Spring 2026 Yiddish Classes

A new semester of online Yiddish classes is coming this April.

The spring classes schedule is posted below. Registration will open March 19. 

Visit our FAQ (FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS) page for more information about our classes and policies, or send us an email at yiddish@ujafed.org

Cancellation Policy: CFY will offer students a full refund for withdrawal by the end of the second week of the course (i.e. before the third class of the course). No refunds are available after the second week of classes. Refunds will be processed approximately one month after the course begins.

Classes are subject to enrollment. Course fees are in Canadian funds.

ALL CLASSES TAKE PLACE ON ZOOM.

ײִדיש קלאַסן

Learn, refresh, and improve your speaking, reading, and writing language skills with experienced instructors in a fun and stimulating learning environment.

Beginner Yiddish Language

Mondays on Zoom, 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm ET | April 20 – June 22, 2026 (no class May 18)
9 classes | Cost: $180 CAD
Instructor: Ruth Gerlock

This introductory level course is suitable for those with no prior or minimal Yiddish language knowledge. Students will be introduced to the alef-beys, basics of Yiddish conversation, grammar, reading, and writing in an engaging class supplemented by songs and activities.

Beginner-Plus Yiddish Language

Wednesdays on Zoom, 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm ET | April 22 – June 17, 2026
9 classes | Cost: $180 CAD
Instructor: Ruth Gerlock

This high-beginner level course is suitable for those who have taken at least one or two semesters of beginner-level Yiddish courses, or equivalent prior experience. Students will continue to develop their basic conversational skills, grammar understanding, and facility with the alef-beys through a variety of engaging themes.

Intermediate Yiddish Language

Sundays on Zoom, 10:00 am – 11:30 am ET | April 19 – June 21, 2026 (no class May 17)
9 classes | Cost: $180 CAD
Instructor: Ruth Gerlock

This course is suitable for those who have studied Yiddish for one to two years or have equivalent experience. Students must be able to read alef-beys at least at a basic level. Students will continue to develop their intermediate-level speaking and reading comprehension skills through reading and discussing selections of Yiddish poetry and short stories, review of grammar with points drawn from the texts, and relevant vocabulary and conversational activities.

Intermediate-Plus Yiddish Language

Wednesdays on Zoom, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm ET | April 22 – June 17, 2026
9 classes | Cost: $180 CAD
Instructor: Sharon Power

This course, conducted primarily in Yiddish, is designed for students who have previously studied Yiddish at the Intermediate level and are ready to apply and further develop their reading and speaking skills in a literature-focused course. Students will read and discuss an engaging selection of short to medium-length Yiddish texts (poetry, newspaper articles, short stories). Cultural and linguistic points of interest will be highlighted as we analyse the texts.

For the Spring 2026 semester, we’ll be exploring the work of perhaps the most famous Yiddish writer of all, Sholem Aleichem, through reading and discussing excerpts from a variety of his short stories and plays.

Advanced Yiddish Language

Sundays on Zoom, 10:00 am – 11:30 am ET | April 19 – June 21, 2026 (no class May 17)
9 classes | Cost: $180 CAD
Instructor: Sharon Power

This course, conducted entirely in Yiddish, will focus on advanced reading, writing, vocabulary, grammar, and conversation. We will read short stories and other Yiddish literary materials and use the texts as jumping-off points to explore higher-level grammatical topics and discuss historical, cultural, and linguistic points of interest. The literature component for the Spring 2026 semester will focus on works by Soviet Yiddish writers, written from the 1920s through the 1980s.

ײִדיש שמועס

Intermediate Yiddish Conversation

Mondays on Zoom, 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm ET | April 20 – June 22, 2026 (no class May 18)
9 classes | Cost: $180 CAD
Instructor: Sharon Power

This course, conducted in Yiddish, will give students the opportunity to brush up on their Yiddish speaking and comprehension using songs, vocabulary, games, and small-group and full-class discussions. Topics for the Spring 2026 session will include springtime, beauty, happiness, music, what Yiddish means to us, and more.

The level is geared towards intermediate students or heritage speakers with equivalent knowledge. Ability to read Yiddish in alef-beys is not required – all materials will be provided in both alef-beys and English transliteration.

לײענקרײַז

Third Tuesday of each month on Zoom, 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm ET, continuing April 21, 2026. The Leyenkrayz meets monthly year-round.
Cost: $30 annual fee (for new registrants only).

Please note: If you registered for this program in September 2025 or January 2026, you do not have to register again until next fall.

Participants will read and discuss the collection of short stories in Yiddish from the book A SHTUB MIT ZIBN FENTSTER by Kadya Molodowsky. Materials will be provided in PDF form. The Leyenkrayz is facilitated by Ana Kuper Berman.

Visit our FAQ (FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS) page for more information about our classes and policies, or send us an email at yiddish@ujafed.org