What a wonderful story-teller Sholem Aleichem (the pen name of Solomon Rabinovich) is! And how vividly his secondary characters jump off the page! Together, these make Wandering Stars a book that is hard to put down, even as the plot, such as it is, wanders as much as the characters and even disappears as much as one of the two main characters does.

The book starts in the tiny Bessarabian (now part of Moldavia) shtetl of Holeneshti when a traveling Yiddish theater comes to town. While this is by far the most exciting thing that has ever happened there, it is clear to the reader that it is also far from the top level of theater. Nonetheless, the town is enchanted, especially two teenagers: Reizel, the poor cantor's daughter, and Leibel, the son of the richest man in Holeneshti. Together, they fall in love with the theater and, on a starry night, pledge their undying love to each other.

The rest of the book chronicles their separate wanderings, especially Leibel's, who becomes Leo, through much of Jewish eastern Europe and then to Vienna, London, and ultimately New York where (SPOILER ALERT) they ultimately meet again, 10 years later, he as the biggest star in Yiddish theater acting, she as Rosa, an internationally renowned singer, each with complicated relationships.

But that is only the plot. On top of this thin thread of a love story, the novel spills over with the energy of the theater, the poverty of many Jews in eastern Europe, the competition of theaters and newspapers, the varied characters, the constant scheming, the plotting, the back-biting, the ambition, the betrayals, the love and friendship -- above all, the vibrant life. Admittedly things slowed down a little at the end, but overall this is just a fun, fun read, largely because of the amazing writing and vivid imagination of the author.

It is enhanced by an enthusiastic introduction by playwright Tony Kushner and a scholarly afterword by Dan Miron.

What an amazing novel, and what an incredible story! Wandering Stars, by Sholem Aleichem, and translated from the Yiddish by Aliza Shevirn, is a journey into Yiddish Theater unlike anything you have read on the subject. Jews are known as wanderers, and Aleichem’s novel not only evokes that theme, but also infuses the story with characters-turned actors straight from Holeneshti, a Russian shtetl, who become stars in their own right, shining brightly on stage.

wanderingstars “Next year marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of the great Yiddish humorist Sholem Aleichem as well as the 100th anniversary of the publication of Wandering Stars, his sprawling love story spanning ten years and two continents, and set in the colorful world of the Yiddish theater.“

What an amazing novel, and what an incredible story! Wandering Stars, by Sholem Aleichem, and translated from the Yiddish by Aliza Shevirn, is a journey into Yiddish Theater unlike anything you have read on the subject. Jews are known as wanderers, and Aleichem’s novel not only evokes that theme, but also infuses the story with characters-turned actors straight from Holeneshti, a Russian shtetl, who become stars in their own right, shining brightly on stage.

Reisel is the daughter of a cantor, a cantor who is in dire straights, monetarily speaking. Leibel is from a wealthy family. Both Reisel and Leibel are intrigued and taken by the Yiddish Theater company, and its troupe of actors that come to their shtetl at the end of the nineteenth century.

Reisel and Leibel leave their homes, thinking they will eventually meet and run off together. Things don’t quite work out that way. They join the theater, but as it turns out, it is not together, because they become separated by greedy theater managers. They eventually make their own mark in the Yiddish Theater world, after being promoted and exploited by their managers and theater owners. Reisel becomes Rosa Spivak, promoted as a concert talent coming from Bucharest. Leibel becomes Leo Rafalesko, an acting genius. Their audiences adore them, and can’t get enough of them, wanting them to perform more often.

Aleichem was a masterful writer, and Wandering Stars is a masterpiece because of that. Wandering Star is a tribute to Yiddish theater, and to a way of life that once was, and one that no longer exists, both onstage and off stage. It is also a tribute to Sholem Aleichem and his consummate writing skills. I highly recommend Wandering Stars to everyone, not only for the story, but for its historical apsect as well. It belongs in every personal library, and every university, college, high school, and local library. Sholom aleichem to Solomon Rabinowitz, wherever he is. ( )