Serkele: A Peek into the World of 1820s Polish Jewry

Considered a pioneering work and a classic of Yiddish theater, this satirical play was written by the talented Dr Ettinger in his twenties, in 1820s.

It is almost a miracle that a decent copy of the text survived, and we are very lucky to have it — because it preserved for posterity a bright palette of everyday Polish Yiddish of the early 19th century. Carefully exploring and savoring every phrase and sentence of this important oeuvre will also help us get a better feel of life and mentality of the “hostages of the Pale” of that period.

This offering is suitable for the intermediate speakers of Yiddish.

Time will be adjusted to accommodate the majority of interested

When: Sundays, July 27 – October 12  : 10 – 11 a.m. PT / 12 – 1 p.m. CT / 1 – 2 p.m. ET / 6 – 7 p.m. UK / 7 – 8 p.m. Central Europe

Cost: 12 classes for $140 (early bird, if paid before July 15, 2025)

Regular price $160

Led by: David Shafir

David Shafir is a life-long student of Yiddish. Having spent many years among the native speakers of Yiddish in Canada and USA has helped him a lot in better understanding the language and its culture. He loves collaborating on new Yiddish-focused projects.