The one-night-only gala at Symphony Space on Jan. 7, 2007, at 4 PM benefits the National Yiddish Theatre-Folksbiene. Finkel will play Willy Clark and Bikel is Al Lewis.

The event will mark the North American premiere of the Yiddish translation by Miriam Hoffman. It had its world premiere in Tel Aviv in 2001.

Isaiah Sheffer directs the staged reading, which will be performed with English and Russian supertitles.

Bikel received a Tony nomination for originating the role of Captain von Trapp in Broadway’s The Sound of Music. His other Broadway credits include The Lark, The Inspector General and The Rope Dancers, for which he received another Tony nom. He was nominated for an Oscar for the 1958 film “The Defiant Ones,” and his other film credits include “The African Queen,” “The Enemy Below” and “The Russians are Coming, the Russians are Coming.”

Finkel’s credits include the role of Mordcha in Broadway’s Fiddler on the Roof (in the original production and 1981 revival) and Little Shop of Horrors, which he starred in for five years Off-Broadway. He won an Emmy Award for “Picket Fences” and appeared in the television show “Boston Public” and in films such as “For Love or Money” and “Nixon.” Bikel originated the role of Sam in the musical Cafe Crown in 1964, and Finkel played the same role in the 1989 revival. Both have played Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof numerous times.

Symphony Space is located in Manhattan at 2537 Broadway. For tickets call Symphony Space at (212) 864-5400. For other details call (212) 213-2120 or visit www.folksbiene.org.