Beginner I Yiddish (In-person)

Tuition: $480 | YIVO members: $375**
Students: $240 (Must register with valid university email address)

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This class meets weekly in person at the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research in New York City. Enrollment will be capped at about 15 students. All course details (syllabus, handouts, assignments, etc.) will be posted to Google Classroom. Students will be granted access to the class on Google Classroom after registering for the class here on the YIVO website. This class will be conducted in Yiddish and English..

Instructor: Yoykhntse Silverstein

Who should take this course?
This course is appropriate for those who are new to Yiddish or would like a review.

What topics will this class cover?
In this course, students will learn the basics of the Yiddish language, cultivating the four key language skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Students will learn to read and write the Yiddish alefbeys, and they will learn the everyday vocabulary and foundational grammar needed to create and to comprehend simple sentences (in speech and in writing). In addition to the exercises and sample texts found in the textbook, students will be introduced to selected Yiddish poetry and prose, which will enrich their understanding of both the Yiddish language itself and the culture in which it has thrived. 

Is knowledge of the Yiddish alphabet required?
Though the Yiddish alphabet will be reviewed during the initial sessions of this course, we strongly encourage students to acquaint themselves with the alefbeys in its printed and cursive forms before class, as the course will move at a fast pace. The tools and videos provided here will be helpful in getting a handle on reading and writing the alefbeys, and are designed for independent use.

Course Materials:
Yiddish: An Introduction to the Language, Literature & Culture, Volume I by Sheva Zucker (Purchase).

All additional materials will be provided by the instructor.

Yoykhntse Silverstein began learning Yiddish in the 2019 YIVO-Bard Summer Program, and he’s been hooked ever since. After his graduation from Muhlenberg College in 2021, Yoykhntse continued his Yiddish studies with Prof. Dov-Ber Kerler at Indiana University and completed the Summer Program again in 2022, this time as an advanced student. He has worked for the education division at YIVO since 2023, starting as a part-time teaching assistant and entering a full-time administrative role in 2024; he currently works to plan and to administer YIVO educational programming throughout the year. Outside of work, Yoykhntse teaches Yiddish privately and has been trying his hand at Yiddish poetry, namely Yiddish translations of his favorite poems by W.B. Yeats. Though a proud son of the state of New Jersey, Yoykhntse currently lives in Brooklyn, where you’ll often find him birdwatching.

**Become a member today, starting at $54 for one year, and pay the member price for classes! You’ll save on tuition for this course and more on future classes and public programs tickets.