On January 3, 2019 the academic director of the International Yiddish Center at the World Jewish Congress, Dr. Mordechay Yushkovsky provided a lecture in Tel Aviv within the framework of the new project "Mark Chagall in paintings and words".

The event took place in the overcrowded Rothschild hall at the Museum of Israel. Over 200 people for the first time in their lives discovered the Yiddish aspect in the great artist's creative work.

Probably just a few people in the audience had been aware of the fact that Mark Chagall wrote poems in Yiddish and illustrated Yiddish books. A lot of his paintings are filled with motives of Yiddish literature. He made friends with outstanding poets and writers, who created in Yiddish. Moreover, Chagall illustrated numerous Yiddish proverbs and sayings by means of his paintings.

The listeners also got acquainted with Chagall's letters in Yiddish addressed to prominent Israeli statesmen and politicians. The lecture was illustrated by 78 slides.

Representatives of WJC, the National Authority for Yiddish culture and Ministry of Culture of Israel were present at the lecture, which evoked great interest of the public and lively discussions.