Under what circumstances was Israel born and what is it today – a dream come true out of the ashes of the Holocaust or an attempt at creating an utopia on its way to become another Middle-Eastern failed state? When did it stop being a social-democratic welfare state and become a neo-liberal market economy? And is there any chance for peace with its neighbors?

The course will take us on a journey through the historic events, the big questions, ideologies and vital issues, the conflicts, the violence and the wars, the leaders, the prophets and political parties and the people who shaped 75 years of Israeli history.

Prior knowledge

No prior knowledge about the subject is needed.

Course material

Course material is included in the cost for this course.

About the teacher

Born and raised in Israel and currently living in Stockholm, David Stavrou is a journalist, a guide and a teacher. As a journalist he writes for Israeli daily newspaper Haaretz and for other publications about Sweden, Scandinavia and Europe and about issues related to democracy, human rights and genocide worldwide. His book, “An Israeli Cross”, which he co-authored with his brother, Daniel Stavrou, was published in 2014 by Israeli publisher Indibook. His second book about the Israeli diaspora in Europe, “Leaving Zion”, was published in 2020 by Israeli publisher Pardes. He is married and a father of four boys.

Photo: Haifa, Canva.

Ze Kollel offers an intensive immersion in classical Jewish learning through the study of the weekly Torah portion (Parasha) and Talmud. All members of Ze Kollel will be offered opportunities to teach and  develop their skills as potential Jewish educators and leaders.

Ze Kollel aims to be a place of personal and spiritual growth with the text as our guide and our fellow students as companions. Our name is both a nod to traditional Kollel environments which are often exclusive to men, while also being a transliterated form of the Hebrew words that mean, “It includes”.

In the spring semester of Ze Kollel we will be studying the tractate Rosh Hashana. This tractate deals with the laws and customs of the multiple Jewish New Years and their potential for renewal. As such this tractate is not just a guide to the technical details of the holiday but also explores its deeper spiritual and theological dimensions, such as God’s sovereignty, human repentance and renewal, and the hope for a favorable judgment.

Ze Kollel is in partnership with Hillel Deutschland and Oy Vey Amsterdam, in collaboration with Paideia – the European Institute for Jewish Studies in Sweden.

Course structure

Ze Kollel includes: an opportunity to lead a parasha session, a required writing of an original commentary on the Talmud as well as an end-of-semester in person Shabbaton in Stockholm. 

The teachers will contact applicants as part of the admissions process. 

Prior knowledge

Hebrew knowledge is helpful but no prior knowledge or Hebrew language skills are required. The texts are read in English, if they are available in translation.

To apply for this course, you need basic computer skills and knowledge of how to use the digital platform Zoom. The school offers Zoom manuals and a training opportunity before the start of the course.

Course material

Course material, accommodation and participation in a Shabbaton in is included in the cost for this course. Travel expenses to Stockholm are not included.

Dates for the Shabbaton will be communicated in the admission letter if you are accepted to the course.

About the teachers

Lievnath Faber is a Jewish educator and activist, birth- and death doula and ritualist. She holds an MA in the arts from the University of Amsterdam and is a senior Humanity in Action fellow as well as a senior Landecker Democracy fellow who writes and works on the intersection of antiracism and antisemitism in Europe and specialized in the Netherlands. She weaves Jewish activism, life cycle awareness and ritual together to create joyful and empowered Jewish life in Europe. She is a trained mikveh guide and grief ceremony facilitator, (co) founder and program director of Oy Vey, the open, inclusive and unapologetically Jewish community in Amsterdam and part of the faculty staff of Ze Kollel, the immersive pan-European Jewish learning programme. She is a rabbinical student with ALEPH – the Alliance for Jewish Renewal and works towards creating joyful and empowered Jewish life in Europe.

Sophie Bigot-Goldblum holds a MA degree, magna cum Laude from Hebrew University in Jewish Studies and a MA from the EHESS in Political Theory. She was blessed to be able to learn in various yeshivot in Israel and the United States for four years: at Pardes, the Conservative Yeshiva, Hadar and Drisha. Additionally, she co-facilitates Paideia’s Paradigm program, bringing together European, American, and Israeli Jewish professionals and thought leaders for a week of intense discussions and learning on Jewish identity. Sophie teaches at the Conservative Yeshiva summer program and has been published in Jewish Journals in the US and Europe : JOFA journal, Mozaika, Tenou’a, La Voix Sépharade. She is the co-founder of Bealma, the first egalitarian sefaradi minyan in France. She loves football and a good Yerushalmi Kugel.

Photo: Paideia/Canva.

Welcome to continue our journey in a millennium old language, part and parcel of Ashkenazi Jewish civilization and a pathway to a rich cultural treasure. This course is designed for participants who already have a foundational knowledge of Yiddish grammar and can follow simple conversations. We will converse in Yiddish, delve into advanced grammatical topics (such as conditional structures and aspects), and read and appreciate literary texts in Yiddish. As always, we will contextualize the language within its broader cultural and historical background.

ברוכים הבאים
Bruchim H’boim, welcome!

The course is given in English, in collaboration with International Yiddish Center Vilnius, Paideia – the European Institute for Jewish Studies in Sweden and Jiddischsällskapet i Stockholm.

Paideia folkhögskola also offers the online courses Yiddish for Advanced Beginners (semester 5) and Yiddish conversation (in Yiddish/Swedish) during the spring semester of 2025. Please see more information under each course’s webpage.

Prior knowledge

Participants need proficiency in reading and writing Yiddish. Understanding of present, future, and past tenses. Familiarity with grammatical cases, sentence structure, and various verb types in Yiddish.

To apply for this course, you need basic computer skills and knowledge of how to use the digital platform Zoom. The school offers Zoom manuals and a training opportunity before the start of the course.

Course material

Course material is included in the cost for this course. Grammar and literature resources will be provided to participants via email.

About the teacher

Dr. Yaad Biran got his Ph.D. in Yiddish literature in the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He teaches Yiddish language and culture in Beth Shalom Aleichem in Tel Aviv, in Haifa University and in the Tel Aviv summer course. He is also a writer and a translator, the author of a short stories book Laughing with Lizards (Hebrew) and the writer of Esther’s Cabaret, a contemporary Yiddish Cabaret in Tel Aviv. He is also guiding Yiddish tours in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

Photo: The image is of a painting by Jean Hessel.

Experience the richness of the Hebrew language through song. In this course, we approach the language and deepen previous knowledge by starting from and working with song texts in Hebrew.

Together we read, sing and listen to songs related to Jewish holidays, Israel, seasons and Jewish history. The classes offer opportunities for fun learning and focus on the participants’ interests. 

Bruchim habaim, welcome!

Click here to see a compliation of all courses in Hebrew that the school offers for the spring semester of 2025. 

You can take this course in parallel with another Modern Hebrew or Conversation course.
The Modern Hebrew courses semester 1-4 can only be taken at one level per semester.

The course is given in English, in collaboration with Paideia – the European Institute for Jewish Studies in Sweden.

Prior knowledge

Beginners as well as Hebrew speakers are welcome to apply. The course is suitable for everyone regardless of their level of Hebrew. For those who are beginners in Hebrew, song texts with transcribed text are offered.

To apply for this course, you need basic computer skills and knowledge of how to use the digital platform Zoom. The school offers Zoom manuals and a training opportunity before the start of the course.

Course material

Course material is included in the cost for this course. 

About the teacher

Anat Samuelson was born and raised in Jerusalem, where she studied vocal studies at the Academy of Music and pedagogy at David Yelin College. She has been teaching Hebrew to adults, youth and children for over 10 years. Anat has a passion for the Hebrew language and a special interest in the origins and roots of Hebrew. Anat sings and performs in various ensembles and studies Kabbalah at Mishkan Hakavana in Israel.

Photo: Paideia/Canva. 

This course introduces Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) for learners with no prior experience. MSA is the formal version of Arabic used in news, literature, and official communication throughout the Arab-speaking world. The course focuses on developing basic skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening, while introducing key aspects of Arabic grammar and sentence structure. Participants will learn essential vocabulary and phrases, enabling them to engage in everyday conversations and comprehend simple texts.

The aim of the course is to give learners a solid foundation in MSA, allowing them to communicate effectively at a beginner level. By the end of the course, participants will be able to greet people, introduce themselves, ask and respond to simple questions, and navigate basic situations in an Arabic-speaking context. Additionally, students will gain insight into the rich Arab and Islamic culture and history.

This course is ideal for anyone interested in learning Arabic for travel, work, or personal development. It also serves as a steppingstone for more advanced studies in the language, preparing learners to further explore the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of the Arab world.

The course is given in English, in collaboration with Paideia – the European Institute for Jewish Studies in Sweden.

Course structure 

This Arabic course employs an interactive, participant-centered approach. Learners prepare independently at home, using the online LMS (Learning Management System, a digital resource linked to the course book where exercises are provided and the teacher can follow the learners’ progress) website. For every class hour estimate to work two hours at home.

Class time focuses on activating knowledge through pair work, group activities, conversation practice, and dictation exercises. The course encourages self-correction and peer assistance, minimizing lectures in favor of active language use and continuous practice.

Prior knowledge

No prior knowledge of Arabic is required for this course. It is designed for complete beginners and will start with the fundamentals of Modern Standard Arabic.

Participants with some existing knowledge of Arabic are welcome to join. However, they should be aware that the course content and pace will be tailored to complete beginners.

To apply, you need basic computer skills and knowledge of how to use the digital platform Zoom. The school offers Zoom manuals and a training opportunity before the start of the course.

Course material

All course material is not included in the cost for this course. The book “Alif baa: introduction to Arabic letters and sounds”, 3rd edition (Kristen Brustad, Mahmoud Al-Batal, Abbas Tunisir, Georgetown University Press, Washington, D.C., 2021) needs to be purchased on your own. Website: https://alkitaabtextbook.com/. The book is available in both digital and printed versions. You are welcome to use either but the digital version is recommended. You need to have access to the book in order to participate, if you are accepted to the course.

About the teacher 

Michael has been studying and researching Arabic for over 20 years, with a particular interest in the similarities and differences between Hebrew and Arabic. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies and a master’s degree in Hebrew Language from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, giving him a strong foundation in Semitic languages. In Israel, Michael taught Hebrew as a second language at leading academic institutions. Recently, he relocated to Sweden with his family, where he now teaches online Hebrew to Arabic speakers and Arabic to Hebrew speakers. He also delivers lectures on the history, culture, and evolution of the Arabic language, and the religion of Islam.

Photo: Canva. 

This is a course designed for students with no prior knowledge of Yiddish, although knowledge of the Hebrew alphabet would be highly desirable.

We are going to use the textbook “Yiddish, Volume 1″. This textbook is suitable both for students who know the Hebrew alphabet already and students who don’t. Each unit will introduce a certain number of letters and give words and short sentences with these letters, until students will have all the letters used in Yiddish.

Learning Yiddish is an opportunity to connect with this rich Eastern European Jewish language and culture with its beautiful music and literature. This is a treasure trove that is just waiting to be discovered!

ברוכים הבאים
Bruchim H’boim, Welcome!

The course is given in collaboration with International Yiddish Center Vilnius, Paideia – the European Institute for Jewish Studies in Sweden and Jiddischsällskapet i Stockholm.

Paideia folkhögskola also offers the courses Yiddish for Advanced Beginners, semester 5 and Yiddish conversation (Yiddish/Swedish) as online courses the spring semester of 2025. Please see more information under each course’s webpage.

Course structure

We will start each session with some Yiddish conversation, which will build up more and more as we go along. Then we will revise some of the grammar and vocabulary learned in the previous lesson. After that, we will work with our Yiddish textbook, read the reading material, the dialogues and the jokes there, learn new vocabulary and grammar and do some of the exercises in the book. And we will conclude every lesson with a Yiddish song.

Students will be expected to spend some time every week to work on their reading and writing, to learn the vocabulary and to revise the grammar covered in each class. 

Students who don’t know the alphabet as yet will have to work at home every week to learn to read and write words and sentences with the new letters introduced in each unit. Students who know Hebrew will learn all the differences in writing and reading between Hebrew and Yiddish.

Prior knowledge

This is a course designed for students with no prior knowledge of Yiddish, although knowledge of the Hebrew alphabet would be highly desirable.

To apply you need basic computer skills and knowledge of how to use the digital platform Zoom. The school offers Zoom manuals and a training opportunity before the start of the course.

Course literature

All course literature is not included in the course cost. You need to acquire the book on your own.

• “Yiddish, Volume 1″ (Sheva Zucker, New York: Workmen’s Circle, 1994) 

You will receive more information about the course book that you purchase on your own, if you get accepted to the course.

About the teacher

Dr. Beruriah Wiegand is the Woolf Corob Lector in Yiddish at the University of Oxford. She holds a BA and MA in Hebrew and Jewish Studies from Leo Baeck College, London, and a Ph.D. from University College London, with a thesis on Jewish mystical motifs in the works of Isaac Bashevis Singer. She has lectured on Bashevis’s works and on Yiddish poetry at conferences in London, Oxford, Paris, Düsseldorf, Stockholm, Ravenna, Warsaw, Moscow, Czernowitz, Vienna, Tel Aviv, New York, Boston and Ottawa. She is also a Yiddish poet.

Photo: The image is of a painting by Jean Hessel.

In this course you will learn common words and phrases suitable for different situations, such as in the cafe, in the taxi and more, to be able to tell about yourself, how to ask questions and give easy-to-understand answers in Hebrew. In addition, we study basic grammar and continue to expand reading and writing skills.

The course is organized by the Jewish Community of Gothenburg and Paideia folkhögskola.

Click here to see a compliation of all courses in Hebrew that the school offers for the spring semester of 2025. 

Note that you can take this course in parallel with another Modern Hebrew or Conversation course.
The Modern Hebrew courses semester 1-4 can only be taken at one level per semester.

Prior knowledge

The course is aimed at those who have completed one semester of Hebrew studies at Paideia folkhögskola or have equivalent knowledge (the alphabet with vowels, basic reading skills and some simple phrases).

The teacher is an English speaker. Participants speaking both Swedish and English are welcome to apply.

This course is the second of two on level A2 at the global scale for language proficiency according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Course material

All course material is not included in the cost for this course. The course uses the book “Barosh Uvarishonah, First and Foremost, Hebrew for beginners and more”, workbook and textbook (Goni Tishler and Ateret Yarden-Barak). You have the option to buy the book from the school.You indicate in your application whether you want to buy a book from the school or acquire the book yourself.

Photo: Paideia/Canva. 

Through expressive arts, including visual art making, poetry, and spoken word, we will  explore Jewish prayer as a bridge. We will examine Jewish perspectives on prayer, both ancient and contemporary, gaining inspiration from traditional tchines (Yiddish prayers and devotions, usually personal and from a female viewpoint).

We will explore expressive art making emerging in Israel as a form of modern prayer. As artists and participants, prayer will be conceptualized as a means of connecting to ourselves, our inner voice and feelings, to each other, to our communities, to our past, future, and the present moment. 

The course is given in collaboration with the Jewish Community in Stockholm.

Prior knowledge

No artistic or textual experience is needed, come as you are! 

Course material

Course material is included in the cost for this course.

About the teacher

Esther Amster moved to Stockholm as a Rabbanit in the Jewish Community and lives here with her husband, Rabbi Mattias Amster, and their children. Esther received her Masters degree in Art Therapy from the School of Visual Arts in NYC, and has studied Jewish texts, thought and history at schools in the US and Israel, receiving her BA from Touro College. She has taught studio art for over ten years, led art therapy groups with a focus on identity and empowerment, and taught Jewish texts with special attention to symbolism in Jewish thought and practice. 

Photo: Paideia/Canva

In this course, we will be introduced to the fascinating history of the Karaite Jewish movement, one of the ancient branches of Judaism, which dates back to the 8th century during the Geonic period. We will explore the movement’s history, the various communities around the world today, and make comparisons between Rabbinic Halacha and the binding law of the Karaites. We will also delve into key principles of Karaite thought. 

The course will cover and discuss topics such as the calendar, holidays and their differences, marriage, and burial practices. We will compare texts of prayers and explore the writings of different Karaite sages. Throughout the course, the teacher will also share his personal story from his upbringing and how his family history has shaped his understanding.

The course is given in collaboration with Paideia – the European Institute for Jewish Studies in Sweden.

Prior knowledge

No prior knowledge about the subject is needed.

To apply, you need basic computer skills and knowledge of how to use the digital platform Zoom. The school offers Zoom manuals and a training opportunity before the start of the course.

Course material

Course material is included in the cost for this course.

About the teacher 

Ran Menashe (Ranash) was born and raised in Ra’anana, Israel, in a secular Karaite family. He is a freelance educator, lecturer, and group facilitator. As a social entrepreneur, Ranash has been involved in, and established, two large non-profit organizations in Israel focused on self-reflection and personal growth, influencing Israeli society: Elul Bashvil and Masa Hevrati. 

In 2022-23, he was a fellow in Paideia’s one-year programme in Jewish studies. Throughout that year he also explored his Karaite roots and decided to create a series of lectures in which he shares his personal experiences and imparts knowledge about this unique and often overlooked Jewish movement.

Photo: Wikipedia/Tamar Hayardeni of the Main Karaite Synagogue in Israel, in Ramle.

Jews throughout the centuries have expressed their faith through prayer possibly more than any other medium. This course will analyze how the Siddur – the Jewish prayer book, was compiled, and how it changed organically over two millennia, going back to Tannaic and Talmudic sources.

This course is not a prayer tutorial, but rather an in-depth analysis of the prayer texts and their relation to the laws of prayer found in the Mishna and the Talmud.

The course is given in collaboration with Paideia – the European Institute for Jewish Studies in Sweden.

Prior knowledge

Hebrew knowledge is helpful but no prior knowledge or Hebrew language skills are required. The texts are read in English, if they are available in translation.

To apply for this course, you need basic computer skills and knowledge of how to use the digital platform Zoom. The school offers Zoom manuals and a training opportunity before the start of the course.

Course material

Course material is included in the cost for this course.

About the teacher

Joseph Shain studied at yeshiva in Jerusalem and at Bar Ilan University. His interests revolve around oral tradition in early rabbinical Judaism and how it transformed into written form. Joseph drafts and prosecutes patent applications at Grand Patentbyrå AB, a Swedish intellectual property firm.

Photo: Canva.