Yiddish Taught in the Knesset

On February 14, 2017, Dr. Mordechay Yushkovsky, a board member of the National Authority for Yiddish Culture, began teaching a mini-course on Yiddish language and culture for members of the Israeli parliament (Knesset). The topics of the four-session course are:

February 14: What the Yiddish Language has to Say in the 21st Century.

February 28: Secrets of Yiddish Humor, or Why Does it Sound Better in Yiddish?

March 7: Longing for Zion in Yiddish Literature and Folklore.

March 14: Pearls of Yiddish Folklore.

The course is part of a series of lectures for members of Knesset (MKs) on Jewish languages and cultures, which was initiated by Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Education and Culture, MK Yaakov Margi. Last year, MKs learned about the Jewish-Arab language and culture. Following Yiddish, a course will be offered on Ladino (Judesmo), the language of Spanish/Mediterranean Jews.

The first session began with MK Margi's welcome speech; he emphasized the importance of retaining Yiddish heritage for future generations because it is one of the basic elements of Jewish culture.

See video: http://www.yediot.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4921373,00.html