Course Description: Build confidence in your Yiddish – reading, speaking, listening, and writing, in a supportive and welcoming classroom of intermediate Yiddish students, as we delve into the treasure trove of short stories by Sholem Aleichem, one of the most celebrated authors in all of Yiddish literature. In this class, you will find abundant opportunities to stretch and grow your Yiddish, as we work together to make the leap from the textbook’s careful examples into the vast and exciting world of Yiddish literature. We’ll read slowly, translate continuously, and look up every unfamiliar word as we delight in the hilarious and heart-wrenching adventures of Menachem-Mendl, Sheyne-Sheyndl, Tevye der Milkhiker, and other beloved characters from the canon of Sholem Aleichem.

Level: This class is appropriate for students who can read and understand Yiddish sentences with the help of a dictionary. BWC students who have completed Advanced Beginner, those who want to continue in Intermediate, and newcomers at this level are all welcome to join.

Instructor: Abby Howell

Materials: The Complete Works of Sholem Aleichem. Students can find this text online for free here.