Though He Died 100 Years Ago, Sholem Aleichem's Work Continues to Inspire

Sholem Aleichem, the celebrated Yiddish writer behind the stories of Tevye the Dairyman, which inspired the beloved musical Fiddler on the Roof, died 100 years ago last Friday. Fiddler, of course, continues to entertain audiences around the world, with its seemingly everlasting narrative and music. Fittingly, the Broadway production of Fiddler was recently nominated for a Tony Award for Best Revival.

Given the Yiddish world’s tradition of honoring yahrzeit more than birthdays, a number of commemorations and celebrations have been organized in his honor. (You should have a party, too!) Curious readers can start with this excerpt from Jeremy Dauber’s biography of Aleichem, The Worlds of Sholem Aleichem, published by Nextbook in 2013. Here’s Dauber describing the funeral procession following Aleichem’s death in his Lower East Side apartment on May 13, 1916:

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