22 April 2025

Word-Beggar in a Jewish Graveyard: A Dispatch from a Jewish Life in Poetry

Wednesday evening, 30 April at 6 PM, the Vilnius Jewish Public Library invites you to a special literary evening: “Word-Beggar in a Jewish Graveyard: A Dispatch from a Jewish Life in Poetry.” The event will take place at the Vilnius Jewish Public Library (Gedimino pr. 24). Entrance is through the courtyard of the Vilnius Small State Theatre.

The event will be held in English.

During this intimate literary evening, the poet will reflect on the deep and diverse Jewish roots of his poetry — exploring how Jewish history, language, and lived experience shape the poetic voice. Some poems will draw directly from classical Jewish sources such as the Bible, Yiddish literature, and Jewish historical experience, while others will reflect a Jewish sensibility in unexpected places: from Renaissance frescoes to taxi rides in modern Shanghai.

Jacqueline Osherow is the author of nine collections of poetry, most recently Divine Ratios Temple (LSU Press, 2023). She’s received fellowships from the Guggenheim and Ingram Merrill Foundations, the NEA and the Witter Bynner Prize, among others. Her poems have appeared in many magazines, journals and anthologies, including The New Yorker, Paris Review, APR, Best American Poetry (1995, 1998, 2018, 2024) The Penguin Book of the Sonnet, The Norton Anthology of Jewish-American Literature, A Centenary of Poetry in the New Yorker. She’s Distinguished Professor at the University of Utah.

This is more than a poetry reading — it is a personal and cultural journey through the Jewish imagination, memory, and creativity.

Join us for a moving evening of poetry, storytelling, and thoughtful reflection.

Photographs and videos may be taken during the event. Photos and videos may be used to promote the event on social networks, websites, etc.

Registration form ›

Briefly about the event

Date

30 April

Time

18:00

Place

Vilnius Jewish Public Library (Gedimino ave. 24)

Duration

2 hours

Attendance

please register here

More information

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Organiser

Vilnius Jewish Public Library

Important

the event may be photographed and / or filmed
the event will be held in English