Yiddish Eroto-philology and Celia Dropkin's Poetics of Desire

Abstract

This article analyzes the work of Celia Dropkin, a Yiddish poet who challenged the aesthetic and social norms of her time, standing out as one of the leading figures in Yiddish erotic poetry written by women. This analysis is conducted using the interdisciplinary Eroto-philology approach, developed by Weiman-Kelman, which emphasizes the investigation of erotic discourse in historical texts, popular expressions, and literature in Yiddish, considering their social, political, and performative functions. In this context, the tensions between social censorship, sexual performativity, and the affirmation of subjectivity become evident. Erotic poetry in Yiddish constitutes a significant literary field that highlights negotiations between religious tradition and bodily experience, gender, and Jewish identity.