New Books Network Henry H. Sapoznik, "The Tourist's Guide to Lost Yiddish New York City" (SUNY Press, 2025)
Nov 18, 2025
Henry H. Sapoznik, an award-winning author and musicologist, explores the rich tapestry of Yiddish popular culture in New York City. He discusses how the COVID pandemic inspired his book, detailing the Jewish history behind famous foods like knishes and the significance of cafeterias. Sapoznik shares fascinating insights on the influence of Yiddish culture on mainstream media and the role of Black cantors. He also highlights the cultural spread beyond the Lower East Side and reflects on what Yiddish New York means today.
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How A Blog Sparked The Book
- Henry Sapoznik began the book during the COVID shutdown by turning blog hits into deeper research about lost Yiddish figures.
- His discovery of Thomas LaRue Jones' 1923 recording launched months of archival work and hundreds of essays.
Digitization Changed Yiddish Research
- Online digitization transformed Sapoznik's research by enabling word searches across thousands of Yiddish articles.
- He downloaded over 5,000 Yiddish articles, which deepened and accelerated his findings.
Themes Emerged From Research Paths
- Sapoznik organized the book around eating, architecture, music, and theater because discoveries led him down productive 'rabbit holes.'
- He prioritized human stories that revealed cultural meaning rather than encyclopedic lists.
