Yiddish Summer School in Birobidzhan, Summer School 2008

Bar-Ilan University - The Rena Costa Center for Yiddish Studies

Far Eastern State Academy for Humanities and Social Studies

Birobidzhan, Jewish Autonomous Region, Russia

August 18 - September 1, 2008

Ab 18 - Elul 1, 5768





      Since 2007, the international summer program of the Yiddish language and culture takes place in Birobidzhan, the capital of the Jewish Autonomous Region in the Russian Far East, with participation of Yiddish-studies lecturers from various universities in the world.

     Birobidzhan has undergone many political and economic hardships, bringing to ruin many Yiddishist dreams and aspirations. However, since 1934, it has been the only place in the world where Yiddish was granted an official status as the state language.



   The program consists of 70 academic hours (equivalent to 2 academic credits). Three language levels are being offered, as well as lectures on Yiddish literature and culture, Jewish modern history, Jewish heritage in the Far East, a workshop on Yiddish cinema, etc. The program will take place daily, except Saturday, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and from 5:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.

   The program also offers a host of cultural events -

Participation in the ethnographic expeditions covering the breadth of the Jewish region as well as visiting the former pioneering settlements, which to this day bear Yiddish names – Birofeld, Naifeld, Valdheim, Sotsshtetl, etc;

Meetings with the original pioneers and the representatives of the Autonomous Region government;

Excursion to the Jewish sites in the Autonomous Region capital – the "Birobidzhaner shtern" Yiddish newspaper, the new synagogue and the community center, the old synagogue, the closed Jewish cemetery, Yiddish writer's memorial sites, various museums, the Shalom Aleichem Library;

Trip to the neighboring city, Khabarovsk, the vigorous center of the Russian Far East;

Special excursion to the Nanai village Sikhoche-Alyan to learn about the culture of the local native tribes;

Shabbat meal ("Tish") at the local Jewish community.

Here you can find the application form