Course information
Welcome to the Intensive Yiddish Summer Program in Stockholm!
This is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in Yiddish over four intensive days of study, led by experienced and passionate teachers.
Dates: August 17–20, 2026
Daily Schedule: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM (including lunch breaks)
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Languages of Instruction: English and Yiddish
Program Cost: 1100 SEK (includes smorgasbord lunch, study materials, and coffee)
Note: Travel and accommodation are not included.
Organizers: Paideia Folkhögskola, Paideia – The European Institute for Jewish Studies and Jiddischsällskapet i Stockholm.
Course Levels Available:
Participants may apply to one of the following three levels. Please read the descriptions carefully to determine which best fits your experience.
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Yiddish – Beginners Level
Teacher: Katka Mazurczak
Course Description
This intensive beginners’ course is designed for those who want to use Yiddish in everyday situations and who know the alef-beis and have a basic knowledge of the language. If needed, an alef-beis chart and reading practice comic will be sent in advance. Prior to the start of the course you can also practise the alef-beis using the provided material.
Rather than following a traditional textbook approach, the lessons will focus on using the language and practical, everyday expressions to help you communicate and describe your surroundings. It is perfect for those who want to refresh and strengthen their skills.
The aim is to make you more confident and fluent, and to teach you some basic grammar rules using a communicative approach.
Materials
All course materials will be provided.
Prerequisites
- Knowledge in the Hebrew alphabet (we will review Yiddish alphabet, its vowels, special combination letters and pronunciation).
- Basic knowledge of the language
Yiddish – Intermediate Level
Teacher: Oren Cohen Roman
Course Description
This course builds on basic knowledge of Yiddish grammar, particularly the verb tenses (past, present, and future), the three cases (nominative, accusative, and dative), and sentence structure. Over four days of intensive study, you will read simple texts in Yiddish, develop listening and speaking skills, write your own texts, and deepen your understanding of Yiddish grammar.
Among the texts, you will encounter famous writers and poets, such as Sholem Aleykhem, Kadia Molodowsky, and Yosl Birshteyn. You will also write your own texts, listen to recorded songs, and watch selected videos. Of course, you will also have the opportunity to speak with each other in Yiddish.
Materials
All course materials will be provided.
Prerequisites
- Ability to to read and write Yiddish (i.e., know the Hebrew alphabet)
- Familiarity with verb tenses (past, present, and future) as well as the three grammatical cases (nominative, accusative, and dative)
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Yiddish – Advanced Level
Teacher: Yaad Biran
Course Description
In this intensive four-day course, we will speak almost exclusively in Yiddish to create our own small Yiddish-speaking environment. Together, we will read selected prose and poetry and hold class discussions to enjoy and better understand Yiddish culture. Through conversation and writing short texts, we will work on expanding our vocabulary and becoming more comfortable expressing ourselves.
Materials
All course materials will be provided.
Prerequisites
- Fluent understanding and speaking ability in Yiddish. The course is taught almost exclusively in Yiddish.
- Reading skills in Yiddish
- You are welcome even if your grammar knowledge is limited
Meet the Teachers
Katka Mazurczak
Oren Cohen Roman
Oren Cohen Roman is an associate professor of Yiddish at Lund University in Sweden. He is a cultural historian of Ashkenazi Jews and a scholar of Yiddish literature from its medieval beginnings to the present day. His research interests include literature inspired by the Tanach/Bible, cultural transfer, gender, and the history of reading.
His book Joshua and Judges in Yiddish Verse: Four Early Modern Epics was published in 2022 by De Gruyter. His publications include a study of Yiddish written in Latin letters (Journal of Jewish Languages), a song reporting the martyrdom of two Jewish criminals in 17th-century Moravia (Jewish History, with Daniel Soukup), and the depiction of female musicians in the works of Sholem Aleichem (Massekhet: Women of the Jewish World).
Yaad Biran
Dr. Yaad Biran teaches Yiddish at Paideia (online), Beth Shalom Aleichem in Tel Aviv, Haifa University, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Tel Aviv Summer course. He researches Yiddish literature with a focus on Yiddish in Palestine/Israel.
Beyond his academic work, he is a writer of Hebrew fiction and Yiddish cabaret, as well as a tour guide, leading tours in the footsteps of Yiddish culture in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.