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This website examines the magazine of the Polish-born Yiddish poet A.N. Stencl (1897-1983) Loshn un Lebn (Language & Life). In 1940 this journal began as small pamphlets printed by Narod press in London, then developed into a monthly publication in 1946, which ran until 1981. Stencl was the editor, secretary, marketing director and salesman for this magazine. These literary journals featured his own poems, essays, and autobiographical writings, alongside a wealth of work by other Yiddish writers and poets, as well as letters from readers and others in the community, and articles on various political, social, and literary topics. This unique publication gave many Yiddish writers living in the U.K. and all over the world.

Loshn un lebn was once treasured by Yiddish speakers across the globe with subscribers from London, New York, Berlin and Buenos Aires, alongside many other less likely places including Peru and Iceland. Stencl survived financially from hawking the magazine outside the Jewish meeting places, cafés, and lecture halls of the former Jewish East End. Most were purchased by a loyal clientele of local Yiddish speaking working class people in Whitechapel in East London where the poet lived from his arrival in the U.K. in 1936 until his death in 1983. Post-war when most of the Jewish community left that area, Stencl remained, running his literary society, selling his magazine, passionately defending his dying language and culture until his last breath. 

On this site you can explore this journal in Yiddish, download copies for free and read the content pages, which have been translated into English here for the first time. Or join one of our live online discussions of these long out of print magazines. Find out how these magazines reveal new information on a vast range of subjects, places and personalities connected to Yiddish literature and life in Britain and beyond. Send us your memories of Stencl and his magazine. Browse through the collaborative projects produced by Dr Rachel Lichtenstein of Manchester Metropolitan University, which have been inspired by Stencl and his Yiddish activities during the past few years.

Projects