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Letter from the Executive Director
2012: The Year in Review
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| Dear Supporter, | This past year has been a year of reconnecting with YIVO’s original mission as an institution of knowledge, research, public service and the preservation of the great treasures of our Eastern European heritage. Those treasures are often little more than pieces of paper lovingly preserved in cardboard boxes in our archive or the rare and unique books in our library. Usually written in a little known language, these papers and books express the thoughts, aspirations, struggles and accomplishments of our people. These are the “crown jewels” of the YIVO Institute, the great and enduring monument to 1000 years of Jewish history in Eastern Europe and Russia. 2012 Highlights: • Over 40 public programs in 2012 including Antisemitism or Judeaophobia in the Interwar Period by John Lukacs, Reclaiming the Jewish Narrative in Lithuania by Markas Zingeris, The Works of Chaim Grade by Curt Leviant, a film screening and discussion of Everything is Illuminated with Liev Schreiber, as well as a major conference and exhibition on Jews and the Left. • The YIVO Jewish Culture Series in Riverdale, NY attracted over 1000 people for lectures on Yiddish history, theatre, music, literature and folklore. This program partners with local organizations and philanthropists to bring Yiddish culture to life. • The YIVO-Bard Institute for East European Jewish History and Culture is developing the first American Masters program in East European and Russian Jewish Studies. The pilot program was a resounding success with over 65 students from 3 continents and will be offered on an annual basis as the Winter Program on Ashkenazi Civilization. Courses include Marc Chagall, East European Jewish Folklore, Masterpieces in Yiddish Fiction, History of Soviet Jewry, Hasidism and Other Religious Trends in East European Jewry and more. • On October 23, YIVO signed a cooperation agreement with the Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw, Poland. This cooperation marks the beginning of a new engagement with YIVO’s homeland in Eastern Europe through exhibitions, scholarly exchanges and cosponsorship of educational programs. In 2013, we will build on these important new initiatives and others currently in development. But we can do so only with your increased support! Please be as generous as you can. Every gift counts. All donations received before December 31st will be matched by a generous gift from our Board of Directors up to $100,000. May your holiday season be luminous, joyous, and peaceful. Sincerely, Jonathan Brent Executive Director p.s. Make a bigger impact; donate online now at www.yivo.org.
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