А seminar "Yiddish in the 21st century" was held in São Paulo from April 29 through May 2, 2018 for members of Jewish community centers of that Brazilian city.

This event was initiated by the World Jewish Congress International Yiddish Center and the Jewish community of São Paulo.

This project has been carried out thanks to the extraordinary partnership between three entities: Casa do Povo, Centro de Memória CDM-Museu Judaico (Jewish Museum of São Paulo) and Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-RIO).

It was also fortunate to have the backing and support of the Latin American Jewish Congress, making it possible to have Dr. Alejandro Dujovne, the National Scientific and Technical Research Council, CIS-IDES, Department Member from Buenos Aires with us.

The conference had some 70 attendees, 10 thereof aged below 40. They circulated freely around the Centro de Memória (CDM) of the Jewish Museum of São Paulo. The audience comprised elderly people who attend courses at the Museu Judaico CDM and study the Yiddish language, as well as young researchers from PUC-RIO, who sang and played, besides sharing the work they carry out with children.

It was not merely an academic seminar, but rather an encounter of people who are passionate and interested in Yiddish culture. The program included not only lectures and museum visits, but also a concert of Yiddish songs performed by Tania Grinberg, Daniel Tausig, Leonardo Padovani and Nicole Borger, with Alvaro Couto's accordion accompaniment.

One of the purposes of this encounter was to pay tribute to the legacy our ancestors transmitted to us by means of narratives, all sorts of problems, conflicts, joy and sadness. This experience amassed such a degree of riches that shaped aspects of the Jewish identity all over the world, including Brazil.