Upcoming Yiddish Classes
ייִדיש שפּראַך לעקציעסייִדיש איז דאָך אַזױ שײן. . .
Yiddish awakens the silent echo of forgotten shtetl, a living language that touches the roots of the soul, opening to stories that still resonate in the hearts of those that seek more than words. Yiddish is so beautiful!
Chagall af Yiddish: An Interactive Exploration
Join art historian Jennifer Stern and explore the beauty and importance of Marc Chagall’s art. Chagall (1887-1985) grew up speaking Yiddish in a Jewish community in what is now Belarus. Explore Chagall’s life and Stern’s personal connection to him, and analyze the influence of the artist’s hometown on his paintings’ imagery.
Sunday, November 17, 2024
11 a.m.– 12 p.m. PT / 1-2 p.m. CT / 2-3 p.m. ET / 7-8 p.m. in the UK 9-10 p.m. in Central Europe
Online via Zoom
Yiddish for Absolute Beginners: From Alef-Beys to Basic Conversation
This 5-session course is designed for students with no prior knowledge of Yiddish. You will learn the alphabet and pronunciation, basic vocabulary for everyday situations, and Yiddish songs from the rich transnational Yiddish repertoire. This short, engaging introduction will offer a good start for your Yiddish journey.
Sundays, January 5 – February 2
10:30– 11:30 a.m. PT / 1:30-2:30 PM ET / 7:30-8:30 PM in Central Europe
Online via Zoom
Yiddish for Absolute Beginners: From Alef-Beys to Basic Conversation
This 5-session course is designed for students with no prior knowledge of Yiddish. You will learn the alphabet and pronunciation, basic vocabulary for everyday situations, and Yiddish songs from the rich transnational Yiddish repertoire. This short, engaging introduction will offer a good start for your Yiddish journey.
Sundays, January 5 – February 2
10:30– 11:30 a.m. PT / 1:30-2:30 PM ET / 7:30-8:30 PM in Central Europe
Online via Zoom
Intermediate-Advanced Yiddish Course
Students will expand their vocabulary with new phrases and expressions, fine-tune their pronunciation, and gain confidence using Yiddish in diverse situations. We will use interactive activities like role-playing and debates. Additionally, students will learn Yiddish songs that will deepen their understanding of Ashkenazi culture.
Sundays, January 5 – February 2
12:30-1:30 p.m. PT / 3:30-4:30 p.m. ET / 9:30-10:30 pm CEST: Jan 5, 12, 19, 26, Feb 2
Online via Zoom
Yiddish is old and new, pious and rebellious, stateless but international. It was born about a millennium ago in what is today Germany, called Ashkenaz in Jewish texts. It has travelled to wherever Ashkenazi travelled, immigrated, or were exiled. Once the language of millions of Jews, Yiddish is still spoken as a native language by more than a million people. It is studied and spoken by Jews and non-Jews around the world who want to access the vast legacy of literature, music, religious and folk traditions, politics and history, theater, film, and humor that exist only in Yiddish. While Yiddish is written using the Hebrew alphabet, it is a Germanic language, so it is relatively easy for English-speakers to learn.
We have been fortunate to be able to offer our students the rare opportunity to study Yiddish from beginner to advanced. Our classes include reading circles, conversation classes, theater workshops, classes for children, literary analysis, song workshops, and even Yoga. We’ve also organized intensive programs in Yiddish language and culture and a Yiddish teachers’ committee. Please explore some of our past offerings below, and check out our upcoming activities and events calendar for future classes.
SOME OF OUR PAST CLASSES
Please click on any image to learn more.
Please see our Events Calendar and Other Upcoming Events!