Jewish Radicals: Yiddish Activism Past and Present

Jews have been at the forefront of social movements ranging from underground organizing in Czarist Russia to the US labor and civil rights movements, to the ongoing struggle for women’s and LGBTQ+ rights today – both as individuals and in Jewish-identified groups. Key to understanding Jewish involvement in social justice movements past and present is Yiddish, once the language of Ashkenazi Jews around the world and a prominent language of 20th century Jewish activism. Join Professor Tony Michels (UW Madison), author of “A Fire in Their Hearts: Yiddish Socialists in New York” and editor of “Jewish Radicals: A Documentary Reader” and Yiddish Book Center staff for a weekend of lectures, formal and informal discussions, social activities, and workshops. These programs will provide an introduction to the rich and inspiring history of Jewish activism anchored in Yiddish. This three-day retreat is an opportunity to build community with peers from around the country, reflect on Yiddish culture and history, and discuss how that legacy can inform our activism today. The Yiddish Book Center is a non-profit educational and cultural organization that has been working for over 40 years to preserve, celebrate and make accessible the legacy of Yiddish culture.