Women's Studies Department Faculty

IRENA KLEPFISZ

Adjunct Associate Professor of Women's Studies

Research and Teaching Interests

Publications:

Books

A Few Words in the Mother Tongue: Poems Selected and New with an introduction by Adrienne Rich (Eighth Mountain Press, 1990)

Dreams of an Insomniac: Jewish Feminist Essays, Speeches and Diatribes with an introduction by Evelyn Tornton Beck (Eighth Mountain Press, 1990)

The Tribe of Dina: A Jewish Women's Anthology, co-edited with Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz (Sinister Wisdom Books, 1986; Beacon Press, 1989)

Different Enclosures: Poetry and Prose of Irena Klepfisz (London: Onlywomen Press, 1985)

Keeper of Accounts--poetry (Persephone Press, 1982; Sinister Wisdom Books, 1983)

Periods of Stress--poetry (Out & Out Books, 1976)

Awards

Prairie Schooner Reader's Choice Award (1998)

Nomination of A Few Words in the Mother Tongue for Lambda Award in Poetry (1991)

Translator-in-Residence, YIVO Institute, grant from NYS Council on the Arts (1989)

National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship in Poetry (1988)

Nomination of Keeper of Accounts for Pushcart Prize in Poetry (1983)

Grant for editorial excellence on Conditions, Coordinating Council of Literary Magazines, (1981)

New York State CAPS grant in Poetry (1976)

Finalist for American Award in Poetry (University of Pittsburgh, 1974)

Articles

Meaning and Memory: Interviews with 14 Jewish Poets. ed, Gary Pacernick--Ohio State University Press, 2001.

"Di feder fun harts/The Pen of the Heart: Tsveyshprakhikayt/
Bilingualism in Jewish American Poetry" (essay) in Jewish American Poetry: Reflections, Poems, Commentary, eds. Jonathan Barron and Eric Murphy Selinger (University Press of New England, 2000).

"The Situation of American Writing 1999" (essay) in American Literary History (Fall, 1999).

"Queens of Contradiction: A Feminist Introduction to Yiddish Women Writers" in Found Treasures: Stories by Yiddish Women Writers, eds. Frieda Forman et al. (Second Story Press, 1994).

"Di mames, dos loshn/The mothers, the language: Feminism, Yidishkayt, and the Politics of Memory," in Bridges (Winter/Sprint 1994).

Drama

Zeyere eygene verter/Their Own Words: Yiddish Women's Voices"--musical bilingual performance piece of women's poetry, stories, memoirs and songs. Premiered at The Jewish Museum (NYC), (November 1994)

Bread and Candy: Songs of the Holocaust--a musical drama for five voices. Premiered at The Jewish Museum (NYC), September 1990 and published in Bridges magazine (Fall 1991)

Film

Co-writer of A Healthy Baby Girl--video documentary on DES cancer daughter (Judith Helfand Productions, 1996)

Editorial Work: conferences, journals and newsletters

Proceedings of Di Froyen/Women and Yiddish Conference, co-edited with Lieberman, Moskowitz, Post and Samuels (National Council of Jewish Women, 1996)

Awareness and Action: A Resource Book on Anti-Semitism, co-edited with Linda Eber and Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz (New Jewish Agenda, 1991)

Editorial Consultant on Yiddish Language and Literature to Bridges (1989-2000)

A co-founder and co-editor of Conditions magazine (1976-81); awarded grant for editorial excellence by the Coordinating Council of Literary Magazines (1981)

Editor of Yedies/News of the YIVO, quarterly Yiddish/English newsletter (1974-76)

 

Women's Studies Teaching:

WMST BC3122  Jewish Women

WMST V4300  Jewish American Women Writers

Activist Interests:

Active on behalf of women and peace in the Middle East, BGLT in the Jewish Community

Faculty, Higher Education for Women in Prison, Bedford Hills Correctional Facility—teaches writing and literature courses in college program (Marymount Manhattan—degree granting institution)