Yiddish Zionist Calendars in the Russian Empire, 1887-1914

Abstract

This article examines a little-studied medium, namely the calendar, in its broadest sense, which resembles the model of the almanac. The focus is on calendars in Yiddish, the everyday language of most Eastern European Jews. The number of these calendars grew steadily in the late 19th century and early 20th century, including those used by their editors to disseminate the idea of Hibbat Zion (Love of Zion), and later the Zionist idea. These calendars were published in the three main centers of Zionist activity before World War I: Odessa, Pinsk, and Vilna. Some of the calendars were local in character, while others were regional. The editors, who were recognized figures in their communities, selected a variety of content to present to their readers, which were primarily intended to instill national awareness, and in turn a sense of connection to the idea of a return to Zion and interest in the new Jewish settlement in the Land of Israel.