Yiddish Language Classes

Top Pick Next Event: September 25, 2017 $115.00 - $225.00
(Photo: Wally Gobetz/Flickr)
(Photo: Wally Gobetz/Flickr)

If you’re looking for Yiddish language classes in Boston, you’ve come to the right place. Our instructors are passionate about Yiddish and are experienced educators. Whether you are a complete beginner or grew up speaking the language, we have a class that will accommodate you. Students cover a wide age range, from young adults to seniors. We offer classes in the fall and spring at up to four levels: Beginners, Advanced Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced. Students in doubt about their course level may contact an instructor to discuss.

10 evenings, 7:30-9 p.m., starting Monday, September 25 (Beginner & Advanced classes) and Tuesday, September 26 (Advanced Beginner & Intermediate classes).

Beginner (Monday nights): Learn Yiddish reading, conversation skills and elementary grammar. This course will suit you whether you’re totally new to Yiddish or if you already know a few basics. Students who don’t yet know the Hebrew alphabet may be asked to come to class a half hour early for the first few sessions. A textbook, songs, games, films and other multi-media materials will be used, to keep the class interactive and lively.
Instructor: Max Edwards

Advanced Beginner (Tuesday nights): Designed for students who already have some elementary Yiddish reading, writing and speaking, this course will help you build conversational vocabulary, strengthen your grammar and develop reading skills. In addition to use of a textbook, students in this interactive class will also read simple, short stories and poems, practice speaking, play games, and sing Yiddish songs.
Instructor: Rachelle Grossman

Intermediate (Tuesday nights): Students will build on their knowledge of Yiddish through reading and translating prose, poetry and songs, with the opportunity to hear Yiddish music by popular artists. Various grammatical points will be highlighted and explained in context of material used. Students should be somewhat proficient in reading and comfortable using Yiddish dictionaries. Yiddish conversation will be part of each class.
Instructor: Lillian Leavitt

Advanced Level: Yiddish Literature (Monday nights): This course will cover some of Yiddish literature’s best authors. We’ll read and discuss themes, characters and plots. English translations will be made available whenever possible to reduce excessive dictionary work. Discussions will be primarily in Yiddish with allowance for English when necessary. Fluency in reading required with an interest in developing greater speaking capacities. The curriculum will include grammar instruction in the context of the reading materials. Purchase of some books may be required.
Instructor: Lillian Leavitt

Our Instructors:
Rachelle Grossman is currently a doctoral candidate in Comparative Literature at Harvard University where her research looks at Yiddish literature in Latin America. She has studied Yiddish around the world at a number of different institutions, including the Centre for Yiddish Culture in Warsaw, the Vilnius Yiddish Institute in Lithuania, and the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst. She holds a master’s degree in Jewish Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary.

Lillian Shporer Leavitt, a daughter of Shoah survivors, grew up speaking Yiddish and graduated from the Boston Workmen’s Circle Yiddish Shule. A former computer software trainer, she is an experienced Yiddish teacher and translator, having taught at the Workmen’s Circle, Gann Academy of Greater Boston, Boston University, and Brandeis University, as well as subtitled Yiddish films for the National Center for Jewish Film.

Max Edwards is currently a Rabbinical Student at Hebrew College in Newton. He began studying Yiddish in the YIVO Uriel Weinreich Summer Program in New York City. Since then, he has spent time studying Yiddish and Yiddish culture on Yiddish Farm, at the Boston Workmen’s Circle, and at the Vilnius Yiddish Institute in Lithuania. He’s a veteran teacher at Boston Workmen’s Circle and is currently working on a project to transcribe Yiddish videos on YouTube for educational use.

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Fact Sheet
When
Monday, September 25, 2017, 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
* Registration closes on September 25th

Tuesday, September 26, 2017, 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Price
$170.00 BWC member
$225.00 Non-member
$115.00 Young adult/low-income member
$170.00 Young adult/low-income non-member

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