Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for education and culture, Yaakov Margi, initiated a series of lectures on Jewish languages and cultures for Knesset members. Last year talks on the Jewish-Arab language and culture were held in the Israeli parliament building. The next to come, is the language of Spanish/Mediterranian Jews: Ladino (Judesmo).

During this season, four lectures on the Yiddish language and culture are taking place there; they are provided by the academic director of World Jewish Congress International Yiddish Center, Dr. Mordechay Yushkovsky.

The subjects of lectures are as follows.

February 14, 2017: What the Yiddish language has to say in the 21st century.

February 28, 2017: Secrets of Yiddish humor, or Why in Yiddish anything sounds better?

March 7, 2017: Longing for Zion in Yiddish Literature and folklore.

March 14, 2017: Pearls of Yiddish folklore.

The first meeting started with a welcome speech by MK Margi, who emphasised importance of retaining of Yiddish cultural heritage for future generations as one of the basic elements of Jewish culture. At the end he expressed his appreciation to the WJC Yiddish Center for its contribution.

After the lecture the audience, consisting of MKs, employees of the Knesset and senior WJC staff in Jerusalem, asked the lecturer a lot of questions and expressed their gratitude for such a comprehensive event.

See video: http://www.yediot.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4921373,00.html