Ritz Theater 1927
Yiddish
When asked the question “why study Yiddish,” a very Yiddish answer might be “why not?” Study of Yiddish may stem from a personal connection to the language, its cultural heritage, its role as a window to Eastern European Jewish history and its connection to the Jewish American immigrant experience. Or students may be intrigued to learn about a language with a thousand year history, one with eight ways of saying… and no ways of saying… Yiddish played and continues to play an important role within the modern Jewish experience.
Learning the language enables students to engage with the study of historical, literary and religious texts, as well as politics, folklore, anthropology, and other contemporary aspects of the culture such as film and media.
Students of Yiddish can progress to a high level of fluency at the University of Michigan. Texts include Yiddish children’s literature, folklore, literary and historical texts, films, and music. Yiddish is examined within a broader context within the history, sociology, politics, and culture it produced.
Yiddish is taught every academic year, for more information, check the Yiddish Course listings or call (734) 763-9047.
Programs
University of Michigan
202 S. Thayer Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104-1608
Fax: 734-936-2186
