מיר זענען דאָ
We’re still here!
Despite a tough 2014, we are revamping to continue our work in 2015 as strong as ever. On Sunday, January 11th, we’ll conduct a memorial for Yiddish actress Mina Bern on the occasion of her 5th yortsayt; and Wednesday, January 28th will see the New York Jewish Film Festival debut of a short animated film about the cut throat world of Yiddish vaudeville at 3:45 and 9PM; as well as much much more in the new year! A small Yiddish organization has a tough row to hoe these days. Closing up entirely would be easy, but we feel our mission and unique approach are vital and need partners in these undertakings.
Support Yiddish Culture שפּאַן זיך אײַן אין דער אַרבעט
Your donation will help us
- Publish new works in Yiddish and English (including unpublished works of I.B. Singer!)
- Produce monthly coffee houses celebrating Yiddish folksong and poetry
- Field innumerable questions about Yiddish from all over the world (go ahead, write us with your own!)
Our Mission די עובֿדא
We are a home and resource for some of the finest writers, poets, translators, composers, and performers working in the field of Yiddish today. We cultivate the language in all of its manifestations: spoken, printed, sung, or acted. We publish Yiddish and English books; present concerts, plays and Purim-shpiln; run classes and literary reading circles; field Yiddish-related questions; we can guide you in finding materials for your reading circle or research, provide your synagogue or community center with Yiddish programming, and, yes, we can even translate the writing on the back of your grandmother’s photographs.
Vos se hert zikh… (What we’re up to)
Wednesday, December 17th, 2014 at 7 PM:
Zingeray (Yiddish sing-a-long) in memory of Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman on her yortsayt. 3338 Bainbridge Avenue, Bronx, New York.
Sunday, January 11th, 2015 at 2 PM at the Center for Jewish History:
Concert celebrating the life and times of Yiddish actress Mina Bern on the occasion of her 5th yortsayt. Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY 10011. Reservations here.
Wednesday, January 28th, 2015 at 3:45 and 9 PM:
The New York Jewish Film Festival debuts a Congress for Jewish Culture production, Jack Feldstein and Shane Baker’s short subject “How to Break into Yiddish Vaudeville,” offering a glimpse into the cut-throat life backstage of New York Yiddish vaudeville during its heyday. On a bill with David Cairns’ film “Natan.” Get tickets here.
August 12, 2014: Memorial for the Yiddish poets murdered in the Soviet Union. This year, soprano Sofie Van Lier from Amsterdam will present a concert of Soviet Jewish music including Weinberg’s cycle of settings for the poetry of Shmuel Halkin and Shostakovich’s settings of Jewish folk poetry. Tuesday, August 12th at 6:30 PM at the YIVO, Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street. Email us for details at kongres at earthlink dot net
Closing of our offices: need a Yiddish book or two? Email us at kongres at earthlink dot net!
Hear a brand NEW Yiddish song!
Biographical Dicitionary of Yiddish Writers in the Soviet Union
Remember Yiddish poet Yonia Fain
Profile of Congress director Shane Baker in Haaretz
Phone: 1-212/505-8040
email: kongres@earthlink.net
Congress for Jewish Culture, Inc.
PO Box 1590
New York, NY 10159