HEB HEB2040 Not Your Bubbe's Yiddish Class

Yiddish has been described as a language without a country. But it's deeply woven into the fabric of the United States. "In the last century, Yiddish has become a huge part of the American vernacular - and comedy. Vaudeville, Mel Brooks, "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" and other forms of entertainment have thrust the language into the spotlight." (1A, NPR)

This course will take the student on a journey of exploration into the vast and rich world of the Yiddish language and Eastern European Jewish culture. Students will be introduced to the history of Yiddish and its influence on American pop culture. The vocabulary taught in the course will include basic words, phrases, and expressions in the language.

Students will also learn about Yiddish culture through music, film, and literature. The course will include hands on Jewish culinary workshops introducing students to Eastern European cuisine.

Counts toward the Jewish Studies minor, Civilization and Food studies minor. Does not count toward the World Language Proficiency requirement.

Credits

4sh

Prerequisite

No prerequisite needed.

Course Types

Jewish Studies Minor, Food Studies Minor Core Curriculum-Civilization

Offered

• Winter

1. Students will learn vocabulary that will allow them to hold basic conversations in Yiddish.
2. Students will understand life in the Pale of Settlement and the Shtetl and its intricacies and difficulties.
3. Students will understand the hardships of immigration and the inevitable changes to the life of immigrants.
4. Students will examine the integration of Jewish people into American society and the contribution they made to it.