Name:
Bern, Mina
Name (Yiddish):
בערן, מינע
Born:
May 5, 1911 (Bielsk-Podloska, Poland)
Died:
January 10, 2010 (New York)
Note:
Born Mina Bernholtz/ See bio in Lexicon of Yiddish Theatre, Vol 3, p. 2295-6/She was married to Ben Bonus
Related information in folder 247:
Comments:
1. Article in Yiddish Forward of June 3, 2005 by Fania Berko titled "Mina Bern - A Lebn Oyf Der Bima".

2. Letter in Yiddish Forverts of September 2, 2005 from Mina Bern: Remnisces from a period in the Yiddish Theater in the former Soviet Union.

3. Article published in Yiddish Forward, Sept. 8, 2006 by Mikhl Ben Avrom titled "Mina Bern-Portret Fun A Yiddisher Bine-Kinstlerin".

4. Article published in Yiddish Forward August 18, 2006 titled, "Mina Bern Vet Oyftretn Zintik, Dem 20stn Oygest, in Vestshester".

5. Obituary in The New York Times of January 12, 2010 by Joseph Berger titled "Mina Bern, Versatile Yiddish Actress, Dies at 98"

6. Article in The New York Times of January 13, 2010 by Corey Kilgannon titled "Kvelling Over a Star of Yiddish Theater".

7. Article in the Yiddish Forverts of January 15-21, 2010 by Itzik Gottesman titled "Mina Bern- Shoyn Oykh Nishto" (Mina Bern-Also No Longer Here) - Obituary with photos of Mina Bern at various stages of her life.

8. Aricle in The Forwad of Jan 22, 2010 by Masha Leon titled "Mina Bern, the Grand Lady of Yiddish Theater:Appreciation"

Tracks with this artist

Kushn Ziser Fun Vayn — קושן זיסער פֿון װײַן

On album:
B-010(f) (Ben Bonus Mina Bern Mit Lid Iber Der Velt — מיט ליד איבער דער װעלט)
Track ID:
8750
Vocal:
Bern, Mina — בערן, מינע
Vocal:
Bonus, Ben — באָנוס, בען
Director:
Yarkon, Jo, dir
First line:
O, o, kushn ziser fun vayn, (2x), ven kh'bin geven yung…
First line:
אָ, אַ, קושן זיסער פֿון װײַן, (2) װען כ'בין געװען יונג...
Audio:
Freedman Sound Archives at Penn Libraries (temporarily unavailable)

A Mol Iz Geven A Yid — אַ מאָל איז געװען אַ ייִד

Author:
Yomen, Ben — יאָמען, בען
Composer:
Yomen, Ben — יאָמען, בען
Genre:
Literary Origin/Humorous
Subject:
Khasidic/Poverty/Shabos
Transliteration:
Alb Z-010(n)
On album:
T-023(a) (Those Were The Days)
Track ID:
491
Vocal:
Bern, Mina — בערן, מינע
Artist:
Mlotek, Zalmen — מלאָטעק, זלמן, (1951)
Artist:
Golden Land Orchestra
First line:
Oy, a mol iz geven a yid, hot er gehat a yidene,
First line (Yiddish):
אױ, אַ מאָל איז געװען אַ ייִד, האָט ער געהאַט אַ ייִדענע,
Track comment:
Recorded under title "Shabos, Shabos, Shabos"
Language:
Yiddish

Di Zilberne Shlang Un Antkegn Shpigl — די זילבערנע שלאַנג און אַנטקעגן שפּיגל

Also known as:
The Silver Snake and In The Mirror
Author:
Sandler, Boris — סאַנדלער, באָריס
Genre:
Literary Origin/ Spoken Word/ Short Story/Fables
Subject:
King Solomon / Shulamith
Additional song notes:
The two stories are characterized as a "Diptych" - A work made up of two matching parts.
On album:
S-160(a) (A Pinch of Snuff and other stories by Boris Sandler read by: Mina Bern, Shifre Lerer, David Rogow — אַ שמעק טאַבעקע און אַנדערע דערציילונגען פֿון באָריס סאַנדלער)
Track ID:
34817
Vocal:
Rogow, David — ראָגאָװ, דוד
Vocal:
Bern, Mina — בערן, מינע
Language:
Yiddish
Style:
SpokenWord
Length:
18:18

Der Kleytshikn Shnayderl — דער קלײנטשיקן שנײַדערל

On album:
xT-023(a)
Track ID:
3184
Author:
Leyb, Mani — לײב, מאַני
Composer:
Beyglman, David — בײגלמאַן, דוד
Vocal:
Bern, Mina — בערן, מינע
Artist:
Mlotek, Zalmen — מלאָטעק, זלמן, (1951)
Vocalist:
Golden Land Company
Vocal:
Wilner, Lori
First line:
Oy mamenyu tayere, mamenyu lib, dem kleyntshikn shnayder...
First line (Yiddish):
אױ מאַמעניו טײַערע, מאַמיניו ליב, דעם קלײנטשיקן שנײַדערל…
Track comment:
From "Those Were The Days" Sung counterpoint with Nokhemke
Language:
Yiddish

Di Mame (Monologue)

On album:
T-023(a) (Those Were The Days)
Track ID:
3653
Vocal:
Bern, Mina — בערן, מינע
First line:
I came to share with you my joy, my nakes I have from my...
Track comment:
From "Those Were The Days"
Language:
English
Style:
Spoken Word/Monologue

Der Yunginker Shnayderl — דער יונגינקער שנײַדערל

On album:
T-023(a) (Those Were The Days)
Track ID:
3474
Author:
Leyb, Mani — לײב, מאַני
Composer:
Beyglman, David — בײגלמאַן, דוד
Vocal:
Bern, Mina — בערן, מינע
Artist:
Mlotek, Zalmen — מלאָטעק, זלמן, (1951)
Vocalist:
Golden Land Company
Vocal:
Wilner, Lori
First line:
Oy mamenyu tayere, mamenyu lib, dem kleyntshikn shnayder...
First line (Yiddish):
אױ מאַמעניו טײַערע, מאַמיניו ליב, דעם קלײנטשיקן שנײַדערל…
Track comment:
From "Those Were The Days" Sung counterpoint with Nokhemke
Language:
Yiddish

Fiddler On The Roof (Yid)

Related information in folder 1629:
Document type:
Article
Author:
2. Forverts Editorial Board
Publisher:
Forverts
Date:
July 2018
Comments:
"Tevye: Di Ekhte Skhoyre" - Naye Yiddisher Spektakl ("Teyve: The Authentic Merchandise" - New Yiddish Spectacle)
Document type:
Article
Author:
1. Alica Solomon
Publisher:
Forward Magazine
Date:
July 2018
Comments:
"Teaching Yiddish to Tevye: A New Production Takes 'Fiddler on the Roof' to its Linguistic Roots"
On album:
B-010(f) (Ben Bonus Mina Bern Mit Lid Iber Der Velt — מיט ליד איבער דער װעלט)
Track ID:
5187
Author:
Harnick, Sheldon
Composer:
Bock, Jerry
Artist:
Bonus, Ben — באָנוס, בען
Yiddish Adaption:
Bern, Mina — בערן, מינע
Artist:
Yarkon, Jo, dir
First line:
Ikh zits aruf dem dakh, un fun der velt ikh lakh,
First line (Yiddish):
איך זיץ אַרוף דעם דאַך, און פֿון דער װעלט איך לאַך,
Audio:
Freedman Sound Archives at Penn Libraries (temporarily unavailable)
Track comment:
Recorded under "Fidler Oyfn Dakh"
Language:
Yiddish

I Wish I Were Single Again (Y & E) — הלװאַי װאָלט איך סינגל געװען

On album:
T-023(a) (Those Were The Days)
Track ID:
7004
Vocal:
Bern, Mina — בערן, מינע
Orchestra Conductor:
Mlotek, Zalmen — מלאָטעק, זלמן, (1951)
Accomp:
Golden Land Klezmer Orchestra
Vocal:
Abelson, Cantor Robert Paul
First line:
Halevay volt ikh singl geven, I wish I were single again,
First line:
הלוואַי װאָלט איך סינגל געװען...
Track comment:
From "Those Were The Days" Adapted by Wolf Younin

Hershele — הערשעלע

On album:
B-010(f) (Ben Bonus Mina Bern Mit Lid Iber Der Velt — מיט ליד איבער דער װעלט)
Track ID:
6446
Author/Composer:
Gebirtig, Mordkhe — געבירטיג, מרדכי
Artist:
Bern, Mina — בערן, מינע
Artist:
Yarkon, Jo, dir
First line:
Hershele, du lebst in mayn zikorn, un khotsh di mayse iz...
First line:
הערשעלע, דו לעבסט אין מײַן זכּרון, און כאָטש די מעשׂה איז...
Audio:
Freedman Sound Archives at Penn Libraries (temporarily unavailable)
Track comment:
with same name in the Gebirtig books.

In An Orem Shtibele — אין אַן אָרעם שטיבעלע

Author:
Korman, Moyshe — קאָרמאַן, משה (1884-1928)
Composer:
Gelbart, Mikhl — געלבאַרט, מיכל
Genre:
Popular/Children
Subject:
Mother/Child/Father/Clothes/Love/Poverty
Song comment:
Refrain similar to "Patsh, Patsh, Kikhelekh"
Transliteration:
C-042(b)
Translation:
Alb C-042(b)
Additional song notes:
In a House of Poverty/From liner notes of C-042(b)-popular in Yiddish Schools in US and Poland in the 1930's
On album:
T-023(a) (Those Were The Days)
Track ID:
7322
Vocal:
Bern, Mina — בערן, מינע
Director:
Mlotek, Zalmen — מלאָטעק, זלמן, (1951)
Artist:
Golden Land Orchestra
First line:
In an orem shtibele, ovnt-tsayt baym koymen, shpilt a libe..
First line:
אין אַן אָרעם שטיבעלע, אָװנט-צײַט בײַם קױמען, שפּילט אַ ליבע...
Track comment:
From "Those Were The Days" with "Vu Iz Dos Gesele"

Mamenyu Tayere (Der Yungiker...) — מאַמעניו טײַערע (דער יונגיקיר...)

On album:
xT-023(a)
Track ID:
9735
Author:
Leyb, Mani — לײב, מאַני
Composer:
Beyglman, David — בײגלמאַן, דוד
Vocal:
Bern, Mina — בערן, מינע
Artist:
Mlotek, Zalmen — מלאָטעק, זלמן, (1951)
Vocalist:
Golden Land Company
Vocal:
Wilner, Lori
First line:
Oy mamenyu tayere, mamenyu lib, dem kleyntshikn shnayder...
First line:
אױ מאַמעניו טײַערע, מאַמיניו ליב, דעם קלײנטשיקן שנײַדערל...
Track comment:
From "Those Were The Days" Sung counterpoint with Nokhemke

Sheyndele — שײנדעלע

On album:
B-010(e) (Let's Sing Yiddish Original Cast Album Ben Bonus — לאָמיר זינגען ייִדיש)
Track ID:
13738
Vocal:
Bern, Mina — בערן, מינע
Arranger/Conductor:
Rumshinsky, Murray
Vocal:
Tsipkin, Diane — ציפּקין, דײַאַן
First line:
Far vos veynstu sheyndele, tekhterl du mayns,
First line:
פֿאַר װאָס װײנסטו שײנדעלע, טעכטערל דו מײַנס,
Audio:
Freedman Sound Archives at Penn Libraries (temporarily unavailable)

Tyul Le'li (Geven A Nakht, Yid)

Origin:
Ephemera 1405: Hebrew Text
On album:
B-010(f) (Ben Bonus Mina Bern Mit Lid Iber Der Velt — מיט ליד איבער דער װעלט)
Track ID:
15850
Author:
Ettinger, Amos/ Sh. Fisher, Yid — אתינגער, עמוס / שמאול פֿישער, ייַדיש
Vocal:
Bern, Mina — בערן, מינע
Composer:
Noy, Meir — נוי, מאיר
Vocal:
Bonus, Ben — באָנוס, בען
Artist:
Yarkon, Jo, dir
First line:
Geven a nakht, a nakht a royter, bloyer, es hot der yunger..
First line:
געװען אַ נאַכט, אַ נאַכט אַ רױטער, בלױער, עס האָט גער יונגער װינט
Audio:
Freedman Sound Archives at Penn Libraries (temporarily unavailable)
Track comment:
Recorded under title "דו ,"דו

Vos Dergeystu Mir Di Yorn? — װאָס דערגײסטו מיר די יאָרן?

Genre:
Theatre/Cabaret/Humorous
Subject:
Family/Curses/Aggrevation/Husband/Wife/In Laws
Origin:
ML MTAG 34
Transliteration:
ML MTAG 34
Music:
ML MTAG 34
On album:
B-010(e) (Let's Sing Yiddish Original Cast Album Ben Bonus — לאָמיר זינגען ייִדיש)
Track ID:
16668
Vocal:
Bern, Mina — בערן, מינע
Vocal:
Bonus, Ben — באָנוס, בען
Arranger/Conductor:
Rumshinsky, Murray
First line:
Vos dergeystu mir di yorn, mayne yunge yunge yorn,
First line:
װאָס דערגײסטו מיר די יאָרן, מײַנע יונגע יונגע יאָרן,
Audio:
Freedman Sound Archives at Penn Libraries (temporarily unavailable)
Track comment:
Recorded under "Odesser Motiven"

Vu Iz Dos Gesele — װוּ איז דאָס געסעלע

Also known as:
Vi Iz Dos Gesele
Genre:
Folk/Love/Waltz/Lament
Subject:
Love/Dwelling/Memory/Street
Origin:
Alb H-007(a)/Jaffee Kam 13/Alb S-062(a)/Alb B-036(a)/ Oyfn Veg 121
Transliteration:
Alb S-062(a)/Alb B-036(a)/Alb V0121/ Oyfn Veg 121
Translation:
Alb S-062(a)/Alb B-036(a)/Alb V0121
Music:
Jaffe Kam 13/Estella 6/
Additional song notes:
Where Is The Little Street (Alleyway?)
On album:
T-023(a) (Those Were The Days)
Track ID:
16812
Vocal:
Bern, Mina — בערן, מינע
Artist:
Mlotek, Zalmen — מלאָטעק, זלמן, (1951)
Artist:
Golden Land Orchestra
First line:
Vu iz dos gesele, vu iz dos shtub, vu iz dos meydele vos...
First line (Yiddish):
װוּ איז דאָס געסעלע, װוּ איז דאָס שטוב, װוּ איז דאָס מײדעלע װאָס...
Track comment:
From "Those Were The Days" with "In An Orem Shtibele"
Language:
Yiddish

Yankele — יאַנקעלע

Also known as:
Shlof Mayn Yankele
Also known as:
Shlof Shoyn Mayn Yankele
Author:
Gebirtig, Mordkhe — געבירטיג, מרדכי
Composer:
Gebirtig, Mordkhe — געבירטיג, מרדכי
Genre:
Folk/Lullabye
Subject:
Child/Sleep/Teeth/Crying/Student/Wet/Khosn
Origin:
ML MTAG 08/Alb K-014(a)/GYF 60/Alb L-022(a)/Alb F-024(e)/
Transliteration:
GYF 63/ML MTAG 08/Alb R-007(f)1/Alb R-001(a)/Alb P-001(a)/Alb L-022(a)
Translation:
Alb H-006(a)/Alb G-022(a)/Alb K-014(a)/GYF 63/Alb O-001(c)/Alb P-001(a
Music:
ML MTAG 09/GYF 61/
Additional song notes:
See also Ephemera 918 for Yiddish text, translation and transliteration
Related information in folder 745:
Comments:
1. Transliteration and singable Yiddish translation by Edith Finell.
On album:
R-002(a) (Art Raymond Presents)
Track ID:
17134
Vocal:
Bern, Mina — בערן, מינע
First line:
Shlof zhe mir shoyn, Yankele, mayn sheyner, Di eygelekh,
First line (Yiddish):
שלאָף זשע מיר שױן, יאַנקעלע, מײַן שײנער, די אײגעלעך, די...
Language:
Yiddish
Style:
Concert/Folk