The Jewish Grimm

Dov Noy z”l founded the Israel Folktale Archives in 1955, resulting in today’s collection of nearly 25,000 folktales from 70 Jewish and non Jewish ethnic groups. His contributions to the study of folklore – Jewish folklore in particular – are astounding, extending beyond the more than 60 books he wrote and edited (the muti-volume Folktales of the Jews, Folktales of Israel, and many others). He influenced countless students, storytellers, listeners and readers over his career. He died September 29, 2013 at age 92.

An example of his insights into Jewish folktales can be found in his essay, “What is Jewish About the Jewish Folktale,” that is the forward to Howard Schwartz’s book, Miriam’s Tambourine. My one-sentence summary in What is a Jewish Story does not do it justice. Another example, his analysis of the Angel of Death in Jewish Folklore, was excerpted in Jewish Heritage Online Magazine.

His obituary in The Jewish Daily Forward and on the Jewish Studies Network/ H-Judaic email list provide more details of his storied career.