Jeffrey Shandler, Distinguished Professor, Department of Jewish Studies, Rutgers University

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It is remarkable how often people have spoken about Yiddish as if it were a kind of person or that it had a personality—that is, attributing a human character to the language, irrespective of what is said or written in it. This talk will explore the range of personalities attributed to Yiddish and consider their implications for how the language has been valued.  

Jeffrey Shandler, Distinguished Professor, Department of Jewish Studies, Rutgers University

‍

It is remarkable how often people have spoken about Yiddish as if it were a kind of person or that it had a personality—that is, attributing a human character to the language, irrespective of what is said or written in it. This talk will explore the range of personalities attributed to Yiddish and consider their implications for how the language has been valued.