Yiddish Classes
If you're looking for Yiddish language classes in Boston (and beyond!), you've come to the right place. Throughout the country, Workers Circle has been a leader in preserving and promoting Yiddish language and culture (Yiddishkayt). Yiddish was the language of 2.5 million Eastern European Jewish immigrants, of the Jewish labor movement and the struggle for rights, equality, and freedom. Today, Yiddish continues to be a vibrant language, inspiring modern literature, music, art, and activism. We invite you to explore this rich cultural inheritance!
Classes
Our instructors are passionate about Yiddish and are experienced educators. Whether you are a beginner, have been studying on your own on Duolingo, are a continuing student, 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 semester-long classes across a range of levels. Students in doubt about their course level should email [email protected].
Most Yiddish language classes will begin the week of Feb. 23rd, 2025 and run for 10 sessions.
Check out information about our teachers here.
Beginner Semester 2: In-Person
Tuesdays, 7:30-9:00pm | February 25 - May 6, no class the week of Passover
Instructor: Sarah Biskowitz
Level: For students continuing from BWC's Fall Beginner class, or those with a few basics who want a structured start to learning a new in an in-person class. Also recommended for Duolingo learners looking for a structured approach to grammar, conversation, and culture. Students should already know the Hebrew/Yiddish alphabet, or be willing to learn on their own.
Materials: In eynem: The New Yiddish Textbook, Vol. I. Starting on chapter 4. Students can purchase this textbook through The Yiddish Book Center (print or digital/PDF is fine), and have it accessible for use during class sessions.
Let's continue to learn Yiddish — lomir vayter geyn mit lernen zikh yidish! This course continues to work through the fundamentals of Yiddish conversation, reading, and grammar through highly-interactive games, songs, activities, and short texts.
Beginner Semester 2: Virtual
Sundays, 4:30-6:00pm | February 23 - May 11, no classes the Sundays of Passover
Instructor: Sasha Berenstein
Level: For students continuing from BWC's Fall Beginner class, or those with a few basics who want a structured start to learning anew in an in-person class. Also recommended for Duolingo learners looking for a structured approach to grammar, conversation, and culture. Students should already know the Hebrew/Yiddish alphabet, or be willing to learn on their own.
Materials: In eynem: The New Yiddish Textbook, Vol. I. Starting on Chapter 5. Students can purchase this textbook through The Yiddish Book Center (print or digital/PDF is fine), and have it accessible for use during class sessions.
Let's continue to learn Yiddish — lomir vayter geyn mit lernen zikh yidish! This course continues to work through the fundamentals of Yiddish conversation, reading, and grammar through highly-interactive games, songs, activities, and short texts.
ADVANCED BEGINNER YIDDISH: VIRTUAL
Tuesdays, 7:00-8:30pm | February 25 - May 6, no class the week of Passover
Instructor: Sasha Berenstein
Level: For students continuing from BWC's Fall Advanced Beginner course, or for those who have been studying Yiddish for one year. Also open to those who already know the Yiddish alef-beys, some basic grammar & vocabulary, and who feel the class description fits their level, including those who have used Duolingo and feel ready to dive into more conversation and culture.
Materials: In eynem: The New Yiddish Textbook, Vol. I & II. Starting on chapter 11. Students can purchase this textbook through The Yiddish Book Center (print or digital/PDF is fine), and have it accessible for use during class sessions.
Do you know about der, di, dos, and dem, but shudder when you hear the words "dative" and "accusative"? Do you want to host a potluck aand be able to schmooze & nosh with your khaveyrim af yidish? Would you like to study Yiddish every week with an enthusiastic teacher who showers you with positive feedback no matter how many mistakes you make? This advanced beginner Yiddish class might just be right for you.
Intermediate Yiddish: Virtual
Mondays, 7:00-8:30pm | February 24 - May 5, no class the week of Passover
Instructor: Abby Howell
Level: This class is appropriate for students who can read and understand Yiddish sentences with the help of a dictionary. BWC students who have completed BWC's Advanced Beginner semesters 1&2, those who want to continue in Intermediate, and newcomers at this level are all welcome to join.
Materials: The Complete Works of Sholem Aleichem. Students can find this text online for free here.
Build confidence in your Yiddish - reading, speaking, listening, and writing, in a supportive and welcoming classroom of intermediate Yiddish students, as we continue to delve into the treasure trove of short stories by Sholem Aleichem, one of the most celebrated authors in all of Yiddish literature. In this class, you will find abundant opportunities to stretch and grow your Yiddish. We'll read slowly, translate continuously, and look up every unfamiliar word as we delight in the hilarious and heart-wrenching adventures of Menachem-Mendl, Sheyne-Sheyndl, Tevye der Milkhiker, and other beloved characters from the canon of Sholem Aleichem. We'll read different stories than in the Fall semester, so continuing students and new students alike can enjoy the class.
Intermediate Yiddish: Virtual
Tuesdays, 7:00 - 8:30 pm | February 25 - May 6, no class the week of Passover
Instructor: Abby Howell
Level: This class is appropriate for students who can read and understand Yiddish sentences with the help of a dictionary. BWC students who have completed BWC's Advanced Beginner semesters 1&2, those who want to continue in Intermediate, and newcomers at this level are all welcome to join.
Materials: The Complete Works of Sholem Aleichem. Students can find this text online for free here.
Build confidence in your Yiddish - reading, speaking, listening, and writing, in a supportive and welcoming classroom of intermediate Yiddish students, as we continue to delve into the treasure trove of short stories by Sholem Aleichem, one of the most celebrated authors in all of Yiddish literature. In this class, you will find abundant opportunities to stretch and grow your Yiddish. We'll read slowly, translate continuously, and look up every unfamiliar word as we delight in the hilarious and heart-wrenching adventures of Menachem-Mendl, Sheyne-Sheyndl, Tevye der Milkhiker, and other beloved characters from the canon of Sholem Aleichem. We'll read different stories than in the Fall semester, so continuing students and new students alike can enjoy the class.
Advanced: Virtual
Wednesdays, 8:00-9:30pm | February 26 - May 7, no class the week of Passover
Instructor: Hinde Ena Burstin
Level: The class is suited to advanced readers and speakers of Yiddish, including students in previous BWC advanced classes and intermediates ready to make the leap to a new level. We will read and discuss a selection of Fradl Shtok’s writing in Yiddish, in a supportive environment that encourages each person to speak Yiddish freely and fearlessly to the best of their ability. Students who want to listen rather than read are welcome to join the class.
Wondering whether this class is right for you? If you’d like to be in a warm, nurturing class that’s conducted in Yiddish, and that will extend your Yiddish language proficiency and your understanding of Yiddish literature, we encourage you to give it a try! RSVP for a trial class here.
Materials: We will study a selection of short stories, poems and critical writing by Fradl Shtok. The stories will be drawn from Shtok’s 1919 collection, Gezamlte ertseylungen, which can be downloaded for free from the Yiddish Book Centre here. Copies of poems, critical writings, and other course materials will be provided.
Fradl Shtok (1890-1990) is an enigmatic and captivating writer of passionate poems, finely observed short stories, and illuminating literary essays. Her short stories capture the nuances of shtetl and immigrant life, peeling away the layers with sharp, ironic perceptions. Her pioneering sonnets and other poems are crafted with skill, precision and attention to aesthetics that juxtaposes powerfully with the unrestrained desire that many of her poems embody. Studying Shtok’s texts in Yiddish enables the reader to savour the sensuous sounds, skillful wordplay and musicality that are central to her writing.
ֿפראַדלַשטָאקַשרײַ בטַ
ֿפראַ דל שטאָ ק )1890-1990( איז אַ ן עניגמאַ טישע, ֿפאַ רכאַ ּפנדיקע שרײַ בערין ֿפון לײַ דנשאַ ֿפטֿפולע
לידער, ֿפײַ ן-אָ בסערווירטע דערציילונגען און באַ לײַכטנדיקע ליטעראַ רישע עסייען.
אירע שּפיציקע דערציילונגען שּפיגלען אָ ּפ מיט הומאָ ר, איראָ ניע און קריטיק, די נואַ נסן ֿפון שטעטל-
און אימיגראַ נטן- לעבן. איר ע נאָ וואַ טאָ רישע סאָ נעטן און אַ נדערע לידער זײַנען באַ מײַ סטערט, באַ שאַ ֿפן
מיט ֿפרישקייט, ֿפעיִקייט און ּפרעציזקייט. שטאָ ק צאַ מט אײַ ן הייס-בלוטיקער באַ גער און
אומאײַנגעהאַ לטענע ּתאווה, אין אײַנגעהאַ לטענעם גראַ ם און ריטם, אין אַ ן אַ נטקעגנשטעל וואָ ס איז
סײַ קרעֿפטיק, סײַ ּפרעכטיק.
שטאָ קס שאַ ֿפונגען זײַנען אין עצם עסטעטיק. בײַ ם לייע נען שטאָ קס שיינשרײַבן אינעם אָ ריגינעלן
ייִ דיש, קענען לייענערס זיך באַ לעקן מיט דער מוזיקאַ לישקייט, און מיט די חושימדיקע קלאַ נגען און
קלוגע ווערטערשּפילן, וואָ ס זײַנען וויכטיקע שטריכן ֿפון שטאָ קס שעֿפערישקייט.
Tuition for All Classes
| $245 | $340 |
Special Rates (Young Adult or Limited Income):
| $175 | $245 |