This is the Forward’s coverage of the Yiddish language historically spoken by Ashkenazi Jews in Europe and still spoken by many Hasidic Jews today.
For more stories on Yiddishkeit, see Yiddish World, and for stories written in Yiddish,…
Yiddish
The Latest
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Yiddish World New edition of landmark English-Yiddish Dictionary includes “lockdown” and “breakout room”
Read this article in Yiddish The world has changed massively in five years – from new political movements to a global pandemic, and now your Yiddish can keep up with it. Five years after the Comprehensive English-Yiddish Dictionary was first published, comes a revised and expanded second edition. Both versions, edited by Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath, Dr….
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Yiddish World How an indigenous hero inspired an epic poem in Yiddish
For Indigenous People’s Day, read this translated excerpt of the poem “Hatuey” by the Cuban Yiddish author, Osher Penn.
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Yiddish World What does Yiddish scholar Samuel Spinner mean by Jewish primitivism?
Samuel J. Spinner Jewish Primitivism Stanford University Press, 272 pp. According to the Russian־Jewish art critic, Abram Efros (1888-1954), modern Jewish art needs to embody two principles: European modernism and Jewish folk art. In his article, “Aladdin’s Magic Lantern,” Efros wrote that “the face of modernism is turned outwards, while folk art turns inward.” Efros’…
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Yiddish World Intensive beginners’ Yiddish class will use new prizewinning textbook
For six weeks in November and December, the Yiddish Book Center will conduct an intensive beginners class online, using its prizewinning multimedia Yiddish textbook, “In Eynem” (a Yiddish expression which means “together”). The book, written by Asya Vaisman Schulman and Jordan Brown with Mikhl Yashinsky, received a Textbook Excellence Award last February from the Textbook…
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Art Now in English, an almost-forgotten story by Sholem Aleichem
We know the usual occupations in Sholom Aleichem’s fiction: dairyman, butcher, tailor. But did you hear the one about pickpockets (or “nimble fingers”), robbers (“snatchers”) and horse thieves? If not, don’t worry — most haven’t. As far as we know, Sholom Aleichem, the beloved Yiddish author best-remembered for his Tevye stories, only wrote about such…
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Food VIDEO: How to make cabbage strudel for Sukkot
My favorite part come at the end, when we stretch out the dough together.
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Yiddish World The Yiddishist side of upcoming ‘Jeopardy!’ guest host Mayim Bialik
Read this article in Yiddish. Jewish actress, neuroscientist and newly-minted “Jeopardy!” host Mayim Bialik is not just talented and smart. She speaks Yiddish and has proved herself to be a wonderful Yiddish comedienne, too. Bialik, who was recently announced as the host of a new series of “Jeopardy!” prime time specials, will also be guest…
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Yiddish World Yiddish Jokes with Ruth Kohn: “The Eulogy” (with English subtitles)
It’s widely known that Eastern European Jews have a traditional, ironic brand of humor. You can hear it clearly in this anecdote told by Ruth Kohn, a professional Yiddish translator and interpreter, at a talent show held at the annual “Yiddish Vokh” in Copake, NY:
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