studies, wants the unprecedented collection and conference to further the University's image as a hospitable center for Jewish scholarship. "Jewish studies at Princeton has finally arrived," Zeitlin said.

Use of the new collection will continue long after the conference ends next Tuesday. Aside from plans to expand what she called a "tremendously exciting collective venture," Schor noted that "we're developing courses to use the collection."

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The exhibit, which includes images and graphic art in addition to rare manuscripts, letters and first edition books, was organized chronologically.

Milberg's gift is not his first contribution to the University's literary collection. He previously donated a collection of Irish poetry, as well as a series of American prints titled "Pride of Place."

When asked about his reason for this venture, Milberg said that "the book itself has a very rich, even central place in Jewish culture."

Milberg also discussed a central goal for the panel. "I certainly hope most of all [that] students will attend this," he said, "that students will make something out [of the experience]."