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Past CFY Lectures

Feb 10, 2019

When Jesus Spoke Yiddish, with Naomi Seidman

Prof. Naomi Seidman traces the history of the Yiddish New Testament, from earlier translations that stayed close to Luther's renowned German translation, and 20th-century translations that attempted to produce a more Jewish Yiddish, and hence a more Jewish Jesus. Learn More and Watch the Recording

Nov 4, 2018

The Holocaust in the Soviet Union: New Discoveries, with Anna Shternshis

Professor Shternshis discusses her discovery of previously unknown material in Russian archives unsealed after 70 years about the Holocaust in Soviet-occupied territory, including Yiddish music created by women and children. Learn More and Watch the Recording

Oct 13, 2018

Whitechapel Noise, with Vivi Lachs

Musician and author Vivi Lachs presents the Yiddish song and verse of pre-World War I London. Collectively known in Yiddish as kupletn, they convey the history of the period with humour, intensity, and passion. Learn More and Watch the Recording

Jan 21, 2018

Einstein's Theory of Relativity, with Jordan Chad

In 1921, Albert Einstein supervised the preparation and publication of a book that arguably became the most concise and accessible summary of his renowned theory of relativity. Written in Yiddish by Einstein's student Judah Leman, this book introduced Eastern European Jews to Einstein's…

Jun 9, 2016

Wit and Humor: Celebrating Sholem Aleichem, with Miriam Udel

We mark the 100th anniversary of the death of Sholem Aleichem, the greatest humourist of Yiddish literature, with a fascinating discussion of his impressive life and work led by Professor Miriam Udel.