What is Yiddish?
Yiddish, the mother tongue (mame-loshn) of Ashkenazi Jews, provides us with a window into centuries of Jewish cultural and religious expression.
Sometimes referred to as "Judeo-German," Yiddish is a Germanic language derived from Middle High German. It contains vocabulary from Hebrew and Aramaic, as well as from Slavic and Romance languages. Spoken since at least the 10th century by Jewish communities in Central and Eastern Europe, the language has a rich body of literary and artistic work dating from the 18th century and beyond. Books, plays, musicals, operas, and even feature films were all produced in Yiddish and distributed around the world.
Once spoken by millions of Jews around the globe from Russia to Uruguay, the number of native speakers of Yiddish decreased rapidly during the 20th century due to the impact of the Holocaust (khurbn), immigration, and assimilation.
Sometimes referred to as "Judeo-German," Yiddish is a Germanic language derived from Middle High German. It contains vocabulary from Hebrew and Aramaic, as well as from Slavic and Romance languages. Spoken since at least the 10th century by Jewish communities in Central and Eastern Europe, the language has a rich body of literary and artistic work dating from the 18th century and beyond. Books, plays, musicals, operas, and even feature films were all produced in Yiddish and distributed around the world.
Once spoken by millions of Jews around the globe from Russia to Uruguay, the number of native speakers of Yiddish decreased rapidly during the 20th century due to the impact of the Holocaust (khurbn), immigration, and assimilation.
Isn't Yiddish a Dead Language?
No! This is a common misconception. Though few Jews today speak Yiddish, it is still used as a vernacular language by some Hasidic Jewish sects, and the number of native speakers of Yiddish has actually increased since the start of the 21st century!
Thanks to the efforts of organizations like the Yiddish Book Center and YIVO much of 20th century Yiddish culture has been preserved, and today artists and scholars all over the world are contributing to a Yiddish renaissance which includes film, theater, poetry and more!
Thanks to the efforts of organizations like the Yiddish Book Center and YIVO much of 20th century Yiddish culture has been preserved, and today artists and scholars all over the world are contributing to a Yiddish renaissance which includes film, theater, poetry and more!
Why is Yiddish Important?
By learning Yiddish and engaging with Yiddish culture, we can connect to a world of Jewish cultural life that many once considered lost. Yiddish allows us to explore what it means to be Jewish from the perspective of those who came before us and express our present Jewish identities by connecting with the past.
How can I learn Yiddish?
There are many online resources which can be used to learn Yiddish. The language has experienced a recent surge in interest, and people around the world have collaborated to be able to learn Yiddish remotely. These are just a few of the many ways to learn:
