Yiddishland California

News in mame-loshn: Reading der Forverts in Yiddish [Registration Closed – This class is Sold Out]
2025-11-04 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Detroit) | Zoom
Strengthen your Yiddish reading and translation skills in this 6-week online course for intermediate-level students. Guided entirely in Yiddish, this class offers a warm, supportive environment where you’ll read and translate selected articles from Der Forverts, a cornerstone of Yiddish-language writing. Along the way, you’ll expand your vocabulary and deepen your understanding of modern and historical Yiddish culture—all at your own pace, without pressure or comparison.
The images featured above were provided courtesy of the Forward.
When: The class starting in October is full. The 2nd group will meet every Tuesday, starting on December 2, 2025 ending on January 6, 2026: 1–2 p.m. PT / 3–4 p.m. CT / 4–5 p.m. ET / 10–11 p.m. Central Europe
Where: Online via Zoom
Cost:
Early Bird: $150 for all 6 weeks or $25 for each 60-minute online class (early bird, if paid before Tuesday, November 18, 2025)
Student Pricing (Upload ID): $150 all 6 weeks or $25 for a 60-minute online class
Regular Pricing: $180 for all 6 weeks or $30 for each 60-minute online class
Instructor: Tetyana Yakovleva
Tetyana studied Comparative Literature, Classical, Slavic, Jewish, and Media Studies at the universities of Kharkiv, Regensburg, Bari, and San Diego. She received her PhD in Slavic and Jewish Studies from the University of Regensburg in 2019 and since then she has been teaching for YAAANA.

Jewish Emotional Support Meditation Circle
2025-11-06 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
Join Harpal Khalsa for a simple hour of guided meditation, self reflection, and energy healing.
Embrace this opportunity to release stress and worry, create harmony within, and share compassion and hope.
When: 2nd Thursdays of the month — October 9, November 6, December 11, January 11Time: 12–1 p.m. PT / 3–4 p.m. ET / 9–10 p.m. Central Europe& 6–7 p.m. PT / 9–10 p.m. ET / 3–4 a.m. (next day) Central Europe
Where: Online (Zoom or your platform link here)
Cost: Suggested Donation: $5–$36 (sliding scale)Options: $5, $18, $36
Guide: Harpal Khalsa
Our Coach’s Bio: Harpal Khalsa holds a master degree in clinical mental health counseling and currently serves as a professional mental health care and lifestyle coach here in La Jolla Village. Her experience in the international field of disaster trauma and group counseling facilitation allow her to support this local Jewish community to share, grieve, and empower each other through these radical times of terrorism, war, and social upheaval.

New Course of Judeo-Spanish (Ladino) for Beginners: ¡Buyrun al Ladino!
2025-11-10 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-11-17 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
Have you ever wanted to explore Sephardic heritage, learn the unique language of the Spanish Jews, or simply try something new and enriching? Join our Judeo-Spanish (Ladino) Course for Beginners!
What to Expect:
✔ Learn to speak, read, and understand basic Judeo-Spanish (Ladino)
✔ Read Ladino in both Latin and (a little) Rashi script
✔ Discover Sephardic culture through proverbs, songs, and traditions
✔ Study at a comfortable pace – no prior knowledge required!
Whether you’re a student, a language lover, or looking to reconnect with your family roots – this course is for you.
When: Mondays, October 20 – November 24, 10.00-11.00 a.m. PT (12:00-1:00 p.m. CT, 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET, 6:00-7:00 p.m. in the UK, 7:00-8:00 p.m. in Central Europe)
Costs:
Early bird (if registered before October 6): 6 classes for $250
Regular Registration: 6 classes for $300
Teacher: Agnieszka August-Zarębska
She is an assistant professor in the Taube Department of Jewish Studies at the University of Wrocław, Poland. She has a degree in Spanish Studies and her current research interests include contemporary Ladino poetry, contemporary literary translations into Ladino and Sephardic children’s literature. She also worked on critical editions of the early 20th century Judeo-Spanish literature.

News in mame-loshn: Reading der Forverts in Yiddish
2025-11-11 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Detroit) | Zoom

Yiddish for Absolute Beginners 2: Basic Grammar and Conversation
2025-11-16 11:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
NEW! 8-Session Yiddish Course
This course is perfect for those who have completed the course Yiddish for Absolute Beginners, as well as others who can already read the Yiddish Alef-Beys and have had around 10 hours of prior instruction (about A1.1 level). Among other things, students will learn to write in Yiddish, practice introducing themselves and using everyday greetings, and become familiar with common verbs. While the main emphasis is on consolidating elementary grammar, the course also employs a multimedia approach to introduce students to Yiddish culture, literature, and music through short texts, audiovisual materials, and guided exercises. All materials will be provided by the instructor.
When: Sundays, October 5, 2025 – November 23, 2025 : 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. PT / 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. ET/ 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. CT/ 8 p.m. – 9 p.m. in Central Europe.
Cost: 8 classes for $340 (early bird, if paid before Wednesday, September 10, 2025)
Regular Admission: 8 classes for $370
Teacher: Julia Koifman
Julia Koifman is a Lecturer in Yiddish language and literature at the University of Potsdam. She studied Slavic and German Studies in Berlin and Moscow, as well as Yiddish and Jewish Studies in Potsdam, Haifa, and New York. She previously worked at the Institute for Slavic Studies at Humboldt University and served as a tutor for Yiddish language and literature at the University of Potsdam. Her MA thesis presented a comparative analysis of short stories by the Yiddish authors Rokhl Brokhes and Roze Palatnik. In addition, she works as a translator of Yiddish literature into German and English.

News in mame-loshn: Reading der Forverts in Yiddish (Event Full)
2025-11-18 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Detroit) | Zoom

Yiddish for Absolute Beginners 2: Basic Grammar and Conversation
2025-11-23 11:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
NEW! 8-Session Yiddish Course
This course is perfect for those who have completed the course Yiddish for Absolute Beginners, as well as others who can already read the Yiddish Alef-Beys and have had around 10 hours of prior instruction (about A1.1 level). Among other things, students will learn to write in Yiddish, practice introducing themselves and using everyday greetings, and become familiar with common verbs. While the main emphasis is on consolidating elementary grammar, the course also employs a multimedia approach to introduce students to Yiddish culture, literature, and music through short texts, audiovisual materials, and guided exercises. All materials will be provided by the instructor.
When: Sundays, October 5, 2025 – November 23, 2025 : 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. PT / 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. ET/ 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. CT/ 8 p.m. – 9 p.m. in CET.
Cost: 8 classes for $340 (early bird, if paid before Wednesday, September 10, 2025)
Regular Admission: 8 classes for $370
Teacher: Julia Koifman
Julia Koifman is a Lecturer in Yiddish language and literature at the University of Potsdam. She studied Slavic and German Studies in Berlin and Moscow, as well as Yiddish and Jewish Studies in Potsdam, Haifa, and New York. She previously worked at the Institute for Slavic Studies at Humboldt University and served as a tutor for Yiddish language and literature at the University of Potsdam. Her MA thesis presented a comparative analysis of short stories by the Yiddish authors Rokhl Brokhes and Roze Palatnik. In addition, she works as a translator of Yiddish literature into German and English.

New Course of Judeo-Spanish (Ladino) for Beginners: ¡Buyrun al Ladino!
2025-11-24 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
Have you ever wanted to explore Sephardic heritage, learn the unique language of the Spanish Jews, or simply try something new and enriching? Join our Judeo-Spanish (Ladino) Course for Beginners!
What to Expect:✔ Learn to speak, read, and understand basic Judeo-Spanish (Ladino)✔ Read Ladino in both Latin and (a little) Rashi script✔ Discover Sephardic culture through proverbs, songs, and traditions✔ Study at a comfortable pace – no prior knowledge required!
Whether you’re a student, a language lover, or looking to reconnect with your family roots – this course is for you.
When: Mondays, October 20 – November 24, 10.00-11.00 a.m. PT (12:00-1:00 p.m. CT, 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET, 6:00-7:00 p.m. in the UK, 7:00-8:00 p.m. in CET)
Costs:
Early bird (if registered before October 6): 6 classes for $250
Regular Registration: 6 classes for $300
Teacher: Agnieszka August-Zarębska
She is an assistant professor in the Taube Department of Jewish Studies at the University of Wrocław, Poland. She has a degree in Spanish Studies and her current research interests include contemporary Ladino poetry, contemporary literary translations into Ladino and Sephardic children’s literature. She also worked on critical editions of the early 20th century Judeo-Spanish literature.

News in mame-loshn: Reading der Forverts in Yiddish
2025-11-25 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Detroit) | Zoom
Strengthen your Yiddish reading and translation skills in this 6-week online course for intermediate-level students. Guided entirely in Yiddish, this class offers a warm, supportive environment where you’ll read and translate selected articles from Der Forverts, a cornerstone of Yiddish-language writing. Along the way, you’ll expand your vocabulary and deepen your understanding of modern and historical Yiddish culture—all at your own pace, without pressure or comparison.
The images featured above were provided courtesy of the Forward.
When: The class starting in October is full. The 2nd group will meet every Tuesday, starting on December 2, 2025 ending on January 6, 2026: 1–2 p.m. PT / 3–4 p.m. CT / 4–5 p.m. ET / 10–11 p.m. CET
Where: Online via Zoom
Cost:
Early Bird: $150 for all 6 weeks or $25 for each 60-minute online class (early bird, if paid before Tuesday, November 18, 2025)
Student Pricing (Upload ID): $150 all 6 weeks or $25 for a 60-minute online class
Regular Pricing: $180 for all 6 weeks or $30 for each 60-minute online class
Instructor: Tetyana Yakovleva
Tetyana studied Comparative Literature, Classical, Slavic, Jewish, and Media Studies at the universities of Kharkiv, Regensburg, Bari, and San Diego. She received her PhD in Slavic and Jewish Studies from the University of Regensburg in 2019 and since then she has been teaching for YAAANA.

Yoga for Gratitude in Yiddish
2025-11-30 08:00 - 09:00 (America/Detroit) | Zoom
In this yoga class instructed in Yiddish with English translation, we will practice yoga and mindfulness that focuses on gratitude. Gratitude and yoga help detoxify the mind, body and connect to a larger reason for being. The slow and gentle nature of this class is perfect for beginners and is also great for other students who can sink deeper into their practice.
When: Sunday, November 30, 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. PT ( 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. CT, 11:00 – 12:00 p.m. ET, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. in the UK, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. in CET).
Where: on Zoom
Early Bird (if paid on/before Wednesday, November 26, 2025):$15
Regular admission (if paid after Wednesday, November 26, 2025): $20
Instructor: Tetyana Yakovleva
She studied Comparative Literature, Classical, Slavic, Jewish, and Media Studies at the universities of Kharkiv, Regensburg, Bari, and San Diego. Tanya received her PhD in Slavic and Jewish Studies from the University of Regensburg in 2019 and since then she has been teaching for YAAANA. Tanya is a registered yoga teacher (RYT 200) and she sees her mission in bringing joy and equilibrium to people through yoga and Yiddish.

News in Mame-loshn: Reading Der Forverts in Yiddish 2
2025-12-02 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-12-09 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-12-16 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-01-06 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom

Jewish Emotional Support Meditation Circle
2025-12-11 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-01-11 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
Join Harpal Khalsa for a simple hour of guided meditation, self reflection, and energy healing.
Embrace this opportunity to release stress and worry, create harmony within, and share compassion and hope.
When: 2nd Thursdays of the month — October 9, November 6, December 11, January 11Time: 12–1 p.m. PT / 3–4 p.m. ET / 9–10 p.m. CET& 6–7 p.m. PT / 9–10 p.m. ET / 3–4 a.m. (next day) CET
Where: Online (Zoom or your platform link here)
Cost: Suggested Donation: $5–$36 (sliding scale)Options: $5, $18, $36
Guide: Harpal Khalsa
Our Coach’s Bio: Harpal Khalsa holds a master degree in clinical mental health counseling and currently serves as a professional mental health care and lifestyle coach here in La Jolla Village. Her experience in the international field of disaster trauma and group counseling facilitation allow her to support this local Jewish community to share, grieve, and empower each other through these radical times of terrorism, war, and social upheaval.

New Year Intentions with Yoga in Yiddish
2025-12-21 08:00 - 09:00 (America/Detroit) | Zoom
Set some new intentions for 2026 in this yoga class. Join in to let go of all of the ups and downs of 2025 and step into the New Year with a focused, clear, determined and hopeful version of yourself. The slow and gentle nature of this class is perfect for beginners and is also great for other students who can sink deeper into their practice. The language of instruction is Yiddish with English translation.
When: Sunday, December 28, 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. PT ( 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. CT, 11:00 – 12:00 p.m. ET, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. in the UK, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. in CET).
Where: on Zoom
Early Bird (if paid on/before Wednesday, December 24, 2025):$15
Regular admission (if paid after Wednesday, December 24, 2025): $20
Instructor: Tetyana Yakovleva
She studied Comparative Literature, Classical, Slavic, Jewish, and Media Studies at the universities of Kharkiv, Regensburg, Bari, and San Diego. Tanya received her PhD in Slavic and Jewish Studies from the University of Regensburg in 2019 and since then she has been teaching for YAAANA. Tanya is a registered yoga teacher (RYT 200) and she sees her mission in bringing joy and equilibrium to people through yoga and Yiddish.

News in Mame-loshn: Reading Der Forverts in Yiddish 2
2025-12-23 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-12-30 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
Strengthen your Yiddish reading and translation skills in this 6-week online course for intermediate-level students. Guided entirely in Yiddish, this class offers a warm, supportive environment where you’ll read and translate selected articles from Der Forverts, a cornerstone of Yiddish-language writing. Along the way, you’ll expand your vocabulary and deepen your understanding of modern and historical Yiddish culture—all at your own pace, without pressure or comparison.
The images featured above were provided courtesy of the Forward.
When: The class starting in October is full. The 2nd group will meet every Tuesday, starting on December 2, 2025 ending on January 6, 2026: 1–2 p.m. PT / 3–4 p.m. CT / 4–5 p.m. ET / 10–11 p.m. CET.
Where: Online via Zoom
Cost:
Early Bird: $150 for all 6 weeks or $25 for each 60-minute online class (early bird, if paid before Tuesday, November 18, 2025)
Student Pricing (Upload ID): $150 all 6 weeks or $25 for a 60-minute online class
Regular Pricing: $180 for all 6 weeks or $30 for each 60-minute online class
Instructor: Tetyana Yakovleva
Tetyana studied Comparative Literature, Classical, Slavic, Jewish, and Media Studies at the universities of Kharkiv, Regensburg, Bari, and San Diego. She received her PhD in Slavic and Jewish Studies from the University of Regensburg in 2019 and since then she has been teaching for YAAANA.

Intermediate-Advanced Yiddish Course
2026-01-04 12:30 - 2026-02-01 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
This course is designed for students who wish to improve their conversational skills. Each session will focus on dialogues and discussions in Yiddish, to help students improve their fluency. Students will expand their vocabulary with new phrases and expressions, fine-tune their pronunciation, and gain confidence using Yiddish in diverse situations. Topics will include interests and hobbies, everyday situations, culture and current events. We will use interactive activities like role-playing and debates. Additionally, students will learn Yiddish songs that will deepen their understanding of Ashkenazi culture.
Days and times will be adjusted to accommodate the majority of interested.
When: Sundays, January 4 – February 1, 2026: 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. PT / 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 – 10:30 p.m. CET
Where: Online via Zoom
Cost: 5 classes for $180 (early bird, if paid before Dec 15), $200 (regular price)
Teacher: Julia Koifman
Julia Koifman is a Lecturer in Yiddish language and literature at the University of Potsdam. She studied Slavic and German Studies in Berlin and Moscow, as well as Yiddish and Jewish Studies in Potsdam, Haifa, and New York. She previously worked at the Institute for Slavic Studies at Humboldt University and served as a tutor for Yiddish language and literature at the University of Potsdam. Her MA thesis presented a comparative analysis of short stories by the Yiddish authors Rokhl Brokhes and Roze Palatnik. In addition, she works as a translator of Yiddish literature into German and English.

Yiddish for Absolute Beginners with Osian Evans Sharma
2026-01-11 10:30 - 11:30, 2026-01-18 10:30 - 11:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
Over the course of eight sessions, students will begin their journey into Yiddishland, exploring both the language and get a taste of its rich culture. The course begins with learning to read and write the alef-beys (alphabet).
From there, students will soon be ready to read selections from Yiddish literature, sing traditional Yiddish folksongs, and practice everyday expressions. Students will learn how to introduce themselves, share their stories, and describe their personal connections to Yiddish.
All learning materials will be provided by the teacher.
When: Sundays, January 11 – March 1, 2026. 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m PT / 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. CT / 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. GMT / 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. in CET.
Where: Online via Zoom
Cost:
Early Bird: $30 per session, $220 for 8 classes available until December 26th, 2025
Regular: $40 per session, $300 for 8 sessions
Teacher: Osian (Oshn) Evans Sharma
He is a Yiddish teacher from the UK. He has studied Yiddish at University College London, and courses in Tel Aviv, Berlin and Paris. He has led Yiddish poetry courses online for Babel’s Blessing Language School and in-person workshops at the Shtetl Berlin Festival, the Maison de la Culture Yiddish and the Yiddish Sof-Vokh UK, which he also helps to organise. He teaches at the summer programme ‘Ot Azoy’ and recently completed a pedagogy fellowship at the Yiddish Book Center (Amherst, MA).

Art from the Lodz Ghetto – a Talk by Jennifer Stern
2026-01-11 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
Art from the Lodz Ghetto – a Talk by Jennifer Stern

Jennifer Stern will talk about some of the extraordinary artworks that survive from the World War II-era ghetto in Lodz, Poland.
The ghetto was created by the Nazis in 1940. By the time it was “liquidated” in 1944, more than 200,000 Jews had been imprisoned there. Around 45,000 died of hunger and disease. Most who were still alive in 1944 were deported to Auschwitz or Chelmno and murdered.
But the Lodz ghetto was run in an unusual way, and there were some surprising opportunities for imprisoned artists to make paintings, drawings and decorative metal objects. Come hear about these amazing visual treasures, and what they teach us about Jewish endurance in horrific conditions.
When: Sunday, January 11, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. PT / 2–3 p.m. ET / 8–9 p.m. CET.
Where: on Zoom
Cost:
Early Bird: $18 (available until Friday, January 9)
Regular admission: $25
Jennifer Stern lives near Boston, Massachusetts. She has an MA in Art History from Yale University. She dedicated 26 years of service to the Art History Department at Brandeis University. She writes about art and culture in English and Yiddish for the Forverts.

Reading and Crafting Yiddish Poetry with Osian Evans Sharma
2026-01-18 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
Join us for a creative-critical exploration of Yiddish poetry, where language, history and the imagination meet. We will study the works of great poets, and take inspiration from them to create new works. Our journey will take us through traditional verse as well as avant-garde experimentation, covering sound poetry, Oulipo constraints and multilingual wordplay.
This course is designed for students who have already studied Yiddish for a term (or equivalent), and for speakers who can read and understand basic Yiddish, but it can be enjoyed by speakers of all levels looking to grow their Yiddish creativity.
By the end of the six-week course, students will have a deeper appreciation for poetic craft in Yiddish, and develop a poem of their own. All materials will be provided by the instructor. (Transliteration of texts will be available upon request.)
When : Sundays, January 11 – February 15 12–1 p.m. PT / 3–4 p.m. ET / 8–9 p.m. GMT / 9–10 p.m. CET
Where: Online via Zoom
Cost:
Early Bird: $150 all 6 weeks or $25 for a 60-minute online class (early bird, if paid before Tuesday, October 14, 2025)
Student Pricing (Upload ID): $150 all 6 weeks or $25 for a 60-minute online class
Regular Pricing: $180 all 6 weeks or $30 for a 60-minute online class
Osian (Oshn) Evans Sharma is a Yiddish teacher from the UK. He has studied Yiddish at University College London, and courses in Tel Aviv, Berlin and Paris. He has led Yiddish poetry courses online for Babel’s Blessing Language School and in-person workshops at the Shtetl Berlin Festival, the Maison de la Culture Yiddish and the Yiddish Sof-Vokh UK, which he also helps to organise. He teaches at the summer programme ‘Ot Azoy’ and recently completed a pedagogy fellowship at the Yiddish Book Center (Amherst, MA).
From Verse to Voice: A Workshop in Yiddish Poetry with Osian Evans Sharma
👉 Discover the beauty and creativity of Yiddish poetry. Together we’ll read great poets, experiment with sound and wordplay, and craft poems of our own. No prior experience beyond basic reading is needed – just curiosity and imagination.

Visit Yiddishland La Paz!
2026-01-19, 2026-01-20, 2026-01-21, 2026-01-22, 2026-01-23
Visit Yiddishland La Paz!

By Yiddish Arts and Academics Assn. of N. America
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Location TBD
Multiple dates

Overview

Visit Yiddishland’s new cultural center in La Paz, Mexico!

Yiddishland is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to expand awareness of the beauty and joy of Yiddishkeit and to preserve and advance the Yiddish language and culture in the United States, Mexico and beyond. Visits of Yiddishland La Paz are available by appointment. Please feel free to book a tour using the form below. We ask visitors for a $5 donation, which helps sustain the center. Address will be provided upon RSVP.
