The Sandra K Wasserman

Jewish Studies Center

at Baruch College

presents

THE FUTURE OF YIDDISH, a panel discussion

The Wasserman Jewish Studies Center is thrilled to present a Future of Yiddish roundtable discussion, followed by a klezmer trio performance by Alex Parke’s NYC Kapelye.

5:30 pm – 6:45 Discussion

7:00 pm – 7:45 Performance

It seems that Yiddish, long thought a “dying language,” is now enjoying an upsurge of interest. This panel will discuss the reasons for this upsurge, both among college students and the broader Jewish, and sometimes even non-Jewish, community. Our speakers will explore why people are attracted to the language and what they hope to gain by studying it?  Perhaps it is a connection to one’s heritage, a desire to read the literature, or a metaphor for a particular world view. The panel will also discuss Yiddish in the Hasidic community where it is an everyday vernacular.   As Nobel Laureate, writer Isaac Bashevis Singer said, “Yiddish has not yet said its last word.”

Participants:

Drs. Chaya Nove (Postdoctoral Research Associate in Linguistics, Brown University)

Debra Caplan (Associate Professor of Theater, Baruch College and the Graduate Center, CUNY)

Alyssa Quint (Senior Research Scholar, Yeshiva University, Center for Israel Studies)

Justin Cammy (Professor of Jewish Studies and Comparative Literature, Smith College)

Miriam Udell (Associate Professor of Yiddish Language, Literature and Culture, Emory University)

Moderated by Dr. Sheva Zucker (Executive Director of the League for Yiddish and the editor of its magazine Afn Shvel).

Free admission; reservations required.