“Yiddish is different.” The language offers an alternative observation point, from which we can see Jewish history, politics and art from a new, critical lens. That is, at least, what the luminary Benjamin Harshav claimed by titling his book on the subject The Other Culture: Yiddish and Jewish Discourse (2006). We will investigate this claim in depth by exploring the Yiddish literary tradition from its inception in the 17^th Century until today—with works that range from pious to subversive, folksy to modernist, revolutionary to mournful, documentarian to fantastic. Authors will include Glückel of Hamel, Reb Nachman of Braslav, Avrom Goldfaden, Y.L. Peretz, Sholem Aleichem, Sh. Ansky, Dovid Bergelson, Itsik Manger, Avrom Sutzkever, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Kadya Molodowsky and others.

Beyond its unique aesthetic value, Yiddish literature also sheds new light on a number of theoretical topics: This is a corpus that troubles the connection between language and national territory, everyday speech and high literature, reading habits and gender. It asks that we rethink the capacity of books to live beyond their original community of readers. We will pay special attention to the ‘aftermaths’ of Yiddish literature within contemporary American and Israeli cultures today.

In addition to literary readings, the course will include film screenings, conversations with translators, Yiddish activists and authors and exposure to Yiddish music.

No previous knowledge of Yiddish is required; readings will be in Hebrew. Course requirements: attendance and reading preparation.