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BEGINNER CLASSES
Learn to read Yiddish Alef-Beys with Gustavo Emos
Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:00-3:30 pm: September 30, October 5, 7, 12, 14
Course Goals: Learn to read printed Yiddish materials in five sessions.
Course Tools: Yiddish street signs, posters and book covers, in addition to alef-beys worksheets provided by the teacher.
Additional Info: No prior knowledge of Yiddish alef-beys required.
Intensive Alef-beys with Moishele Alfonso
Tuesdays and Thursdays 6:30 – 8:00 pm: Oct 5, 7, 12, 14, 19
Course Goals: Learn how to read and write the alef-beys in cursive, with focus on associating each letter with a sound, then using the sounds to practice words, then sentences.
Course Tools: Materials provided by the instructor.
Additional Info: Previous knowledge of the alef-beys is not required. One hour of each class will be spent learning how to read the alef-beys, and thirty minutes will be spent practicing writing in cursive.
Beginners I with Yankl-Peretz Blum
Sundays 11:00 am – 12:30 pm: Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 Nov. 7, 14, 21 Dec. 5, 12
Course Goals: Acquire the basics of Yiddish in a friendly and interactive manner. By the end of the course, students will have acquired a vocabulary of close to 200 words and the ability to form simple sentences in the present tense.
Course Tools: Lessons 1.1 through 2.5 on YiddishPOP.com and the teacher's own visual materials.
Additional Info: This course is appropriate for those who have zero knowledge of the language, as well as those who already know a bisl Yiddish.
Beginners Conversation I with Baruch Blum
Sundays 11:00 am – 12:30 pm: Oct. 10, 17, 24, Nov. 7, 14, 21 Dec. 5, 12, 19, 26
Course Goals: Build basic conversational skills in Yiddish.
Course Tools: Colloquial Yiddish by Lily Kahn. Textbook can be purchased here; audio files, here.
Additional Info: Previous knowledge of the Alef-Beys not required.
Intensive Beginners I with Moishele Alfonso
Mondays & Wednesdays 6:30 – 8:00 pm: Oct. 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, 27 Nov. 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 29 Dec. 1, 6, 8, 13
Course Goals: This class will focus on oral acquisition during class time, then grammar and reading will be reinforced through homework.
Course Tools: In Eynem, by Asya Vaisman Schulman, Jordan Brown, and Mikhl Yashinsky (available for purchase here), along with materials provided by the instructor.
Additional Info: Students should learn the Alef-Beys in advance. They can practice their reading using the comic section at the beginning of In Eynem and can use these free alef-beys learning materials, available here.
Intensive Beginners Conversation I with Baruch Blum
Mondays & Thursdays 7:00 – 8:30 pm: Oct. 4, 11, 14, 18, 21, 25 Nov. 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, 29 Dec. 2, 6, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27
Course Goals: Build basic conversational skills in Yiddish.
Course Tools: Colloquial Yiddish by Lily Kahn.Textbook can be purchased here;
audio files, here.
Additional Info: Previous knowledge of the Alef-Beys not required.
Beginners I with Dvora and Reyzl Zylberman
Wednesdays 6:30 – 8:00 pm: Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27 Nov. 3, 10, 17 Dec. 1, 8, 15
Course Goals: Basic comprehension, reading, writing, speaking, and grammar.
Course Tools: Yiddish: An Introduction to the Language, Literature & Culture, Vol. I by Sheva Zucker (Units 1–4), supplementary basic reading texts and songs.
Additional Info: Previous knowledge of the Alef-Beys is not required.
Beginners I with Gustavo Emos
Fridays 12:00 – 1:30 pm: Oct. 8, 15, 22, 29 Nov. 5, 12, 19 Dec. 3, 10, 17
Course Goals: Basic comprehension, reading, writing, speaking, and grammar.
Course Tools: Yiddish: An Introduction to the Language, Literature & Culture, Vol. I by Sheva Zucker (Units 1–4), supplementary basic reading texts and songs.
Additional Info: Previous knowledge of the Alef-Beys is not required.
Beginner Conversation II with Natalia Krynicka
Mondays 11:00 am – 12:30 pm: Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25 Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Dec. 6
Course Goals: Develop speaking and listening skills through simple Yiddish conversation on different subjects. Learn common phrases and useful expressions.
Course Tools: Readings and vocabulary lists in Hebrew letters and in transliteration provided by the instructor.
Additional Info: Previous knowledge of the Alef-Beys is required.
Beginners II with Eve Jochnowitz
Tuesday 4:00 – 5:30 pm: Oct. 12, 19, 26 Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Dec. 7, 14
Course Goals: Basic comprehension, reading, writing, speaking, and grammar.
Course Tools: Yiddish: An Introduction to the Language, Literature & Culture, Vol. I by Sheva Zucker (Starting from Unit 8), supplementary basic reading texts and songs.
Additional Info: Previous knowledge of the Alef-Beys is not required.
Beginners I (continuation of Spring 2021 course) with Miri Koral
Tuesdays 6:30 – 8:00 pm: Oct. 12, 19, 26 Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Dec. 7, 14
Course Goals: Improving comprehension, reading, writing, speaking, and grammar.
Course Tools: Yiddish: An Introduction to the Language, Literature & Culture, Vol. I by Sheva Zucker (Units 4– 8), supplementary basic reading texts and songs.
Additional Info: Previous knowledge of basic Yiddish grammar and reading and conversational skills are a prerequisite.
Intensive Beginners II (continuation from Summer 2021) with Leyzer Burko
Monday & Wednesdays 6:30 – 8:00 pm: Oct. 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, 27 Nov. 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 29 Dec. 1, 6, 8, 13
Course Goals: Learn basic conversation and reading skills, with emphasis on speaking using the communicative method.
Course Tools: In Eynem, by Asya Vaisman Schulman, Jordan Brown, and Mikhl Yashinsky.
Additional Info: Students should review the first three chapters of In Eynem before the course begins. Those who did not take part in the previous course (Intensive Beginners I) should study these chapters thoroughly in advance.
Beginners Conversation II with Baruch Blum
Wednesdays 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm: Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27 Nov. 10, 17 Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22
Course Goals: Continue developing basic conversational skills in Yiddish, using conversation-based textbook, Colloquial Yiddish, to develop and encourage speaking Yiddish. Beginning from Unit 7.
Course materials: Colloquial Yiddish by Lily Kahn.
Textbook can be purchased here;
audio files, here.
Additional Info: Previous knowledge of the Alef-Beys not required.
Beginners II with Yankl-Peretz Blum
Thursdays 11:00 am – 12:30 pm: Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28 Nov. 4, 11, 18 Dec. 2, 9, 16
Course Goals: This course builds on the material learned in the instructor's first course in the summer semester. Students will have acquired a vocabulary totaling over 300 words, and the ability to start forming more complex sentences as well as the future tense.
Course Tools: Lessons 2.1 through 3.5 on YiddishPOP.com
Additional Info: Those who did not participate in the summer course can join if they are already familiar with the material from the first five lessons of YiddishPOP, including some knowledge of the Yiddish alphabet.
Beginners III with Yankl-Peretz Blum
Sundays 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm: Oct. 10, 17, 24, 31 Nov. 7, 14, 21 Dec. 5, 12, 19
Course Goals: This course builds on the material learned in the instructor's courses in the spring and summer semesters. By the end of the course, the students will have acquired a vocabulary of about 400 words, and the ability to start forming more complex sentences in the past, present, and future tenses.
Course Tools: Lessons 4.1 through 5.5 (YiddishPOP.com), the teacher's own visual materials.
Additional Info: Those who did not participate in the previous courses can join if they are already familiar with the material from the first 15 lessons of YiddishPOP.
Beginners III with Miri Koral
Wednesdays 6:00 – 7:30 pm: Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27 Nov. 3, 10, 17 Dec. 1, 8, 15
Course Goals: Improve conversation and reading skills, brush up on grammar, learn new songs and authors, and enrich vocabulary.
Course Tools: Yiddish: An Introduction to the Language, Literature & Culture, Vol. I by Sheva Zucker (Units 8–11), supplementary readings of poetry and a short story.
Additional Info: Previous knowledge of fundamental grammar, reading, and conversational skills is required.
Advanced Beginners Conversation with Baruch Blum
Tuesdays: 6:30 – 8:00 Oct. 12, 19, 26 Nov. 9, 16, 23, 30 Dec. 7, 14, 21
Course Goals: To further develop Yiddish conversation skills, beyond the basic level.
Course Tools: Colloquial Yiddish by Lily Kahn. Textbook can be purchased here;
audio files, here.
Additional Info: Previous knowledge of the Alef-Beys not required.
Advanced Beginners II with Mikhl Yashinsky
Mondays 6:00 – 7:30 pm: Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25 Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Dec. 6
Course Goals: Further development of comprehension, reading, writing, speaking, and grammar skills. Grammar and vocabulary topics covered include: the future tense, seasons and months (including the Jewish months), human activities, complex sentences, the body, and fashion.
Course Tools: In Eynem, by Asya Vaisman Schulman, Jordan Brown, and Mikhl Yashinsky, starting from Chapter 19. Available for purchase here. Additional texts provided by the instructor, including poetry (with students also writing their own), parlor games, posters from the Hasidic world, and prognostications of the weather.
Additional Info: Students who did not study with this group in the past semester are welcome, but should have some background in such grammar and vocabulary topics as are covered up to that point in the textbook (though items from earlier sections will be reviewed as necessary).
Advanced Beginner Conversation III (continuation of Spring 2021 semester) with Natalia Krynicka
Mondays 1:00 – 2:30 pm: Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25 Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Dec. 6
Course Goals: Develop speaking and listening skills. Improve fluency in talking about everyday life topics.
Course Tools: Readings and vocabulary lists in Hebrew letters and in transliteration provided by the instructor. Short audio and video recordings.
Additional Info: Students should have a basic grasp of Yiddish conversational skills.
INTERMEDIATE CLASSES
Intensive Intermediate I with Eve Jochnowitz
Tuesdays & Thursdays 1:00 – 2:30 pm: Oct. 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28 Nov. 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 30 Dec. 7, 9, 14, 16
Course Goals: Practice using the Yiddish alphabet in basic reading and writing. Continue learning conversational skills and grammar.
Course Tools: Yiddish: An Introduction to the Language, Literature & Culture, Vol. II by Sheva Zucker (Starting from Units 13), songs and specialized handouts.
Additional Info: Previous knowledge of Yiddish is required.
Intermediate I with Paula Teitelbaum
Tuesdays 6:30 – 8:00 pm: Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26 Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Dec. 7
Course Goals: Continue learning basic comprehension, reading, writing, speaking, and grammar.
Course Tools: Yiddish: An Introduction to the Language, Literature & Culture, Vol. II by Sheva Zucker
(Unit 13), supplementary basic reading texts and songs.
Additional Info: Previous knowledge of Yiddish is required.
Intermediate I with Miriam Koral
Wednesdays 1:30 – 3:00 pm: Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27 Nov. 3, 10, 17 Dec. 1, 8, 15
Course Goals: Continue developing comprehension, speaking, reading, and grammar skills.
Course Tools: Yiddish Vol. II by Sheva Zucker (Units 12-14), supplementary reading of prose and poetry by Moshe Kulbak (Vilna), Moshe Nadir (humorous stories), and Chava Rosenfarb.
Additional Info: Basic reading, writing and conjugation in the present and past tense required.
Intermediate Conversation with Natalia Krynicka
Wednesdays 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm: Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27 Nov. 3, 10, 17 Dec. 1, 8, 15
Course Goals: Improve speaking and listening skills, with the focus on developing vocabulary.
Course Tools: Readings and vocabulary lists in Hebrew letters and in transliteration provided by the instructor. Audio and video recordings in different dialects.
Additional Info: Previous knowledge of Yiddish is required.
SOLD OUT
Intermediate II with Sheva Zucker
Mondays 1:30 – 3:00 pm: Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25 Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Dec. 6
Course Goals: Basic comprehension, reading, writing, speaking, and grammar.
Course Tools: Yiddish: An Introduction to the Language, Literature & Culture, Vol. II by Sheva Zucker (starting with Unit 15A), Motl Peyse dem Khazns by Sholem Aleichem, Abridged and Adapted for Students with Exercises and Glossary (starting with Chapter 5), supplementary basic reading texts and songs.
Additional Info: The course is designed for those with approximately 2–2.5 years of Yiddish language study. You need not have taken the spring course to join in the fall.
Intermediate II (continuation of Spring 2021 semester) with Paula Teitelbaum
Wednesdays 6:30 – 8:00 pm: Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27 Nov. 3, 10, 17 Dec. 1, 8, 15
Course Goals: Continue learning Yiddish with a stronger focus on developing comprehension, speaking, reading and grammar skills in context.
Course Tools: Yiddish: An Introduction to the Language, Literature & Culture, Vol. II by Sheva Zucker
(starting from Unit 16A), Dayne geslekh yerushalayim by Yossel Birstein (short stories), which can be downloaded free of charge from the Yiddish Book Center.
Additional Info: Taught almost entirely in Yiddish. For students who have a working knowledge of Yiddish or who have completed the Beginners courses.
Intermediate III (continuation of Fall 2020 semester) with Eve Jochnowitz
Thursdays 4:00 – 5:30 pm: Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28 Nov. 4, 11, 18 Dec. 2, 9, 16
Course Goals: Continue developing comprehension, speaking, reading and grammar skills.
Course Tools: Yiddish: An Introduction to the Language, Literature & Culture, Vol. II by Sheva Zucker
(starting with Unit 18b), supplementary basic reading texts and songs.
Additional Info: Taught almost entirely in Yiddish. For students who have a working knowledge of Yiddish or who have completed the Beginners courses.
Intermediate-Advanced Conversation with Eve Jochnowitz
Wednesdays 4:00 – 5:30 pm: Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27 Nov. 3, 10, 17 Dec. 1, 8, 15
Course Goals: Study the life and culture of the Yiddish-speaking world while building skills in speaking and listening comprehension.
Course Tools: Material in Yiddish with transliteration provided by the instructor.
Additional Info: Course is conducted almost entirely in Yiddish.
Intermediate-Advanced with Kolya Borodulin: Mit Yidish iber der velt
Wednesdays 6:30 – 8:00 pm: Oct. 13, 20, 27 Nov. 3, 10, 17 Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22
Course Goals: Introduce students to key Yiddish cultural figures from past to present.
Course Tools: Texts and multimedia by and about outstanding Yiddishists.
Additional Info: This course is conducted entirely in Yiddish. (It is not a repetition of previous courses.)
Intermediate-Advanced with
Daniel Galay: Bringing Yiddish Plays to Life
Thursdays 11:00 am – 12:30 pm: Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28 Nov. 4, 11, 18 Dec. 2, 9, 16
Course Goals: Perform and analyze works of the Classic Yiddish Repertoire, as well as modern and contemporary plays.
Course Tools: Yiddish plays, with preference given to one-acts.
Additional Info: Throughout the course, participants will receive guidance to develop their Yiddish intonation.
ADVANCED CLASSES
Advanced Yiddish with Gennady Estraikh: Sovetish Heymland — Reappraisal 60 Years Later
Sundays 10:00 – 11:30 am: Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 Nov. 7, 14, 21 Dec. 5, 12
Course Goals: Read and analyze works from Yiddish writers originally published in Sovetish Heymland, which controlled the publication of the majority of Yiddish books in Moscow from 1965 onward.
Course Tools: Works printed in the Sovetish Heymland.
Additional Info: This course is taught entirely in Yiddish.
Advanced with Sheva Zucker: Meet the Authors of Contemporary Yiddish literature
Sundays 10:30 am – 12:00 pm Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, Nov. 7, 14, 21, Dec. 5, 12
Course Goals: Become acquainted with some of the works being created in Yiddish today and the people who are creating them.
Course Tools: Works of contemporary Yiddish writers, including Rivka Basman Ben-Haim, Boris Sandler, Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath, and Evgeny Kissin.
Additional Info: We will have a chance to meet and converse with each of the writers studied. One or two weeks will be spent reading a particular writer’s work, culminating in a meeting with the writer. The course is appropriate for those able to read Yiddish literary works in the original, and will be conducted entirely in Yiddish.
Class size: Limit 20 people
Advanced Yiddish with Dovid Katz: Contemporary Hasidic Yiddish Publications
Sundays 1:00 – 2:30 pm: Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 Nov. 7, 14, 21 Dec. 5, 12
Course Goals: Become acquainted with the “wider world of modern Yiddish” with current Published Hasidic Yiddish. Emphasis on stylistic, linguistic, cultural, religious, historic and societal nuance.
Course Tools: Readings from diverse genres of current (and recent) Hasidic Yiddish publications, with emphasis on magazines.
Additional Info: Conducted entirely in Yiddish. The course has been developed with the generous assistance of Genesis University and Mr. Albert Rosenblatt of New York City.
Advanced with Dovid Katz: Readings from the New York Yiddish Daily Fráyhayt (Freiheit)
Mondays 1:00 – 2:30 pm: Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25 Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Dec. 6
Course Goals: Read and analyze original pages of New York's leftist daily newspaper, the Fráyhayt (later the Morgn Fráyhayt) during its earlier period, with emphasis on 1920s and 1930s Yiddish creativity (including now-forgotten writers) emanating from New York’s Lower East Side.
Course Tools: Selections from the Fráyhayt.
Additional Info: Conducted entirely in Yiddish. The course is affectionately dedicated in honor of S. Chic Wolk of Los Angeles, California
Advanced with Avrom Lichtenbaum: Y.Y. Trunk – The Writer that the Critics Didn’t Understand
Mondays 6:30 – 8:00 pm: Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25 Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Dec. 6
Course Goals: Understand Peretz and Sholem-Aleichem, Yiddish humor, and Yiddish heritage through the writings of Y.Y. Trunk.
Course Tools: The essays of Y.Y. Trunk
Additional Info: This course is taught entirely in Yiddish
Advanced Literature with Dovid Katz: Readings in Isaac Bashevis Singer's Shorter Fiction
Tuesdays 2:00 – 3:30 pm: Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26 Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Dec. 7
Course Goals: Read and analyze from Isaac Bashevis Singer's short stories set in the Polish Jewish shtetl, with emphasis on enhancing participants' abilities for their own future reading of sophisticated modern Yiddish literature.
Course Tools: Isaac Bashevis Singer's short stories.
Additional Info: Emphasis on cultural, Talmudic, and Kabbalistic references and stylistic detail. Conducted in the spirit of the classic Yiddish reading circle, with participants who wish to read taking turns reading followed by paragraph-by-paragraph discussion. Some texts may have erotic references. Conducted entirely in Yiddish.
Advanced with Kolya Borodulin: Menakhem-Mendl – the ever-optimistic shlimazl in a time of socio-economic turmoil
Tuesdays 6:30 – 8:00 pm: Oct. 12, 19, 26, Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Dec. 7, 14
Course Goals: Read and analyze Yiddish literature, poetry, and songs.
Course Tools: Sholem-Aleichem’s “Menakhem-Mendl” through relevant historical events and places, archival documents, and related poetry and songs.
Additional Info: This course is taught entirely in Yiddish.
Advanced Literature with Yitskhok Niborski: The Jewish Way of Life Reflected in the Works of the Haskala-Writers
Wednesdays 1:00 – 2:30 pm: Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27 Nov. 3, 10, 17 Dec. 1, 8, 15
Course Goals: Read and discuss works that reflect ideas of the Haskala, such as criticism of Hassidism, educational reform, and modernization of community life, which have gained wider readership and appreciation since the advent of Yiddish periodicals and publishers.
Course Tools: Plays, satirical texts, poems, stories, parodies, and translations written by Yisroel Aksenfeld, Shloyme Ettinger, Avrom-Ber Gotlober, and more.
Additional Info: This course will be conducted entirely in Yiddish.
Ashkenazic Hebrew II with Dovid Katz
Wednesdays 3:00 – 4:30 pm: Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27 Nov. 3, 10, 17 Dec. 1, 8, 15
Course Goals: Study Ashkenazic Hebrew conversation using a range of texts stretching from medieval times through today’s Hasidic polemics
Course Tools: Instructor provided materials, including the Aramaic Chad gadyo, works from the nineteenth and twentieth century Hebrew revival poets Lebensohn, Mikhal, Gordon, Bialik, Imber, and Tchernichovsky, and more.
Additional Info: Conducted in Ashkenazic Hebrew (with occasional explanations as needed in Yiddish, English, or Israeli Hebrew), so working proficiency in some form of Hebrew is required, though knowledge of Yiddish is not. Previous course participation not required, but new students should familiarize themselves with the online manual (and slowly evolving dictionary) both of which evolved from the spring and summer sessions of the course.
Advanced with Eugene Orenstein: The Master of Yiddish Prose and Ideologue of Modern Yiddish Culture Yosef Opatoshu (1886-1954)
Thursdays 11:00 am – 12:30 pm: Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28 Nov. 4, 11. 18 Dec. 2, 9, 16
Course Goals: Analyze Yosef Opatoshu’s short stories and excerpts from his novels, as well as essays on the essence of Yiddish literature and Jewish culture.
Course Tools: The works of Yosef Opatoshu.
Additional Info: Yosef Opatoshu was not only one of the most important prose writers in modern Yiddish literature. He was also a central personality of the Jewish national-cultural renaissance in the 20th century. Conducted entirely in Yiddish.
Advanced with Sheva Zucker: Autobiographies Part II
Wednesdays 12:30 – 2:00 pm: Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27, Nov. 3, 10, 17, 24, Dec. 1, 8
Course Goals: Continue advanced level study of Yiddish language, focusing on reading, writing, speaking, and grammar while reading fascinating autobiographies.
Course Tools: Yiddish autobiographies including those of Yekhezkl Kotik and works of immigration by Mordkhe Alperson, Rokhl Liberman (Argentina), Falk Zolf (Canada), and Malke Li (America). Grammar will be drawn from the readings. Student presentations.
Additional Info: The course is designed for those with approximately at least 3 to 4 years of Yiddish language study. It assumes you have finished Yiddish: An Introduction to the Language, Literature & Culture, Vol. II by Sheva Zucker or the equivalent. It is appropriate for students who were in Autobiographies I or II in the past or for those want to begin studying autobiography. This course will be conducted entirely in Yiddish.
Advanced Literature with Dovid Katz: Chaim Grade's Fiction and Old Jewish Vilna (not a repetition of Summer 2021 course)
Thursdays 1:00 – 2:30 pm: Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28 Nov. 4, 11. 18 Dec. 2, 9, 16
Course Goals: Read and analyze one (or more) of Chaim Grade novellas set in prewar Jewish Vilna with emphasis on linguistic, stylistic, cultural, religious and historical nuances intended to enhance participants' ability to read sophisticated Yiddish literature on their own.
Course Tools: Chaim Grade novellas, with specific extra readings on the role of Vilna (Yiddish Vílne) in Jewish lore and consciousness.
Additional Info: The course follows the classic Yiddish reading circle tradition of taking turns reading and discussing the material read. The instructor will provide stylistic, cultural, linguistic, religious, and Vilna-specific commentary. Conducted entirely in Yiddish.
Advanced with Avrom Lichtenbaum: Dovid Pinski – The New Tone in the Generation of the Classical Authors
Thursdays 6:30 – 8:00 pm: Oct. 14, 21, 28 Nov. 4, 11, 18 Dec. 2, 9, 16, 23
Course Goals: Read and analyze the works of Dovid Pinski, the “Emile Zola of Yiddish literature.”
Course Tools: The works of Dovid Pinski, written in Russia, America, and Israel.
Additional Info: This course is taught entirely in Yiddish.
Advanced (continuation of Spring 2021 semester) with Sheva Zucker
Thursdays 7:30 – 9:00 pm: Oct. 14, 21, 28 Nov. 4, 11. 18 Dec. 2, 9, 16, 23
Course Goals: Interpret and understand the traditional life of East European Jewry and improve vocabulary, grammar, reading, writing and conversation skills.
Course Tools: Chapters from Dos Mayse-bukh fun Mayn Lebn by Meylekh Ravitsh, poetry, newspaper articles, student presentations.
Additional Info: The course is designed for those with approximately 3-4 years of Yiddish language study and have completed Yiddish: An Introduction to the Language, Literature & Culture, Vol. II by Sheva Zucker or the equivalent. This course will be conducted entirely in Yiddish.
MINI COURSES
Intensive Alef-beys with Moishele Alfonso
Tuesdays and Thursdays 6:30 – 8:00 pm: Oct 5, 7, 12, 14, 19
Course Goals: Learn how to read and write the alef-beys in cursive, with focus on associating each letter with a sound, then using the sounds to practice words, then sentences.
Course Tools: Materials provided by the instructor.
Additional Info: Previous knowledge of the alef-beys is not required. One hour of each class will be spent learning how to read the alef-beys, and thirty minutes will be spent practicing writing in cursive.
Advanced with Michael Wex: OG OTD: The Flight From Frumkayt
Tuesdays 12:00 – 1:30 pm: Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26 Nov. 2
Course Goals: Explore the treatment of disaffection with accepted norms of observance and belief in selected work of nineteenth- and twentieth-century Yiddish literature.
Course Tools: Works by Linetsky, Gordin, Yustman, Rolnick, Kreitman and Opatoshu.
Additional Info: Recommended Non-Yiddish background reading: The Lebensgeschichte or Autobiography of Solomon Maimon (in whatever language you prefer). The course will be conducted entirely in Yiddish.
New: Advanced with Mordehay Yushkovsky: Yiddish on Historical Paths
Tuesdays 12:00 – 1:30 pm: Nov. 9, 16, 23, 30 Dec. 14
Course Goals: Look into how the historical fiction genre developed in Yiddish literature, and discuss the questions: where does the truth end and literary embellishment begin? Must the writer maintain historical accuracy? How does the character of the writer color the historical subject matter of the work?
Course Tools: Various historical incidents and phenomena, including 110 years since the Beilis trial and Sholem-Aleichem’s novel Der Blutiker Shpas, Natan Zabare and the transformation of his historical novel Gilgul Hakhozer, problems and conflicts in the Jewish family through the prism of Yiddish literature (stories by Opatoshu, Sholem Ash, Yoysef Burg), In di shpurn fun Gdud Ha’avoyde by Shira Gorshman, the pining for Zion in Yiddish literature (work by Shimen Frug, Sholem-Aleichem, Izzy Khorik, Elisha Rodin, Dovid Hofstein, and others).
Additional Info: This course is conducted entirely in Yiddish.
Advanced with Miriam Trinh: Yiddish Women Poets
Fridays 9:30 – 11:00 am: Oct. 8, 15, 22, 29 Nov. 5
Course Goals: Read and discuss poems by five different Yiddish poets (one each class session).
Course Tools: Poems by Rivka Basman Ben-Hayim, Rikuda Potash, Rokhl Fishman, Hadassah Rubin and Shifra Verber.
Additional Info: This course is conducted entirely in Yiddish.
Member registration rates for our Yiddish classes are $295 per class and $590 per intensive class. Mini courses are $120. Workers Circle members receive a discount on Yiddish registration. If you are not a member of the Workers Circle but would like to become one, click here.