What Is Yiddishkeit? With Danny Kraft

Where did the Yiddish language come from, and how did Yiddish culture develop into one of the 20th century’s most dynamic diasporic traditions? Together with writer, translator, and educator Danny Kraft, we’ll explore the history of Yiddish, the richness of Yiddish art and culture from the past through today, and Yiddish connections to Oregon as we consider the enduring power and meaning of Yiddish in our contemporary world. No knowledge of Yiddish is necessary, and attendees of all backgrounds are welcome! Danny Kraft is a writer, translator, and educator whose poetry collection, Invocation, is forthcoming in February 2027. He has taught about Yiddish literature and culture at many institutions including the Center for the Study of World Religions at Harvard University, the Drisha Institute for Jewish Education, and the Galicia Jewish Museum in Kraków, Poland. A founder of Yiddish RVA, a cultural festival in Richmond, Virginia, and of Gashmius Magazine, an acclaimed online journal dedicated to a progressive and inclusive vision of Jewish mysticism, his work has been supported with a Translation Fellowship from the Yiddish Book Center. This event is presented with support from the Yiddish Book Center’s Yiddish Arts and Culture Initiative for Jewish Communities, funded by Debbie Mitzner and Wayne Miller in memory of Iris Mitzner.