General Information Courses Preparatory Courses Other Features of the Program Housing Tuition & Fees How to Apply

General Information

Since 1968, YIVO has sponsored the most rigorous, comprehensive program available in the academic study of Yiddish, the Uriel Weinreich Program in Yiddish Language, Literature, and Culture, a six-week intensive summer language course. Starting in 2005, the program will be held on the campus of New York University in New York City.

Every year, the program draws students from all over the world—from as far away as Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Israel, Australia, South Africa, Chile, Argentina, China, Korea, and Japan, as well as from Western Europe, the United States, and Canada.

The program offers peerless instruction in Yiddish language and an in-depth exploration of the literature and culture of East European/American Jewry. Its core is an intensive language course (9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday) at one of four levels, designed to develop proficiency in speaking, reading and writing, as well as cultural literacy, in a concentrated period of time. As an essential complement to the morning course, students are required to attend Yiddish conversation classes and can choose from among several workshops and lecture series (1:30-6:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday). In addition, there are related excursions and social events on some evenings and Sundays.

The intensive nature of the program precludes employment or enrollment in other courses, and allows only limited time for tourism.

Because the program is offered in conjunction with the Max Weinreich Center for Advanced Jewish Studies of the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, students have the opportunity to visit YIVO at its home in the Center for Jewish History, and to become acquainted with YIVO's Archives and Library, one of the world's major collections of materials for the study of East European and American Yiddish culture.

For more information about the program, please contact NYU's Skirball Department of Hebrew and Judaic Studies, at http://www.nyu.edu/fas/summer/yivo or (212) 998-8980.

Courses

Instructors will review placement level at the beginning of the program.

Elementary Yiddish
Yiddish S1111Y*
Section 01: Khane Gonshor; Rivke Margolis.
Section 02: Khane Gonshor; Eugene Orenstein.
4 credits. M-F, 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

An introduction to modern Standard Yiddish with equal attention to speaking, reading and writing. A thorough study of the grammar covered in chapters 1-20 of College Yiddish.

Intermediate Yiddish I
Yiddish S1131Y*
Eugene Orenstein; Sheva Zucker.
3 credits. M-F, 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Prerequisite: knowledge of chapters 1-20 of College Yiddish.

A continuation of the study of grammar in College Yiddish and other grammar sources. Readings in Yiddish texts about the life and culture of East European/American Jewry. Continued emphasis on composition, conversation and idiomatic expression. Conducted in Yiddish. Permission of director. Refresher course may be required.

Intermediate Yiddish II
Yiddish S1132Y*
Abraham Lichtenbaum; Rivke Margolis.
3 credits. M-F, 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

A continuation of the study of grammar at a more advanced level. Readings in Yiddish texts about the life and culture of East European/American Jewry. Introductory survey of modern Yiddish literature. Continued emphasis on composition, conversation and idiomatic expression. Conducted in Yiddish. Permission of director. Refresher course may be required.

Advanced Yiddish
Yiddish S3201Y*
Abraham Lichtenbaum; Sheva Zucker.
3 credits. M-F, 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

A study of more advanced grammatical issues. A comprehensive survey of modern Yiddish literature covering major works of fiction and poetry. Continued emphasis on composition, conversation and idiomatic expression. Conducted in Yiddish. Permission of director. Refresher course may be required.