Summer Program 2026

The Naomi Prawer Kadar International Yiddish Summer program 2026 will take place on the Tel Aviv University campus from July 5 to July 30, 5 days a week (Sunday-Thursday).  

 Yiddish language instruction at four levels (in-person), Beginners  Intermediate I, Intermediate II and Advanced . These are credit-bearing classes and the student’s level will be determined by our professional language instructors.

Classes will be held 09.30 -11.00 and 11.30-13.00 on the Tel Aviv University campus. Daily attendance is mandatory. Students wishing to receive course credit also are required to attend a minimum of five hours of afternoon cultural programming per week (roughly 2 or 3 weekly activities).

Students registering  at TAU-i website

Located minutes away from both downtown Tel Aviv and its beaches, Tel Aviv University is the largest university in Israel, with significant resources in Jewish Studies, among them the new Museum of the Jewish People (Anu) and the Margulies Yiddish Book Collection. Students can enjoy Tel Aviv's diverse attractions: museums, cafes, Bauhaus architecture, the beach and the promenade, the old harbor, summer festivals, and clubs in this Mediterranean city "that never sleeps."

As students of TAU International, the Tel Aviv University School for Overseas Students, whose credentials are recognized by universities world-wide, participants will receive 80 hours of language and literature instruction (five credits) with highly qualified and experienced teachers in small classes.

Detailed Course Descriptions

Beginners for Hebrew and Non-Hebrew speakers

Introduction to basic Yiddish grammar, pronunciation, conversation, reading, and writing.

Dr. Yaad Biran, Dr. Mira-Rifka Blum

Intermediate I

Provides students with opportunities for practice in more sophisticated oral and written expression; students will significantly expand their Yiddish vocabulary and knowledge of advanced Yiddish grammar; provides exposure to more complicated literary, historical, and/or cultural texts.

Dr. Mira-Rifka Blum, Mr. Eliezer Niborski

Intermediate II

Uses students’ grammatical base to develop fluency in reading, writing and speaking. Emphasis is placed on further expansion of vocabulary, early essay writing skills, and analysis of literary and historical texts.

Mr. Eliezer Niborski, Dr. Miriam Trinh

 Advanced

Intended for advanced research students in various disciplines of the humanities and social sciences. Students should be enrolled at an accredited university, college, or research institute or be a professional interested in integrating Yiddish into their work (librarians, curators, filmmakers, creative writers, etc.). This course is composed of two classes: one on advanced Yiddish grammar and another centered on the analysis of literary, folkloric, and historical Yiddish texts with the goal of providing students with skills necessary for independent scholarly research and creativity.

Dr. Miriam Trinh featuring distinguished guest lecturers in Yiddish literature and history

Afternoon Academic and Cultural Program

In addition to morning language instruction, the Naomi Prawer Kadar Yiddish Program includes a robust afternoon cultural program, held on campus and in Tel Aviv. The co-curricular afternoon offerings include:

• Lectures by leading scholars

• Film screenings

• Creative writing workshop

• Deciphering Yiddish Manuscripts

• Song Workshop

• Tours of Yiddish Tel Aviv and Jerusalem

• Graduate mentorship program and research forum

  with Profs. Justin Cammy and Rachel Rubinstein

Student Housing

Our staff is currently at work arranging student housing. Updates will appear soon.

Tuition 

 $ 1,450 Tuition

$ 60 Application fee 

Scholarships

Full-time students are eligible for a variety of program scholarships:
$ 800 to B. A. and M.A. students
$ 950 to PhD. Candidates

Additional Information:

 The Rothschild Foundation (Hanadiv) Europe, will be funding six grants of up to £1,000 for graduate students and post-doctoral researchers in Jewish Studies from Europe attending the language course, in order to enhance the language skills necessary for their research.

Post-doctoral applicants for the Rothschild Foundation scholarship must have received their doctoral degree no more than 5 years before the closing date of the current grant round.

Applicants who are interested in applying for grants should contact: Yiddish1@tauex.tau.ac.il
 

Program Leadership:

Dr. Rachel Wamsley, Executive Director

Jona Goldrich Institute for Yiddish Language, Literature and Culture

Tel Aviv University 

Founding Directors:

Prof. Hana Wirth-Nesher, Tel Aviv University
​Prof. Avraham Novershtern, Hebrew University

The Naomi Prawer Kadar International Yiddish Summer Program is grateful to the Naomi Foundation, to Beit Shalom Aleichem and to the family of Jona Goldrich (z’’l) for their generous financial support.