Yiddish: Introduction to Yiddish Language, Culture and Literature

In this course, you learn how Yiddish developed in the German-speaking regions during the Middle Ages and how it later spread to Eastern Europe, the United States, Israel, and many other parts of the world.

Unlike Hebrew, which was mainly used for set prayers or as a written language by the Jewish intellectual elite, Yiddish was spoken by people from all social backgrounds. You will read texts written for men, women, and children, which give you insight into all aspects of Jewish life across centuries.

You study the rich culture and literature created in Yiddish, from its earliest texts to contemporary works. You explore key literary pieces, cultural traditions, and major historical events to understand what makes Yiddish culture unique. The course also helps you examine how modernity created new challenges, debates, and questions about Jewish identity.

You will learn about the tragic fate of Yiddish speakers during the Holocaust and how this trauma is reflected in literature. The course ends with a look at the current state of Yiddish culture and its potential future.

This course is ideal if you want to understand the history of Yiddish, its cultural importance, and why it still matters today.

Course syllabus

The syllabus contains the formal and legal details of the entire course. It’s a legal document outlining the course structure and requirements, intended mainly for administrative use.

Course literature

The course literature listed may be updated up to eight weeks before the course begins.

The teaching is conducted through lectures and mandatory seminars. The assessment is carried out through two written assignments and one written take-home exam.

The course is often offered remotely. When this is the case, you will have support through the online learning platform Canvas. The course includes in this case regular lessons via Zoom. These lessons are not recorded. You will need access to a computer with an internet connection, a webcam, and a headset throughout the entire course period.

Do you want to deepen your understanding of Yiddish culture or work with language and research? We offer additional stand-alone courses on Yiddish culture, in English. By studying Yiddish language courses, you gain access to a rich cultural heritage and a wide range of texts that have yet to be translated or explored. It’s an opportunity to work with unique material and develop your language skills. You start with the course “Yiddish: Beginner's Course I”.

Entry requirements

General requirements

Selection criteria

Seats are allocated according to the following: The general average (GPA) of your higher secondary school leaving certificate: 34 %, The Swedish national university aptitude test: 34 %, number of previous ECTS at application deadline (up to 165): 32 %. If students have equal credentials, seats are allocated based on their results on The Swedish National University Aptitude Test. If this too is equal, seats are allocated based on a draw.

Tuition fees for non-EU/EEA citizens

Citizens of countries outside:

• The European Union (EU)
• The European Economic Area (EEA) and
• Switzerland

are required to pay tuition fees. You pay an instalment of the tuition fee in advance of each
semester.

Tuition fees, payments and exemptions

Full programme/course tuition fee: SEK 28,750
First payment: SEK 28,750

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Note that you may also need to pay an application fee, or provide proof of exemption.

Application fee

No tuition fees for citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland

There are no tuition fees for citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.