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NEW YORK, Aug 24, 2006 (UPI via COMTEX) -- A donation from financier Eli Broad has likely saved a collection of historical Yiddish theater materials that were moldering in a New York location.
The New York Times reported that the Los Angeles philanthropist's donation of $186,000 on Tuesday will help the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research restore the historical items, which had been found in poor condition at the former home of the Hebrew Actors Union at 31 E. 7th St.
Broad said a Times article alerted him to the collection and was motivated to make the donation based on memories of his Lithuanian immigrant parents who had told him of the Yiddish plays they used to attend.
"I still recall some of the names they mentioned," said Broad. "I thought it was an opportunity to do something in their memory and honor," he added.
The paper said that while Yiddish theaters used to flourish in New York, there were 14 locales in 1914, a decrease in audiences caused all but the Folksbiene Yiddish Theater to close their doors and in doing so increased the historical importance of the institute's collection.
URL: www.upi.com Copyright 2006 by United Press International
