University of Vienna Summer School on Contemporary Yiddish Language and Culture

31 Aug - 4 Sep 2026
University of Vienna - YUNG YiDiSH WIEN

At this unique University of Vienna summer school, beginner and lower intermediate students will have the opportunity to learn Yiddish language and (Central Eastern) European Jewish history and culture

The school draws on our extensive previous research into Contemporary Hasidic Yiddish and on the experience of native speaker teachers who grew up immersed in a a Hasidic Yiddish speaking cultural environment. Our vision is to introduce beginner and lower intermediate students to this new emergent variety of Yiddish, which is the native vernacular of up to a million people worldwide, while maintaining a continuity with Standard Yiddish language and culture.

They were passionate about what they were teaching and they made the courses really engaging. They also recommended me

literature and other things to further my yiddish studies.

Overall, I am very happy with my decision to participate in this programme. It has surpassed all my expectations — it was well

planned, and the teachers were kind and knowledgeable.

Anon.

I got so much more than a new script and basic conversational patterns. Literally a new world opened up in me

because of this course - [...] it really felt like being in a Yiddish parallel society for a week and inhaling so much more than just an other

language. The other participants were an additional benefit - i made friends all over the world!

Uni Wien student

They touched on a lot of different topics and made me interested in learning even more. The material was accessible, even to those

who didn’t have much prior knowledge.

Great summer school, I will recommend it!

Anon

Preliminary information

This section will be continuously updated. If you need any information that you cannot find here, please email chyschoolvienna.linguistics@univie.ac.at.

Time:
31 August - 4 September

Venue:
Institute of Linguistics, University of Vienna, Sensengasse 3a, 1090 & YUNG YiDiSH WIEN, Lilienbrunngasse 18, 1020

Who is this summer school for?
Beginners and Lower Intermediate students. There will be two groups of learners: a beginner group, for people with no prior experience with Yiddish; and a lower intermediate group, for people who have taken at least one course and are able to read and write in Yiddish.

How is this summer school structured?
This is an intensive, immersive, one-week course with formal Yiddish language and reading classes in the mornings and seminar-style sessions about European Jewish culture and history in the afternoons. You will also have the opportunity to attend cultural and social events in the evenings. To participate, you need to be available from 10am to 5pm Monday to Friday. The evening programmes are optional. At the end of the school, there is a complex assessment including participation, a written exam and an essay.

How can I register for the School?
Places are limited, so early registration is advised. University of Vienna students get priority if they apply before 1 June 2026.

Can I take this course for credit?
Yes, we are a certified summer school of the University of Vienna. We can offer a certificate if you pass the course assessments. The course is worth 6 ECTS points.

How much does it cost to attend the School? Students of the University of Vienna and the Central European University should in almost all cases qualify for a reduced attendance rate of €50. We can clarify eligibility for the reduced fee during the registration process. The full attendance rate for the School, which applies to everyone else, is €275.

Who are the teachers of the School?
The teachers are experienced Yiddish language teachers, scholars and native speakers with experience with Contemporary Hasidic Yiddish as well as Standard Yiddish. See below for more information.

OUR TEACHERS

Eidel Malowicki

I am a native Yiddish speaker who grew up in the Hasidic community in Vienna. At age 12, I won a prize in the multilingual speech contest Sag’s Multi, becoming the first participant to deliver a speech in both German and Yiddish. This experience deepened my passion for the Yiddish language.

Academically, I have explored Hasidism in Vienna through an ethnographic lens. I have taught several Yiddish courses. I am delighted to teach again for the Vienna School this year!

Eli Benedict

Teaching Yiddish, and creating Jewish culture in the streets of Vienna is very powerful for me personally, as my entire family who come from the city and the region was forcibly deported from there by the Nazis. I bring to this School my expertise as a native Yiddish speaker and my extensive experience in teaching Jewish culture and folklore, especially dance.

Mendy Cahan

I am a native Hasidic Yiddish speaker born and raised in Antwerp. During my university studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem I studied European and Yiddish literature. In 1993 I founded the YUNG YiDiSH Library and Cultural Centre in Israel. I have been teaching Yiddish language and culture in numerous international summer schools, including the Vilnius Summer School, which I co-founded. I am delighted to be teaching in Vienna for the fourth time!

Katerina Kuznetsova

I am a Yiddish teacher, specialist in Yiddish literature, and poet. I was born in Moscow in 1989. In 2014, I moved to Israel, and studied Yiddish Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. I have been living in Berlin since 2016. As part of the group yiddish.berlin, which I co-founded, I organize events on Yiddish literature and culture in Berlin. It will be my second time teaching at the Vienna University Summer School and I am looking forward to it!

I have started the University of Vienna Yiddish Language and Culture Summer School and have been its coordinator since 2024. I am a linguistics scholar, and an expert on Contemporary Hasidic Yiddish with a passion for European Jewish cultural history. I co-founded YUNG YiDiSH WIEN to provide a home for Yiddish and progressive Jewish culture in Vienna. The School is the highlight of the year every year! The students bring special energy and through the immersive experience magic happens.

Kriszta Eszter Szendrői

Registration form

First name

Last name

Address

Phone

1. Are you registered for Summer Semester 2026 at the University of Vienna?

YES (You must fill out Questions 2 and 3.)

NO (You can skip to Question 4.)

2. If yes, what is your University of Vienna student number?

3. Which degree are you studying for?

4. Are you a student at any other university?

YES (Answer Question 5 next.)

NO (You can skip to Question 6.)

5. At which university are you studying?

6. We offer two levels of classes: Beginner and Lower Intermediate. Lower intermediate is for students who can read and write in the Yiddish alphabet and who have studied Yiddish for at least one semester. Which level are you applying for?

Beginner

Lower Intermediate

7. Summarise in 150 words your motivation for applying for this course. Students applying for the Lower Intermediate MUST write this in Yiddish.

8. We have some fee-waiver scholarships for some excellent students with financial issues. Would you like to be considered? If so, please explain your situation.