Michael Shapiro was born to the red diaper and came of age in turmoil of the 60’s. He has followed many stars, including beggar, news hawker, taxi driver, household mover, piano tuner, research mathematician and mathematical biologist. His artwork has been collected by the Cambridge Public Library’s Cambridge Room and Harvard’s Woodberry Poetry Room.
His translation of Moyshe Nadir's Messiah in America was published by Farlag Press in 2018.
Briv funem Arkhiv: A Grave in the Baker Street Jewish Cemeteries
Michael Shapiro takes us to the Worker’s Circle section of Boston’s Baker Street Jewish Cemeteries, where he encountered a moving Yiddish poem.
Mar 06, 2020
די באַלאַדע פֿון מײַן אומעט
My Tale of Woe
Moyshe-Leyb Halpern’s morbid, postmodernist ballad in a new, creative translation by Michael Shapiro.
Nov 08, 2019
לעצטע מעשׂים־טובֿים פֿון אַ טאָמײטע
A Tomato’s Last Good Deeds
If you thought Shloyme Gilbert’s “Monologue of a Dog” was strange, wait until you read Getsl Selikovitsh’s tomato monologue.
Nov 21, 2018
משיח אין אַמעריקע
Messiah in America
An exclusive extract from Moyshe Nadir’s 1932 satire, Messiah in America.
Jul 04, 2018
דער דיבוק אין קריזיס־געשטאַלט
The Dybbuk In The Form Of A Crisis
No, not Sh. An-Ski’s classic Dybbuk, but Yosl Cutler’s parody version, with sharp-tongued satire, a host of illustrious cameos, and puppets.
Mar 30, 2017