Beginner I Yiddish (Sunday Afternoon)
Tuition: $480 | YIVO members: $375**
Students: $240 (Must register with valid university email address)
This is a live, online course held weekly on Zoom. Enrollment will be capped at about 15 students. All course details (Zoom link, syllabus, handouts, assignments, etc.) will be posted to Canvas. Students will be granted access to the class on Canvas after registering for the class here on the YIVO website. This class will be conducted in Yiddish and English.
Instructor: Rose Mintzer-Sweeney
Who should take this course?
This course is appropriate for those who are new to Yiddish or would like a review.
What topics will this class cover?
We will begin at the very beginning and build a foundation in speaking, reading, and writing in Yiddish. Starting from the alef-beys, by the end of the class you'll be able to have simple conversations and exchange information about yourself, your daily life, and your friends and family.
We'll use the textbook In Eynem but also encounter a variety of songs, poems, and historical documents, especially related to the fall season and the Jewish year. This class will emphasize understanding Yiddish as a language, including its relationship to English and other languages.
Is knowledge of the Yiddish alphabet required?
No, knowledge of the Yiddish alphabet is not required. However, students who have no prior experience with reading and writing the Yiddish or Hebrew alphabets are highly encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Yiddish alphabet before class, as the course will move at a fast pace. The tools and videos provided here will be helpful in getting a handle on reading and writing the alefbeys, and are designed for independent use.
Course Materials:
This course will use the textbook In eynem: The New Yiddish Textbook, Vol I & II by Asya Vaisman Schulman, Jordan Brown, Mikhl Yashinsky (Purchase).
Questions? Read our 2025 Fall Classes FAQ.
Rose Mintzer-Sweeney was born and raised in New York City and studied Yiddish through the Yiddish Book Center, the YIVO Summer Program, Yale, and the Paris Yiddish Center. She holds degrees in linguistics from Yale and the University of Edinburgh, and she currently lives in Berlin, where she teaches through the public Volkshochschule.
**Become a member today, starting at $54 for one year, and pay the member price for classes! You’ll save on tuition for this course and more on future classes and public programs tickets.