JL;DR

Daily Podcasts Video

Language

0 Culture Language

Asian descendants of hidden Jews maintain their languages

Dor Shabashewitz in Forward · 27 Mar

Descendants of hidden Jews in Asia, particularly the Macanese in Macau, China, and the Kristang people in Singapore and Malaysia, are mixed-heritage creole communities who maintain unique languages inherited from their Sephardic Jewish ancestors forced to convert to Catholicism in the 16th century to escape the Inquisition.

0 Language

Training the 'Hester Street' actors how to say their Yiddish lines

Miriam Isaacs in Forward · 26 Mar

Miriam Isaacs is the Yiddish language coach for the play "Hester Street," a drama set in the world of Jewish immigrant life in New York.

0 Language History

Why do so many Yiddish words in English have a German spelling?

Zach Golden in Forward · 21 Mar

The article discusses the reasons behind the prevalence of Yiddish words in English with German spellings.

0 Culture Language

This Israeli Influencer Helped Me Love My Accent

Lior Zaltzman in Kveller · 15 Mar

The writer, an Israeli-American immigrant, reflects on their accent and fear of being perceived as a foreigner due to their proficient English, lacking a distinctive Israeli accent.

0 History Language

Etgar Quiz no 262

Jewish Chronicle · 11 Mar

Etgar Quiz no 262 tests knowledge of Jewish history and culture.

0 Language Jewish Law

What’s the Truth about . . . Rashi Script?

Rabbi Ari Z. Zivotofsky in Jewish Action · 9 Mar

Rashi script, a cursive script used by early printers to distinguish Rashi's commentary from the Biblical text, has no connection to Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki himself, who likely couldn't read it.

0 Culture Language

How Yiddish slogans captured a controversial cover story — and the precarious state of American Jews

Talya Zax in Forward · 7 Mar

The April cover of The Atlantic features Yiddish slogans alongside English text, recalling the heyday of American Yiddish theater, to discuss Franklin Foer's article on the challenges facing American Jews.

0 Language Politics

Tidbits: A campaign to knit scarves for the hostages in Gaza

פֿאָרווערטס־רעדאַקציע in Forward · 6 Mar

A campaign has been launched to knit scarves for hostages in Gaza as reported in the Yiddish news brief "Tidbits."

0 Language Culture

Finally, a new hub for people who want to study the language and history of Ladino

Aviya Kushner in Forward · 5 Mar

The American Ladino League has emerged as a new center for studying Ladino, the Romance language with roots in medieval Spain and significant influence from Hebrew, Turkish, Arabic, and other languages.

0 Language Communities

Did this pro-immigrant linguist inspire Donald Trump’s latest anti-immigrant rant?

PJ Grisar in Forward · 1 Mar

"Language City" by Ross Perlin delves into the world of endangered languages in New York, exploring the challenges faced by speakers of languages like Yiddish, Nahuatl, and Lenape.

0 Language Literature

Aaron Lansky, who rescued 1.5 million Yiddish books and founded the Yiddish Book Center, is retiring

Beth Harpaz in Forward · 27 Feb

Aaron Lansky, founder of the Yiddish Book Center, is retiring after rescuing 1.5 million Yiddish books and helping revitalize Yiddish language, literature, and culture.

0 Music Language

How Jewish music helped me find my voice again

Mark Glanville in Jewish Chronicle · 27 Feb

The author recounts how Jewish music, inspired by their mother's German cultural background and classical influences, helped them navigate personal struggles and ultimately find their artistic voice.

0 Culture Language

Magical Love Songs

Rokhl Kafrissen in Tablet · 26 Feb

The text explores the concept of everyday Ashkenazi magic and its presence in Jewish life in Eastern Europe, focusing on elements like spells, divination, and astrology.

0 Israel Language

The Hebrew word we need right now doesn't seem to exist

Jodi Rudoren in Forward · 23 Feb

The author discusses the concept of "kneytsh," which is Yiddish for nuance, highlighting its importance in understanding complex issues like the Israel-Gaza conflict.

0 Culture Language

Prolific Yiddish conference organizer Philip 'Fishl' Kutner has died at 97

Zach Golden in Forward · 23 Feb

Philip 'Fishl' Kutner, a dedicated figure in promoting Yiddish culture and organizing Yiddish conferences across North America, passed away at 97.

0 History Language

The Holocaust survivor in the typewriter repair shop

Sharon Packer in Forward · 22 Feb

In this poignant piece by Sharon Packer, the author reflects on a unique typewriter repair shop in a neighborhood filled with aspiring writers.

0 Language Communities

You can now hear people speaking Yiddish in bars all over Berlin

Rosamond van Wingerden in Forward · 18 Feb

In Berlin, a group called Shmues un Vayn meets regularly in bars to chat in Yiddish, attracting a diverse range of members from various language backgrounds and Yiddish proficiency levels.

0 Language Communities

30+ Beautiful Jewish-Slavic Baby Names

Naomi Kaye Honova in Kveller · 9 Feb

This article provides a list of Jewish-Slavic baby names that reflect the heritage of European Jews who come from or still live in Slavic-speaking countries such as Poland, Russia, Slovakia, and Serbia.

0 Education Language

I Wanted to Reconnect With My Judaism. Duolingo Yiddish Helped.

Diana Black in Kveller · 7 Feb

The author discusses her journey to reconnect with her Jewish identity, prompted by her son's questions about their Jewishness.

0 Culture Language

Most Popular YIDDISH Names for Dogs 🐶! #yiddish #puppylove #doglovers

My Jewish Mommy Life · 6 Feb

A video showcasing popular Yiddish names for dogs, catering to those who love dogs and Jewish culture, featured on the channel MyJewishMommyLife.

0 Culture Language

‘The Bear’ Actor Jeremy Allen White Gave His Daughter This Rare Jewish Name

Lior Zaltzman in Kveller · 5 Feb

Actor Jeremy Allen White and his estranged wife, actress Addison Timlin, gave their eldest daughter the rare and beautiful Jewish name Ezer Billie.

0 Language Television/Film

The 1939 Yiddish melodrama ‘Mothers of Today’ is silly but fun

A. L. Rickman in Forward · 5 Feb

The 1939 Yiddish film "Mothers of Today" depicts the clash between old-world values and modernity through the characters of Mrs. Valdman, a traditional neighbor, and Mrs. Bokser, a modern woman.

0 Language History

I started learning Hebrew for my father. I became obsessed with it after Oct. 7

Lux Alptraum in Forward · 31 Jan

The author reflects on their journey of learning Hebrew and the significance it holds for their Jewish identity.

0 Israel Language

The Soul of Israel: Lost in Translation with Daniel Gordis and Amy E. Schwartz

Moment in Moment · 30 Jan

In this discussion, Daniel Gordis and Amy E. Schwartz explore the question of whether American Jews can fully understand the experience of Israelis living in Israel.

0 Literature Language

Leapsniffing through the Vimveil: Avram Davidson’s Fantastic Fiction

Yosef Lindell in Jewish Review of Books · 23 Jan

Avram Davidson, a fantasy and sci-fi writer, wrote a story called "Goslin Day" which is set on a day that is believed to be significant in Jewish folklore.