Frequently Asked Yiddish Questions

1. Where and when is the next Yiddish Club Conference?
2. How can my Yiddish group join IAYC?
3. What Yiddish club/s are there in my community?
4. How can I start a Yiddish club?
5. Where can I get material in transliteration for my club?
6. Which Yiddish organizations/publications should our club join/receive?
7. What is the best Yiddish program for my computer?
8. How do I get on the Mendele list?
9. What is the difference between the old transliteration and YIVO's?
10. What are some good Yiddish club newsletters?
11. Are there Yiddish theater groups putting on plays?
12. What are the major Yiddish events?
13. Which is the best beginner's Yiddish textbook?
14. How do I subscribe to Der Bay?
15. What does Der Bay mean?
16. Which Yiddish dictionary should I get?
17. What does one do in a Yiddish Club?
18. Are there different kinds of Yiddish groups?
19. Why should I join a local Yiddish group?
20. How can I find a Yiddish pen-pal?
21. Which colleges teach Yiddish courses?
22. Where can I get information about Yiddish films?
    

1. Where and when is the next Yiddish Club (IAYC) Conference?
The next conference will be held in Cleveland, Ohio August 3-6, 2007.

2. How can my Yiddish group join the International Association of Yiddish Clubs (IAYC)?
By sending a check to Paul Melrood , IAYC President., 500 W. Bender Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53217-4158, made out to IAYC. Send $1.00 per member with a minimum of $25 per club. Application.

3. What Yiddish club/s are there in my community?
Ask Fishl and your request will be filled shortly. First check the list of IAYC affiliated clubs.

4. How can I start a Yiddish club?
Place a notice online or in the newsletter of the Jewish Community Center, Temples, Synagogues, the local newspapers. etc. that a meeting will be held at a specific time and place. Mention that if they cannot make the meeting to let you know the times they are able to attend. If transportation is a problem you may be able to work out a carpool. Once the group decides on a good meeting time and place, you then can begin to talk about what to do at the meetings.

5. Where can I get material in transliteration for my club?
Member clubs of the IAYC may receive transliterated materials free from IAYC by contacting Fishl. Others will be charged only our cost plus shipping and handling.

6. Which Yiddish organizations/publications should our club join?
In addition to the IAYC there are advantages to joining and supporting other Yiddish groups for their publications--journals, bulletins, magazines, newsletters, etc. It is suggested that each member subscribe to at least one. By receiving different ones, your group will have access to more resources. At your meetings, members may make a short report on an interesting article. You may even start a lending library. Another possibility is to have the group pay dues and the group would receive the publications.

7. What is the best Yiddish program for my computer?
Click UYIP or see under links to other sites on the home page.

8. How do I get on the Mendele list?
Send a message to listproc@lists.yale.edu In the body of the message write SUBSCRIBE MENDELE and then add YOUR OWN NAME. To see Mendele on the Web: http://shakti.trincoll.edu/~mendele http://www.ibiblio.org/yiddish/school.html/

9. What is the difference between the old transliteration and YIVO's?
YIVO distances itself from the German spelling. The difference is mainly in the vowels and in the use of kh instead of ch. The long I is spelled AY, and the long A is EY. The English word RICH is in Yiddish is spelled RAYKH and not REICH.

10. What are some good Yiddish club newsletters?
Two excellent ones are Dos Bletl from the Toronto based Friends of Yiddish, and the newsletter of the Yiddish of Greater Washington. Other newer ones, and coming along nicely are, in Boulder and Houston.While they do emphasize local news, they have excellent articles in Yiddish and English.

11. Are there Yiddish theater groups putting on plays?
The major Yiddish theatrical groups are the Folksbiene in New York City, Gilbert & Sullivan Light Yiddish Opera on Long Island, Montreal, Tel Aviv, and Bucharest. There are smaller local groups, most notably in Washington, D.C. Periodically others are listed in der internatsionaler kalendar.

12. What are the major Yiddish events in North America?
See Major Yiddish Events

13. Which is the best beginner's Yiddish textbook?
The old standby Weinreich's College Yiddish is being used less now. Sheva Zucker's Yiddish: An Introduction to the Language, Literature & Culture is receiving more attention. Unlike Weinreich's book, it has an answer key. Volume 2 has been published. Marvin Zuckerman and Marion Herbst have a very good beginner's book also Jean JofenÕs Yiddish for Beginners. A truly excellent children's book is the new, Hulyet, kinderlekh!. there are older books like Der Onheyber by David Bridger. In my beginnerÕs class, I use Goldin's Yiddish Teacher. It has one major flaw--it does not use the YIVO standard transliteration.

14. How do I subscribe to Der Bay?
Der Bay is published monthly, 10 times a year. Contributions for its support is suggested to be chai ($18) and sent to the editor Philip "Fishl" Kutner, 1128 Tanglewood Way, San Mateo, CA 94403 Application form

15. What does Der Bay mean?
This name was used in the first issue January 1, 1991. Bay is an acronym for Bay Area Yiddish, and was used because it started in the San Francisco Bay area. It is pronounced the same as if it were in English.

16. What Yiddish dictionary should I get?
Two English transliterated Yiddish dictionaries are Yiddish Dictionary Sourcebook by Galvin and Tamarkin, and A Yiddish Dictionary in Transliteration by Coldoff. The standard is Weinreich's Modern E-Y and Y-E Dictionary. For Hebrew words in Yiddish, both Niborski's and Jacobson's dictionaries are recommended. A full list can be found at the Shtetl.

17. What does one do in a Yiddish Club?

1. Shares FRIENDSHIP with other Yiddish speakers.
2. Speaks Yiddish: serious or small talk.
3. Adds to your vocabulary and general knowledge of Yiddish.
4. Helps beginners and less experienced Yiddish speakers.
5. Sings Yiddish songs, and learns new ones
6. Performs Yiddish playlets.
7. Learns to read Yiddish, and improve your reading.
8. Plays Yiddish games like: SHOKL, Password, Bingo, and Shloyme Zogt (Simon Says).
9. Celebrates Jewish holidays "Yiddish Style."
10. Hears guest speakers, performers from outside your club; or within your club.
11. Reads Yiddish poetry/short stories using Hebrew letters or in transliteration.
12. ENJOYS!
    

18. Are there different kinds of Yiddish groups?
Yes, we might attend a: Yidish tish, leyenkrayz, shraybkrayz, shmueskrayz, seasonal groups, and possibly chorus, theatrical groups, classes.

19. Why should I join a local Yiddish group?
It is an excellent way to: help support interest in Yiddish locally. It is an excellent way to: meet other people interested in Yiddish locally. It is a way of using and hearing Yiddish. It is a way of sharing and learning of Yiddish publications, organizations, etc.

20. How can I find a Yiddish Pen-Pal?
Contact Fishl. It was succeeded by Dr. Frida G. de Cielak of Mexico City with a very successful Pen Pal Club. She has become overburdened, and Der Bay has continued theYiddish Pen Pal Program (YPPP).

21 Which colleges teach Yiddish courses?
There are a few colleges that have a regular program of Yiddish courses; however, there is a variation from semester to semester with colleges instituting and dropping both courses and programs. In some colleges it is part of the Germanic Studies Department.

22 Where can I get information about Yiddish films?
The National Center for Jewish Film in the US is at Brandeis Univeristy which restores old films. Other organizations and bookstores also sell them.