Reading Yiddish Texts: The Yiddish Stage

A Deep Dive into the History, Dramaturgy, and Culture of Yiddish Theater with Robby Adler Peckerar

Step into the world of Yiddish theater—one of the most vital and transformative cultural movements in modern Jewish history. This six-session online Yiddish course offered by New Lehrhaus allows you to advance your Yiddish language skills through a sophisticated exploration of primary sources and dramatic criticism.

We will trace the evolution of the Yiddish stage from its raw origins among roving players in the Eastern European borderlands to its glittering Golden Age on New York’s Second Avenue. This course doesn’t just look at scripts; it examines the enduring legacy of the theater within the global Jewish diaspora and its profound influence on modern Jewish identity.

Each session pairs close readings of authentic Yiddish-language sources with guided discussion. We go beyond the dialogue on the page to explore:

• Theatrical Texts: Plays and dramatic works from key eras.
• Critical Context: Reviews, manifestos, and memoirs that defined the movement.
• Intellectual History: Theatrical criticism that shaped the cultural landscape of Jewish modernity.

• Expand Your Register: Gain comfort with both formal and colloquial Yiddish, from the elevated language of the stage to the gritty prose of a newspaper review.
• Structural Mastery: Deepen your understanding of Yiddish language structure through direct contact with diverse text types.
• Authentic Materials: Practice reading Yiddish in the original alef-beys using high-quality primary source documents.

• Intermediate to advanced learners who have completed at least two years of Yiddish study (or the equivalent).
• Requirements: Students should be comfortable reading Yiddish in the alef-beys.
• Ideal for: Anyone looking to combine language acquisition with a serious study of Jewish performing arts and history.

• Improved Reading Fluency: Greater confidence navigating multiple Yiddish text types and genres.
• Specialized Vocabulary: A robust lexicon covering theater, dramaturgy, and cultural critique.
• Historical Perspective: A rich understanding of how Yiddish theater functioned as a laboratory for modern Jewish life and performance.