SUMMER COURSE, INTENSIVE COURSE
INTENSIVE YIDDISH SUMMER PROGRAM 2025

Welcome to the 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 11–14, 2025
Daily Schedule: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM (including lunch breaks)
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Languages of Instruction: English and Yiddish
Program Cost: 900 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, Jiddischsällskapet i Stockholm

 

Course Levels 

Participants may apply to one of the following two levels.
Please read the descriptions carefully to determine which best fits your experience.

Kumt gezunterhayt – es vet zayn a mekhaye!
(Come in good health – it’s going to be a pleasure!)

 

  1. 1. Yiddish for Advanced Beginners

Teacher: Dr. Yaad Biran

Course Description: This course is ideal for participants who already have some knowledge of Yiddish and want to refresh and strengthen their skills. Participants should be able to read and write in Yiddish and have a basic understanding of verb conjugation (across tenses) and grammatical cases. Over four intensive days, the focus will be on using Yiddish practically—through reading accessible texts and engaging in conversation. The aim is to boost your confidence and fluency without introducing extensive new grammar.

Language: This course is conducted in English and Yiddish.

Materials: All course material is included.

Prerequisites:

  • Ability to read and write in Yiddish
  • Familiarity with verb conjugation in different tenses
  • Basic understanding of grammatical cases

 

  1. 2. Yiddish – Advanced Level

Teacher: Dr. Miriam Trinh

Course Description: This course is for participants who already speak and understand Yiddish. Over four immersive days, we will refine your spoken Yiddish through interactive activities in both small and large groups. Discussions will range from everyday topics to literary and philosophical themes. We will also explore Yiddish literature written in Israel, focusing on short stories. Grammar review and writing exercises will complement the course.

Language: This course is conducted entirely in “Mame-loshn” (Yiddish).

Materials: All course material is included.

Prerequisites:

  • Fluent understanding and speaking ability in Yiddish
  • Basic reading skills in Yiddish
  • You are welcome even if your grammar knowledge is limited

 

Meet the Teachers

Dr. Yaad Biran
Ph.D. in Yiddish Literature from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Yaad teaches Yiddish language and culture at Beit Shalom Aleichem in Tel Aviv, Haifa University, and the Tel Aviv Summer Course. He is a writer and translator, author of the Hebrew short story collection “Laughing with Lizards”, and creator of “Esther’s Cabaret”, a contemporary Yiddish performance. He also leads Yiddish tours in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

Dr. Miriam Trinh
Miriam Trinh is a well-known Yiddish teacher and scholar with experience teaching in Israel, the U.S., and across Europe. She has conducted postdoctoral research on Yiddish literature during the Holocaust. Miriam and her husband, Eliezer Niborski, speak Yiddish at home with their children, who are also fluent. Miriam is a returning instructor at Yiddish seminars in Sweden.

 

Photo: Painting by Jean Hessel.

Frequently Asked Questions